
Using High definition hardware and software , scanning is normally performed at 300 dpi to 900 dpi for prints and artwork, and at 1100 dpi for 35mm slides and negatives, although we will scan at up to 2700 dpi if requested.
Fractal Compression
Taking a 24 bit image file (BMP, TIFF, Photo CD etc.) we can Fractally compress those images at ratios ranging between 2 to 1 and 100 to 1. The resultant images can be used in many types of application and enable the inclusion of thousands of high resolution 24 bit images on a single CD. A prime example of the use of Fractal Images can be seen in Microsoft's "Encarta" CD-ROM Encyclopaedia which contains thousands of Fractally compressed images.
Fractals on the WEB
Fractal Images, because of their size and fast decompression, make true (24 bit) colour viable for inclusion on your WEB pages. Fractal Compression is licensed by Iterated Systems Inc., who now have freely available a Fractal Viewer for the latest version of NetScape's browser software.
If you would like a copy of this software, click here to go to Iterated's WEB site. :
Why would you want to use FIFs instead of GIFs ?
We took a 35mm slide of a golden pheasant ( a highly coloured image ), and scanned it at 300dpi with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. This produced a 24 bit BMP file of 226Kb. Using this file as our original we then produced a GIF file and a FIF (fractal image format) file from it; compare:-
Image Type GIF FIF
Colour Depth 8 bit (256) 24 bit (16.7 mil)
Resolution 320 x 240 x 8 320 x 240 x 24
File Size 76 kb 18 kb


The CMEI Fractal Collection
Every month we have a new collection of 10 FIF files for you to download, view and do with as you wish (provided they are not used for commercial purposes !). The files are of varying resolution and sizes and are named CMEI_01.FIF through CMEI_10.FIF. There is also a file Fif_Info.txt which gives details of the images. All these files are contained in a zip file (CMEI_FIF.ZIP) which you can download. A sample from this month's collection is shown below, but in a smaller form. Please note that the file names remain the same each month, so if your are collecting them remember to rename them !
Click here to download the collection.
Partnership in Multimedia
Operating in partnership with several local companies we market our combined services to industry. One such example of partnering is in the production of promotional CD-ROMs for industry and tourism, where video and still photography is undertaken by Neal Murray Photography, electronic video capture is performed by John Morgan , music is written and produced by Gavin Sutherland, design and compilation is by ACS Limited and image scanning, compression, co-ordination and marketing by us, CMEI Limited.
This method of promoting a business or tourism attraction is becoming popular and is very effective throughout industry and public sector alike. For a fully interactive CD-ROM with video, stills, music & voice, the production costs are more often than not less than the cost of producing a glossy brochure !
Where do you go from here ?
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