With 8 megapixel SLRs today, we can already produce 300 DPI prints on 8×12″. The vast majority of the population would not need a print any larger. As the megapixel race continues, we will reach a point where the print size at 300 DPI will satisfy practically everybody. Personally, I would like 300 DPI prints on 12×18″, so once a 20 megapixel camera comes out, am I done? Nope. I will still chase for more megapixels.

Bayer sensors interpolate filters to produce a color image. It works out to be 1/3 rgb samples per pixel due to interpolation. This produces images that are not completely sharp when viewed at 100% crop. However, we can increase the number of rgb samples per pixel by downsize the image. By combining the color value of many pixels into one, we add all those rgb samples into one pixel. Therefore, given a 32 megapixel image, I would downsize the image to 20 megapixel image, since it would still give me 300 DPI on 12×18″. But by going from 32 to 20, we have gone from 1/3 rgb samples per pixel to over 1/2 rgb samples per pixel. This improves color accuracy and image quality.

At the rate todays technology, the future will soon hold a million rgb samples per pixel, or a megasample. Then marketing will take us on a megasample war.

I was up on Mount Seymour hoping to get some nice snow photos, but the weather never cleared up as promised. As I was about to give up, I noticed a bright spot between the trees. Although the sky over my head was gray, westward the sun was finally showing its face.

It lit up a mountain close by nicely, but I couldn’t get the shot.

Trees were in my way, and there was no way to either get higher or in front of the trees. So I turned to leave thinking what a waste of a day. As I walked down the mountain, I kept my eye on the mountain and noticed I can clearly see the either mountain as I was walking. I thought to myself, “If only my camera can capture what I just saw, I’d have a great shot.” Then I realized, it can.

I just need to take pictures from different positions to see different parts of the mountain (ie. abusing perspective). Finally, stitch the images together. The most common use of stitching is to create panoramas, but this is a little different. I will be stitching images together to “virtually” remove the trees.

Here are the original images, as you can see each section of the mountain is guarded by trees.

From those images, I erased the trees.

Then into your favorite stitching program, and out pops this (after some cleaning up).

I’ve never seen this technique used before (not that I believe I am the first to use it either), but this shows how you must remember tools are versatile. Don’t limit your thinking that stitching is only for panoramas.

I was in need of a mouse, so I pick a random one from IT. It was brand new and unopened from Dell. I didn’t have high expectations from the included mice, but boy was I in for a surprise.

It was a USB Ball Mouse. A what? I am sure most of you have replaced all your mice with optical ones, since ball mice suck. But it didn’t end here, when I tried to use the mouse, it complained I didn’t have the proper drivers. Drivers?? For a USB Mouse?? So they were cheap, therefore they used a ball mouse, but so cheap that they didn’t implement the HID interface for this mouse!

How many young computer users are going to plug in this “funny” mouse and wonder, “WTF is a driver?” Just plug in the mouse and it works…right?

If they were going to be this cheap, they might as well as not included it at all.