2. Input devices

The two most popular types of input devices for creating an image in binary form are the flatbed scanner and the digital camera (including the one built into your smart phone)

Flatbed scanner.

A physical photograph can be copied into a binary file by using a flatbed scanner. The photo is placed face down on the glass, then a scanning head slowly moves across it. The head moves into its first position, and takes a reading of all the colours it senses in a narrow strip. Then it moves slightly and takes another set of readings. This continues until the head has scanned the whole photograph.

The binary data is stored as a file. This file can then be imported into an image editing application for processing.

Digital Camera

A digital camera has an image sensor that creates binary files directly.

These files are then stored in the camera's memory card or transferred by USB cable and Wi-Fi into a computer.