Photographing Cross Stitch Tips
How to Take Perfect Pictures of Your Work Every Time
Taking good photographs of finished cross stitch projects, whether for submission to a magazine, recording your work or posting to a blog is important and easily achieved
Many cross stitchers photograph their work. This might be for magazine submissions or simply to keep a record of their work. Photographs need to reflect the quality of the cross stitch, showing clearly the colors, any special stitch detail, the finishing and of course the design. Sue White, the Consultant Art Editor of The World of Cross Stitch Magazine oversees the cross stitch photography for the magazine and has some useful tips for successfully photographing needlework.
Sue White's tips for perfect cross stitch photography include:
- Good Light – a natural light is better than artificial light. While bright sunshine can be too harsh, the natural light just inside a window can be perfect. It is also possible to use flash; however, make sure that flash light does not make the cross stitch look faded.
- Reflections – if the cross stitch is framed, take the glass out before photographing it. This will stop any reflections and allows a clear photograph.
- Flat Surface – make sure the cross stitch is flat without any kinks or bumps. An uneven surface will make the cross stitch look distorted in the finished photograph and will spoil the overall look of the work.
- Plain Backgrounds – a plain background will show off your cross stitch to its best advantage. A "busy" background, for instance patterned wallpaper or curtains, will detract from the beauty of the cross stitch itself. Try laying the cross stitch on plain fabric.
- Scanner – have a go at scanning images. This technique often shows greater stitch detail, is suitable for recording special stitches or other features and is useful for keeping a record of your own work.
- Resolution – take the photograph using a high resolution. This is important for showing the detail of the stitch work. If the files are extremely large, they could always be edited in size later using a photograph manipulation package.
In addition to receiving photographs of the cross stitch itself, magazines also enjoy receiving photographs of the readers holding their cross stitch. This helps give a human face to the readers behind the cross stitch. When taking photographs of people holding cross stitch, Sue says there are a couple more points that are useful to note:
- Plain Clothes – just as a patterned wall paper or curtained background will detract from cross stitch, so will heavily patterned clothes. A plain top is best to show off the cross stitch.
- Hands – when holding cross stitch, make sure that your hands do not cover or obscure any of the stitching. Hold the cross stitch carefully around the edge.
More information about World of Cross Stitching Magazine including free designs and projects can be found at the CrossStitching.com website. Thank you to Sue for these top tips!
