Ofoto 2.0 -''adaptive calibration''



Author: Mike Harding

Date: September, 1993

Keywords: photography graphics scanner scanning program software review
application 

Text:
Ofoto 2.0 is a scanning software program for the novice and experienced
scanner user as well. Ofoto is great for anyone who wants to scan
images without working too much, and who then outputs scans on laser
printers and other low-resolution devices. The software has automated
functions that enable novices to get good results and is still
sophisticated enough to meet the needs of scanning aficionados.
To use it, you don't have to know anything about bit depth, how to
adjust tonal values, or how to solve the problem of what resolution to
set for a given halftone line screen, output device and scaling factor.
Instead, you simply pick an output device from a menu and let the
program handle the rest, with Ofoto plugging in optimal resolution
values as well as a predefined tone-correction curve. During prescan,
Ofoto senses whether artwork being scanned is line art or a photograph,
and sets bit depth accordingly. You can switch to manual controls and
set up your own scan parameters.
Ofoto has a number of features that allow it to produce very good
images:
* Adaptive calibration: Ofoto's unique calibration technology lets
Ofoto create scans that produce the best results on the printer you are
using. Through a simple two-step procedure you can calibrate Ofoto to
any printer or print process you may use to print 
your scanned images.
* Moir* elimination: Ofoto's image processing technology eliminates
Moir* patterns and other undesirable artifacts that you may encounter
with other scanning software. Moir* artifacts are quite noticeable
lines or patterns that may appear when you scan a printed photograph,
such as a photograph in a magazine or book.
* Smart-pixel processing: This is the name given to Light Source's
proprietary image procou have
made them. The program can save a compressed TIFF file or print a
random dither pattern that maximizes image quality on low-resolution
printers. It has an excellent scaling tool that works in tandem with
the program's mechanism for setting scan resolution. You simply enter
the height, width, or scaling factor you want--or any combination of
the three--and the program calculates the scan resolution required to
deliver the best results.
Ofoto can automatically do any or all of the following for every image
it scans: distinguish line art from photographs and color from
grayscale; set scanning parameters (resolution and bit depth); find a
crop window and crop the image; straighten the image; sharpen the
image; adjust the highlight and shadow points in the image; adjust
overexposed or underexposed originals. Any of these can be turned off
or overridden manually. Ofoto's Autoscan uses all of these features to
provide ''one-step scanning.'' You can also Prescan the image to work
on a low-resolution preview of the image. Rescanning is also automated.
Any changes you make to an Autoscanned or Prescanned image will be
repeated automatically when you rescan the image. This allows you to
make as many changes as you want to the image without worrying about
degrading the image quality. Ofoto can always get a fresh scan and
repeat your changes in such a way as to guarantee the best results.
Some of these features are slow the program up enough that I have
turned off the automated capability for autorotating and autocropping.
It's faster to place the artwork on the scanner straight than to wait
for the autorotate feature to perform. Usually you get a message saying
that the program cannot perform the autorotate feature. The autocrop
feature tends to crop to the edge of page rather than to the edge of
the image which is what you want. Ofoto's virtual memory system uses
space on your hard disk as an extension of memory, so Ofoto can scan
and manipulate images that are much larger than the available memory.
Ofoto has its own virtual memory (not reliant on that of System 7) that
is specifically optimized for image data. Ofoto can set the scanning
parameters automatically. It knows how to get the best results with
overscanning (scanning more data than you need by using unnecessarily
high resolution or bit depth). Ofoto also supports file compression
such as the Apple QuickTime image compression technology.
Ofoto 2.0 has the ability to scan color, however, I do not have a color
scanner so cannot make any comments on its ability to scan color images
other than the features that are listed in the manual. Ofoto can use
Apple's ColorSync color management system. When used with other
ColorSync compatible products this allows you to scan an image that can
be printed on a variety of printers with equally excellent results.
You can start a scan and go to work on another document or in another
application while Ofoto works in the background. That's good because
the software is oh, so slow.
Changes to Ofoto 2.0 over previous versions include a simpler
calibration mechanism and new tools. The two step calibration procedure
has been simplified even more by eliminating the ''Printer Types''
list. The heart of Ofoto's approach is its adaptive  (or closed-loop)
calibration. You print a calibration chart on your final output device,
scan that chart, and Ofoto builds a calibration table for that device.
Creating your next scan, you apply that calibration, and Ofoto ensures
that the output matches the original. You can even calibrate to
specific applications or monitors. Also, Ofoto now has a Zoom Out tool,
and Eyedropper and Color Patch for setting and displaying the color of
the Pencil Tool. An improved Suggest Crop feature now ignores the
shadows caused by light leaking in around books and other nonflat
objects placed on the scanner, as well as from a scanner lid that is
not seated properly.
The installation of the program uses two disks and was 
straightforward and simple. It was installed on a Mac Centris 650 with
18 MB RAM and 230 hard drive. I use the program from the Apple Menu and
find it quick to access and while working within other programs. I use
the scanner (Apple 1) and Ofoto almost daily for my two businesses. For
one, I scan small sections of street and road maps to be placed in a
data base and used for sending directions to route drivers for
deliveries and service. I use it in the other business for scanning
custom artwork, photographs, and tables to be used in ads, brochures,
business cards and presentations.  It is very easy to scan an image,
copy it, and paste directly into another application without having to
save the image. I was using the program in minutes after installation
without having to use the manual. But the program's more advanced
(manual) features were more easily understood by reading the manual. I
still would use Photoshop for more advanced editing on photographs, but
for most images the autoscan feature with the simple editing tools was
more than adequate and the line art scanning was excellent.
I have had no reason to call tech support and have found all of the
answers to my questions in the manual. Ofoto is System 7 Savy and uses
Balloon help. The small selection of tools work in the conventional
method and the program follows the Mac interface quite well. The
package contains one of the better manuals that I have encountered and
gets you through the technical aspects of scanning as easily as the
program is easy to use.
Ofoto 2.0 requires MAC LC; a hard drive; 1 MB of RAM with System 6.0.7,
and at least 2 MB of RAM with System 7. I would recommend more. 
List price $395.00. Available through mail order houses for$275.00. 
Ofoto 2.0 is available from: 
LightSource
17 East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Suite 100
Larkspur, CA 94939  (415) 461-8000 or (800) 231-7226

Copyright © september, 1993 by Mike Harding