Digital image creation refers to the process of photographic images’ acquisition. This term can also refer to processing, compression, printing, display and storage of images. Digital image creation can be classified based on electromagnetic wave type that is used to convey the information constituting the image created. In all digital image creation classes, image sensors convert the message signals, in this case, digital signals. These digital signals processed using a computer and the image is produced inform of a visible-light output (Trussell & Vrhel 2008). A good is example is that, digital photography such as those used by video videographers can be allowed by visible light’s medium using various digital cameras. X-rays can allow x-ray digital image creation (digital fluoroscopy, radiography and CT) while gamma rays can allow gamma ray digital image creation (digital PET, SPECT and scintigraphy). Digital image creation also involves software image analysis, image editing and image manipulation (Reed 2002).
According to Murray (2008), images under digital image creation can be created by a camera from physical scenes directly. A digital image can also be gotten from analog medium like: image scanner, printed paper, photographic film and photographs. Digital image creation extents to creation of images through complex analysis of data of non-image form using radio telescopes, side-scan sonar and tomography equipment. A digitally created image can also be obtained from mathematical formula or geometric model computations. The most appropriate term to use for this kind of image created digitally through computations is image synthesis often referred as rendering (IIEE 2003). The main issue with digital image creation is the digital image authentication. Analyzing and determination of whether an image has been altered can be done using methods emerging from forensic photography.
Analog image creation depended on mechanical and chemical processes. Digital image creation advanced this process by converting them to electronic. To produce a digital image, light energy must first be converted to electrical energy. For example, for a solar celled grid, each solar cell’s charges must be transported to firmware where communication takes place and hence interpretation. It is in the firmware where color and light qualities of different kinds can be understood and translated. After the color qualities are understood and translated by the firmware, pixels are then noticed. Different colors created and caused by the varying intensities of the pixels create an image or a picture. The last step requires the firmware to record the last information obtained for further and future reproduction (Richardson 2003).
According to Cherry and Edward, 2006, digital image arts are of great importance in today’s society in a number of many ways. First, the art has enabled easy processing of word documents and photographs. Through digitization of images of books covers containing the title, books have been made searchable making it easy for them to be worldwide. Digital image creation has been of great importance in the world of medicine as images can be transmitted electronically to the third party provider such as the insurance carriers, consultants and dentists using a modem (Planykh 2009). Compared to analog image creation, digital image creation is environmental friendly as chemical processing is no longer used (Castella 2012). With the help of digital creation technology, personal events of life, historical and scientific events can be recorded and documented. Through digital image arts, original images’ physical contacts have been reduced (Alexander 2012). Finally, through digital image arts, it is possible to reconstruct visual contents belonging to a photograph that is partially damaged (Fahmy & Smith 2003).
- Alexander, J.C. (2012). Ionic Power: Materiality and meaning in social life. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Castella, T.D. (2012). Five ways the digital camera changed us. Derived on 27, November 2016 from http://www.digital-image-criation-five-ways-the-digital-camera-has-changed-us.
- Cherry, C.M. & Edward, I.M. (2006). “A cautionary note about fingerprint analysis and reliance on digital technology”. Judicature. 89(6): 334+
- Fahmy, S.F. & Smith, C.Z. (2003). “Photographers Note Digital’s Advantages =, Disadvantages”. Newspaper Research Journal. 24(2): 82-96
- IIEE, (2003). “The Birth of Digital Photo-telegraphy”, the papers of Technical Meeting in History of Electrical Engineering, IEE, vol. HEE-03, pp. 9-12, pp. 7-12
- Murray, S.M. (2008). “Digital images, photo-sharing and our shifting nation of everyday aesthetics: Journal of visual culture. 7(2): 147-163
- Planykh, O.S. (2009). Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine: a Practical Introduction and Survival Guide. Boston, Mass: Springer. Pp. 3-5
- Reed, M.R. (2002). “Graphic arts, digital imaging and technology education”. T H E journal. 21(5): 69+
- Richardson, R.J. (2003). “Digital imaging: the wave of the future”. T H E Journal. 31(3).
- Trussell, H.T. & Vrhel, M. (2008). “Introduction”. Fundamental of Digital Imaging. 1-6.