Image editing on your personal computer.

Communication is an important skill in today's marketplace. To sell your ideas, whether it's to a board of directors, the public or your boss, you have to be able to communicate effectively. Traditionally, we have relied on written and oral methods to communicate. Now with the aid of a computer we can use and manipulate real images. This image processing technology provides a powerful and cost effective way of communicating ideas in a visual form.

Images can help to express ideas quickly, clearly and unilaterally in a way that line drawings and words cannot. People can identify with photographic images more readily than with architectural renderings. Not everyone is skilled in reading technical drawings and words evoke different images to different people.

What is Image Processing?

Image processing is a term used to define any use of a computer to manipulate images. This includes high-end systems that are used by the movie industry to produce special effects and by the medical industry to display diagnostic information. It is now possible to use a personal computer to manipulate photographic images to simulate proposed changes in the landscape.

How Does It Work?

Image processing works by converting a photographic image into a digital format using a color scanner or video camera so it can be stored in the computer. This image file is made up of a series of dots, or pixels, on the screen and is referred to as screen resolution. The more pixels you have, the sharper the image appears. Each pixel is also assigned a specific color. The amount of color that the computer is capable of displaying, referred to as color resolution, is determined by the type of monitor and graphics board. Once the image is stored in the computer you can edit it with specialized software. Editing functions are selected from a drop-down menu using a mouse or a stylus. Any basic editing software will be able to draw, paint, add texture and move elements around the scene. You can clip an image library of trees, grasses, concrete and stone textures, buildings, benches or grills from various photographs, adjust the size and place them into a different scene to represent the proposed changes.

You can then send edited images to film recorders, color printers, or video tape. A film recorder will produce a photographic print or slide of the edited image. Prints are desirable for use in documents or publications. Slides work well for presentations to large groups. Color printers will print on paper or clear film. You can use paper copies for displays or in reports and clear film copies for overhead projectors. These output formats look best if the image is scanned in at a high resolution.

A different software program allows you to arrange and play back the images as a slide show with a variety of wipes or fades between images. You can set the length of time each image is viewed according to your need. You can also copy the slide show, together with a narration, to a video tape and present it to your audience.

How Can it Be Used?

This technology can be used by planners to visualize alternatives, assess visual impacts and make decisions. It can be used to help new employees visualize the planning process and to show contractors how the completed project should look. It can be a marketing tool for new programs and activities or a presentation tool to communicate proposed plans to the public and solicit feedback. This process can be especially effective at public meetings that involve sensitive issues. Seeing a proposal in pictorial form can ease concerns and generate support.

What Hardware and Software is Needed?

Image processing can be done both on the DOS and MAC operating system. In most cases you can upgrade an existing computer to edit photographic images. Hardware and software are constantly changing, so if you are interested in acquiring this capability it's a good idea to contact a qualified vendor. A DOS based image processing workstation needs a 386 or faster IBM compatible computer with a minimum 60MB hard disk and 512K RAM (2MB recommended), a 16-BIT color graphics board (24-BIT color is better) with compatible color monitor, a pointing device (mouse or graphics tablet), and image processing soffware.

You can edit photographic images with a standard VGA graphics board, but you will be limited to 256 colors. In our office we use a special 16-bit color graphics board (displays 32,000 colors) that allows a video source to be used for input. This requires a second monitor to be added to the workstation.

The advantage of using a video camera as an input device is that it is very quick to load images. You can take the camera to the field to record the existing conditions, bring it back to the office, connect it to the computer and grab a still image within seconds.

The disadvantages of using video for input is image quality. VIIS and 8mm video formats produce about 240 lines of resolution. Images captured from these recorders appear grainy and colors are muddy. Super-VHS and Hi-8mm formats use a different type of signal that allows for more than 400 lines of resolution and an improved color signal. If video is the intended output, then Super-VHS and Hi-8mm video input is your best bet. If you need hard copy or photographic prints, then use scanned images.

Color scanners can produce a very high quality image input. A primary concern is the storage of the very large data files. The storage requirements for an image range from 410K on up. The better the resolution the larger the file. Large files eat up available storage space quickly, so with this kind of storage requirements we highly recommended that the computer have a large hard disk.

It is also necessary to store files easily. A mass storage device such as a removable disk drive, a backup tape system or an optical disk will be convenient if you plan to use image processing extensively.

Most output devices are expensive; film recorders start at $5000. There are service bureaus available that will produce high quality output if your office cannot afford these devices. In our system, we use the same video camera for input and output. With our special video graphics board we can record images directly to video tape. For many applications the video format is acceptable. It is hard to put a price tag on what an image processing workstation would cost. If you already have an adequate computer, you can get started for around $3000. This does not include any input or output devices. You application will determine the type of input/output devices.

What Skills are Essential?

If you are using this technology to communicate with the public, it is imperative that the images be accurate and valid. Skilled operators are essential. Certain skills, education and/or experience are extremely useful in becoming a proficient image processing operator.

Understanding artistic principles such as perspective, color mixing, textural differences, reflections, and shadows is important. Also, understanding engineering or architectural design skills such as reading plans, profiles, cross-sections, earth grading and shaping are critical skills for visualizing alternatives. An operator must also gain proficiency in operating a variety of computer programs and peripheral devices.

Using a computer to edit photographic images has proven to be an effective communication tool. Edited photographs generally appear more realistic than renderings. Showing simulated changes in familiar settings enables viewers to understand proposed activities, crystalize concerns and express their support.