Slide scanning and viewing

[P3D Jonathan R. Gross <catalyst@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I apologize for taking so long to get back to those who sent me
inquiries about scanning stereo slides and also about the NEOTEK system
for displaying stereoscopic images without flicker on a PC monitor.  I
have been in the process of finalizing my business relationship with
NEOTEK, and now that is complete.

First, the image scanning:

Transparencies are scanned using a professional quality Nikon LS-1000
film scanner.  In addition to the very high quality optics, this scanner
converts each color using a 12-bit A/D converter.  Even though most
digital color image formats only store 8 bits per color, this type of
"over sampling" provides more accurate color matching and greater
dynamic range than less expensive scanners.  With an optical resolution
of 2,700dpi, this scanner is able to capture a tremendous amount of
detail.  For those of you with web browsers, the Nikon Electronic
Imaging Division has a web page at http://www.klt.co.jp/Nikon/EID/.

I have built an adapter that allows me to scan realist mounted slides. 
This means that you DO NOT have to remount your slides in 2x2 mounts as
most services require.  Stereo pairs that are 5-perf (realist), 7-perf
(European), 8-perf (RBT), or 4-perf(Nimslo) are scanned in their
mounts.  Of course, standard 2x2 pairs can also be scanned.  Slide
mounts must be 3mm (the thickness of an RBT) or less.  Stereo cards are
scanned on a Hewlet-Packard flatbed scanner with 600X600dpi optical
resolution.

In general, the problem with scanning images is the volume of data that
results.  This is, of course, one of the technical reasons why Kodak
created photo-CD.  Below is a table that shows the raw 24-bit true color
images sizes for stereo pairs:

 Image  | Size (mm)|   Image    | Bit Map  |Pixels| Bytes
 Format |  H    W  |Aspect Ratio|  H    W  |/Image| /Pair
________|__________|____________|__________|______|______
SVGA    |   na     |  1:1.33333 | 768  1024|  786K| 4.7MB
8 perf  | 23  34.5 |  1:1.50000 | 683  1024|  699K| 4.2MB
7+ perf | 23  31.5 |  1:1.36957 | 683   935|  639K| 3.8MB
7 Perf  | 23  28.0 |  1:1.21739 | 683   831|  568K| 3.4MB
5 Perf  | 23  21.0 |  1:0.91304 | 683   623|  426K| 2.5MB
4 Perf  | 23  16.0 |  1:0.69565 | 683   475|  324K| 1.9MB

These sizes were selected to offer the maximum resolution for a full
35mm image on a 1024X768 monitor without distorting the aspect ratio. 
The last column shows the approximate file size for a stereo pair of
images.  For example, a standard 5-perf slide becomes 2.5MB of data when
stored uncompressed in full color (.BMP) format.  Images in JPEG format
are typically 1/8th this size, but do suffer a slight loss in image
quality.

At this point, I think I can digitize a stereo pair for about $3.50,
plus a handling and media charge.  There would be no media charge for
images returned (secure) through the Internet.  Aligning the image pair
and converting the image to NEOTEK format would cost an additional
$1.50.

Please let me know how this seems to you.  Also, would you please let me
know your opinions on the following specific issues:

1)  In what file formats do you want the images returned?
2)  Can you accept large attached files with your e-mail?
3)  Do you have an anonymous FTP drop that files can be delivered?
4)  What other digital media do you want?

I am in the process of setting up a home page on which scanned images
will be placed for viewing.


Now, image viewing.

For those of you who did not have a chance to attend the NSA conference
in Rochester, NEOTEK, a small High-Tech spin-off from CMU in Pittsburgh,
was there demonstrating their KnowledgeVision stereoscopic multi-media
presentation system.  The stereoscopic image quality is very high, and
is not at all like cheap systems designed for games.  Here are three
important characteristics of their technology and product:

1)  Even though the viewing system uses LCD glasses, the image does NOT
FLICKER!!!!!!!!!  Ill explain how NEOTEK does this on my home page, but
suffice it to say that it is a new twist on an existing technique.
2)  The quality of the image and the absence of flicker are NOT related
to the power of the PC processor, although the software does require
Windows 95.  It also requires a video adapter with 2MB or more of
memory.  Most systems sold within the last year or so come with this
kind of video card, and high quality PCs for the last two or three
years have been delivered that way.  If you are not sure, contact me and
Ill try to help you figure it out.
3)  The system is very easy to install and use.  You dont even have to
open up your PC! I had it installed and running on my PC in less than 30
minutes.

I demonstrated the system at the last meeting of the NSA Upper Midwest
Region.

NEOTEK has been selling their system primarily to educational
institutions, and has a large library of stereoscopic medical images
available.  The system is designed to be used by medical students for
several hours at a time, or by a lecturer presenting to an audience.

I am in the process of working with NEOTEK to provide a system packaged
and priced for individual stereo enthusiasts.  A complete stereoscopic
viewing system, VR-Viewer, is being offered for $249 (plus tax and
shipping) for orders placed with me (at Catalyst Corporation) before
January 15th, 1997.

This posting is just an introduction.  Now that Im on the list, I hope
to participate on a regular basis


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