Digital Imaging Utah State University Extension Eric Hawley

“Agenda” Digital Camera features, terms, and technologies Digital Camera features, terms, and technologies Transferring images from camera to computer Transferring images from camera to computer “Developing” digital images: “Developing” digital images: –Understanding resolution and image size (How do you get a 5x7 image?) Editing, transforming, and processing images Editing, transforming, and processing images Understanding and working with different image file formats Understanding and working with different image file formats How to adjust an image for different applications (such as web, , archival and print) How to adjust an image for different applications (such as web, , archival and print) –Editing “blemishes” –Adjusting color balance, contrast, brightness, etc. –Batch tools – making similar changes to a large group of photos (Using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements)

Things that Don’t Go Away There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams No photographer is as good as the simplest camera. ~Edward Steichen No photographer is as good as the simplest camera. ~Edward Steichen I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything. ~John Steinbeck I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything. ~John Steinbeck Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a Nikon owner. ~Author Unknown Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a Nikon owner. ~Author Unknown

“Post Photographic” Skills Getting files off of the camera or scanner Getting files off of the camera or scanner Archiving Archiving Choosing and adjusting image file type Choosing and adjusting image file type Editing Editing Scaling size/resolution for web/ Scaling size/resolution for web/ Scaling size/resolution for print Scaling size/resolution for print

Terms and Concepts Pixels Pixels Image Resolution Image Resolution “Output” or “Physical” Image Size “Output” or “Physical” Image Size Color Depth Color Depth File Formats File Formats

To the drawing board…

Back from the drawing board… File Formats

“Web Friendly” File Formats JPEG images (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe, *.jfif) - many compression levels (lossy) JPEG images (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe, *.jfif) - many compression levels (lossy) CompuServe images (*.gif) - compression format: LZW (lossless) CompuServe images (*.gif) - compression format: LZW (lossless) - special: interlaced, non-interlaced Portable network graphic images (*.png) - compression format: LZ77 Portable network graphic images (*.png) - compression format: LZ77

JPEG/JPG “Photographical” JPEG is designed for compressing either full-color or grey-scale digital images of "natural", real-world scenes. It does not work so well on non-realistic images, such as cartoons or line drawings. JPEG is designed for compressing either full-color or grey-scale digital images of "natural", real-world scenes. It does not work so well on non-realistic images, such as cartoons or line drawings. Remember, the 'P' in JPEG stands for 'Photographic'. It was designed to be used to compress photographic image data. Remember, the 'P' in JPEG stands for 'Photographic'. It was designed to be used to compress photographic image data. (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

GIF “Solid colors and lines” GIF images can contain a maximum of 256 colors (8 bits) or less… (Graphics Interchange Format) GIF images can contain a maximum of 256 colors (8 bits) or less… (Graphics Interchange Format) …if you create a GIF image of a red arrow, you can customize the file to have only two colors, red and white.

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

“Edit Friendly” Uncompressed or lossless compression Uncompressed or lossless compression –Saved, edited, saved, edited without penalty –Good for archives… (Why?)

“Edit Friendly” (web poor) file formats (Either uncompressed or lossless compression) TIFF images (*.tif, *.tiff) TIFF images (*.tif, *.tiff) - uncompressed (Compressed: packed bits, LZW*, CCITT T.4, Deflate, new style JPEG…) Standard Windows bitmap images (*.bmp) - uncompressed Standard Windows bitmap images (*.bmp) - uncompressed Photoshop images (*.psd, *.pdd) - uncompressed Photoshop images (*.psd, *.pdd) - uncompressed RAW images (*.raw) RAW images (*.raw) - shockingly uncompressed

Four Steps to “Preparing” Digital Photos

Step A. Archive “important” photos in their BIRTHDAY SUITS. (native, un-edited, un- resaved, happy, naked state) Archive “important” photos in their BIRTHDAY SUITS. (native, un-edited, un- resaved, happy, naked state) (Meaning, make a copy and DON’T work on the copy…) (Meaning, make a copy and DON’T work on the copy…)

Step B If you will be doing lots of If you will be doing lots of saving, editing, saving, editing… saving, editing, saving, editing… FIRST, convert to a lossless or un-compressed form.

Step C Edit and Adjust Edit and Adjust –For appropriate pixel size –Cropping, color, orientation –Any other editing

Step D. Save in the desired production format… Save in the desired production format…Done!

On to software… Picasa2 Picasa2 Windows XP Windows XP –Filing System, Picture Details, Viewing… Irfanview Irfanview Photoshop Elements or CS Photoshop Elements or CS