Charlie Kirkham

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Documenting metallic artworks: how to scan and photograph to minimise reflections

Solving the challenges faced in documenting brushed gold pieces and offers tips for photographing metallic or reflective 2D artwork, including choosing the right location, using diffused lighting, adjusting camera settings, experimenting with angles, and post-processing. The method of creating a buffer zone for scanning is highlighted as a favorite. Reflections and glare are discussed throughout.

Charlie Kirkham
2–4 minutes
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For a while now I’ve been working on a series of brushed gold pieces using laser engraving. It’s so great seeing how these have turned out and enjoying the shiny reflective surfaces. What I didn’t anticipate is how hard they are to document.

silver metallic mirror surface with reflection of photographer inside
Reflective surfaces such as glass, metal and resin are really hard to document! Image from Canva.

From reflections in the photos to impossible scans these come with a whole set of challenges. I’ve spoken here about how to photograph glazed works about why it’s important to document your artwork and the process behind it.

The difficulty in documenting these metallic works has made pitching them really challenging. At last there’s a method that works and I want to share it with you.

photographer in light club setting looking up
Image from Canva

Here are my tips for photographing metallic or reflective 2D artwork:

1. Choose the Right Location: Set up your photography area in a space with controlled lighting. Avoid harsh overhead lights or direct sunlight, as they can create unwanted reflections on the metal surface. You can create a ‘light tent’ to work in by using white card or fabric to block out everything except the immediate surroundings.

Lighting makes the difference single black light in grey room
Image from Canva.

2.Use Diffused Lighting: Use soft, diffused lighting sources to minimize harsh reflections on the metal surface. You can achieve this by using softboxes, diffusers, or shooting during cloudy days to diffuse natural light. This works well if you’re creating a secondary or in situ image of works

Change up your camera settings to let more or less light in. Image from Canva.
Change up your camera settings to let more or less light in. Image from Canva.

3. Adjust Camera Settings: Set your camera to manual mode to have full control over the exposure settings. If you choose a lower shutter speed use a tripod to stabilise the camera.

camera on ground at an angle
Adjusting the angle of your camera can make a big difference. Image from Canva.

4. Experiment with Angles: Try shooting from different angles and perspectives to avoid the glare. Again this is best for the secondary or detail shots.

post production can improve photos, lady in headscarf editing photography
Photo editing can help fix minor glare. Image from Canva.

5. Post-Processing: Use a photo editing package to adjust the images. This works well if there are only minor reflections.

Wait, it’s a small piece, can’t I just scan it?

Scanning mettalics can go wrong quickly
Scanning is great, unless it’s metallic finish. Image on the right is the first scan attempt, as you see it’s very dark. Stock images from Canva, art image from Charlie Kirkham.

Sure you can, but if you scan it the surface has no room for light to bounce so it’ll end up looking pretty dark…like this dark scan shown above.

My top tip is to create a buffer zone between the scanner bed and the artwork. I use thin slices of cork in between the scanner bed and the artwork to allow a little bit of reflective bounce back.

Using small buffers such as cork or canvas inserts means the light can bounce back. Above right shows the scan with the buffer wood and edited, left is an edited image showing brushed gold finish work.
Using small buffers such as cork or canvas inserts means the light can bounce back. Above right shows the scan with the buffer wood and edited, left is an edited image showing brushed gold finish work. All images from Charlie Kirkham.

This is now my favourite method for documenting the works!

You can effectively document highly reflective artworks, even mirrored artworks. It’s about experimenting and finding out what works best.

What do you do to get the best images of reflective artworks? Comment below I love to hear from you.

REFERENCE LINKS

Home – Canva

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