Each CD-ROM contains:
  • Three versions of each image: high, medium, and low resolution
  • Versatile RGB format, drum-scanned images
  • Full-color print insert with thumbnail previews
  • Read-me file with useful historical information
  • Catalog reader included on discs with more than 25 images
  • Macintosh and Windows® compatability
 
File Sizes
High-resolution files are 300 pixels per inch and range in size from 9MB to 60MB RGB. The majority of the high res files are around 30MB. This provides a size large enough for high quality print reproduction on a full page size. The size of the files were determined by both the size of the original image and the amount of detail. Images that are more richly detailed are provided in the largest file sizes. Medium-resolution files are between 50% and 60% of the size of the high res files. They are 300 pixels per inch and range in size from 7MB to 12MB RGB. They are suitable for high quality print reproduction at their full size (for less than a full page size). Low-resolution files are are 72 pixels per inch versions of the medium res files and are approximately 600k RGB TIFF. These are ideal for screen preview, multimedia presentations and "for placement only" in layouts.
 
Clipping Paths
A clipping path is an outline around an image that allows you to mask the image and separate it from its background. This special feature is useful for dropping images onto white space or in assembling collages. A clipping path will render the smoothest possible edge around the image, constrained only by the resolution of your output device. Many of the images in the Visual Language Library include custom hand-edited paths embedded into the JPEG image files. These can be accessed by opening the image in Adobe Photoshop®.
 
Software Compatibility
Visual Language images are compatible with all leading photo manipulation, desktop publishing, multimedia and web authoring applications. Any application that allows the import of TIFF and/or JPEG files is compatible with the images. Some popular examples include: Adobe Photoshop, Aldus PhotoStyler, CorelDRAW, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe ImageReady, and Live Picture.
 
Why RGB?
It is our aim to provide images that are as versatile as possible, without compromising quality, for the end user. RGB is the original color space and contains the widest possible dynamic range and color gamut. RGB is useful for multimedia, monitor display and film recorders. Traditional full color print reproduction uses CMYK. However, it is not possible to optimize a CMYK image for every possible set of press conditions. Variables that should be taken into consideration are paper stock, type of inks used, desired effect, the film or digital output device, etc. These decisions we felt are best left to you, the creative professional.
 
About Compression
On our collections with very large file sizes and/or over 50 images, the highest quality JPEG compression is used very discretely, in a way that does not visibly erode the quality of the final images. We can allow this only if JPEG is used only once, at the final stage. We recommend that the end user never resave the image in the JPEG format after working in it if it is to be used in a high quality print reproduction.
 
Macintosh and Windows® Compatible
All of our image collection products are multi-platform, giving you the ability to use the same CD ROM disc on either or both a Macintosh or IBM PC compatible computer system.
 
System Recommendations
In order to get the most out of the large files of in Visual Language Library®, we recommend the following:
 
Macintosh Configuration
  • Macintosh® 68030 or faster processor
  • 32 MB RAM or more
  • 100MB of free hard disk space
  • System Software version 7.5 or later
  • Dual speed or faster CD-ROM drive
  • 24-bit color monitor
PC Configuration
  • 486-compatible or faster processor. (Pentium® processor is recommended.)
  • 32MB of RAM or greater.
  • 100MB of free hard disk space.
  • Microsoft® Windows 95 or Intel® based Windows NT 3.5 or later.
  • Dual speed or faster CD-ROM drive
  • High resolution SVGA graphics card with 1MB or greater of Video RAM.



Antique Maps
Homepage
Antique Maps of the World: 1520-1680
Antique Maps of the World: 1680-1898
Antique Celestial Charts and Illustrations
Extraordinary Cartographic Motifs
Antique Maps of the Continents and Regions

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Tel: 800-800-8560 ~ 804-443-9000