A gigapixel image is a digital image bitmap composed of one billion (109) pixels (picture elements), 250 times the image captured by a mid-range (4 megapixel) digital camera. Current technology for creating such very high-resolution images involves making mosaics of a large number of high-resolution digital photographs, or uses a film negative as large as 9"×12" (23 cm×30 cm), which is then scanned with a high-end film scanner. Recent developments have demonstrated the practicality of developing scanning cameras capable of creating a gigapixel image in a single sweep of a scene. Gigapixel images are of particular interest to the following:
- Physicists viewing the results of supercomputer simulations
- Viewers of satellite composite images for various purposes, including agricultural policy, land use planning, and military intelligence
- Artists
- Health care providers, such as pathologists, for virtual microscopy utilizing whole slide images (digitally scanned glass microscope slides)
- Visual effects industry, where gigapixel images can enable the creation of immersive digital environments
See also
- Largest photographs in the world
- Powerwall - Computer technology for interactive gigapixel displays
- HD View - Microsoft high resolution image viewer plug-in (Windows only - IE & Firefox)
- Zoomify - Flash based high resolution image viewer
External links
- http://www.gigapxl.org/ (A custom-built Gigapixel camera)
- http://cliffordross.com/R1/gigapixel.html (Gigapixel camera)
- http://www.haltadefinizione.com (Gigapixel images entirely visible)
- http://www.xrez.com/ (Gigapixel images used for visual effects)
