FCA Arrowsmith Digital Juried Show Entry Procedure

1.   Digital Image Submission procedure:

1. Save image in JPEG (.jpg) file format only
   
   
2. Size of image: at least 1200 pixels x 1500 pixels at 300ppi (pixels per inch) with a maximum size 2000 pixels on the largest dimension  - can be either height or width
   
   
3. Name the File as follows:  last name, first name or initial, title of work, size and medium. 
   Example:  Smith,R,FreshFlowers,10x20,Acrylic.jpg
   
   
4. Images must be cropped so only the picture is visible.
   
   
5. Attach digital image file to an e-mail addressed to Lisa Danesin at silverisle@shaw.ca
   
   
6. In the subject line of the e-mail put  your name, and the title of the show  
   eg.. J Smith, Arrowsmith Summer Show, Image 1 of 3
   
   
7. Check: Make sure the image file is really attached
   
   
8. Send e-mail to silverisle@shaw.ca
   

***Send one image per e-mail.  If you have three entries, send three separate e-mails.***

2.  Complete paperwork and send entry fee to Norma Paul

1. Submit the entry of $10 per entry or 3 for $25
   
   
2. Include your name, title, size, medium for each entry
   
   
3. Send to Norma Paul at the following address

Norma Paul
103 - 3156 ISLAND HWY W
Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2J7
Canada

Digital photography tips

Before taking digital photos of your artwork, you should be to be able to do the following with your camera:

a) Set the image quality to the Highest setting available on your camera.
b) Adjust the white balance setting.
c) Turn the flash off.
d) Transfer the images stored on your camera to your computer.

The user manual that came with your camera should have instructions for all of these operations


Once you have your photos transferred to your computer you need to edit ithem and save them in the .jpg format. This is done in an image editing program. Adobe Photoshop Elements is relatively inexpensive, extremely versatile, and is available for both Mac and PC. Arcsoft Photo Studio is also available for PC and Mac, and is slightly less expensive than PhotoShop Elements.  These are just two of many.  Most digital cameras come with image editing software that you can install on your computer, as do some scanners. (eg. Arcsoft PhotoStudio comes bundled with some Canon Scanners). You may also already have software on your computer

click here for Arcsoft PhotoStudio information

click here for Adobe Photoshop Elements information

No matter the program you have on your computer, you must be able to do the following with it..
a) crop your image
b) adjust the colour, brightness and contrast if necessary
c) set both the size (pixels) and resolution (ppi)
d) save at a high quality (low compression) in the .jpg format



Taking the pictures..

1. Use a tripod to reduce camera shake and give you a sharper image. Ensuring that your image is IN FOCUS is extremely important.

*Most displays on digital cameras are too small to accurately check for focus. Don't be surprised if the image that looked perfect on your camera display looks slightly out of focus on your computer screen.

2. Avoid using a flash. Set your camera for no flash (usually in "P" mode, which should still automatically set the aperture and shutter for you) If you are unable to change the flash setting, try to ensure the ambient light is bright enough that the automatic flash does not go off.


3. If working outdoors, try to take your photographs on a bright, overcast day. Don't photograph in direct sunlight.


4. Adjust the white balance on your camera to match the light. Most digital cameras have settings for shady, cloudy, sunny, florescent light, incandescent light etc. Take some test photographs of your artwork at different settings and view them on the display on your camera. Some may appear too blue, some too yellow, some too red. Hopefully, some will appear just right. Pick the setting that gives you the truest colours.

Unless you are an experienced photographer, let the camera pick the shutter speed and aperture settings for you. This means selecting one of the automatic settings. Your camera user manual should guide you in choosing the most appropriate setting.

5. Set your camera to the LARGEST file size and resolution.

6. Make sure your camera is centered on the artwork, and try to get the artwork as square as possible to the camera. Use your camera display. If if looks crooked in the display, it is. Try to correct the alignment before you take the picture.

7. Avoid getting too close to the artwork. This can cause distortion (that weird, fisheye effect). This differs from camera to camera (and in fact, from lens to lens), so you really need to experiment and find your own camera's perfect distance.

8. Avoid photographing works under glass. Photograph these works before they are framed if at all possible. If the work is already under glass, you can try photographing it on an angle to reduce reflection, and use the "Correct Camera Distortion" function in Photoshop to straighten it out again. This also applies to varnished oils and acrylics. 


Once you have taken your photographs and have transferred them to your computer...

1. Correct camera distortion if necessary.

2. Adjust colour (remove colour cast... too blue, too red etc..) and brightness and contrast if needed.

3. Crop everything out of the picture so that all that remains is the artwork. Remember to also remove frame and mat if they have been included in the photograph. All that should be left is the actual image.

4. Adjust the size of the image: This is two step process...

a) Set the Resolution to 300 ppi (ppi = pixels per inch)

b) Set the size. FCA guidelines require that the longest dimension of your image be a maximum of 2000 pixels, and a minimum of 1500 pixels. It doesn't matter if this is the height or the width. Just choose whichever is longer. Make sure that you maintain the relative dimensions of the image. In Photoshop, select "Constrain Proportions". In PhotoStudio, select "Keep Aspect Ratio".

*it is important that the original image file (from your camera) is large enough to do this, so ensure that your camera is set to take images at the highest quality and size setting before taking your pictures. You can't go back and fix this later in Photoshop.

5. Save your file... (also a multi step process)

a)Follow the FCA guidelines when naming the image file... last name, first name or initial, title of work, size, and medium.
Example - Smith, R, Fresh Flowers, 10x20, Acrylic.jpg

b) choose file type. Most image editing programs will offer numerous file types. Ensure that you choose ".jpg". If you don't select .jpg, the file may be saved in whatever the image editing software defaults to, and that might not be .jpg

c) set image quality to 100% or maximum file size. In some programs, this might be called compression. If that is the case, set compression to "0". (more compression = poorer image quality)

* make a note of where on your computer your image files are saved to so you can find them later when attaching them to an e-mail.

6. Once the file is saved, check the file size. When FCA guidelines are followed, most image files should be between 1MB and 3 MB (megabytes). If they are smaller than 1 MB or larger than 3MB, they may not have been saved at the correct size or resolution. Also, files larger than about 3 MB can become difficult to e-mail.

E-mailing your image

Some e-mail programs resize images for sending. Ensure that your e-mail program is sending the image at full size. You can determine this by checking the file size of the attachment. It should be roughly the same size as the saved image file.

• If accepted into show, and FCA label must be attached to the back of the painting before delivery to the show.  Make sure each label is signed.
  
• Please be aware that to be eligible for this show, FCA dues must be submitted to Vancouver for the present year, and the Chapter dues have also been paid.
  
• Works created in workshops and/or classes are not eligible for entry in juried shows, whether or not the instructor made any marks on the image.
  
• Any painting that has hung in our of our previous juried shows cannot be submitted.  Paintings should have been created in the last three years.