AN INEXPENSIVE METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DATA-COLLECTION FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS

A method for the collection of quantitative data from photographic pri nts is described. The technique uses a scanner for digitizing gray-sca le photographs. The equipment is inexpensive and higher resolutions co mpared with a digital camera are attainable. Digital images are stored in non-proprietary TIFF format which allows the researcher direct acc ess to each measured pixel. To complete the image analysis process for an application, computer software which corrects for parallax, geomet ric distortions and inconsistencies in lighting source is described. T his quantative, accurate but inexpensive, data collection technique is a convenient and effective method to analyse gray level photographic prints. Projects that require some image capture and processing, but c annot justify a dedicated capture system, may find this system more th an adequate.