Image resolution, the pain in my...brain!

I've been a Graphic Designer for around 20 years and this week I heard a term that I hadn't come across before (at least not that I remember). Samples per inch (SPI) the term came from a communication with a British publication I was sending a cover image for their magazine.

DPI, PPI, SPI; could image resolution be any more complicated. For those who don't know, DPI stands for Dots-per-inch, PPI, pixels-per-inch and SPI Samples-per-inch.

I'm not vain enough to think I know everything in my industry, but I know quite a bit and I had never heard of SPI before, so I did what anyone would do, I looked it up on the internet. I found the following definition on Wikipeadia.

Samples per inch (SPI) is a measurement of the resolution of an image scanner, in particular the number of individual samples that are taken in the space of one linear inch. It is sometimes misreferred to as dots per inch, though that term more accurately refers to printing resolution. Generally, the greater the SPI of a scanner, the more detailed its reproduction of the scanned object.
Typical consumer-level flatbed scanners are capable of optical resolution ranging from 100 to 2400 SPI; high-end scanners may have an optical resolution of 4800 SPI or more. Many scanners use interpolation techniques to achieve a higher effective SPI rating, with some manufacturers offering nearly one million SPI, though the quality is primarily limited by the optical resolution; interpolated SPI does not provide additional pixels in the scanned image.
Horizontal and vertical SPI ratings may differ for a given scanner; typical flatbed scanners use a horizontal array of sensors that are passed across the bed using an electric stepper motor. The density of the array of sensors determines the horizontal scanning resolution, while the minimum step size of the motor determines the vertical resolution. Similar characteristics are present in drum scanners, which continuously spin the item being scanned past the sensor array for numerous imaging passes.
To calculate the number of raw data bytes that a scanned image will take up, you can use the follow formula :
Where : vSPI is the vertical SPI hSPI is the horizontal SPI (can be considered the same as vSPI if not specified specifically) area is the squared area of the scanned document in inches²
color depth encoding is the number of bits used to encode a given amount of color information (256 colors=8; 65'536 colors=16; 16million colors=24)
Remember that this will give raw data bytes, images are almost always compressed when saved to disk using lossless (like PNG, TIFF) or lossy image formats (like JPEG).
That is understandable to me, but not to most people, and most of the scanners that I've owned don't have the SPI measurement at all. Most have DPI but that isn't the same as SPI.

DPI stands for dots-per-inch. This is primarily a printing term standing for the number of halftone dots within an inch. The more DPI you have, such as 300 dpi, the better quality of image you have on the printed page. Most scanners have this measurement when you scan in an image.

PPI stands for Pixels-Per-Inch. PPI is the screen resolution or resolution you see on your monitor. In general PPI and DPI are used interchangeably although they don't mean the same thing. 300 ppi is close enough 300 dpi so it makes little difference when scanning. If you notice your scanner probably says dpi and when looking at it in Photoshop it shows ppi. When creating an image for the internet 72 ppi is generally the accepted measurement.

I explain all this to my students and they look at me like I just grew horns out of the top of my head. To make it more difficult for them to understand, the resolution you are using needs to be the dpi, ppi. spi at the size you will be using the image. For example, if you have a space in your brochure that is 4 inches wide, you need your image to be 300 dpi, ppi at 4 inches wide. If you are putting an image on the web at 600 pixels wide then you need your image to be around 72 ppi, dpi at 600 pixels wide.

Onscreen graphics don't need to be as hi-resolution as graphics that are going to print. This is the reason you can't get a great quality print from an image that is optimized for the web.

The rule-of-thumb I teach is, you can always scale something smaller but you shouldn't scale bigger than the original resolution, if you do you will lose image quality.

As far as Samples per inch goes, I'm doing what I always done. Scan or shoot my digital images at the ppi or dpi that I need, and not worry about SPI until someone brings it up again.

©2010 Michael Burke

Why Be A Teacher?

I was asked the other day if I enjoyed being a teacher (I'm an adjunct professor at the University of Central Oklahoma). I replied, "I really enjoy teaching". Then the student asked me why did I start teaching, after all I have a successful small graphic design business and with an 11 month old baby, I have little time for anything else. I answered him by saying, "I enjoy passing on what I have learned".

That was a fairly simple answer to the question and it doesn't completely explain why I'm teaching. So I thought I would try to provide better rational.

When I first applied to teach at UCO, I wish I could say I was being a great humanitarian and wanted to give back. But the truth is, I was almost broke. My business had been doing poorly and I thought I would have to take a job as a bag boy at the local grocery store.

I started to think, what would I do if I couldn't do what I do? I'm only really trained at one thing and that is graphic design, so I sat down to solve my problem (after all that's what designers do, solve problems).

I thought a lot about my skills and experience and came up with…nothing!

Well, not quite absolutely nothing, but I didn't want to work in a restaurant or work behind a register, and an insurance salesman was out of the question!

So I did what I do when I design something. I got out a pencil and paper and started doodling and making notes. What I came up with was a small list of different occupations.

Designer (doing that now)
Electrician (already done that)
Farmer ( HELL NO! did that when I was a kid)
Banker ( nope I'm an artist which means I can't add or spell)
McDonald's (wont shave my beard, so that one's out)
Teacher (hold on a minute!)

Teacher…could I really do that? Really? I had absolutely no experience, just 18 + years of experience in the Advertising and Graphic Design industry.

But I thought what the heck. So I sent my resume to UCO and called a couple of people I still knew still worked there to let them know I was applying.

About a year later I got a call to come in for an interview. By this time my business had recovered and I didn't need the extra income. I also enjoy my off time with my family. So why would I want to take on another job?

As I sat down to think about it and talk it over with my wife when a thought hit me. I realized some of the most influential people In my life were teachers.

Some teachers taught me specific skills and some taught by example and I realized I very much wanted to be that kind of person to others!

The following teachers are examples of some of the people that made a difference in my life.

Mr Shores, high school algebra: Not only taught me math, but also taught me to respect others. He would never call anyone by their first name, it was always Mr. Burke or sir and a handshake when you came to class.

Mrs. Kanaga, typing teacher: Thank God I learned how to keyboard!

Mrs. Bamberg, english teacher: Taught the value of reading everything.

Mr. Henderson, Vocational Ag teacher: Taught everyone in his class to accept responsibility for your own existence and your own actions.

My oral communications teacher in college: I cant remember his name but he taught me to read at least four papers a day. He said it is our responsibility as responsible adults to keep informed on current events.


Jim Watson, Graphic Design Teacher: Jim taught me to question everything, that designers solve problems and also as communicators we need to communicate a rational for everything we do.

Which leads me back to my topic. Why be a teacher?

I'll tell you why. Aside from a paycheck, I want to make a difference in the way young people look at life. Make them stop and think a moment. Live life to its fullest, don't just exist! Every teacher I've had taught me something that has stayed with me all my life.

I don't want students to look back and say, Mr. Burke was a great teacher. I want them to go out, take what they have learned in my classes, then use the information to become productive and successful people, then pass it on.

My teachers were a big influence on me and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of them.

I'm very proud to be a teacher and I'm doubly proud of all my students present, and past!

Learn something and pass it on, be a Teacher! You won't regret it.

The Best Time In My Life Is Right Now!

A little over 20 years ago, I lost my job, my wife and I divorced, I had no direction and I was sitting in an empty house missing my two boys, feeling sorry for myself until I realized it could only get better from here. I was wrong, it got a little worse before it got better. I ended up filing for bankruptcy and I lost my house.

After moping for a while and working odd jobs, I decided to go to college and enrolled in a local junior college, then went on to get a Bachelors degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. After college I went to work in the Advertising industry, I met and married my best friend and have been married to her for over 13 years. My oldest son is 25, went to college and is now a Police officer and my other son is 21 and is enrolled to the same college I attended and doing very well.

About 7 years ago the agency I worked for the previous 10 years closed. Unemployed again! There weren’t any jobs in my field locally that I wasn’t over-qualified for and I didn’t want to move out of state away from my children. So my wife and I talked it over and I started my own small graphic design business. Seven years later I’m relatively successful in business and I’m an Adjunct Professor at UCO, the college I received my degree. I have always felt it is important to teach others what you have learned.

This year I turned 46 and I'm busier than ever running a business, teaching college, also my wife and I just had a new baby boy (my oldest son thinks I’m insane). With my more flexible schedule, it's tough, but I’m very happy to say I am able to watch the baby everyday.

Recently I was talking to an old friend and he was reminiscing about high school, and talking about how much he missed those days and he said something that made me feel a little sad. He said that high school was the best time in his life. Can you believe it, here is a guy my age who; for him, the best time of his life was high school? What about all the years in-between then and now?

Well I started thinking about when the best time of my life was. I didn’t have to think long. The best time in my life is today! Every morning I wake up healthy and I think there is no better time in my life than right now. I appreciate my past and those experiences, which made me into the person I am today, but today is great and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

I love my wife. I love my three sons. I love my job. Yeah, I could be better off financially and 50 pounds lighter, but I wouldn’t trade my life today for all the money in the world.

Today is the best day of my life! Now you will have to excuse me I have to go and change a diaper.

©2009 Michael Burke

Graphic Designer, just what the heck is that?

What is Graphic Design?

I get this question all the time from friends, relatives and clients. “What is graphic design, just what exactly do you do?”

When I try to explain it to them, it usually goes something like this.

“See this ad?” “I designed it.”

“Oh, you took that cool photo.”

“No.”

“Then you wrote that great headline.”

“No.”

“Well you must have done that nice illustration.”

“Uh, no.”

“Well, then what exactly do you do?”

As graphic designers, it’s our job to take elements such as, photography, copy or illustration and assemble them into design that effectively communicates a message. Whether its print, web or product-design, graphic designers create visuals that are pleasing to the eye while communicating an idea.

The history of graphic design goes back as long as man has been communicating. Cave paintings found in Lascaux dated around 10,000 B.C. are some of the earliest examples of graphic design. Images painted to convey a story or historical event.

Egyptians used hieroglyphics, pictures representing a word, syllable or sound to convey their writings.

Monks from the 14^th century created beautiful illustrated manuscripts combining artistic illustration with writing to create some incredible works of art.

Today, graphic design is commonplace. It is everywhere you look, every piece of furniture you sit on, every movie or television you watch. Graphic designers influence the groceries you buy, and the soda you drink.

Almost anything you look at in your daily life, a graphic designer has created the look to get you to purchase a product or service.

So when someone asks me what graphic design is, I just say look around you, books, magazines, computers, desks, posters, business cards, Music CD covers, soda bottles, coffee cups, pens, DVD’s, toilet paper packages …ect. Anything human made two-dimensional or three-dimensional that communicates an idea, a graphic designer is responsible.

As you can see, as long as human beings have been communicating, graphic design has had and continues to have one of the most important roles in human history. Communication!

© 2009 Michael Burke

Where's my teaspoon!?

I was going to write some insightful blog on graphic design or marketing, but I found myself a bit nostalgic today. Maybe its the rain or maybe it was the fact that I could not find a teaspoon anywhere but I started thinking about things that I miss. So I sat down and made a list. If you miss anything drop a comment and let me know.

I miss...
Teaspoons- you know the long skinny ones that used to be standard in any silverware you bought? Do they think no one stirs their tea anymore?

Ice-cream trucks- not the silly little vans that come around the neighborhood now, that look like they could steal your kids, but the nice ones with the freezers mounted on back, kind of like a Schwans truck.

Quisp cereal- I don't know I just liked the little spaceman and cereal shaped like little flying saucers.

The Frito Bandito- I know, not politically correct, but he was fun. They used to give you free Frito bandito erasers that went on the end of your pencil.

GI Joe adventure team with the kung fu grip and life like hair- Nuff said.

Pepsi in a tall glass bottle- Nothing like that ice cold glass bottle with the sweat running down the side of the bottle then trading in the bottles for money for comic books.

The original Battlestar Galactica- Not that I don't like the new version, but I liked the old one that had absolutly no message what-so-ever. Just mindless Fracking fun!

Sure I could think of other things but you get my point. Maybe I'm just getting older and looking back or maybe it's because I'm a new dad and I would like my son to enjoy some of the things I enjoyed. Maybe I'm just cranky that I can't find a long skinny teaspoon to stir real 100% bad for you sugar into my tea! I guess I'll just pull out my Mego Capt Kirk and Mr Spock and go play with my new son.

Let me know some of the things you miss...


©2009 Michael Burke