#Single Image HDR

[3liza]

thank you for speaking rational thought AS AN ARTIST into the ai debate. i get so tired of people over simplifying, generalizing, and parroting how they’ve been told ai works lmao. you’re an icon

some of the worst AI art alarmists are professional artists as well but theyre in very specific fields with very specific work cultures and it would take a long and boring post to explain all the nuance there but i went to the same extremely tiny, hypefocused classic atelier school in San Francisco as Karla Ortiz and am actually acquainted with her irl so i have a different perspective on this particular issue and the people involved than the average fan artist on tumblr. the latter person is also perfectly valid and so is their work, all im saying is that we have different life experiences and my particular one has accidentally placed me in a weird and relevant position to observe what the AI art panic is actually about.

first thing i did when the pearl-clutching about AI art started is go on the Midjourney discord, which is completely public and free, and spent a few burner accounts using free credits to play with the toolset. everyone who has any kind of opinion about AI art should do the same because otherwise you just wont know what youre talking about. my BIGGEST takeaway is that it is currently and likely always will be (because of factors that are sort of hard to explain) extremely difficult to make an AI like Midjourney spit out precisely wht you want UNLESS what you want is the exact kind of hyperreal, hyperpretty Artstation Front Page 4k HDR etc etc style pictures that, coincidentally, artists like Karla Ortiz have devoted their careers to. Midjourney could not, when asked, make a decent Problem Glyph. or even anything approaching one. and probably never will, because there isn't any profit incentive for it to do so and probably not enough images to train a dataset anyway.

the labor issues with AI are real, but they are the result of the managerial class using AI's existence as an excuse to reduce compensation for labor. this happens at every single technological sea change and is unstoppable, and the technology itself is always blamed because that is beneficial to the capitalists who are actually causing the labor crisis each time. if you talk to the artists who are ACTUALLY already being affected, they will tell you what's happening is managers are telling them to insert AI into workflows in ways that make no sense, and that management have fully started an industry-wide to "pivot" to AI production in ways that aren't going to work but WILL result in mass loss of jobs and productivty and introduce a lot of problems which people will then be hired to try to fix, but at greatly-reduced salaries. every script written and every picture generated by an AI, without human intervention/editing/cleanup, is mostly unusable for anything except a few very specific use cases that are very tolerant of generality. i'm seeing it being used for shovelware banner ads, for example, as well as for game assets like "i need some spooky paintings for the wall of a house environment" or "i need some nonspecific movie posters for a character's room" that indie game devs are making really good use of, people who can neither afford to hire an artist to make those assets and cant do them themselves, and if the ai art assets weren't available then that person would just not have those assets in the game at all. i've seen AI art in that context that works great for that purpose and isn't committing any labor crimes.

it is also being used for book covers by large publishing houses already, and it looks bad and resulted directly in the loss of a human job. it is both things. you can also pay your contractor for half as many man hours because he has a nailgun instead of just hammers. you can pay a huge pile of money to someone for an oil portrait or you can take a selfie with your phone. there arent that many oil painters around anymore.

but this is being ignored by people like the guy who just replied and yelled at me for the post they imagined that i wrote defending the impending robot war, who is just feeling very hysterical about existential threat and isn't going to read any posts or actually do any research about it. which is understandable but supremely unhelpful, primarily to themselves but also to me and every other fellow artist who has to pay rent.

one aspect of this that is both unequivocally True AND very mean to point out is that the madder an artist is about AI art, the more their work will resemble the pretty, heavily commercialized stuff the AIs are focused on imitating. the aforementioned Artstation frontpage. this is self-feeding loop of popular work is replicated by human artists because it sells and gets clicks, audience is sensitized to those precise aesthetics by constant exposure and demands more, AI trains on those pictures more than any others because there are more of those pictures and more URLs pointing back to those pictures and the AI learns to expect those shapes and colors and forms more often, mathematically, in its prediction models. i feel bad for these people having their style ganked by robots and they will not be the only victims but it is also true, and has always been true, that the ONLY way to avoid increasing competition in a creative field is to make yourself so difficult to imitate that no one can actually do it. you make a deal with the devil when you focus exclusively on market pleasing skills instead of taking the massive pay cut that comes with being more of a weirdo. theres no right answer to this, nor is either kind of artist better, more ideologically pure, or more talented. my parents wanted me to make safe, marketable, hotel lobby art and never go hungry, but im an idiot. no one could have predicted that my distaste for "hyperreal 4k f cup orc warrior waifu concept art depth of field bokeh national geographic award winning hd beautiful colorful" pictures would suddenly put me in a less precarious position than people who actually work for AAA studios filling beautiful concept art books with the same. i just went to a concept art school full of those people and interned at a AAA studio and spent years in AAA game journalism and decided i would rather rip ass so hard i exploded than try to compete in such an industry.

which brings me to what art AIs are actually "doing"--i'm going to be simple in a way that makes computer experts annoyed here, but to be descriptive about it, they are not "remixing" existing art or "copying" it or carrying around databases of your work and collaging it--they are using mathematical formulae to determine what is most likely to show up in pictures described by certain prompts and then manifesting that visually, based on what they have already seen. they work with the exact same very basic actions as a human observing a bunch of drawings and then trying out their own. this is why they have so much trouble with fingers, it's for the same reason children's drawings also often have more than 5 fingers: because once you start drawing fingers its hard to stop. this is because all fingers are mathematically likely to have another finger next to them. in fact most fingers have another finger on each side. Pinkies Georg, who lives on the end of your limb and only has one neighbor, is an outlier and Midjourney thinks he should not have been counted.

in fact a lot of the current failings by AI models in both visual art and writing are comparable to the behavior of human children in ways i find amusing. human children will also make up stories when asked questions, just to please the adult who asked. a robot is not a child and it does not have actual intentions, feelings or "thoughts" and im not saying they do. its just funny that an AI will make up a story to "Get out of trouble" the same way a 4 year old tends to. its funny that their anatomical errors are the same as the ones in a kindergarten classroom gallery wall. they are not people and should not be personified or thought of as sapient or having agency or intent, they do not.

anyway. TLDR when photography was invented it became MUCH cheaper and MUCH faster to get someone to take your portrait, and this resulted in various things happening that would appear foolish to be mad about in this year of our lord 2023 AD. and yet here we are. if it were me and it was about 1830 and i had spent 30 years learning to paint, i would probably start figuring out how to make wet plate process daguerreotypes too. because i live on earth in a technological capitalist society and there's nothing i can do about it and i like eating food indoors and if i im smart enough to learn how to oil paint i can certainly point a camera at someone for 5 minutes and then bathe the resulting exposure in mercury vapor. i know how to do multiple things at once. but thats me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[canmom]

canmom's notes on fixing the colours

ok so if you've been following along on this blog for the last week or two i've been banging on about colour calibration. and i feel like it would be good to sum up what i've learned in a poast!

quick rundown on colour spaces

So. When you represent colour on a computer, you just have some numbers. Those numbers are passed to the monitor to tell it to turn some tiny lights up and down. The human visual system is capable of seeing a lot of colours, but your monitor can only display some of them. That's determined by its primaries, basically the exact colour* of its red, green and blue lights.

(*if you're wondering, the primaries are specified in terms of something called the CIELAB colour space, which is a model of all the different colours that humans can possibly see, devised by experiments in the early-mid 20th century where the subjects would turn lights at different frequencies up and down until they appeared visually the same. Through this, we mapped out how eyes respond to light, enabling basically everything that follows. Most human eyes tend to respond in pretty close to identical ways - of course, some people are colourblind, which adds an extra complication!)

Now, the problem we face is that every display is different. In particular, different displays have different primaries. The space in between the primaries is the gamut - the set of all colours that a display can represent. You can learn more about this concept on this excellent interactive page by Bartosz Ciechanowski.

The gamut is combined with other things like a white point and a gamma function to map numbers nonlinearly to amounts of light. All these bits of info in combination declare exactly what colour your computer should display for any given triplet of numbers. We call this a colour space.

There are various standard sets of primaries, the most famous being the ITU-R Rec.709 primaries used in sRGB, first defined in 1993, often just called the sRGB primaries - this is a fairly restricted colour space, intended to be an easy target for monitor manufacturers and to achieve some degree of colour consistency on the web (lol).

Since then, a much wider gamut called Rec.2020 has recently been defined for 'HDR' video. This is a very wide gamut, and no existing displays can actually show it in full. Besides that, there are various other colour spaces such as AdobeRGB and P3, which are used in art and design and video editing.

What you see above is something called a 'chromaticity diagram'. the coordinate system is CIE xyY with fixed Y. The curved upper edge to the shape is the line of monochromatic colours (colours created by a single frequency of light); everything other colour must be created by combining multiple frequencies of light. (Note that the colours inside the shape are not the actual colours of those points in CIE XY, they're mapped into sRGB.)

In this case, the red, green and blue dots are the primaries of my display. Since they are outside the green triangle marked sRGB, it qualifies as a 'wide gamut' display which can display more vivid colours.

Sidebar: you might ask why we didn't define the widest possible gamut we could think of at the start of all this. Well, besides consistency, the problem is that you only have so many bits per channel. For a given bit depth (e.g. 8 bits per channel per pixel), you have a finite number of possible colours you can display. Any colours in between get snapped to the nearest rung of the ladder. The upshot is that if you use a higher gamut, you need to increase the bit depth in order to avoid ugly colour banding, which means your images take up more space and take more time to process. But this is why HDR videos in Rec.2020 should always be using at least 10 bits per colour channel.

in order to display consistent colours between different computers, you need a profile of how your monitor displays colour. Yhis is something that has to be measured empirically, because even two monitors of the same model will be slightly different. You get this information by essentially taking a little gadget which has a lens and a sensitive, factory-calibrated colour meter, and holding it against your screen, then making the screen display various colours to measure what light actually comes out of it. This information is packed into a file called an ICC profile.

(Above is the one I got, the Spyder X2. I didn't put a lot of thought into this, and unfortunately it turns out that the Spyder X2 is not yet supported by programs like DisplayCal. The Spyder software did a pretty good job though.)

Wonderfully, if you have two different ICC profiles, and you want to display the same colour in each space, you can do some maths to map one into the other. So, to make sure that a picture created on one computer looks the same on another computer, you need two things: the colour space (ICC profile) of the image and the colour space (ICC profile) of the screen.

Now different operating systems handle colour differently, but basically for all three major operating systems there is somewhere you can set 'here is the icc profile for this screen'. You might think that's the whole battle: calibrate screen, get ICC profile, you're done! Welcome to the world of consistent colour.

Unfortunately we're not done.

the devil in the details

The problem is the way applications tell the operating system about colour is... spotty, inconsistent, unreliable. Applications can either present their colours in a standard space called sRGB, and let the OS handle the rest - or they can bypass that entirely and just send their numbers straight to the monitor without regard for what space it's in.

Then we have some applications that are 'colour managed', meaning you can tell the application about an ICC profile (or some other colour space representation), and it will handle converting colours into that space. This allows applications to deal with wider colour gamuts than sRGB/Rec.709, which is very restricted, without sacrificing consistency between different screens.

So to sum up, we have three types of program:

programs which only speak sRGB and let the OS correct the colours

programs which aren't colour aware and talk straight to the monitor without any correction (usually games)

programs which do colour correction themselves and talk straight to the monitor.

That last category is the fiddly one. It's a domain that typically includes art programs, video editors and web browsers. Some of them will read your ICC profile from the operating system, some have to be explicitly told which one to use.

Historically, most monitors besides the very high end were designed to support sRGB colours and not much more. However, recently it's become easier to get your hands on a wide gamut screen. This is theoretically great because it means we can use more vivid colours, but... as always the devil is in the details. What we want is that sRGB colours stay the same, but we have the option to reach for the wider gamut deliberately.

Conversely, when converting between colour spaces, you have to make a decision of what to do with colours that are 'out of gamut' - colours that one space can represent and another space can't. There's no 'correct' way to do this, but there are four standard approaches, which make different tradeoffs of what is preserved and what is sacrificed. So if you look at an image defined in a wide colour space such as Rec.2020, you need to use one of these to put it into your screen's colour space. This is handled automatically in colour managed applications, but it's good to understand what's going on!

(*You may notice a difference in games even if they're not colour managed. This is because one of the things the calibration does is update the 'gamma table' on your graphics card, which maps from numeric colour values to brightness. Since the human eye is more sensitive to differences between dark colours, this uses a nonlinear function - a power law whose exponent is called gamma. That nonlinear function also differs between screens, and your graphics card can be adjusted to compensate and make sure everyone stays on the standard gamma 2.2. Many games offer you a slider to adjust the gamma, as a stopgap measure to deal with the fact that your computer's screen probably isn't calibrated.)

For what follows, any time you need the ICC profile, Windows users should look in C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color. MacOS and Linux users, see this page for places it might be. Some applications can automatically detect the OS's ICC profile, but if not, that's where you should look.

on the web

Theoretically, on the web, colours are supposed to be specified in sRGB if not specified otherwise. But when you put an image on the web, you can include an ICC profile along with it to say exactly what colours to use. Both Firefox and Chrome are colour-managed browsers, and able to read your ICC profile right from the operating system. So an image with a profile should be handled correctly in both (with certain caveats in Chrome).

However, Firefox by default for some reason doesn't do any correction on any colours that don't have a profile, instead passing them through without correction. This can be fixed by changing a setting in about:config: gfx.color_management.mode. If you set this to 1 instead of the default 2, Firefox will assume colours are in sRGB unless it's told otherwise, and correct them.

Here is a great test page to see if your browser is handling colour correctly.

Chrome has fewer options to configure. by default it's almost correctly colour-managed but not quite. So just set the ICC on your OS and you're as good as it's gonna get. The same applies to Electron apps, such as Discord.

To embed a colour profile in an image, hopefully your art program has the ability to do this when saving, but if not, you can use ImageMagick on the command line (see below). Some websites will strip metadata including ICC profile - Tumblr, fortunately, does not.

For the rest of this post I'm going to talk about how to set up colour management in certain programs I use regularly (Krita, Blender, mpv, and games).

in Krita

Krita makes it pretty easy: you go into the settings and give it the ICC profile of your monitor. You can create images in a huge variety of spaces and bit depths and gamma profiles. When copying and pasting between images inside Krita, it will convert it for you.

The tricky thing to consider is pasting into Krita from outside. By default, your copy-paste buffer does not have colour space metadata. Krita gives you the option to interpret it with your monitor's profile, or as sRGB. I believe the correct use is: if you're copying and pasting an image from the web, then sRGB is right; if you're pasting a screenshot, it has already been colour corrected, you should use 'as on monitor' so Krita will convert it back into the image's colour space.

in Blender

Blender does not use ICC profiles, but a more complicated system called OpenColorIO. Blender supports various models of mapping between colour spaces, including Filmic and ACES, to go from its internal scene-referred HDR floating-point working space (basically, a space that measures how much light there is in absolute terms) to other spaces such as sRGB. By default, Blender assumes it can output to sRGB, P3, etc. without any further correction.

So. What we need to do is add another layer after that which takes the sRGB data and corrects it for our screen. This requires something called a Lookup Table (LUT), which is basically just a 3D texture that maps colours to other colours. You can generate a LUT using a program called DisplayCal, which can also be used for display calibration - note that you don't use the main DisplayCal program for this, but instead a tool called 3DLUT Maker that's packaged along with it. see this Stack Overflow thread for details.

Then, you describe in the OpenColorIO file how to use that LUT, defining a colour space.

The procedure described in the thread recommends you set up colour calibration as an additional view transform targeting sRGB. This works, but strictly speaking it's not a correct use of the OpenColorIO model. We should also set up our calibrated screen as an additional display definition, and attach our new colour spaces to that display. Also, if you want to use the 'Filmic' View Transform with corrected colours (or indeed any other), you need to define that in the OpenColorIO file too. Basically, copy whatever transform you want, and insert an extra line with the 3D LUT.

Here's how it looks for me:

in games (using ReShade)

So I mentioned above that games do not generally speaking do any colour correction beyond the option to manually adjust a gamma slider. However, by using a post-processing injection framework such as ReShade, you can correct colours in games.

If you want to get the game looking as close to the original artistic intent as possible, you can use the LUT generator to generate a PNG lookup table, save it in the Reshade textures folder, then you load it into the LUT shader that comes packaged with Reshade. Make sure to set the width, height and number of tiles correctly or you'll get janked up results.

However... that might not be what you want. Especially with older games, there is often a heavy green filter or some other weird choice in the colour design. Or maybe you don't want to follow the 'original artistic intent' and would rather enjoy the full vividness your screen is capable of displaying. (I certainly like FFXIV a lot better with a colour grade applied to it using the full monitor gamut.)

A 3D Lookup Table can actually be used for more than simply calibrating colour to match a monitor - it is in general a very powerful tool for colour correction. A good workflow is to open a screenshot in an image editor along with a base lookup table, adjust the colours in certain ways, and save the edited lookup table as an image texture; you can then use it to apply colour correction throughout the game. This procedure is described here.

Whatever approach you take, when you save screenshots with Reshade, it will not include any colour information. If you want screenshots to look like they do in-game when displayed in a properly colour managed application, you need to attach your monitor's ICC profile to the image. You can do this with an ImageMagick command:

magick convert "{path to screenshot}" -strip -profile "{path to ICC profile}" "{output file name}.webp"

This also works with TIFF and JPEG; for some reason I couldn't get it to work with PNG (you generate a PNG but no colour profile is attached.)

It's possible to write a post-save command in ReShade which could be used to attach this colour space info. If I get round to doing that, I'll edit into this post.

video

In MPV, you can get a colour-corrected video player by setting an appropriate line in mpv.conf, assuming you're using vo=gpu or vo=gpu-next (recommended). icc-profile-auto=yes should automatically load the monitor ICC profile from the operating system, or you can specify a specific one with icc-profile={path to ICC profile}.

For watching online videos, it seems that neither Firefox nor Chrome applies colour correction, even though the rest of the browser is colour-managed. If you don't want to put up with this, you can open Youtube videos in MPV, which internally downloads them using Youtube-DL or yt-dlp. This is inconvenient! Still haven't found a way to make it colour-corrected in-browser.

For other players like VLC or MPC-HC, I'm not so familiar with the procedure, you'll need to research this on your own.

what about HDR?

HDR is a marketing term, and a set of standards for monitor features (the VESA DisplayHDR series), but it does also refer to a new set of protocols around displaying colour, known as Rec. 2100. This defines the use of a 'perceptual quantiser' function in lieu of the old gamma function. HDR screens are able to support extreme ranges of brightness using techniques like local dimming and typically have a wider colour gamut.

If your screen supports it, Windows has a HDR mode which (I believe) switches the output to use Rec.2100. The problem is deciding what to do with SDR content on your screen (which is to say most things) - you have very little control over anything besides brightness, and for some reason Windows screws up the gamma. Turning on HDR introduced truly severe colour banding all over the shop for me.

My colorimeter claims to be able to profile high brightness/hdr screens, but I haven't tested the effect of profiling in HDR mode yet. There is also a Windows HDR calibration tool, but this is only available on the Microsoft store, which makes it a real pain to set up if you've deleted that from your operating system in a fit of pique. (Ameliorated Edition is great until it isn't.)

Anyway, if I get around to profiling my monitor in HDR mode, I will report back. However, for accurate SDR colour, the general recommendation seems to be to simply turn it off. Only turn it on if you want to watch content specifically authored for HDR (some recent games, and HDR videos are available on some platforms like Youtube). It's a pain.

is this all really worth the effort?

Obviously I've really nerded out about all this, and I know the likely feeling you get looking at this wall of text is 'fuck this, I'll just put up with it'. But my monitor's gamma was pretty severely off, and when I was trying to make a video recently I had no idea that my screen was making the red way more saturated and deep than I would see on most monitors.

If you're a digital artist or photographer, I think it's pretty essential to get accurate colour. Of course the pros will spend thousands on a high end screen which may have built in colour correction, but even with a screen at the level I'm looking at (costing a few hundred quid), you can do a lot to improve how it looks 'out of the box'.

So that's the long and short of it. I hope this is useful to someone to have all of this in one place!

I don't know if we'll ever reach a stage where most monitors in use are calibrated, so on some level it's a bit of a fool's errand, but at least with calibration I have some more hope that what I put in is at least on average close to what comes out the other end.

[deepdreamnights]

728-88, 89... 91... where is flight 90?

Wh- they put the delayed flights on a different screen? Who decided-

Screw it. I'ma hit the Cinna-Bon.

The image(s) above in this post were made using an autogenerated prompt and/or have not been modified/iterated extensively. As such, they do not meet the minimum expression threshold, and are in the public domain. Prompt under the fold.

Prompt: Dino-Knight Allosaurus, in the Dino-Base command center, humanoid dinosaur in power armor, still frame from the Dino-Guard, 1992 animated cartoon series, by TOEI, AKOM, Sunbow:: a zaftig octopus-fursona, tentacle hair, a fighting game character from 1998, Darkstalkers 3 promotional art by bengus, john byrne, and akiman, tako fursona, whiplash curves, line art with flat anime cel shading, victory pose, resembles nicki minaj and kat dennings, curvateous, full body, on white background, full body, feet visible:: a photorealistic pile of glass beads shaped like pokemon, volumetric light, cinematic, 4K, hyperrealistic:: character design, britney spears as a gold and uranium glass android cyborg, mist, photorealistic, octane render, unreal engine, hyper detailed, volumetric lighting, hdr, dynamic angle, cinametic:: two dinosaur-people at a state fair, rides and snack stands in background, ultra-sharp photograph, ILM, national geographic, walking with dinosaurs, life magazine, 5k, ilm, weta digital:: Peter Falk 's Detective Columbo in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure:: A blueprint of an alien space craft, with technical details and data on the blue paper background. The design includes a detailed plan showing its shape, structure, intricate features like wings or propelling engines, as well as precise grid lines for scale in low resolution. Atop it is depicted a giant praying mantis sitting atop it's back legs holding onto tonasa, as if readying itself for launch. There should be a text bubble that says Inhotep Zyt at Nified Ape XInsta & RT.

--

This is a 'prompt smash' experiment, combining random (mostly) machine-generated prompts into a single prompt with multiple sub-prompts. Midjourney blends concepts in these situations, making vivid but essentially random results.

[underafullmoon3]

An incredibly detailed image of the Moon was compiled by an Indian teenager, who captured 55,000 photographs — accumulating more than 186 gigabytes on his laptop in the process — to obtain a pastache of celestial proportions.

Prathamesh Jaju, 16, from Pune, Maharashtra, shared his HDR image of a waning crescent moon on Instagram. He admitted that compiling so many photos for his most detailed and sharp image to date tested his technology. "The laptop almost killed me with the processing," he said.

The amateur astrophotographer began the project by filming several videos of different small sections of the Moon in the early hours of May 3. Each video contains about 2000 frames; the trick was to merge and stacking the videos to create a single image, while overlapping them to generate a three-dimensional effect.

"So I took about 38 videos," Jaju explained, according to News 18. "We now have 38 images." "We focus each of them manually and then photoshop them together, like a huge tile."

Jaju told ANI on Twitter that he learned to capture and process those composite images with web articles and YouTube videos. After some touch-ups, the nearly 40-hour processing resulted in an impressive composition of the Moon with magnificent details, rich texture, and an amazing range of colors.

Colors are a fascinating phenomenon. They represent the minerals of the Moon that DSLR cameras can distinguish with greater clarity than the human eye.

"The blue tones reveal areas rich in ilmenite, which contains iron, titanium, and oxygen," he said. "While the colors orange and purple show relatively poor regions in titanium and iron." White and gray tones indicate areas exposed to more sunlight.

The teenager shared with his tech-savvy followers on Instagram the specifications of his telescope, high-speed USB camera, tripod, and lenses, as well as the software he used to capture the images.

In the future, Jaju hopes to become a professional astrophysicist.

[systemtek]

Sony Semiconductor Solutions to Release the Industry's First CMOS Image Sensor for Automotive Cameras That Can Simultaneously Process and Output RAW and YUV Images

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) has announced the upcoming release of the ISX038 CMOS image sensor for automotive cameras, the industry's first*1 product that can simultaneously process and output RAW*2 and YUV*3 images. The new sensor product has proprietary ISP*4 inside and can process and output RAW and YUV images simultaneously. RAW images are required for external environment detection and recognition in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving systems (AD), while the YUV images are provided for infotainment applications such as the drive recorder and augmented reality (AR). By expanding the applications a single camera can offer, the new product helps simplify automotive camera systems and saves space, cost, and power. *1   Among CMOS sensors for automotive cameras. According to SSS research (as of announcement on October 4, 2024).*2   Image for recognition on a computer.*3   Image for driver visual such as recording or displaying on a monitor.*4   Image signal processor – a circuit for image processing. Model nameSampleshipment date(planned)Sample price(including tax)ISX038 1/1.7-type (9.30 mm diagonal)8.39- effective-megapixel*5CMOS image sensorOctober 2024¥15,000*6 *5   Based on the image sensor effective pixel specification method.*6   May vary depending on the volume shipped and other conditions. The roles of automotive cameras continue to diversify in line with advances in ADAS and AD and increasing needs and requirements pertaining to the driver experience. On the other hand, there is limited space for installing such cameras, making it impossible to continue adding more indefinitely, which in turn has created a demand to do more with a single camera. The ISX038 is the industry's first*1 CMOS image sensor for automotive cameras that can simultaneously process and output RAW and YUV images. It uses a stacked structure consisting of a pixel chip and a logic chip with signal processing circuit, with the SSS' proprietary ISP on the logic chip. This design allows a single camera to provide high-precision detection and recognition capabilities of the environment outside the vehicle and visual information to assist the driver as infotainment applications. When compared with conventional methods such as a multi-camera system or a system that outputs RAW and YUV images using an external ISP, the new product helps simplify automotive camera systems, saving space, costs, and power.  ISX038 will offer compatibility with the EyeQ™6 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) currently offered by Mobileye, for use in ADAS and AD technology. Processing and output of Sony's ISX038 sensor (right) compared to conventional image sensors (left) Main Features - Industry's first*1 sensor capable of processing and outputting RAW and YUV images simultaneouslyThe new sensor is equipped with dedicated ISPs for RAW and YUV images and is capable of outputting two types of images simultaneously with image quality optimized for each application on two independent interfaces. Expanding the applications a single camera can offer helps build systems that save space, costs, and power compared to multi-camera systems or systems with an external ISP. - Wide dynamic range even during simultaneous use of HDR and LED flicker mitigationIn automobile driving, objects must be precisely detected and recognized even in road environments with significant differences in brightness, such as tunnel entrances and exits. Automotive cameras are also required to suppress LED flicker, even while in HDR mode, to deal with the increasing prevalence of LED signals and other traffic devices. The proprietary pixel structure and unique exposure method of this product improves saturation illuminance, yielding a wide dynamic range of 106 dB even when simultaneously employing HDR and LED flicker mitigation (when using dynamic range priority mode, the range is even wider, at 130 dB). This design also helps reduce motion artifacts*7 generated when capturing moving subjects. *7   Noise generated when capturing moving subjects with HDR. - Compatibility with conventional products*8This product shares the same compatibility with SSS' conventional products,*8 which have already built a proven track record for ADAS and AD applications with multiple automobile manufacturers. The new product makes it possible to reuse data assets collected on previous products such as driving data from automotive cameras. This helps streamline ADAS and AD development for automobile manufacturers and partners. *8 SSS' IMX728 1/1.7 type 8.39 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor. - Compliant with standards required for automotive applicationsThe product is qualified for AEC-Q100 Grade 2 automotive electronic component reliability tests by mass production. Also, SSS has introduced a development process compliant with the ISO 26262 road vehicle functional safety standard, at automotive safety integrity level ASIL-B(D). This contributes to improve automotive camera system reliability. Key Specifications Model nameISX038Effective pixels3,857×2,177(H×V), approx. 8.39 megapixelsImage sizeDiagonal 9.30mm (1/1.72-type)Unit cell size2.1μm×2.1μm (H×V)Frame rate (all pixels)30fps (RAW&YUV dual output)Sensitivity (standard value F5.6, 1/30 secondcumulative)880mV (Green Pixel)Dynamic range (EMVA 1288 standard)106 dB (with LED flicker mitigation)130 dB (dynamic range priority)InterfaceMIPI CSI-2 serial output (Single port with 4-lanes / Dual port with 2-lanes per port)Package192pin BGAPackage size11.85mm×8.60mm (H×V) SOURCE Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation Photo of Sony's ISX038 CMOS image sensor for automotive cameras Read the full article

[poorvikasmartgadgets]

Unveiling the Vivo V40e 5G: A Perfect Blend of Design, Performance, and Photography

The Vivo V40e 5G mobile is more than just a smartphone; it's an innovation crafted to redefine your mobile experience. Whether you're a photography enthusiast, a video content creator, or someone who values sleek design, this latest addition to the Vivo family ticks all the boxes. With its ultra-slim 3D curved display, stunning camera, and powerful performance, the new Vivo V40e 2024 is here to elevate your smartphone experience.

In this blog, we'll dive into the exciting features, design, and performance that make the Vivo V40e 5G a must-have in 2024.

Luxury Design and Display

The first thing you'll notice about the Vivo V40e mobile is its ultra-slim 3D curved display. At just 183 grams and a thickness of 0.749 cm, it is India's slimmest smartphone in the 5500 mAh battery category. Despite its lightweight feel, the phone exudes luxury and style, offering exceptional comfort in your hand.

The 6.77-inch Full HD+ display provides an immersive visual experience with a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1. The 93.3% screen-to-body ratio and P3 colour gamut ensure that every image and video pop with vivid colours and sharpness, perfect for streaming and gaming. Whether you're binge-watching your favourite shows or playing graphic-intensive games, the Vivo V40e 5G offers a stunning visual experience like never before.

Performance and Battery: Light Yet Powerful

The Vivo V40e 5G is not just about looks; it's a powerhouse of performance too. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, the smartphone ensures you enjoy fast processing speeds, efficient power consumption, and real-time focus optimization. The 4nm process technology offers 50% increased dynamic range in 4K HDR recording, making it perfect for mobile photographers and videographers.

With a massive 5500 mAh battery, this smartphone is built to last throughout the day, even with heavy usage. The 80W FlashCharge ensures that your phone powers up in mere seconds, giving you 22 hours of video streaming or 98 hours of music playback. Plus, just 5 seconds of charging provides enough juice to keep you connected to what matters.

Redefining Mobile Photography

The Vivo V40e camera is a true marvel for anyone passionate about photography. The device boasts a 50 MP Sony Professional Night Portrait Camera with the Sony IMX882 Sensor and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This setup ensures crystal-clear photos even in low-light conditions, making it a great companion for night photography. The 2x Professional Portrait Mode and natural bokeh effect enhance facial clarity and texture, ensuring that you are the centre of attention in every shot.

For wider shots, the 8 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera with a 116° field of view captures more scenery and people in a single frame. On the front, the 50 MP Eye-AF Group Selfie Camera lets you take stunning selfies with precise details, thanks to the advanced JN1 Sensor and 92° field of view.

Studio-Quality Portraits with Aura Light

The Vivo V40e 5G comes with Studio Quality Aura Light Portrait, providing enhanced lighting for every shot. Whether you're in warm or cool lighting, this feature adjusts the color temperature and ensures accurate skin tones, allowing you to capture professional-grade portraits every time. The Smart Color Temperature Adjustment helps blend you seamlessly into your surroundings, reducing harsh ambient light for naturally vibrant results.

4K Ultra-Stable Video: Shoot Like a Pro

The Vivo V40e 5G makes shooting videos effortless. Thanks to its Hybrid Image Stabilization (OIS+EIS) feature, you can shoot smooth, shake-free 4K videos. The camera eliminates unwanted hand movements, ensuring that your videos look professional even when you’re on the move. Moreover, the front camera also supports 4K recording, so your vlogs or social media clips will have the same professional quality as your main footage.

Sleek Design Meets Comfort

The Vivo V40e design is not just about aesthetics; it’s also about ergonomics. The phone’s ultra-slim and lightweight body is designed to fit perfectly in your hand. It’s available in two elegant colors:

Royal Bronze: Evokes opulence and strength, blending historical richness with modern sophistication.

Mint Green: Captures the essence of nature, inspiring freedom and progress with its fresh, vibrant hue.

The Infinity Eye Camera Module Design further enhances the luxurious feel, combining style with functionality, ensuring that your phone not only performs well but also looks incredibly premium.

AI-Powered Connectivity and Funtouch OS 14

The Vivo V40e 5G is equipped with AI SuperLink, featuring a 360º Omnidirectional Antenna that improves connectivity, even in weak signal areas. It intelligently switches networks based on your environment, ensuring you stay connected without interruptions. The phone also runs on Funtouch OS 14, a personalized and intuitive mobile system designed for seamless usability.

Additionally, the phone includes exciting features like Dynamic Light for call and message notifications, Vlog Movie Creator for content creation, and AI Eraser for cleaning up unwanted elements in your photos.

Vivo V40e Offers and Availability

Ready to make this sleek device yours? You can buy Vivo V40e 5G at Poorvika showrooms or online, with some exciting offers. The Vivo V40e 5G price in India makes it a great value for those looking for premium features without breaking the bank. Plus, when you purchase the Vivo V40e 5G, you can avail of free TWS earbuds worth ₹3,999 as part of the introductory offer. Don't miss out on the chance to own this stylish powerhouse.

Conclusion

The Vivo V40e new launch is a game-changer in the smartphone industry, offering a perfect blend of performance, design, and cutting-edge photography. Whether you're a casual user, a mobile gamer, or a photography enthusiast, the Vivo V40e mobile will exceed your expectations.

Buy Vivo V40e 5G today and experience the future of mobile technology!

[eclipse89]

HDR photos

i think there's a sort of widespread misconception about HDR photos and i want to clear up some stuff

and first, a question:

when you look at the moon by naked eye, is what you see closer to the image on the left or the one on the right?

and of course, it's a trick question, because what everyone sees is closer to this

bright and illuminating to the sky around it, but with darker surface detail still visible by eye. this'll make sense later, keep reading:

HDR = High Dynamic Range, meaning the dynamic range (range of values within which you can still see detail) of a photo is more extended than normal, usually via compositing multiple photos at different exposures together

the misconception is that HDR is somehow unnatural or digitally manipulated because it involves compositing photos together to create something that wasn't in any single photo. and in the age of photoshop and ai imagery i can understand the concern of photos becoming less and less ''real'' seeming

but the key thing that everyone spreading these misconceptions doesn't realize, is that cameras inherently have a way lower dynamic range than the human eye

the human eye can, on a sunny day, see detail in immensely bright clouds near the sun and detail in the darkest shadows of trees and bushes- cameras cannot do this. not remotely. they are extremely limited in what detail can be captured in a single photo, and you expose specifically for the detail you want to capture in that photo

i think this is a good point to introduce the term ''clipped'', which means whenever an extreme value (white or black) becomes ''fully'' white or black; i.e it is exactly 0 0 0 or 255 255 255 in rgb value. if a highlight or shadow gets clipped by being too bright/dark, it instantly loses all detail and becomes a uniform value- meaning that, by choosing how to expose a photo in contrast-y conditions (sunny day, bright lights indoors, the moon at night etc) you are also choosing which detail inevitably gets clipped

(note that in a lot of regular conditions like cloudy days, sunsets, uniform indoor lighting, etc, no detail necessarily has to be clipped)

now back to the main point: obviously, the human eye almost never clips detail because of how high the dynamic range is. this is exactly why all the misconceptions are wrong, because by taking multiple photos at different exposures to get detail throughout the entire range, you are actually making the end result closer to how the scene would look to the naked eye- it's not photoshop or digital manipulation in that it's meant to deceive or show something not real, it is literally meant to show a scene more similarly to how it would've looked in real life

this is why the 3rd moon image, despite being a composite of multiple photos, looks more natural to us than the others do- it's more akin to what we see with our eyes every day

[marcnealphotographer]

The Art of Composition in Photography

Photography is not simply about capturing moments; it is an art form that enables us to express ourselves and tell stories through images. One of the key elements that can transform a simple snapshot into a captivating photograph is composition. Composition refers to how the elements within a photograph are arranged and organized. It is like a painter's canvas, where every brushstroke matters. In this article, we will embark on a journey to explore the art of composition in photography, unlocking your inner artist along the way.

Imagine yourself facing a blank canvas, ready to be painted. Similarly, when you peer through the viewfinder of your camera, you see a frame brimming with potential. As an artist, you hold the power to decide what to include and what to exclude from the frame. This is known as framing. By carefully selecting the elements to include, you can create a harmonious composition that draws the viewer's attention to the subject of your photograph.

One fundamental principle of composition is the rule of thirds. Imagine dividing your frame into nine equal parts by drawing two horizontal lines and two vertical lines, like a tic-tac-toe board. The rule of thirds suggests that placing your subject or key elements along these lines or at their intersections creates a more visually appealing composition. By avoiding placing the subject in the center, you can add a sense of balance and intrigue to your photograph.

Another powerful tool at your disposal is minimalism. Simplifying your composition by removing any unnecessary elements can enhance the impact of your photograph. By focusing on a single subject or a few key elements, you can create a sense of clarity and elegance. Minimalism allows the viewer to appreciate the beauty in the simplicity of your image.

Now, let's introduce the Fibonacci sequence. The Fibonacci sequence is a mathematical pattern where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on). This sequence can be found in nature, architecture, and even the human body. Applying the Fibonacci spiral or the golden ratio to your composition can add a sense of balance and harmony. By positioning your subject or key elements along these spiral lines or golden ratio points, you create a visually pleasing composition that resonates with the natural order found in the world around us.

As an artist, you possess the ability to play with shapes, colors, and patterns to create visually striking compositions. Consider the different shapes present within your frame. Are they geometric or organic? How do they interact with each other? By experimenting with shapes and their relationships, you can add a sense of rhythm and harmony to your photographs. Additionally, colors can evoke specific moods and emotions. Use them intentionally to enhance the impact of your composition. A splash of red against a monochromatic background, for example, can create a focal point and add drama to your image.

Furthermore, patterns can be found everywhere in the world around us. From the repetition of windows in a cityscape to the intricate details of a flower petal, patterns add a mesmerizing element to your photographs. Recognizing and incorporating patterns into your composition can transform a seemingly ordinary scene into a captivating work of art.

While exploring composition techniques, it is essential to be mindful of fad composition trends that have become overused and may overshadow the essence of your photograph. Techniques like High Dynamic Range (HDR), which enhances the dynamic range of an image, forced perspective, which manipulates the viewer's perception of depth, and selective coloring, where only a specific portion of the image is in color, have been excessively employed and can diminish the impact of your composition. Instead, focus on creating compositions that are genuine and speak to your artistic vision.

Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment and break the rules of composition. As an artist, you have the freedom to push boundaries and create your own unique style. Sometimes, unconventional compositions can result in the most intriguing and thought-provoking photographs. Trust your instincts and let your creativity guide you.

In conclusion, composition is a powerful tool in the world of photography. By understanding and applying the principles of composition, including the rule of thirds, minimalism, and even the Fibonacci sequence, you can elevate your images from mere snapshots to compelling works of art. Remember, photography is not just about capturing what you see, but also about expressing your unique vision and creativity. So grab your camera, embrace your inner artist, and let the world be your canvas.

[arinhubc]

HDMI VS Displayport

The HDMI and DisplayPort are two of the most common types of connectors used in computing today. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different needs. When deciding between the two technologies, it's important to understand the differences between them to make an informed decision about which one is best for your project.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a consumer-grade connector that supports both audio and video signals up to 4K resolution. It uses a single cable for easy setup and has support for digital rights management (DRM), making it ideal for home entertainment systems. Its main downside is that it doesn't support higher resolutions like 8K or 10K, so if you're looking for something with more advanced features you should consider DisplayPort instead.

When it comes to connecting your devices to an external monitor, there are two primary options: HDMI and DisplayPort. Both of these offer a high-quality connection, but they have some distinct differences in terms of video quality. If you’re looking for the best HD experience, here’s what you need to know about HDMI vs DisplayPort video quality.

Video Quality

HDMI is the most common form of video connection used today and offers excellent image quality with support for 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps). It also supports HDR content and has audio pass-through capabilities which can stream audio from your device directly to your monitor or speakers. However, HDMI does not support adaptive refresh rates like FreeSync or G-SYNC.

When it comes to connecting audio devices to a computer, there are two major options: HDMI and DisplayPort. Each of these connectors offer different features, but one of the most important considerations for many people is the question of audio quality.

Audio Quality

When comparing HDMI and DisplayPort’s audio quality, it depends on what type of device you’re using. Generally speaking, DisplayPort offers superior sound quality with its ability to handle up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution compared to HDMI’s 16-bit/48kHz resolution. However, when it comes to gaming consoles or other devices that don't require higher bit rates then HDMI can still provide high-quality sound with its more advanced compression methods. Additionally, newer versions of both options offer increased bandwidth which further improves the overall sound quality.

[forlinx]

Introduction to RK3588

What is RK3588?

RK3588 is a universal SoC with ARM architecture, which integrates quad-core Cortex-A76 (large core) and quad-core Cortex-A55(small core). Equipped with G610 MP4 GPU, which can run complex graphics processing smoothly. Embedded 3D GPU makes RK3588 fully compatible with OpenGLES 1.1, 2.0 and 3.2, OpenCL up to 2.2 and Vulkan1.2. A special 2D hardware engine with MMU will maximize display performance and provide smooth operation. And a 6 TOPs NPU empowers various AI scenarios, providing possibilities for local offline AI computing in complex scenarios, complex video stream analysis, and other applications. Built-in a variety of powerful embedded hardware engines, support 8K@60fps H.265 and VP9 decoders, 8K@30fps H.264 decoders and 4K@60fps AV1 decoders; support 8K@30fps H.264 and H.265 encoder, high-quality JPEG encoder/decoder, dedicated image pre-processor and post-processor.

RK3588 also introduces a new generation of fully hardware-based ISP (Image Signal Processor) with a maximum of 48 million pixels, implementing many algorithm accelerators, such as HDR, 3A, LSC, 3DNR, 2DNR, sharpening, dehaze, fisheye correction, gamma Correction, etc., have a wide range of applications in graphics post-processing. RK3588 integrates Rockchip's new generation NPU, which can support INT4/INT8/INT16/FP16 hybrid computing. Its strong compatibility can easily convert network models based on a series of frameworks such as TensorFlow / MXNet / PyTorch / Caffe. RK3588 has a high-performance 4-channel external memory interface (LPDDR4/LPDDR4X/LPDDR5), capable of supporting demanding memory bandwidth.

RK3588 Block Diagram

Advantages of RK3588?

Computing: RK3588 integrates quad-core Cortex-A76 and quad-core Cortex-A55, G610 MP4 graphics processor, and a separate NEON coprocessor. Integrating the third-generation NPU self-developed by Rockchip, computing power 6TOPS, which can meet the computing power requirements of most artificial intelligence models.

Vision: support multi-camera input, ISP3.0, high-quality audio;

Display: support multi-screen display, 8K high-quality, 3D display, etc.;

Video processing: support 8k video and multiple 4k codecs;

Communication: support multiple high-speed interfaces such as PCIe2.0 and PCIe3.0, USB3.0, and Gigabit Ethernet;

Operating system: Android 12 is supported. Linux and Ubuntu will be developed in succession;

FET3588-C SoM based on Rockchip RK3588

Forlinx FET3588-C SoM inherits all advantages of RK3588. The following introduces it from structure and hardware design.

1. Structure:

The SoM size is 50mm x 68mm, smaller than most RK3588 SoMs on market;

100pin ultra-thin connector is used to connect SoM and carrier board. The combined height of connectors is 1.5mm, which greatly reduces the thickness of SoM; four mounting holes with a diameter of 2.2mm are reserved at the four corners of SoM. The product is used in a vibration environment can install fixing screws to improve the reliability of product connections.

2. Hardware Design:

FET3568-C SoM uses 12V power supply. A higher power supply voltage can increase the upper limit of power supply and reduce line loss. Ensure that the Forlinx’s SoM can run stably for a long time at full load. The power supply adopts RK single PMIC solution, which supports dynamic frequency modulation.

FET3568-C SoM uses 4 pieces of 100pin connectors, with a total of 400 pins; all the functions that can be extracted from processor are all extracted, and ground loop pins of high-speed signal are sufficient, and power supply and loop pins are sufficient to ensure signal integrity and power integrity.

The default memory configuration of FET3568-C SoM supports 4GB/8GB (up to 32GB) LPDDR4/LPDDR4X-4266; default storage configuration supports 32GB/64GB (larger storage is optional) eMMC; Each interface signal and power supply of SoM and carrier board have been strictly tested to ensure that the signal quality is good and the power wave is within specified range.

PCB layout: Forlinx uses top layer-GND-POWER-bottom layer to ensure the continuity and stability of signals.

RK3588 SoM hardware design Guide

FET3588-C SoM has integrated power supply and storage circuit in a small module. The required external circuit is very simple. A minimal system only needs power supply and startup configuration to run, as shown in the figure below:

The minimum system includes SoM power supply, system flashing circuit, and debugging serial port circuit. The minimum system schematic diagram can be found in "OK3588-C_Hardware Manual". However, in general, it is recommended to connect some external devices, such as debugging serial port, otherwise user cannot judge whether system is started. After completing these, on this basis, add the functions required by user according to default interface definition of RK3588 SoM provided by Forlinx.

RK3588 Carrier Board Hardware Design Guide

The interface resources derived from Forlinx embedded OK3588-C development board are very rich, which provides great convenience for customers' development and testing. Moreover, OK3588-C development board has passed rigorous tests and can provide stable performance support for customers' high-end applications.

In order to facilitate user's secondary development, Forlinx provides RK3588 hardware design guidelines to annotate the problems that may be encountered during design process of RK3588. We want to help users make the research and development process simpler and more efficient, and make customers' products smarter and more stable. Due to the large amount of content, only a few guidelines for interface design are listed here. For details, you can contact us online to obtain "OK3588-C_Hardware Manual" (Click to Inquiry)

[mapsstudio]

Beyond the Viewfinder: Creative Photography Techniques

When you think about photography, you might visualize framing a scene through the viewfinder, but there’s so much more waiting beyond that lens. By experimenting with long exposure techniques or mastering HDR photography, you can elevate your images to tell deeper stories. Innovative composition strategies and light manipulation methods can also breathe new life into your work. As you explore these creative techniques, you’ll uncover unexpected results that challenge your artistic vision. What if you could transform ordinary moments into extraordinary visual narratives? The journey to discover these possibilities starts here.

Exploring Long Exposure Techniques

Long exposure photography opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to capture movement in a single striking image. By extending the shutter speed, you can transform ordinary scenes into visually compelling narratives.

To get started, consider using a neutral density (ND) filter, which reduces light entering the lens, enabling longer exposure times without overexposing your shot.

When you’re ready to experiment, set your camera to manual mode for complete control over settings. Choose your shutter speed based on the desired effect; use shorter times for subtle movement or longer exposures to create dramatic blurs. A shallow depth of field can also enhance your subject, drawing attention while the background blurs beautifully.

Patience is key in long exposure photography, as you’ll often wait for ideal conditions. Always use a tripod to maintain stability, and remember to lock up the mirror on DSLRs to minimize vibration.

Lastly, don’t shy away from experimentation—try various locations and times of day, and analyze your results. This hands-on experience will help you master these creative techniques and elevate your photography.

Mastering HDR Photography

When you dive into HDR photography, you unlock a powerful technique that captures the full dynamic range of a scene, showcasing details in both shadows and highlights.

By using exposure bracketing with your camera body, you can take multiple pictures at varying exposures to create stunning images that reflect the natural world’s beauty. This method is especially effective in high-contrast situations, where bright and dark areas coexist.

To get started, set your camera to shoot in RAW format and use a tripod to maintain stability. Aim for three to five exposures, adjusting in 1 or 2 EV steps.

Consistent settings across shots are crucial to achieve the desired wow factor in your final image. Whether you prefer to blend these images in post-processing software or work with a single RAW file, the key is to experiment and find your style.

Innovative Composition Strategies

Innovative composition strategies can transform your photography by guiding the viewer’s eye and enhancing the story behind each image. One effective approach is utilizing lines in composition. Leading lines, whether diagonal, horizontal, or curved, can direct attention and convey movement, adding depth to your shots.

Symmetry and balance also play a crucial role; symmetrical compositions evoke calmness, while radial balance introduces exciting patterns.

When you’re using shapes in composition, think about how circles, squares, and triangles can influence the narrative. Each shape brings a unique emotional quality to your images.

Perspective techniques, such as linear perspective and forced perspective, can create a sense of depth and drama, encouraging viewers to engage with your work.

Light Manipulation Methods

Mastering light manipulation methods can dramatically enhance your photography. Understanding different light sources and their effects is key. For instance, soft light gently illuminates your subjects, making it perfect for flattering portraits by reducing harsh shadows.

Conversely, hard light creates strong shadows and high contrast, adding drama and emphasizing textures in your images.

Experimenting with various lighting techniques can further transform your shots. Directional light, like side lighting for backlighting, can set the mood and tell different stories by highlighting specific aspects of your subject.

To enhance your lighting setup, consider using reflectors. They bounce light back onto your subjects, filling in shadows and enhancing highlights, which can be particularly useful in outdoor photography.

Utilizing tools like softboxes can soften and diffuse hard light, creating an even glow that’s essential for capturing stunning portraits.

By mastering these light manipulation methods, you’ll gain more control over the narrative of your photographs, allowing you to evoke emotions and create striking visuals that stand out.

Don’t hesitate to experiment with different combinations and setups to discover what works best for your style.

Lens Effects and Their Impact

Lenses serve as the eyes of your camera, and choosing the right one can dramatically influence your photography. The type of lens you select directly impacts image quality, so understanding your options is key.

A wide angle lens, for instance, offers expansive views, making it perfect for landscapes and architecture. With a focal length between 16mm and 35mm, it captures more of the scene, enhancing your storytelling.

On the other hand, a zoom lens provides versatility with variable focal lengths, allowing you to adapt to different subjects without changing lenses. This can be especially useful in dynamic environments where you might need to quickly adjust your composition.

However, keep in mind that while zoom lenses are convenient, they may not always match the image quality of prime lenses, which have fixed focal lengths and are designed for specific scenarios.

Ultimately, investing in quality lenses is essential. They influence not just resolution but also contrast retention, which shapes your overall image perception.

Prioritizing the right lens for your needs can elevate your photography, improving both your experience and the final results.

Customer Reviews of Mapsstudio

Here are some reviews from various platforms, showcasing what our customers think about Mapsstudio. We take pride in the feedback we receive and continuously strive to offer excellent service. Check out these testimonials and see why many choose us for their mapping needs. For more information, visit Mapsstudio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Viewfinder Technique?

The viewfinder technique lets you frame and compose your shots effectively. By looking through it, you can assess lighting and focus, helping you capture moving subjects and enhance your overall shooting efficiency.

What Is Considered Creative Photography?

Creative photography is all about pushing boundaries and expressing unique perspectives. You explore innovative techniques and compositions, capturing emotions and narratives that resonate. It’s your chance to transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary visual stories that connect with viewers.

What Is the Viewpoint Technique in Photography?

The viewpoint technique in photography focuses on capturing scenes from unique angles. You’ll experiment with high, low, and tilted perspectives to create depth, guiding viewers’ eyes and enhancing the emotional impact of your images.

How Do I Make My Photography Stand Out?

To make your photography stand out, experiment with unique angles, play with light and shadow, and explore creative techniques like long exposures. Don’t be afraid to break traditional rules and express your personal vision.

Conclusion

Incorporating these creative photography techniques can truly elevate your skills and storytelling. By experimenting with long exposure, mastering HDR, and playing with composition, you’ll capture moments in a whole new light. Don’t shy away from manipulating light and exploring lens effects; they can add depth and emotion to your work. Embrace the journey of experimentation and watch as your creativity flourishes, transforming your photography from ordinary to extraordinary. Get out there and start shooting!

Visit Mapsstudio for more  information about photography.

[deepdreamnights]

Maelstrom Manipulation

High level magic, but mostly for show.

The image(s) above in this post were made using an autogenerated prompt and/or have not been modified/iterated extensively. As such, they do not meet the minimum expression threshold, and are in the public domain. Prompt under the fold.

Prompt: HS screengrab of the opening to an anime show about magic knights called Knights of the Magic Light in yellow and blue, silhouette shot of two knights glowing with light on their bodies standing back-to-back in mid-air in a dark room, a floating golden lion is seen next to them, text at the bottom reads HDR Oil Painted Art Style, vibrant colors, detailed background.:: 80s video game screenshot of the sun, glitchy pixel art, colorful streaks on a white background, text logo ConGoal in the lower right corner.:: A scene from the cartoon The Boiler Room with an extremely caricatured young woman wearing a purple cape and an orange man, both sinking in water, designed in the style of Don Bluth, with a retro animation, vintage-style anime aesthetic, a screen grab of an episode of Captain Aerial in a wide shot on film.

--

This is a 'prompt smash' experiment, combining random (mostly) machine-generated prompts into a single prompt with multiple sub-prompts. Midjourney blends concepts in these situations, making vivid but essentially random results.

My Nijijourney Style Code (Used in this piece): --p p6grcgq

[varonicaharvoth]

Achieve Stunning Visual Clarity with HDR USB Cameras for Enhanced Surveillance and Digital Signage

Have you ever found yourself struggling to make out critical details in low-light surveillance footage or digital signage displays that lack the sharpness you need? If you’ve worked with security systems or managed digital displays, you know how challenging it can be to rely on subpar image quality, especially when it comes to security and customer engagement. What if there was a simple yet powerful solution to make sure you never miss a critical moment or detail again? That’s where HDR USB cameras come in, offering a leap forward in visual clarity that enhances surveillance and digital signage performance.

The Problem: Low-Quality Footage and Unclear Displays

Low-light conditions and inconsistent lighting can significantly hinder the performance of surveillance systems and digital signage, leading to blurry or pixelated images. For surveillance, this can result in missed criminal activity, misidentification of suspects, or the inability to monitor key areas in detail. For digital signage, poor image quality reduces customer engagement and may negatively affect your brand's perception.

This is particularly true for industries relying heavily on clear and accurate visual information, such as security, retail, healthcare, and public spaces. Surveillance systems in parking lots, entrances, or warehouses are often positioned in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Similarly, digital signage in shopping malls or airports must display content that is visible in a wide range of lighting environments—whether it’s under bright lights or dim conditions.

So, how do you overcome these challenges without investing in an entirely new, complex system? The solution lies in the technology of HDR USB cameras.

What Is HDR and How Does It Improve Surveillance and Digital Signage?

High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology captures a greater range of light and dark areas in an image. Unlike standard cameras, which may struggle with overexposed bright spots and underexposed shadows, HDR cameras provide superior contrast and detail across the entire image. This results in more balanced, realistic footage or display content, even in difficult lighting conditions.

For surveillance, HDR USB cameras are invaluable in settings where both bright and dark elements are present in a single scene. For example, cameras placed near windows or outdoor areas with fluctuating lighting can capture clear, detailed footage, without overexposed highlights or darkened shadows. Whether it’s monitoring a parking lot under streetlights or a darkened hallway, HDR cameras ensure that every detail is visible.

In the context of digital signage, HDR improves the visibility of content, even in environments with bright ambient light. Whether you’re displaying advertisements, news, or interactive content, HDR ensures that the colors pop and the text remains sharp, regardless of the surrounding lighting conditions.

The Advantages of HDR USB Cameras for Surveillance Systems

Enhanced Detail in Challenging Lighting Conditions

Surveillance cameras often struggle to deliver clear images in low-light situations or environments with uneven lighting. Traditional cameras may produce grainy or washed-out images that make it difficult to identify people or objects. HDR USB cameras, on the other hand, excel in such conditions by capturing multiple exposures of a scene and merging them into a single, detailed image. This allows security teams to identify critical details even when lighting varies, such as the faces of individuals entering a building or the license plates of vehicles in motion.

Reduced Need for Additional Lighting

One of the common challenges in surveillance is the need for additional artificial lighting to improve image quality. However, adding extra lights can be expensive, lead to increased energy consumption, and even draw unwanted attention. HDR USB cameras minimize the need for extra lighting, as their ability to balance shadows and highlights creates clearer images in naturally low-light settings. This can save both time and money while maintaining the effectiveness of your security systems.

Consistent Quality Across Different Environments

Security cameras are often deployed in a range of environments, from well-lit offices to dark alleys or parking structures. In each setting, lighting can fluctuate throughout the day, affecting the quality of footage. With HDR technology, USB cameras can adapt to these changing lighting conditions automatically, ensuring consistent quality and reducing the need for manual adjustments or additional camera setups.

Easy Integration with Existing Systems

One of the main benefits of HDR USB cameras is their ease of integration into existing surveillance systems. These cameras typically offer plug-and-play USB connectivity, meaning you can quickly add them to your current setup without needing to overhaul your entire infrastructure. This makes HDR USB cameras a cost-effective upgrade for businesses looking to enhance their surveillance without significant disruptions to their operations.

Why Digital Signage Benefits from HDR USB Cameras

Clearer, Sharper Images for Consumer Engagement

Whether you’re using digital signage in a retail store, a public transportation terminal, or an event space, visual clarity is key to keeping viewers engaged. Poor-quality displays can cause potential customers to miss important information or lose interest entirely. HDR USB cameras bring vibrant colors, crisp text, and clear imagery to your displays, ensuring that your content stands out even in challenging lighting conditions.

Better Performance in High-Contrast Environments

Digital signage often faces varying lighting conditions, from bright sunlight streaming through windows to the dim lighting in a theater or convention hall. Without HDR, digital displays can appear washed out, with some parts of the image too bright and others too dark. HDR technology ensures that content is clearly visible no matter the surrounding light, improving the visibility and impact of your signage.

More Accurate Color Representation

HDR enhances the color depth and accuracy of images, ensuring that digital signage content is as vibrant and true-to-life as possible. Whether you’re showcasing a brand’s logo, displaying an advertisement, or delivering informational content, the rich, accurate colors made possible by HDR USB cameras create a visually stunning experience for viewers.

Cost-Effective Display Upgrade

Many businesses rely on existing digital signage infrastructure, and replacing all of the screens with higher-end models can be a costly endeavor. Instead, upgrading to HDR USB cameras allows you to significantly improve the image quality without the need for full replacements. This offers a more budget-friendly way to enhance the performance of your digital signage.

Real-World Applications of HDR USB Cameras

Retail: Enhance Customer Engagement Retailers can use HDR USB cameras in their digital signage systems to deliver high-quality, vibrant ads that attract attention and drive sales. In surveillance, HDR technology helps protect stores from theft and vandalism, providing detailed footage even in dimly lit areas.

Healthcare: Improve Monitoring and Patient Care In healthcare settings, HDR USB cameras provide clear, detailed footage of patient areas, even in low-light conditions, helping medical professionals monitor critical areas with precision. Digital signage in hospitals and clinics can also benefit from HDR, ensuring that important messages are easily readable by patients and visitors.

Public Spaces: Improve Safety and Information Accessibility Whether it’s in airports, train stations, or city surveillance systems, HDR USB cameras can improve safety and security by providing clear, detailed footage of key areas. Digital signage can relay information to large crowds effectively, ensuring messages are visible no matter the lighting conditions.

Elevate Your Surveillance and Digital Signage with HDR USB Cameras

When it comes to surveillance and digital signage, the quality of your visual content directly impacts safety, customer engagement, and the overall effectiveness of your operations. By incorporating HDR USB cameras into your systems, you can achieve enhanced visual clarity, improved security, and more impactful displays. This cost-effective upgrade empowers you to make sure that no detail goes unnoticed and every message is delivered with clarity—whether you're keeping an eye on security or engaging customers with dynamic signage.

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DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo (Single Battery)

FPV Flight Experience DJI Goggles 3 has HD micro-OLED displays and low video latency. It also has Real View PiP, for awareness without removing the goggles.

Easy ACRO RC Motion 3 allows for stunning flying acrobatics simply with one push, including front/back flips, sideways rolls and 180° drifts.

Tight Shots in Super-Wide 4K Capture the thrill of flight with crisp 4K/60fps HDR video. [1] Enjoy a 155° ultra-wide-angle FOV that enhances low-altitude, high-speed flying.

1/1.3-inch Image Sensor The upgraded 1/1.3-inch image sensor [2] expands the dynamic range, handling low-light more effectively to get great footage.

Built-in Propeller Guard Avata 2 combines the body and propeller guard, for more protection. Lighter and more agile, [2] it can showcase your skills.

Turtle Mode Avata 2 can flip itself into takeoff position with Turtle mode, so you can get airborne again.

Binocular Fisheye Visual Positioning Binocular fisheye sensors enable downward and backward visual positioning for low-altitude and indoor flights, enhancing stability and safety.

One-Tap Sky VFX With the LightCut app, you can add Sky VFX, or use One-Tap Edit and a range of templates in the post to easily create engaging aerial footage.

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Learn How to Batch Photo Edit in Lightroom

Simplify your workflow with batch photo edit techniques, allowing you to efficiently apply consistent enhancements across multiple images in just a few clicks.Is retouching photos a never ending chore for you? Yes, every photographer from high end studios in NYC to images captured on the immaculate landscapes of The Himalayas knows what I am talking about. However, if you could do something to speed up your workflow and free some time for shooting or creating what would it be?

Step into the World of Batch Editing with Powerhouse:

Lightroom previously was a photographer's best friend and it includes a hidden feature batch photo editing. This saves you hours upon hours of time and turns your editing sessions into an efficient powerhouse…And this game-changing feature is the Batch Edit Function!

Benefits of Batch Editing:

Superhero of saving time: No more editing one by one. Batch editing allows you to defeat huge photo collections in no longer than a few minutes.

Look and Feel Chief: Maintain consistency across your entire entity. Batch editing ensures that you can apply a consistent style across all your photos.

Workflow Wizard: Edit faster by grouping similar images for editing at the same time. Get back your editing mojo with a tidy workflow.

How to Process Images in Batch Mode

Lightroom allows you to edit in bulk like a champion. This is your roadmap to unlocking that potential:

Import Your Photos — Simply import your files like you always do into Lightroom.

Gather Your Batch Editing Team: Choose several photographs to edit together. Windows: hold down the Ctrl key or Macs: by holding down Command, you can select multiple photos, or also click on individual images using their checkbox ingredients.

Once you've learned the basics, master the Develop Module - It's where all the magic begins. Tweak exposure, white balance and contrast. Changes made to be photos are global across all chosen media of this type.

Local Adjustments (Optional): Although not technically 'batch editing', using the Adjustment Brush and Gradient Tools where appropriate. You can also copy and paste the adjustments to similar types of photos in your batch for a consistent look.

Export Your Masterpieces: When your edits are perfect, export images to your desired file format and placement. Share them with the world!

In Depth – Advanced Techniques

This leads to the next level of batch editing in Lightroom which has this additional tools —

Customizable Power: Design custom presets to replicate your style at the press of a button. Batch Editing Meets Creativity

AI via Quick Develop: This module allows for basic edits, one at a time or in batch to photos you took very closely together – like those taken as part of an HDR bracket.

Copy/Paste Edit Magic: Copy the edits from one image that has been perfectly adjusted and paste it onto others within your batch to maintain consistency amongst all of them.

Tips for Batch Editing Efficiently

Organized: Here I grouped photos together so that when it was time for batch editing, they were all in one place. That way, you can save time on your editing.

Begin with the fundamentals: Lightroom global edits Before hopping right into localized changes you have to concentrate on your basic worldwide adjustments like exposure and white stability.

Remember batch editing can save time, but review and refine. Check Your Edits and Touch Up Individual Photos For a Professional Look

Conclusion:

Batch editing with Lightroom is a total game-changer around the world, and that of course includes photographers like you. So, while you should take advantage of that fact as best you can to save time and speed up your workflow delivering high-quality results for every single image.

For any kind of professional touch UK Clipping path is here. We provide Multiple Clipping path service, ecommerce photo editing service, professional photo retouching service, jewelry retouching service and many more. Want top-notch service at an affordable price? Try us for free and see the difference.

[govindhtech]

NVIDIA Overlay Powerful Game & App Features In NVIDIA App

NVIDIA apps are fast and responsive. Compared to GeForce Experience, it downloads in half the time, has a modernized user interface that is 50% more responsive, and has many functions through sub-sections that are easy to navigate. In this article, we will discuss those functions thoroughly.

NVIDIA Overlay: Powerful Game & App Features

How to open NVIDIA overlay?

Alt+Z or the top right button of the NVIDIA app window opens the redesigned NVIDIA Overlay.

Complete video, screenshot, filter, and overlay capabilities are available in the new panel. To activate a feature without the NVIDIA Overlay, use the hotkeys.Image credit to NVIDIA

Pressing the button or Alt+F9 hotkey records your game, app, or desktop until you press it again. This is ideal for capturing competitive online games, YouTube walkthroughs and tutorials, and in-progress work, which can be sped up in post to produce a timelapse of a new piece of art.

These and other recordings can be captured at 4K 120 FPS or 8K 60 FPS utilizing the sophisticated AV1 codec in NVIDIA app. AV1 uses eighth-generation NVIDIA Encoders (NVENC) on GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards and laptop GPUs to encode 40% faster and produce higher-quality videos without using more disk space.

By decreasing blocky artifacts, color banding, and maintaining detail in fast-motion scenes even with high PC settings and DLSS 3 Frame Generation AV1 improves the fidelity of Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.

For gamers who record every multiplayer match and single-player walkthrough, disk space savings are significant. Saving footage to the same drive as the game can reduce Input/Output stutters and speed up loading. Click the Settings cog at the top of the Alt+Z NVIDIA Overlay panel and select “Video capture” to enable AV1.

Working or playing, Instant Replay records continuously. Instant Replay saves clips of amazing kills and amusing moments without capturing a multiplayer battle. Press Alt+Shift+F10 when anything spectacular happens. Set these lengths with the Settings cog.

Microphone lets you record videos or establish a push-to-talk key.

Press Alt+F1 to take SDR and HDR screenshots from any game.

Photo Mode lets you use strong screenshot tools in supported games with Alt+F2. Adjust camera angles, game appearance, and more.

In supported games, Highlights remembers crucial moments automatically.

The Settings cog at the top of the NVIDIA Overlay panel gives many customization possibilities. Change hotkeys, notifications, video sound sources, multi-track audio to record your mic input separately, video recording quality, disk space restriction, and file location.

After taking your first screenshot or video, the Alt+Z NVIDIA Overlay displays the Gallery. A click sorts your captures by game, and further options let you view only screens or movies. Click to view or enlarge your disk drive files for sharing or uploading.

Real-time post-processing filters let you customize your favorite games’ visuals. This functionality, which now incorporates AI-powered filters accelerated by Tensor Cores on GeForce RTX GPUs, is supported by over 1,200 titles.

The RTX HDR filter smoothly adds HDR to games without HDR support. Only 12 of the top 50 GeForce games support HDR. However, the RTX HDR filter lets you use your HDR-compatible monitor with hundreds of SDR games on DX12, DX11, DX9, and Vulkan, improving your experience.

The renowned Digital Vibrance from the NVIDIA Control Panel is enhanced by the AI-powered Freestyle filter RTX Dynamic Vibrance. RTX Dynamic Vibrance tweaks visual clarity per app, making it easy to customize gaming settings. Perfect balancing reduces color crushing, retaining image quality and immersion.

Finally, the Statistics panel lets users customize the overlay’s performance and system data, including software and system details, position, color, size, and more.

Driver Downloads & Info At A Glance

GeForce Game Ready Drivers and NVIDIA Studio Drivers give developers and players the best possible experience with their favorite games and apps. It has added bullet points to its Drivers page to show what’s new and better and which games are supported.

To download and install the latest driver, click “Download” or activate automatic downloads in Settings → Drivers. Simply click “Install” to upgrade your PC or laptop in seconds.

The NVIDIA app displays all driver-related news on a single carousel, so you may read about game announcements or driver technology. Click the dropdown in the top right corner to choose between Studio Ready Drivers and Game Ready Drivers.

You can revert to an NVIDIA app-installed driver below our latest drivers. Click the three dots, then “Reinstall”.

Graphics: One Stop for Driver and Setting Options

Millions of players have used GeForce Experience’s Optimal Playable Settings (OPS) to immediately optimize game settings for image quality and performance. Before OPS was created over a decade ago, configuring a game with dozens of settings and detail levels stopped people from playing at smooth frame rates or required extensive tuning.

Clicking “Optimize” auto-configured all game settings and enabled NVIDIA technologies like DLSS and Reflex.

The NVIDIA Control Panel’s “Manage 3D Settings” lets users enable and disable driver-level functionality globally or per-game.

The dynamic “Graphics” tab in the NVIDIA app conveniently displays all these choices.

Configure your resolution and screen parameters at the top, then select “Optimize” to instantly apply its recommended settings for your machine. Adjust the Performance and Quality slider below to customize the settings before pressing “Optimize”. The list of In-Game Settings below the Optimize panel shows real-time changes.

Scroll down to Driver Settings. These NVIDIA Control Panel 3D Settings options are still valid for recent titles. Users who want to alter older games and apps can use NVIDIA Profile Inspector to access outdated settings.

Highlighting a setting adds a “i” icon that shows a feature explanation.

Clicking a setting opens its configuration choices and details, making it easy to customize everything.

Click the “Global Settings” tab at the top of the page to alter these variables per-game and app or for all games and apps.

Click the icon below to arrange the Graphics tab alphabetically and reveal only certain programs.

You may manually add applications, reset settings, and guide the NVIDIA app to new folders to search for programs using the three dots on the right.

This different set of three dots on the far right of the screen, just above the Optimize button, lets you conceal an application from the list and navigate to its computer folder. Select “Hidden” from the Sort and Filter option and click “Done” to unhide an application. Unhide hidden apps using the rightmost three dots.

System: Performance Tuning, Display Settings & More

Display, video, and GPU choices are all in the system tab, which has an upgraded performance tuner to safely raise frame rates.

Displays have G-SYNC, resolution, refresh rate, and orientation adjustments. The NVIDIA Control Panel’s Surround, custom resolution, and multi-monitor settings will be added to future app versions. Configure them using the NVIDIA Control Panel for now.

Video has new AI-powered capabilities to improve streaming and local videos.

When viewed in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or the VLC media player RTX branch, RTX Video HDR immediately converts SDR videos to HDR using AI. To enhance your GeForce RTX PC or laptop experience, use your display’s HDR capabilities to display even more vibrant colors.

AI-powered RTX Video Super Resolution (VSR) removes compression artifacts and sharpens edges while upscaling streaming video on all GeForce RTX GPUs.

The NVIDIA app’s System > Video page lets you activate these options and see if they’re active when watching video or streaming. Status indications will make it easier to tell if our AI-powered RTX Video capabilities are enhancing content in a future NVIDIA app release.

The Performance tab offers one-click GPU settings to maximize GPU performance. The NVIDIA program will test your GPU for 10–20 minutes. Let your system idle or results may be altered.

After completion, it will perform a safe overclock that won’t void your warranty or damage your graphics card. The automatic GPU tuner will keep your tuning profile optimized with periodic checkup checks.

Power users can tweak voltage, power, temperature, and fan speed targets to change its complex tuning algorithms. This is useful if you want fans to spin at 70% or enhance performance without exceeding a temperature threshold.

My Rig displays critical hardware information, and selecting “View Rig Details” copies details to the clipboard for easy system sharing.

Redeem Game/App Rewards

Rewards for NVIDIA app users include in-game content, GeForce NOW premium membership incentives, and more. Launch the NVIDIA app and visit the Redeem page to see NVIDIA’s latest incentives, like its THRONE AND LIBERTY GeForce Bundle with 200 Ornate Coins and a PC-exclusive Mischievous Youngster Gneiss Amitoi.

GeForce PC and laptop users must login with an NVIDIA account, which may be made using Google, Discord, or an email address, to claim prizes. All other NVIDIA app features are password-free.

Settings, Notifications, and More

Its Settings panel lets you change NVIDIA app language, toggle driver update and reward notifications, and access critical options quickly.

On the About tab, you can join early access betas to trial new features and view its privacy, license, and terms of use.

You can also tick “Configuration, performance, and usage data” and “Error and crash data”. It can reproduce, diagnose, and fix issues faster and enhance future updates using this information.

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