You also need to manage your pictures. If you've got an older PC at home with, say, only an 8- to 12-gigabyte hard drive, and you start storing digital images on it, your computer could be toast within a few weeks. The files will fill the storage space. To avoid that, you'll need to regularly delete unwanted files or consider upgrading your computer. A lot of times it's as easy as getting an auxiliary hard drive.
How are digital prints made?
Westergren: You can find photo kiosks, where you can print your own photos from memory cards or disks, at stores like CostCo, Walmart, and Target. Usually the kiosks at these large discount stores are state-of-the-art because there's so much competition for this type of business. Right now you can make a 4 by 6 [inch/10 by 15 centimeter] print for as low as 19 cents [U.S.]. You can also make prints at home by using a digital printer. But those are best if you're making larger shots, 8 by 11 [inch/20 by 28 centimeters] or 8.5 by 11 [inches/22 by 28 centimeters] in size.
Is there such a thing as digicam etiquette?
Westergren: Yes. Always downsize images to 75 kilobytes or less before you e-mail them. For Christmas my brother-in-law got a digital camera and e-mailed pictures to everyone. It took 45 minutes for his e-mail to download at my house, because he just took the images straight from the camera and sent them out.
Are there any creative ways to show off your digital images?
Stuckey: You can create a professional-looking photo album using Apple's iPhoto software or the website www.mypublisher.com, and then order a hardbound copy. You can create an online album using www.snapfish.com, www.ofoto.com, or www.shutterfly.com. All three sites let you store your images for free, and you can send links to family and friends, who can pick out their favorites and order their own prints.
|
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
|
