Summary of Contents for Better Light ViewFinder 7
- Page 1 Large Format Digital Scanning Camera System User’s Manual featuring… Digital Scanning Camera Software Revision D March 2007...
- Page 2 Acknowledgements Better Light acknowledges and is grateful for the hard work and dedication of its employees. Additionally, Better Light acknowledges the contributions of its Beta testers and industry colleagues. This manual may not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or con- verted to any electronic form without written consent of Better Light.
- Page 3 CAUTION! PINCH HAZARD: DO NOT OPERATE INSERT OUTSIDE CAMERA. ATTENTION! DANGER DE PINCEMENT: NE PAS EMPLOYER AVEC L’INSERTION A L’EXTERIEUR DE LA CAMERA. ACHTUNG! ZWICKGEFAHR: NICHT AUSSERHALB DER KAMERA BETREIBEN VERLETZUNGSGEFAHR. Warning: This is a class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference in which case the user may be required to take ade- quate measures.
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Page 5: Table Of Contents
Parts List ...10 Connector Identification ...11 Getting Started ...12 Installing and Configuring the ViewFinder™ Software ...12 Memory Requirements ...13 System Requirements ...13 Quick Start Guide ...14 Prescanning ...19 Making a Prescan ...19 Fast Prescans ...20 Cropped Prescans ...21 Super View Prescans ...22 Saving and Viewing Prescans ...23 Cancelling a Prescan ...23 Color Managed Prescans ...23... - Page 6 Automatically Naming Images ...31 Adding Notes to Your Picture ...32 Exposure Evaluation ...33 Digital Spot Metering ...33 RGB Data Values, EV Units ...33 Determining Relative Exposure ...34 Static Spot Meter Tool ...35 Setting the Spot Meter Size ...36 Histogram ...37 Judging Overall and Spot Exposures ...37 Static Spot Meter Location Readings ...38 Tool Bar ...39...
- Page 7 Changing Existing Color Balances ...52 Deleting Color Balances ...52 Altering Color Balance for Mood or Effect ...52 Reverting to a Previous Color Balance ...53 Tagging Images with ICC Profiles ...53 Tone Panel ...54 Tone Curve Selections ...54 Saving a High Bit Depth Image ...55 Brightness/Contrast Tone Curve Adjustments ...56 Manual Tone Curve Adjustments ...57 Limit Line ...58...
- Page 8 Adding Notes to Your Pictures ...68 Exporting Notes ...68 Automatically Saving Files to a Folder ...69 Automatically Opening the Image ...69 Retrieving Image Files ...70 Selecting the Retrieval Tone Curve ...71 Deleting Image Files ...72 Menus ...73 File ...73 Edit ...74 Display ...75 Camera ...76 User Preferences ...78...
- Page 9 Appendices ...84 Appendix A - Cleaning the CCD Cover Glass ...84 Appendix B - Manipulating Exposure ...85 Exposure Adjustments ...85 Line Time ...85 Color Balance (Sensitivity) ...86 Tone Curves ...86 Lens Aperture ...86 Lighting ...87 Appendix C - Line Time Settings ...88 Appendix D - Resolution Selections ...89 Appendix E - Status Indicators ...92 Appendix F - Pano/WideView Adapter ...93...
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Page 10: Parts List
1. Control Unit (1) 2. Insert (1) 3. Double shielded cable (1) 4. USB cable (1) 5. Power supply(1) 6. Power cord(1) [not shown] 7. Filters (1 daylight, 1 tungsten) 8. Focus card (2) 9. Viewing overlay (3) 10. Holster (1) -
Page 11: Connector Identification
Connector Identification... -
Page 12: Getting Started
Installing and Configuring the ViewFinder Insert the CD containing the ViewFinder™ camera control software and copy the entire camera software folder and its contents to the Applications folder on your computer’s hard disk. You may also wish to copy the additional items on the CD to your computer’s hard disk for future examination. Remove the CD and keep it in a safe place. -
Page 13: Memory Requirements
Memory Requirements The ViewFinder™ software requires about 20,000K bytes (about 20 MB) of memory to operate, as shown in its Get Info window. System Requirements Macintosh G3 processor or better Mac OS 10.4.0 or later PC (PC version of the software is required) Pentium III Processor or better Windows XP or later Common requirements:... -
Page 14: Quick Start Guide
In addition to the 5 meter (15 feet) cable supplied with the camera, an 8 meter (25 feet) cable is available from Better Light. • We recommend that you secure the cables to the control unit (with straps, velcro, tape, etc.) to avoid accidental falls which could destroy the hard drive. -
Page 15: Turn On The Digital Camera
When the Status LED next to the power switch goes out the digital camera is ready. Also check the LED on the insert, next to the cable connector. The LED will flash green every few seconds to indicate a good connection with the control unit. - Page 16 3 inches (76 mm) square, differing in thickness according to the amount of infrared (and some red) that is blocked (4 inch square fil- ters are available from Better Light for large lenses). • 2 mm thick DAYLIGHT infrared blocking filter — for use with natural sunlight, daylight-balanced fluorescent...
- Page 17 Default settings could also be used. Mounting the filter with a rubber band on the inside of the lens, top and side views. Put the insert into the camera either vertically (shown) or horizontally. (Yes, the photo was shot with a Better Light scan back!)
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Page 18: Take The Picture
12. Prescan Click the button to take a quick scan of the image. Check the prescan image to make certain that the intended image is displayed in the preview. Adjust the camera and software settings and make additional prescans until the intended image is achieved. 13. -
Page 19: Prescanning
final scan. Making a Prescan The digital camera has a significant advantage over film in that representative image data can be viewed immediately after the exposure, allowing accurate and repeatable determination of exposure, color balance, and tonal range. -
Page 20: Fast Prescans
Fast Prescans The Fast Prescan checkbox in the main control area selects between normal prescans (unchecked), per- formed at exactly the line time and color balance (sen- sitivity) selected, and Fast Prescans (checked), which are performed at the highest sensitivity and shortest line time that will still yield the same color balance and effective exposure. -
Page 21: Cropped Prescans
Cropped Prescans Prescans always scan and refresh the entire image area unless the Crop Prescan box is checked. When the Crop Prescan box is checked, only the cropped area indicated in the preview screen will be scanned, which Crop Prescan option. can greatly reduce the overall prescan time. -
Page 22: Super View Prescans
Super View Prescans This is a feature that allows a quick scan of a prescan sized area in the image at the current resolution. This is a great feature for checking focus and depth of field without having to make a full scan and opening the image in Photoshop. -
Page 23: Saving And Viewing Prescans
Saving and Viewing Prescans After a prescan has been made the Save Prescan… option may be selected from the File menu. When selected, the current, adjusted preview image data is saved as a TIFF image file into the folder selected in the Save File dialog box that will appear. The image file is given the default name entered in the main control area, with the appended suffix “_pre”, to distinguish it from a final scan and pre- vent accidentally overwriting the file. -
Page 24: Rulers
Rulers Selecting Show Rulers from the Display menu will cause rulers to be displayed on the top and left edges of the preview image. Command-R (Control-R in Windows) can also be used to turn rulers on and off. The rulers are shown in the current units selected on the Size tab panel. The origin for the rulers is set by default to the upper-left corner of the preview. -
Page 25: Image Capture Settings
Image Capture Settings Resolution To change the selected resolution, click the Resolution Increase button. Each click will select the next higher or next lower setting. Click and hold either button to advance rapidly through the available selections. Hold the Option key down and click on the Increase or Decrease buttons to jump to the maximum or minimum resolution values. - Page 26 fewer, effectively larger pixels. This process always samples the entire image area, does not skip lines, and thus is immune to aliasing caused by subsampling (skipping pixels). These lower resolution selections average more CCD data values together to produce the larger pixels;...
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Page 27: Line Time
Line Time These up/down pushbuttons select the integration time for each line in a scan, and are the digital equivalent of the shutter time. As with film, the primary controls for determining exposure are the lens aperture and the line time (shutter time) along with the amount of light (which is also controllable to some extent in many studio setups). -
Page 28: Iso
Increase or Decrease buttons to jump to the maximum or minimum ISO values. With film, the apparent image grain increases as the ISO value is increased. The digital camera behaves in a similar manner with the shadow noise increasing as the ISO is increased. -
Page 29: Exposure Lock
Exposure Lock Clicking on the Exposure Lock button changing the Line Time will automatically change the ISO to maintain the same exposure. Changing the ISO will correspondingly change the Line Time to maintain the same exposure. It is a fast, accu- rate means to optimize the balance of Line Time and ISO for shorter scan times or less image noise. -
Page 30: Scanning
Scanning to the Camera Disk The Better Light scanning system features a dedicated internal disk drive for image storage (in the control unit). This is where the images are stored as they are scanned. -
Page 31: Naming The Image
used for other operations while the scan continues in the background. If, during a scan to the cam- era’s disk drive, the program is exited, the scan will continue until its normal conclusion and cannot be canceled until the ViewFinder™ program is re-entered. While the scan is in progress, the scan bar movement across the preview area will continue in the background, allowing for monitoring the scan while working in another program. -
Page 32: Adding Notes To Your Picture
If Auto Naming is active, you can add more words, edit or replace the auto entry data by editing the entry in the filename field on the main control panel before the scan is made. The image file name will have a “.tif ” filetype extension automatically appended to the filename when saved to the host computer. -
Page 33: Exposure Evaluation
Digital Spot Metering The camera control software includes two types of digital spot meters. The first is a “live” spot meter that displays information about the image as the cursor is moved within the preview area. Specific areas of the image can be metered at any time by moving the cursor to the area of interest in the preview image and reading the various displays. -
Page 34: Determining Relative Exposure
Determining Relative Exposure The digital spot meter can be used to quickly measure exposure values in an image and to help determine proper exposure and tone curve selection. After performing an initial prescan, meter an important shadow or highlight area (where detail must be maintained) to determine this region’s RGB data values, which are affected by exposure and processing changes. -
Page 35: Static Spot Meter Tool
Static Spot Meter Tool During exposure, color balance, and tone curve selection, the same regions in an image often need to be metered repeatedly as changes are made. The digital spot meter features static spots mark locations on the image and display the metered values for these points on the Color and Tone tab panels. -
Page 36: Setting The Spot Meter Size
Setting the Spot Meter Size The number of pixels used to determine spot meter readings can be selected from the Spot Meter Size popup menu above the histogram. The choices for displaying the data are either a single pixel (1x1), or the aver- age of a square group of pixels (3x3 or 5x5). -
Page 37: Histogram
Histogram In addition to the location-specific image information provided by the spot meter, a histogram display presents overall image expo- sure information at a glance for the currently selected crop area. This display has a horizontal scale from zero to 255, representing the pos- sible 8-bit data values for the image data (either any single color or an average of R, G, and B for “gray”... -
Page 38: Static Spot Meter Location Readings
against the left (zero) side of the histogram, the image is probably underexposed, and will be dark. Likewise, if a significant portion of the image data is above the desired value for highlight detail, the image is prob- ably overexposed, and will be bright. Data concen- trated near both ends of the histogram implies a high- contrast image, with little midtone, while a histogram with a narrow spread of data indicates a low-contrast... -
Page 39: Tool Bar
Magnify Tool The preview may be enlarged (“zoomed in”) by selecting the Magnify tool buttons or by pressing and holding the Command key the preview at the point of interest. The cursor icon will change to a magnifying glass with a plus sign ( ) in the center to indicate an enlarging function. -
Page 40: Measure Tool
Measure Tool (Mac only) The distance between two points in the preview image may be measured by selecting the Measure tool from the top set of buttons. Click in the preview to mark the start of the distance to be measured and drag to the end of the distance. -
Page 41: Tonezones™ Tool
ToneZones ™ Selecting the ToneZones™ tool from the top set of buttons will colorize the preview image to allow for rapid assessment of the image tones. When the ToneZones™ tool is selected, the grayscale beneath the histogram display will be replaced by a color zone display and a popup menu. This easy- to-use exposure tool assigns false colors to user-defined ranges of data to quickly identify areas within the preview that fall into those exposure levels. - Page 42 Sets of ToneZones™ may be saved, named and reused by using the popup menu below the Tone- Zones™ color bar. Once a set of zones is made, click on the ToneZones™ popup and select New Set- ting, then give the setting a name in the dialog box that appears. The set of ToneZones™ will be saved with that name in the Preferences file when the program is quit (if Auto Save Preferences is enabled in the File menu).
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Page 43: Crop Mask Tool
Crop Mask Tool When working with cropped areas for scanning, a crop mask may be displayed on the preview by selecting the Crop Mask tool mand key (Control key in Windows) and pressing and releasing the slash key (/) (aka virgule key). - Page 44 When manual grid adjustment is used, the values in the grid spacing fields in the Pref- erences are automatically adjusted to reflect the manual settings. When opening the ViewFinder™ program again, the grid values will be those active when the program was (if the Auto Save Preferences option is checked in the File menu) previously quit The same controls from the Grid section of the Preferences window can be accessed by holding...
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Page 45: Tab Panels
Size Panel Scan Area & Cropping For those instances not requiring the full scan area of the camera, fully variable image cropping is provided. Both proportional cropping (using the Scan Area up/ down buttons) and manual cropping (using the crop tool or the Size panel) can be used to select any desired rectangular area within the full scan area. - Page 46 The crop rectangle may be locked to maintain the aspect ratio proportional to the size indicated by the Scan Area displays by clicking on the Lock Crop Ratio panel. The button will change to a the crop rectangle will be locked out to any manual changes. The crop rectangle may be moved while it is locked by click- ing and dragging within the center of the cropped area.
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Page 47: Lock Crop Ratio
on Windows) is held down while the Insert Direction popup is selected, or if the Rotate with Image option is checked in the Preferences. Dimension settings can be stored and reused with the Setting popup menu (Figure D). After selecting the units, the pixels per unit and the insert direction, selecting the “New Setting”... -
Page 48: Lock File Size
Resolution is independent of the crop ratio. Once crop shape and size is set, select the reso- lution (file size) that you wish to use. However, if you type in a different pixel density (e.g. pixels per inch) the crop box size will change since it alters the size of the file needed. You can restore the desired crop area by lowering the resolution or locking the file size prior to changing the pixel density. -
Page 49: Faster Scans For Free
Faster Scans for Free! In many instances, the required image file size will be smaller than the maximum available from the scanning camera. In these cases, it may be advantageous to rotate the insert 90 degrees from its usual orientation and then use the crop tool to redefine the scan area such that the shorter image dimension is parallel to the scan direction (the scan direction is parallel to the longer sides of the full scan area). -
Page 50: Color Panel
Color Panel Color balance adjustments are used to neutralize unwanted color casts, and also to introduce intentional color casts for mood or effect. ViewFinder™ allows the photographer to adjust color balance in increments of 0.1 CC (color correction units), and also provides an automatic balancing function for rapid neutralization of colors under any lighting conditions. -
Page 51: Saving Color Balances
If a grayscale or card is not used, a white background or neutral tones of the subject itself could be used for the color balance. (It is best to use an RGB value that falls in the linear portion of the tone curve, typically between 85 and 200). If not already there, enter the Color tab panel. -
Page 52: Changing Existing Color Balances
Changing Existing Color Balances Any existing color balance setting can be altered by first selecting the setting from the Color Balance popup menu. Then make any desired color changes by entering new color balance or filter values, or by performing another Auto Balance. Then select Update Current Setting from the Color Bal- ance popup menu (Windows). -
Page 53: Reverting To A Previous Color Balance
Reverting to a Previous Color Balance The Revert button may be used to return to the set of color balance numbers in effect before the last Auto Balance was performed. Revert will also change the filter numbers back to their previous values. -
Page 54: Tone Panel
Tone Panel Tonal adjustments are most often used to make changes in the overall contrast range of an image, or to make changes to the placement of midtone values without affecting highlight or shadow values (or to make changes in highlight values without affecting midtone or shadow values, etc.). -
Page 55: Saving A High Bit Depth Image
Saving a High Bit Depth Image Better Light digital cameras also offer two methods for producing high bit depth images. The first method saves the “raw” (but pixel-corrected) digital data, without the application of any tone curve. -
Page 56: Brightness/Contrast Tone Curve Adjustments
Check to see that this center handle is where you want to pivot (handle 3 of 5 or handle 4 of 7). With each click of Increase Contrast button the slope of the tone curve increases (the line moves more toward vertical). -
Page 57: Manual Tone Curve Adjustments
Click on the Control Point selection button control points. Each click will toggle between the 5 and 7 points options. The graph will instantly update to reflect the choice. To adjust a portion of the tone curve, click and drag the point on the curve to the new desired location. -
Page 58: Limit Line
Limit Line On the left side of the tone graph is a curved green line that never moves. This is the line that denotes the limit for conversion from the 14-bits/channel of the raw camera image to 8-bits/channel in the image file without skipping any values. If a tone curve is created or modified in such a way as to have the tone curve go into this area, the resulting image’s histogram may have gaps. -
Page 59: Tone Curve Histogram
Tone Curve Histogram While the Tone panel is active, a histogram of the image data appears in a gray color in the tone curve graph. The shape of this histogram is different from the one in the main window because it is based on the raw 14-bit image data, not the converted 8-bit data shown in the prescan image. -
Page 60: Saving Tone Curves
Saving Tone Curves After creating or modifying a tone curve, you may wish to save the new curve; either as startup preferences, or as part of a custom setting. Select the New Setting option from the Tone Curve popup menu (Windows), or the Add Setting button bottom of the Tone tab panel. -
Page 61: Focus Panel
Focus Panel This digital camera system provides an extremely accurate method of verifying correct image focus after the device has been inserted into the view camera. Focus can be checked and adjusted at any point in the image, using data from the CCD image sensor itself. -
Page 62: Selecting A Focus Site
When capturing three-dimensional subjects, the location selected for focus verification should contain only a single plane of focus. Better Light focus card with focus location selected for a horizontal scan. A. High contrast edge focus readout. B. Low contrast, but acceptable, focus readout. -
Page 63: Reading The Focus Displays And Adjusting Focus
The human eye-brain follows this movement during focus adjustments, but the digital camera’s CCD remains stationary, sometimes causing confusing focus indications as edges or bright specular high- lights move in and out of the sensor’s view as focus is... -
Page 64: Audio Focusing Aid
In addition to the “waveform” graphic display, the pixel data from each line segment is analyzed by the computer, using algorithms that detect and amplify the differences in brightness between adja- cent pixels. The result from this analysis is displayed both as a number in large type, and as a bar graph. -
Page 65: Infrared Focus
On some lenses, a small red dot marks the adjusted position for the lens’ focus for infrared. Using the digital focus of the Better Light scan back allows for taking infrared images and assuring as sharp a focus as possible. -
Page 66: Image File Management And Retrieval
Better Light’s USB-2 based camera system stores all images onto a dedicated internal hard drive in raw 16-bit per color mode. The tone curve in effect when the final image was captured is also stored with the raw image. -
Page 67: The Viewfinder™ File Manager
™ The ViewFinder Images stored on the digital camera’s internal disk drive can be accessed by using the camera control software’s File Manager dialog, which is started from the File menu, or by typing its keyboard shortcut Command-F (Control-F in Windows). When this dialog... -
Page 68: Sorting Image Files
If Auto Save is activated and you wish to save the files to another drive or removable media, be sure to uncheck the Auto Save box in the File Manager window. This will temporar- ily disable Auto Save (it does not change the Preferences settings). The Save action can be cancelled (with Command-period, Control-period in Windows) if you forget to change the intended location. -
Page 69: Automatically Saving Files To A Folder
Automatically Saving Files to a Folder When the Automatically save scans function is activated in the Preferences, the files selected in the File Manager will be saved to the folder location you have specified in the Preferences. This saving pro- cess will begin immediately when you press Retrieve in the File Manager without a Save dialog box appearing. -
Page 70: Retrieving Image Files
Retrieving Image Files The File Manager provides a very flexible method of transferring image files from the camera disk drive to any destination folder on the host computer, including shared folders on other networked computers. If the Auto Save function is disabled, select (highlight) the desired file as described previ- ously, then click the Retrieve button to begin transferring the file. -
Page 71: Selecting The Retrieval Tone Curve
Selecting the Retrieval Tone Curve (USB controller only) Images are stored on the controller’s internal hard drive in 16-bit raw mode (as though you had selected the “None 14-bit” tone curve in the Tone panel). When you retrieve the images to the host computer you choose whether to keep them in raw mode, or apply a tone curve, and choose whether you want 8... -
Page 72: Deleting Image Files
Hard Drive Storage Capacity The hard disk in your Better Light control box uses a filing system with a maximum of 255 entries. Each entry is either an image file or an available space marker. The 255 entry limit is regard- less of how much space is available on the drive. -
Page 73: Menus
File Menu File Manager ⌘ F (Control-F in Windows) Opens the File Manager window. Save Prescan S (Control-S in Windows) ⌘ Saves the prescan image as a TIFF file (including the adjustments made to produce the cur- rent preview image). The default file name is taken from the filename field in the main ViewFinder window with the characters “_pre”... -
Page 74: Edit
Quit Q (Control-Q in Windows) (under the ViewFinder window on Mac OS X) ⌘ Closes the program. Edit Menu X (Mac only) ⌘ Cut the selected text from the edit field to the Clipboard. Copy C (Mac only) ⌘ Copy the selected text from the edit field to the Clipboard. Paste V (Mac only) ⌘... -
Page 75: Display
Display Menu Insert Direction Selects the insert orientation, as viewed from behind the camera. ToneZones™ Selects the ToneZones™ false-coloring tool. Crop Mask \ (Control-\ in Windows) ⌘ Selects the Crop Mask tool. Grid ’ (Control-’ in Windows) ⌘ Selects the Grid tool. Display Mode Selects the mode for the display as one of the following: Color - a full color image is displayed. -
Page 76: Camera
Zoom to 100% 0 (Control-Alt-0 in Windows) ⌘ Zooms the preview image to 100%. Normalize Histogram ⌘ When selected, scales the histogram display to fit all the data into the display area. Controls on Right Positions ViewFinder’s controls on the right side of the window. Controls on Top Positions ViewFinder’s controls on the top side of the window. - Page 77 Note: this menu option is linked to the popup menu on the main ViewFinder window and duplicates its functionality. Clean/Park Opens the Clean/Park window to expose the CCD for cleaning. Diagnostics Opens a Diagnostics window. This is reserved for Better Light internal use only.
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Page 78: User Preferences
User Preferences Some of the operating parameters of the camera control software can be customized for easier use, as determined by the type of imaging being done, and the preferences of the camera operator. The default operation of several of the exposure tools, and the default settings of several scan options, can be selected and saved as the software’s startup condition (in the ViewFinder™... -
Page 79: Automatically Save Prescans
Preferences dialog allows the user to select whether an application will be launched (if necessary) and signaled to open a newly-scanned image. Options are provided for launching an application after a file is retrieved (saved from the Better Light controller’s hard drive) and to select the application desired for opening the images. -
Page 80: Auto-Rotate Retrieved Files
Note that if the name for a saved prescan remains unchanged after a previous prescan with that name already being displayed in Photoshop, the new prescan data will overwrite the existing image file, but Photoshop will issue a warning that the (new) file is already open (since its name is the same as the file already being displayed), and will allow you to open a second window for the (already displayed) image;... -
Page 81: Grid
Grid The default color and spacing of the vertical and horizontal rulings for the Grid tool can be set with the controls in the Grid area of the Preferences window. When the Color button is clicked, the System Color Picker window appears. Select the color for the grid lines and click on the OK button. On the Macintosh the System Color Picker also allows setting the transparency of the grid using the slider at the bottom of the Color Picker. -
Page 82: Using Sounds
ViewFinder™. Line Time Synchronization The digital camera’s line time (exposure) selections can be set to either be exactly as displayed, in fractions of a second, or skewed slightly as needed to make most of the exposure periods synchronous with the local AC mains frequency (either 50 or 60 Hz). -
Page 83: Time Lapse
Pano Settings Checking the Enable Pano Mode checkbox will allow ViewFinder™ to make panoramic images, if the Better Light Pano/WideView™ adapter is installed. When this option is checked, the Panorama tool button becomes visible on the ViewFinder™... -
Page 84: Appendices
Cleaning the CCD Cover Glass First, position the camera insert face up on a clean, stable surface. Use the Clean/Park menu option to move the CCD to its cleaning position. The camera may remain turned on during the cleaning procedure. We recommend the use of e-wipe™... -
Page 85: Appendix B - Manipulating Exposure
Manipulating Exposure The Better Light digital camera system provides a very flexible set of controls for adjusting both exposure and processing. Most of these controls are directly analogous to their film photography namesakes, but several have not previously been readily available to the photographer, and none have provided the precision and consistency now available with this system. -
Page 86: Color Balance (Sensitivity)
2.0 times. Lens Aperture While the lens aperture is not a digital camera adjustment, it can significantly affect exposure and scan times. Aperture is usually adjusted for the desired depth of field, often at the expense of expo- sure. It may be possible to scan significantly faster by using camera movements to maximize usable depth of field and then opening the lens somewhat to allow more light into the camera. -
Page 87: Lighting
Lighting Lighting is the basis of all photography, of course, and is not a digital camera adjustment. Light- ing is usually set up for a desired mood and emphasis, sometimes without much regard for the image capture technology. -
Page 88: Appendix C - Line Time Settings
Line Time Settings Selected Line Time 1/3000 sec. 1/1500 sec. 1/1000 sec. 1/800 sec. 1/600 sec. 1/500 sec. 1/400 sec. 1/320 sec. 1/240 sec. 1/200 sec. 1/160 sec. 1/120 sec. 1/100 sec. 1/80 sec. 1/60 sec. 1/50 sec. 1/40 sec. 1/30 sec. -
Page 89: Appendix D - Resolution Selections
5250 4500 3750 3000 2250 1500 preview Appendix D file size (MB) lines 24-bits 48-bits 5000 53.6 107.3 4000 34.3 68.7 3000 19.3 38.6 2000 17.2 1000 1000 file size (MB) lines 24-bits 48-bits 8000 137.3 274.7 7000 105.1 210.3 6000 77.2... - Page 90 file size (MB) lines 24-bits 48-bits 12000 309.0 618.0 11000 259.6 519.3 10000 214.6 429.2 9000 173.8 347.6 8000 137.3 274.7 7000 105.1 210.3 6000 77.2 154.5 5000 53.6 107.3 4000 34.3 68.7 3000 19.3 38.6 2000 17.2 1000...
- Page 91 5333 4666 4000 3333 2666 2000 1333 preview file size (MB) lines 24-bits 48-bits 15990 549.0 1097.9 15101 489.6 979.3 14213 433.7 867.4 13325 381.2 762.5 12436 332.1 664.1 11548 286.3 572.6 10660 244.0 488.0 9771 205.0 410.0 8883 169.4 338.8...
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Page 92: Appendix E - Status Indicators
Status Indicators Power The camera controller has an LED that indicates the status of the power to the unit. This LED also indicates whether the Better Light rechargeable battery is charging (if connected). Controller Power LED Color Off Solid green... -
Page 93: Appendix F - Pano/Wideview Adapter
Panoramic Adapter The Better Light Pano/WideView can capture images for three types of panoramas; scene, rollout and object. Scene panoramas are when the camera is turned to capture an image of it’s surroundings. A rollout panorama is a single image of the surface of an object as it is turned. An object panorama is a sequence of images of an object at fixed positions as it is turned. - Page 94 necessary to know the exact number of rotation degrees in advance. Use the rotate stage buttons at the bottom of the tab panel to position the camera before the desired start of the panorama. Then put a value into the Preview Extent field that will be greater than the actual desired value. Take a prescan. Use the crop tool to select the desired image region in the prescan image.
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Page 95: Rollout Panorama
Rollout Panorama Hardware Setup For a rollout, the camera is fixed to a tripod and the stepper stage unit is placed on a firm, non- skid surface in such a manner that it will not turn as the motor is activated. A flat platform is attached to the stage armature then mounted to the stepper motor stage. -
Page 96: Object Panorama
Object Panorama Hardware Setup The hardware is assembled just as it is for a Rollout panorama. Software Operation For this operation, begin by selecting the Auto Naming option, Automatically Save Scans and a Scan Destination Folder in the Preferences window. This option will take a series of object images at fixed positions around the object, and these options will allow for easily combining the images into an object movie. -
Page 97: Appendix G - Error Messages
Error Messages (not to be confused with Macintosh OS error message numbers) Camera Errors “Camera reported error: Busy” The camera is busy doing something that prevents the requested action. This message is usually encountered after exiting from a scan to the camera’s disk drive and subsequently attempting another scan, or attempting to access the camera’s disk drive (from the File Manager) before the scan in prog- ress is completed. - Page 98 “The camera disk is full” There is not enough room on the Better Light camera controller’s disk to perform the requested scan to disk. Remember that there must be sufficient contiguous space on the disk to accommodate a new scan.
- Page 99 “There is not enough free space on this volume to save the selected file.” This error message may be encountered when attempting to retrieve a file from the camera’s disk, saving a scan to RAM, or saving a preview image. The file volume (the user’s hard drive, removable media, network drive, etc.) does not have enough room to store the image file.