Photograph Tips

When choosing a photograph please keep in mind that a good photograph will help produce a good Image Weave tapestry and a bad photograph will make it difficult to get a satisfactory result.                    

How to take (choose) a great PHOTOGRAPH:

  1. High Contrast: A nice, high contrast photo will always work best. There needs to be good distinction between lights & darks, good detail in the subject and a balance in contrast. A subject wearing white on white background or white beach or a subject wearing dark colours on a dark background will not yield the best result.
     
  2. Large Subject Matter:  The subject in your photo should take up approximately 75% of the image. This will allow your Image Weave tapestry to have the most detail possible and the colours will be more vibrant and true to life. Since the subject in the photo should take up approximately 75% of the image, we suggest you do not use photos of large groups of people. If the subject in your photo does not take up 75% of your photo you may consider cropping the photo.
     
  3. Focus on the subject:  Take your photo at an appropriate distance from the subject. Standing too far from the subject causes the camera to capture less detail on the subject itself and adds worthless space. Make sure that the subject you wish to capture takes up 75% of the photo. See also the FAQs section within this website for more information in this regard.

                     
      Good                                                      Better                                                 Best 

  1. Colour:  Try to choose a photograph with realistic colouring. If the face in your photo is red, your Image Weave tapestry will also have a face that is red, even with some manipulation of the image by us before weaving. Try to pick a photo with good skin tones, attractive colours and no shadows. Try to pick the most colour-rich photo you have. Black and white or sepia photos work fine and produce a good tapestry. While we can weave your tapestry from any photo, an older photo will not be the best choice unless it has been restored or is still very clear.
     
  2. Focus: Choose a photo that is crisp and sharp. The better the focus the better your Image Weave tapestry reproduces.
     
  3. Size:  The tapestries are available in two sizes and each size requires a different image size or pixel dimension. We will resize your image and send to you for approval (this process may involve some cropping) before it is sent to the loom for weaving however the closer you can get your photo to the sizes as set out below, the better the end result. Your photo should be of resolution 300 ppi (pixels per inch aka dpi) or higher.

Small Wall Hanging:    66cm x 86cm (26” x 34”) 768 x 950 ppi
Large Wall Hanging:    96cm x 135cm (38” x 53”) 1293 x 1600 ppi
Cushion:                        45cm square (18" square) 768 x 768 ppi