Photo merge

WOW! Photo merge, what a tool and simple to use in Photoshop! I been playing with this since last Sunday morning 8, 10 hours a day. Each time I learn a bit more beyond some basic stuff I got from it in the first place. By simply taking (2) shots using photo merge I can double my digital capture even on small 16x20 works. What were good with a single frame become exceptional high resolution print worthy files. For larger work the easiest and fastest way is breaking it down to smaller sections and merging those separately. The largest project so far was a 60x48 canvas which required (20) detail photos merged into groups of (4) and finally merged as one which resulted in 98mb digital capture. It has to be done left to right. Aside from some cleanup noise, like white dots in shadows it's a very clean operation.

THE CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL WORK, THE BETTER! Right now my camera is set at 36" with my adjustable lenses, even closer.

The only issue so far, photo merge requires something identifiable to merge with......large expanses of an almost single colour won't work for bigger canvases......even the camera has a hard time getting focus points in that situation.

I believe a hand held scanner could be the real answer which moves into the 3D canvas printing arena. Still in research mode there.
  
Photoshop has a video under HELP that gives you the basics.

CROP EXAMPLES OF 36X30 PAINTING

 

CROP - ONE PHOTO RESOLUTION 

Digital capture 300 dpi - 3010x3612 pixels - 5.86mb

 CROP MERGING  (9) DETAIL PHOTOS

Digital capture 300dpi - 6610x7932 - 29.7mb

LARGER CROP - ONE PHOTO RESOLUTION (36X30)

LARGER CROP MERGING (9) DETAIL PHOTOS

What is so exciting about all this is how it will print full size at 36x30 using a high resolution 300dpi merged 29.7mb print file as opposed to a single frame 300dpi 5.86mb camera file (which it won't).

For example, Fine Art America is a global full service sales platform for the broad based market and their maximum upload is 25mb, which is adequate for most small to medium paintings like this one at 36x30 - perhaps even larger. It's the perfect venue for all those paintings sitting in dark closets to shine again.

I would certainly use the largest digital capture possible for any gallery quality work tho.