Contents
This technical brief provides detailed information on the following topics, related to all EPSON digital cameras:
Image quality
Ease of Use
Versatility
▼
Megapixel CCD sensors
▼
HyPict™ Image Enhancement Technology
▼
Multiple resolution modes
▼
EPSON ClearOptics Glass Lens
▼
Image storage
▼
Color LCD monitor
▼
Full automatic to manual controls
▼
File uploads and video output
▼
Voice recording
▼
Picture modes
▼
PRINT Image Matching™ technology
Image Quality—Megapixel CCD sensors
EPSON digital cameras include a one megapixel, two megapixel, or three megapixel CCD sensor, which
determines the resolution of the images. Each megapixel contains one million pixels.
A CCD is made up of an array of photosensors (CCD elements or
photosites) that are able to record a unique image detail. Each
photosensor (or CCD element) creates an electrical charge
proportional to the amount of light it receives and sends the charge to
an A/D (Analog to Digital) converter inside the camera.
Higher resolution produces greater detail
Because a higher resolution image contains more detail, you can:
▲▲
Enlarge an image without losing a significant amount of detail.
Print an image to a high resolution output device (such as an
EPSON Stylus ink jet printer or a printing press)—many
industry analysts believe that the quality of images captured
with two megapixel digital cameras is good enough to replace
traditional film-based cameras.
The key differences between a one megapixel, two megapixel, and three megapixel CCD sensor are:
Image resolution
One Megapixel CCDKey Differences
1152 x 864 pixels (1.09
Two Megapixel CCD
Three Megapixel CCD
1600 x 1200 pixels 2048 x 1536 pixels
million pixels CCD)
1280 x 960 pixels (1.25
million pixels CCD)
Ideal use for images
with low compression
Up to 5 x 7 inch
enlargements
Up to 8 x 10 inch
enlargements
Up to 11 x 14 inch
enlargements
One, two, and three megapixel cameras produce excellent 4 x 6-inch and 5x7-inch prints. The key
difference lies in the quality of the image enlargements.
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trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Brief—Digital cameras Page 2
Image Quality—HyPict™ Image Enhancement Technology
Many digital cameras use an interpolation method to produce images with higher resolution than the camera's
CCD can capture. EPSON HyPict image enhancement technology uses an exclusive interpolation method.
EPSON HyPict image enhancement technology produces more
accurate results because it applies image enhancement before
JPEG compression.
▲▲▲
The EPSON HyPict image enhancement technology uses
an in-camera processing system to interpolate an image
using full image data.
After the image is interpolated, the camera then converts
it to JPEG file format.
Other image enhancement technologies convert to JPEG
file format before enhancement. Since JPEG conversion
removes image data, these technologies do not use full
image data for the interpolation, resulting in less accurate
images.
EPSON HyPict image enhancement technology
performs all of these steps in the camera:
1. Captures image
2. Enhances and interpolates image
3. Applies JPEG compression
Image quality—Resolution modes
EPSON digital cameras allows you to select different image quality settings. (Not all of these settings are available
for each model.)
The following chart explains the differences between the image quality settings:
Fine Standard
High compression High compression
Pictures include ample
detail and are suitable
for most applications,
including 4 x 6-inch
prints.
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4 x 6 inches
5 x 7 inches
8 x 10 inches
Pictures include less
detail and fewer
number of pixels.
Suitable for on-screen
display.
➤
World Wide Web Browser
File
Open Preferences
➤
C L O C K S
A n ti q u e
S p e c i a l s
➤
Clocks
Tables
Cabinets
Rockers
➤
Sideboards
➤
None
None
None
Compression level
Description
Enlargement sizes:
One megapixel
CCD camera
Two megapixel
CCD camera
Three megapixel
CCD camera
HyPict™Key Differences
Interpolated
Pictures include the
most detail and are
ideal for
enlargements.
Up to 8 x 10 inches
Up to 11 x 14 inches
Up to 12 x 17 inches
Super Fine
Low compression
Pictures include great
detail because less
image detail is
removed through
compression.
Fall Colors!
Up to 5 x 7 inches
Up to 8 x 10 inches
Up to 11 x 14 inches
Image file size
Largest file size
Large file size
Moderate file size Smallest file size
Additionally, some EPSON digital cameras include a TIFF Uncompressed image quality setting, which does not
remove any image data through compression.
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Brief—Digital cameras Page 3
Image Quality—EPSON ClearOptics™ glass lens
EPSON digital cameras all use an EPSON ClearOptics glass lens, but the specific type of lens differs by camera
model. For example, the lens on the low-end model may include an aspherical glass lens with five elements in
four groups, while the high-end model may include eight
elements in seven group construction using two aspherical
lenses. The greater number of elements and groups, the
higher the quality of the lens.
EPSON ClearOptics glass lenses offer the following benefits:
▲▲
Overall sharper detail in the image
Sharp center and edge detail; digital cameras
with lesser quality lenses tend to capture images
with good center detail, but with "fuzzy" edges.
Sharp edge
detail
Sharp center
detail
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Brief—Digital cameras Page 4
Ease of Use—Image storage
EPSON digital cameras store all use CompactFlash cards for image storage, although some of EPSON's cameras
also have internal memory for images.
1. The benefits of CompactFlash memory cards are:
▲▲▲▲▲
Small size and easy insertion and removal
Low power consumption with the use of Flash
technology
High reliability with no moving parts and the ability to
withstand a shock rating of 2,000 Gs (equivalent to a ten
foot drop)
Available in larger capacities than SmartMedia cards,
which is important for the larger file size of highresolution images.
Currently CompactFlash cards are available in capacities
ranging from 8MB to 192MB.
2. Images can be copied to your computer directly from a CompactFlash
card using one of the following methods:
▲▲ ▲
Optional PCMCIA adapter—Allows the card to be used in any
PCMCIA Type II slot (the ideal transfer method for a notebook
computer)
Optional CompactFlash card reader—Allows your computer to
access the CompactFlash card like a removable disk drive
(Available from Lexar Media or San Disk in parallel and USB
configurations)
Optional IOMEGA Clik!™ digital camera drive—Allows you to download CompactFlash or SmartMedia
cards to a Clik! disk, then transfer images from the Clik! disk to your PC using the desktop docking station.
There are different types and sizes of
CompactFlash cards. Be sure to check
which type each EPSON camera requires.
PCMCIA Adapter
CompactFlash card
Ease of Use—Color LCD monitor
EPSON digital cameras allows you to take pictures using the viewfinder or the color LCD. Using the LCD gives
you the following advantages:
▲▲ ▲ ▲
Fast real-time preview or playback of images
Ability to change camera settings by using the LCD's menu
options
Ability to choose additional picture modes such as digital
zoom, panoramic, and macro
Some EPSON digital cameras have a Solar Assist LCD which
allows you to power the LCD by direct sunlight. This feature
has two benefits:
It allows you to view the LCD when using it in direct sunlight
to take pictures outdoors
▲
It conserves battery power
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Brief—Digital cameras Page 6
Versatility—Automatic to manual controls
Many EPSON digital cameras have three operating modes that allow you progressive control over the camera's
advanced features.
▲▲▲
Full Auto mode: Ideal for novice users because the camera chooses most settings
Program mode: Allows moderate control over camera functions and includes programmed subject settings
Manual mode: Ideal for advanced users who wish to have full control over advanced features
The following features are available within each mode:
Full Auto
▼
Digital Zoom
▼
Picture Mode: Normal, Macro,
or Panoramic
* All other camera functions
are controlled automatically
Program
▼
Digital Zoom
▼
Picture Mode: Normal, Macro,
or Panoramic
▼
Exposure Adjustment
▼
Sensitivity: Standard, High, or
Super High
▼
Programmed Subject Settings—
automatically assigns the
optimum exposure, metering
method, and sensitivity for your
selected subject:
❍
Normal—for most photos; auto
exposure, matrix metering
❍
Sports—for action photos; high
shutter speed, automatic
sensitivity, and matrix metering
❍
Portrait—for portraits; spot
metering, aperture field
❍
Landscape—for scenery; matrix
metering, aperture
Manual
▼
Digital Zoom
▼
Picture Mode: Normal, Macro,
or Panoramic
▼
Exposure Adjustment
▼
Manual exposure
▼
Sensitivity: Standard, High, or
Super High
▼
Metering:
❍
Spot—Allows you to choose a
point that the camera samples
to determine exposure
Matrix—Camera automatically
❍
measures available light and
determines correct exposure
▼
Manual focus
Versatility—File upload and video output
Most EPSON digital cameras allow you to upload presentations, images, and programs to the camera and then
connect the camera directly to a video output device, such as a television, VCR or multimedia projector.
1. Upload—Allows you to upload programs to the camera, as well as to convert an image or presentation to the
EPSON Photo file format and upload it to the camera.
2. Output—The video output capability supports NTSC, allowing you to
display images stored in the camera using the slide show feature.
Using the software bundled with the camera, you can also:
▲▲
Convert any JPEG or BMP image or presentation to EPSON
Photo file format (includes a screen capture function)
Upload these files to the camera's CompactFlash card
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Brief—Digital cameras Page 5
Versatility—Voice recording
Several EPSON digital cameras have built-in microphones which allow you to record a voice message for each
image, right on the camera. Some cameras also have a built-in speaker so you can also listen to the message
right on the camera.
1. To record a message—You can record a message immediately after shooting a photo, or, in some cases, add
it later while the image is still in the camera. Recordings are saved with the image in .WAV format.
Although you can add and edit audio messages using the Image Expert software to any image, the
advantages of being able to capture audio right on the camera are:
▲▲ ▲
You can capture not only voice but background noise or music at an event (that you would not be able to
add later).
You can add a message to a picture right after you take it , so that you won't have to try to remember later
how you wanted to identify it.
2.
To playback a message
—You can play back audio messages attached to an image using the bundled Sierra
Imaging Image Expert™ software.
When you open an image that has audio attached to it (indicated by a musical note icon), the
audio clip automatically plays.
Audio clip
▲
Sierra Imaging Image Expert software also includes audio controls that allow you to:
Play the audio message
Pause the audio message
Stop play of the audio message
Record a new message or additional audio
Edit the audio message: Cut, copy, paste, or
delete parts of the message (such as trimming
unwanted audio from the beginning or end)
3. To add an image and a message—You can add an image and its attached audio file directly into a
document, presentation, or web page. Some applications allow you to import the files together, while others
require you to import them separately.
4. To save an image and a message—Using Sierra Imaging Image Expert software, Windows users can use the
Save to Floppy command to create a diskette or ZIP disk containing the selected image files, their
corresponding .WAV audio files, and the Image Expert slide show player. The slide show player will scroll
through each image and play the attached audio message.
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Brief—Digital cameras Page 7
Versatility—Picture modes
EPSON digital cameras offer a variety of pictures modes, and the supported modes vary by camera.
1. Digital Zoom—Many EPSON cameras have a 2X digital zoom
setting that allows you to zoom in on objects from a distance.
The key differences between an optical zoom and a
digital zoom are:
▲▲
Digital zoom crops and magnifies the image to "enlarge"
it, so it is best to print these images in a smaller size to
ensure image quality.
Optical zoom uses a lens system to magnify image with
no loss of image quality.
Many EPSON cameras have a 3X optical zoom lens that can be combined with the 2X digital zoom for a
maximum 6X zoom.
2. Quick shot—This picture mode saves up to 10 standard, fine, or super fine images in temporary storage
while you keep taking pictures. The camera then saves the images to the CompactFlash card when you're
done. Using this picture mode, you can take pictures without waiting for the camera to process each one
before allowing you to take another.
Normal mode 2x Digital Zoom
3. Interval shooting—This picture mode allows you to
capture scenes that change over time, such as a sunset.
With this time lapse feature, you can select time intervals
from 10 seconds to 24 hours.
4. Continuous shoot—This picture mode captures
several standard, fine, or super fine images per
second, up to as many as 10 pictures per
second. It is ideal for capturing progressive
motion for web animation.
5. Video clip recording—This picture mode captures 25 second video clips with audio at 15 frames per
®
second (320 x 240 resolution). Clips play back in QuickTime
.
6. Stitching—This picture mode captures a series of images that you can stitch together into a single, large
panorama.
7. Macro—This picture mode captures close-up pictures without using
an add-on lens. Many EPSON digital cameras support a close-up
focus range of 8 inches, and some support a range of 2.36 inches.
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Versatility—PRINT Image Matching™ Technology
PRINT Image Matching is a revolutionary technology that ensures digital cameras and printers work together to
produce photographs that print truer-to-life than ever before.
Several leading digital camera manufacturers* have partnered with Epson to incorporate PRINT Image
Matching technology in their upcoming digital camera models. The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX is the first
printer (future printers will have this feature, and many current models will have updated drivers available to
support it) and the EPSON PhotoPC 3100Z is the first EPSON digital camera to incorporate this technology.
PRINT Image Matching offers a solution to several problems when printing digital images:
Because software programs set their own unique print commands, it has been difficult to get accurate
prints on a consistent basis when printing digital camera images.
Although digital cameras can capture images in a wider color space, data files are optimized for the
limited computer monitor space.
With PRINT Image Matching, precise print quality instructions and color space data is embedded in the digital
camera file, resulting in a printed image that accurately reflects the image captured through the camera lens.
Additionally, PRINT Image Matching gives the photographer greater control over image consistency. The digital
camera manufacturer can set critical image specific parameters for printing, such as:
▲
Gamma level
▲▲▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
Contrast
Sharpness
Brightness
Saturation
Shadow point
Highlight point
Color space
Color balance
A PRINT Image Matching-compatible printer, such as the EPSON Stylus
Photo 785EPX will use this information when printing the image to
deliver new levels of image consistency and unsurpassed photo quality.
* Digital camera manufacturers who have teamed with Epson are: Casio Computer Co. Ltd., Konica Corporation, Kyocera Corporation,
Minolta Co. Ltd., Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., Ricoh Company Ltd., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation.
EPSON Sales Training 5/01
EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Print Image Matching is a
trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PhotoPC is a registered trademark of Epson
America, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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