It is easy to say that electronic picture frame are naturally the outcome of digital photography. This is an answer that many obviously would agree to, but in fact, there is more to what contains a digital photograph.
Firstly, here are some definitions of terms that will help you better understand what a digital photograph is:
- RGB (red, green, and blue) – this represents the colors used and displayed on an electronic device. These colors can be mixed in different proportions to produce any color visible on the scale.
- Pixel – this is the basic unit of an image. Pixels are small dots combined that make up the images seen in electronic devices.
- Bit – this is the amount of color information put up in an image. The higher the bit, the more colors are available for storage. For example, a 1-bit image can only show black and white while a 24-bit image can exhibit more than 16 million colors.
- Lossless compression vs. lossy compression – lossless compression is a type of data compression that creates the exact original data. On the other hand, lossy compression only creates a similar match after decompression.
What Consists of a Digital Photo
These photos are made of megapixels – the total number of pixels in an image. The colors of pixels are dependent on what bit system an electronic device has. Most people use digital cameras that contain a 24-bit RGB system to display the highest possible quality of an image.
The dimensions of an image are expressed in pixels. For example, in an image with a 640 x 480 dimension, the first number refers to the width while the latter refers to the height. This dimension is good for screen viewing. It is important to note that an image’s dimension shouldn’t be bigger than its screen.
The resolution of an image refers to the total number of pixels in a photo. For example, a 1600 x 1200 photo would have a resolution of 1.9 megapixels which is good enough for a 21″ LCD screen.
Types of Digital Cameras Commonly Used to Produce Digital Photos
- Compact camera – this camera serves as a fast way to shoot a photo automatically with lesser manual adjustments. It can be likened to smartphone cameras except that it has much better features.
- DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) – this camera offers you more features than a compact camera, such as the ability to choose your lenses and manually control certain angles of a shot. These cameras cost more than compact cameras and are often used by professionals.
- Mirrorless digital cameras – this type of camera is lighter and more convenient to carry compared to DSLR cameras but at the expense of lesser lenses and accessories.
- Smartphone cameras – the most accessible, handy, and commonly used type of digital camera.
Factors that Contribute to a Good Photo
- The quality of the electronic device used
- The resolution or size of the image
- The digital set up it is stored in (lossless or lossy compression)
- The skill of the photographer
In our present time, digital photography has become known due to its easy accessibility and progress in technology. It is impressive how handy electronic devices, especially high-end smartphones, now have the ability to capture images that are almost technically flawless.