Slides from a digital camera? - P-Essay

As anyone who has purchased a digital camera can tell you, the technology is evolving at an incredible pace. A digital camera purchased today may become obsolete in only a few short months when a newer model with better features becomes available and at a lower price. Such has been the experience of many who were punished by this rapid obsolescence phenomenon. I must confess to falling victim four times, but each time I really needed that newer model!

Some will argue that I don't learn from past mistakes or that I am a slow learner. Logically, you might ask why I simply didn't wait for the right camera to become available? But, how could I resist each new camera with its promise of stunning images, higher resolution, better color and a capacity for storing perhaps hundreds of files? I would be less than candid if I did not admit to a weakness for new and better photographic gadgets. My wife believes this may be a character flaw and genetic in origin because it is shared with at least one of our sons!

A small percentage of digital camera users may be content to simply view their pictures on a computer or TV screen and perhaps send a few images to family and friends as e-mail attachments. However, based on my discussions with users, the majority need would be for making prints of various sizes, probably with a relatively inexpensive ink jet printer. The result can be enormously pleasing. One associate routinely makes 13"x 19" prints and has been delighted with his many masterpieces, some of which have been displayed in museums. However, he has paid the price by having to replace expensive ink cartridges after making only four of these large prints. Therein lies a major cost of ink jet printing, not to mention the comparatively high cost of quality glossy and archival papers. But who said prints were cheap?

Another purpose for digital cameras may be slides for competitions. However, only the most avid amateur photographer would be willing to cough up $6,000 or more to buy a film recorder which is the vehicle for making slides. The alternative, but less satisfactory scheme of taking a picture of the image on a computer monitor usually yields muddy colors that lack the saturation attainable with a film recorder. Moreover, because of the high cost of a film recorder, most digital camera users will send their digital files to a "service bureau" for printing as slides. The fee may range from $2 to $9 or more per slide, depending on the quantity, file size and urgency.

A film recorder is an ingenious device. It contains a camera and creates a slide by making a triple exposure consisting of three successive pictures after the image is separated into its RGB (red, green & blue) components. Each component is then displayed individually as a monochrome image on the face of a CRT (cathode ray tube). The first picture is taken of only the red component of the image through a red filter. Again, the red component appears as a monochrome image on the CRT, but acquires the red color when photographed through a red filter. Next, the green component of the image appears on the CRT and is photographed through a green filter. Finally, the blue image component is taken through a blue filter, thereby completing the triple exposure. Each slide printed in this manner is a time exposure that typically spans between 1 and 10 minutes, depending on file size and image brightness.

The Lasergraphics film recorder that I use will accept a 24 or 36 exposure roll of ISO 100 slide (or negative) film. While the film recorder software has color profiles for a half dozen ISO 100 films, I use Kodak EliteChrome 100 film, which has given me consistent results over the years. Moreover, I only buy film that was manufactured in the USA because "imported" film has, on at least one occasion, been fogged, possibly because the film was exposed to x-rays or to excessive heat.

A 6 MB (megabyte) file is adequate for a slide that is to be projected. A larger file size will take up more space in memory and not really improve image quality. If the file size is less than approximately 3 MB, pixels may be visible in the projected image, depending on the viewing distance and size of the projected image.

Some service bureaus may require that the image dimensions be set to specific size. The film recorder I use puts no constraint on image size and simply expands or contracts the image until the frame is filled, assuming the image has a 3 x 2 aspect ratio of a typical 35 mm image. If the image has a different aspect ratio, such as a square image, the slide will be printed with a black strip on each side.

Slides may be printed at 2000, 4000 or 8000 "lines." When given a choice, 4000 lines (4096 x 2731 dpi) is recommended for a slide that is to be projected. Some service bureaus may charge more for 4000 line printing. An 8000 line printing is usually available only in high end film recorders and will cost more.

Before sending digital files to a service bureau it is advisable to have your monitor calibrated so that the image brightness and contrast will compare favorably with that of the image on film. A common failing is overly bright images that result in an overexposed slide. When monitor calibration is not feasible, I suggest that image color, contrast and brightness be adjusted until the image looks right on your monitor. Then, using Adobe's Photoshop or other application software, reduce the brightness by 40 percent. This usually results in a slide that has about the right "exposure." If you haven't made a brightness adjustment before, the keystrokes in Photoshop are: Image>Adjust>Brightness/Contrast. A window will appear on the screen with adjustment sliders. Drag the Brightness slider to the left until the brightness value reads -40 percent. Then, click OK and save the file.

Good luck! For more information visit my website at: http:// home.earthlink.net/~elliszacharias or send e-mail inquiries to: elliszacharias@earthlink.net.

Approved Photo Definition

At the Albuquerque conference, when it became apparent that there was some dissatisfaction concerning the updated photo definition that had appeared in the June 2000 Journal (page 37), Al Sieg, FPSA, EPSA appointed a multi-divisional committee to evaluate it. The group developed and submitted the following revision that was accepted by the Board and will appear in the 2002 CES:

"Entries must originate as photographs (image-captures of objects via light sensitivity) made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally. Depending on divisional restrictions, images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker, and artwork or computer graphics created by the entrant may be incorporated if the photographic content predominates. By virtue of submitting an entry, the entrant certifies the work as his own and permits the sponsors to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication and/or display in media related to the exhibition. This may include low-resolution posting on a website. The exhibition assumes no liability for any misuse of copyright."

Lynn Troy Maniscalco
Divisions VP

COPYRIGHT 2001 Photographic Society of America, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group