|
ECM breaks a photographic law
During reproduction utilizing the ECM Process (Electronic
Contrast Modulation) developed by Scanatron photographic films are automatically
corrected and standardized; loss-free, time and cost saving.
The ECM process optimizes the image quality of all black/white and color
material as well as of digital imaging systems.
 In
contrast to conventional systems with incandescent or halogen lamps ECM utilizes
a high sensitivity cathode ray tube (CRT) as a light source. This generates a
micro light spot, which transfers the original film to be reproduced onto a
photographic copy medium. A high-sensitivity photomultiplier electronically
controls the intensity of the light spot in relation to the original’s density, and accordingly also the partial
exposure. Dark areas will be
automatically exposed more, light ones less intensely. Thereby a well balanced
global and detail contrast is achieved across all portions of the image. Since
this does not result in any loss of information, ECM processed reproduction
images enable distinct and precise interpretation. A photographic law has been
broken!
 The
transfer plot indicates why image improvements can be achieved even in smallest
image details: The partial exposure made possible by ECM compresses the full
density range of the original into the linear range of the photographic copy
medium. The exposure transfer into the optimum density range allows for
additional increase of detail contrasts.
The densities are always corrected in reference to a medium greyscale value - a
further significant advantage of Scanatron’s ECM process! This guarantees a
uniformly constant exposure time across all modulation levels. Also this results
in a virtual exposure automation feature, which further allows also for fully
automatic processing of originals.
ECM is significant for imaging
Every conventional photographic reproduction results in a
loss of information of 10...20%. Many times the wide density range of the
original can not be fully transferred by the conventional method. The losses
will increase continually with every further processing step. Conventional
techniques like post-exposure, wavering or masking are rarely yielding
satisfying results, and in addition are time and cost intensive. Digital
post-processing is useless in so far as the losses result already during
reproduction (scanning). Missing information can, alas, not be post-processed!
The ECM Process by Scanatron is the solution for loss-free, standardized and
high quality reproduction.
How you can use ECM?
Digitizing and
reproducing of radiographs:
 Due
to bilateral emulsion coating X-ray films attain density ranges up to 6.0D.
Photographic media like microfilm, duplicating film, and paper attain however
only a density range of between 1.0D and max. 3.0D. In a conventional
reproduction much information outside the density range of the photographic copy
medium is being lost. Only by compressing the original by ECM optimum transfer
to the copy medium will be realized.
Aerial imaging:
 In
aerial imaging the film has to deal with extreme lighting conditions; snow
covered mountains alongside shady valleys, forest areas by a glittering sand
beach, and also the incident angle of sunlight. The ECM Process enables precise
image evaluation from well interpretable reproductions with well balanced global
and detail contrast.
Microscopy:
 Microscope
images have a very wide range of density; part of the information is very bright, another one quite
dark. Thanks to ECM all information for scientific
evaluation can be displayed in one single picture.
Graphic
industry, archives and museums:
 For
high quality publications during the print preparation stage the pictures are
processed by ECM. - Many museums store historic glass negatives subject to the
ravages of time. In order to preserve these valuable pictures for posterity the
glass plates are copied loss-free by ECM onto film.
Digital image processing:
Of course modern digital image processing enables the most
absurd manipulations of pictures. In digital devices the film has merely been
replaced by a silicon chip. But it stands as before: Loss of information during
reproduction! The remedy: Scanatron’s ECM Process.
|
Info
