Digital Exhibit Guidelines for NESBA Artists

NESBA is initiating Digital Exhibits on the NESBA website as a way to showcase and extend the reach of our member’s artwork. Digital Exhibits are separate from in-person shows or exhibits.

This exhibit is on the NESBA website and will be available to the general public. Your image may be shared on social media such as Instagram. All images are copyrighted to the artist. 

Images for NESBA Digital Exhibits

Digital images should be:

  • The image should be of the artwork only, no frame or matting should be visible.

  • JPG or TIFF format,

  • 72 -150 dpi (dots per inch, sometimes referred to as pixels per inch),

  • 2000-3000 pixels on the longest side - width or height depending on orientation,

  • a maximum 1-5 mb file size maximum, 

  • File named in this format: first initial_lastname_subject. For example: TSmith_Rosarugosa.jpg

A photograph or scan from your iPhone or iPad will provide a resolution of 72 dpi.  Below are some tips on taking a photograph that minimizes edge effects.  

Those of you who prepare prints of your work, you most likely have your work professionally scanned or photographed.  These files can be quite large, and you may need to compress them for the 2 mb file size submission.

Photographing your Work

Taking a good quality photograph on your phone can be tricky.  We recommend you review the Beyond the Brush video “From Paper to Screen” by Tara Connaughton”.   Tara demonstrates how to brighten your photograph and how to remove edge effects with the free online tool Snapseed.  A photo editor like Photoshop can also be used.

Tips for photographing your work:

  • Indirect natural lighting is best.

  • Do not use a flash.

  • A tripod is helpful to avoid camera shake.

  • Make sure your camera is parallel to your artwork. On the iPhone the + sign on the screen turns yellow when the phone is level.

  • Images should clearly show your artwork, be free from photographic shadows and dark areas, not have a color cast (I.e. - whites should appear white, not yellow or blue) and be cropped to show the artwork only (I.e. - no matting, frames, backgrounds, glass reflections, etc.)

  • If you need to resize your file, you can use Photoshop or a free online tool such as Image Resizer


Professional Scan or Photograph

Those of you who prepare prints of your work may already know the best results will be obtained by having the work professionally scanned or photographed.  This person will work with you to provide the appropriately sized file based on the desired print size or other specifications.  These files will typically be 300 dots per inch (dpi) and may be quite large.  You may need to compress your image.  Image Resizer is a free on-line tool for this purpose.

Below are some sources for having scans or prints made recommended by NESBA members:

ImageArts  999 Islington St  Portsmouth, NH  603-430-9222  jwinslow@iaetc.com

Image Resolutions - Norwell, MA www.imageresolutions.com

Jetart Company - Bolton, MA www.jetart.biz