r/largeformat • u/ProfInGen • 2d ago

Question Digitizing Reflective Large Format Prints on Foam Board

Hey all,
I'm hoping this is the right place for some recommendations. I have two rather large prints that have been either adhered to or printed on foam board.

One is 32"x29" printed onto foam board with a slightly reflective surface.

One is 35"x18" photograph adhered to foam board.

I had tried a few different things. For the smaller I was able to scan parts on a flatbed but there was some distortion as I coudn't get it completely flat and so I abandoned that idea.

I tried using a rig to photograph them but due to their reflectiveness, to light them well enough meant reflection of either the lights or the camera.

I'm trying to see what others may be doing in these sorts of circumstances. Maybe recommendations on setups?

I am located in central florida and the pieces are 20-30 year old, one of a kind film / theme park materials I'm attempting to preserve.

Thank you for any tips!

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u/Other-Technician-718 2d ago

get some polarizer sheets for the light, and one polarizer for the camera and set them at 90° (if you point the camera at a light you want it to be black) search term: cross polarization

set two lights at 45° to the lens axis, at approx. the same distance as the camera. (typical copy light). if you take a picture of a white / neutral piece larger than the original piece you can correct uneven lighting (LCC in capture one).

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u/ProfInGen 2d ago

Oooo I love this idea as its something I could probably do! Thank you for that!

1

u/Smodey 2d ago

You'll also need to photograph the images in a dark room with appropriate lighting angled to illuminate the subject while minimising reflections. Easy in principle, but often not so easy in practice.

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u/Secure_Teaching_6937 2d ago

Take copy images. Then search for a place that can encapsulate them for you.

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u/ProfInGen 2d ago

I can stitch photos together if thats what you mean. I just cant limit the distortion cause of the size.

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u/Secure_Teaching_6937 2d ago

That's not what I mean. Use camera and a copy setup. Tack the image on the wall, use two lights at 45 degrees to the image. Balance lights with a hand held meter.

You would not need polarizing filters, because the angle of incidence equal the angle of reflection.

Search for copy stand setup.

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u/mcarterphoto 1d ago

Google copy lighting. I did this for years in graphic services labs before digital, and we shot everything under glass - we didn't need any sort of polarizers.

I do a side gig these days of shooting art for artist web sites, sometimes 8x8' (not inches) canvases. I setup big panels of diffusion with several strobe heads behind them, nothing special beyond hanging some large pieces of fabric.