| Electronics greatest technological breakthrough in this | | | | white color, since the color white is a combination of |
| modern age is the digitization of analog signals. Digital | | | | the colors, red, blue, and green. After demosaicing is |
| information, which is represented by 1s and 0s, is | | | | complete, the image is further subjected to the |
| formed upon successful conversion of analog | | | | photographer`s settings of the camera, like |
| information, which is represented by a fluctuating | | | | adjustments made for brightness, color saturation, |
| wave. This conversion of analog to digital has made | | | | contrast, etc. |
| the world of science and technology make great | | | | High-end digital cameras usually do not do anything |
| advances into the field of computers, Internet, satellites, | | | | more to the image thus produced. However, |
| and space research. | | | | professional digital cameras have a sharpening |
| On the consumer domain, the benefits of this | | | | algorithm, which heighten the sharpness and clarity of |
| technological breakthrough can be witnessed in | | | | the demosaiced and settings adjusted image. |
| consumer electronic products like TVs, computers, | | | | Professional digital cameras also have the option of |
| cameras, camcorders, CDs, DVDs, etc. Digitization | | | | saving the image in its RAW data before any |
| gave rise to microchips, which could be programmed | | | | demosaicing or adjustments are made by the |
| to perform any task. With the utilization of the | | | | computer chip. This is to give control to the |
| microchip, the digital camera was born. | | | | professional photographers to make changes to the |
| In a digital camera, the lens focuses the image, the | | | | RAW data as per their own choices. |
| shutter allows the entry of light reflecting from that | | | | The image can be saved in an uncompressed format |
| image into the camera, for a fraction of a second, and | | | | like TIFF or a compressed format like JPEG. |
| the aperture determines the quantity of light allowed | | | | Uncompressed formats preserve greater information; |
| inside the camera. When the light enters the camera, it | | | | thus, the detail of the photograph is much more than a |
| does not fall on a photographic film as it does in a | | | | compressed format, where detail is less, as lesser |
| conventional camera, rather it falls on an image sensor. | | | | information is stored. Hence, compressed formats are |
| The image sensor is an electronic device, a | | | | also known as lossy formats, since details are lost. An |
| semiconductor, made up of photosites that measures | | | | uncompressed format increases the file size, whereas |
| the light intensity. The photosite can only measure the | | | | a compressed format reduces the file size. Depending |
| intensity of light and cannot recognize any color. To | | | | upon the need, the image can be saved either in an |
| overcome this, each photosite is covered with a color | | | | uncompressed or a compressed image format, as bits |
| filter of red, or a green, or a blue color according to a | | | | and bytes in a memory card. The stored image can |
| pattern known as the Bayer pattern. Since the human | | | | be viewed on the digital camera`s display screen as a |
| eye is twice sensitive to the green color, the number | | | | digital photo. |
| of photosites having green color is twice the number | | | | This digital photo can then be transferred from the |
| of photosites having red or blue color. Millions of | | | | digital camera to the computer`s hard disk via the serial |
| photosites are covered by this Bayer pattern. Each | | | | port or USB port or FireWire port or Bluetooth wireless |
| color occupies a single photosite, which is known as a | | | | using Wi-Fi connectivity. RAW data and |
| pixel. | | | | uncompressed data like TIFF take a longer time to |
| The more the number of pixels, the greater is the | | | | transfer than compressed data like JPEG or GIF. |
| amount of detail that can be captured. The detail of | | | | Once the data has been transferred to the computer`s |
| the image is called as resolution, which is determined | | | | hard disk, any photo editing software can manipulate |
| by the quality of the lens and the number of pixels in | | | | and adjust it, as per the individual tastes and |
| the image sensor. High-end digital cameras have about | | | | requirements of the photographer. The digital photo |
| 12 million pixels, whereas professional digital cameras | | | | can then be printed on photographic paper, specially |
| have about 20 million pixels. | | | | coated paper, or any other paper via a color inkjet or |
| The information of the pixels is recorded as electrical | | | | laser printer. Utilizing a plotter, it can be printed in larger |
| analog signals, is amplified, and then is fed into a | | | | sizes, in any other medium like canvas, acrylic, vinyl, etc. |
| converter, which converts the amplified analog signals | | | | The digital photo can be saved on a hard disk, pen |
| into digital binary numbers, with respect to the color | | | | drive or a CD, for archival purposes. |
| information of each pixel. These digital binary numbers | | | | With passing time, more and more features are being |
| are then fed into a computer chip residing inside the | | | | introduced in a digital camera. Nowadays, audio-video |
| camera. The computer chip analyzes the digital binary | | | | recording is also fused with the still image capturing |
| numbers that have been made as per the color of | | | | capability of the digital camera, making them small |
| individual pixels. This information is known as RAW | | | | camcorders (camera + recorders). |
| data. For analysis, the computer chip subjects this | | | | This article is under GNU FDL license and can be |
| RAW data using a technique known as demosaicing. | | | | distributed without any previous authorization from the |
| In this technique (demosaicing), the pixel color is | | | | author. However the authors name and all the URLs |
| determined as per the color of the neighboring pixels. | | | | (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be |
| For example, if a red color pixel is surrounded by blue | | | | kept. |
| and green pixels, then that red color pixel is treated as | | | | |