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Digital imaging
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<p>Digital imaging or digital image acquisition is the creation of a <a href="/facts/Digital_signal/pKYKbxfK">digital</a> representation of the <a href="/facts/Visual/QVcuA27K">visual</a> characteristics of an object, such as a physical scene or the interior structure of an object. The term is often assumed to imply or include the <a href="/facts/Digital_image_processing/zenalNCf">processing</a>, <a href="/facts/Image_compression/q9bfesUr">compression</a>, <a href="/facts/Image_file_format/tLGQogv3">storage</a>, <a href="/facts/Digital_printing/kpyN6xVe">printing</a> and <a href="/facts/Display_device/yX1Mypk0">display</a> of such images. A key advantage of a <a href="/facts/Digital_image/3TNT47Mv">digital image</a>, versus an <a href="/facts/Analog_signal/xDbb4uB5">analog image</a> such as a <a href="/facts/Film_photograph/37aFq6ls">film photograph</a>, is the ability to digitally propagate copies of the original subject indefinitely without any loss of image quality. </p><p>Digital imaging can be classified by the type of <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_radiation/Ynx7ujCW">electromagnetic radiation</a> or other <a href="/facts/Wave/fU0HH6St">waves</a> whose variable <a href="/facts/Attenuation/XP4vX360">attenuation</a>, as they <a href="/facts/Refraction/S8kvSKzM">pass through</a> or <a href="/facts/Reflection_(physics)/BhcjDs79">reflect off</a> objects, conveys the <a href="/facts/Information/3LdrzXtJ">information</a> that constitutes the <a href="/facts/Image/hbjEdTXK">image</a>. In all classes of digital imaging, the information is converted by <a href="/facts/Image_sensor/j3GNrRln">image sensors</a> into digital <a href="/facts/Signal_(electrical_engineering)/41YqUJ8c">signals</a> that are <a href="/facts/Signal_processing/Npaja6zb">processed by a computer</a> and made output as a visible-light image. For example, the medium of <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">visible light</a> allows digital photography (including digital <a href="/facts/Videography/GIo9Vusc">videography</a>) with various kinds of <a href="/facts/Digital_camera/LSGTserm">digital cameras</a> (including digital <a href="/facts/Video_camera/pu84VbC7">video cameras</a>). <a href="/facts/X-ray/wseP79cN">X-rays</a> allow digital X-ray imaging (<a href="/facts/Digital_radiography/IzJDYgVU">digital radiography</a>, <a href="/facts/Fluoroscopy/ySerh62e">fluoroscopy</a>, and <a href="/facts/X-ray_computed_tomography/NusPJ2S8">CT</a>), and <a href="/facts/Gamma_ray/5Drf913J">gamma rays</a> allow digital gamma ray imaging (digital <a href="/facts/Scintigraphy/tkaKjAEH">scintigraphy</a>, <a href="/facts/Single-photon_emission_computed_tomography/ag6of05C">SPECT</a>, and <a href="/facts/Positron_emission_tomography/5SmcW6qz">PET</a>). <a href="/facts/Sound/DlKXlPuF">Sound</a> allows ultrasonography (such as <a href="/facts/Medical_ultrasonography/Ju5BFuuV">medical ultrasonography</a>) and <a href="/facts/Sonar/0Rg2G40e">sonar</a>, and <a href="/facts/Radio_wave/XmB6WPpF">radio waves</a> allow <a href="/facts/Radar/jk9BTbFA">radar</a>. Digital imaging lends itself well to <a href="/facts/Image_analysis/woLB8cX7">image analysis</a> by <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a>, as well as to <a href="/facts/Image_editing/l5LvzVBa">image editing</a> (including image manipulation). </p>