RPS Imaging Science Group

Just seen some more details on the International Congress of Imaging Science meeting in Beijing – see http://www.csist.org.cn/en/Conferences/Upcoming_conferences/2009/0911/193.asp for details. The keynotes look interesting, including one from Phill Green at University of Arts London.

May yet make the trip!

The RPS, as a contributing member to ICIS nominates 3 delegates. A full list of the membership can be found under http://www.icisimaging.org/membership.htm.

The RPS have kindly nominated me to take on one of these 3 slots. This has now been accepted by ICIS. If you want to know what I have been up to in recent years check out the announcement under http://www.icisimaging.org/spotlights/ICIS_Doc_No_2009-01_Membership_changes_in_UK.doc

The RPS is a member of the International Committee of Imaging Science. Every 4 years this group holds a meeting called ICIS – the International Congress of Imaging Science. The next meeting is in 2010 and will be held in Beijing, China, May 12-16, 2010. The deadline for abstract submission is December 31, 2009.
The ICIS2010 Call for Papers has been released and is available for downloading at http://www.imaging.org/conferences/PDF_CALLS/ICIS2010_CFP.pdf
ICIS has provided a platform for imaging scientists and researchers to exchange information on the latest developments in imaging science and technology. Under the theme “Imaging Science and Technology in the Digital Era,” ICIS2010 is placing special focus on digital imaging and its applications over a wide spectrum of topics including, but not limited to:
•         Digital methods, systems, and equipment for image capture
•         Color science and technology for digital imaging systems
•         Digital image processing, manipulation, and communication
•         Novel imaging and related functional materials
•         UV curing materials and technologies
•         Evaluation methods and instrumentation for digital imaging and related performances
•         Digital imaging technologies and systems
•         Digital media and image performance
•         Digital output and hardcopy technologies
•         Digital photofinishing and systems
•         Digital and on-demand printing/publishing technologies and systems
A full listing is found in the call.

In addition to ISO standards there is a great deal of conference resource available on Image permanence. Here is a selection.
The Society for Imaging Science & Technology (IS&T) have a number of conferences covering this issue – see http://www.imaging.org/conferences/ . I have been along to a number of these and you can find report of my visits to the International Congress of Imaging Science under http://www.rps-isg.org/docs/ICISreport_alan_hodgson.pdf and to the NIP 23 (Non Impact Printing) meeting under http://www.rps-isg.org/docs/NIP23andDF07summary.pdf . There is also the Archiving series of conferences – see http://www.iop.org/activity/groups/subject/pgs/News/file_31431.pdf for an example. The next one of these is due to be held in Washington DC in May – see http://www.imaging.org/conferences/archiving2009/ for details. Nice time of year to visit DC- hope to see you there!

The other imaging interest to this story is the amount of image science present in the wide variety of telescopes presently in orbit. Setting aside the high profile (and expense) units like the Hubble Space Telescope there are a large number of earth observing units in use. Because resolution is a function of aperture and launch weight (and therefore cost) is a function of the mass of the primary optic there is a lot of emphasis on the use of sparse apertures in these units. The image science of these is fascinating and it was my pleasure to catch up with progress in this field at the 2006 International Congress of Imaging Science meeting where Robert Fiete of ITT Space Systems presented a paper on this – see http://www.imaging.org/store/epub.cfm?abstrid=33811. They use mirrors with the centres removed or arrays of smaller optics to get resolution without weight but at the expense of some rather odd looking MTF curves. When I get the time I want to build a test unit as it would be fun for my interest in using telescopes for terrestrial imaging. See http://www.rps-isg.org/GP2007/hodgson/telescopes.pdf for some results I presented at a past Imaging Science Group Good Picture event.

RIT Imaging Science poster

As this blog is all about Imaging Science I had to have a photo, taken by the author on a visit to the Rochester Institute of Technology. The occasion was the meeting of the International Congress of Imaging Science in 2006 – see http://www.imaging.org/store/physpub.cfm?seriesid=31&pubid=736. I guess the photo students felt threatened by the presence of so many Imaging Scientists on their campus and I spotted this poster on the wall of the Student’s Union building.

I use this picture in a number of presentations as it illustrates a number of issues. First, what is Imaging Science? The students are right, it isn’t photo but the scientific disciplines that underpin and support the art of photography. My aim in this blog is to show that it is much more than this too and I plan to return to this in a later posting.

Secondly, it makes a good illustration of different printing techniques. It looks like this poster was made with a spray can on cheap paper. Most prints are made by techniques that are rather more controlled than this and I will hopefully feature these in my blog postings. This whole field is leading us on into new areas such as printed electronics, an area where Imaging Science is likely to be very important.