Memorandum

™

To:          John

CC:         whoever needs to know

From:     Alan Deverell

Date:      12/26/2011 (edited from draft of 16/2/02)

Note:  Since 16/2/2002 hardware & software costs have decreased and the CoolPix 995 + 4500 etc. are now in use rather that the original 950. A new document titled “Product-Photography” addresses some of the subjects in more detail)

File:        Graphics-Processing.DOC

Subject:

Methodology and Rules for Managing Graphics & Image DATA in Documents, HTML, Data Sheets, on the Internet and in Email

Introduction:

CASA Modular Systems requires the efficient use of images for communication of product details to customers using printed data sheets and picture-images. Both forms need to be manageable within email and Internet communications and of a quality meeting the minimum acceptable standards acceptable in the industry and to adequately represent CASA’s quality standards.

Evaluations of hardware and software have been going on for some years and while the technologies are still advancing and the relative costs are diminishing. It has been determined that with a good digital camera, and appropriate skills, very economical images can be produced which would otherwise be too expensive to acquire by more conventional means. In a small batch, the average time for a skilled operator to produce publishable images is 5 minutes (this represents a labour cost of say $5.00/image) and the proof printing cost are between $1.00~1.50/image. Obviously the capital cost of the appropriate hardware and software need to be added to this together with the costs of training other overhead considerations.

Note – at the time of writing (16/2/02) CASA has processed approximately 1000 images from original camera and scanned objects (of which at least ½ are considered worthy of commercial use for the internet and on data sheets etc.).  With an estimate of the average time, at 5 minutes per image, this represents an investment of more than $5000 – it is observed that this is NOT an amount that CASA Modular Systems would be very likely to spend with a commercial photographer AND, perhaps more importantly,  unlikely to get as many images for the same money. Past commissions to professional photographers have yielded approximately 1 usable image for every $100 spent.

Objective:

To identify all the basic requirements; assemble equipments; formulate in-house document processing methods so as to achieve efficient and economical publishable images of an acceptable quality for CASA’s current and future purposes.

Equipment:

Preliminary assessments have identified that our minimum requirements can be readily met with the following combination of hardware and software:

Digital Camera – Nikon CoolPix 950~950~995 1600x1200 JPG (or TIF for better quality as appropriate) - $1500~2500

Flat-Bed Scanner – HPSJ 6300c (or similar) + Microtek Film Scanner for negatives - $500

Computer System – Pentium III 450~1400MHz with USB, Windows 2000/XP operating system - $2500

PaintShop Pro V7.0 – Image Editing (and basic publishing software) - $300

Microsoft Front page – HTML Publishing software - $100

Delrina PerFormPro – Forms design and Data Sheet Publishing software - $300

Colour Laser Printer – QMS-Magicolor 2 56MB RAM NIC etc. (300/600/1200 dpi) - $3000

Mono-Laser 600/1200dpi – HPLJ-4Si or similar preferably with duplex - $1000

Acrobat – PDF Writing and catalogue compilation software - $300

Photo-Album – Photo Album Compilation software to build albums of images into a pseudo/virtual  on-screen catalogue

Estimated Total for Equipment + Software = $10,000

Background to Graphics:

There are 4 main sources for obtaining picture/graphics images and appropriate experience, together with an economic assessment of each subject will generally determine the appropriate choice in each instance, however, some simple rules are needed to help focus upon the best technique – these include:

1)    Availability of existing hard copy/photographs – their basic quality and economic retrieval

2)    Commercial & Public domain software images – including clip-art etc. – and their economic retrieval

3)    Existing drawings, line art and/or other published documents that can be scanned or otherwise converted to a graphics file (or usable PDF file - pdf files very in size according to source data and resolution etc.)

4)    Original pictures taken of the product by CASA Modular Systems or its contracted photographer.

Note - PerForm Pro only handles 9 types of graphics formats and the limitations are determined by suitability of quality for DTP purposes and the formats supported by CAD, Camera and Graphics editing. Tests done by importing the same file converted into each format has determined that the order of preferred use is as follows – the italicized formats are NOT considered suitable/desirable for any of CASA’s present known uses:

*.bmp        Windows bit-map

*.wmf        Windows meta-file

*.tif             Tagged Image File - Delrina accentuates the blues

*.gif            Graphics Interchange File – does compressions to about 1/3 of the tif size, line art and simple logos etc

*.pcx          PC Paintbrush - Delrina accentuates the blues

*.gem         Gem-Metafile (not supported by PaintShop Pro)

*.img          Gem Image file – translates all colours to grayscale black or to mono

*.bin           Mac Paint – only useful for interchange of images with legacy Macintosh

*.eps           Encapsulated post-script – not suitable for colour graphics – converts to mono (Photoshop eps is available in some applications)

*.fxs            Win Fax - intended for digital FAX files only- low resolution – line art only

Comprehensive tests undertaken with sample file converted to all formats supported by Delrina have lead to a re-thinking about use of the TIF format as CASA’s preferred image file. It is apparent that TIF images can inherit some ‘bluing’ artifacts when brought into Delrina and printed and that this does not occur with WMF or BMP or GIF, however, since WMF is the dominant format presently used CASA will continue with this until further evaluations and interpretation are made.

Native Graphics Resolutions:

Resolution of images is the first assessment prior to processing and it has been determined that CASA Modular Systems will deploy the following for its current purposes.

1) Standard FINE 1600x1200, 2.1 Mega-Pixel resolution in JPG format ex-NIKON CoolPix 950 camera is perfectly satisfactory for general image capture.

2) HI resolution 1600x1200, 2.1 Mega-Pixel resolution in TIF format is reserved for images that are required for inclusion in critical publications and/or CASA Data Sheets (pending availability of higher specification equipment like the CoolPix 995 or similar) – it is probable that it will be necessary to use TIF files in Delrina Perform Pro ONLY when converted to WMF or BMP or GIF

NOTE – 1600x1200 should be the default resolution at which the Nikon CoolPix 995 is used UNLESS higher quality images are demanded – resolutions above 1600x1200 will just be a waste of storage space and time unless there is valid justification.

3) Super Hi resolution 2048x1536, 3.1 Mega-Pixels for CASA’s manufactured product photography (when funds and other justifications demand we may purchase a CoolPix 995 or CoolPix 4500)

4) Scanned images have yet to be fully assessed but as a “rule-of-thumb” – 300~1200 dpi has proved to be the working range, however, it is usual for post processing the images to provide for all the range of sizes and formats as indicated below.

Image Sizes & Formats:

PaintShop Pro V 7 is our preferred image editing software and is also capable of image reductions and JPG compressions for Internet and Email publication. Scanned images may be captured in TIF or JPG format and at resolutions appropriate or according to the specific requirements.

Internet images are proposed in 8 standard image sizes and formats:

a)     1600 pixel wide TIF un-compressed native file - typically 5MB (typically 3~6MB) – used ONLY for CASA’s DTP data sheets when justified (generally converted to WMF for other format supported by the DPT or other software).

b)     1600 pixel wide WMF un-compressed native file - typically 5MB (typically 3~6MB) – used ONLY for CASA’s DTP data sheets when justified

c)      1600 pixel wide JPG (by whatever height contains the required image) compressed as appropriate to about 150K (typically 100~150K)

d)     640 pixel wide JPG  (by whatever height contains the required image) JPG compressed to less than 50K (typically 45~49K)

e)      320 pixel wide JPG (by whatever height contains the required image) JPG compressed to less than 20K (typically 17~19K)

f)     160 pixel wide JPG  (by whatever height contains the required image) JPG compressed to less than 5K (typically 4~5K)

g)      80 pixel wide JPG THUMB-NAILs (by whatever height contains the required image) JPG compressed to less than 5K (typically 1~4.9K)

h)     Monochrome, or line-art or with minimal number of colours, GIF images in any of these above pixel sizes are to be used where simple black & white or gray-scale images will suffice. At 640x pixels GIF images tend to hasve lots more artifacts compared with other formats and the usew of 8 bit or less is recommended

NOTE – where, for reasons of presentation/pictorial format, OTHER aspect ratios are desirable then the following guidelines/conventions/options should be deployed (these assume that the camera native aspect ratio of 1.6~1.2 applies) when trimming images, resizing images or resizing canvases:

a)  Square – 160x160, 320x320, 640x640, 1024x1024, 1280x1280, 1568x1568 or up to the camera’s maximum vertical resolution.

b)  Rectangular – always use the 1.6:1.2 ratio unless presentation is severely compromised

The structured use of these various resolutions is essential so that the following factors are assessed and avoided before publishing.

1)     Un-acceptable download times (large sizes must to reserved for those who have identified that they NEED the higher resolution and that they have high speed internet connection). It is generally considered that 50K per download is the desired maximum and that the viewer MUST be warned/notified if invited to view/download larger files of any format.

2)     The intelligence required by a viewer is in some direct proportion to the underlying pattern recognizable in the image and the amount of detail that is immediately discernable (if well chosen, thumb-nails and icons can represent vital visual ‘clues’ and the recipient who can, when provided, choose higher resolution images when his/her interest is stimulated to see more)

Viewing modes and resolutions:

Screen viewing of images and documents is facilitated in several different ways:

5)     Graphics viewed in a browser via a HTML page or email – Internet Explorer or Netscape etc.

6)     Graphics viewed in a Graphics viewer or graphics editor – MS Paint etc.

7)     Graphics viewed within a PDF file – using the free utility, Acrobat reader

Screen resolutions vary according to the VDU dot-pitch specification and the chosen display resolution that the viewer has set as the default on his/her monitor. Many sites assume that data is viewable at 800x600 pixels and have optimized their data for this resolution, however, the ability of a customer to view and read documents includes the, size, display resolution AND ultimately the quality of their display.

It is considered safe to aim at the 800x600 screen and assume that viewers with less resolution or lower quality monitors will simple use the scroll and/or ZOOM functions generally available within their software. However, this means that in allowing for mixtures of text and graphics on screens at the same time, it is desirable to minimize the amount of scrolling and zooming forced upon viewers – this is a distraction to the immediacy of information and efficient communications.

With theses considerations in mind it is decided that CASA Modular Systems will NOT display any images in HTML pages or emails greater than 640 pixels wide.

The choice of smallest image size at 160 pixels wide needs to survive on-screen testing to ensure that there is adequate intelligence communicated even when displays are set to 1024x768 or higher resolutions.

Printing modes and resolutions:

As a basic rule-of-thumb all CASA Modular Systems documents are required to be re-producible at good quality when printed using 600dpi colour or monochrome laser or inkjet printers, however, good quality legible prints are still available down to 300dpi. The image/graphics quality will obviously vary depending upon the individual printer’s specification. Best quality is obtainable with PostScript capable printers (or modern lasers, which have good half-tone capability).  It is NOT recommend that any documents be printed at resolutions less than 300dpi

Good basic DTP (desk-top-publishing) techniques are required to guarantee easy readability and there is no substitute for thorough proofreading from the typical printed page.

Note - The conversion of DTP and Word Processing files, CAD drawings etc. to Adobe PDF (Portable Document File) can result in losses in the graphics quality of images, however, the quality of text is generally faultless (assuming good choices in fonts etc.) and line art is almost always of very acceptable quality. In scanned documents the management of gray-scales and colours etc. is VERY extravagant on file space and must always to be avoided when document can be inherited from basic ASCI and digitized text and images.

The difference between a 600dpi and 300dpi PDF file is generally quite small and therefore CASA Modular Systems has opted for 600dpi as the default setting for Acrobat Distiller

Camera Method:

The CoolPix 950 was chosen for its excellent capacity to capture GOOD usable images under almost any lighting level and the combination of Fixed/Incremental Focal length, macro and 3x optical zoom make it the most versatile product photographic camera in its price range. While the 995 offers higher resolutions many useful features these are of limited use at this time. The camera user-manual should be pre-read, digested and some trial shots taken, and kept readily available to consult when appropriate.

The following are just the rudimentary steps that need to be processed – the detail is too much to write about and comes more from discerning the results than from writing hundreds of words:

1)         Select product/subject to be photographed and bring into as good a position for lighting as is practicable – use the product photo-station wherever possible

2)         Good contrast is the single most important factor in composing ANY photograph – this is achieved by placing the item in uniform defused lighting and to the best technical/practical advantage of the image’s distinguishing features and by giving careful consideration to the effects of reflections and shadows.

3)         Set the camera on a tripod if practicable – free-hand shots are not recommended for any serious product photographs, however, useful results can be achieved if due care is exercised while holding the camera particularly while pressing the shutter button.

4)         Remove the lens cap – plug in the mains-PSU if available and switch the camera on..

5)         Arrange the camera’s position so as to fill the view-finder or LCD display with the whole product using the optical zoom less a small margin around the object. NOTE 1 - If the product is large, then the further the camera is away from the object the less optical distortion (trapezoidal and barrel distortions) will be noticed in the image. Arrange for good perspective identification BUT use the least elevation that composes a good picture without exaggeration of any optical distortions – large square objects and be the most difficult and the greater the distance the better – the use of t telephoto lens is the cheapest may to minimize the effects of trapezoidal distortion

6)         Use the AUTO focus mode unless there is a significant depth of field required to be kept in focus.

7)         Disable the FLASH unless it is extremely dark and the manual image adjustment controls still fail to give a good contrast in the LCD window.

8)         Check the image composition, focus and contrast – make adjustments as appropriate

9)         Take one or more pictures arranging alternative images/views/compositions as deemed appropriate

Note all appropriate details in the Photo-Log report including any model/brand details that may be required to give an adequate and unique identity to the images for cataloging and computer listing etc.

10)      Return product into storage

11)      Continue with more products as appropriate

12)      Switch off camera

13)      Replace lens cap

14)      Remove Compact Flash card

15)      Place the camera into its bag and/or in a safe/secure place

16)      Plug the compact flash card into the USB adaptor and transfer the files to the computer.

17)      Re-name and edit the images as appropriate – see notes on the image naming conventions

18)      Print master images for proofing and/or hard-copy filing etc.

19)      Save the best images into all appropriate/required formats and resolutions

20)      Delete the images from the Compact Flash card

21)      Return the card to the camera

The Scanner Method:

Choosing the optimum resolution is the single most important factor in scanning pictures or documents and while there are some good basic rules (scan at ½ the display/printer resolution that the image will be used for etc.) this process is a skill developed with practice and, since CASA’s scanned images may be put to various uses, the judgment and underlying skull depends also upon properly accessing the highest purpose to which any particular image may be put. In addition to images there is also scanning text and mixed text and images OCR purposed AND as software gets more clever the re-constitution of whole printed documents into complete editable digital formats including word-processing, DTP and PDF etc.

Scanning from small 3 dimensional products and existing photographs and/or transparency negatives and positives is one of CASA’s initial needs, however, as the digital camera becomes better utilized it is expected that scanners will be used just for processing printed documents.

The basic steps in the scanning process are as follows:

1)    Select the materials to be scanned

2)    Turn on the scanner

3)    Place the clean subject material onto the scanner glass registered to the 0,0 datum

4)    Press the scan button or invoke the scan/twain driver from within the image/ocr utility etc.

5)    Pre-scan to select the image area and check the basic quality

6)    Adjust the resolution and contrast etc. in the appropriate dialogue boxes

7)    Scan the object/document

8)    Name and save the file – see the section on naming conventions below for guidance

9)    Edit the file as appropriate and do any other post-processing that is required.

Note – The typical cost of a colour laser A4 single sided printed page is $1.00 and $1.90 per double sided page. This needs to be borne in mind when printing proofs AND when offering color leaflets to casual customers etc.

Image Naming Conventions:

The importance of good intelligent naming conventions can NOT be overstressed and reading CASA’s report on intelligent Numbering is a pre-requisite to qualified implementation of this scheme.

The full file name is in 2 parts in the form of  “name.ext” – in DOS the name must NOT be more than 8 characters (and there are some reserved characters) with a 3 character file extension (the file extension is indicative of the characters unique to the file type and for graphics files CASA is limiting itself to the 3 formats xxx.tif, xxx.jpg, xxx.gif.

CASA’s naming philosophy is is use a few characters as needed to give ‘intelligence’ and ‘uniqueness’ to the file and the following basic rules can be applied with the generic group being classified by CASA’s 15 product classifications and/or their sub groups:

1st – Product’s short name or brand or model number or a sequential combination of these as nominated by CASA or invented to suit the specific situation.

SUN = The brand

SCSI = the technology

DAT = product style

CTD8000 = Model number

etc.

2nd – the view of the product represented by this particular picture

F = front

R = Rear

O = Open

FR = Front viewed from the RIGHT hand side of the product

FL = Front viewed from the LEFT hand side of the product

etc.

3rd – the image number if there are multiple images taken of this view

1

2

3

etc.

4th – indicate if image is other than colour

BW = Black & white or line art

GS  = Grey Scale (default is 256 levels)

5th – the resolution of THIS image unless it is the 1600pixel or trimmed version of the original file

640 = 640pixels

320 = 320pixiels

160 = 160 pixels

80 = 80 pixels

etc.

Note – the file extension is normally assigned automatically by the editing software and should NEVER be manually changed otherwise the file will become useless until the correct file extension is restored.

Publishing:

The present use of Delrina PerForm-Pro is inherited from more than 5 years use by CASA Modular Systems and it is not really sophisticated enough to professionally handle CASA’s needs, however, it works reliably under all operating systems used by CASA and we have lived with its limitations for many years. It is considered inappropriate to move to a more advanced package until time and opportunity permit the indulging and learning of a new DTP application.

Photo Album Method:

For a Picture Gallery format 12345 Wizard has been very effectively used to enable access to CASA’s web site via a specified URL directing users to a specific photo album.

If all images are correctly and intelligently named and pre-sorted into a well structured path, the steps to compile a simple photo-album (including the whole OR just selected images residing in any sub-directory). The basic method is as follows:

1)    Make/Unify/select images of the appropriate resolution (640~1200 pixels wide works quite satisfactorily – higher resolution images are not practical unless it is known that recipients need and can display the higher details).

2)    Choose the thumbnail resolution deemed appropriate – typically 100~200 x 100~200 pixels seems suitable for many products.

3)    Append general comments and labels to the image library

4)    Publish the album to the appropriate sub-directors on CASA’s www hosting hard disk

D:\casa\mp\rack\shelves\gallery\

5)    Direct would-be users to the album by posting them the full URL:

http://www.casa.co.nz/mp/rack/shelves/gallery/

6) Check the URL indicated to ensure that it works before you send emails with the instructions

NOTE – for further/related information refer to the “Product Photography” report here:

F:\docs\.....