1. Getting the original photograph.
      2. Putting this into your computer
      3. Manipulating the image
      4. Printing the result.
      1].        This can again be split into 2 selections
              1.1]        using a conventional camera
              1.2]        using a digital camera

      2].        This has several aspects
              2.1]        using a scanner
              2.2]        direct from a digital camera or its memory card
              2.3]        via a CD-ROM

3].        There are various image manipulation programmes. Some are more expensive than others. The choice is yours - but the best one is Photoshop at £500 or so! For those just starting we would recommend Adobe Photo Deluxe, Adobe Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro. All these are in the region of £80. Of these Photo Deluxe leads you gently step by step through various complex processes.

4].        Printing can be done in several ways.
        4.1]        direct from your computer to your printer.
        4.2]        indirectly from another computer usually via a CD-ROM or a Diskette.
        4.4]        via the Internet e.g. Jessops Print@net

On this course we do not propose to look at para 1, but instead concentrate on paras 2 to 4.

    2].        Putting Images into your computer

            2.1]        Use of a Scanner - Why Scan?

    Since it takes longer to get an image by scanning than by using a digital camera why scan?
    It also costs more than using a digital camera if the cost of D & P is taken into account.
    BUT
    There are several advantages.

    ·      Scanners have a substantially higher resolution than digital cameras.
    ·      Scanners are the only way to digitise existing pictures.
    ·      You can continue to use your current camera system.
    ·      Flat bed scanners cost a fraction of a good digital camera.

    ·      Additionally scanners have other uses viz.
    ·
    ·        As a Colour Copier - just insert the original, press a function key and out of the printer comes a copy.
    ·        As a FAX machine
    ·        As a Digital Camera! - within the focal range of the scanner items such as coins, keys, collector's objects, motifs, food, plants, your hand etc. You can scan good quality images very speedily. You can even do Portrait scans of your face assuming you can find the start button whilst you are under the cover.

            2.1.1]        Flat Bed Scanners
    These devices are able to scan in flat pictures even from thick books. Just coming on the market are scanners capable of scanning 35 mm images of a quality suitable for making prints up to 16x12 inches. They have software built in to control how they work. For instance you can change the resolution and/or the brightness and orientation. When using the scanner the resulting image appears on your monitor screen from within, say, Photoshop.

            2.1.2]        Film Scanners
    This is still the best way of scanning 35 mm film since the resolution is still much higher. They have software built in to control how they work. For instance you can change the resolution and/or the brightness and orientation. When using the scanner the resulting image appears on your monitor screen from within, say, Photoshop.

            2.1.3]        What does a scanner do?
    A scanner breaks down the original down into tiny dots and measures their brightness. However, paradoxically colour scanners are colour blind! To be able to produce colour pictures the scanner employs colour filters (red, green and blue) to measure the respective colour components. These are then superimposed to get the actual colour.

    These dots of colour are called pixels (or picture elements). One of the joys of digital imaging is that you can control every pixel individually. This is done using the image manipulation software such as Paint Shop Pro. The software also allows you to control the whole image to change brightness for instance.

            2.1.4]        Resolution
    This refers to the number of dots per inch that are scanned. This number is determined by the number of scanning elements that can be squeezed in. This number is ever increasing. Now the numbers are in the area of 2400. Only two years ago 600 dpi was the top available. The higher this number the better the scan. It is not always necessary to use the scanner at maximum however, since it depends on the final size of print that you want. So, for instance, if you wish to make a birthday card for someone using a portrait then the final print size is likely to be small. So you need only scan at a low level. This will speed up the operation and allow faster manipulation in the image software.

    2.2].        Direct from a Digital Camera
            Digital cameras have a memory card of some sort. This can be unloaded into the computer either straight from the camera or by putting the memory into a card reader. In both cases the image can be seen as if on another computer drive. So they can be opened directly from your image manipulating programme.

    2.3]        CD-ROM
    Camera shops can now not only develop your film and make prints but also produce a CD-ROM with your images thereon. The images are stored in several resolutions and so varying file sizes. You choose the required size depending on your final print size.
 

           On this course we do not propose to look at para 1, but instead concentrate on paras 2 to 4.