Cameras

Answer: In digital photography, the cameras have certain resolution sizes for the pictures you take. I always choose the largest for that very same reason. Lower sizes will be disrupted of its quality when enlarged specially if you want to put them on paper and enlarged. So the best way to enlarge a photo is to shoot the photograph in its higher resolution and size. Answer:Not really, but if you want a big print from a small photo some programs have an effect that will add extra pixels so you can print it larger, I think it was a "Gaussian Blur" or something like that. Haven't used this in a while so I'll flag my answer from improvement. Gaussian Blur is used to soften an image and remove "fuzzies" that may occur when scanning photos with varying finishes. It is used to "soften the edges" between contrasting subjects of an image, such as a blue ball on a tan blanket. It does tend to make images "look" better, but that is ruled by perspective. - LessZoa

Photo manipulation programs (such as GIMP or Photoshop) can make images larger, however you will lose quality no matter what you do. Everything depends upon the original image being enlarged. A digital camera's image is saved by using JPEG compression, already losing valuable image data. Setting your camera to the highest possible resolution does help - but photographers and image manipulators should realize the compression is already lowering quality. If feasible, saving images as RAW or LAB (some high end cameras do this) will save as much image data as possible.

As the image is "blown up", the original pixels are separated, leaving gaps. The program then adds new pixels in those gaps, gradiating them between the original colors (similar to a blur). This is why when you "blow up" a picture it starts to look fuzzy, even pixelated. Image quality can be then improved by using various filters of the program such as Sharpen or Enhance and sometimes Gaussien Blur (along with adjustments to Contrast and Brightness); however, there is no fixed science to this. Some image specialists feel comfortable enlarging 10 to 15 percent, others will go as high as 25%. Then again more will flat out refuse to enlarge any image under 150dpi. Image quality always degrades upon each save. Always remember to keep your original image, and check the specifications required for your output.

When enlarging an image, several factors must be thought of... * Final output resolution (dpi:100% size) * ** Internet viewing is 72dpi, some use 75dpi

** Newspaper print is comfortable with 85dpi ** Magazine images should be no less than 150dpi (and even these can look bad) ** Posters (up to 36"x36") can put out decent quality at 300dpi * Try to keep your dpi to 100% of your output size * If final output is for large format (ie. billboards, outside advertising, etc.) ensure your RIP software can manipulate your image. * ** Images should be saved as EPS for large formats as RIP units are made to process these

* Remember, the closer the image is being viewed (in print) the higher resolutions reproduce better. * Consider the type of printing you are outputting to: * ** Offset, 4-color printing requires better defined images ** Sheet-fed printing up to 2 colors can deal with lower-quality images ** Web printing (not internet) with 6-color presses can deal with lower-quality images as there is more "dot" that bleeds into the paper - however they tend to blur a bit more

Audio and video file formats compatible with Windows Movie Maker include:

• Video: .asf, .avi, dvr-ms, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, .wmv

• Audio: .aif, .aifc, .aiff, .asf, .au, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .snd, .wav, .wma

• Picture: .bmp, .dib, .emf, .gif, .jfif, .jpe, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .tif, .tiff, .wmf

Go to www.chicagolandbeerhistory.com for more info.

George Joseph Cooke was my grandfather, but I know little about the brewery. Third-hand hearsay says there was some sort of scandal (a bad batch of beer?).

I believe it became Cooke Cold Storage before financial demise.

I could find no info at chicagolandbeerhistory.com, as someone suggested.

You can see a photograph of the Cooke brewery, circa 1902, at the web site "Photographs from the Chicago Daily News - Chicago Historical Society" at: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/ichihtml/

enter the search words: Cooke brewery

Since posting my previous reply, I have come upon the obituary of George J Cooke's father, J.S. Cooke. It explains a lot:

Source: Chicago Tribune Date: Monday, March 13, 1899

JOHN S. COOKE IS DEAD

South Side Brewer Succumbs to Attack of Heart Failure

Stricken while attending services in St. James' Catholic Church on March 5 Native of Ireland and resident of Chicago since 1857 Manufacturer of beer and bottler of mineral water Once a democratic candidate for City Treasurer.

John S. Cooke, President of Cooke Brewing company, died at 6:50 o'clock last evening at his residence, 2976 Michigan avenue. He was attacked by heart failure on Sunday, March 5, while attending services in St. James' Catholic Church, and sank gradually until he expired. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, but the details have not yet been arranged.

John S. Cooke was born in 1838 at Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland and when 14 years old came to America. He lived in New York City until 1857, when he came to Chicago, where he reared a family and built up a fortune. His first employment in Chicago was in the service of Sidney Kent, who conducted one of the few packing houses here at that time, but shortly afterwards he went to work for Michael Keeley, who was at that time in the soda-water business.

He married Miss Charlotte Rowland of Rochester, N.Y., in 1864, and the following year he accepted a position with Smith, Schwab & McQuaid, wholesale liquor dealers. When the business was sold later to Monheimer Bros. He remained with the house, and in 1880 bought out one of the partners, and the name was changed to Monheimer & Cooke. Mr. Cooke remained in business with the Monheimers till 1885, when he purchased the plant of the Union Brewing company, twenty-seventh street and the lake, and formed Cooke Brewing company. For the last few months the Cooke Brewing company has enjoyed the distinction of being the only independent brewing concern in Chicago. Mr. Cooke having steadily resisted all efforts to draw him into any of the numerous brewing combines.

Several years ago Mr. Cooke built a handsome summer residence at Lake Geneva, Wis., where he had a steam launch, and in season entertained many friends. He named the place Ara Glen, after a beautiful spot near his birthplace in Ireland. Two years ago he formed a company to bottle and sell mineral spring waters from Wauwatosa, Wis., and Quincy, Ill., and named it the Ara Glen Mineral Water Bottling company. Mr. Cooke was a Democrat, and in 1895 allowed his name to be placed on the Democratic ticket as candidate for City Treasurer in the election which made George B. Swift Mayor.

He left a widow and four children - Charles F., George J., and John R. Cooke, and Charlotte Irene Welch, wife of Dr. P. H. Welch. All reside in Chicago.

In February, 1959, my brother Ed tape recorded some family history from our parents. A portion of it is included below.

Mr. and Mrs. Kerwin were my father (Edward, Mary Kerwin Cooke�s younger brother) and mother (Marie). Ed was my brother Ed.

Mr. Kerwin: The oldest child was Mary Elizabeth, who was born on May the 20th, 1876 - ...

and Mary died in - the date is missing here � Lake Forest, Illinois. [July 25, 1953]

Ed: That was Mary Cooke wasn't it?

Mr. Kerwin: Yes, Mary had married George Cooke. Mary and George Cooke had five children � three girls and two boys. They were married by the way, on June 24th, 1896, in Chicago. George Cooke's family owned and operated the Cooke's Brewing Company, which was located not far from the Keeley Brewing Company previously referred to. The father of the family was John S. Cooke. The five children that Mary and George had were: Catherine, who married George Blow, and now lives in Virginia; - now wait till Mother comes. Mother! Come up a little closer here! Mother can tell us the Blow children.

Mrs. Kerwin: The Blow children were: George, and Tony � (Anthony)- there's one other in between there - and John is the youngest; Michael, there's a Michael. But I don't know whether Michael or Anthony comes second or third, but John. is the youngest. No girls. ...

So there are some of George Cooke's grandchildren.

Paul Kerwin