Something about DG (digital photography)

Useful expressions:

Pixels (picture elements) = the small squares which forms the image

Mega pixels = million pixels

PPI = the resolution expressed in Pixels per inch

The old ISO can be compared to ppi as a sign of sharpness

DPI = dots per inch is what a printer makes to form the pixels (many dots per pixel

For a perfectly sharp print 300dpi’s are needed, but more only makes file larger.

Less than 240dpi for computer screen viewing 90 is enough.

Optical Zoom = is using the lens to obtain a larger picture

Digital Zoom = using the software to obtain a larger picture (not necessary on the camera)

Buying a camera: to obtain 300ppi you need 2,1 MPixels for a 4x6 inch print

To obtain 300ppi you need 3,1 MP for a 5x7 inch print

Which battery? Easy to buy or re-charge? Think about it!

Chip should have CMOS colour variation

If camera is small it should have an anti-shake devise.

Saving the picture:

JPEG format = best for online transmission, but at the expense of image data (quality)

JPEG is the most used, but use it for email only as the compression is not “lossless” so if you want to print it is not the best.

GIF format = better quality but at the expense of colours (only 256)

PNG = better than the above, but larger files and many computers cannot accept it.

TIFF = can be used by both Windows and Machintosh

PSD (and many other formats) are specific the photoshop files and cannot be read by all.

If you only use picture on your own computer use this.

Transfer of pictures from the camera:

-as a direct transfer by cable with special software (ok but not the easiest way to transfer pictures and it only works on YOUR computer)

-(as with a film) consider the memory card in your camera as a film which you take out and transfer to your computer (you need a card reader and a multi-format reader to USB port cost about 20€) In your reader you only have to open the file on the card and drag the pictures to the folder you want – incl. a memory stick – this is a real advantage if you travel and you can have hundreds of pictures in your pocket always emptying your camera!

Using and improving a picture

(there are 3 ways – easy – more complicated – very time consuming)

The easy way:

If you have Windows 98 or higher: Double click any picture in your folder. A ruler will appear at the bottom and to the right there is a small icon of a landscape “opens image editing” Use the editing to change brightness, red eyes, size etc. and hit “save as” and you can choose folder, name of picture and format (JPEG,GIF,TIFF,PNG and others) Your improved picture (and compressed if you prefer – I am sure the recipient prefers!) is now ready to send, put into an album or into a Word document.

The slightly more complicated way

(but THE way if you are putting it into a word document anyway!)

Open a Word Document and “insert” the picture. If you don’t have a permanently “Picture Toolbar” (which you can insert by “View>Toolbars>picture” right click the picture and select “toolbar”. The “picture toolbar” now appears somewhere and you can manipulate the picture amazingly (colour-contrast-brightness-crop-rotate-line style-compress-text wrapping-format-reset) and you have a new beautiful picture in your document, letter or attachment.

The time consuming way:

(which you want to REALLY change and improve a picture) you must have a special PHOTOSHOP (or whatever programme) which normally comes with your camera or XP2.

Here you must “- Import photo-edit photo” and then if you are not THAT professional “enchance photo” or better even “AUTO enchance” you will see that your poor picture turns into an artwork. If you are still not satisfied you can use the “Clone Tool” with which you can transfer nice pixels onto the bad ones and thus remove scratches, dust or other unpleasant things.

After this you go to “save>save as>insert file name, folder and Format (JPEG maybe) and then >quality.

Make a folder under “My pictures” and then others for different pictures so you have albums. Nowadays these “albums” can be viewed on the TV as a slide show.

After a while you never open a picture album again. Then it gets interesting because now you want to scan and transfer all your old slides and pictures. Before you know it you will lose all your friends because you sit at the computer all day.

HAVE FUN