Information channel capacity of a photographic film (Corresp.)

Abstract

A different approach toward the information channel capacity of a photographic film is presented. It is based on the total number of possible combinations of the smallest distinguishable regions in a piece of photographic film. The information channel capacity of a hologram is also discussed. It is found that the information capacity of a hologram is somewhat lower than that of a photographic film. However, the information content of a hologram is, in general, greater than that of a photograph. It is the recording process used in making a hologram that provides the advantage over an ordinary photograph. Nevertheless, if the object to be recorded were properly encoded, then the information content of a hologram could never reach that of a photographic film.