Imaging System Fundamentals: From Light to Lenses 

Imaging systems are foundational in the Media & Entertainment industry. Understanding the "why" is as important as understanding "how" because the fundamental science and physics behind imaging are key to mastering it. Whether you are early in your career or well into it, and learned along the way, SMPTE's "Imaging System Fundamentals" virtual course, developed in partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), helps you take that next step in your professional development. For anyone working with imaging systems, you can't miss this learning opportunity! 

Led by David L. Long and Ricardo Figueroa of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), this course is directed towards Motion Picture Technologists and creatives interested in understanding the fundamental science behind light, color, optics and imaging principles. While prior knowledge of college-level math and physics may be helpful, it is NOT required.

Here is what you will learn:

• Module 1. Imaging Chain, Energy, Electromagnetic Radiation, Wave-Particle Duality, Spatiotemporal Wave Equation, Wave Propagation Speed
• Module 2. Index of Refraction, Snell’s Law, Introduction to EMR Spectra
• Module 3. Radiometry, Planck’s Equation, Blackbodies, Correlated Color Temperature, Photometry
• Module 4. Interference, Diffraction, Polarization
• Module 5. Spectral Color Science, Absorption, Reflection, Transmission, Goniophotometry
• Module 6. Pinhole Optics, Lenses, Refractive Power, Lensmaker Equation, Focal Length, Positive/Negative Lenses, Ray Tracing
• Module 7. Gauss’s Equation, Aberration, Depth-of-Field, f-number
• Module 8. Photographic Exposure, Depth-of-Field, Field-of-View, Reciprocity Law