Not Polarized
Cross Polarized (No Glare)
detail from original painting by Gary Campbell
What Is Cross-Polarization?
Cross-polarization is a technique used in photography to reduce or eliminate unwanted reflections and glare. In art reproduction, this is especially important when photographing artwork with glossy surfaces, textured brush strokes, or varnished finishes. It helps ensure accurate color, texture, and detail capture.
In simple terms, cross-polarization works by placing polarizing filters on both the lights and the camera lens.
Why Is It Important for Artwork Photography?
When digitally capturing artworks with surfaces that reflect light unevenly (such as oil paintings, acrylics, and graphite drawings, cross-polarization can help with:
- Even, reflection-free capture of the entire artwork
- Truer color representation
- Faithful reproduction of surface texture and brushwork
Not using cross-polarization with art reproduction photography can sometimes result in:
- Glare that hides detail
- Washed-out colors from light bouncing off the surface
- Distracting highlights that can’t be edited out cleanly
The Setup
