What you must understand to create quality prints with your digital camera.

A digital image is a rectangle made up of many small squares of color called pixels. The number of pixels across the width and height of the image is called the resolution. Am image with 640 pixels across the width and 480 pixels high has a resolution of 640x480. The more pixels in the image file, the higher the resolution. Many cameras offer a choice of resolutions from 640x480 up to 3000x2000 or higher. The larger the file resolution, the fewer images that will fit on your camera memory card. Commonly the size of a digital camera image is proportionate to 4x5.5 and not a 4x6.

Images viewed on a computer monitor are displayed at 72 dots per inch. Each pixel is converted into a dot of color. Am image with 640x480 resolution will be diplayed on a monitor as 8.9 x 6.7 inches in size. Therefore, an image with 640x480 resolution is a good size to view on a monitor, email to a friend, or use on a website. Unfortunately this resolution is too small to make a quality photographic print. Here's why...

In order to produce a photo quality print, we must have at least 300 pixels for every inch of print; 300 ppi (pixels per inch). So for a 4x6 print, we need a file resolution of 6" x 300 ppi = 1800 pixels across the width and 4" x 300 ppi = 1200 pixels in height. Therefore, a file resolution of 1800x1200 or higher for optimum 4x6 prints. This resolution would require a 2.1 megapixel digital camera (1800 x 1200 = 2.1 million pixels). A quality 8x10 would need an image file with a resolution of 3000x2400 or higher. Smaller resolution files can be printed but the results will be less than optimal.

If you will be sending or bringing in digital files, please read our File Setup Guide.

Setting White Balance for Digital Cameras

White balance is a term used to define the “white point” under different lighting conditions when using a digital camera. Setting the white balance of your digital camera will create a color balanced photograph under these different conditions. Light is measured in degrees Kelvin. This chart demonstrates how light changes in color and the approximate degrees Kelvin.

As you can see, by looking at the dominant color column, without proper white balancing your digital camera will record inaccurate colors of the scene you are photographing. If you are unsure of how to set your white balance, refer to your manual.

We suggest these steps before using your digital camera:

1. Practice setting white balance under different conditions in order to completely understand how to set your camera.

2. Set the white balance for the lighting conditions that are present.

3. Set the quality and compression settings appropriate for the use of the photograph.

4. Double-check your settings as lighting conditions change

Ten Great tips to great pictures

Use the sun to your advantage: Put the sun behind you when you can. When photographing people out doors watch you subjects. People will squint in bright sunlight and distort their faces. Baseball caps will cause harsh shadows, and when the sun is high, eye sockets will be shadowed and look deep. Use your fill flash outdoors to fill in shadows. When possible have people stand in a shaded area to relax their faces and use your flash to even out the exposure.

Think horizontal or vertical: Remember to turn your camera when shooting tall objects. This allows you to fill the frame more with the subject and eliminate unwanted background clutter.

Keep the background simple: When photographing people, look at the background and foreground for things that will clutter the photo. Watch for plants or other objects that look as if they are growing out of your subject’s heads. When using flash indoors, watch for things that will cause shadows. A chandelier hanging low will cause shadows on the subject or the background. Glare can be avoided by shooting glass-covered pictures at an angle. Watch for glass doors or windows that are in a straight path to the flash; these will cause glare.

Fill the frame with the subject: When photographing people, get close, fill the frame and use your flash outdoors to fill in shadows and put highlights in their eyes. When photographing objects, fill the frame as much as possible to eliminate background. More detail can be achieved when this technique is used.

Hold the camera steady: Shaking while taking the photo will cause the picture to be blurry. Deliberately hold the camera still before, and during the picture taking process. It is best to relax and hold the camera in a natural way. Be careful not to cover the flash with your finger while firing the shutter. Be aware that the camera strap hanging in front of the lens, or flash. The strap will show up as a shadow or obstruction in your picture.

Understand the limitations of your equipment: Most point and shoot cameras are unable to focus closer than three to four feet. Getting closer than the focus limitation of the camera will produce blurry unacceptable pictures. Most flash units on point and shoot cameras are limited to about eight to twelve feet when using 400 ISO film. Using a flash at a sporting event will not produce the results you want. Use 800 ISO film, turn off your flash and hope for the best.

Keep your eye on the horizon and other lines of reference: When looking through your viewfinder, keep all visual lines straight. If the horizon in your picture is out of balance, your subjects will look like they are leaning to one side. This makes it more difficult to enlarge because in order to straighten the photo a portion of it will be cropped off to correct for the crooked lines. With vertical pictures, watch for vertical lines that correspond with the subject. Keep these lines parallel with the edge of the frame.

The rule of thirds: This is a popular rule that photographers and artists use to strategically place points of interest. Divide your viewfinder into thirds horizontally and vertically. This creates a grid of nine boxes. Try placing important elements of your photo where these lines intersect. Please remember, that while this is a rule that can and should be broken. Using this rule will help you become more creative with your photography and improve your composition.

Try new angles with the same subject: When photographing a subject, walk around, shoot different angles, change your lighting, turn your flash on, then turn it off. By moving around and firing off several shots, you will be amazed how your pictures will improve.

Show off your best pictures: When sharing pictures with friends and family, show them only your best. Eliminate the photos that don’t show your best work.