I wanted to give you the benefit of many hours of frustration with taking digital photos of artwork! I want to help you get clearer photos you will be happy with. 1 - Use natural light whenever possible. Set up your 'object' near a window. Try not to have direct sunlight on the object and have the light coming from the side. i.e. don't put the window behind the object. The best angle is to have the light from your side and slightly behind you - but be careful not to cast a shadow on the artwork. The point is to eliminate the need for using the camera's flash. The flash will wash out the colors and make metallic and glossy finishes 'weird'. 2 - Use a plain background in neutral colors. I keep a full sheet of light gray and one of dark gray cardstock to place behind my object. Use the light as background for dark items and the dark as background for light objects. This will show off the artwork to the best advantage. You can also use neutral fabrics with a smooth surface. 3 - Do not get too close to the object. Stand back and use the zoom feature to 'move in'. You can always crop the photo in the computer to enlarge it. This increases the depth of field and keeps more in focus than a close up made by standing close. 4 - Try to photograph a flat item 'square on'. If you take a photo of a card at a sharp angle it is difficult to get a true sense of the scale and scope. Usually this will darken part of the card as well and unbalance the colors. Sometimes it is easier to lay the background and card on the floor and take the photo from above to achieve this. 5 - If you are photographing three dimensional items like books, cards that 'pop up', or things that open an interesting way that you want to demonstrate, it is best to photograph them in a 3/4 view. So you would stand up the item and photograph from the side and slightly above. 6 - Take several photos so you can have a choice in selection while you have the item available. If you discover the single photo you took is not suitable it is too late if it has already been sent off! 7 - Edit in the computer for color correction, cropping, and size to present the best finished product. Debbie D. Dodd Studio 3D