SEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (03/24/88)
:::::::: HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR COMPUTER'S DISPLAY ::::::::
by Jerry Finzi
We all have computer's, and some of are lucky enough to have
the newer high resolution color monitors. We have created all this
great art with our graphics software packages and then find that
we have no way to show them off. Color printers can't really show
the true luminescence of our creations. They appear dead even on a
color pen plotter. The answer is simple...
Photograph your display!
With the information I am about to give you, it will now be
possible to show your slides to freinds or ciba prints of your work,
and more!
Requirements
1: 35mm camera
2: 105-135 mm telephoto lens
3: either Ektachrome 64 or 100 ASA slide film
4: Tripod
5: Stopwatch
6: 1-50 magenta and 1-10 Yellow color correction geletin
filters. (or equivilant)
7: 30" x 40" black show cards (optional)
8: small carpenters bubble level
9: cable-release
10: Gaffer tape
Getting Started
First things first... Clean your monitor's display screen
with Windex and a lint free cloth. (do this with the monitor off and
and spray the cloth ... NOT the screen!)
Next, load and display a graphic picture that is of "average"
brightness. (not unusually dark or light colors) This first
picture will give you an idea of how to compensate in the future
for more contrasty subjects.
Load your camera, and place it on the tripod. Set up your
camera so the lens is EXACTLY perpendicular to the center of the
display. Take your level and check to see that the monitor and
camera's film plane match and are parallel to each other on their
verticle axis, as follows:
|<--- 2' to 3' --->|
| |
Front of display ----> | | <---- Film Plane
Pay close attention to being centered on your display. Most
monitors have a curved glass that will distort your image if you
are not centered. This is the reason for using longer focal length
lenses. They will diminish this effect if you are slightly off-
center. A good test might be to photograph a graphic of a grid
fill pattern, and see how you do in keeping it square. If you see
it "bulging" out in the center, then you need a longer lens. If it
is "flat" looking but the grid pattern seems "off", then you were
not perfectly centered.
(note: Once you are more experienced, you might want to play with
different focal lengths to purposely distort or "slew" your images
for a "special effect" look.)
You should try to photograph the display in "near" darkness
to keep unwanted reflections from appearing on the display. Pay
special attention to the area directly behing the camera, and to
the camera itself!
If shooting in a darkened room is a problem, or you might
want to photograph your art often, you might want to make a light
tight "gobo" box, to block any ambient light from the display and
camera's lens:
First size up the image in your camera and crop fairly tight.
Take a measurement from the lens to the display, and add about 4-
6". Now, with either black show cards, or foamcore that is black
on one side, make a box to fit that distance. The black side
should be on the inside. It should be closed on one end, with a
hole for the lens. And the other end should be made to fit the
outside dimensions of your monitor. Using gaffer tape, hold it in
place on the monitor. If you think about it, you should be able to
make it sort of "slip over" the monitor, and be self-supporting.
The object here is to create a way to set up easily in the future,
and work with the room lights on.
Exposures:
Place the filter pack on your lens, and attach your cable-
release. We are ready to expose your film.
Set the brightness controls on your monitor to between 25 to
35% of total brightness. The reason for this is to saturate the
colors on the film. This will make the colors more intense.
Set your f-stop at F8 and your shutter speed on Bulb. (or
Time if available)
Expose the film in increments of 10-13-16-20 seconds @ f8.
Process your film normally. Vary the exposures, or do a wider
bracket too find the perfect range of exposures. These should be
just about right, though.
Try making Ciba prints of your slides. And experiment with
special effects filters, or double exposures of real-life &
computer images combined! Have fun!
Courtesy GEnie PhotoForum
---------------------
Disclaimer: I like my opinions better than my employer's anyway...
(subject to change without notice; void where prohibited)
ARPA: sewall%uconnvm.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu Murphy A. Sewall
BITNET: SEWALL@UCONNVM School of Business Admin.
UUCP: ...ihnp4!psuvax1!UCONNVM.BITNET!SEWALL University of Connecticut