Photography

Pocket

Survival

Guide:

10 Tips

For Better Imaging

• Emailing Pictures
• I don't have Photoshop
• Best Printer under $500?
• But I don't have a computer!
• Battery Power.
• Digital "Film"
• Perfect Scanning, Photo CD.
• Sharper Pictures
• A Faster Digital Camera
• WYPIWYG?

 

 
 



1. How do I email a picture?

To email a photo you first make it smaller and then attach it to your text. It is best if the size of the picture you email is a compressed JPEG less than 300 K, as some browsers will not send larger files.

1) In Photoshop, click Image > Image Size. Change the pixel dimensions to 400 pixels
width. You will notice that the print size in the lower part of the image size box also changed. Click OK.

2) Save it as a JPEG file (You can only do this with pictures that have all the layers flattened).
Then set the JPEG quality level to 4, standard mode. Then save your picture again to a new folder in the windows directory on your hard drive C:

3) Create this new folder called "Emails" and save the picture in this folder by double clicking the new folder symbol which looks like a manila file folder. This brings the folder into the top part of the SAVE dialog box.

4)     In AOL, there is a button for attachments, or a paper clip symbol. Click on this. Then browse to
the emails folder, where you have saved your picture, and attach it to your text.

5)     In Microsoft Outlook Express, Click  Insert > Picture > Browse
and search your windows directory files for your picture. Then, highlight the file, Open > OK.
Set image size to 400 pixels maximum. Use JPG compression
down to as low as level 2 to make the image transmit faster over slow phone lines to
your client.

2. I can't afford $600 for Photoshop, so what program
should I buy to enhance my pictures?

    You can buy the lighter version of Photoshop, called Photoshop LE at $99.

TIP! Side by side comparisons of
16 imaging programs are described in detail
on Kodak's web site at:
www.kodak.com/ global/en/professional/products/storage

3. What Inkjet Printer Should I Buy under $500?

    The Best Inkjet printers under $500 are Epson's
Stylus Photo EX and Epsons 1200 models
due to 11x17 prints,
higher speed of output, flexible media use with art papers,
iron-ons, and panoramic paper.
Cartridges run $25 each.
See also ALPS MD-5000 for a superb quality
dye sublimation printer under $600 .
The ALPS uses ribbons instead o cartridges, so you don't replace
the ribbons as often.
 

4. Digital Prints without a Computer? No problem.

    Digital Photo Printers make excellent 4 x 6 photo quality images.
Polaroid's Color shot, and Canon's Powershot CD-200 create quick and easy
high- quality prints. Connect your digital camera to your printer directly.

5. Don't Digital camera use up batteries?

    Yes, here is the solution. Get NiMh, or nicket metal hydride batteries.
Best AA Batteries for Digital Cameras are NiMH, $3.50 each at Batteries Plus
in Littleton, CO, (303) 771-7112, $ 25 for a charger. NIHM lasts about 10x longer than
alkalines. Digi- Power Pac is an external $40 battery allowing 400 pictures without
recharging. www.bhphotovideo. com
 

6. Film-LESS:

    Digital cameras have reusable "film" that looks like
postage stamp sized credit cards.
8 Mb "film" is $60, 16 Mb $85. New is the 128 mg chip for
$200. IBM power drive
stores 340 mg for about $400. See Lexar Hi Performance
digital film at www.digitalfilm.com

7. Want to buy a Scanner?

    For large format photographers who want PERFECT scans, the AGFA Argus Series
is for you. Scan up to 8" x 10" transparency film. Consider the new AGFA DuoScan T2500.
At $4500 it scans optically at 2500, a 25 mg file, for pro quality optical scans and
poster sized prints from 4" x 5" transparencies.
 

8. What about less expensive scanners?

    Nikon Coolscan III is superb at fast slide scans.
See also the Polaroid Sprint Scan
for complete scans in under a minute.
Photo CD: A guide to photo cd and printing
challenges from photo cd is Lawlor's guide at:
http://www.thelawlers.com/Companion.html

9. Can I Sharpen a Picture in my Computer?

    I use FILTER > SHARPEN > UNSHARP MASK (USM) carefully in Photoshop.
USM starting settings are 85, 1, 10 for Radius, Tolerance & Reason? The USM
works by adjusting edge contrast to create the illusion of monitor sharpness, but
adds an artifact into printed images.

10. Which camera is faster and has better resolution?

        Faster Digital Cameras (1999). The new Nikon 950 and Olympus 620 digital
cameras have 1200 by 1800 resolution and they are fast, taking pictures in
1.7 seconds in Hi Quality (HQ) mode, 10 times faster than the Kodak DC260.
        Price for the Nikon Coolpix 950 is about $950, and the new Olympus
Camedia 200 is about $1000 in Denver stores. Want a real compact digicam?
Check out Fuji's MX 2700, under 9 ounces and under $700.
For Reviews of Agfa, Nikon, Canon, Olympus cameras and scanners, see:
http://www.image-acquire.com/review.shtml
 

Jim Austin M.A.

Austin teaches Digital Photography at Colorado Free University,
Metro State College of Denver and tutors Private computer
& photography lessons at $40/hr. Credentials include Adobe
Certified Expertise, Presidency of the Denver Photographic Society,
and gallery representation by Photographer's Gallery in Cherry Creek, Denver.

Contact Jim

All images are protected by copyright (c) 2000, Jimages Photography. All images are stock and for sale at $200 for use. Other than sale, these images may not be duplicated, scanned, published, reproduced, or distributed in any way, including but not limited to print or electronic and/or digital media, or linked or otherwise referenced on the internet or other digital information networks without written consent.