You can make a print from any oil painting.
Some of the most notorious reproductions involve forgeries of great masterpieces, sold as originals. They are fodder for crime stories and mysteries concerning works by Picasso and Michelangelo for example. Thankfully, most people are simply interested in having a good copy of an oil-painting. A canvas oil painting can be reproduced in several ways. It can either be physically re-painted, photographed and enlarged using film, or digitized and printed, as in this example.
Instructions
1. Clean the oil canvas of any dust or dirt that may have accumulated on its surface. Place the painting on a stand, or easel at approximately waist height. Place a level on its top edge to make sure the painting is perfectly positioned. Secure it so as perpendicular to the ground as possible and without falling forward.
2. Position the tripod in front of the painting and attach the camera. Move the camera so the painting is well-framed in the viewfinder. Check that the canvas edges are not warped by placing the camera directly in front, and in the middle of the painting. Keep a border around the canvas so you can crop it to size later.
3. Place lights around the painting if necessary and remove glare or reflections by changing the direction of the lights. Face them away from the painting to reduce reflections while increasing the overall ambient light. Take numerous shots of the canvas with the lights in slightly different positions.
4. Upload your images into your graphic software on your computer. Select the image you think worked best, without glare or reflections and showing everything in good detail. Use at least 300 dots per inch in your settings. Use the best setting possible.
5. Crop the image carefully around the edge so you get the complete painting. Keep a small border around the painting to accommodate for printing requirements. Save the image in the best setting possible.
6. Burn the image on CD or other portable storage device and bring it to a printing company that can make extra large-sized prints for you. Use an online printing company if preferable. Send them the image, and order to the size you wish printed.
