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As you may already know, the first judging stage of the PPFA International OPEN and PRINT Framing Competition will be by digital images. Find more information about this year's competition at www.ppfa.com where you can purchase the SunDappled II print on metal, and/or find information on entering the OPEN category.
Here are recommendations from the PPFA Competition Board:
Your framing competition entry is only as good as the photos you submit for judging. Consider asking a professional photographer for assistance or advice.
If you take photos yourself consider the following:
Competition Requirements
Images should be head on (with exception of detail shots)
No glare; clean, clear and correctly cropped.
Judges will only be able to judge what they can see.
Second and third photos can be taken from side angles to show details.
Photo Resolution
Photographs should be high resolution, maximum of 1.99MB each.
File size should be large enough so judges can magnify the image on a monitor, or print it in a size where they can clearly see details.
Sharp Focus
Set the focus so the most important elements of your design are clear.
Low resolution, blurry, dark or light images are subject to disqualification.
Avoid Reflections
When possible, take photos before adding glass or acrylic. If your design has other reflective surfaces, such as a high gloss frame, try taking the photo without a flash.
If a flash is necessary, position the frame with a dark area behind you.
Background
Choose a plain background in a color that flatters your frame design; neutral gray is best as the wall or a gray matboard. Avoid a black background as a dark frame will be hidden. Avoid a white background as the added reflection makes for a bad photo.
Lighting
The difference between professional and amateur photos is often the lighting.
Photographers tend to light from the sides to add highlight and shadows that show subtle details.
Lighting adds a sense of depth.
Be sure not to cast shadows or reflections on your frame from light behind you.
Photo Editing
There are easy ways to improve photos, using Photoshop or other photo editing software.
Save the edited file under a new name so you don’t lose your original file.
Most cell phones allow you to do some editing and revert back to the original if you don’t like the changes.
Do not over edit...modify the colors only to best match the framing.
For online assistance Google resizing photos
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+resize+a+photo
Contact the PPFA Competition Board at competition@ppfa.com additional questions or concerns.
Here are recommendations from the PPFA Competition Board:
Your framing competition entry is only as good as the photos you submit for judging. Consider asking a professional photographer for assistance or advice.
If you take photos yourself consider the following:
Competition Requirements
Images should be head on (with exception of detail shots)
No glare; clean, clear and correctly cropped.
Judges will only be able to judge what they can see.
Second and third photos can be taken from side angles to show details.
Photo Resolution
Photographs should be high resolution, maximum of 1.99MB each.
File size should be large enough so judges can magnify the image on a monitor, or print it in a size where they can clearly see details.
Sharp Focus
Set the focus so the most important elements of your design are clear.
Low resolution, blurry, dark or light images are subject to disqualification.
Avoid Reflections
When possible, take photos before adding glass or acrylic. If your design has other reflective surfaces, such as a high gloss frame, try taking the photo without a flash.
If a flash is necessary, position the frame with a dark area behind you.
Background
Choose a plain background in a color that flatters your frame design; neutral gray is best as the wall or a gray matboard. Avoid a black background as a dark frame will be hidden. Avoid a white background as the added reflection makes for a bad photo.
Lighting
The difference between professional and amateur photos is often the lighting.
Photographers tend to light from the sides to add highlight and shadows that show subtle details.
Lighting adds a sense of depth.
Be sure not to cast shadows or reflections on your frame from light behind you.
Photo Editing
There are easy ways to improve photos, using Photoshop or other photo editing software.
Save the edited file under a new name so you don’t lose your original file.
Most cell phones allow you to do some editing and revert back to the original if you don’t like the changes.
Do not over edit...modify the colors only to best match the framing.
For online assistance Google resizing photos
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+resize+a+photo
Contact the PPFA Competition Board at competition@ppfa.com additional questions or concerns.
