Digital images are created using devices that convert light into digital data, such as electronic cameras, scanners, or other imaging devices.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Electronic Cameras: These devices use an image sensor, often a CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor), to capture light. The sensor is made up of many tiny light-sensitive pixels. When light strikes these pixels, they generate an electrical charge proportional to the intensity of the light. This charge is then converted into a digital value, which represents the color and brightness of that particular point in the image. These digital values are stored as a grid of pixels, forming the digital image.
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Scanners: Scanners work by shining a light onto a physical object (like a photograph or document) and then using light sensors to measure the reflected light. These sensors convert the light into electrical signals, which are then digitized and processed to create a digital image of the original object. The process is similar to how a digital camera works, but instead of capturing a live scene, it captures a static image placed on the scanner bed.
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Other Imaging Devices: This category encompasses a range of specialized equipment, including medical imaging devices (like MRI and CT scanners) and scientific imaging tools. These devices often use different types of radiation (e.g., X-rays, radio waves) to create images, but the fundamental principle is the same: a sensor detects the radiation, converts it into electrical signals, and then digitizes those signals to form an image.
In all cases, the resulting digital image is a grid of pixels, each with a specific color and brightness value. These values are typically stored in a digital image file format like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF.
