Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Hiring students
If you live in or near a college or art school, inexpensive help might be close
at hand. Most art and design students are well-versed in software technologies, partic-
ularly scanners and Adobe Photoshop. Many schools have clearing houses or bulletin
boards (or placement offices for part-time help, co-ops, interns, and so on) where you
can post your needs. In some cases, you might find that hiring a creative student can
help you produce a better portfolio, not just get your artwork on a flatbed.
Service bureaus
If you have negatives or slides, look for a place that advertises photo scanning.
Ask them about their process and how they ensure quality for images that may need
special handling to maintain color or dynamic range. Avoid service bureaus that
specialize in document scanning. They make their money by putting standard-sized
materials through scanners in batches.
DVD services
Most places that make video copies and transfer home movies also have facili-
ties to convert an analog tape to DVD-R. They're likely to charge by the hour, so you'll
get the most cost-effective result if you have them transfer your original analog demo
reel first (never one of the copies!), rather than
whole project tapes.
Ask other film and video people in your area
to recommend a video service, or a member of the
community who owns the software and equipment
you'll need. If you can't get a recommendation, at
least try to talk directly with the person at the ser-
vice bureau who will do the conversion, so they'll
know what you need the film for and why its quality is important.
We've set up a basic photo studio
in the office, and sometimes we'll
shoot pieces on white background,
knock it out, and put the shadows
back in.
—Michael Borofsky
Digital art is flat; 3D art isn't. There's no perfect way of getting around this,
but it shouldn't prevent you from showing your 3D work to good effect. Even tradi-
tional portfolios require photography to transfer dimensional art into flat containers.
In fact, short of being in the physical presence of the work, a digital portfolio
can be a great way to show a 3D piece. With a little skill, you can create the illusion
of three dimensions in Photoshop. Even without image editing, you can show multiple
views of the same art or even just a standard product shot in glorious full-screen.
Most of what you will need to get acceptable results on a budget are time and
patience. You'll also need access to some of the standard tools of a photographer's
trade: a camera, a copy stand and/or tripod, and some professional lighting. If you
don't own all of these things, you can rent them, rent studio space, or barter.
