Re: Photo CD and Alternate Mediums

[Don Chaps <dchaps@xxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 25 Nov 1995 JValaVIDI@xxxxxxx wrote:

> 
> 
>       I would like to try a new (new for me) way to do my stereography.  What I
> want to do is capture my initial images using conventional negative film in
> my twin rig SLR's.  Send that film off to be processed and put onto Photo CD.
>  Take the Photo CD home and load each image into Photoshop for editing and
> manipulation. Save each image off to a file which I take to my local
> File-to-Slide Store to turn it into a conventional format for projection.  
>       Do any of you have much experience with this.  I know quite a few of you
> work in the "Digital Domain" and I could use some input and advice on what to
> look out for and what resolutions to work in.  Does the Photo CD format and
> compression scheme give sufficient image quality for subsequent projection?
>  Who can give me tips for editing images in the "Stereo Domain", I'm sure
> it's at least an order of magnitude more difficult to keep editing artifacts
> out of a stereo image than what could be tolerated in a planar image.
> 
> 
I've never output to slides, but have gone PhotoCD to print and video, 
both in stereo. The 16 base Image Pac is about 18 megs (2048 x 3072) and 
will produce a 10 x 15 inch print equivalent to a 133 line screen. A 
64-base Image Pac found on PRO photoCDs (read that as expensive) is 
about 72 megs (4096x6144) and will produce a 20 x 30 inch print at 133 
line quality.
The advantage of standard PhotoCD (up to 16 base) is cost. It's a cheap 
way to get full rolls scanned, about $30 for 36 exposures including 
disk. The cost of pro scans and their file size may limit their 
usefulness to you, but would be best for out to slide.
I've found one big advantage to PCDs is the fact that the lower 
resolution images are great to experiment with, yet the color corrections 
and effects will look the same when applied to higher resolutions. You 
can load a low res image like 512 x 768 and play with corrections and 
effects in real time. When you find a sequence you like, convert to a 
script, load the largest Image Pac and walk away. You'll probably be 
doing this anyway, since you want the same effect applied to each image 
in the stereo pair.
You might want to call Alpha CD Imaging (415-325-4877). They're very 
friendly folks and when you say Stereo and CD in the same sentence, they 
won't refer you to Tower Records. Or you might try Miller Imaging in Los 
Angeles. They do both PCD and output to slides, so they may even be able 
to send you a sample. Email me if you need a reps name and phone #, I 
don't have it handy.
Kodak also runs a PhotoCD mailing list. You might get some good feedback 
by asking there. 
You might read the slide mounting FAQ. The advise will be a good starting 
point.If you are going to composite two pairs of stereo images, use the 
same focal length lens and lighting. Insert the image at the same 
relative distance and make objects nearer overlap.
I hope this helps a little. Let us know how it turns out. 

Don
dchaps@xxxxxxx


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