The original Bargue-Gérôme plates were 18 x 24 inches in size, much larger than their reproductions in the book. In order to do the studies, I had to scan the plates in the book and print them larger. This concerned me a little, since anytime you scan a printed image and reprint it (especially using consumer grade scanners and printers) you're going to degrade the image.
I scanned the plates hi-res (300dpi), played with brightness/contrast in photoshop, scaled them, and printed them on tabloid laser printer paper. After a few test prints and adjusting my photoshop levels, I was satisfied and ready to move on. For time considerations and efficiency, I decided to do my drawings at a smaller size than the originals - 11 x 14 inches.
The prints aren't perfect, but they held up better than expected. One issue, for example; the half-tone subtleties are difficult to see. I know other artists doing this course have gone to great lengths to print the plates more accurately, so as to reproduce these subtleties. Personally, I don't feel that's the best use of my time. That's why having the book is key. I'll refer to the prints in the book when getting into the detail work. I'll let you know if I have a change of heart regarding this decision.
