Frequently Asked Questions

How do I lock the focus and aperture on the iPhone?

On the iPhone, point the camera at the center of the artwork, touch and hold your finger on the screen until it shows that it is locked. This will keep the focus and aperture locked between each segment photo, which will ensure the same brightness and exposure for all the images.

Do I move the camera when shooting my segment photos?

Keep the camera in the center of the painting throughout the process, only tilting the camera slightly to aim at the segment you are photographing. Then tilt the camera at the next section to shoot the next segment. Do not place the camera in front of each segment. The camera should be angled (while staying in center of the artwork) to aim at the edges.

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Is camera location important?

Yes! Always keep your camera lens located in the center of the artwork.

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How should I light my artwork?

Lighting the artwork:

Even lighting across the face of the painting is recommended.
Daylight works very well (outside on overcast day or in the shade on sunny day).
If paint is glossy, an indoor lighting system with polarized film is a great solution for removing glare. This is more labor intensive but relatively easy once you set it up.

Lighting Formula

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Why does shooting the edges of my artwork matter?

The most frequent reason we see a failed Zip is that the artist doesn't include all of the edges of the artwork. We can’t send you a high-res image of your art if you don’t send us images of your whole painting!

When shooting the outer edges of the painting, make sure to capture all the edge of the painting in the shot (See diagram).
Painting should be shot on a contrasting background. For example: white painting on dark wall, or dark painting on light wall. This way we can better tell where the edges of the artwork are.

Shoot artwork against contrasting background and include the edges of the artwork.

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Can I shoot my images in the app?

Yes, when shooting an artwork, the user can upload the images a few different ways:

Shoot the images on phone. Then go to Artzip.com on your Phone and start the process of creating a zip and upload the images from your photos.
Shoot the images on phone. Then go to Artzip.com on your Computer and start the process of creating a zip and upload the images from your photos.
Go to Artzip.com on your Phone and start the process of creating a zip, then when prompted to upload your images, just shoot the image, upload it, and shoot the next image, etc.
Shoot the images on DSLR. Download to your Computer. Then go to Artzip.com, start the process of creating a zip, and upload the images from your files.

What is PPI?

The first step to understanding how to print high-quality photos is to understand pixels per inch (PPI). The pixels on your digital camera or computer screen get converted into dots on the printed photo. The more pixels you have per inch (centimeter), the sharper your photos will be. A general rule of thumb is to try to have a PPI of between 175 and 300.

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You can learn more by visiting our PPI guide here.

Can I make prints that are larger than my painting?

We recommend printing at the same size or smaller than the actual painting. While the resolution is high, you should not expect to create prints that are twice the size as your original artwork at this time. Depending on the size preferred, and the size of your final Zip, you can probably print larger than the artwork, however, we recommend discussing that with your printer.

I received an Error Message when trying to download my high resolution Zip on my phone.

Often the Zip is too large for a phone to handle. We recommend downloading your Zip to your computer.

My Zip didn’t come out correctly

Any of these requirements were not met when shooting the artwork or uploading your images.

You neglected to include the edges of the artwork.
You didn't upload all the segment photos.
Camera was not centered on the artwork. Keep the camera lens located at the center of the artwork.
Your reference photo was not aligned evenly on your artwork (i.e., it was out of square).
Too much movement of the camera between segment shots. Try to keep the lens in the same location while rotating the camera.
Not enough contrast between the artwork and the background on which it was shot. The algorithm has better success in identifying and finding the edges of your artwork when there is some difference between your artwork and the wall it is shot on.
Too much going on in the background (i.e., artwork leaning against a telephone pole, not against a wall).
Not enough overlap or too much overlap of the segment photos. 20% overlap is recommended.
One or more of the segment photos was out of focus.

What is the correct resolution for making prints at 100% of the size of my artwork?

300 ppi is best, however, any printer will agree that 150 ppi (pixels per inch) will make a great print.

My Zip is grainy or out of focus

You may be shooting in low light, and you should shoot in brighter light for your camera to be able to take in more data.

My Zip is low res

Your camera is too far away, and you need to move closer.

How many segment photos should I shoot?

Typically, you will need to shoot between 4 to 12 segment photos, depending on the size of your artwork. See example illustrations below.

Segment illustrations

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What size artworks can I shoot with Artzip?

With a normal iPhone, 48" is the maximum recommended size of artwork to shoot with a smartphone. Any larger and the edges of the artwork lose pixels. If your phone has a telephoto lens, (iPhone 11 Pro for example) you are able to stand farther away from the artwork and zoom in. Using this technique allows you to shoot 60” artworks.You can shoot larger artworks with a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens. This way you can stand further away from the artwork, yet zoom in to capture each detail shot. The larger the artwork, the more detail shots you will need to shoot. Users have been able to create fantastic Zips of murals up to 10' high and 30' long. The PPI of the image will depend on your camera's capability. Even an iPhone will create a great Zip that will allow you to make a good size print.

What type of file will I receive?

The Zip is a TIFF file.

What camera should I use?

You can use your iPhone, Android phone, or DSLR camera to shoot your artwork and create high-resolution images using Artzip. When using an iPhone, we recommend using an iPhone X or better.

Is Artzip easy?

Yes, Artzip is easy!

There is a small learning curve but once you get the hang of shooting the art correctly, you’ll be finished in minutes. When you upload good photos, you get a fantastic Zip!

How much does it cost?

Pay $25 to unlock your Zip and remove the watermark.
You then have unlimited downloads of that image, and can send the image to your preferred printer. We recommend creating a few Zips of the same artwork in one session to ensure you've gotten it right, then choose and purchase your most successful Zip.

What’s the big deal?

Before Artzip, you had to hire a professional photographer to create a high-resolution image (which you need in order to make good fine art prints of your art). With Artzip, you can shoot a handful of detail shots on your smartphone and upload them to the Artzip website, then Artzip zips the images together to create a high-res image of your artwork…and voila!

What’s a Zip?

A Zip is the high-resolution image that you receive when we zip your segment photos (detail shots) together.