Remove Red-Eye And Make Other Adjustments Right In Your Camera
By Dikla Kadosh
IN-camera image
processing is the newest leap forward in digital photography.
If you want to go straight from shooting to output, being able
to quickly remove red-eye or correct other elements in a photo
within the camera is very convenient. Another advantage is that
the camera has access to all of the data recorded when the image
is taken. Software used on the computer is processing information
that already has been compressed and, therefore, is less complete.
Red-eye, the result
of the flash reflecting off the retina of the eye, is one of
the most common adjustments. Most cameras, digital and film,
have a red-eye reduction mode in which several flashes go off,
reducing the size of the pupil and minimizing the red-eye effect.
This method isn’t always effective and requires subjects
to remain still through all the flashes, something that isn’t
always easy or possible.
The Nikon Coolpix 4200 and Coolpix 5200 offer in-camera red-eye
removal that’s quick and effortless. When set to the Red-Eye
Reduction mode, the camera first fires a series of flashes to
decrease red-eye. Within seconds of taking the shot, the camera
analyzes the image for the specific red that tends to appear
on eyes, which is a constant color regardless of race, age,
eye color or sex. If red-eye is detected, it’s removed
and replaced with the actual eye color, arrived at through a
complex set of algorithms and image-analysis technology.
Hewlett-Packard has implemented this feature in its Photo-smart
digital cameras. The algorithm HP patented identifies the red
areas in the photo and uses various criteria to differentiate
between reds that are supposed to be in the picture and red-eye.
The areas identified as red-eye are darkened to remove the color
and replaced by a more natural color.
Before these changes are saved as the final image, a preview
is shown on the LCD screen so you can approve the corrections.
The areas that the camera identified as needing correction are
highlighted. If the algorithm failed in some way—for instance,
if it highlighted an area that should be red—the changes
can be rejected. The feature isn’t automatic and only can
be accessed by the photographer in playback mode after the image
is taken.
HP also has developed other in-camera processing features. For
instance, Adaptive Lighting technology adjusts the lighting
in an image to better match what we see with our eyes, bringing
out the details in shadows while maintaining subtle contrasts.
In-Camera Panorama Preview assists in creating better panoramas
and allows you to view the assembled picture on the LCD screen
and reshoot if necessary.
Processing images in the computer always will have its benefits,
but having the ability to perform some functions right on the
spot in-camera gives you a variety of new options—and more
options mean better and often faster results.
TRICKS OF THE
TRADE
Red-eye is caused
by a combination of flash and a wide-open pupil. While
software can automatically fix it, you can do the repair
yourself by zooming in on the eyes and selecting the red
area; then simply replace the red with black. The black
will look natural because it looks like the pupil. Be
sure not to remove the white catchlight, though, or the
eyes will look lifeless.
