Now, it's time for the second part of this four part blog. This can be some of the trickiest areas when it comes to digital photography: the terminology. So many sleepless nights can be attributed to things like, PPI, TIFF, RAW, ISO and many others. Hopefully, what I'm providing will help guide you more restful nights. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
II. Digital Terminology
A. The Pixel and it’s function in the digital world.
1. Pixel is actually two words combined–
A. The Pixel and it’s function in the digital world.
1. Pixel is actually two words combined–
picture and element.
2. Pixel is the smallest area of the screen.
3. The word pixel was first published in 1965
2. Pixel is the smallest area of the screen.
3. The word pixel was first published in 1965
by Frederic C. Billingsley of JPL, to describe
the picture elements of video images from space probes to the moon and Mars. (Wikipedia)
4. Megapixels - one million pixels
0.3 Megapixels = 640×480
0.5 Megapixels = 800×600
1.0 Megapixels = 1280×800
1.3 Megapixels = 1280×1024
1.7 Megapixels = 1680×1050
2.3 Megapixels = 1920×1200
3.1 Megapixels = 2048×1536
4.1 Megapixels = 2560×1600
5.2 Megapixels = 2560×2048
6.6 Megapixels = 3200×2048
7.7 Megapixels = 3200×2400
9.2 Megapixels = 3840×2400
11.3 Megapixels = 4200×2690
B. Pixels and Printing
1. How pixels translate into printing a photo.
3 megapixels = 5x7
4 megapixels = 8x10
5 megapixels = 11x14
6 megapixels = 13x19
8 megapixels = 16x20
10 - 12 megapixels = 24x36
2. The mysteries behind resolution
from screen to press.
a. Pixel Per Inch (PPI) & Dots Per Inch(DPI)
1) They translate the same when it comes
to resolution.
2) PPI is screen & DPI is press.
3) So 300 ppi is the same as 300 dpi.
4) 150 ppi is everyday printing, 200 ppi is
high quality printing and 300 - 600 ppi is
professional grade.
b. Photo printers might say they have a resolution
of 4800x3600; however, that is actually the dpi
that runs the length and width of the photo
being printed.
C. The Digital Sensor
1. The sensor chip is what replaces the film
negative for recording light.
2. Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor
(CMOS) is the technology that allows a photo
to be recorded digitally and then written to a
media device such as a memory card.
3. Depending on the CMOS system being used
will determine how much of your image will
be recorded and how fast that image can be
written to the memory card.
a. This is a huge variable when it comes to
photojournalists, event photographers and
sport photographers.
b. The faster the better and the more detail.
D. Most Common File Formats
1. JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group 1986
a. Smallest file size and most common also
extremely compressed.
b. Lossy file type which will lose data at each
compression or save.
c. Good file type to use for minimal or no
post-production work.
2. TIFF - Tagged Image File Format
a. A larger file size that has little or
no compression.
b. Lossless file type that will not lose data
at each save.
c. Best file type to use for less
post-production work.
3. RAW image file or DNG - basically it’s
a digital negative.
a. This a rather large file with no
compression at all.
b. Lossless file type that will not lose
data at each save.
c. The closest thing to a film negative.
d. Captures every detail of the subject.
e. Post-production work is required for
this format.
E. Memory Cards
1. Used to store the data from the CMOS.
2. Various types of memory cards.
(i.e. Compact Flash, Memory Sticks,
Secure Digital and xD)
3. Cameras use a variety of cards depending
on manufacturer.
4. Sizes range form 32MB to 16GB.
5. The only main difference is that a compact flash
card can write faster than the others.
Alrighty then, that will do it for part two. Stay tuned for next weeks blog on getting that proper exposure. Ciao.
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