Art Reproduction - Lights and Camera

[ik80]

I want to take high quality reproductions of my collages/photomontages.
Example: http://flickr.com/photos/iurikothe/2905666839/

They vary from 7' (17cm) to 30' (80cm) so i dont need big lights.

Two questions:

1. Light: How to set up and which LIGHTS should i get?

2. Camera: dSLR or Point&Shoot with RAW (like Canon SD990IS or Panasonic LX3). Any advice?

thanks in advance

 

[Alani]

How did you create those collages? I would assume something like PS or PSP or some other software. Why don't you use the same software to print or send it some print service, you will get much. much better quality output than taken a picture of a picture. Unless I misunderstand the question.
--
Alan

...
A real artist is the one born to share

 

[adrian_c]

If you want to take a picture of those montages, it will be a classical 'copy' light setup: 2 lights on either side of the camera, at relatively low angle (less than 45) - the lower the better.

If you find that you don't get enough light on them, put a large light (large soft-box) right above, but you should not really need that if the 2 lights on either side are properly set.

If the montage is glossy, make sure that the side lights are outside the family of angles (i.e.: you don't see their reflection with your camera).
Hope this helps

 

[Patrick Corrigan]

Get the book "Light: Science and Magic." It covers all the issues you will deal with when copying art.

 

[Paul Amyes]

Try using an A4 scanner.