Digital Imaging for the Underwater Photographer Computer Applications for Photo Enhancement and Presentation

by Drafahl, Jack; Drafahl, Sue

• ISBN13: 9781584281672
• ISBN10: 1584281677
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-01
• Publisher: Amherst Media

Summary

Designed to help the underwater photographer make a smooth transition to digital imaging, this handbook discusses how to digitally refine, correct, and enhance underwater photographs. The equipment necessary for digital imaging for underwater photography is explained, and includes a discussion on the essentials of scanning in order to develop underwater pictures. Along with extensive information on Adobe Photoshop and how it can be used to edit underwater pictures, this new edition features instructions on how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements, a more basic program geared toward beginning photographers. Images and screenshots have also been updated, and information on the best software plug-ins for underwater imaging using Adobe Photoshop is provided.

Author Biography

Jack Drafahl and Sue Drafahl are a husband-and-wife team of professional undersea journalists, lecturers, and multimedia producers. They have written more than 500 articles for publications such as National Geographic World and National Wildlife Federation. They are the authors of Advanced Digital Camera Techniques, Photo Salvage with Adobe Photoshop, and Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop. They live in Portland, Oregon.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION	10	(2)
2. THE DIGITAL PROCESS	12	(9)
Input	12	(3)
Digital Camera Images	12	(1)
Film Images	13	(2)
Edit	15	(3)
Hardware	15	(2)
Software	17	(1)
Output	18	(1)
Inkjet Printer	18	(1)
Dye Sublimation Printer	19	(1)
Film Recorder	19	(1)
Digital Slide Shows	19	(1)
Taking the Plunge	19	(2)
3. SCANNING YOUR UNDERWATER IMAGES	21	(16)
Film Choices	21	(4)
Slides	23	(1)
Color Negatives	23	(2)
Black & White Negatives	25	(1)
Scanning Techniques	25	(5)
Software Controls	25	(4)
Bulk vs. Single Scan	29	(1)
Scanning Cleanliness	29	(1)
Sharpening	29	(1)
Editing Tools	30	(1)
Color Management	30	(7)
Color Balancing Your Monitor	30	(2)
Color-Management Software	32	(5)
4. DIGITAL RESOLUTION	37	(9)
Resolution	38	(1)
Perception of Quality	38	(2)
Pixel Dimension	40	(1)
Scanning Resolutions	41	(1)
Rescan to Change Page Size or Resolution	42	(1)
Scanning for the Internet	42	(1)
Scanning for Inkjet Printers	43	(3)
5. PHOTO SOFTWARE BASICS	46	(11)
Adobe Photoshop and Elements	46	(2)
Toolbox	48	(2)
Pull-Down Menus	50	(1)
Plug-in Filters	51	(3)
Actions	54	(3)
Palette Menus	55	(1)
What's Ahead?	55	(2)
6. BASIC IMAGE ADJUSTMENTS	57	(13)
Quickfix and Auto Smart Fix	57	(2)
The Three Autos	59	(4)
Auto Levels	59	(1)
Auto Contrast	60	(1)
Auto Color	60	(3)
Variations	63	(3)
Adjustments Command	66	(1)
Saturation	67	(3)
7. IMAGE COMPRESSION	70	(7)
Image Compression Types	70	(6)
JPEG	71	(3)
Fractal	74	(1)
Wavelet	75	(1)
Final Thoughts	76	(1)
8. SELECTION TOOLS	77	(7)
Rectangular and Circular Marquee	78	(1)
Lasso Tools	79	(1)
Lasso	79	(1)
Polygonal Lasso	79	(1)
Magnetic Lasso	80	(1)
Magic Wand	80	(1)
Color Range	81	(1)
More Selections	81	(3)
9. PHOTOGRAPHIC CURVES	84	(12)
Levels	85	(7)
Other Options	92	(1)
Curves	92	(3)
Final Thoughts	95	(1)
10. NOISE REDUCTION	96	(12)
Film Grain	96	(1)
Higher-ISO Films	96	(1)
Depth of Field	96	(1)
Underexposure	97	(1)
Blue Layer	97	(1)
Enlargements	97	(1)
Digital Camera Noise	97	(1)
Underexposure	98	(1)
Color Corrections	98	(1)
Image Compression and Resolution	98	(1)
Solutions for Film Users	98	(6)
Digital GEM	98	(4)
Despeckle and Dust & Scratches Filters	102	(2)
Solutions for Digital Camera Users	104	(2)
nik Multimedia Dfine	104	(2)
Alien Skin Image Doctor	106	(1)
Final Thoughts	106	(2)
11. SHARPEN AND FOCUS SOLUTIONS	108	(6)
Unsharp Mask	109	(1)
Focus Magic	110	(1)
Other Solutions	111	(1)
Creative Focus	112	(2)
12. WORKING WITH CHANNELS	114	(5)
Black & White Conversions	114	(3)
Blue Water Film Scans	117	(1)
Alpha Channels	118	(1)
13. WORKING WITH LAYERS	119	(6)
Nai'a Nudis Project	121	(4)
Selecting a Subject	121	(1)
Getting Started	121	(1)
Adding Images	122	(1)
Layer Styles	122	(1)
Saving the File	123	(1)
Poster Output	123	(2)
14. BACKSCATTER	125	(12)
Clone Tool	125	(4)
Eraser	129	(1)
Polygonal Lasso Tool	129	(5)
Magic Wand	134	(3)
15. SCRATCH REPAIR FOR FILM IMAGES	137	(11)
Digital Repair	137	(1)
Clone Tool	138	(5)
Healing Brush	143	(1)
Patch Tool	144	(1)
Select a Similar Area	145	(1)
Lasso Your Area	146	(1)
The Image Doctor	146	(2)
16. PROCESSING ERRORS	148	(14)
Missing Black Detail	148	(3)
Missing Color	151	(2)
Underexposed Images	153	(5)
Color Streaks	158	(4)
17. BURNING AND DODGING TECHNIQUES	162	(6)
Digital Options	165	(1)
Flash Fill	165	(2)
Light Traps	167	(1)
Shadow Play	167	(1)
18. PRINTING TECHNIQUES	168	(8)
Color Management	168	(4)
Image Rescaling	172	(1)
Paper and Ink Types	173	(3)
19. DIGITAL SLIDE SHOWS	176	(13)
Computer-Driven Slide Shows	176	(4)
Video-Editing Programs	180	(3)
DVD Authoring	183	(6)
Presenting Your Underwater DVD	183	(6)
20. ARCHIVAL DATA STORAGE	189	(10)
Temporary Backup Storage	189	(2)
Archival Storage	191	(4)
CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW	195	(1)
Multi-Session Recording	196	(2)
Final Thoughts	198	(1)
21. PHOTO DATABASE SYSTEMS	199	(8)
Drafahl Numbering System	199	(1)
Photo Database Programs	200	(2)
Color Negatives	202	(1)
Digital Camera Images	203	(1)
Thumbnail Images	204	(1)
Storage	204	(3)
22. THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL IMAGING UNDERWATER	207	(6)
Enhancement vs. Manipulation	209	(1)
Photo Enhancement	209	(1)
Photo Manipulation	209	(1)
Do You or Don't You?	209	(1)
Do We or Don't We?	210	(3)
Appendix	213	(2)
Index	215