How to Use Rasterbator and Cheatsheet

Rasterbator.net is an online tool for artists, especially when working with acrylics like yourself. This free web application allows you to transform any image into a large-scale poster by splitting it across multiple pages that can be printed and assembled. Here's an overview of the process and why it's such an excellent tool for your acrylic painting process:

The Rasterbator Process:

1. Upload your image to the website.
2. Choose your paper size (usually US Letter) and orientation.
3. Adjust the output size to match your desired canvas dimensions.
4. Generate and download your poster as a PDF.
5. Print the pages and assemble them to create your large-scale image.

The following is a visual aid for using the Rasterbator.net program. Here is a PDF cheat sheet for you to print out!

Load the image that you want to enlarge. You have three different ways to upload your image.

The MOST IMPORTANT STEP! Select either “mm” or “inch”, and select the correct paper that you will be printing on!

Start changing the Output size to get closer to your desired canvas size. If you were going for an 18×14, so I took it to 2 sheets wide. Notice that isn’t big enough. Then I tried 2.5 and 2.4…both too large.

Now that I know it’s between 2.3 and 2.4 sheets wide, I move out another decimal place to 2.35. Still a little big, but you can fine-tune it even further.

By going to another decimal place, you have gotten very close to the 18×14, which is your target, as you can see with 2.333.

After pressing “Continue” from the previous step, select “No effects” on this page and press continue, and continue on the next.

This is what you have been waiting for! The final output will be downloaded as a PDF file ready to print!

These are two more examples to show how the “Output size” number will vary widely depending upon your final output size.

Why Rasterbator is a Great Tool for Artists:

1. Easy Scaling: Rasterbator allows you to enlarge images to any size, making it perfect for creating guides for large canvas paintings. This is especially helpful for beginners struggling with proportions when scaling up an image freehand.
2. Cost-Effective: You can create large-scale images using a standard home printer instead of purchasing expensive large-format printers or paying for professional printing services.
3. Flexibility: The tool offers various customization options, including dot size, density, and even shapes like circles, squares, or triangles. This allows artists to create unique effects or adjust the level of detail in their reference image.
4. Precision: Rasterbator includes page position markers, making assembling the printed pages correctly easy. This ensures that your reference image is accurate when transferred to the canvas.
5. Versatility: You can use Rasterbator for various purposes, from creating reference images for paintings to making large decorative posters for your studio or classroom.
6. Learning Tool: Rasterbator can help you understand concepts like scaling, proportion, and grid methods in art. It's a practical way to bridge the gap between small reference images and large canvases.
7. Time-Saving: By providing an accurate, large-scale reference, Rasterbator can save artists time in the initial sketching and planning stages of a painting.
8. Accessibility: As a web-based tool, Rasterbator is easily accessible to everyone, regardless of their computer setup or technical skills.

In conclusion, Rasterbator.net is an invaluable tool for acrylic artists of all levels. It simplifies creating large-scale reference images, allowing artists to focus more on the creative aspects of painting rather than the technical challenges of scaling. Incorporating this tool into your teaching gives your students a practical, cost-effective method to tackle larger projects and improve their skills.