Message-Id: <mailto:199607181617.LAA22019@library.wustl.edu> Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 12:10:43 -0400 From: Joel Wolfson <mailto:DigiWolf@AOL.COM> Subject: Re: IMAGELIB Digest - 16 Jul 1996 to 17 Jul 1996 To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB
In regard to Ms. D'Adamo's submission on July 17:>Recently we have begun to add images to our in-house catalog of
>materials. We have discovered that the images of the posters on the
>photo cds are all overexposed. The photos look fine.
>
>We'd like recommendations on good vendors to convert slides to
>photo-cds from anyone who could recommend some.
>You can send your suggestions to me directly and I'll be happy
>to summarize for the list. Thank you.
>
>Peggy D'Adamo
>Media Librarian
>Center for Communication Programs
>Johns Hopkins University
I'll be happy to recommend some Photo CD vendors with whom I've had good results and feedback from my clients.
I would also make sure that the scans are indeed overexposed. There are some issues to investigate first: 1. What tools are you using to extract the images ? (eg. Adobe's Acquire module, Kodak's module, etc.) These can have an effect on the final image quality although probably not in terms of images looking overexposed. 2. What Metric are you using to extract images (eg. Gamma 1.8 500O K) ? This could have a noticeable effect on perceived "lightness" or "exposure" of the image. 3. Are you judging the images within a controlled and calibrated setting ? If you're making these judgments on the monitor, be sure your monitor is calibrated. As a minimum it should be calibrated to factory specifications and if possible to a viewing standard such as D50 or similar. There's a utility that comes with Photoshop called Gamma that can help you get at least a ball park calibration. It's important to base judgments on your final output medium (or calibrated to this medium) whether that's a monitor, print, or some other.
Assuming all of the above have been considered and taken into account and your scans are just plain bad (which is entirely possible); then here are a couple of vendors to try. Be sure to to do test runs with any vendors before sending them large amounts of work:
Pro Color mailto:@ 800-332-7753 or Digigraphics @ 612-721-2434 (I don't know if they have a toll free #). Both are based in Minneapolis.
Hope this helps and please let us know the outcome.
Joel Wolfson Imaging Consulting & Services 3610 N. Stone Crest Street Flagstaff, AZ 86004-6811 (520) 526-3726 Direct E-mail: mailto:digiwolf@infomagic.com