Some people shy away from digital photography because they prefer the "substance" of real printed photographs. They feel that pictures on a computer monitor don't offer the same qualities as pictures you can hold in your hand.
That notion alone, however, should not deter you from expanding into digital photography. Digital photos can be printed easily using fairly inexpensive color ink-jet printers that are available and compatible with most modern computers. And that's not your only option. In addition to creating high-quality prints using your home computer and printer, you can opt to have digital images printed for you by printing companies accessible on the Internet, or have prints made at commercial copy and printing shops such as Kinko's(TM).
Printing Digital Pictures from Your PC
Once you have your digital photos loaded onto your computer, there's no reason you can't print your favorites, provided that you have the right kind of printer and paper. You simply select the print function from your printer menu, just as you would with any document. High-quality color printers have come down in price to a degree that they are very affordable, but there are a few factors to consider.
When you give the "Print" command, your printer software should give you a list of options for selecting the type of paper you intend to use. These may include plain paper, photo-quality ink-jet paper, photo paper, glossy photo paper, matte finish, transparencies, et al. It's important to make a selection that matches the type of paper you're actually using.
Follow these steps when printing: - Make certain that your printer is turned on and loaded with the right kind of paper.
- With your image file open, select "Print" from your file menu.
- From the print-menu interface (figure A), select the type of paper that matches the paper loaded in your printer.
- Click print.
Paper Selection
The type and quality of paper that you use for printing will make a big difference in terms of the quality of your prints. Photo-quality ink-jet paper, for example (figure B, right), will give better results than plain paper (figure B, left), providing more saturated colors and finer detail.
For high-quality images, premium glossy photo paper will yield a high degree of color accuracy and an even finer detail that withstands scrutiny even under magnification (figure C).
Tip: Always handle glossy photo paper only by the edges. Fingerprints and smudges on the glossy surface may ruin the print.
Important:Always be certain to select the proper paper option when you give the print command. Choosing an option that doesn't match the type of paper you're using will result in poor printing.
Printing Digital Pictures at a Copy Center or Photo Processor
If you don't have access to a color printer at home, you can still get prints from your digital photos. One option is to go to a photo-printing kiosk at a neighborhood copy center. Simply bring your images with you on your memory card or a floppy disk (figure D). Follow the instructions at the kiosk to insert your disk or card into the proper drive. If you're printing straight from your memory card, you may need a memory-card adapter (figure E) that will allow you to insert the card into the floppy drive.
Once you've inserted your card or diskette into the machine, simply read and follow the prompts on the screen (figure F) to select your images and the sizes and formats that you desire.
As you select each image, you'll be able to preview it on the screen before printing, and you should have access to some editing tools for adjusting brightness, contrast and other settings. Once you're happy with your image, simply select the "Print" command.
The quality of prints made at these commercial kiosks (figure G) is quite good -- typically comparable to the result you can get on your home printer using high-quality paper. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
The third option for printing your images is to take your uncompressed images, copied to a CD, to a professional camera store or photo shop. There they can make the best possible prints under optimum conditions, using the highest-quality printers and professional-quality paper. Digital pictures printed in this way come as close as possible to high-quality photographs made from film negatives.
When deciding on your printing options, remember that printing at home using your own PC and printer offers convenience and can yield high quality, provided you use high-quality paper. For the most professional-looking results, however, rely on the pros at your photo store.
RESOURCES :
Rick Sammon, professional photographer
Web site: www.ricksammon.com
Learn more about photography with Rick Sammon's new e-book on CD. More than 100 tips and photographs from Rick's travels around the world.
And check out Rick's column on Kodak's site:
Web site: www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/magazine/tips/2001_10
Rick Sammon
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Email: RickSammon@aol.com
Website: www.ricksammon.com
Special Thanks for DIY's Digital Photography workshop, episodes 101-105
Adobe Photoshop
Web site: www.adobe.com
PC Photo magazine
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Kodak
Web site: www.kodak.com
Epson America, Inc.
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Kinkos
Web site: www.kinkos.com
Ulead Cool 360
Web site: www.ulead.com
The Digital Wallet
Web site: www.mindsatwork.net
The L.A. County Arboretum
Web site: www.arboretum.org
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Systems
Buffalo, NY 14240-1034
Website: www.adobe.com
PC Photo magazine
Website: www.pcphotomag.com
Online version of the magazine devoted to digital photography and related technologies.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography
Model: 002864235X
Author: Steven Greenberg
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Prentice Hall
Paramus, NJ 07652
Digital Photography For Dummies
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Author: Julie Adair King
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Hungry Minds, Inc.
Complete Digital Photography
Model: 1584500077
Author: Ben Long
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Charles River Media
Website: www.charlesriver.com/
50 Fast Digital Photo Techniques
Model: 0764535781
Author: Gregory Georges, Cris Rys
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Hungry Minds, Inc.
Epson Printers
Epson manufactures computer printers and imaging products.
Epson
Torrrance, CA 90503
Phone: 310-782-0770
Fax: 206-936-7329
Website: www.epson.com
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