Digital Innovations

"The ultimate security is your understanding of reality."--H. Stanley Judd

Now that CD and even DVD burners are commonplace in photographers' digital darkrooms, many people take it for granted that when writing files to a disc that's all that is being written. Not true. Many Mac OS users discovered that invisible files, such as Desktop DB (Database), are being copied at the same time as files they intend to write. It turns out that Desktop DB can contain some personal information you might prefer to keep to yourself.

If you use software, such as Abbott Systems' (www.abbottsys.com) Can-Opener, to peek inside the Desktop DB on a recently burned CD, you may be able to see sensitive information, such as e-mail log-ins and addresses, along with records of visits to web sites you might prefer the disc's recipients not know. You can also view these files by using Thomas Tempelmann's freeware Desktop DB Diver (www.tempel.org/macdev). Although less polished than CanOpener, it lets you check what information you might inadvertently pass on to others. If you give an ISO 9660-formatted disc to a Windows user, I have worse news. Users of Windows-based computers can use the built-in NotePad or WorkPad software to easily read this (not so invisible to them) file.

Most of the anecdotal evidence of this problem comes from users of Roxio's (www.roxio.com) ubiquitous Toast CD burning software, but the Desktop DB file is also written to Iomega (www.iomega.com) Zip disks and other forms of removable media, so I think that this is a Mac OS phenomenon not just one related to burning CDs.

When I asked both Roxio and Apple Computer (www.apple.com) to comment on this problem, Apple declined to make a statement, while Roxio was more forthcoming and admitted that it is a problem. A Roxio spokesperson told me: "We are planning to address this issue near-term with the next Toast updater and this should be rolled into Toast with Jam. [A new product introduced at MacWorld Expo 2002 that I'm currently testing.] We acknowledge that this is a problem for users, and are working toward a solution. A reliable workaround involves creating a temporary partition, copying all data to the temp partition, and then burning the temp partition in either data or Mac volume mode." If you want to read other suggested workarounds, visit the MacInTouch web site (www.macintouch.com/desktopdb.html). Some users have reported that Toast 5.1.2, which includes a check box for "Use empty desktop database," completely solves the problem and it certainly did in my case, but a few have encountered reliability problems with this update. While waiting for a permanent fix for this problem, you should use Desktop DV Diver or another program to check every disc you send out.

Plug-In Of The Month
Got grain? What are you going to do when your camera's automatic DX setting is accidentally turned off and with a default of ISO 100, you slap in a roll of Ilford 3200 and blast away? Now I'm not a grain snob and admit that it can be a nice effect for some images. At least that's what I told the model when I handed her a grainy print from that session. Along comes the cleverly named Grain Surgery from Visual Infinity (www.visinf.com) to rescue my blasted out negatives.

Grain Surgery is designed to remove grain as well as noise and compression artifacts from digital camera files or halftone patterns from scans. This Photoshop compatible plug-in works by examining the source material to determine the characteristics of existing noise, then uses signal processing and statistical elimination techniques to restore the image to what it should look like without the noise. You can add or match grain by extracting it from one image and adding it to another. Will Grain Surgery turn the image to mush? No. Will it soften the image? Maybe slightly, but it ultimately depends on your original image file. I think Grain Surgery is good enough to win the Pixel Palace's coveted Plug-in-of-the-Month award, but you can download a demo from Visual Infinity's web site and try it for yourself.

Put New Skin On Your Apple
Macintosh G3 and G4 owners can personalize their computers by applying a form-fitting polycarbonate skin that attaches to the sides of the machines in less than a minute. MacSkinz (previously AppleSkinz) lets you add graphics to both sides of the computer's case using a variety of designs to appeal to different tastes. There's everything from modern to industrial designs and in keeping with the current patriotic spirit, the American flag. Proceeds from sales of that particular design go to the American Red Cross to help charities in New York. New designs will be offered as MacSkinz expands their portfolio. Visit www.appleskinz.com for more information.

50 Ways To Improve Your JPEGs
Well, maybe not 50 exactly, but another secret weapon for getting the best image quality from digital camera files is LaserSoft's (www.silverfast.com) SilverFast HDR (High Dynamic Range). It also works with scanners that SilverFast does not currently support, but more importantly opens and allows you to extract the maximum possible quality from digital camera JPEG files. This Photoshop compatible import plug-in uses the intuitive SilverFast Ai user interface that provides autopilot simplicity for new users and offers real-time controls along with the ability to manually adjust the image at any point. Professional users can adjust any operation via numerical input and can precisely monitor results using an online densitometer. The latest version, as I write this, is SilverFast HDR 5.5.2, which delivers 48-bit full color-corrected output. The upgrade is free for all users of SilverFast 5.5.v.

Stress Free Special Effects
If you want to add special effects to your photographs, but don't have the appropriate plug-ins or think it's too hard to produce these effects, have no fear. Pro Studio Supply (www.prostudiousa.com) offers a series of CD-ROM discs that do all the work for you. Their Natural Image disc contains professionally designed templates that you simply drag images onto. Many of these templates appear to have been designed for high school senior photography and the clever graphics should put smiles on these kids' faces. The Digital FX Borders disc has 35 files just waiting for your photos to be re-sized and dragged onto the file to create instant border effects. A disc of Calendar templates lets you cut and paste your way into great looking calendars with hardly any effort. While some knowledge of Photoshop is required to get the most from these cleverly designed templates, you don't have to be a guru.

Some files on the Pro Studio Supply CDs are in 4x5" 300dpi format, while others are larger 250dpi and 300dpi with space for inserting multiple images. If you want to make prints that are a little bit larger, here's a trick we use around the Pixel Palace to squeeze extra size from smaller digital camera files: With 4x5 sized images, you first get the picture tweaked the way you like with Adobe Photoshop. Then go to Image>Image Size, and change the file's resolution to 240dpi, which will change the original 4x5 to approximately 5x7. (Make sure the "Re-sample Image" box is not checked.) Next go to File>Print Options and in the dialog box that appears, change the Scale setting to 120 percent, which will give you an image that's about 6x7.5, which is about all the image quality you're going to squeeze out of this particular file without resorting to software such as Lizard Tech's (www.lizardtech.com) Genuine Fractals or other special purpose programs for enlarging images. From there you can click the Print button and follow your normal printing procedures.

Making The Connection
I think connecting a digital camera to a computer is the absolute worst way to transfer image files. When I'm in the office, I use Dazzle's (www.dazzle.com) 6 in 1 Reader that accepts six different kinds of media. Which six? How about the usual suspects of SmartMedia and CompactFlash along with the commodious IBM Microdrive? Then there's MultiMedia Card, SecureDigital, and Sony's Memory Stick making it an even half-dozen. Dazzle's dual slot configuration accepts CompactFlash I and II in the top slot, and all the others in the bottom. No power is required since the 6 in 1 draws current directly from the USB bus. It's about the size of a small mouse and costs less than $50. One of the biggest complaints I hear from readers is about the built-in obsolesce of most digital imaging tools. Because it accepts six divergent types of memory cards, Dazzle's 6 in 1 Reader won't be extinct any time soon.