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Picture This: Digital ImagingPosted 10/7/1997By Patrick Paul
What exactly is digital imaging? It is the use of a special computerized camera or everyday video camcorder to record images (still or moving) of damaged areas on vehicles, and then bringing those pictures into a computer software application that organizes them, prints them on paper, and in many cases, electronically transmits them to insurance or fleet companies. The thing that all the major digital imaging software packages have in common is that they work alongside estimating software; that is, you could write the damage estimate, get your pictures together in the imaging software, and send them all to the insurer or fleet company in one lump. Digital imaging allows fast, convenient transmittal of pictures and eliminates the use of film, photo processing and postage, not to mention the wait while they are delivered. The initial investment to begin using digital imaging is less now than ever before, though it is still certainly more expensive than buying a Polaroid camera and some film; the benefits of fast transmission and the elimination of the costs and hassles associated with conventional photography usually outweigh the down payment. In addition to convenience and long-term cost reduction, digital imaging also adds credibility and clout to your shop's damage reports and DRP claims. It aids in your shop's ability to document the damages and repairs done to vehicles while in its care. The next question is what do I need? The first thing you'll need is a computer - an IBM compatible with at least a 486 processor and 8 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) for most popular software solutions, to be exact. Something "beefier" would be a good idea if possible, such as a Pentium 133 megahertz (MHz) processor and 16 MB of RAM. Another important factor, if you intend to use a digital camera with a serial cable connection (don't worry, we'll get to that later), is a device called a 16550 UART controller. The UART (pronounced "you-art") is the chip (or chips) that controls the flow of data into and out of the computer to external serial devices, such as a camera. Older UARTs than the current standard 16550 type will slow the processing of images to a snail's pace in some configurations. You'll also need a modem if you intend to transfer pictures electronically, many megabytes of free hard disk space for image storage, a super VGA (SVGA) video adapter, a suitable camera for the software you choose and the software itself. The big three software vendors are CCC Information Services, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Mitchell International. Other setups use digital cameras designed for use with computers. These cameras have no moving parts except their shutters and are powered by normal AA batteries (rechargeables keep you from having to buy new batteries). They come in many shapes and with widely varying features, but they all operate similarly. The camera is turned on, you look through a viewfinder like a normal camera, point and shoot. The flash on most can be set to automatically activate in darker environments, flash on every picture, or not flash at all. Focus is automatic and foolproof perfect on most models as well. The pictures you take are stored on a chip inside the camera, or in some cases, on a data card. Pictures are then sent to the computer by way of a serial data or video cable, or by removing a data card and inserting it into a special data card reader installed in your computer. Setups using digital cameras vary greatly from one software vendor to the next, but many involve a Kodak, Logitech or Casio camera, which range in cost from $300 to $900. Features such as image quality, picture storage method and capacity, and lens type cause the price to vary. By far, the most economical digital camera setup uses a cable connection, but the flash data card transfer method employed by ADP's Photolink software is much faster, even if more expensive equipment is necessary, such as a data card reader for your computer. The use of digital imaging can create a more professional look for your claim files, as well as eliminate the ongoing costs of buying film and photo processing. Also, some insurance company DRP programs are now requiring digital imaging for participation. But whether you decide to implement a digital imaging system for a DRP or just for in-house use, be sure to evaluate your software and hardware purchase carefully, because what will work with one setup may not with another. Be sure you will be able to stick with your setup for quite some time to realize the benefits of the investment. Digital imaging software specifications and requirements, as provided by software manufacturers:
*disk space required by software only, image storage space not included.
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Copyright (c) 1996-2009. Automotive Service Association®. All rights reserved.
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Drop your instant cameras! That old companion of yours is now obsolete. The now commonplace use of digital imaging has brought the task of taking collision damage photographs into the computer age. This isn't really a new idea, however. Digital cameras themselves have been around for years, and collision industry software providers have had systems for using such cameras for a while, but most were cost prohibitive before now. Today, as more and more shops put computers in the place of pencil, pad and crash book for estimating, the ease of digital imaging is becoming more and more affordable, as well as more and more practical.
The digital cameras that each vendor's software will work with vary, but all can be used with a typical video camcorder and a device installed in the computer called a "capture card." In this arrangement, moving video is recorded with the camcorder, just as if you were making a "home movie" of the damage. Then, using normal video cables that you would use to connect the camcorder to your home VCR, you connect it to the capture card installed in your computer. The video is then played back as you watch it on-screen. On your command, the capture card intercepts the video signal and "captures" still frames of the movie, thus rendering normal pictures. This system can be cumbersome to use, but if you already own a camcorder, it could also be the most economical.
