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What Camera?
Many cameras provide excellent images for textile photography. Select a camera that produces images of at least 5 megapixels so pictures can be enlarged. Use a camera that has a 3X zoom lens.
Camera Accessories
Use a tripod to make well-focused and sharp images of textiles. Select a tripod strong enough to provide good stability. Use reflector type shop lights with daylight balanced bulbs for correct white balance and good lighting. Use a remote or cable release to avoid shaking the camera at low shutter speeds.
Lighting Textiles
Take textile images indoors for consistent lighting in controlled conditions. Use only daylight-balanced bulbs to eliminate white balance problems. Mount the lights so they point nearly directly at the textile. If the textile is behind glass, use sheets of white paper or foam core board to reflect light into the frame to avoid reflections.
Mounting Textiles
Use white or black foam core board so the image will not have a cluttered background. Mount the textile on the board temporarily. Place the board on a wall if the textile is 2D or on a plain floor if the textile is 3D. Small pins or tacky material can be used for temporary mounting.
Making The Image
Check the white balance setting on the camera or check the balance with a gray card. Take the image using the camera self timer or a cable release to avoid camera shake. Set the lens aperture to an aperture of around f 5.6 to eliminate lens distortion. Bracket several images at different exposures. Process the best of the images using quality photographic software.