Visual Tools
September 2, 2006
What are some tools creative people require for their website? You may be showing art, photography, crafts or something similar. Visual content must be shown in the best light possible. Quality is key.
Good photographs of your work, are of utmost importance. A digital camera is one of the best investments you can make if you are a visual artist. When looking for a digital camera I would say anything 3.2 mega pixels and up, is a good choice. Prices are coming down, so you can get a decent digital for $300.00 or less.
Some features you will want your camera to have include white balance and the ability to take pictures without a flash. I have never successfully photographed a painting with a flash enabled. It creates a glare which renders the picture useless. In order to do this you will also need a tripod to steady the camera, especially when using slow shutter speeds. For closeups of your work, you will want to have a macro setting on the camera.
A good photo editing program is essential. Learning to use a photo editing program can be trial and error. Many use photoshop, yet it is expensive. If you are looking for open source photo editing I highly recommend Gimpshop. It has a similar interface to Photoshop. The good news is it is free! They now have a Windows version that is precompiled, so that you can install and use. Be sure you get the right download for your operating system.
For help with photo editing check the web for many good tutorials. Here is one for Gimpshop, and one for Photoshop to get you started.
