Using Your Digital Camera as a Design Tool, Part 2

One of the many benefits of taking digital images of any work in progress, is that there is the ability to view and crop works on the computer. Simply putting the image of the work up on the screen gives the opportunity to assess progress away from the work itself. This will probably be of a different scale to the actual work but does allows for a 'fresh eye' assessment. If the composition is somewhat in doubt, try cropping/trimming off some of the areas and viewing the work again. Save each of the cropped images so that you can return and assess them again. This is much easier than trying to mask off areas, re-arrange, and perhaps try and return to possibility number two. You may find that by removing a portion, the whole piece comes together more successfully.
The same process may be used when you have decided that a work is just about there. Sometimes the raw unfinished edges, yet to be bound or framed and with the wall/background behind the image, can be very distracting. Crop them out and view the work again as a completed work.
The images here show a piece I was having grave difficulties with (I cringe at showing this piece but I did promise to show some 'warts'). As a result of cropping this piece on screen I sliced off the sides and then felt it might just have a future (with some perseverance this piece did survive and I will show you the completed piece in Part 3 of Using your Digital Camera as a Design Tool).
The final image is of a Silk Jacquard fabric length completed this week – all techniques used will be profiled in due course.
With reference to my Blog of last week: the http://www.rssfwd.com website which allows you to receive this Blog as an email after each posting seems to be contrary at times, but it does work, when it opens up! An alternative is http://www.feedblitz.com Open up Solutions on their top bar and choose Subscribers. You can read all about their service and register.


Oh dear!!


That's better...


FL4 Silk Jacquard 115cm x 1.9 metres; soya wax, cold-batch dyeing and discharge.

Next Blog: Personal safety measures when working with dyes and chemicals