Graphics and Still Images

John H. Krantz
Hanover College

Outline
Graphics
Types
Developing with Paint

Images
File Types
Acquiring
Using ImageJ
Basics
Advanced

Graphics vs. Images

Some definitions: mine for clarity here:
Graphics Def: computer generated or drawn
by you.
Image: scanned, captured, take photograph
or an graphic file not generated by you.
Difference:
In a graphic, you can directly manipulate the
elements because you drew them Sprites
In an image, you can manipulate pixels but not
directly the elements. This has a great impact.

Graphic Types
Storing Formats:
Bitmap (bmp, PCT, Tiff) big, not good for web
Compressed
Graphic Interchange Format (Gif) can animate
8 bits of color palette no spatial compression
Can be some legal issues make sure the generator legally
can generate GIFs
Generally best compression for simple graphics
Can generate transparent regions

JPG
Generally better for images and photos
Spatial not color compression, can distort image spatially.
Now can animate as well.

Developing with ImageJ

Free
Very simple but easy
Access to pixels
No anti-aliasing
Downside: jaggies
Upside: in complete control of graphics

Can store in Lots of Formats

Try some
Basic Graphics Objects
Cutting and Pasting
Transparency

Adding Text
Saving in Different Format
Transparency (set in web page program).

Reading Different Formats

Image Types
Same as with graphics
JPG is generally better in terms of
compression ratio, smaller files, for
images
For complex images, minor spatial
distortions will be hidden.

Example JPG

Acquiring
Scanning
Flatbed gives best quality.
Use 35 MM film for pictures best resolution
Scan at a high level and sample down later
Any model seems good this day.

Scanned Image

Digital Cameras
No loss in Scanning
CCD
3.1 Megapixel at least if need photo
quality
there are 5 megapixel
Can use lower quality if only need web.

Easy to download
Good in low light

Low Light Digital Image

Taking Photos Digitally

Focusing: Automatic and Manual
Regular focus
Macro allows focusing up close
Spot Focus: focus is determined by point

Shutter Speed
Zoom:
Do not use digital zoom if need more zoom, do
it on computer later
On my default is off except for movies

Taking Pictures (cont.)

White Balance, controls for our color cons
tancy
Flash:
often I keep it off.

Image Size:
I keep at standard (full pixel density, some
JPG compression). Balance between image
quality and ability to store on disk ~ 1
Meg/picture

Use of Flash
Flash

No Flash

Editing Images with ImageJ

Free at: http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/index.html
Overview
Java program
Interface a bit awkward because not free (no
shortcuts)
Expandable via plug-ins

Covers all basic editing and many

advanced

Basic Editing
Most Important Command: Revert
Under the File Menu
Ctrl-z is undo but only one step.

Suggest do save as or make copy first

so dont destroy original
Resize for web: under Image: Scale or
Adjust: Size

Basic Editing

Selecting a region
Clear
Clear outside
Cropping
Rotating and Flipping
Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
Thresholding

An Example
How symmetrical am
I?
The original image

Select the region

I used the rectangular
region easier
Centered on some
feature in middle
find the x value (I
used a gap in my
teeth)

Crop and Flip

Cropped

Flipped Horizontally

Cut and Paste

Reopen original face

Select all of half face
Paste into other
Adjust location

Final Picture

Paste Control
Copy

Blend

Paste Control
Difference

Transparent

Converting Images
Save as for Image Types use GIF or
JPG
Must add extension, it is not added
automatically
Always use save as to save anything other
than a TIFF
This is a full color uncompressed image

Converting Images
Converting Color Depth or to Grayscale
image
8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit are grayscale
8-bit RGB and RGB are color
It is not possible to arbitrarily convert images
but ImageJ gives table of possible conversions
e.g. can only convert JPG to and 8bit grayscale.

Adding to Images
Setting Colors
Edit: Options: Foreground Color
Image: Colors

Adding Text
Set font in
Edit: Options: Font
Draws in selected color

Adding to Images
Drawing a basic graphics object
Draw width:
Edit: Options: Line Width

Select shape
Put shape on image
Edit: Draw or ctrl-D

Filled regions
Same as above, but:
line width not important
Use Edit: Fill or ctrl-F

Filtering Images
Under the Process menu
Sharpen: more edges
Smooth: dull details

Filtering Images
Edges: finds them
so type of outline

Filtering Images
Gaussian: blurs
Amount of blur
depends upon the
standard deviation
(called radius)

Some Useful Plugins

Some have limits but as developments go, you
will be able to get new ones without these limits
Can build your own
Uses Java
instructions on web page

RGB Recolor
Inverter
File opener: multiple files
AVI writer