While the technology has been around for decades, infrared and thermographic imaging has become an essential tool to roofing companies in recent years. In laymens terms, infrared cameras detect and photograph heat signatures with or without a light source, and which may or may not be visible to the naked eye. Las Vegas roofing company, Roofing Southwest, says the ability to pick up radiation and heat in various roofing components and layers has been an invaluable tool in diagnosing and solving hidden problems. The technology has also proven to be more cost-effective.

An infrared image might pick up such problems as missing insulation, moisture underneath roofing materials, energy leaks in the roofing system, and much more. Since infrared imaging is non-invasive, it is a more economic method of diagnosing problems than ripping up the roof to check for hidden damage or energy loss. This offers terrific advantages for roofing companies and property owners to not only catch problems that otherwise might have remained hidden, but also providing for a more sound, money-saving decision when deciding between repairing and maintaining, or completely tearing off and replacing the roof.

Another advantage to using infrared or thermographic imaging is for use with spray foam roofing materials. Spray foam typically seals tightly around vents, pipes and other roof penetrations. Because it is applied as a liquid (which expands during application), it forms a continuous, seamless, protective barrier. There are no seams or joints – the most common source of leaks in traditional roofs. A thermographic image taken after application can show any spots that might not have been covered properly and can be finished with a quick touch up application of foam.

Many states and government programs offer tax credits when home and business owners upgrade buildings to higher energy efficiency. Thermal scans of the roof are playing a big part in helping people save money particularly in larger commercial buildings, including apartments, hotels, casinos, schools, and industrial & retail complexes although homeowners can save substantial amounts as well. Studies have shown that upgrading buildings to more energy efficient products can save as much as 15 30% (or more) in utility costs in some cases. If youd like to know what tax credits are available in your state, you can visit the government website: http://energy.gov/savings.

About Roofing Southwest

With 40 years in the roofing business, the professionals at Roofing Southwest have decades of combined experience working on all types of roofs, both commercial and residential. Noteworthy projects include The Orleans Casino, Gold Coast Casino, UNLV, Nellis AFB & Clark County School District. Roofing Southwest is licensed, bonded, and

Training developer InfiniteSkills has now released a new HDR Photography Tutorial Video Course that introduces the basic concepts behind high dynamic range imaging and goes step by step through the production of professional quality HDR images. With 3 hours of hands-on lessons, the course moves from planning to shooting to HDR processing and image correction. The lessons include extensive guidance on using Photomatix and Adobe Photoshop to create both realistic and hyper-realistic digital photos.

HDR Photography Training Video – Tutorials on DVD

After the success of our Photoshop for Photographers course, we knew there was a demand for real world training in photography skills, said Colin Boyd, sales director for Infinite Skills. So weve put together a unique hands-on course on HDR, a quickly growing set of techniques changing the way many professional and amateur photographers go about their work.

The HDR imaging training course is led by Andy Anderson, a world class trainer who has authored 17 books and led training seminars for companies and institutions as diverse as Boeing Aircraft and The White House. Andersons professional history and perspective frame many of the photography lessons, as he explains even advanced theory and technical details in discrete steps that even beginners can understand.

The HDR tutorials begins with a basic definition of dynamic range, exposure, and the ways high dynamic range techniques are used by different photographers. After establishing the basic background, the lessons move right into camera controls and shooting techniques, with tips for a wide range of cameras, from basic consumer models to DSLRs. The next chapters focus on uploading the raw images and effectively managing and processing them on a computer, using Adobe Photoshop and Photomatix by HDRSoft. Anderson covers merging, tone mapping, exposure fusion and more.

Andy is a natural with a camera, and hes able to bring his enthusiasm and professionalism into every lesson he does, said Chris Johns, content coordinator for InfiniteSkills. That means tutorials that are very, very informative but also fun to watch. Absolutely anyone can learn pro-level techniques from this training.

The InfiniteSkills HDR Photography course closes with lessons on fine-tuning images and dealing with common challenges often encountered in the process. Anderson shows how to deal with excessive image noise, enhance dull images and produce HDR effects with black and white photos.

The complete HDR Photography Training Video series can be ordered directly from Infinite Skills as a Mac and Windows-compatible DVD-ROM or as an instant download from the HDR tutorial page. The course includes sample images that allow viewers to follow the onscreen examples and begin learning without existing media. The full package retails for USD $ 99.95 and can be purchased worldwide.

Free demo tutorials and a complete listing of chapters included can be found on the product page.

http://www.infiniteskills.com/training/learning-hdr-photography.html

About InfiniteSkills Inc

InfiniteSkills is a leading provider of professional training solutions on best-selling creative software, productivity applications and programming languages. With a dual focus on technical innovation and customer service, the company continues to find new ways to deliver educational content to individuals and organizations around the world.

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