Digital Help

This department will attempt to provide solutions to problems readers may have getting into and using digital cameras, scanning, and using digital photographic images with a computer and different kinds of software. All questions sent to me will be answered with the most appropriate information I can access and provide. However, not all questions and answers will appear in this department. Readers can send questions to me addressed to Shutterbug magazine, through the Shutterbug website, directly via e-mail to: editorial@shutterbug.com or fotografx@mindspring.com or by US Mail to: PO Box 2830, Lompoc, CA 93438.

An Ideal Computer Monitor For Photographic Work?
Q. Regarding your recent advice on monitors--e.g., consider NEC/Mitsubishi if cost of Sony G520 is too high, and stay away from 19" because the better efforts will be in the 21-22" area--I found that the 22" Mitsubishi Diamond Pro runs maybe $100 less than the G520, but the 19" Diamond Pro has similar specs though somewhat less resolution. I assume its tube is not a Chinese cheapo.
I had about decided to go with the Sony, then found out it has been discontinued. Now, I've about decided to go with a 19" DP930 Mitsubishi, but thought I would check one final time to see if you know if and when Sony will have a replacement for the G520. Nothing but stonewalling at Sony. There's that feeling that tomorrow the new model will be twice as good at half the price. I know better. But it's past time to quit ninnying around; it's time to get a monitor and get serious.
Bill Tillery

A. It was many months ago that the display industry announced that the only prime-manufactured CRTs would be 21/22" professional graphics models. All other CRT models would be made in China. Sony has apparently completed that move and the only CRT they will be offering for now made in Japan/US is the G520K Artisan at just under $1800, including a sensor and auto color referencing and profiling.
Whether smaller non-professional CRT models are actually pro-quality, prime-manufactured displays or are produced in China cannot be determined. The sellers are not required to tell you the origin.
For now, and until major color gamut improvements are made in LCDs, I would not buy anything but a 21/22" CRT. Even the cost of the G520K is really no more than a straight 21" Sony was just a few years ago without auto color referencing and profiling that is now included in the Artisan. So, the one popular, modest cost, professional-quality CRT that remains is the NEC/Mitsubishi 22" Diamond Pro.

Don't Lose Image Information From Computer Photo Files
Q. I am still experimenting with the new Canon i960. One thing that occurred to me is that I have been taking the CD image and changing it to smaller sizes and resaving, then when calling up and wanting a different size (larger) I type in 300 under Resample Image (checked) and then the new size. Am I losing information from the original image by reducing it and then changing it to a larger size again?
Also, I am still a little confused about checking and not checking Resample Image. A CD from Dale Labs brings up images as 42.667x28.333 at 72 pix/in. They claim it's an 18MB file. When unchecking Resample Image, and typing in the following sizes the accompanying pix/in show:
Size Pix/in
19x12.6" 162
17x11.3 181 (Maintain Proportions checked)
14x9.33 219
11x7.33 279
7.5x5 410
Is it better to use these as a guide or to type in 300 pix/in (with Resample checked) and then simply type in the sizes given above? This is under the Image Size dialog in Elements II.

A. As a general rule, always Save As an archive file and keep the original data in a non-compressed format without using "Resample" interpolation. When making a larger image to print, using Resample to get a higher effective resolution simply avoids any effect of pixelation by dividing the data into smaller pixels, which smoothes edges and gradations. As your chart indicates, as size is increased the resolution is proportionally decreased. Any time Resample is used to make an image smaller reducing the file size, data (image information) is lost.

Home Movies To Digital Video On DVD
Q. My son wants me to send him the Super 8 movies his mother took of him and his brother, when they were babies. We would like to know how we can project these old family movies and then (burn) record them on a CD. Is there an existing company that still can do this kind of projection and recording for us? I've looked through past issues of Shutterbug, and have seen nothing related to this. Would certainly appreciate any information, help, or leads.
John Haines, Jr.

A. There are a number of companies that are on the web that offer home movie conversion services. The following are the highlights of a Google search.
www.videoconversionexperts.com--Up to 35 percent off film to DVD; produces professional-grade DVDs from 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm.
www.HomeMovieDepot.com--8mm film to video and DVD; only company to include free online preview of movie for every transfer.
www.filmtransfer.com--Frame by frame transfer; 8mm-S8-16mm film direct to digital. Film is transferred frame by frame.
www.cjstechnologies.com--Premium 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm film transfer to DVD and other formats.
www.goaggressive.com--Home movies to DVD/video, 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm; Telecine Wetgate, Aerial Image, Chem Clean.
www.dvdhome.ca--Videotape to DVD transfer; quality, service, and value. Preserve your home video memories.