DP Hardware

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28
Aug 07

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scanning

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scanning*

*but weren’t sure who to ask.

Every scanner works a little differently, but these terms and tips should help you through the process.

TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Image Editor – This is any program that allows you to manipulate an image. Some titles include Adobe Photoshop and Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft PictureIt, and MGI Photosuite.

Scanner Driver – This is the software that allows your scanner to operate. Some scanners such as Visioneer and HP come with bundled software that tries to do too much, all you really need is your scanner driver and preferred image editor.

Import, Aquire, Get Photo – Depending on the Image Editor that you use, the name for this function will vary. This function allows you to scan you image directly into the image editor vs. using the proprietary software that came with your scanner, i.e. Visioneer Paperport.

Prescan or Preview – This function, again, depends on the software that your scanner uses. Clicking on this option allows your scanner to do a quick scan of what is laying on the scanner. This is done prior to the actual scan.

Scan – This is the final step in scanning an image. After you have drawn a box around the subject that you want to scan. If you scanned directly into your image editor, the image will immediately appear in the desired program, no dragging and dropping necessary.

TIPS:

1. Dust off your scanner – use canned air.

2. Scan at a high resolution if you plan to manipulate the image.

3. Don’t let the scanner do all the work. Save tweaking for the image editor

4. 72 dpi for email, 300 dpi for printing, 600+ dpi for manipulating.

5. Don’t forget to close your scanner driver after you have scanned the image.

SHOPPING FOR A NEW SCANNER

1. 600×1200 minimum
(most available today are at least 2400)

2. Ignore the "Gimmick Buttons" – I don’t mean don’t buy a scanner WITH them, just don’t buy a scanner FOR them.

3. Epson scanners generally provide the best results for scanning transparencies.

4. More expensive scanners often come with more software and may be more durable, but not necessarily better image quality.

THE BASIC SCANNING PROCESS

1. Open your image editor or other photo program.

2. Select the Acquire, Import, Scan or other option that opens your scanner driver.

3. Once your scanner software opens, make sure the resolution is set to at least 300dpi.

4. Click on the preview or prescan button.

5. The image will show up, but it has not officially scanned yet.

6. Draw a box around the area you want to scan by putting the mouse arrow in one corner of the image – holding down the mouse button – and dragging diagonally to the opposite corner.

7. Once you are happy with the selected area, click SCAN.

8. Close your scanner software and the image will be available to save and/or tweak in your image editor opened in step 1.

Links from this month’s meeting

Scanning Tips and Tricks

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24
Jan 06

Digital Darkroom Basics Revisited

DIGITAL DARKROOM BASICS
(revisited)

This was the topic of our first meeting. I was nervous and talked faster than usual (yes it’s possible). As Rick Castellini sat on the side lines watching me ramble he just kept reminding me to take a breath once in a while.

The user group has grown since then and I am much more comfortable teaching the group. This month should be a much better meeting than that first one two years ago. Thanks for helping it become so successful.

This month’s topic is a brief over view of the elements of a digital dark room. We will discuss scanners, digital cameras, printers, monitors and even fun stuff like Wacom tablets and screen calibrators.

What is a digital darkroom?

This question always comes up. A digital darkroom is simply the equipment and software used to play with and print pictures from your computer. A digital darkroom typically includes a monitor, printer, scanner, digital camera and computer.

What do I need to get started?

We make it a point each month of stressing that Digital Photography does not equal digital camera. You can do digital photography with any picture from any source. You can play with pictures that someone else sent you in your email or you can do it with pictures that you scanned in. It doesn’t matter how the pictures got on your computer.
Other than a computer the only other vital tool is a program that allows you to alter the pictures.

What kind of computer do I need?

If still pictures is all you really want to play with then you don’t need much of a workhorse. Any computer purchased new should do the trick. However, The lower end the computer falls the sooner it will need replaced. The following chart shows some good guidelines to follow:

Processor: Pentium 4 or Athlon 4 chip – NOT CELERON.
RAM: 256 MB – I would recommend doubling this (roughly $70 per 256)
Hard Drive – very important! 60 gigabytes MINIMUM – The more the better!
64 MB video card – minimum.
Optical mouse – these are cheap to add – less than $20 in most cases.
CRT monitors are best – LCDs don’t show as many colors in most cases.

What do I look for in a scanner?

I like the Epson Perfection 3170. It is a workhorse and it does slides, negatives and even medium format film! Look for at least 2400 dpi. Ignore the interpolated resolution on the box.

What do I look for in a camera?

There are a variety of features that we will discuss at the meeting. Look forward to a "Shopping for a Digital Camera" meeting in the near future.

What do I look for in a printer?

Photo labs produce the best results in you are looking for something that will last, but if you want a printer for home – you can’t beat the Epson Photo line of printers.

At the meeting we will also discuss other goodies like monitor calibrators, Wacom tablets, and CDRW vs. DVD-R(+R).

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24
Jan 06

Digital Darkroom Basics

Digital Darkroom Basics

The inaugural meeting of our Digital Photography SIG was amazing. We literally had a standing room only crowd and as with all of your Users Groups meetings the information shared was nothing short of fantastic. Here is some of the information shared at the meeting:

Basic computer requirements

If you already have a computer and it is working great for your purposes, don’t take this as a suggestion to buy a new computer. However, if you are in the market for a new computer and want to know what to look for, here are
my suggestions from the meeting.

Processor: (Basic User) Celeron or Duron 1 gigahertz (Advanced User) Pentium 4 or Athlon 1+ gigahertz computer.
RAM: 128+MB for basic users and 256+MB for advanced users. We mentioned that Windows 98 and ME usually don’t handle more than 512MB very well but XP will pretty much handle whatever you put into it.
Hard Drive: At least a 20 gigabytes.
Monitor: 17” plus or dual monitors with a Radeon VE card.
Other Drives: CD-ROM, CDRW, Zip (optional)
Misc: 2 USB ports in front and 2 in back, 2 firewire ports, 1 ethernet port

“Photo quality” Printers

Don’t buy a “photo quality” printer based on what the sales man says in the store or the claim on the side of the box.
Make sure that you see samples and find out how fast the ink dries and that it will print on any type of paper.

Scanners

Optical DPI is the most important aspect of a printer. If you plan on cropping or enlarging a lot of photos, go for a 600+ dpi scanner.
Ignore the interpolated resolution because it doesn’t mean anything.
If you buy a scanner with easy access buttons, don’t be surprised if they suddenly stop working or if they don’t work the way they are supposed to.

Features of a Digital Camera

Viewfinder – Using the viewfinder instead of the LCD panel will save batteries.
LCD panel – Allows you to view and maintain images once they have been taken. It also displays the image immediately after the photo is taken.
Optical zoom – Digital cameras use both optical and digital zooms. Ignore the digital zoom number because it doesn’t do anything. A higher optical zoom will always produce a better image.

External Storage

The type of storage doesn’t make much difference but if you can’t store you images on removable media then you risk running out of “film.”

Media Reader

Using a media reader will save batteries and wear and tear on your camera and won’t break the bank at $25-$40.

Transparency Scanner

A transparency scanner allows you to scan slides and negatives at an extremely high resolution.
This is the best option for serious digital photographers.
They are very expensive though. Starting price is around $450 for a good one.

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24
Jan 06

Top 10 Digital Camera Tricks

Top 10 Digital Camera Tips:
(in no particular order)

1. Use Rechargeable Batteries:
Make sure your digital camera supports them. Look for at least 1800 mAh. Get more than one set.

2. Save those batteries:
The three best ways to save batteries are…
1. Don’t use your LCD except for macro and composition shots.
2. Don’t over use your zoom lens.
3. Don’t connect your camera to your computer (use a media reader).

3. Carry and Use Several Memory Cards:
The size of memory cards you carry is not as important as how you use it. If you carry large memory cards, try to rotate them as they get partially full. This will prevent you from losing all of your pictures if the card is corrupted or the camera is stolen or lost.

4. Keep the Camera Set on Highest Resolution:
You can never raise the resolution of an image. The lower the resolution, the lesser the detail and print size.

5. Use the Camera’s Hand Strap.
The small hand strap that comes with most cameras will help you hold the camera still and prevent you from dropping it.

6. Don’t Be So Anxious to See Your Photos:
It is easy to get in the habit of looking at your LCD screen immediately after taking each picture. Doing this will often cause you to miss another great shot. Take several pictures in a row, then go back and look at them.

7. Keep Your Camera’s Batteries Fresh:
Low batteries will slow down your camera’s response time. Power is used for focusing, zoom and flash recharging. If these processes are acting sluggish, it may be time to change your batteries.

8. Zoom Back for Macro Shots:
Often people try to turn their camera to macro, then zoom into the subject. Most macro lenses are designed to work from less than 3 feet away. Zoom your camera lens back and move the camera closer to keep the subject in focus. And Don’t used your flash.

9. Know Your Camera’s Lights and Beeps:
Your digital camera has a variety of lights and sounds. Common lights indicate the following: flash is on, the camera is ready to shoot, the flash is on, an image is being written to the card. Common sounds indicate: the camera can’t focus, auto timer is running, conditions are too dark to shoot without a flash.

10. Prepare Your Camera for the Shot:
Before you take the picture, hold the shutter release (picture taking button) half way down to allow the camera to meter and focus. When the camera is ready, press the shutter the rest of the way down. This will increase the reaction time of your camera for taking a picture.

Links from this month’s meeting

Digital Photography Review’s Glossary of Terms

Download Picasa Photo Sorting Software

Pic2Mail Picture Resizer

PC Inspector – flash memory recovery

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24
Jan 06

Getting to Know Your Digital Camera

Getting to Know your digital camera

KNOW YOUR SYMBOLS

AUTO – This mode allows the camera to do it all. When the camera is on auto mode it will determine all of the camera settings and whether or not you need your flash.

P = Program mode – this mode is similar to AUTO except it allows you to turn your flash on and off and adjust features such as macro and spot metering.

Flash – The button with this symbol turns your flash on and off and often turns on red-eye feature. If it is in the viewfinder it means your flash is on.

Flash is disabled.

Redeye mode – typically this is enabled by pressing the flash button a few times.

Macro mode – enable this feature when you want to take SUPER close-up shots such as a bee on a flower.

Spot metering. This feature allows you to set the camera’s exposure to a given segment of the photo such as a dark shaded area or bright reflecting surface.

Toggles the LCD monitor on the back of the camera on and off.

Self Timer. Allows you to take picture on a delayed basis either to keep the camera still or so you can jump into the photo too.

Allows you to put a sound annotation with the photo – if you use this feature it will significantly cut down on the number of photos you can take – but it’s cool.

FORMATTING THE MEDIA

The best way to erase all of the photos on your camera’s memory card is to format the card.

While most film readers will format your camera’s memory card, it is best to do it in the digital camera. Some digital camera’s are very picky about how the card is formatted and some media readers do a poor job at formatting.

MOVIE MODE

For the most part – this feature is a gimmick, but there may be a time when it is the only "video camera" you have.

VIEWING YOUR PHOTOS

In order to view your photos on the LCD panel, you must have the camera turned to the proper mode. Look for a rectangle with a little arrow triangle inside.

Use your camera’s zoom and arrow buttons to cycle between photos and look at your photos up close.

Links from this month’s meeting

Digital Camera Symbols

Mail Order vs. Retail

Short Courses on Digital Photography

Buy Photoshop Elements HERE!

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24
Jan 06

Digital Camera Mini Lab

Digital Camera Mini-Lab

Important Camera Features

The zoom lens: The zoom lens does much more than just bring the subject closer. It can also compress the photo, bringing the subject and background closer together.

-NOTE: This effect does not work with digital zoom.

Macro Lens: This feature, found on most cameras, allows the photographer to take extremely close-up shots. Some cameras have a macro that works fractions of an inch, others consider "macro" to be at least 3′ from the subject.

Self Timer: While the actual process of setting the timer depends on the camera, most cameras have a self timer that allows you to take photos on a delayed basis. This feature enables you to be in the family photos.

Holding It Still: If you are on location with your camera, always carry a tripod or monopod. A tripod will help you hold the camera very still for long exposures and a monopod will help you hold the camera more steady in unpredictable shooting situations.

Quality/Resolution: The greater the number of pictures, the worse the resolution. The lesser pictures, the higher resolution.

Exposure: Aperture, Shutter speed and ISO/ASA.

Aperture: adjustment of the diameter of the lens opening.

Shutter speed: adjustment of how long your camera’s shutter or "eye" stays open to let light in.

ISO/ASA: film measurement that tells you how sensitive your film or "eye" is to light. The higher the number, the more sensitive. ALSO – The higher the number, the higher the grain.

Links from this month’s meeting

Nikon School

Kodak’s Taking Great Pictures Guide

Digital Photography Tutorial Links

The Best Digital Camera Gallery

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24
Jan 06

Digital Camera Basics

There are a few differences between 35mm cameras and digital cameras. The following are a few that we discussed.

Shutter delay: There are two types of delay to expect in a digital camera. The first is the delay that the camera needs to auto focus. The second is the delay that the camera needs to analyze the image and store it on a disk. When you take a picture with a digital camera wait a second or so before you move the camera.

Battery Life: Digital cameras are about as efficient with batteries as early model Buicks were with gas. There are some ways that you can cut down on battery consumption though.

LCD Monitor: Don’t use it unless you have to.

Zoom Lens: Don’t use it unless you have to.

Transferring Pictures: Purchase a digital media reader to transfer images. Hooking your camera to your computer to transfer images is hard on your camera and your batteries. Make sure that the media reader you buy is compatible with your camera’s memory.

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24
Jan 06

How to Get Better Printing Results

Better Printing Results

One of the only disadvantages to digital photography compared to film is the fact that you don’t automatically get a print.

If you want to share your photos with someone, hang a picture on the wall or carry one in your wallet, you must print your photos out.

There are a variety of factors to consider when printing out your photos.

How Should You Print Them?

Are these prints going to be keepsakes or are they going to be used for a homework project?

If your photos are to withstand the test of time and the elements it may require a little more money for processing through a lab. Most inkjet prints won’t last through the end of the decade.

If your photos are for a disposable project consider whether they need to be printed on good paper, on the best quality, or will you be just as well off printing them on standard paper in grayscale?

Which Methods Produce Best Results?

At the meeting I will bring in samples from home printer, online order prints, and online photo labs and let you judge for yourself.

Home Printing Factors

If you decide to print on your own printer, there are some important items to consider.

InkJet prints do not last as long
For best results Paper + Ink = $.50-$1.50 per page (more in some cases)
Monitor color and printer color may not be equal
InkJet prints are not as tolerant to the elements (water and air)

Lab Printing Factors

Professional printing labs produce the best results, but you should consider the following in your decision.

Most labs charge a fee to "open" the CD (place it in the computer and look at the file). Typically this fee is around $3
Expect to pay between $.25-$2 per 4×6 print. (not including the open CD fee)
The result is a true photograph (not an ink or dye based print)
You must take the digital image to a lab, the process typically takes about an hour.

Online Prints

Online labs such as shutterfly and clubphoto are great ways to share photos and let your family and friends pick up the tab for the prints they want. Other things to consider include: