Threadless

Cart Status
0 items
Cart Actions
view cart
Show search options
bee_me3518
bee_me3518 aka Beesi is a 22.69 year old girl, has been a member since September 11, 2006, has scored 1,552 submissions, giving an average score of 3.30, helping 40 designs get printed.
URL: http://www.unknownifcreations.com
Vectorizing photography
How do you feel about using photos as submissions (once put through a vector program)? I understand copyrights and everything so obviously not somebody else's photo. However, much more than I am an artist by hand, I'm good at photography.

I consider photography to take a lot of work because you do have to see it as an art--you have to get the right lighting, the right framing, shutter speed, angle, everything.

Running it through a program on the computer is easy after that, but do you consider it still art having once been a photo?

Thanks for the opinions!

deathcabfortom
deathcabfortom on Aug 22 '07 at 10:59pm
... as long as it's your photo.
jasper7777
jasper7777 on Aug 22 '07 at 11:13pm
A vectored photo has a certain look- that I think has become a style and I've been seeing so many vectored over photos that I've become sick of that style. But, thats just me-

right now there are a lot of recent subs that are made that way that are doing really well- so if you like it go for it. I do think its

illustration even if you use a photo- as long as conveys meaning.
mj00
   mj00 on Aug 22 '07 at 11:18pm
Photographs are definitely art, obviously. And vectorizing a photograph can result in some really attractive work. Something to keep in mind is that when people look at your work, they'll probably respond best to it if they can see the art before they see the method of its creation. What I mean by that is, my first reaction should be 1) Wow, what a cool image!, not 2) Hey, that's Livetraced or using a photoshop filter. Just my opinion.



Some ways to avoid that are by stylizing the image more than just putting it through a program. Take it to Critiques and try it a few different ways- how realistic should the colors be? is the message stronger if a more collaged approach is used? That kind of thing.



And of course, think about the shape you're creating on the shirt. Photographs are rectangles usually, but shirts (and the human body) have a shape all their own. Make sure that if the photograph's edges are visible, they interact with the medium of a shirt in an interesting way.



(and hey, good luck! There aren't a lot of good photography submissions these days, but I'd love to see some that are well done. Never forget that this is art for a shirt, and I think you'll be on the right track...)
You must be logged in to leave a comment.

My gallery photos

→ All of my 11 photos

All about me

I have no web presence. Bummmmer. Pretty much I spend money I don't have on Threadless and I already have way too many shirts. (I wash my entire closet in about 15 loads of laundry.)

That is all...