DLF Standards. Imaging guides outline. Reproduction qualities in digital masters

Imaging Guides

IV. REPRODUCTION QUALITIES OF DIGITAL MASTERS

The purpose of this guide is to identify the features used to define and measure the technical qualities of a digital master in relation to the original from which it is reproduced, and which it is intended to represent. Some parts of this discussion may identify qualities the implications of which are imperfectly understood, or the measures of which are needed or under development and so may not yet be commercially available in a suitable form.

Introduction

Building visual literacy
Looking at pictures on a screen
Key question: scan from original or intermediate?

Visual attributes associated with quality

First things to check
Image completeness (cropping)
Image orientation
Skew
Subjective image quality evaluations
Definition of subjective image quality
What to look for
What to be careful about

Objective technical attributes associated with quality

Tone reproduction
Definition and implications
How to measure it (targets, software)
Color reproduction
Definition and implications
How to measure it (targets, software)
Detail reproduction
Definition and implications
How to measure it (targets, software)
Noise
Definition and implications
How to measure it (targets, software)
Artifacts
Definition and implications
How to determine

Measures

How to judge the numbers after scanning
Setting aimpoint values for scanning
Clipping
Distribution of digital levels

Inclusion of targets

Pros and cons of including targets
Which targets should be used
How to fit them into the workflow
Documentation of target use
Image processing
Types of image processing
Resampling
Sharpening and noise reduction
Tone and color correction
Defect elimination
Compression
Fitting image processing into the workflow
Sequence of applying different image processing steps
Effects of image processing on image quality
Effects of image processing on processing in the future

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