Graphics 101 revisited

by Vicky Clarke, TCS production artist

It has been ten years since my original Graphics 101 article (TCS, Summer, 1995) and much has changed! The magazine has grown and so have the techniques and processes used to produce it. Previously, the transition had been gradual, however, this issue has brought to a head many of the newer problems. A number of those concerns are about digital and/or digitized photographs.

I realize there is no turning back; digital cameras are here to stay. The technology, however, has not completely reached the industry standards for offset reproduction (printing). Knowing how fast our technology changes, it is getting closer and is just a matter of time. The cameras that produce a digital image of decent quality for reproduction are still costly;  the low- and mid-range priced cameras don’t always offer the formats necessary to give a high-quality end result. This article is an attempt to further explain what is necessary for the production and reproduction of photos of the highest quality in this magazine.

There is still nothing better than a good quality, original photograph. The photo is eventually digitized, by scanning into a format usable by the printer. This is done with expertise, and, even though you are trying to be helpful, I ask that you do not do this step for me. Send the actual photo in with your ad copy. If there is a specific manner in which you want it cropped, reduced, enlarged, or even altered, indicate your desires and I can do it for you. If you have scanned a photo, then printed a copy of it from your computer onto any type of paper with any type of printer, this is NOT an acceptable replacement for the original photograph. Please do not submit it for use.

Digital and digitized photos are super for sending via e-mail and the World Wide Web. In this case, you try to make your files as small as possible. This is exactly the opposite from the case of offset reproduction. A JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file format is the most common used to display photos over the web. This format compresses file size by selectively discarding data – what is known as “lossy compression” – some of the data that makes up your image is lost during the compression process. This means it is NOT the best quality image it could be.

The TIFF (Tagged-Image File Format) format is the most ideal to use to save an image in its original form, as well as flexible for interchange between various computer applications and platforms. TIFF files are normally quite a bit larger than JPEG files. This means that your digital camera is going to have to have a good-size memory card in order to save files in this format (which is one thing to consider when purchasing a digital camera). If you use the highest quality setting your digital camera affords, chances are you may get a high resolution and a TIFF format. Some cameras do not have this capability at all. Whether yours does or not, if you intend to use the photo for reproducing by means where excellent print quality is vital, be sure to set the camera at the maximum quality file it can achieve.

After you have taken your digital photo and saved the file in your computer, DO NOT manipulate that original file in any way. Save it under another file name in order to manipulate it in your photo program, if you choose to do so. However, if you are going to send your photo to me for publishing, please send a copy of the original file. DO NOT manipulate it in any way before sending it to me. Just as with original photographs, if you want it retouched or altered, that can be done here.

Please send your image file in with your ad on any recordable medium.  If your camera has produced a high-quality TIFF file (or even highest quality JPEG), it will be too large to fit on a floppy disk. In this case, you can either put it on a CD or a Zip cartridge. Please DO NOT e-mail your photo, as the large files can take a very long time for downloading.

Once you have taken your photo at the desired settings on the camera, you are stuck with it. Just as you cannot improve on the quality of a photograph, you cannot improve on the quality of a digital image. There are ways to manipulate files in photo programs – adding and changing pixels, size and resolution – but none of this can add quality that is not there to begin with. [To quote Photoshop 5 for Dummies: “Increasing the file size (by raising pixel dimensions values) isn’t such a hot idea … because Photoshop can’t generate image elements out of thin air. When you raise the pixel dimensions values, Photoshop adds pixels by averaging the pre-existing pixels (... interpolation) in a way that may result in image softening and never results in miraculous reconstruction of detail.”] The most important thing to remember is to capture the original image at the highest quality setting your camera offers. You can always alter the file later for sending via the internet, but it is much better to start out large and reduce, than to try to start out small and enlarge (this is where quality suffers). The magazine is run from file to film on an imagesetter that can do from 2500 to 5000 dpi. This high resolution cannot lie; you will see EVERY detail!

Again, just as you should not scan a photo and print a copy of it for submission, please do not take your digital file, print it on photo quality (or any other type) paper and submit that hard copy for reproduction. Send a copy of your original file, as previously described, and it will provide the best possible reproduction.

Please remember, this advice is given in all sincerity. It is not intended to insult anyone’s creative ability. I do appreciate your help and cooperation. The main goal of The Classic Saluki, first and foremost, is the best quality publication we can offer.