Introduction to Digital Imaging

(Computer Graphics)
Overview
• Computer Requirements
• Digital Media, Digital Imaging, Digital Image, Digital Devices
• Pixel, Resolution, Bit Depth
• File Types/Formats and File Compression
• Colour, Colour Spaces/ Models/ Modes
• Image Editing, Manipulation, Transformation
• Digital Imaging Concepts/Techniques/Effects
• Advertisement, Promotion,
• Portfolio, e-Portfolio
• Ethics, Intellectual Property (I.P)
• Current Trends and The Future of Digital Imaging
Everyday practice and use of digital imaging
• Homes
• Education
• Health
• Aviation
• Automobile
• Finance
• Engineering
• Agriculture
• Business
• Social Media…
Fundamentals of Digital Imaging
What is Digital Imaging?
• ‘Digital imaging’ refers to the process of capturing, processing and
displaying images in electronic form, by the use of digital devices and
software.

• Digital devices include various digital imaging devices that enables

users to capture, edit/process and output digital images. Eg. Cameras,
scanners, computers, printers, monitors, graphic tablets…
…Digital Imaging
• Digital Imaging software refer to any type of imaging software used to
create, edit and manipulate and transform images on a computer.
Imaging software is designed to work on photographs for images
created by digital cameras, camcorders, scanner or related devices.
Digital imaging software may also be called imaging software or
image editing software. Eg. Adobe Photoshop, Corel Photo Paint, Art
Rave Gimp…
What is a Digital Image?
Definitions
• Digital Images are electronic snapshots taken of a scene or scanned from documents,
such as photographs, manuscripts, printed texts, and artwork.

• A digital image is an electronic file that forms into square picture elements (pixels) when
displayed on a viewing device. (e.g., a computer monitor). The displayed image is a two-
dimensional matrix of thousands or millions of pixels each of which has its own address,
size, and colour representation.

• A digital image is a numeric representation, normally binary, of a two-dimensional

image. Depending on whether the image resolution is fixed, it may be of vector or raster
type. By itself, the term "digital image" usually refers to raster images or bitmapped
images (as opposed to vector images) - (wiki)
Other Definitions
IN CONTEXT: For the purpose of this course,
we will go by this definition:
• A pixel-based image composed from different reference materials into
a single image for the purpose of conveying an information.

Or

• Composite image using different reference materials with the intent

to convey an information visually
ANALOG and DIGITAL REPRESENTATIONS
Consider the statements below, which is True?

“We live in a DIGITAL World”

“We live in an ANALOG World”

Both are True!
• Our natural world is Analog. But the devices we use are Digital.

• Sight and Sound

• Analog waves
• Computers are Digital Devices
• Store and Transmit information using digital data.

• To connect our analog world with computers, analog and digital information must be converted
from one source to another and then back again.

• INFORMATION CONVERSION
• Analog > Digital > Analog
Digitization
• Digitization is the process of transforming images, text, or sound from
analog media (generally formats or objects that we can see or hear)
into electronic data that we can save, organize, retrieve, and restore
through electronic devices into perceptible surrogates of the original
works. The term is often assumed to imply or include the processing,
compression, storage, printing, and display of such images.

• Two important processes involved with the conversion process is

SAMPLING and QUANTIZATION.
Information Conversion
• To understand what a digital image is, we have to realize that
what we see when we look at a digital image" is actually a
physical image reconstructed into a digital image.

• The digital image itself is really a data structure within the

computer, containing a number or code for each pixel or picture
element in the image. This code determines the colour of that
pixel.

• Each pixel can be thought of as a discrete sample of a continuous

real image.
Working Digitally
• Bit: A bit is the smallest unit of data in a computer (short for Binary
digIT); and is represented using two possible values 0 or 1. A
combination of bits to form larger sequences and represent
information such as text, colour information for digital images, audio
and amplitudes.
• Pixel: A pixel (short for picture element) is the smallest unit of
information that make up an image. Usually referred to as round or
square (dot), they are abstract samples, typically arranged in a 2-
dimensional grid.
…Working Digitally
• Resolution: Resolution is the fineness of detail in a bitmap image and is measured in pixels per
inch (ppi). The more pixels per inch, the greater the resolution. Generally, an image with a higher
resolution produces a better printed image quality. The resolution of a digital image is dependent
on two factors. The first is the number of pixels used to create the two-dimensional field or pixel
resolution. The second factor upon which digital image resolution depends is the colour
resolution or colour depth.

• Bit Depth: Bit depth refers to the colour information stored in each pixel in an image. The higher
the bit depth of an image, the more colours it can store. The simplest image, a 1-bit image, can
only show two colours, black and white. That is because the 1 bit can only store one of two
values, 0 (white) and 1 (black). An 8 bit image can store 256 possible colours, while a 24 bit image
can display over 16 million colors.
File Formats (Types of Digital Images)
Common image file formats
• GIF - Graphic Interchange Format
• PNG - Portable Network Graphics
• JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group
• TIFF- Tagged Image File Format
• BMP - Bitmapped Image/Picture
• PGM - Portable Gray Map
• FITS - Flexible Image Transport System
• RAW - Uncompressed Image
• PSD – Photoshop Document (Native file format for Adobe Photoshop
documents)
Working with Digital Images
• Capturing Devices
• Editing Digital Images
• Output Devices
Capturing Digital Images
• Scanning
• Digital Photography
Capturing Digital Images: Scanning
• Scanner (optical scanner): An input device that captures an image of
an object and transfers them to a computer in digital form.

• – Can scan photos, documents, drawings, (flat objects)

• – Data is typically input as a single image – If optical character

recognition (OCR) is used, text is input as individual text characters
Types of scanners
• Flatbed Scanners
• Sheet-Fed Scanners
• Drum Scanners
• Portable Scanners (Handheld)
• 3D Scanners
• Integrated Scanners(ATMs, etc.)
Flatbed Scanners
• The most common type of
scanner, flatbed scanners
have a large glass surface
and a lid.
• Works best with flat
objects, such as photos and
papers.
• Some models of flatbed
scanner come built in to all-
in-one devices, which
function as printers,
scanners, copy machines
and fax machines
• Mostly for home and Office
use
Sheet-Fed Scanners
• Sheetfed scanners scan loose papers
placed in a tray by pulling them
across a static scanning lens.
• This type of scanner works like a
flatbed scanner except that the
image is fed through the scanner
and moves along the beam to be
read rather than the beam moving.
• Some models offer Duplex printing
• Meant for scanning one page at a
time.
Portable Scanners
• Portable scanner are
designed to capture text and
other data while you are on
the go.
• Used by slowly dragging it
over the entire surface area
of the document you want to
scan.
• They offer lower quality
output than a flatbed but
provide the most convenient
and fastest way of capturing
documents.
• Transferring to your computer
is done by using a cable or a
wireless connection
Drum Scanners
• Used mainly for capturing a picture
and producing at a very high
resolution rate.
• Used to capture the highest
resolution from an image.
• Photographs and transparencies are
taped, clamped or fitted into a clear
cylinder (drum) that is spun at
speeds exceeding 1,000 RPM during
the scanning operation
• Drum scanners are high-end high-
precision mechanical devices that
need a lot of care, regular
maintenance and a skillful operator.
3d Scanners
• 3D Laser Scanning is a non-contact,
non-destructive technology that
digitally captures the shape of
physical objects using a line of laser
light
• It is the process of analyzing a real-
world object or environment to
collect data on its shape and possibly
its appearance (e.g. colour). The
collected data can then be used to
construct digital 3D models.

• Thousands of individual points are

captured during a 3D scan
Integrated Scanners
• Integrated scanners are becoming one of the most modern types of
scanners when it comes to obtaining images. ATMs feature this type
of built-in scanner for check-processing and approval.
Capturing Digital Images: Digital Photography
Digital camera - An input device that takes pictures and records them
as digital images.

• Capture is usually accomplished by use of a photosensor, using a

charged coupled device (CCD).

• Digital still cameras

• Available in a wide variety of sizes and capabilities.
• Primary appeal is images immediately available.
• Camera quality is measured in megapixels (million pixels)
 Types of Digital Cameras
• Single-Lens Reflex Cameras (SLR)
• DSLR
• Mirrorless cameras

• Non-Single-Lens Reflex Cameras (SLR)

• Point and Shoot
• Bridge Cameras
Types of Digital Cameras
• Single-Lens Reflex Cameras (SLR)
• Standard DSLR Cameras
• Mirrorless Cameras

• Non-Single-Lens Reflex Cameras (SLR)

• Point and Shoot
• Bridge Cameras
• …

• Video Cameras (Camcorders)

Non-Single-Lens Reflex Cameras (SLR)
• Compact Digital Cameras A non-SLR digital camera is the digital
equivalent of a “point and shoot” film camera in that the lens is built
into the camera and can’t be removed.

• Bridge Camera: Hybrid of the classic point-and-shoot and a single

lens reflex (SLR). They come with a large lens specific for zooming in
on objects and are equipped with a digital viewfinder for photo
previews. Can be adjusted manually.
Digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR)
Digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR)
• This is one of the most high end cameras obtainable for a decent price. They use
the single-lens reflex method just like an ordinary camera with a digital image
sensor. The SLR method consists of a mirror which reflects the light passing
through the lens with the help of a separate optical viewfinder.
• Some features of this camera are
• Special type of sensors is setup in the mirror box for obtaining autofocus.
• Has live preview mode.
• Very high end sensors with crop factors from 2 to 1 with diagonal space from 18mm to
36mm.
• High picture quality even at low light.
• The depth of field is very less at a particular aperture.
• The photographer can choose the lens needed for the situation and can also be easily
interchangeable.
• A focal plane shutter is used in front of the imager.
Mirrorless Cameras
• A digital camera that accepts different lenses. Also called a
"mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera" (MILC), "hybrid camera"
and "compact system camera" (CSC), the body is thinner than a digital
SLR (DSLR) because it does not use a mechanical mirror to switch the
scene between the optical viewfinder and image sensor.

• Mirrorless cameras are also called "mirrorless DSLRs" or "mirrorless

SLRs" because they support multiple lenses like a single lens reflex
camera and generally offer an optional viewfinder.
Tips
• DSLR - A mirror inside the camera body reflects light coming in
through the lens up to a prism (or additional mirrors) and into the
viewfinder so you can preview your shot.
• Mirrorless - Light passes through the lens and right onto the image
sensor, which captures a preview of the image to display on the rear
screen.

• Because of lack of a mirror mechanism and an optical viewfinder, mirrorless

cameras can be made simpler, lighter and less bulky when compared to
DSLR cameras.
COLOUR
How do we Represent Colour ?
• Colour Models are used to describe or represent colours
numerically in terms of varying amounts of primary colours.

• Each model use different method and a set of primaries to

describe colours.

• Common examples are RGB, CMYK, HSB and CIE and their
variants.
COLOUR GAMUT
• Colour Gamut refers to the range
of colours that a specific system
can capture or produce (display)
Colour Models: RGB
• The RGB colour model consist of
the three primary colours:
Red, Green and Blue
• A combination of RGB at their
maximum intensity gives the
colour white.
• This colour model is appropriate
to the psychology of the human
eye
RGB Colour System
• Additive color model

• For computer display (monitors)

• Uses light to display color: Colours result from transmitted light, so

Red + Green + Blue = White

• Can be added to produce the secondary colors of light –

Magenta(Red + Blue), Cyan(Green + Blue), and Yellow(Red + Green).
The combination of Red, Green and Blue at full intensities makes
white.
RGB Colour System
• Used in hardware applications like PC monitors, cameras
and scanners.

• Used for Web and onscreen graphics

• It directly reflects the physical properties of “True- color”

displays.
RGB Colour
System
Colour Models:
CMYK
• The CMYK colour model has
four colours:
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
• The primary colours of this
model, CMY are the primary
colours in a subtractive colour
model. Mixing all three give
Black.
Colour Models: Using CMYK
• Mostly Used in Commercial Printing (Print houses)
• Printing Process are subtractive process and CMYK is a subtractive
colour model.

C: 100% + M: 100% + Y: 100% = BLACK – Muddy Brownish Black

C: 100% + M: 100% + Y: 100% = BLACK (K)

Hence CMY+K
• The CMY colour model is used in colour printers.
• To improve print quality and reduce moiré patterns,
• Text is typically printed in black and includes fine detail (such
as serifs)
• Using a unit amount of black ink rather than three unit
amounts of the process colour inks can lead to significant
cost savings (black ink is often cheaper).

• The black ink (K) is the KEY Colour

OTHER COLOUR MODELS
• HSB / HSV
• L*a*b
• YUV
• YIQ
COLOUR SPACES
• A colour space refer to a collection of colours that can be
produced based on a colour model.

• Adobe RGB 98 • SWOP

• scRGB • Coated FOGRA27
• sRGB
• Apple RGB
• ROMM RGB
• ProPhoto RGB
COLOUR MODES
• Colour Modes specify which colour method is used to display and
print an image (image editing).

• They determine the number of colours and the number of channels

for the image.

• Examples are: RGB, CMYK, Lab, Grayscale, Bitmap, Duotone, Index

colour and Multichannel
Colour Modes: Channels

RGB CMYK

Duotone
Grayscale
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
• Colour management - is the adoption of a system whereby all ‘devices’ within a
chain used to create a colour image are referenced and linked together to
produce predictable, consistent colour.

• A Colour Management System (CMS) - is the calibration and profiling of both

input and output devices, so that the colour image printed is an accurate
interpretation of the image and is consistent with what is viewed on the monitor.
Examples of input devices are scanners and digital cameras, whilst output devices
include your monitor, desktop printer and the press that has printed this book.

• A Colour Management Module (CMM) - is the software that defines the

mathematical manipulations by which colour conversions are made. Some of the
manufacturers who make CMMs are Kodak, Apple, Agfa and Adobe.
Colour Management
• A Colour Management Software is a software solution intended to
help reproduce colours across different devices in a predictable way
by reading and translating colours between colour gamut of these
different devices.

• DEVICES: Digital Cameras, Scanners, Computer Monitors, Printers

DISCUSSIONS
•…