CCDs

CCD stands for charged-coupled device. CCDs are microchips found in digital still and video cameras that record information by detecting light. When light passes through the lens and hits the CCD, the light strikes atoms and electrons are released. These atoms are stored in the CCD in rows. CCDs are grids made up of capacitors, and each one is equal to one pixel. A pixel is the smallest element of digital photgraphy. CCDs record monochrome images unless a Bayer Mask is added to it, which has red, blue, and green filters. Also, beam splitters are sometimes used in more expensive cameras, which split the beams into red, green and blue, and each pixel recieves information from each. These type of cameras are bulky and more expensive, but give much better image quality.