Black and White and Sepia: Artberry Gallery

Photography as we know it dates back to the 1820s, when the first chemical cameras captured images and recreated images through a process of long exposure and tedious development. Further developments allowed photographers to create images with glass slides, metal templates and even salt-based paper. Until 1908, when inventor Gabriel Lippmann received the Nobel Laureate in Physics for his color photography, images were black and white, or in many cases various shades of soft browns (or sepia).

Although these methods may be characterized as “just plain old” or even archaic by today’s standard of high-definition mega pixel cameras, both black and white photography and sepia-style imaging maintain serious appeal for art and photography lovers. The reasons are simple but unique.

Consider first black and white photography, which was the standard through much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Color was not part of the image equation, obviously, but what black and white imaging is superb at rendering is detail; it’s easy to pick out the fine elements such as stitching, individual hairs, and other tiny pieces that make the picture more complete. This detail is the direct consequence of the contrast found in all black and white images. With only two colors, the photographer is able to highlight very small details because they very often stand out against lighter or darker shading.

Sepia tones also have their own distinct charm very much like black and white photographs. It is very easy for the casual eye to discern why sepia is still popular. It is not the detail found in black and white images, but rather the warmth and depth of the varied shades of brown which give each picture a classic feel, as if it belongs in a history book, or a long lost album of family portraits.

Now, with computer aided imaging and talented artists, it is possible to take existing color photographs and convert (modify, change, revert, etc.) them into black and white or sepia tone images, replete with the warmth and detail of classic photography methods.

Interested in making your new photographs classic, as if they were traditional old-time portraits or black and white memories? Contact Barbara at Artberry Gallery today by phone, 1-877-217-9073 [toll free], or by e-mail at her website: http://artberrygallery.com. She’s eager to help you preserve precious memories and modify your favorite photographs by combining the newest computer techniques and an artist’s touch.

Artist’s note: The color sepia is named after the English sepia cuttlefish, which is found in the English Channel. The sepia, or “common” cuttlefish, is most often brown in color (just like the pigment used to create the sepia image) and resembles a squid.

Image Restoration: Artberry Gallery

How many pictures have you taken in your lifetime? For some the answer is modest, maybe in the hundreds, while for others the answer is in the thousands or beyond. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, holidays and anniversaries all deserve to be remembered and preserved, but not all of our pictures have had the same treatment as our cherished memories. Pictures, instead, are lost or damaged due to neglect or unfortunate accidents. Only when we find these pictures in poor condition later do we regret their loss—but thanks to advancements in digital scanning technology, sophisticated computer programs, and reliable artists, we can save these memories for future generations.

Physical damage is the most common issue that requires image restoration. Aged photographs are particularly fragile and because of this they can flake, lose their edges, or can otherwise be distorted by humidity, sun exposure, and other environmental hazards. This kind of physical damage can be reversed once the image is digitally stored on a computer. This allows the artist to “fill in the blanks” and replace missing parts of the image even if entire sections of the image are destroyed.

Color damage is also a serious issue when restoring older photographs. Because of the chemicals used by early cameras, images can very easily be distorted by their environment or just by age. An artist with the right tools can scan this image and manipulate the colors so that they are once again balanced, clear, and bright. Issues like contrast can be adjusted and cherished pictures can once again “pop” with eye-catching color and beauty.

How does the image restoration process work? As stated before, the artist begins by digitally scanning the photograph and storing a master copy on their computer. They then review the image for inconsistencies, damage that the owner has cited specifically, and other issues that might not be obvious to an untrained critic. The artist completes the process with a computer program, combined with their artistic skills, to carefully replace and restore certain trouble spots in the picture and again make it complete. The final product is a high definition reprint of your favorite restored photographs.

If you’re eager to revitalize your aging photographs and add new life to photo albums, image restoration is the technique needed to fix all kinds of damage done to your wedding, birthday, graduation, and holiday photos.

Interested in correcting old photographs and repairing damage to priceless family pictures? Contact Barbara at Artberry Gallery today by phone, 1-877-217-9073 [toll free], or by e-mail at our website: http://artberrygallery.com. We’re eager to help you preserve precious memories and reproduce your favorite photographs by combining the newest computer techniques and our artistic touch.

Artist’s note: Truly seamless image restoration has only been possible for roughly ten years. Around the year 2000 computer programs reached the critical point of sophistication that allowed artists to retouch and restore images digitally.

The Versatility and Novelty of Canvas: Artberry Gallery

When one thinks of canvas and considers its important role in art, it’s all too easy to forget about the countless historical uses of the ultra-strong fabric. To the touch, canvas is most often thick and plain, woven carefully for the purposes of strength and durability, and is then stretched taut over a wooden frame (appropriately named a “stretcher”). Its receptiveness to different forms of paint made it the immediate standard of artists around the world centuries ago, even before Renaissance-era portraits and some of art’s greatest achievements were immortalized on canvas. Beyond photographic reproduction and customized canvas printing, however, canvas fabric has proved quite useful in canoe building, trampoline covers, camping equipment, and even military applications that require the most durable fabric for protection.

Linen was initially the only style of canvas available to painters and artisans but if not properly maintained the color of this already brown fabric would deteriorate—sometimes unevenly, which would create a blotchy or decaying image. These issues were remedied by continuous modification and were ultimately fixed by time, experimentation, and the standardized production practices of later generations. Beyond linen, other forms of canvas grew in popularity mostly due to the artist’s desire for the perfect expressive format for paintings and portraits.

Roughly one hundred years ago, cotton canvas became the newest tool in the artist’s arsenal; particularly popular with artists lacking the money for linen, “cotton duck” became the standard for mass production and heralded for its responsiveness to oil and layered painting techniques. More often mass-produced than linen, mechanical weaving machines have boosted the consistency of “cotton duck” considerably and cheaper production costs have made it a favorite for image reproduction, custom printing, and color conversions (e.g. sepia [old-fashioned photographic] reproduction, photo-to-oil reproductions, etc.).

The centuries-old but ongoing popularity of canvas is something to behold. Never before it were individuals capable of preserving art or images with such success. Even today, select artists use it instead of more high-tech or digital solutions because of its particular ease of use and fantastic color results. Canvas might always be the preference for artists and art lovers, so long as they value that combination of durability and beauty only found in canvas originals and custom prints.

Interested in the possibilities of custom canvas solutions for preserving your precious memories and reproducing personal photographs? Contact Barbara at Artberry Gallery today by phone, 1-877-217-9073 [toll free], or by e-mail at our website: http://artberrygallery.com.

Artist’s note: Linen and cotton canvas are the product of two very different plans. Linen is extracted and produced from the flax plant, while cotton canvas is—not surprisingly—derived from the common cotton plant.