Objectification of Tongue Diagnosis with a Compact Digital Camera-Photographing Standard and Repeatability- / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

In order to maintain objective tongue diagnosis, we have researched a photographic standard and the repeatability of tongue photography, using a Compact Digital Camera (i. e. digital camera).<br>We photographed the tongues of subjects who held a small color chart on the end of a chopstick.<br>We were able to reduce the level of reflected camera flash when the camera was held vertically by its upper grip, in such a way that camera flash came from the subjects' upper left. We examined various focal distances, and white balance (W. B.) settings in the camera's Close-up Mode, and obtained well-adjusted photographs with minimal reflection when the focal distance was about 10cm, and the camera's W. B. was set to Flash Mode. Photographs taken under these conditions were highly consistent regardless of place, time, and who the subject or photographer were. We report this photographic standard as recommended for objective tongue photography.