Basic Digital Camera Concepts

How a digital camera works

The Sensor

Additive Primary RGBSecondary Primary CYM

RGB Channels

The Sensor

The Bayer PatternColor Filter

BGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBBGBGBG GRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRGRG

Interpolation

The process of interpolating is called “demosaicing”

Note: Dirty Sensor

NOTE: B&W vs. GRAYSCALE

Technically, in digital photography we make grayscale images, AKA Black & White conversions, using the color channels during the conversion.

Color SpaceVarious Mathematical models to represent color as it applies to JPEG camera settings

sRGBWeb

Adobe RGBPrints

Color GamutColor gamut choices are important when printing from JPEG files.

For better prints, set your camera to Adobe RGB (wire frame) for printing from JPEGs. A RAW file does not require a choice of color gamut. (sRGB (solid) is smaller and standard for web.)

JPEG & RAW

Camera processed JPEG

UnprocessedRAW

Applies sRGB Or Adobe RGB

JPEG & RAWJPEG

No correctionsJPEGAuto

corrections

RAW unprocessed

RAW auto

processed

RAW File as shot RAW File processed RAW File B&W Conversion

RAW FILES

• Are not compressed• Are larger & take up more memory • Are processed and converted by you (not your camera)• Are proprietary (not universal like JPEGs) i.e. NEF & CR2• Are at least 8-bits in color• Are NOT restricted by sRGB or Adobe RGB color spaces• Have more latitude for adjustments in the highlight and

shadows• (Are sometimes admissible in a court of law, forensics)• Are what you will be shooting with after the first assignment