Digital PhotographyWhat do you need to Know?

Advantages of Digital Camera over Film Cameras

Speed: Images recorded by the camera can be transmitted directly into the computer without processing. Conservation: Film and

chemicals are not expended. Safety: There is no exposure to processing chemicals.

Disadvantages of Digital Camera over Film Cameras

Expense: These cameras cost must more than comparable traditional cameras, andrepair cost tend to be higher._Image quality: Only high-end digital cameras, with theirsuperior resolution, can begin to compare with the quality of film._Shutter speed:Higher resolution demands slower shutter speeds.

Historical Perspective on Digital Imaging

Let’s face it…digital photography has only been with us for about 10 years. It is still in its embryonic state. Digital

technologycontinues to evolve and become more technically sophisticated as quality keeps getting better and costs incrementally get less each

year for higher resolution cameras.

Is there a really difference between traditional photography

and digital?

Digital photography is another form of the photographic medium, and a background in traditional photography will allow you to go further, faster, in the digital realm

however it is not imperative.

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Analog vs. Digital

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A digital system is one that uses discrete values (often electrical voltages), especially those representable as binary numbers, or non-numeric symbols such as letters or icons, for input, processing, transmission, storage, or display, rather than a continuous spectrum of values (ie, as in an analog system).

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What is Digital Imaging?A digital or electronic, image is one that has been

produced with a computer or camera. The machine (or digital camera) takes (captures) a visual image

and translates it into a series of mathematical values ones and zero's, or bits of information.

The image can be acquired via digital camera or by scanning any two-dimensional image such as a photograph, printed page, or any other type of

picture. Even a three-dimensional object can be placed on a scanner and its surface captured. The scanner then digitizes the image and displays it

electronically on the monitor.

What happens when you take a digital photograph

Digital images are made up of pixels. Pixels (short for picture elements) are the small sections of color and/or tone that together form a digital image.

Pixels form an image like pieces of a mosaic. A digital image is a grid of pixels. When the pixels are viewed together in proper registration, the image is formed.

When there are enough pixels and they are small enough so as not to be individually discernible, the digital image can achieve photo quality.

Increased magnification of anydigital image will eventually show the individual pixels,as in the enlarged section in

the image at right.

Digital Photography is based onthe Pixel - Picture Element

The more pixels per square in the better the quality of the image - it is that simple.

Pixel—(Picture Element) The smallest element of a digitized image. One small dot of light among the many dots that makeup an image on a computer screen.

Digital Imaging Methodology and Imaging Options

An understanding of resolution issues is critical to getting good photographs (output)

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Let’s Talk Pixels, File Size and Resolution

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They all interrelate!

Megapixel

Megapixel—A unit equal to one million pixels.

The higher the resolution, the more pixels in an

image and therefore the greater the image quality.

An image file that is 1 megapixel (MP) can make a

photo realistic print of 5 x 7 inches; a 2 MP file can

make an 8 x 10-inch print; a 3 MP file can make an

11 x 14-inch print.

Resolution

The number of pixels in an image. A higher number correlates to a higher quality image.More is ALWAYS better! Minimum 240 resolution

Needed for photo quality - 300 Ideal

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Digital Camera vs. Scanning (Negatives/Prints)

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Better off scanning negatives than prints for higher qualityoutput (photographs)

File Formats

File types are mathematical formulas that help the computer read the colors in the file. There are hundreds of file types.

Tiff Tagged Image File Format (Universal Format - High Quality)

Gif Graphic interchange format (For the Web)

Jpeg Joint Photographer’s Expert Group (Web or Prints)

Png Portable Network Graphic

In every graphics application, when you save your file, the program asks you, “What file format would you like to save this as?” In the land of print work, most labs will use the Tiff file format. They will create a Tiff file and save it at 300dpi. The Tiff file is a big file format.

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Basic procedure for getting better digital photographs

with Photoshop

1. Download image from camera to IPHOTO - then drag to Photoshop..

2. Go to Levels and either auto level it or manual (i use manual) close the flat area onleft and right with little pyramid to where the curve begins to rise.

3. Go to Image Size and change size to approx. 8x10 (I use 7x9 so I get inch borderon 8x10)

4. Change dpi to 300

5. Go to Image Adjust and go down and click variations. Do a color correction(lighten?) if needed.

6. Go to filter and find sharpness and click Smart Sharpen.

7. Save As and give new name.

8. Begin Color Management Procedures for Printing.

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Or minimum 240

Most of rules are the same (composition, content, creativity)

equipment, but the process is very different.

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Getting the latent image from camera to print is vastly different.

Some Basic Shooting Tips

1. Don’t always shoot standing up (eye level)2. Stay away from busy / chaotic backgrounds3. Use flash Outdoors (Opens Shadows))4. Move in close to your subject.5. Rule of Thirds - Don’t place subject in middle of frame6. Ask Yourself what is my main subject before shooting.7. Know your flash's range8. Watch the light - Light is the key to great photos9. Take some vertical pictures - vertical subjects like people10. Be a picture director - direct your subjects when possible

Great Web Resourceshttp://www.alpenglowimaging.com/resolution.htm

http://www.sillybilly.com/art101a.html

http://www.kodak.com

www.mpix.com

www.adorama.com

Let’s take some Pictures!