From: noel@reg.triumf.ca (NOEL)
Subject: Re: slide shots of computer graphics using an SLR camera
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 18:31:00 GMT

In article <92255.173915U21709@uicvm.uic.edu>, Prasad Ravi <U21709@uicvm.uic.edu> writes...
> 
>Hi folks,
> 
>I am trying to find out various issues involved in taking
>pictures of a computer screen for molecular modeling graphics.
>Some of the details of the computer screen:
> 
>           19" screen (IBM 6091-19)
>           scan rate:  60 frames/sec
>           resolution: 1024x1280
> 
>I have an SLR camera (Pentax P30T) with a 28-80mm zoom lens with
>a minimum focus distance of 1 meter.  I would like to know the
>following details:
> 
>           film type
>           film speed
>           aperture size/shutter speed
>           flash/no flash
>           lighting conditions, etc.
> 
>I greatly appreciate your help. Please send any responses to
>u21709@uicvm.cc.uic.edu. I'll post a summary if there is enough
>interest.
> 
>Prasad Ravi.
>u21709@uicvm.cc.uic.edu

Tried mail got an invalid address so I thought interest might warrent a post.
NMG.

	
	I take this kind of photo all the time and I feel I have the technique
down quite well.  I use an old pentax spotmatic II camera and right now
I'm taking photos from an Idek llyama 17" 5217 colour monitor 1024x768 res.
It has a vertical scan rate of 72 Hz and has a reasonably flat screen.
	
	So this is what I find gives the best results.

	Film  		100 asa Kodak gold  (print) 64 asa kodak (slide)

	aperature  	screen is flat so depth of field doesn't matter
			wide open for more light is best but just make sure 
			focus is crisp.  I use f4 setting.

	shutter speed	must be longer than monitors vertical frame rate or
			you won't get a complete image. With normal monitor
			brightness ie. colours bright but not blurred or
			blooming and good contrast I use 1/4 second exp
	
	lens		I use a 100 millimeter macro telephoto lens and with
			this focal length and image size a camera mounted
			about 1 metre from the screen fills the frame.

	flash		impossible, don't even try, think about it, you
			must be joking.

	misc conditions

			With these shutter speeds it is imperative to mount the
			camera on a good solid tripod.  Use a cable release
			or the self timer button.  The camera should be mounted
			directly on axis with the centre of screen to minimize
			distortion and keep image square.  A long lens is
			better than a short one for minimizing pin-cushion
			and also a flat screen monitor.  Take all photos
			at night in a completely blackened room.  I really
			mean black.  No lights!  This allows the least amount 
			of stray reflected light to bounce off the screen and 
			all light is coming directly from your image.  This 
			will give nice black borders around your image and 
			not silly looking monitor frame and logo.  To optimize
			image squareness you can adjust the image size on the
			monitor down away from the edges where the screen
			glass is thicker and least flat but you will have to
			move the camera closer or zoom to compensate. Moving
			closer will introduce angular distortion from the lens
			so there is a trade off here.


			That should produce good quality images

				Good Luck

				Noel Giffin 	"noel@reg.triumf.ca"

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