artwork for cabinet - how to capture

[laggerific]

I am currently working on my initial cabinet, and I was lucky enough to find an artist who is helping out with the artwork.  One method I was considering was to have her paint templates of the control panel, bezel, and sides, which we would then digitize.  That is where I'm trying to determine the best method.  I'm wondering if I should just take a high MP photo of the art to have it digitized.  Or if someplace like kinkos can digitize something that is 6 feet tall.

That said, what kind of paper and paint would one recommend for the creation of the artwork.  I'm paying for time and expenses, so I'd like to keep the expenses low, if possible.

Thanks for all thoughts and suggestions...I'm open to any and all.

[severdhed]

so you want to have someone paint a full size template if your side art, then digitize it and have it printed?  why not just have her paint the actual cabinet and then you would just be done?....i dont follow your thought process

[laggerific]

Primarily, my thinking is flexibility and time and resources.  The side art will be replicated on both sides, and I don't expect her to paint it twice...would also prefer a consistent finish.  Additionally, I may do some digital tweaks to her final output to me.  So, that is my line of thinking. 

[RayB]

You need a big ol' flatbed scanner.  Print and graphics shops might have one.

[SavannahLion]

Why not just cut out the "middle man" and have the artist create the artwork directly on a PC?

[laggerific]

Yeah, I guess I should call around and see what I can find out...just trying to see if it's worth my time.  

That said, I may just go with a superMP camera and have her do a smaller version and just expand it digitally later.  Or shoot it in chunks and glue it together with those cool panorama programs.  I'm just wondering what ratio I should shoot for if I go for a scaled down version and still have a tight picture when blown up...like 3', 4'?  Also, if it could be smaller, then it would save on paint supplies, as well.  

As for having her work on PC, I'm not sure how comfortable she is with that medium, but its a question I will ask.

[bkenobi]

If you have the artist work on media rather than digitally, you may have an issue with capturing the colors correctly when you digitize it later.  Lighting can dramatically change the look of objects (even art...), so using a camera will result in a different digitized image than using a scanner.

If you do choose to scan it, check around for this one (or one that's similar):
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=119&modelid=11463

I tried one (not this one, but similar) years ago to scan the side art from my cabinet and it did work.  I removed the lid (the one I had required no tools) and held it in place while scanning.  I repeated for all sections of the art.  I then tried to fit everything together.  The primary problem was that stitching software wasn't that good, so I had to do it manually.  Today, there are a lot of very good apps that can stitch stuff together for you, so this might actually work nicely!

[RayB]

I suggest that in the face of the caveats here, you find a digital media artist instead.