Improving the display of large image files in your applications
This Tech Tip appeared in Imaging News August 2004.
When working with large image files, display quality problems often occur in areas of detailed content, such as small text or thin lines. In order to achieve the best display of a large images that contain small detailed elements, create an image buffer in the form of a temporary snowbound object. The reduced image will match your screen resolution and size thus resulting in a greatly improved display. Here's how:
********************** IN JAVA (Java Imaging Toolkit ) *************************
public class SnowPanel extends Panel
{
....
....
public void paint(Graphics g)
{
if (wereDisplayChangesMade)
displayImage = getNewDisplayImage(mainImage);
//Do rest of painting with new displayImage object......
}
private Snowbnd getNewDisplayImage(Snowbnd sourceImage)
{
if (mainImage != null)
{
//Create Copy - Copy will contain all the current settings
Snowbnd display_image = new Snowbnd(sourceImage);
//Calculate the reduces width and height of the new image
int width = (display_image.getWidth() / 2);
int height = (display_image.getHeight() / 2);
//Create the reduced image and return
displayImage.IMG_create_thumbnail(width,height);
return displayImage;
}
return null;
}
......
......
}
*********************** IN C/C++ (Windows Imaging Toolkit) *********************
int getNewDisplayImage(int srcImgHandle)
{
if (srcImgHandle != 0)
{
int width,height,bpp;
LPDIB_HEADER lpbi =
IMG_bitmap_info(srcImgHandle,&width,&height,&bpp);
int newImgHandle =0;
if (two_ways_to_create_a_duplicate_image)
{
newImgHandle = IMG_create_handle_shell(lpbi);
if (bpp == 1)
IMG_dib_to_runs(newImgHandle);
IMG_merge_bitmap_handle(newImgHandle,nHandle,0,0,0);
}
else //Or this way
{
newImgHandle =
IMG_decompress_bitmap_mem((char*)lpbi,0);
}
///Set gamma, contrast, brightness, aliasing, etc...
//Calculate the reduces width and height of the new image
width = (width / 2);
height = (height / 2);
//Create the reduced image and return
IMG_create_thumbnail(newImgHandle,width,height);
return newImgHandle;
}
return 0;
}
*Note: Printing and manipulation functions should be performed on the original image.