paleonet Digital Images & PaleoBase

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A very interesting string about digital images. Just a short note 
here about the image compositing process that was discussed a couple 
of days ago. We've used image compositing to correct depth-of-field 
problems on both macroscopic and microscopic images for years, most 
notably in the image sets created for the PaleoBase databases. We're 
very pleased with the results, examples of which can be seen a the 
PaleoBase web site (http://www.paleobase.com/home.html). NHM authors 
(and others who have asked us to create these images for them) have 
also published many such images in the technical literature. They are 
absurdly simple to create and do not require expensive technology. 
Several years ago I conducted a test between our hand-made images and 
the Synoptics image compositing software for some moderately 
difficult microscopic images (planktonic foraminifera). The hand-made 
images were quicker to produce and achieved a better result than the 
software (a least at that time). I'm seeing automated image 
compositing routines appearing in lots of image analysis packages 
just now so it looks like this is going to be a standard 
image-manipulation feature in the near future. Still, I think better 
results can be achieved by an analyst who has a 'feeling' for the 
geometry as opposed to an algorithm that is maximising/minimizing 
some number. I suppose it also depends on how much time a person 
wants to spend at this sort of work.

The PaleoBase databases (co-published by Blackwells and the NHM) will 
be 'on show' at the GSA meeting next week. Anyone interested in these 
composites can see them there.

Norm MacLeod


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Dr. Norman MacLeod
Keeper of Palaeontology
The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

(0)20-7942-5295 (Office)
(0)20-7942-5546 (Fax)

Web Page: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/palaeontology/a&ss/nm/nm.html

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