Scanning and Uploading Artwork

SETTING UP YOUR ART FOR PHOTOGRAPHING

Please set your camera to it's highest resolution. Set the drawing on the floor, taking the appropriate precautions to make sure that it is safe; such as setting it on something clean, if outside, set it on a large, one-tone, towel. The background around the drawing should be of a contrasting color and only one color, so it can be cropped out of the image.  Stand over the drawing with your camera facing it straight on. Many cameras have a swivel screen to make this easier. If you cannot do this, try using double-stick tape to temporarily attach the drawing to the wall and take the photograph that way. It is IMPERATIVE that the camera be facing the drawing straight on, the top and bottom should be perfectly parallel as well as the sides (to each other).

SET THE COLOR BALANCE CORRECTLY ON THE CAMERA

Digital cameras have controls that allow the operator to set the nature of the LIGHTING illuminating the subject. In general they will default to daylight, since shots are likely to be taken outdoors. On this setting, pictures taken indoors under artificial tungsten lighting will look yellow -- they will have a yellow cast. Pictures taken under strip lighting will look green. Setting the camera appropriately will produce CONSISTENT balanced photographs.

Look in the camera manual to see how to set the control -- it is very easy. Flash guns produce a light, which is very similar in color 'temperature' to that of daylight; or simply take your photograph outdoors. Take several shots so you can pick your best one for uploading.

PREPARING YOUR FILE TO UPLOAD INTO www.mychildsrainforest.org

Follow your usual procedure to upload the photographs to your computer.
View the picture of the artwork you just took. If necessary, crop the image so that only the artwork is showing.
Pick only one shot of each drawing to upload.

UPLOADING YOUR ARTWORK

The instructions are essentially the same whether you are uploading for a group or yourself, if you already have an account. If you are uploading on behalf of an organization that does not have an account you will need to create one by going here.

Create a user acount | Have a user account

Create a User Account

1. If you haven't, create an account with My Childs Rainforest.
2. Fill out the information, and click on submit. Fill out the artist information for each artist in your family. Don't have time? Only fill out the artist information that you want to do now. You may always return to the User Center at a later date to add/update artists as well as add / modify artwork.
3. On the next page, you will need to identify the artist who did the drawing, Title the drawing, give an age (or let the system calculate it for you by leaving that field blank), and finally click on the browse button and navigate to the drawing you would like to upload. -- Have multiple files you would like to upload? No problem, you will simply need to repeat this process ( there is an option after you upload to return to the add artwork page).

Have a User Account

1. Log in to your My childs Rainforest account
2. Select User Center from the Navigation Menu
3. If you have already added this artist to your list, click on Add/Modify Artwork
4. Click on Upload new Artwork.
5. Follow the prompts.