Why would you want to know this?
We are often asked to "fix" images that have been placed into poster or slide files, or people innocently send us highly compressed JPEG files for use in publications. Unfortunately, the images they are asking us to work with are "unfixable" because they originally began in a compressed or lossy format designed just for the WWW or on-screen computer display and cannot be used for printing.
Here's a guide to conquering your digital image problems. We suggest you read it, print it, and refer to it the next time you wonder what resolution to set your scanner or digital camera.
Keeping it simple…
This is a complicated subject. That’s why our explanations here are kept simple. We’ve boiled down all of the complexities to just what you need to know to get the job done. These are ANR CS recommendations for using scanners, digital cameras, image editing software, and file downloads for use in major publications, video programs, posters, newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, and the WWW.
Three step process…
Working with digital images requires these steps:
1.
2. Archive the original file. Alter copies, not originals.
3. Convert a copy for lower resolution use. That means, use your digital camera to take a poster-quality photo for a poster someday, but reduce the file size and change its file format to put the photo on your county website today.
This last step requires software. We're recommending Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 and will be providing training for ANR personnel soon. It is an affordable program offering a simple interface for most folk and still providing "power users" more tools than they know what to do with.
In this lesson…
- Quality Issues
- File Types
- Image Resolution
- Step One—Acquire the image
- Step Two—Make a copy
- Step Three—Convert the file
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Start with Quality Issues
Or download this Digital Demystified PDF Document