It's been a while...

Looking forward to getting back into Brian's class for some more valuable information regarding printing and colour management - amongst other things.

I need to prepare a collection of my best images for next Monday's class, RAW files i think, so must not forget to do this at some point over the next three days.

That is all i have to add.



D.

Colour Profile / Colour Matching.

Today's class was tuff - i was dead-tired for some reason, yet the information was important so i found it hard to take in properly. Brian as always though gave us print-outs which i will read over again during the two week break.

It is pretty important stuff all this colour matching even if it is a bit of a hassle.. That said i have no doubt it will all start to make sense as we begin to use it for real whilst printing our work for the end of year exhibition at the High Court of Australia in November.

There's also no doubt that getting to know it now can only benefit me in the future as a pro for my own work and/or when discussing this sort of thing with other professionals within the industry.



D.

TEST

Just completed the test for semester 2 which covered digital workflow and image editing software. All i can say is it wasn't anywhere near as difficult as i thought it might have been.

I felt i did alright and look forward to my results.



D.

Non-Destructive Image Editing - Questionnaire 3.

Questionnaire #3

1. What model does cataloging software use?

It uses a library model.

2. Where are the images stored in a cataloging system?

Either in single folders, or multiple folders. Sometimes even across multiple hard drives.

3. Where does the catalog get its initial information about the files?

From the initial metadata associated to the image file.

4. Where does the cataloging software store this information?

Within the DNG or side car file.

5. What is the main organizing principle of Browser based systems?

Browser-based systems  rely on folder structure as a central organizing principle to allow a user the ability to locate a file by navigating through a set of folders and sub-folders.

6. How do cataloging systems organize their images?

By sorting, grouping, rating, labeling to name a few.

7. How does a cataloging system make changes to an image?

By rendering the list of images adjustments to alter/update the original image’s preview.

8. Can other programs see these changes?

NO.

9. How does a cataloging system make changes to an image available to other programs?

When your photographs are originally imported, embedded metadata is collected in the catalog database. A preview of the file is then created that enables the database to show what the photograph/s will look like. When further adjustment work is performed on anything within the collection, it is saved in the catalog, rather than the image being re-saved or copied.

10. List 5 advantages of cataloging based PIE software.

a) It associates information with one original – simplifying how we archive and organize our photographs.

b) Creates useful groups from scattered images - because it organizes photographs by metadata, proximity in the structure is largely irrelevant.

c) Works with offline images  - allows the user access to photographs that might not be currently connected to their computer.

d) Makes back-up and restoration tasks easy to do - offers the ability to efficiently and securely back up data and to be able to restore that data in the event of some kind of media failure.

e) Generates multiple output types from a single source – because all the information about the photographs can be gathered in a single location.

11. Give a few examples of software that combine Image Cataloging and Editing Functions.

a) Adobe Camera Raw.

b) Adobe Lightroom.

c) Apple Aperture.


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Non-Destructive Image Editing - Questionnaire 2.

Questionnaire #2

1. What is a Rendering Engine?

A rendering Engine is built into the image or cataloguing software and simply creates a rendered preview of the original image/photograph according to the list of adjustments that have been made. Think of it as software metadata attached to the photograph; similar to camera metadata (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, colour temperature etc) except the list is often a lot longer.

2. What three things determine the final colour of an image pixel?

a) The original image data.

b) The rendering engine’s mathematical formulas and

c) The settings applied by the rendering software.

3. What are the three main components of a RAW file?

a) The JPEG preview - (compressed version of full image)

b) Camera metadata - (with camera settings, lens used time and date etc)

c) Mosaiced RAW image - (actual light information recorded by digital sensor)

4. Can PIE software be used only on RAW files? Yes / No

NO

5. What is Live Rendering?

Live rendering is a view of the image that only exists when the source image is loaded into the software and could be thought of as “not yet finished” or “not yet ready to print”.

6. Where can the Rendering Metadata be stored?

a) Within the source file (dependent on file format)

b) In a sidecar file (relating set of instructions) or

c) In a database

7. Give two examples of a Fixed Rendering.

a) A photographic print of the image and all its adjustments.

b) A flattened and compressed copy of a file that once was a layered file with a set (or list) or instructions.

8. Is a PREVIEW, a Live or a Fixed rendering of the image?

It is a live rendering of the original image/photograph.

9. Where can Previews be stored?

Within the original source image file, alongside the image file or in a catalogue of image files. A PREVIEW is a semi-permanent fixed rendering of the image that simply shows the adjustments made by the rendering engine.

10. Why do File Browsers and Cataloguing software create Previews?

Because it avoids the need to push-pixels around (like how it used to be done) and instead allows the user a visual representation of what the input they are giving the software’s rendering engine in order to adjust the original image/photograph just the way they want.





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Non-Destructive Image Editing - Questionnaire 1.

Questionnaire #1

1. Define (NDI) Non-Destructive Imaging?

Non-Destructive Imaging (or editing) is simply the ability to alter an electronic file of a photograph in a way that allows for further adjustments/changes once the file has been saved, closed and re-opened. It does not affect the actual pixels recorded.

2. List four challenges introduced by digital photography.

a) The ability to create lots of photos, very quickly.

b) Increased File Storage.

c) The need to adjust a single source image in a number of ways.

d) The need to adjust multiple images in the same way.

3. What is meant by a Derivative File?

Put simply, it is a direct copy of the original source file whether with or without any adjustments made. It is also classified as a Fixed Rendering.

4. What are two problems with using “Save As…” to create derivative files?

a) It creates another version of the original file.

b) The creation of multiple versions can cause confusion & file-naming issues.

5. What is (SRNDI) Self Referenced Non-Destructive Imaging?

It is a way to make adjustments to the original image. The software creates a list of instructions that are read by the rendering engine to display an adjusted version of the original photograph.

6. List two advantages of SRNDI over the use of Derivative files.

a) A list of instructions is much smaller in file size when compared to the derivative file equivalent.

b) The list of instructions can be modified and keeps the image from becoming fixed

7. Define (PIE) Parametric Image Editing.

Parametric Image Editing is the editing of images by way of creating instructions or parameters. The software’s rendering engine creates a preview of how the image/photograph will look according to a list of instructions that is developed “behind the scenes” as you go about your adjustments/changes.

8. What is the difference between a Live Rendering and Fixed Rendering?

LIVE – means the image can still be adjusted over and over again (still a layered rendering software file)

FIXED – means an adjusted image has been finalized (layers flattened, compressed, exported printed)

9. List three advantages of NDI.

a) Multiple photo manipulation: Thanks to Parametric Image Editing makes it easy to apply adjustments made to one image to a number of, or all remaining images, very quickly.

b) Unlimited undo’s: Since all image adjustments are saved simply as a list of instructions, it is easy to then change those instructions time and time again to create a different interpretation of the original image. Any adjustments can also usually be reset and discarded so as to start all over again.

c) Saves on file-space: With modern computers able to create renderings of an image quickly, the user can build a library of images that consist largely of the source file and its relating list of instructions as a rendered preview of what it looks like with any adjustments.



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Project 1 - Digital Image Editing Skills

As a follow-up to my submission for this assignment task to Brian's drop box i believe i am also meant to make a blog entry relating to what i did, so here it is.

The following screen capture image outlines the 8 criteria i selected as examples. Each of which included original files straight from camera, an (non-destructive) edited version of the photograph and a video tutorial related to the specified process.

The video tutorials were sourced from www.lynda.com