Digital imaging or digital image acquisition is the creation of digital images, typically from a physical object. The term is often assumed to imply or include the processing, compression, storage, printing, and display of such images.

A digital image may be created directly from a physical scene by a camera or similar device. Alternatively, it may be obtained from another image in an analog medium, like photographs, photographic film, or printed paper, by a scanner or similar device. Many technical images -- such as those acquired with tomographic equipment , side-looking radar , or radio telescopes -- are actually obtained by complex processing of non-image data. Finally, a digital image can also be computed from a geometric model or mathematical formula (however, in this case the name image synthesis is more appropriate).

Digital image authentication is an emerging issue for the providers and producers of high resolution digital images such as health care organizations, law enforcement agencies and insurance companies. There is currently no method available to analyze a digital image and determine if it has been altered or not. However, there are some technologies on the horizon useful in confirming the non-alteration of images whose original producer is known.

See Also

• Image retrieval
• Digital image analysis
• Digital image processing
• Film recorder
• Graphics file format

External link

• Cornell University: Digital imaging tutorial