Imaging is the representation or reproduction of an object's form; especially a visual representation (i.e., the formation of an

image An image is a visual representation of something. It can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or somehow otherwise feed into the visual system to convey information. An image can be an artifact, such as a photograph or other two-dimensiona ...

). Imaging technology is the application of materials and methods to create, preserve, or duplicate images. Imaging science is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the generation, collection, duplication, analysis, modification, and visualization of images,Joseph P. Hornak, ''Encyclopedia of Imaging Science and Technology'' ( John Wiley & Sons, 2002) including imaging things that the

human eye The human eye is a sensory organ, part of the sensory nervous system, that reacts to visible light and allows humans to use visual information for various purposes including seeing things, keeping balance, and maintaining circadian rhythm. ...

cannot detect. As an evolving field it includes research and researchers from physics,

mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...

electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

computer vision Computer vision is an interdisciplinary scientific field that deals with how computers can gain high-level understanding from digital images or videos. From the perspective of engineering, it seeks to understand and automate tasks that the hum ...

, computer science, and perceptual psychology. '' Imager'' are imaging sensors.

Imaging chain

The foundation of imaging science as a discipline is the "imaging chain" – a conceptual model describing all of the factors which must be considered when developing a system for creating visual renderings (images). In general, the links of the imaging chain include: # ''The human visual system''. Designers must also consider the psychophysical processes which take place in human beings as they make sense of information received through the visual system. # ''The subject of the image''. When developing an imaging system, designers must consider the observables associated with the subjects which will be imaged. These observables generally take the form of emitted or reflected energy, such as electromagnetic energy or mechanical energy. # ''The capture device''. Once the observables associated with the subject are characterized, designers can then identify and integrate the technologies needed to capture those observables. For example, in the case of consumer digital cameras, those technologies include optics for collecting energy in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and electronic detectors for converting the electromagnetic energy into an electronic signal. # ''The processor''. For all digital imaging systems, the electronic signals produced by the capture device must be manipulated by an algorithm which formats the signals so they can be displayed as an image. In practice, there are often multiple processors involved in the creation of a digital image. # ''The display''. The display takes the electronic signals which have been manipulated by the processor and renders them on some visual medium. Examples include paper (for printed, or "hard copy" images), television, computer monitor, or projector. Note that some imaging scientists will include additional "links" in their description of the imaging chain. For example, some will include the "source" of the energy which "illuminates" or interacts with the subject of the image. Others will include storage and/or transmission systems.

Subfields

Subfields within imaging science include:

image processing An image is a visual representation of something. It can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or somehow otherwise feed into the visual system to convey information. An image can be an artifact, such as a photograph or other two-dimensiona ...

3D computer graphics 3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for th ...

, animations, atmospheric optics,

astronomical imaging Astrophotography, also known as astronomical imaging, is the photography or imaging of astronomical objects, celestial events, or areas of the night sky. The first photograph of an astronomical object (the Moon) was taken in 1840, but it was no ...

, biological imaging, digital image restoration, digital imaging, color science, digital photography, holography,

magnetic resonance imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio wave ...

medical imaging Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to rev ...

, microdensitometry, optics, photography, remote sensing, radar imaging,

radiometry Radiometry is a set of techniques for measurement, measuring electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. Radiometric techniques in optics characterize the distribution of the radiation's power (physics), power in space, as opposed to phot ...

silver halide A silver halide (or silver salt) is one of the chemical compounds that can form between the element silver (Ag) and one of the halogens. In particular, bromine (Br), chlorine (Cl), iodine (I) and fluorine (F) may each combine with silver to prod ...

, ultrasound imaging, photoacoustic imaging, thermal imaging, visual perception, and various printing technologies.

Methodologies

Acoustic imaging An acoustic camera is an imaging device used to locate sound sources and to characterize them. It consists of a group of microphones, also called a microphone array, from which signals are simultaneously collected and processed to form a representat ...

* ''Coherent imaging'' uses an active

coherent Coherence, coherency, or coherent may refer to the following: Physics * Coherence (physics), an ideal property of waves that enables stationary (i.e. temporally and spatially constant) interference * Coherence (units of measurement), a deri ...

illumination source, such as in radar, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), medical ultrasound and optical coherence tomography; ''non-coherent imaging'' systems include fluorescent microscopes, optical microscopes, and telescopes. * Chemical imaging, the simultaneous measurement of spectra and pictures * Digital imaging, creating digital images, generally by scanning or through digital photography * Disk image, a file which contains the exact content of a data storage medium *

Document imaging Document imaging is an information technology category for systems capable of replicating documents commonly used in business. Document imaging systems can take many forms including microfilm, on demand printers, facsimile machines, copiers, multifu ...

, replicating documents commonly used in business *

Geophysical imaging Geophysical imaging (also known as geophysical tomography) is a minimally destructive geophysical technique that investigates the subsurface of a terrestrial planet. Geophysical imaging is a noninvasive imaging technique with a high parametrical a ...

Industrial process imaging Industrial process imaging, or industrial process tomography or process tomography are methods used to form an image of a cross-section of vessel or pipe in a chemical engineering or mineral processing, or petroleum extraction or refining plant. P ...

Medical imaging Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to rev ...

, creating images of the human body or parts of it, to diagnose or examine disease **

Medical optical imaging Medical optical imaging is the use of light as an investigational imaging technique for medical applications. Examples include optical microscopy, spectroscopy, endoscopy, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, laser Doppler imaging, and optical coherence t ...

Magnetic resonance imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio wave ...

** Magneto-Acousto-Electrical Tomography (MAET), imaging modality to image the electrical conductivity of biological tissues * Molecular imaging * Radar imaging, or imaging radar, for obtaining an image of an object, not just its location and speed * Range imaging, for obtaining images with depth information * Reprography, reproduction of graphics through electrical and mechanical means ** Cinematography ** Photography, the process of creating still images ** Xerography, the method of photocopying * Speckle imaging, a method of shift-and-add for astronomical imaging *

Stereo imaging Stereo imaging refers to the aspect of sound recording and reproduction of stereophonic sound concerning the perceived spatial locations of the sound source(s), both laterally and in depth. An image is considered to be good if the location of th ...

, an aspect of sound recording and reproduction concerning spatial locations of the performers * Thermography, infrared imaging * Tactile imaging, also known as elastography

Examples

Passivhaus_thermogram_gedaemmt_ungedaemmt

Imaging technology materials and methods include: * Computer graphics ** Virtual camera system used in computer and video games and virtual cinematography * Microfilm and

Micrographics Microforms are scaled-down reproductions of documents, typically either films or paper, made for the purposes of transmission, storage, reading, and printing. Microform images are commonly reduced to about 4% or of the original document size. F ...

* Visual arts ** Etching **

Drawing Drawing is a form of visual art in which an artist uses instruments to mark paper or other two-dimensional surface. Drawing instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, various kinds of paints, inked brushes, colored pencils, crayons, ...

and Technical drawing **

Film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

** Painting ** Photography *** Multiple-camera setup enables

stereoscopy Stereoscopy (also called stereoscopics, or stereo imaging) is a technique for creating or enhancing the illusion of depth in an image by means of stereopsis for binocular vision. The word ''stereoscopy'' derives . Any stereoscopic image is ...

and stereophotogrammetry *** Light-field camera (basically refocusable photography) **

Printmaking Printmaking is the process of creating artworks by printing, normally on paper, but also on fabric, wood, metal, and other surfaces. "Traditional printmaking" normally covers only the process of creating prints using a hand processed techniq ...

** Sculpture * Infrared *

Radar imagery Imaging radar is an application of radar which is used to create two-dimensional images, typically of landscapes. Imaging radar provides its light to illuminate an area on the ground and take a picture at radio wavelengths. It uses an antenna and ...

* Ultrasound * Multi-spectral image * Electro-optical sensor * Charge-coupled device * Ground-penetrating radar * Electron microscope * Imagery analysis *

Medical radiography Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical radiography ("diagnostic" and "therapeut ...

* Industrial radiography *

LIDAR Lidar (, also LIDAR, or LiDAR; sometimes LADAR) is a method for determining ranges (variable distance) by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. It can also be ...

* Image scanner * Structured-light 3D scanner

References

External links

Carlson Center for Imaging Science at RIT
Research center that offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Imaging Science. *

The University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences The University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences, considered the largest institute for optics education in the United States, is dedicated to research and education in optics with an emphasis on optical engineering. The college offers more ...

offers a
image science track
for the M.S and Ph.D. degree in optical sciences.
Science de l'image et des médias numériques
Bachelor of image science and digital media unique in Canada.
Image Sciences Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht University Institute for Image Sciences - focuses on fundamental and applied research in specifically medical image processing and acquisition. * Vanderbilt Universitybr>Institute of Imaging Science
- dedicated to using imaging to improve health-care and for advancing knowledge in the biological sciences. {{Visualization *