View source for Digital imaging

{{short description|Creation of a digitally encoded representation of the visual characteristics of an object}}
{{for|the digital forensic process|Acquisition (forensic process)}}
{{broader|Imaging}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2007}}
'''Digital imaging''' or '''digital image acquisition''' is the creation of a [[digital signal|digital]] representation of the [[visual]] characteristics of an object,<ref>[http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/term.php?term=digitalimage Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative Glossary]</ref> such as a physical scene or the interior structure of an object. The term is often assumed to imply or include the [[digital image processing|processing]], [[image compression|compression]], [[image file format|storage]], [[digital printing|printing]] and [[display device|display]] of such images. A key advantage of a [[digital image]], versus an [[Analog signal|analog image]] such as a [[film photograph]], is the ability to digitally propagate copies of the original subject indefinitely without any loss of image quality.

Digital imaging can be classified by the type of [[electromagnetic radiation]] or other [[wave]]s whose variable [[attenuation]], as they [[refraction|pass through]] or [[reflection (physics)|reflect off]] objects, conveys the [[information]] that constitutes the [[image]]. In all classes of digital imaging, the information is converted by [[image sensor]]s into digital [[signal (electrical engineering)|signals]] that are [[signal processing|processed by a computer]] and made output as a visible-light image. For example, the medium of [[light|visible light]] allows digital photography (including digital [[videography]]) with various kinds of [[digital camera]]s (including digital [[video camera]]s). [[X-ray]]s allow digital X-ray imaging ([[digital radiography]], [[fluoroscopy]], and [[X-ray computed tomography|CT]]), and [[gamma ray]]s allow digital gamma ray imaging (digital [[scintigraphy]], [[single-photon emission computed tomography|SPECT]], and [[positron emission tomography|PET]]). [[Sound]] allows ultrasonography (such as  [[medical ultrasonography]]) and [[sonar]], and [[radio wave]]s allow [[radar]]. Digital imaging lends itself well to [[image analysis]] by [[software]], as well as to [[image editing]] (including image manipulation).

==History==
The first digital image was produced in 1920, by the [[Bartlane cable picture transmission system]]. British inventors, Harry G. Bartholomew and Maynard D. McFarlane, developed this method. The process consisted of "a series of negatives on zinc plates that were exposed for varying lengths of time, thus producing varying densities".<ref name="Trussell & Vrhel">{{cite journal |author=Trussell H &Vrhel M |title=Introduction |journal=Fundamental of Digital Imaging |pages=1–6 |year=2008}}</ref> The Bartlane cable picture transmission system generated at both its transmitter and its receiver end a punched data card or tape that was recreated as an image.<ref>"The Birth of Digital Phototelegraphy", the papers of Technical Meeting in History of Electrical Engineering IEEE, Vol. HEE-03, No. 9-12, pp 7-12 (2003)</ref>

In 1957, [[Russell A. Kirsch]] produced a device that generated digital data that could be stored in a computer; this used a [[drum scanner]] and [[photomultiplier]] tube.<ref name="Trussell & Vrhel"/>

Digital imaging was developed in the 1960s and 1970s, largely to avoid the operational weaknesses of [[film camera]]s, for scientific and military missions including the [[KH-11]] program. As digital technology became cheaper in later decades, it replaced the old film methods for many purposes.

In the early 1960s, while developing compact, lightweight, portable equipment for the onboard [[nondestructive testing]] of naval aircraft, Frederick G. Weighart<ref>U.S. Patent 3,277,302, titled "X-Ray Apparatus Having Means for Supplying An Alternating Square Wave Voltage to the X-Ray Tube", granted to Weighart on October 4, 1964, showing its patent application date as May 10, 1963 and at lines 1-6 of its column 4, also, noting James F. McNulty's earlier filed co-pending application for an essential component of invention</ref> and [[James F. McNulty (U.S. radio engineer)]]<ref>U.S. Patent 3,289,000, titled "Means for Separately Controlling the Filament Current and Voltage on a X-Ray Tube", granted to McNulty on November 29, 1966 and showing its patent application date as March 5, 1963</ref> at Automation Industries, Inc., then, in El Segundo, California co-invented the first apparatus to generate a digital image in real-time, which image was a fluoroscopic [[digital radiograph]]. Square wave signals were detected on the [[fluorescent]] screen of a [[fluoroscope]] to create the image.

===Digital image sensors===
{{Main|Image sensor}}

The charge-coupled device was invented by [[Willard S. Boyle]] and [[George E. Smith]] at Bell Labs in 1969.<ref>{{Cite book | title = Scientific charge-coupled devices | author = James R. Janesick | publisher = SPIE Press | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0-8194-3698-6 | pages = 3–4 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3GyE4SWytn4C&pg=PA3 }}</ref> While researching MOS technology, they realized that an electric charge was the analogy of the magnetic bubble and that it could be stored on a tiny [[MOS capacitor]]. As it was fairly straightforward to [[semiconductor device fabrication|fabricate]] a series of MOS capacitors in a row, they connected a suitable voltage to them so that the charge could be stepped along from one to the next.<ref name="Williams">{{cite book|last1=Williams|first1=J. B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4QlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA245|title=The Electronics Revolution: Inventing the Future|date=2017|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-49088-5|pages=245–8}}</ref> The CCD is a semiconductor circuit that was later used in the first [[digital video camera]]s for [[television broadcasting]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Boyle|first1=William S|last2=Smith|first2=George E.|date=1970|title=Charge Coupled Semiconductor Devices|journal=Bell Syst. Tech. J.|volume=49|issue=4|pages=587–593|doi=10.1002/j.1538-7305.1970.tb01790.x|bibcode=1970BSTJ...49..587B }}</ref>

Early CCD sensors suffered from [[shutter lag]]. This was largely resolved with the invention of the [[pinned photodiode]] (PPD).<ref name="Fossum2014"/> It was invented by [[Nobukazu Teranishi]], Hiromitsu Shiraki and Yasuo Ishihara at [[NEC]] in 1980.<ref name="Fossum2014"/><ref>{{US patent|4484210|U.S. Patent 4,484,210: Solid-state imaging device having a reduced image lag}}</ref> It was a [[photodetector]] structure with low lag, low [[noise (electronics)|noise]], high [[quantum efficiency]] and low [[dark current (physics)|dark current]].<ref name="Fossum2014"/> In 1987, the PPD began to be incorporated into most CCD devices, becoming a fixture in [[consumer electronic]] [[video cameras]] and then [[digital still camera]]s. Since then, the PPD has been used in nearly all CCD sensors and then CMOS sensors.<ref name="Fossum2014"/>

The [[NMOS logic|NMOS]] [[active-pixel sensor]] (APS) was invented by [[Olympus Corporation|Olympus]] in Japan during the mid-1980s. This was enabled by advances in MOS [[semiconductor device fabrication]], with [[MOSFET scaling]] reaching smaller [[List of semiconductor scale examples|micron and then sub-micron]] levels.<ref name=fossum93>{{cite book |last1=Fossum |first1=Eric R. |chapter=Active pixel sensors: Are CCDS dinosaurs? |author1-link=Eric Fossum |title=Charge-Coupled Devices and Solid State Optical Sensors III |journal=SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1900: Charge-Coupled Devices and Solid State Optical Sensors III |date=12 July 1993 |volume=1900 |doi=10.1117/12.148585 |publisher=International Society for Optics and Photonics |pages=2–14 |bibcode=1993SPIE.1900....2F |editor1-last=Blouke |editor1-first=Morley M.|citeseerx=10.1.1.408.6558 |s2cid=10556755 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fossum |first1=Eric R. |author1-link=Eric Fossum |date=2007 |title=Active Pixel Sensors |website=Eric Fossum |url=https://ericfossum.com/Publications/Papers/Active%20Pixel%20Sensors%20LASER%20FOCUS.pdf |s2cid=18831792}}</ref> The NMOS APS was fabricated by Tsutomu Nakamura's team at Olympus in 1985.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Matsumoto |first1=Kazuya |last2=Nakamura |first2=Tsutomu |last3=Yusa |first3=Atsushi |last4=Nagai |first4=Shohei |display-authors=1|date=1985 |title=A new MOS phototransistor operating in a non-destructive readout mode |journal=Japanese Journal of Applied Physics |volume=24 |issue=5A |page=L323|doi=10.1143/JJAP.24.L323 |bibcode=1985JaJAP..24L.323M |s2cid=108450116 }}</ref> The [[CMOS]] active-pixel sensor (CMOS sensor) was later developed by [[Eric Fossum]]'s team at the [[NASA]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] in 1993.<ref name="Fossum2014">{{cite journal |last1=Fossum |first1=Eric R. |author1-link=Eric Fossum |last2=Hondongwa |first2=D. B. |title=A Review of the Pinned Photodiode for CCD and CMOS Image Sensors |journal=IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society |date=2014 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=33–43 |doi=10.1109/JEDS.2014.2306412 |bibcode=2014IJEDS...2...33F |doi-access=free }}</ref> By 2007, sales of CMOS sensors had surpassed CCD sensors.<ref>{{cite news |title=CMOS Image Sensor Sales Stay on Record-Breaking Pace |url=http://www.icinsights.com/news/bulletins/CMOS-Image-Sensor-Sales-Stay-On-RecordBreaking-Pace/ |access-date=6 October 2019 |work=IC Insights |date=May 8, 2018}}</ref>

===Digital image compression===
{{Main|Image compression}}

An important development in digital [[image compression]] technology was the [[discrete cosine transform]] (DCT).<ref name="Ahmed">{{cite journal |last=Ahmed |first=Nasir |author-link=N. Ahmed |title=How I Came Up With the Discrete Cosine Transform |journal=[[Digital Signal Processing (journal)|Digital Signal Processing]] |date=January 1991 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=4–5 |doi=10.1016/1051-2004(91)90086-Z |bibcode=1991DSP.....1....4A |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/52879771/DCT-History-How-I-Came-Up-with-the-Discrete-Cosine-Transform|url-access=subscription }}</ref> DCT compression is used in [[JPEG]], which was introduced by the [[Joint Photographic Experts Group]] in 1992.<ref name="t81">{{cite web |title=T.81 – DIGITAL COMPRESSION AND CODING OF CONTINUOUS-TONE STILL IMAGES – REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES |url=https://www.w3.org/Graphics/JPEG/itu-t81.pdf |publisher=[[CCITT]] |date=September 1992 |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> JPEG compresses images down to much smaller file sizes, and has become the most widely used [[image file format]] on the [[Internet]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The JPEG image format explained |url=https://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/photography/what-is-a-jpeg-11364206889349 |website=[[BT.com]] |publisher=[[BT Group]] |access-date=5 August 2019 |date=31 May 2018}}</ref>

===Digital cameras===
{{Main|Digital camera}}

These different scanning ideas were the basis of the first designs of digital camera. Early cameras took a long time to capture an image and were poorly suited for consumer purposes.<ref name="Trussell & Vrhel"/> It was not until the adoption of the CCD ([[charge-coupled device]]) that the digital camera really took off. The CCD became part of the imaging systems used in telescopes, the first black-and-white digital cameras in the 1980s.<ref name="Trussell & Vrhel"/> Color was eventually added to the CCD and is a usual feature of cameras today.

==Changing environment==
{{essay-like|reason=[[WP:COLLOQUIAL|colloquial argumentative language]] and [[WP:V|more citations needed]]|date=March 2025}}
Great strides have been made in the field of digital imaging. Negatives and exposure are foreign concepts to many, and the first digital image in 1920 led eventually to cheaper equipment, increasingly powerful yet simple software, and the growth of the Internet.<ref name=Reed>{{cite journal |last=Reed |first=Mike |title=Graphic arts, digital imaging and technology education |journal=THE Journal|year=2002|volume=21 |issue=5 |pages=69+ |url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001673982# |access-date=28 June 2012}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

The constant advancement and production of physical equipment and hardware related to digital imaging has affected the environment surrounding the field. From cameras and webcams to printers and scanners, the hardware is becoming sleeker, thinner, faster, and cheaper. As the cost of equipment decreases, the market for new enthusiasts widens, allowing more consumers to experience the thrill of creating their own images.

Everyday personal laptops, family desktops, and company computers are able to handle photographic software. Our computers are more powerful machines with increasing capacities for running programs of any kind—especially digital imaging software. And that software is quickly becoming both smarter and simpler. Although functions on today's programs reach the level of precise editing and even rendering 3-D images, user interfaces are designed to be friendly to advanced users as well as first-time fans.

The Internet allows editing, viewing, and sharing digital photos and graphics. A quick browse around the web can easily turn up graphic artwork from budding artists, news photos from around the world, corporate images of new products and services, and much more. The Internet has clearly proven itself a catalyst in fostering the growth of digital imaging.

Online [[photo sharing]] of images changes the way we understand photography and photographers. Online sites such as [[Flickr]], Shutterfly, and [[Instagram]] give billions the capability to share their photography, whether they are amateurs or professionals. Photography has gone from being a luxury medium of communication and sharing to more of a fleeting moment in time. Subjects have also changed. Pictures used to be primarily taken of people and family. Now, we take them of anything. We can document our day and share it with everyone with the touch of our fingers.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Murray|first=Susan|title=Digital Images, Photo-Sharing, and Our Shifting Notions of Everyday Aesthetics|journal=Journal of Visual Culture|date=August 2008|volume=7|issue=2|pages=147–163|doi=10.1177/1470412908091935|s2cid=194064049}}<!--|access-date=September 29, 2013-->{{subscription required}}</ref>

In 1826 Niepce was the first to develop a photo which used lights to reproduce images, the advancement of photography has drastically increased over the years. Everyone is now a photographer in their own way, whereas during the early 1800s and 1900s the expense of lasting photos was highly valued and appreciated by consumers and producers. According to the magazine article on five ways digital camera changed us states the following:The impact on professional photographers has been dramatic. Once upon a time a photographer wouldn't dare waste a shot unless they were virtually certain it would work."The use of  digital imaging( photography) has changed the way we interacted with our environment over the years. Part of the world is experienced differently through  visual imagining of lasting memories, it has become a new form of communication with friends, family and love ones around the world without face to face interactions. Through photography it is easy to see those that you have never seen before and feel their presence without them being around, for example Instagram is a form of social media where anyone is allowed to shoot, edit, and share photos of whatever they want with friends and family. Facebook, snapshot, vine and twitter are  also ways people express themselves with little or no words and are able to capture every moment that is important. Lasting memories that were hard to capture, is now easy because everyone is now able to take pictures and edit it on their phones or laptops. Photography has become a new way to communicate and it is rapidly increasing as time goes by, which has affected the world around us.<ref>Castella, T. D. (2012, 1, 12). [https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16483509 Five ways the digital camera changed us]. BBC.</ref>

A study done by Basey, Maines, Francis, and Melbourne found that drawings used in class have a significant negative effect on lower-order content for student's lab reports, perspectives of labs, excitement, and time efficiency of learning. Documentation style learning has no significant effects on students in these areas. He also found that students were more motivated and excited to learn when using digital imaging.<ref>{{cite web|title=Impacts of Digital Imaging versus Drawing on Student Learning in Undergraduate Biodiversity Labs|url=http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1069980.pdf|website=eric.ed.gov|access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref>

==Field advancements==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2025}}

In the field of education. 
* As digital projectors, screens, and graphics find their way to the classroom, teachers and students alike are benefitting from the increased convenience and communication they provide, although their theft can be a common problem in schools.<ref name="Richardson">{{cite journal|last=Richardson|first=Ronny|title=Digital imaging: The wave of the future|journal=THE Journal|year=2003|volume=31|issue=3|url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002074465#|access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref> In addition acquiring a basic digital imaging education is becoming increasingly important for young professionals. Reed, a design production expert from [[Western Washington University]], stressed the importance of using "digital concepts to familiarize students with the exciting and rewarding technologies found in one of the major industries of the 21st century".<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite journal |last=Reed |first=Mike |title=Graphic arts, digital imaging and technology education |journal=THE Journal |year=2002 |volume=21 |issue=5 |pages=69+ |url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001673982# |access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref>
The field of [[medical imaging]]
* A branch of digital imaging that seeks to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, is growing at a rapid rate. A recent study by the [[American Academy of Pediatrics]] suggests that proper imaging of children who may have [[appendicitis]] may reduce the amount of appendectomies needed. Further advancements include amazingly detailed and accurate imaging of the brain, lungs, tendons, and other parts of the body—images that can be used by health professionals to better serve patients.<ref name="Bachur">{{cite journal |last=Bachur |first=R. G. |author2=Hennelly, K. |author3=Callahan, M. J. |author4=Chen, C. |author5= Monuteaux, M. C.  |s2cid=18881885 |title=Diagnostic Imaging and Negative Appendectomy Rates in Children: Effects of Age and Gender |journal=Pediatrics |volume=129 |issue=5 |pages=877–884 |doi=10.1542/peds.2011-3375 |pmid=22508920|year=2012 }}<!--|access-date=28 June 2012--></ref>
* According to Vidar, as more countries take on this new way of capturing an image, it has been found that image digitalization in medicine has been increasingly beneficial for both patient and medical staff. Positive ramifications of going paperless and heading towards digitization includes the overall reduction of cost in medical care, as well as an increased global, real-time, accessibility of these images. 
* There is a program called Digital Imaging in Communications and Medicine (DICOM) that is changing the medical world as we know it. DICOM is not only a system for taking high quality images of the aforementioned internal organs, but also is helpful in processing those images. It is a universal system that incorporates image processing, sharing, and analyzing for the convenience of patient comfort and understanding. This service is all encompassing and is beginning a necessity.<ref>{{cite book|last=Planykh|first=Oleg, S.|title=Digital Imaging in Communications in Medicine: A Practical Introduction and Survival Guide|year=2009|publisher=Springer|location=Boston, Mass.|isbn=978-3-642-10849-5|pages=3–5}}</ref>

In the field of technology, digital image processing has become more useful than analog image processing when considering the modern technological advancement. 
* [[Image editing|Image sharpen & reinstatement]] –
** Image sharpens & reinstatement is the procedure of images which is capture by the contemporary camera making them an improved picture or manipulating the pictures in the way to get chosen product. This comprises the zooming process, the blurring process, the sharpening process, the gray scale to color translation process, the picture recovery process and the picture identification process.
* [[Facial recognition system|Facial Recognition]] –
** Face recognition is a PC innovation that decides the positions and sizes of human faces in self-assertive digital pictures. It distinguishes facial components and overlooks whatever, for example, structures, trees & bodies.
* [[Remote sensing|Remote detection]] –
** Remote detecting is little or substantial scale procurement of data of article or occurrence, with the utilization of recording or ongoing detecting apparatus which is not in substantial or close contact with an article. Practically speaking, remote detecting is face-off accumulation using an assortment of gadgets for collecting data on particular article or location.
* [[Pattern recognition|Pattern detection]] –
** The pattern detection is the study or investigation from picture processing. In the pattern detection, image processing is utilized for recognizing elements in the images and after that machine study is utilized to instruct a framework for variation in pattern. The pattern detection is utilized in computer-aided analysis, detection of calligraphy, identification of images, and many more.
* [[Color mapping|Color processing]] –
** The color processing comprises processing of colored pictures and diverse color locations which are utilized. This moreover involves study of transmit, store, and encode of the color pictures.

== Augmented reality ==
Digital Imaging for Augmented Reality (DIAR) is a comprehensive field within the broader context of Augmented Reality (AR) technologies. It involves the creation, manipulation, and interpretation of digital images for use in augmented reality environments. DIAR plays a significant role in enhancing the user experience, providing realistic overlays of digital information onto the real world, thereby bridging the gap between the physical and the virtual realms.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lui |first=Tsz-Wai |title=Augmented reality and virtual reality: Changing realities in a dynamic world |publisher=Cham |year=2020 |isbn=978-3-030-37868-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Prodromou |first=Theodosia |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004408845 |title=Augmented Reality in Educational Settings |date=2020-01-01 |publisher=BRILL |doi=10.1163/9789004408845 |isbn=978-90-04-40883-8|s2cid=226667545 }}</ref>

DIAR is employed in numerous sectors including entertainment, education, healthcare, military, and retail. In entertainment, DIAR is used to create immersive gaming experiences and interactive movies. In education, it provides a more engaging learning environment, while in healthcare, it assists in complex surgical procedures. The military uses DIAR for training purposes and battlefield visualization. In retail, customers can virtually try on clothes or visualize furniture in their home before making a purchase.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Piroozfar |first=Poorang |title=The application of Augmented Reality (AR) in the Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. |year=2018}}</ref>

With continuous advancements in technology, the future of DIAR is expected to witness more realistic overlays, improved 3D object modeling, and seamless integration with the Internet of Things (IoT). The incorporation of haptic feedback in DIAR systems could further enhance the user experience by adding a sense of touch to the visual overlays. Additionally, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning are expected to further improve the context-appropriateness and realism of the overlaid digital images.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Huang |first=Weidong |title=Human Factors in Augmented Reality Environments |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2012}}</ref>

==Theoretical application==
Although theories are quickly becoming realities in today's technological society, the range of possibilities for digital imaging is wide open. One major application that is still in the works is that of child safety and protection. How can we use digital imaging to better protect our kids? [[Eastman Kodak|Kodak]]'s program, Kids Identification Digital Software (KIDS) may answer that question. The beginnings include a digital imaging kit to be used to compile student identification photos, which would be useful during medical emergencies and crimes. More powerful and advanced versions of applications such as these are still developing, with increased features constantly being tested and added.<ref name=Willis>{{cite journal |last=Willis |first=William |title=Digital imaging is innovative, useful, and now within educators' reach|journal=THE Journal |year=1997 |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=24+ |url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000490440# |access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref>

But parents and schools aren't the only ones who see benefits in databases such as these. Criminal investigation offices, such as police precincts, state crime labs, and even federal bureaus have realized the importance of digital imaging in analyzing fingerprints and evidence, making arrests, and maintaining safe communities. As the field of digital imaging evolves, so does our ability to protect the public.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Cherry |first=Michael |author2=Edward Imwinkelried |title=A cautionary note about fingerprint analysis and reliance on digital technology |journal=Judicature |year=2006|volume=89 |issue=6 |pages=334+ |url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5037435093# |access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref>

Digital imaging can be closely related to the social presence theory especially when referring to the social media aspect of images captured by our phones. There are many different definitions of the social presence theory but two that clearly define what it is would be "the degree to which people are perceived as real" (Gunawardena, 1995), and "the ability to project themselves socially and emotionally as real people" (Garrison, 2000). Digital imaging allows one to manifest their social life through images in order to give the sense of their presence to the virtual world. The presence of those images acts as an extension of oneself to others, giving a digital representation of what it is they are doing and who they are with. Digital imaging in the sense of cameras on phones helps facilitate this effect of presence with friends on social media. Alexander (2012) states, "presence and representation is deeply engraved into our reflections on images...this is, of course, an altered presence...nobody confuses an image with the representation reality. But we allow ourselves to be taken in by that representation, and only that 'representation' is able to show the liveliness of the absentee in a believable way." Therefore, digital imaging allows ourselves to be represented in a way so as to reflect our social presence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Alexander|first=J. C.|title=Iconic Power: Materiality and meaning in social life|year=2012|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=New York}}</ref>

Photography is a medium used to capture specific moments visually. Through photography our culture has been given the chance to send information (such as appearance) with little or no distortion. The Media Richness Theory provides a framework for describing a medium's ability to communicate information without loss or distortion. This theory has provided the chance to understand human behavior in communication technologies.
The article written by Daft and Lengel (1984,1986) states the following: 	

Communication media fall along a continuum of richness. The richness of a medium comprises four aspects: the availability of instant feedback, which allows questions to be asked and answered; the use of multiple cues, such as physical presence, vocal inflection, body gestures, words, numbers and graphic symbols; the use of natural language, which can be used to  convey an understanding of a broad set of concepts and ideas; and the personal focus of the medium (pp.&nbsp;83).

The more a medium is able to communicate the accurate appearance, social cues and other such characteristics the more rich it becomes. Photography has become a natural part of how we communicate. For example, most phones have the ability to send pictures in text messages. Apps Snapchat and Vine have become increasingly popular for communicating. Sites like Instagram and Facebook have also allowed users to reach a deeper level of richness because of their ability to reproduce information. Sheer, V. C. (January–March 2011). Teenagers' use of MSN features, discussion topics, and online friendship development: the impact of media richness and communication control. Communication Quarterly, 59(1).

== Methods ==
A [[digital photograph]] may be created directly from a physical scene by a [[digital camera|camera]] or similar device. Alternatively, a digital image may be obtained from another image in an [[analog signal|analog]] medium, such as [[photograph]]s, [[photographic film]], or [[printing|printed]] paper, by an [[image scanner]] or similar device. Many technical images—such as those acquired with [[tomography|tomographic equipment]], [[side-scan sonar]], or [[radio telescope]]s—are actually obtained by complex processing of non-image data. [[Weather radar]] maps as seen on [[television news]] are a commonplace example. The digitalization of analog real-world data is known as [[digitizing]], and involves [[sampling (signal processing)|sampling]] (discretization) and [[Quantization (signal processing)|quantization]]. [[Projectional radiography|Projectional]] imaging of [[digital radiography]] can be done by [[X-ray detector]]s that directly convert the image to digital format. Alternatively, [[phosphor plate radiography]] is where the image is first taken on a photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate which is subsequently scanned by a mechanism called [[photostimulated luminescence]].

Finally, a digital image can also be computed from a [[geometric model]] or mathematical formula.  In this case, the name '''image synthesis''' is more appropriate, and it is more often known as [[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendering]].

Digital image authentication is an issue<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fsjournal.cpu.edu.tw/content/vol5.no.1/01(p1-p11).pdf |title=Digital image authentication for evidence |access-date=2011-03-05 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307210746/http://fsjournal.cpu.edu.tw/content/vol5.no.1/01(p1-p11).pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> for the providers and producers of digital images such as health care organizations, law enforcement agencies, and insurance companies. There are methods emerging in [[forensic photography]] to analyze a digital image and determine if it has been [[Photo manipulation|altered]].

Previously digital imaging depended on chemical and mechanical processes, now all these processes have converted to electronic. A few things need to take place for digital imaging to occur, the light energy converts to electrical energy – think of a grid with millions of little solar cells. Each condition generates a specific electrical charge. Charges for each of these "solar cells" are transported and communicated to the firmware to be interpreted. The firmware is what understands and translates the color and other light qualities. Pixels are what is noticed next, with varying intensities they create and cause different colors, creating a picture or image. Finally, the firmware records the information for a future date and for reproduction.

== Advantages ==
There are several benefits of digital imaging. First, the process enables easy access of photographs and word documents. [[Google]] is at the forefront of this 'revolution,' with its mission to digitize the world's books. Such digitization will make the books searchable, thus making participating libraries, such as [[Stanford University]] and the University of California Berkeley, accessible worldwide.<ref name="ADHA">{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec09/google_12-30.html |title=Google's Goal: Digitize Every Book Ever Printed |last=Michels |first=S. |date=December 30, 2009 |publisher=PBS Newshour |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929201559/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec09/google_12-30.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Digital imaging also benefits the medical world because it "allows the electronic transmission of images to third-party providers, referring dentists, consultants, and insurance carriers via a modem".<ref name="ADHA"/> The process "is also environmentally friendly since it does not require chemical processing".<ref name="ADHA"/> Digital imaging is also frequently used to help document and record historical, scientific and personal life events.<ref>Gustavson, T. (2009). Camera: A history of photography from daguerreotype to digital. New York: Sterling Innovation.</ref>

Benefits also exist regarding [[photographs]]. Digital imaging will reduce the need for physical contact with original images.<ref name="Frey">{{cite journal |author=Frey S |title=Digital Imaging as a Tool for Preservation |journal=IADA Preprints | pages=191–4 |year=1999}}</ref> Furthermore, digital imaging creates the possibility of reconstructing the visual contents of partially damaged photographs, thus eliminating the potential that the original would be modified or destroyed.<ref name="Frey" /> In addition, photographers will be "freed from being 'chained' to the darkroom," will have more time to shoot and will be able to cover assignments more effectively.<ref name="Parker">{{cite journal |author=Parker D |title= Ethical Implications of Electronic Still Cameras and Computer Digital Imaging in the Print Media |journal= Journal of the Mass Media |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=47–59|year=1988 |doi=10.1080/08900528809358322}}</ref> Digital imaging 'means' that "photographers no longer have to rush their film to the office, so they can stay on location longer while still meeting deadlines".<ref name="Fahmy">{{cite journal |author=Fahmy S, Smith CZ|title= Photographers Note Digital's Advantages, Disadvantages |journal= Newspaper Research Journal |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=82–96 |year=2003|doi= 10.1177/073953290302400206 |s2cid= 107853874 }}</ref>

Another advantage to digital photography is that it has been expanded to camera phones. We are able to take cameras with us wherever as well as send photos instantly to others.  It is easy for people to us as well as help in the process of self-identification for the younger generation<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gai|first=B.|title=A World Through the Camera Phone Lens: A Case Study of Beijing Camera Phone Use|journal=Knowledge, Technology & Policy|year=2009|volume=22|issue=3|pages=195–204|doi=10.1007/s12130-009-9084-x|s2cid=109060999}}<!--|access-date=28 September 2013--></ref>

== Criticisms ==
Critics of digital imaging cite several negative consequences. An increased "flexibility in getting better quality images to the readers" will tempt editors, photographers and journalists to manipulate photographs.<ref name="Parker" /> In addition, "staff photographers will no longer be photojournalists, but camera operators... as editors have the power to decide what they want 'shot'".<ref name="Parker" />

==See also==
* [[Digital image mosaic]]
* [[Digital image processing]]
* [[Digital photography]]
* [[Image editing]]
* [[Image retrieval]]
* [[Graphics file format]]
* [[Graphic image development]]
* [[Society for Imaging Science and Technology]], (IS&T)
* [[Film recorder]]
* [[Photoplotter]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* Latest Tech in Digital Imaging Speed: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD_LNYVeZzrfKGnFH1g9KkDjXC90c3LZr 12,000 Pages Per Hour.]
* Rochester Institute of Technology. [https://www.rit.edu/facilities/digital-imaging-and-remote-sensing-laboratory Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Lab]
* Cornell University. [https://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/tutorial/contents.html Digital imaging tutorial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040211094935/http://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/tutorial/contents.html |date=2004-02-11 }}
* Digital Imaging FAQ/Frequently Asked Questions. [http://www.msimaging.com/faq Digital Imaging FAQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922080039/http://www.msimaging.com/faq/ |date=2015-09-22 }}
* Dartmouth, [[Hany Farid]]. [http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/farid/publications/sciam08.html Digital Image Forensics ]
* [https://archive.org/details/Lectures_on_Image_Processing Lectures on Image Processing], by Alan Peters. Vanderbilt University. Updated 7 January 2016.
* http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cameras-photography/digital/digital-camera.htm

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