The Process Manual

Tips for taking better digital pictures: • Get used to the prefocus on your camera. Most point-and shoot digital cameras have a lag time between when the shutter button is depressed and when the picture is actually taken. It may require some practice to take effective pictures. • Watch your lighting. Digital cameras usually do not function well in low light. Experiment with the flash and consult your camera manual for instructions on any available flash adjustments. • Look for an exposure compensation setting. This can help with situations where lighting isn’t the best. • Finally, take lots of pictures. Have fun and experiment with your camera. Read your manual and become familiar with all aspects of the camera’s features. There are no costs for film, so go wild. Transferring an image from your camera to computer: Images can either be downloaded from the camera by cable connection or using a card reader. Specific instructions for your camera or card reader should come with the product. SCANNERS Another form of digital imaging you might work with for the yearbook is scanned images. There are generally two types of scanners. A flatbed scanner works like a photocopier. The photo or item to be scanned is placed on a glass plate and light moves under and across it to duplicate the image. A film scanner works like an overhead projector. It shines light through transparent film (negatives), projecting the image onto a surface that captures it. Characteristics to look for in a scanner: • Color depth Color depth controls smoothness and is required for rich skin tones. Minimum color depth is 36-bit. • Dynamic range All images have a certain tonal range between the highlights and the shadows. This is measured by dynamic range. A scanner should register and convert the tonal range as well as the fineness of the individual gradations. This determines how well the scanner can reproduce details in dark areas. Minimum dynamic range is 2.5. • Resolution (flatbed scanners) The resolution of your scanner determines how large the scanned image can be used in the yearbook. Your flatbed scanner should scan an output resolution of at least 600 dpi. Most scanners exceed that number. • Resolution (film scanners) The resolution of your scanner determines how large the scanned image can be used in the yearbook. The minimum recommended resolution is 1800 dpi.

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