Lost In Translation
6d
Dan Blodgett
Hey Proko community! Been a while since I posted, and it feels like time to call in the big boy artists to help me haha. I have been busy! My last month has been dedicated towards just a single illustration project (as well as starting a new job, ugh), which I must say has pushed my limits in multiple ways. For some reason I decided to enter a competition, because, what the heck, right? So, I'm trying to put my best foot forward on this and I've run into an issue I'm not sure how to resolve. It's what I get for not knowing what I'm doing haha.
Anyway, I'm having a hard time getting good color replication from my devices and need some advice. The analog to digital conversion is seemingly losing a ton of color I can see with my own eyes and turning it super gray. Now, I understand that there is no such thing as a perfect conversion, and that the original is always going to be superior, etc., but I'm losing so much, even with an expensive DSLR and/or professional scans. In fact, the scan I did at the pro shop lost so much color I pretty much abandoned it, even though it's higher resolution than my picture and has better value replication. I've attached what I think is the best version, after doing some basic post-processing to a photo taken under my studio light.
What exactly do people do when digitally submitting a piece in a professional capacity? Is this just something I have to accept? I know there's been some recent talk on scanning stuff, but I'm more interested in the color preservation aspect of this discussion. I'd hate to have to go and repaint it in a digital art suite to recapture what I lost, but... Is there any tricks anyone knows to keep it as close as possible?
Anyway, thanks for looking! I'm just here tryin' to win this thing! "Conan Vs. The Beast," 12in x 18in mixed media on paper.
Turns out, I went to submit and after like three pages of rules/agreements, I finally get an email sent to me with instructions for sending them the art, and then and only then is there a serious mention: they only want black and white pieces. Like... Could've led with that, bro! Why did I have to get all the way to where it's only after I click "I'm ready to submit," that they put this information out? There was no mention of that anywhere before that point that I could see....... Don't they know blond-headed idiots like me are going to spend an entire month painting something before clicking "submit" only to learn all that work was basically for nothing except the XP point grind? I mean. Come on.
I hear you, though. Just make it black and white and submit that. But... I can't. It's just a matter of principle at this point. Maybe I'll do a pen and ink illustration if I have time before the deadline, but I just will not do that. Probably end up being a better piece anyway since color/composition are my current weak areas.
So I don't need to worry about color replication anymore haha. Still, if anyone else has any helpful info on keeping the digital version of a physical original as close to 100 percent accurate to life as possible, please contribute some know-how to the cause haha. It's very much appreciated.
Out of curiosity, do you guys think the scan is better? I did play with the color in a photo editor, and I think the red in the sky is a bit over saturated, but other than that, I've been told it "pops?" The photo in the OP is more accurate overall to the original, I think, but the scan feels like it has better values, which I guess is more important than color anyway.
I'm so close to this I can't tell anymore, haha. HeLp mE haha.
For what it's worth, I think this one would speak to the layperson more. I'm just thinking about the fantasy covers I remember from my youth and the vibrancy of fantasy artists we all can name. Must be something to their success.
Too much light exposure will wash out the colors in a photo/scan. If you are losing so much that it can't be recovered in post processing then you might be using too much light when photographing it. And you just need to play around with different editing options until you get something you are satisfied with. Here I have adjusted the saturation and value a bit to make the colors look more vibrant. This might not be what you want, but you can see how quick adjustments can give very different results.
Wow! That's an... interesting... version, haha. Kinda cool. My picture isn't that far off, maybe 85% - 90% of the original. So not that drastic. What program did you use?
I have a theory about it because I used watercolor on toned paper, and I think it's the gray of the paper coming through. My eyes can see the subtle color variations on top of it whereas I think the camera just sees the paper... maybe...
Anyway, good advice. You might be onto something. I'll dial down the lights and see what happens with another photo or two. Thanks for your time!
This has been frustrating me lately too. Looking forward to the responses. Good luck!
Thanks, man. I need it!
It's just I'd hate to be let down by a shoddy replication at the last minute after putting 50-plus hours into this piece. Even though the picture's not THAT bad. It probably feels worse than it is because I'm so married to it, haha.
