Imaging Technologies
Directed Reading Questions
MODULE FOUR, COLOR MANAGEMENT and FILE FORMATS
II. Overview, What is digital imaging?
Click on first page of the overview.
What is meant by "capturing an image"?
What is analog?
What is digital?
What is a pixel?
Go back to Overview of Digital Imaging
Click on second page of the overview.
Define object oriented (vector) graphics
What is a benefit of object-oriented graphics?
Define bit-mapped (raster) graphics
What happens to raster graphics when they are enlarged or scaled up?
Which file will usually be larger, vector or raster?
Read about TIFF and EPS files.
Read the paragraph beginning "The file is now ready…."
Be sure you understand this. All files are rasterized via "ripping".
Define rasterization
Define RIP
Define resolution
Go back to Overview of Digital Imaging
Click on third page of the overview.
Be familiar with the terms and processes
Go back to Overview of Digital Imaging
Click on fourth page of the overview.
What are the four advantages of Digital Imaging?
Go back to the Contents page
III. Two main categories of computer graphics
What are two additional names for raster (bitmap) and vector (object-oriented) graphics?
IV. Applications used to create Vector graphics
There are several. Be familiar with them, especially the Adobe applications.
Be familiar with the rendering languages PostScript and Quartz.
What is a potential printing problem if you use QuarkXPress.
What is an application that allows you to create and edit fonts?
Are fonts vector graphics only?
V. Advantages and Disadvantages of Vector graphics
What is the meaning of "resolution-independent" and "scalable"?
Are vector graphic file sizes usually large or small?
Read the last paragraph.
VI. Applications used to create Raster graphics
Be familiar with these applications.
Read and pay attention to the last paragraph.
VII. Advantages and Disadvantages of Raster graphics
There is a lot of important information here.
What is meant by "resolution-dependent"?
Read the third paragraph, beginning "Several factors…" through through the paragraph that ends……"slows down the printing process."
Why is an EPS raster image larger than an equivalent TIFF?
Compare the maximum bit depths of a GIF and a TIFF file.
Do you understand the math behind an eight-bit (and any number of bits) file?
Refer to Bit Depth in the Macintosh Graphics Vocabulary List handout. This handout is the same as WEEK FOUR, IX, Download and read this File Formats Vocabulary.
Compare the file size difference between an RGB and CMYK file. Why is there a difference?
JPEG images always use _____-bit color mode.
How does compression affect the quality of a JPEG file?
Are all scanned images raster or vector?
Read the summary paragraph.
VIII. Even a PDF can become large and unwieldy
What do we mean embedding fonts and images?
Additional notes: Two PDF files that look similar on a computer screen may be of very different sizes. For example, a high resolution raster image takes more space than a low resolution one. Typically higher resolution is needed for printing documents than for displaying them on screen. Other things that may increase the size of a file is embedding full fonts and storing text as graphics.
Standard Type 1 Fonts
There are fourteen typefaces that have a special significance to PDF documents:
▪Times (v3) (in regular, italic, bold, and bold italic)
▪Courier (in regular, oblique, bold and bold oblique)
▪Helvetica (v3) (in regular, oblique, bold and bold oblique)
▪Symbol
▪Zapf Dingbats
These fonts, sometimes referred to as the "base fourteen fonts" should always be present (actually present or a close substitute) and so need not be embedded in a PDF. PDF viewers must know about the metrics of these fonts. Other fonts may be substituted if they are not embedded in a PDF.
Know some strategies for reducing the size of a PDF. Start by asking……
•Is it going to be viewed on a monitor?
•Is it going to be printed on a commercial press?
Reduction approaches:
Use the Preview application on Mac's. Try this on your own.
Use Acrobat Pro
Use Photoshop>Save for Web and Devices. Here you would probably save as a JPEG and then export as a PDF from Photoshop.
Use Photoshop>Image>Image Size. Change pixel dimensions and resolution here. Then export as a PDF.
IX. Download and read this File Formats Vocabulary (if you have not already
done so)
WEEK FIVE
I. Lab exercise-Complete this table to aid your understanding of file formats.
We may do this in class. Do it on your own if we do not. Use the Macintosh Graphics Vocabulary List handout or go to WEEK FOUR, IX, Download and read this File Formats Vocabulary.
II. When to use which file format
You really need to know all this thoroughly.
III. ASSIGNMENT-Page Layout, Raster and Vector
WEEK SIX
I. Color Theory
Additional notes: Color theory is a huge subject. What is color theory? I would say it is a precise, systematic way of talking about color, and when someone is talking, he or she needs to be sure they are speaking the correct language. An important part of this language is something called color models. There are several color models, and they are all different and specific. Color models frequently use numbers as part of their language. So, when the correct language is used, everyone in the discussion understands it and the end result looks like the designer intended it to look.
It's sort of like if I went in to a French restaurant and I wanted my meal prepared a certain way, I would probably need to speak French, or have someone translate my order into French. Does that make sense? Should I ask for ketchup?
Also, from wiseGEEK: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-color-theory.htm
"Color theory is the study of color and its role in art and design. Obviously, humans have been thinking about colors for thousands of years, but modern color theory really arose in the 1800s, when it began to diverge from science into a pure art. A knowledge of color theory does require some understanding of basic scientific principles about color and perception, but much of modern color theory surrounds the way that people view, think about, and interact with colors, from those used on their walls to the hues in a company logo. Color theory incorporates psychology, history, and criticism just as much as it does science.
The field of color theory is quite large, with a number of prominent theorists and authors who offer commentary on the issue. Color theory could be said to be about a lot of things, but fundamentally it is an examination of color, how color is formed, how colors are arranged, and how they interact. Color theorists look at how the context of a color changes it, for example, or how various colors work for or against each other in compositions ranging from paintings to brochures."
Distinguish between additive and subtractive color theory.
What are the additive and subtractive colors?
What are the four process printing ink colors?
Define Hue, Saturation and Value.
A color model is a method of quantifying color—assigning ______________________to color components—so that the color can be reproduced.
Is every color created by a digital artist a "printable" color?
II. The purpose of Color Management
Read all this. What is the goal of a Color Management System (CMS)?
What are profiles and what is their role in this goal?
here is a really good color management tutorial
http://www.booksmartstudio.com/color_tutorial/introcolor.html
III. Video: An introduction to Color Management
Watch
IV. Interview with Pantone's Andy Hatkoff about Color Management
Read all, especially the last paragraph for more detailed information.
What is the Pantone Matching System? (refer to your vocab handout)
V. Calibration
Refer to the Macintosh Graphics Vocabulary List for a definition of gamma.
Basically gamma is a measure of brightness and darkness in the mid-tones of an image.
What are the gamma settings for Windows and Macs?
Describe an ideal work environment for a digital artist.
Read about the color calibration devices for monitors and printers.
VI. Video: X-Rite Eye-One monitor calibration
Watch
VII. Web Page Designers work with a limited color palette
Click on the link. Play with the wheel to get a feel for the limited colors for the web.
VIII. A link about the Color Picker in Mac OS X
You can open this if you work with color in Text Edit
here is another link:
http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/OtherTuts/MacColorPicker/MacColorPicker.html
IX. Interactive Color Wheel
Play with this. Also click on Color Scheme Designer and Overview (located right under colorspire in the upper left hand corner.
X. Lab exercise - Complete this table to aid your understanding of when to use which file format
Do this. You may need to print out on your own. We may or may not cover this in class.
XI. ASSIGNMENT-Scanning Gray Scale Photos
