Digital ImagingDigital Imaging

Utah State University Utah State University ExtensionExtension

Eric HawleyEric Hawley

““Agenda”Agenda”• Digital Camera features, terms, and technologiesDigital Camera features, terms, and technologies• Transferring images from camera to computerTransferring images from camera to computer• ““Developing” digital images:         Developing” digital images:        

– Understanding resolution and image size (How do you Understanding resolution and image size (How do you get a 5x7 image?)get a 5x7 image?)

• Editing, transforming, and processing images Editing, transforming, and processing images • Understanding and working with different image Understanding and working with different image

file formats file formats • How to adjust an image for different applications How to adjust an image for different applications

(such as web, e-mail, archival and print)(such as web, e-mail, archival and print)– Editing “blemishes”Editing “blemishes”– Adjusting color balance, contrast, brightness, etc.Adjusting color balance, contrast, brightness, etc.– Batch tools – making similar changes to a large group of Batch tools – making similar changes to a large group of

photos (Using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements)photos (Using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements)

Things that Don’t Go AwayThings that Don’t Go Away

• There are always two people in every There are always two people in every picture:  the photographer and the viewer.picture:  the photographer and the viewer.    ~Ansel Adams~Ansel Adams

• No photographer is as good as the simplest No photographer is as good as the simplest camera.camera.    ~Edward Steichen~Edward Steichen

• I hate cameras.  They are so much more I hate cameras.  They are so much more sure than I am about everything.sure than I am about everything.    ~John ~John SteinbeckSteinbeck

• Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer.  It makes you a Nikon owner.photographer.  It makes you a Nikon owner.    ~Author Unknown~Author Unknown

““Post Photographic” SkillsPost Photographic” Skills

• Getting files off of the camera or Getting files off of the camera or scannerscanner

• ArchivingArchiving

• Choosing and adjusting image file typeChoosing and adjusting image file type

• EditingEditing

• Scaling size/resolution for web/e-mailScaling size/resolution for web/e-mail

• Scaling size/resolution for printScaling size/resolution for print

Terms and ConceptsTerms and Concepts

• PixelsPixels

• Image Resolution Image Resolution

• ““Output” or “Physical” Image Size Output” or “Physical” Image Size

• Color DepthColor Depth

• File FormatsFile Formats

To the drawing board…To the drawing board…

Back from the drawing Back from the drawing board…board…

File FormatsFile Formats

““Web Friendly” File FormatsWeb Friendly” File Formats

• JPEG imagesJPEG images (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe, (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe, *.jfif) *.jfif) - many compression levels (lossy)- many compression levels (lossy)

• CompuServe images CompuServe images (*.gif)(*.gif)- compression format: LZW (lossless)- compression format: LZW (lossless)

- special: interlaced, non-interlaced - special: interlaced, non-interlaced

• Portable network graphic images Portable network graphic images (*.png)(*.png)- compression format: LZ77 - compression format: LZ77

JPEG/JPG JPEG/JPG “Photographical”“Photographical”

• JPEG is designed for compressing either JPEG is designed for compressing either full-color or grey-scale digital images of full-color or grey-scale digital images of "natural", real-world scenes. It does not "natural", real-world scenes. It does not work so well on non-realistic images, work so well on non-realistic images, such as cartoons or line drawings. such as cartoons or line drawings.

• Remember, the 'P' in JPEG stands for Remember, the 'P' in JPEG stands for 'Photographic'. It was designed to be 'Photographic'. It was designed to be used to compress photographic image used to compress photographic image data. data. (Joint Photographic Experts Group)(Joint Photographic Experts Group)

GIF GIF “Solid colors and lines”“Solid colors and lines”

• GIF images can contain a maximum GIF images can contain a maximum of 256 colors (8 bits) or less… of 256 colors (8 bits) or less… (Graphics Interchange (Graphics Interchange

Format)Format)

……if you create a GIF image of a red if you create a GIF image of a red arrow, you can customize the file to arrow, you can customize the file to have only two colors, red and white. have only two colors, red and white.

PNG PNG

• PNG: Essentially ‘Extended’ GIF PNG: Essentially ‘Extended’ GIF Images.Images.

Allows for up to 24-bit color including Allows for up to 24-bit color including control of opacity. Saving, restoring control of opacity. Saving, restoring and re-saving a PNG image will not and re-saving a PNG image will not degrade its quality. PNG does not degrade its quality. PNG does not support animation like GIF does. support animation like GIF does. “Patent-Free”“Patent-Free”

““Edit Friendly”Edit Friendly”

• Uncompressed or lossless Uncompressed or lossless compressioncompression– Saved, edited, saved, edited without Saved, edited, saved, edited without

penaltypenalty– Good for archives… (Why?)Good for archives… (Why?)

““Edit Friendly” Edit Friendly” (web poor)(web poor) file file formatsformats

(Either uncompressed or lossless compression)(Either uncompressed or lossless compression)

• TIFF imagesTIFF images (*.tif, *.tiff) (*.tif, *.tiff) - uncompressed - uncompressed (Compressed: packed bits, LZW*, CCITT T.4, Deflate, new (Compressed: packed bits, LZW*, CCITT T.4, Deflate, new

style JPEG…)style JPEG…)

• Standard Windows bitmap images Standard Windows bitmap images (*.bmp)(*.bmp)- uncompressed- uncompressed

• Photoshop imagesPhotoshop images (*.psd, *.pdd) (*.psd, *.pdd)- uncompressed- uncompressed

• RAW images RAW images (*.raw)(*.raw)

- shockingly uncompressed- shockingly uncompressed

Four Steps to “Preparing” Four Steps to “Preparing” Digital PhotosDigital Photos

Step A.Step A.

• Archive “important” photos in their Archive “important” photos in their BIRTHDAY SUITS. (native, un-edited, BIRTHDAY SUITS. (native, un-edited, un-resaved, happy, naked state)un-resaved, happy, naked state)

• (Meaning, make a copy and DON’T (Meaning, make a copy and DON’T work on the copy…) work on the copy…)

Step BStep B

• If you will be doing lots ofIf you will be doing lots of

saving, editing, saving, saving, editing, saving, editing…editing…

FIRST, convert to a FIRST, convert to a

lossless or lossless or un-un-compressed compressed form.form.

Step CStep C

• Edit and AdjustEdit and Adjust– For appropriate pixel size For appropriate pixel size – Cropping, color, orientationCropping, color, orientation– Any other editingAny other editing

Step D.Step D.

• Save in the desired production Save in the desired production format…format…

Done!Done!

On to software…On to software…

• Picasa2Picasa2

• Windows XPWindows XP– Filing System, Picture Details, Viewing…Filing System, Picture Details, Viewing…

• IrfanviewIrfanview

• Photoshop Elements or CSPhotoshop Elements or CS