@jeffleus Thank you for your quick response.
looks like you are correct in the scope issue.
console.log('image data 1: ' + $scope.imgData);
returns: [INFO:CONSOLE(45)] "image data 1: /9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wBDAAgGB .....
console.log('imgOut: 2: ' + imgOut);
returns: [INFO:CONSOLE(73)] "imgOut: 2: undefined"
I will research your two suggestions as a fix. Note: I am new to AngularJS.
Thank you!