Digital Photos
Tips for the Penny Pinching Photographer
07/09/09 16:53 Filed in: Digital Photo Tips
It can be difficult to find the correct price range for the image files you wish to print but a few simple tips can help put you on the right track.
It’s important to know the purpose of your digital photo printing. If you’re planning on running off a large folder just to browse through physical copies of your shots then standard computer printers can often do a good enough job to warrant leaving your wallet out of the process. Some models allow you to feed a higher quality stock of printing paper as well, meaning that if your printer is able to, you can enjoy decent photos without having to use an outside source.
For medium-grade images it’s usually best to make use of a digital printing service that will allow you to quickly edit and format your photos before running them off on gloss or matte paper. These services are often available at specific shops or through a wide array of internet sources. Electronic printing has been developed into an extremely simple and quick process as well and can usually be had for quite cheap if a few albums are ordered at once.
If quality is of the utmost importance to your work but you’d like to keep the cost as low as possible then bulk printing can often be a great option. Many printing firms will have a fairly cheap option available that allows customers to print out uncropped and uncut copies of their photos on professional grade stock. Of course you’ll need to do the extra work of cutting your photos down yourself but the quality that this option affords makes this step well worth it in the end.
It’s important to know the purpose of your digital photo printing. If you’re planning on running off a large folder just to browse through physical copies of your shots then standard computer printers can often do a good enough job to warrant leaving your wallet out of the process. Some models allow you to feed a higher quality stock of printing paper as well, meaning that if your printer is able to, you can enjoy decent photos without having to use an outside source.
For medium-grade images it’s usually best to make use of a digital printing service that will allow you to quickly edit and format your photos before running them off on gloss or matte paper. These services are often available at specific shops or through a wide array of internet sources. Electronic printing has been developed into an extremely simple and quick process as well and can usually be had for quite cheap if a few albums are ordered at once.
If quality is of the utmost importance to your work but you’d like to keep the cost as low as possible then bulk printing can often be a great option. Many printing firms will have a fairly cheap option available that allows customers to print out uncropped and uncut copies of their photos on professional grade stock. Of course you’ll need to do the extra work of cutting your photos down yourself but the quality that this option affords makes this step well worth it in the end.
When to use the Flash on a Digital Camera
06/04/09 18:16 Filed in: Digital Photo Tips
The quality of your digital photographs is always important but many shots can turn out either drastically overexposed or far too dark if the camera’s flash isn’t taken into proper consideration.
The first aspect to consider is the quality of your camera. The majority of mid-range digital cameras are still unable to take high-quality pictures with or without the flash turned on in poor lighting conditions. If you’re lucky enough to own a more expensive digital SLR camera then this problem becomes easier to rectify. These models often host more in-depth settings to control the intensity of the flash and ultimately create better shots. They’re also compatible with additional components that allow for customizable lighting and image capturing in almost any type of light.
Your lighting situation is extremely important, as noted above. Dimly lit environments (such as bars, reception halls or dining rooms) will make your shots appear fuzzy without flash and washed out or oversaturated with it applied. Darker surroundings can also make shots appear blurry or out of focus if there is only scarce light available (such as candles or light from reflective surfaces).
If you have a mid-range digital camera then your choices should be based on your setting. In extremely dark environments turning on your flash is a must if you wish to capture anything of your surroundings. In low light you can sometimes get away with leaving it turned off providing that some additional light can be focused on your subject. Leave the flash off when a room is brightly lit or when outdoors where natural light is available.
The first aspect to consider is the quality of your camera. The majority of mid-range digital cameras are still unable to take high-quality pictures with or without the flash turned on in poor lighting conditions. If you’re lucky enough to own a more expensive digital SLR camera then this problem becomes easier to rectify. These models often host more in-depth settings to control the intensity of the flash and ultimately create better shots. They’re also compatible with additional components that allow for customizable lighting and image capturing in almost any type of light.
Your lighting situation is extremely important, as noted above. Dimly lit environments (such as bars, reception halls or dining rooms) will make your shots appear fuzzy without flash and washed out or oversaturated with it applied. Darker surroundings can also make shots appear blurry or out of focus if there is only scarce light available (such as candles or light from reflective surfaces).
If you have a mid-range digital camera then your choices should be based on your setting. In extremely dark environments turning on your flash is a must if you wish to capture anything of your surroundings. In low light you can sometimes get away with leaving it turned off providing that some additional light can be focused on your subject. Leave the flash off when a room is brightly lit or when outdoors where natural light is available.
The Importance of Digital Photo File Size
31/03/09 16:19 Filed in: Digital Photo Tips
One of the elements of digital photography that many novices are confused by is the importance of file size when taking shots with your camera. Here are a few tips to help with this matter.
The general rule of thumb is that larger is better. Digital image files are able to create a higher resolution picture if the amount of allocated space is larger so it’s always a good idea to set your camera to the maximum file size when possible. Although this will limit the number of photos that can be saved, higher quality will allow you to print or edit your images into larger sizes while still keeping a good resolution.
Expandable memory is becoming cheaper all the time as well. If you only plan on taking throwaway type shots from a night on the town then its fine to save your images at a medium or low sized setting but it can be a real pain to come back from a vacation, holiday or special occasion with mediocre photos. If you know that your pictures are going to capture a one-time event then it’s always advisable to purchase a larger memory card/stick to allow for the highest possible resolution photos.
If you’re worried about how large your image files will be when it comes time to email them to friends and family then it’s important to know how simple re-sizing is. The vast majority of digital cameras will come packaged with photo editing software that allows for extremely easy picture cropping and re-sizing features, meaning that the quality of your photos doesn’t have to be sacrificed for the sake of speedy transfers and file sending.
The general rule of thumb is that larger is better. Digital image files are able to create a higher resolution picture if the amount of allocated space is larger so it’s always a good idea to set your camera to the maximum file size when possible. Although this will limit the number of photos that can be saved, higher quality will allow you to print or edit your images into larger sizes while still keeping a good resolution.
Expandable memory is becoming cheaper all the time as well. If you only plan on taking throwaway type shots from a night on the town then its fine to save your images at a medium or low sized setting but it can be a real pain to come back from a vacation, holiday or special occasion with mediocre photos. If you know that your pictures are going to capture a one-time event then it’s always advisable to purchase a larger memory card/stick to allow for the highest possible resolution photos.
If you’re worried about how large your image files will be when it comes time to email them to friends and family then it’s important to know how simple re-sizing is. The vast majority of digital cameras will come packaged with photo editing software that allows for extremely easy picture cropping and re-sizing features, meaning that the quality of your photos doesn’t have to be sacrificed for the sake of speedy transfers and file sending.
