May 16
0

Here today – gone tomorrow

Posted by Toni Collins | Q & A, VR Blog | No Comments

Imagine if the artwork you love, now installed in your home – had to be removed!

 

It can happen. If a company offers you an artwork, which is actually the work of another artist, (and that artist has not given permission), in order to resolve legal action, your provider may need to remove the artwork – replacing it with something else!

Doing your due diligence in the early stages of choosing your splashback provider is so important.

If you love an artwork, and really want that for your splashback – it’s important to know who created the artwork.

 

Here are a few tips on how to avoid the heartbreak and inconvenience a removal could cause.

Let’s say the artwork you are considering is photographic, or a combination ‘mash-up’ of photos; here are a few simple questions to ask:

  • Who took the photograph?
  • And… if someone else took the photograph, do you have permission to offer this image?

 

Beyond the questions there is another significant way to spot a provider of the unethical variety.

Is the artwork being offered to you visible on the companies website?

Or, is the work hidden away in a ‘private gallery’ for example?

 

If there appears to be some secrecy surrounding the work, rather than public openness… that is cause for suspicion. Please beware. Ask yourself; if the company did create the artwork, or had the authority to sell another’s work, wouldn’t they want to present it for all to see, rather than hiding it, and being secretive?

 

If a ‘private gallery’ is offered, that is good cause for alarm bells to ring, for you to be suspicious, and to ask questions about the origins of the artwork.

 

You may well ask, “And why does that matter?”

Because, if your provider is of the unethical kind, they are not likely to have permission to use an artwork created by another artist. And that can become a problem for you.

 

“Why would that be a problem for me?“

If the chosen splash back provider does not have permission to reproduce the art of another artist – that is copyright infringement. The original artist has the exclusive rights to the work, and can demand the removal of a reproduction.

After investing a lot of time and effort to consider, then select the artwork for your splash back, only to discover the person selling to you was not the original creator of the work and does not have any authority to offer it to you… the time spent will have been wasted.

So if you fall in love with a particular artwork, it is worth finding out just a few simple things before committing to a provider – to help you avoid the heartbreak and inconvenience removal of an unlawfully reproduced work may cause.

 

“Are there any exceptions?“

Another scenario entirely is stock photography from an image library source. Let’s say the image you like is from Getty Images – you will be able to source that image yourself; reading and agreeing to the terms Getty have to license the use of the image. It’s pretty straightforward.

 

The final word

The risk we are pointing out in the ‘here today – gone tomorrow’ scenario is when a company is either passing off another’s work as their own, and/or they do not have permission from the original artist to use the work. It will create issues, and you deserve not to be inconvenienced by the potential consequences.

May 02
0
Sequence & timing for your kitchen splashback measure

Sequence & timing for your kitchen splashback measure

Posted by Toni Collins | Q & A, VR Blog | No Comments

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

 

Visual Resource will complete and take full responsibility for the glass measure.
Having the site ready before doing the final check measure however, that is where we do need your help.

 

To assist with the planning of your project, here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

 

  1. Will a glazier come out to do a check measure?

 

  • Yes! Our glazier will visit to complete a final check measure.
  • This is the measure VR will base your glass order upon.

 

  1. When can the check measure happen?

In terms of the sequence, the check measure can be done:

 

  • After your kitchen cabinetry installation, including bench tops.

 

  • Yes, your bench tops need to be in.

 

  • The “rough in” of electrical work has been completed. (So the location and size of power point outlets are known, for example.)

 

  • Appliances have been installed.

 

  • (If relevant) Fixing points for extraction / range hood units have been located and clearly marked. (Only relevant when the glass will continue behind an extraction unit.)

 

  1. How important is the check measure?

 

For VR Art Glass® we work with low iron toughened glass (also known as safety glass), and it is an unforgiving material where there is no room for change of mind, or error.

So the rule – measure three times, cut once – has never been more relevant.

 

Unlike more forgiving materials, we do not get to modify the glass on site if the fit is not right. That’s why, having the kitchen in place (as listed above) prior to our glazier measuring the exact custom size and cut of your splashback – is so critical.

In relation to timing, as you can see from the above checklist…

Your splashback will be one of the last things to be installed within your new kitchen.  Many things come before it!

Apr 18
0

Do you have a showroom?

Posted by Toni Collins | News & Events, Q & A, VR Blog | No Comments

‘Yes.’ 

And you are most welcome to visit and check out the photographic artworks we create and how people use them in their homes.    

You will find the centrally located VR showroom at the Albert Park Lake end of Moray Street in South Melbourne.

To be exact: 341 Moray Street, South Melbourne

The showroom is a creative workspace for VR, and a place you are welcome to visit to see finishes like VR Art Glass®, or the ‘Urban Presentation’, to mention but a few of the many photographic finish options VR can offer you.

More importantly, beyond looking at finishes, we can talk about your project during a visit to the VR showroom.

Exploring, for example…

  • Where you would like to add imagery?
  • What style of artwork is right for you?
  • What will be appropriate and work within your space?

 

Our discussion will explore these important considerations (and others), and VR will provide a recommendation for your project.

We consider this part of the image consultation process; it’s the service we provide to help you find the prefect artwork for your home.  

During our discussion, you will have our undivided attention. We can offer you a coffee, or cup of tea as we enjoy learning about the specifics that make your project unique.

 

Visual Resource SHOWROOM for VR Art Glass printed glass photo art and more South Melbourne

The image consultation process is the service we provide to help you find the perfect artwork for your home.

 

Where are you located again?

The VR showroom isn’t located in an industrial area. Instead you will find us on a tree-lined street, surrounded by intriguing boutique businesses. So while the size of our showroom is modest, we find it to be creatively inspiring and conducive to good conversations.

Once again, you are very welcome to visit and check out the photographic artworks we create and how people use them in their homes.

Find us here: VR Visual Resource, 341 Moray Street, South Melbourne 

VR Visual Resource SHOWROOM 341 Moray Street South Melboourne MAP

Centrally located, you will find the VR Showroom at the Albert Park Lake end of Moray St in South Melbourne.

 

Do I need to make an appointment, or call ahead?

Yes, it is important to make an appointment or call ahead before you visit, so we can reserve a meeting time for you and give you our undivided attention.

Pellegrinis photo Art by Michael Collins framed black and white photographic paper print

You are welcome to visit the VR Showroom. Check out the photographic art we create and how people use them in their homes.

 

Aug 05
1

COPYRIGHT – What’s it all about?

Posted by Toni Collins | Q & A, VR Blog | No Comments

“If I see an image I like on the web, that’s free isn’t it?

I can use that image any way I like… right?”

Imagine for a moment…

You are out for breakfast on a Sunday and the woman on the next table has an elegant Louis Vuitton handbag resting on the back of her chair. You think…that is a good-looking bag, well sized; it will perfectly carry my belongings and compliment my outfit. You happen to have left your handbag at home – so you think, ‘I will have that!’ You lean over and take the handbag from the back of the chair. Would you do that? Probably not… because another person owns the bag! If you did take the bag, do you think the original owner would mind?

You can think about artworks, imagery and creative in the same way.

VR Blog Post COPYRIGHT Louis Vuitton Fashion

If you did take the bag, do you think the original owner would mind? You can think about artwork, imagery & creative in the same way.

 

Imagine you see something on the Internet you like and think it will work wonderfully as your kitchen splashback. In terms of ownership: it is safe to assume that the original creator of the image owns the work and if you would like to use it – asking permission is the thing to do.

VR Inspiration for artwork COPYRIGHT Internet Research COUCH COUPLE

The Internet provides great freedom of access to creative works. Please consider, each original artwork has a creator, and the creator is the owner.

 

“But then why have it on the Internet,” you ask? On the Internet, you can see it, you can make a copy of it in an instant, and surely everything on there is free for the taking? Well… actually… no! The creator of an original artwork may wish to promote and share their work, that’s why it’s on the Internet. And while the Internet does provide unprecedented freedom of access to creative works: please consider, each original artwork has a creator, and the creator is the owner.

Just as you intuitively know a handbag seen in a café has an owner…

Now apply the same thought process to imagery and creative you see on the Internet.

Generally speaking, when an original artwork is produced, the creator owns that work, and the right to reproduce an artwork is owned exclusively by the creator. In essence – that is what Copyright is all about. Copyright is a law to protect the rights and ownership of people who create original works.

The words of a qualified legal professional and expert in the field of Intellectual Property law can assist with understanding. Sharon Givoni wrote:

 

  • Copyright – is the right not to be copied.

 

  • Copyright law is intended to benefit creators.

 

  • Copyright law can provide a protection mechanism, with the intent to provide incentive for creatives to create and invest in ideas with confidence.

 

  • Copyright may be a complex area of law, but the underlying message is quite simple: don’t copy!

 

Extract from: ‘Owning It: A Creative’s Guide to Copyright, Contracts and the Law’.

 

This blog article is presented with the intent to increase understanding of copyright. While my explanation is dreadfully simple, of course, a professional in the area of copyright law would expand upon the vast complexities involved when interpreting and defending this area of law. But that is not really the point of the article.

The intent is to present in basic terms, the principle of a creative practitioner having the right to own their work output – along with the notion of a person taking that creative without consent or payment, is equivalent to stealing.

It is something to ponder.

 

VR Blog COPYRIGHT research for artwork inspiration VISUAL RESOURCE

Visual Resource ABSTRACT Gallery landing page. A wealth of creative inspiration at your fingertips. All works are created by VR and are subject to Copyright.

 

Jun 12
0

Why opt for an original artwork splashback?

Posted by Toni Collins | Q & A, VR Blog | No Comments

You don’t want your home to be just like everyone else’s, and you know individuality lies in the detail. That’s why you’re after a bespoke splashback, because focal points such as this set a home apart and give it a sense of your style and personality.

These days a splashback can be a veritable work of art right in the very heart of your home. This is particularly true if you consider using original photographic artwork as the source of your splashback creative.

Discerning home owners come to Visual Resource because they appreciate that we are first and foremost providers of the highest quality, most stunning bespoke photographic artwork produced by professional photographer Michael Collins. Over the years we have become incredibly skilled in printing these images onto the most spectacular mediums; splashbacks having become one of the most popular choices of ‘canvas’.

WHY OPT FOR AN ORIGINAL ARTWORK SPLASHBACK?

Imagine your next dinner party. Guests come over early in the evening and drinks are poured, nibbles are enjoyed, and conversation flows whilst a meal is prepared. For many of us, it is the kitchen that is the soul of a home and it’s here much of the socialising is done until meals are served.

And it’s moments like this when your original artwork splashback really comes into its own.

Such a splashback is an incredible backdrop – it can deliver the interior anchor for the entire space and be a regular talking point. It can be that coveted feature everyone else envies yet is unlikely to ever have, given its carefully managed limited release.

ALL ORIGINAL ARTWORK REQUIRES DUE DILIGENCE

If you are considering original artwork for your splashback, then it is imperative you research beforehand so that you are assured a bespoke piece. It would be heartbreaking to invest in a supposed original, only to later discover that ‘your’ image is in fact available en-masse, and has been used generically by companies on brochures or merchandise, therefore compromising the integrity of your interior. Removing a splashback is not as easy – nor as cost effective – as simply taking down a framed photograph from a wall…

Dubova WHITE FLOWERS image for a ktichen splashback

The splashback impression is for example only and based on ‘WHITE FLOWERS’, an image created by Dubova – available from Shutterstock. ‘White Flowers’ is not an original artwork created by VR, or offered within VR Collections.

Tshirt mug - could your splashback art end up here

It would be heartbreaking to invest in a supposed original, only to discover that ‘your’ image is in fact available en-masse, used generically by companies on brochures or merchandise. Imagine seeing your splashback image on a T-shirt!

 

WHY VISUAL RESOURCE?

We know this is more than just a splashback – this is a feature in the home you are so carefully creating.

We understand that it is the calibre of the artwork that is of upmost and enduring importance; the glazing and print solution must adhere to this high standard. Approaching this process the other way around – selecting a generic image after the glazing and printing solution – can lead to long-lasting disappointment if not managed by knowledgeable professionals.

Our consultants have extensive experience in this and every other stage of the creative process – we help you select the ultimate artwork for your home, and we work fastidiously to ensure the finished piece is seamless, remarkable, and precisely what you always had in mind.

This is not merely a splashback – this is a work of art in your home.

Dec 02
0

Can I use my own image for my kitchen splashback?

Posted by Toni Collins | Q & A, VR Blog | No Comments

The answer comes in a few sizes: first there is the short version, then medium… and full-scale large reply.  I am not trying to be tricky… there really is a lot to be said to answer the question fully. 

SHORT REPLY
First the short, quick and simple answer – “Yes!”

MEDIUM REPLY
Then…

Yes, you can use your own image for your splashback, and the success of it will depend on your splashback size and the quality of the image file you can provide.

LARGE – THE FULL REPLY

Now… for those among you who cannot get enough about pixels, DPI and megabytes: you are going to love the ‘full-scale large’ answer.  (Brace yourself – imaging jargon and technical speak ahead.)

There is a fantastic guide I recommend written by Tess McCabe called, ‘Graphic design speak – tips, advice and jargon defined for non-Graphic-Designers’.  Click here to find out more about this guide and the author.   Tess McCabe 

The chapter I found super relevant to this particular topic is, ‘Vive La Resolution!’.  The material I am about to share draws from the excellent (and short!) chapter.

Q.  ‘What is the difference between a high-resolution image and a low-resolution image?’       

There is a big difference between low-resolution and high-resolution images.  Here are two main ways to tell them apart.   

  • By File Size
  • By Pixel Dimension

For a little information about determining image resolution by file size:

 

THE WHAT

  • Take a look at the file size details on your computer.
  • For example: JPEG images above 1,500 KB are an indication of a high-resolution image.  (1,000 kilobytes = roughly 1 megabyte.)
  • You can tell that an image is low-resolution if its size is a few hundred kilobytes or fewer.  

 

THE HOW

  • On a PC look at the Details view of a file on Windows, or you can right click the image and select Properties – to be able to see the size of the image in kilobytes (KB).
  • On an Apple Macintosh (Mac), you can select the file in Finder and see its information, or you can click More Info.

 

Next… a little information about determining image resolution by pixel dimensions:

 

THE WHAT

  • Pixel dimensions give you the width and height of an image.  It’s as simple as more pixels = bigger image.
  • As a guide, 100×100 pixels translates to 1x1cm printed at 300 DPI so, 1000×1000 pixels will translate to an image that is able to be printed at a maximum of 10x10cm in high-resolution.

 

THE HOW

  • On a PC in your Details view on Windows, you can view a column called Dimensions – this will give you a measurement in pixels.
  • On an Apple Macintosh (Mac), the pixel information is in the More Info area.

 

Q.  What about a practical Splash Back Example?

Of course, your splashback is likely to be larger than 10x10cm.  Say for example your splashback is 250cm long x 65cm high, (printed @ 150 DPI) you will be needing a file size of at least 160 megabytes.  This would be equal to 14,764 x 3,839 pixels.    

 

Q.  Arggg – do I really need to know all of that?!

“ Beyond knowing how to distinguish a high-resolution image from a low-resolution one… is there a quick and easy way for me to know if my image would work for my splashback size? ” 

The answer is “Yes”. 

If you are working with Visual Resource for your splashback, a simple option is to let VR take a look at your file – then we can give you some advice regarding the size the file may enlarge, before pixelation and poor image quality becomes the print result.  (With Photography as our occupation and passion, the language of DPI, megabytes and pixels is spoken often.  We can save you the trouble of learning this foreign language!)    

 

Possible Question

You may be asking… “I simply want to use my image for my 3,000mm long splashback – why cant I?” 

A visual answer may help.  

VRArtGlass Original Artwork for Printed Splashbacks

Original Image
Please notice the black arrow pointing to the small pink flowers, top right corner.

Original – Image One

The original image size is 2,592 x 1,944 pixels.  If printing at A4 size this image file would deliver a high-resolution quality print.  For an A4 sized print – it is an excellent image file size. 

Splashback Enlargement – Image Two

Now consider if the same image file was to be used for a splash back sized 250cm long x 65cm high (an average kitchen size).  Please notice (in the ‘original’ above) the black arrow pointing to the small pink flowers, top right corner.

The following pink, blurry, abstract looking image is this section of the original now enlarged to full size.  (You are looking at a portion of the splash back visual, if the full splash back was sized 250cm x 65cm.)

Splashback Enlargement VR ArtGlass Image Portion

Splashback Enlargement
The dainty flowers, once quite detailed… would look like THIS on your splashback.
They no longer have any definition or detail.

 

 CONCLUSION

The dainty flowers initially quite detailed on the A4 sized print… would look like this on your splashback.  They no longer have any definition or detail.  The file size is simply not going to accommodate the scale of enlargement and retain image quality.

We do not provide this brief image language introduction to bamboozle, to bewilder or deter you if you have your heart set on featuring your own image on your splashback.  As mentioned right at the start – it is possible.  Something we hold dear however, is seeing you satisfied and happy with the end result.  Therefore, we think it is important to be realistic about the limitations of working with small image files when the task at hand is a large, feature splashback.

You may have a high-resolution file if printing to A4 size is all that is required.  Will your image file still be high-resolution when printing to your splashback size?  That is the main consideration.

Once again… I make the helpful offer: when working with Visual Resource for your splashback masterpiece, just send us a file of the image you have in mind and we can give you some advice about the print resolution quality you would see once enlarged to your splashback size.  Nice and easy!