A gigapixel image is a
digital image bitmap
In computing, a bitmap is a mapping from some domain (for example, a range of integers) to bits. It is also called a bit array or bitmap index.
As a noun, the term "bitmap" is very often used to refer to a particular bitmapping application: t ...
composed of one
billion
Billion is a word for a large number, and it has two distinct definitions:
*1,000,000,000, i.e. one thousand million, or (ten to the ninth power), as defined on the short scale. This is its only current meaning in English.
* 1,000,000,000,000, i. ...
(10
9)
pixels
In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device.
In most digital display devices, pixels are the sm ...
(picture elements), 1000 times the information captured by a 1
megapixel
In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device.
In most digital display devices, pixels are the sm ...
digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that captures photographs in digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film. Digital cameras are now widely incorporated into mobile devices ...
. A square image of 31,623 pixels in width and height is one gigapixel. Current technology for creating such very
high-resolution
Image resolution is the detail an image holds. The term applies to digital images, film images, and other types of images. "Higher resolution" means more image detail.
Image resolution can be measured in various ways. Resolution quantifies how cl ...
images usually involves either making
digital image mosaics of many high-resolution digital photographs or using a
film negative
In photography, a negative is an image, usually on a strip or sheet of transparent plastic film, in which the lightest areas of the photographed subject appear darkest and the darkest areas appear lightest. This reversed order occurs because th ...
as large as 12" × 9" (30 cm × 23 cm) up to 18" × 9" (46 cm × 23 cm), which is then scanned with a high-end large-format
film scanner
A film scanner is a device made for scanning photographic film directly into a computer without the use of any intermediate printmaking. It provides several benefits over using a flatbed scanner to scan in a print of any size: the photographe ...
with at least 3000 dpi resolution. Only a few cameras are capable of creating a gigapixel image in a single sweep of a scene, such as the
Pan-STARRS
The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS1; obs. code: F51 and Pan-STARRS2 obs. code: F52) located at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, US, consists of astronomical cameras, telescopes and a computing facility that is ...
PS1 and the
Gigapxl Camera.
A
gigamacro image is a gigapixel image which is a close-up or macro image.
Terapixel
A terapixel image is an image composed of one
trillion (10
12) pixels. Though currently rare, there have been a few instances such as the
Microsoft Research Terapixel project for use on the
Fulldome
Fulldome refers to immersive dome-based video display environments. The dome, horizontal or tilted, is filled with real-time (interactive) or pre-rendered (linear) computer animations, live capture images, or composited environments.
Although t ...
projection system, a composite of medical images by Aperio, and Google Earth's Landsat images viewable as a time-lapse are collectively considered over one terapixel.
In 2015 the 'Terabite', the world's first terapixel macro image, was released by GIGAmacro.
See also
*
Largest photographs in the world
*
Powerwall - Computer technology for interactive gigapixel displays
*
HD View - Microsoft's high resolution image viewer plug-in (Windows only - IE & Firefox)
*
Gigapan - A Google/NASA/CMU spinout technology that includes a commercially available robotic imager, free stitcher, and web-based viewer
*
Gigapxl Project
*
Google Cultural Institute
*
VR photography
References
External links
EasyZoom- Website for quickly sharing gigapixel images without downloading
Gigapixel.panoramas.com- Gigapixel Fan Engagement with tags at sporting events
GigaLinc - Immersive interaction with gigapixel images
GigaPixel360
Gigapixel NewsToledo 15 GigapixelsTechnique for creating and viewing gigapixel macro imagesGigapixel camera developed at Duke University
Image Stitching module for QuickPHOTO- software module for live stitching of microscope images in resolution up to several gigapixels
GigaPixel.Cam- GigaPixel High Definition Photos
Digital photography
Photographic techniques
Panorama software
Photo stitching software
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