Pixel Corner - origination of photography 160 years ago

PSA Journal, Feb, 1999 by Russell A. Rohde

Software Trends

Software paint programs having ever larger size files are very RAM intensive, but not problematic as RAM is less expensive and HD virtual memory of 1 to 4 GB is almost standard, 9 GB HD becoming popular, and a 25 GB HD was demonstrated by IBM in November 1998. Current computer platforms readily accommodate the latest versions of Corel Draw, Live Picture and Photoshop (PS) and those new programs which feature 3-D modeling, rendering, animation and voice recognition. Digital videographers will welcome Adobe Premiere 5.0 for its new nonlinear environment with improved synching and timing features.

PS Vet. 4.0 is written in 15 languages and has between 2 and 3 million users. PS Vers. 5.0 and 5.02 require 32 MB RAM but prefers 64 MB. The Automation Plug-Ins (API) multi-task various PS routines to perform complex operations. Contact Sheet API command produces a complete printout of thumbnail images of all image files within a folder which are editable by PS tools. Magnetic Lasso "works like magic" and anticipates boundary separations as it passes near them to provide rapid selections that accelerate compositing. History palette permits unlimited numbers of undo while History Brush is able to reapply any applied tool or filter effects to an image using brush strokes. Editable Text feature of PS Vet. 5.0 allows online editing of text font, size, color, spacing and baseline shifts. The new features permit rapid compositing and improved color management controls to define and access five idealized RGB color spaces, including the default nonmonitor dependent sRGB color space which is not restrained by the color gamut of specific monitors.

Firmware & Otherware

Major improvements are being made in printing papers and inks. Inkjet papers may be uncoated or cement-coated high quality paper, photo quality paper, photo quality glossy paper and photo quality glossy film. Ink quality and color matching has improved significantly; some printers have 4 (CMYK), 6 or 8 color ink heads. Often overlooked are subtle differences in print heads, customized inks, and paper quality so it is essential to properly match papers, inks and printers as all brands and labeling are not equal. Inexpensive ink refill kits rarely provide quality and consistency, and, importantly, may void warranties.

Seldom recognized is the fact that the speed of most ink-jet printers usually reflects available memory (RAM) and speed (MHz) of the computer being used and not that of the printer; i.e., a slow computer almost always guarantees a slow printer. Printers are often slowed when the image file presented to it is disproportionate to efficient capability of the printer: excessive demands placed on printers to awkwardly resample and interpolate image files results in wasted time and degraded image quality.

Caveat:

Truth in imaging should be preserved in whatever instances it is expected to be present.