Outsource Images

Unlimited Image resources for Artists

John KnappUSA
pastel artist
knapp@bmi.net

Bernard Texier France
btexier@dub-internet.fr

 

 

 

Information about the CDs

Why do artists need this CD

The idea for this disk came as I was preparing images for a report to the Northwest Pastel Society on the completion of their 2002 Expedition. In 2002 the expedition was to a unique location in Eastern Oregon, known for its unusual volcanic formations. While on that trip, I took about 300 digital images. As I was assembling the images for the records of the society,  I commented to my wife that it was too bad that more artists did not take part. Too bad, because those who did not attend will not have access to materials necessary for creating paintings about one of America's jewels.  Artists do not lack materials, since on the net, and in magazines there are many copies, but all of them are copy written and as such, unsuitable as subjects for paintings used in exhibitions, shows,  or for sale. 

It struck me that this situation had been created by the modern photographer. Fear over copyright protection and the tenacity which photographers have when enforcing their "rights," has created confusion in the minds of artists and art teachers. Artists who want to just use such images as a guide and create their own work are haunted by the reality that if  there is enough similarity and the painting is successful, a copyright lawyer will be right along.

The CD I am selling is one solution to this dilemma. I am hoping that my work will be followed by other artists who are also fed up with the current situation and will publish images of their locations. The idea behind "outsource" CD's is that all images in this CD are created for the artist to use. ALL paintings, sketches, alterations, montages, or any other media made from these original images will be the property of the artists who own the CD. Your original work is yours. I do not give license to just copy the digital image and sell it, but I do give license to use the image for study, teaching, and creating. If an artists expression is so perfect that you can hold up the original and it looks exactly like the image in the CD, that is OK!

About the CD

The images in this CD are all in JPeG format. They are large. The size of the images is anywhere from 1.5 megs to 5 megs. On a few, the size is over 30 megs. Most images, if printed would be 32" by 24". Since most printers will not print such a large image an artist will need some sort of graphic program. I use Photoshop, but a person has a number of other options. Using a graphic program, an artist can open one of these large images to full size and move through the image as if there. When the artist finds the frame desired,  "outline" and "crop." Some image adjusting may be needed, then print.

Take a look at the image below. It is from the collection and is of the main canyon of Leslie Gulch. The original image is almost 5 megs: reduced here to go through the internet down to about 40K. The colors have been adjusted to match the original colors of the canyon on the day it was taken. The colors, however are a bit dark, due to the rain on that day. So you might want to lighten up the page. Also, the picture was taken from the road--boring. So, what you might do is go either to your left or right and remake the image,  then crop and print. A number of images can be printed from this one: one over exposed, one in the middle, and one under exposed. There is enough information in these huge images to give details in all three.

Now take a look at the three images below. You will notice that the one to the left is again a road shot of another canyon in Leslie Gulch. Again the color of the rocks and foliage has been adjusted to match the natural color. Here I have cropped two more times to show what could be done. The image may not be any more interesting, but the capabilities of the image to respond to what an artist wants is obvious. Study those images. Notice that in the first image (wide angle), the basalt spire is darker. As I enlarged the image, I also had to lighten it as well. Again with the third image, more lightening (those rocks are full of iron and other dark minerals). It would be possible to go in one more time before loosing the image. An artist will have dozens of possible subjects from each image using these techniques.


Printing the images: Depending upon your printer (and I assume a color printer), you also have options. Most printers have the option to print on glossy paper or a number of varieties of papers. Each paper will have its unique properties. Each of these properties will give a different slant on the subject. Printing will also give more ways to crop an image, enlarge or change a composition. Printing also causes images to darken. This is due to the fact that the light coming through the CRT (monitor) is going through the color is projected on your eyes. With the printed image light must reflect off of the paper and then back. So the image created will need to be adjusted. Again, your graphic program will do this. 

Changing the Index: An index of all 180 images is included. On the image is a brief description of the picture and where it is. This index is on the CD and also at http://www.bmi.net/knapp/outsourcedex.html . You can copy the original index to your hard drive and make changes as you need, locating favorite images or deleting others.

Using the map: Two maps are included in the CD - Succor Creek Canyon and Leslie Gulch. One is an overview of the area, and the other a detail map. You can follow along with the index and locate where the picture was taken. If you are intrigued by what you see and you decide to visit the place, that map can assist you in your travels. Note: don't go there in winter or summer. It is dangerous.

The CD Glacier National Park uses an on line map: http://www.nps.gov/glac/pphtml/maps.html 

System Requirements: The CD is burned in ISO 9660 universal format. The images are in JPeG. The CD can be read by both Mac and Windows format. Additional requirements are:

For American Orders go to: American orders

For those in Europe, Asia or Africa go to: European Orders
Copyright © 2002 "Outsource Images". All rights reserved.
Revised: July 06, 2008 .