Take Better People Pictures!: Exclusive

2 CDS EXCLUSIVE! VIRTUAL CAMERA REVIEWS ON OUR CD!
NEW!
The definitive guide to better photos
148 pages of image-editing

tutorials, kit reviews & more!
2 ONE-CLICK FIXES
Simple Photoshop and Elements techniques for better pictures
2 RESTORE DAMAGED PHOTOS

How to fix tears, stains and creases quickly and easily
2 TOP PAINT SHOP PRO TIPS

PLUS exclusive FULL software on our CD!
CREATE THIS
GREAT IMAGE!
Discover how to apply
quick masks, motion blurs, TAKE BETTER
PEOPLE PICTURES!
layers and colour correction
7 with our creative project!
2 IN-DEPTH HARDWARE REVIEWS

Colour printers, new digital cameras, mini-cams, gadgets and more!
Simple techniques you can use to take
better party, family & portrait shots
2 What camera settings to use
2 How to compose a great photo
2 Ways to avoid common mistakes YOUR
9 771479 001003
NOVEMBER 2002
PHOTO
PROBLEMS
EXCLUSIVE TIPS SOLVED
INSIDE!
CARDS INSIDE!
7 7 7
SUB-£500 CAMERAS WHICH PRINTER? MINI-CAMERAS RATED
£4.99
buy the right kit –

Use our reference cards to help you on
11
Latest from Fuji, Konica, 6 inkjets from £100-£350 6 of the best pocket
5 top cameras
Toshiba, Olympus tested on trial inside pleasers compared they contain full specs and verdicts PRINTED IN THE UK
2
MEET
YOUR
TEAM 2 Our promise
to our readers
4
STARTHERE
Every month we will show you how to
8
Nick Merritt
Managing Editor capture and create better pictures, give
Nick’s background is technology and clear, independent buying
image-editing related. He’s launched, recommendations on the latest kit,
managed and built some of the UK’s and deliver two CDs packed with the
leading publications in these areas. best PC software.
8 Dylan Channon
Senior Art Editor
Remember November! We use boxes, tips, quick fixes,
quality photography, walkthroughs
and diagrams to show you how to
Dylan is a keen amateur
H
photographer and sits on the advisory
ello, and welcome to the first issue of Digital Camera Magazine. We hope you improve your photographic and
board of Somerset College of Art like what we’ve done (and will overlook the odd inevitable issue one rough image-editing skills
and Technology. edge!). It’s been a busy few months putting it all together, so do please write in
and tell us what you think we’ve got right, what we’ve got wrong and how we can make it We have a cast-iron policy of
editorial independence. All our kit
8
Roddy Llewellyn even better.
Art Editor is reviewed as-sold. We discourage
Roddy studied photography at our journalists from accepting gifts
So why us, now? Well, there are several reasons. The first is the obvious chest-beating one – from advertisers.
university and is PPA Designer of the
Year for his work on Create, a we just felt we could do a better mag than those already out there. We want to be the very
magazine for creative professionals. best title on the market, and we’ll be working hard to keep that promise as we develop. We welcome your opinions on the
That’s why we’ve gone with two CDs, a big page size, great photography and high-quality magazine, ideas for articles,
photography, thoughts and questions.
8
Tim Daly production values.
Photographer and writer Send them in today – see below.
Tim is one of the UK’s leading digital
Another reason why we’re here is because we believe digital cameras are changing how
photography experts. He’s written
numerous books on the subject and people take and perceive photography, and this process is going to accelerate over the next
c
his photographs have been exhibited few years. It’s not just that digital cameras are such wonderfully satisfying gadgets, or that
across Europe. the images they capture are rapidly closing in on 35mm quality, it’s that they give people a
real chance to communicate visually in real-time. It’s possible to share memories and Departments
8 Simon Danaher
Photoshop guru
experiences instantly by transmitting images to other people via the net. We believe we’re
only at the beginning of a very exciting process. We want your letters, ideas,
Simon is a leading Photoshop expert,
has written books on image editing photography, articles, tips and more!
and is a regular contributor to the Then there are the practical advantages – the extra control and precision that digital Write in today to the following areas:
world’s leading image-editing title, photography can offer creative photographers or people just starting to explore what a
Computer Arts. camera can do. This is the core of what Digital Camera Magazine is about: the process of Issues with your discs
support2@futurenet.co.uk
creating better photos, then printing, sharing and archiving them.
8
Steve Bavister
Photographer and editor Your letters
In the meantime, enjoy the issue and welcome to the club! letters.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
Steve is one of the UK’s best-known
photographic writers, having edited
and published Practical Photography Regards, Photos for our galleries
in the past. gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
Events, ideas, places to visit

8
Ed Davis
Photo retouching expert getupgo.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
Ed is a commercial photographer of
many years experience. He is a For help and advice
member the National Association of help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
Photoshop Professionals. Nick Merritt, Managing Editor
Articles/ideas for publication
editor.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
editor.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
8
Aidan O’Rourke
Technical expert
Aidan is contributor to the Visit our website today!
Manchester Evening News. He
In issue 2, we test ten of the best cameras on sale for Christmas, and show you how www.digitalcameramagazine.co.uk
lectures on digital photography to take perfect indoor/November party shots.
around the UK.
; ISSUE 2 ON SALE 21 NOV

2
DIGITAL CAMERA MAGAZINE 03

Contents DCM#01
What’s hot inside your magazine this November
STARTS PAGE
18
Discover how you can improve your people

shots. We explain how to avoid common
mistakes, take better pictures and tweak
them digitally for best-ever results
ABOVE: We’ll help you take better people shots
Getup&Go Hidden away!

Watch out – there may be a digital
We capture great autumn camera hidden inside even the most
photographs, show you how to unlikely gadget.
take firework shots and more! We reveal six
of the best
Project PAGE PAGE

Create your own stunning composition.
Follow our tutorial on how to make this pic! 64 PULL OUT
SECTION –
FIND IT
AFTER P98 16
004 DIGITAL CAMERA MAGAZINE
Kit reviews Your 2 coverdiscs
2 LONGLEAT PHOTOS
PAGE 56
TRAILBLAZING CHINA
PAGE 58
2
MEMORIES RESTORED
PAGE 70
THIS ISSUE WE
SHOW YOU HOW TO…
CREATIVE PHOTOS
PAGE 86
The UK’s definitive reviews
1
package every month TAKE BETTER PICTURES
Create a sense of intimacy 20
Create a halo effect around hair 20
Know when to use a fill-in flash 20
Improvise a reflector for even lighting 21
Choose the best camera settings 21
KONICA KD400-Z OLYMPUS C-4000Z
PAGE 34 PAGE 36 PAGE Avoid over-posed pictures
Photograph children
23
23
Paint Shop Pro 5!

This famous image editor – exclusively for you!
126 Get better composition
Use the zoom lens
Create depth of field effects
25
25
86
Take perfectly exposed photos 88
Every issue we’ll bring you not one, but two CDs –
ADOBE ELEMENTS 2
PAGE 42
IOMEGA ZIP 750
PAGE 45
each one packed with exclusive full software like
Paint Shop Pro 5. It’s a world first for a digital
£O1 40
F FULL IMPROVE YOUR IMAGE-EDITING SKILLS
photo mag, and now it’s yours to keep for free
SOFTWARE Reduce and remove red-eye 26
ON DISC 1 ON DISC 2 IN TOTAL!
Correct skin tones and remove colour casts 28
FULL Paint Shop Pro 5 FULL ColorPilot 3.86
TRIAL Paint Shop Pro FULL Arles Image Web
Create shadows, shrink images 64
FREEWARE IrfanView 3.7
version 7.04 Page Creator 3.3 FREEWARE SlowView 1.0 Remove tears and rips 71
TOURS 3D tours of our TRIAL Photoshop 7 FREEWARE HotTEXT Add missing picture regions 72
main camera reviews TRIAL PhotoImpact 8
1
6 MINI-CAMS 6 INKJET PRINTERS FREEWARE Plugin Galaxy
TEST SHOTS for each of FREEWARE AhaView 1.1 FREE GIMP 1.2.4 Fix contrast and low saturation 74
PAGE 46 PAGE 49
our main cameras FREEWARE Cam2pc 2.0 DRIVERS Kodak Use layers in Elements and Photoshop 76
Get more from Paint Shop Pro 78
INCLUDES Simulate depth of field on a low-end camera 83
5 VIRTUAL REALITY CAMERA TOURS
Try before you buy! Our reviews come with this
unique CD extra: rotate and view each main
Regulars Correct converging verticals 90
camera on-screen with our unique virtual-reality USE YOUR PC BETTER

tour. It’s the next best thing to holding the EYEWITNESS HELP AND ADVICE
camera in your hands!
Hotshots gallery p06 Photo clinic p70 Find a specific image in a folder of hundreds 120
OPINIONS & SHOPPING Frontline news p12 Your questions p90 Improve your print quality 121
Visit our website, read our reviews, post Hidden gadgets p16 First steps p94
your own views, see what other readers Publish your photos to an online community 122
think, then click straight through to buy
the camera! It’s all part of the service
2
YOUR PHOTOS & LETTERS FOLD-OUT SECTION AFTER PAGE 98
www.digitalcameramagazine.co.uk Day in the life p56 11 Firework tips
Trailblazers p58 Isle of Purbeck photos & maps
Viewfinder p60 Westonbirt
HOTSHOTSTURNOVER
OFFERS BUYER GUIDE Every issue, we print the best digital photography we
Mobile phone p98 Cameras p138 can find. Turn over now and see some of the shots that
Subscribe! p144 Printers p140 have inspired us this issue…
Save money p130 Memory cards p142
Money off Paint Shop Pro 7 p133 Batteries p142

SHOT OF THE MONTH
DOWNHILL RACER ROB SCOTT
“This was taken with a Nikon D1X with rear curtain-
flash sync, battery-powered rear lighting and on-
camera flash. I panned with the subject as he spun
the bike, which blurred the background.”
02
03
04 02 Orchid Bob Garas

“I used the macro setting to capture the
orchid, then combined it with a picture of a bee
in Photoshop to produce the final picture.”
Canon G1 with two White Lightning 1200 Strobes
[w] www.geocities.com/bgaras2001
03 Adrian Rayment Rob Scott

“I was given an assignment to shoot one of
the stars of the forthcoming film sequel, Matrix
Reloaded. I shot him performing martial arts, at
Brompton Road Cemetery in London.”
Nikon D1X with White Balance set to fluorescent
[e] rob.scott@futurenet.co.uk
04 Fashion #01 Walcot Studios

Nikon D1X
[w] www.thewalcotstudio.co.uk

The essentials of imaging
Those who are happy to let their hearts rule their heads, stop here.
Everyone else, read on.

Made from durable magnesium, with a textured rubber to its high volume, 64MB buffer memory).
grip, there’s no denying the new DiMAGE 7Hi looks (and feels) And in Extra Fine mode, it can produce JPEG images at
the business. More important still, it does it. 2.5:1 compression (which not only makes it ideal for shooting
Its 2/3 type CCD has an effective resolution of 5.0 million bright skies or shiny objects but also minimises loss in high
pixels, delivering A3 prints at 150 dpi. And its spec list reads like frequency areas of the image).
a ‘What’s What’ on state-of-the-art digital photography. All this in a digital camera that also boasts a brilliantly
To maximise the CCD resolution, it has a premium all designed multifunctional electronic viewfinder (it has a 100%
glass optical jewel Minolta GT lens with 7x optical zoom. field of view and 900 tilt mechanism), a real time Histogram
And to produce vivid, natural colours, Minolta Cx image display, and Adobe RGB and SRGB selectable colour spaces
processing. Even shooting clear, low noise images, with fine built in.
detail in shadow areas, is easily achieved with its 12 bit It’s even equipped with a flash sync. terminal that can be
A/D conversion system. connected to professional studio systems.
What's more, pictures can be shot at dazzling speeds – in Enough to go to your head, isn’t it?
fact, at up to 3 fps at full resolution, capturing as many as 5 The new DiMAGE 7Hi
RAW, three TIFF or 10 JPEG images in one sequence (thanks Way ahead of the game.
www.dimage.minolta.com
05
06
07 05 Laura Jo James Game

“Laura Jo is an aspiring model and actress
who I photographed for her portfolio.”
[w] www.inspiras.com
06 Fashion #02 Walcot Studios

“We do a lot of fashion photography at
our studio. We’ve just gone digital and the
time and cost-savings have been well worth
it. We mainly use Photoshop for image
retouching rather than for creative effects.”
[w] www.thewalcotstudio.co.uk
07 Soldier Grant Lynch

“This was taken at a new First World War
memorial in London and then manipulated
in Photoshop.”
Nikon D1X with Photoshop
[w] www.specialimages.co.uk

08
09
10 08 Strawberry Splash Michael Chiu

Sony DSC-F707 with Sony F1000 exterior flash
[e] ziptdodah@yahoo.com
09 Melancholy Angel Melanie Kipp

”I took this in a cemetery in the
mountains of southern West Virginia.”
Minolta Dimage 7 with infra-red filter
[w] www.caughtintimephotography.com
10 Serenity Keith Moss

“This is a calming shot captured in Deer
Hill Reservoir, near Huddersfield, late evening
in the winter last year.” Olympus E10
[w] www.finephotoart.net
@
NOW SEND YOUR PIC!
Email us a 100K JPEG thumbnail of your best
shots! The best wins a 128Mb Crucial
CompactFlash card each issue.
gallery.dcam@futurenet.co.uk

The new Sony F717.
The only thing it hasn’t got is you.
For a start, there’s the 5.0 effective mega pixel Super HAD CCD and 5x optical Zoom which Of course, all this is academic without the power to keep going throughout a serious photo
offer superb picture quality over a range of distances. Then there’s the Carl Zeiss Vario session. Which is why the F717 incorporates Sony STAMINA InfoLITHIUM battery technology,
Sonnar lens which delivers crisp, distortion-free images and ultra-faithful colour reproduction. to keep you shooting for up to 210 minutes*, while the indicator on the LCD panel lets you
Add to that the innovative rotating lens unit which lets you shoot from virtually any angle, know exactly how long you’ve got left.
and you start to get a feel for the photography this camera is capable of. And when time is of the essence, simply hook up to your PC via the high-speed USB 2.0
Then consider the wide array of unique Sony noise reduction technologies. Slow shutter noise connection and let the supplied Image Transfer software do all the work for you.
reduction helps you achieve clear, sharp images in low light. And the NightFraming mode So, put it all together, and the Sony F717 really is the camera that has it all. Well almost.
enables you to capture perfectly framed, focused and exposed images in complete darkness The only thing you’ll want to add now is you.
by incorporating Sony’s infra-red NightShot, Hologram AF and pre-flash exposure systems.
And if that fails to impress, take a look at the F717’s photographic features. The manual
focus/zoom ring gives you increased control of each shot, while the histogram display helps
you manage the exposure of every image. You can also enhance lighting options by attaching
an external flash to the hot-shoe. And on top of this, you can select shutter speeds from 30
seconds to 1/2000th second, or ISO settings up to 800, giving you the flexibility to shoot in all
conditions from low light to fast action.
But we didn’t stop with what’s on the inside. The robust, ergonomic magnesium body is
designed to offer all the controls you need at your fingertips, while the LCD menu system is as
intuitive as it is comprehensive.
Customer Information Centre 08705 111 999

www.sony.co.uk
‘Sony’, ‘Handycam’, ‘InfoLITHIUM’, ‘STAMINA’, and ‘NightShot’ are trademarks of Sony Corporation, Japan.
* Continuous shooting with flash switched off & LCD on (power save mode)
Frontline
What’s new in November ■ Send us your news! Email news.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
CANON POWERSHOT
G3 £700
Award-winning digital
camera gets a new image
processor and zoom upgrade
■ See below
FUJIFILM FINEPIX
M603 – £700
Tasty looking combination of
still camera and digital
video recorder
■ See below
OLYMPUS CAMEDIA
C-50 – £550
5-megapixel camera with
some interesting features
at this price
■ See opposite
Fujifilm FinePix
PowerShot G3 QUICK
SHOTS M603 combines
photos and video
adds new features
NEW TOOL
CORRECTS
COLOUR CASTS
Xe847 will auto- Are you a digital photographer
correct blue or green
who fancies having a shot at
colour shifts, using
digital video? Are you put off by
Canon upgrades its award-winning 4-megapixel camera, and it hits the streets this techniques based on
how people actually
CAMERAS the price of camcorders and don’t
November with a bigger zoom and new DIGIC image processor see a colour, rather want to leave digital still photography behind?
than how the Then the FinePix M603 from Fujifilm may be
camera sees it.
the camera for you.
There’s a trial
T
he latest in the award-winning Canon the G3, including a new context-sensitive control The FinePix M603 combines 3-megapixel
THE PowerShot range boasts a range of dial and the ability to choose between JPEG and
available at
www.xe847.com still photography with the ability to record 15
POWERSHOT enhanced features. RAW picture storage after a picture has been for download. or 30 frames per second video at 640 x 480.
G2 WAS The PowerShot G2 was voted European Digital taken, and before it's saved to the memory card.
NIKON
It’s compatible with Fuji’s new xD card
VOTED Camera of the Year 2002 by industry organisation Another new feature is iSAPS (Intelligent TRAINING technology and has an IBM Microdrive, which
EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association), Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space), COURSES is able to store up to 30 minutes of video on a
EUROPEAN and has built itself an enviable reputation among where the scene, focussing and shooting This autumn Nikon is 1Gb unit.
DIGITAL keen photographers for its combination of fast lens information are analysed and cross-referenced launching a series
of training courses.
On the photography side, the M603 has a
CAMERA OF (f2.0-2.5), 4-megapixel resolution and in-depth against a huge Photographic Space data library
Previously offered
38-76mm lens (35mm equivalent) with 2x
THE YEAR photographic controls.

The new model, the G3, ups the zooming
built into the camera.
Luckily all these additions won't break the
exclusively to photo
retailers, the courses
optical zoom and 4.4x digital zoom. The ISO
values are 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,600 for
2002 BY range from 4x to 3x and retains a maximum bank. At an anticipated price of £699 when it are now available to rapid photography.
EUROPEAN aperture of f3.0, even at the telephoto end of the hits the dealers' shelves this November, the all Nikon owners.
Visit www.nikon.
It’s fully automatic but has manual overrides
IMAGING AND range. The new DIGIC processor doesn't just PowerShot G3 compares favourably in price with co.uk/training to find for tricky lighting conditions; control over
improve picture quality (CCD control, exposure, the outgoing model. metering, focus and White Balance; and the
SOUND focus, White Balance data, JPEG compression and Call Canon on 08705 143 723 to find out more
out more.
ability to annotate each picture with a 30-
ASSOCIATION more), it consumes less power, too, prolonging or go to its website for full details at DIMAGE 7HI second voice recording.
GETS
battery life. www.powershot.com/powershot2/g3/ The FinePix M603 with a 512Mb IBM
PROFESSIONAL
Ergonomic improvements have been made to index.html Minolta has used Microdrive is expected to retail for about £700
Photokina to launch when it goes on sale in this month.
an improved version
Details Built-in flash and 4x optical zoom lens
of its highly rated
CCD type 1/1.8-inch Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
Total pixels (approx) 4.1 million
DiMAGE 7. The
Effective pixels (approx) 4 million DiMAGE 7Hi gets a
Focal length 7.2-28.8mm (equivalent: 34-140mm) new Synchro
Digital zoom 3.6x (maximum 14x digital zoom is terminal for
available when combined with optical zoom.) integration with
Max aperture f/2.0- f/3.0 professional studio
Shutter speeds 15-1/2,000 sec. Slow shutter of lighting setups,
1.3 seconds and more, operates with noise reduction.
improved sequence
Sensitivity Auto, or user-set ISO 50, 100, 200 or
400 equivalent
shooting speed and
White Balance control TTL Auto White Balance, Pre-set a better HyperFinder.
White Balance or Custom White Balance
Extras Wireless Control Shooting and playback EXTREME XI
are available. Computer-connected Shooting Available Minolta has
(Using included Remote Computer software. Required upgraded its DiMAGE
USB connection to compatible computer) X. The DiMAGE Xi has
Storage media CompactFlash (CF) Card Type I or Type II
3.3-megapixel
Resolution (still image) Large: 2,272 x 1,704;
medium 1: 1,600 x 1,200, medium 2: 1,024 x 768;
resolution, 1.2-
small: 640 x 480 seconds start-up
Resolution (movie) 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 time and other
enhancements.

Olympus C-50 ZOOM
hits 5 megapixels
New successor to C-40 ZOOM hits the streets in November
A new 5-megapixel successor to
the Olympus C-50 is set to be
released this month, priced at
Behindtheimage
CAMERAS around £550.
Supporting the new xD memory format, it
includes a 32Mb Picture Card, TruePic image-
optimisation technology (a first at this end of the
range, according to Olympus), and a number of
automatic and manually-adjustable settings.
It’s also the first Olympus to come with a For more details and a full specification
Lithium-ion battery and charger, which means list, visit www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/
the size of the camera can be reduced while digimg/intro.cfm?id=C-50ZOOM
maintaining longer battery life between charges.
Further highlights include an
f2.8/f4.8 3x optical zoom
lens, 5x digital zoom,
manual exposure
control plus spot-
A public demonstration can be an ideal
metering features. chance to capture some great pictures. The
The 5-megapixel
CCD enables a
anti-war march in London revealed why
maximum picture
resolution of 2,560
x 1,920 pixels, with The time: 28th September 2002. The place: London
six resolutions. With the prospect of an attack on Iraq growing ever-stronger,
You can save the public got its first chance to take to the streets, with the
images as JPEG or anti-war demonstration in London at the end of September.
TIFF files; there’s a Organised by the Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim
movie mode that can Association of Britain, as many as 400,000 people
handle 16 seconds of descended on London from across the country.
video at 320 x 240 at 15 frames per The demo was remarkably peaceful – indeed, there was
second; plus there are auto-bracketing, something of a carnival atmosphere with some
macro and panorama modes. demonstrators arriving in costume – George Bush, Darth
Vader and a group of people dressed as a tank were spotted.
Americans joined Muslims, Saudis and British from all
over the UK, taking several hours to travel the route from the
New entry-level Canon inkjets Embankment, along the banks of the Thames, to Hyde Park.
One demonstrator, Chris Croome, whose photos of the
Smaller footprints plus better image quality reckons Canon event can be seen at http://chris.croome.net/photos/
2002/London_anti-war_demo_28_September had a bad
Two new printers have been borderless printing, too – find out more at day. Not only did he break his zoom lens, but he also lost
released by Canon, both aimed at Canon’s website, at 100 images (including dramatic pictures near Downing Street
the home market. The i320 www.canon.co.uk/ where an orange smoke bomb was let off), when the
PRINTER features 2,400 x 1,200dpi bubblejet batteries went flat while he transferred his pictures to his PC.
resolution, USB 2.0 support and claims a print Despite this bad luck, we think the surviving images still
speed of 54 seconds for a 4 x 6-inch 1,200dpi manage to capture the spirit of the event.
colour photo. It’s expected to cost around £69. More pictures: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2286687.stm
The i550, pictured opposite, features faster
2
printing (45 seconds for a 1,200dpi 4 x 6-inch
photo) and the ability to take up to 150 pages in
its sheet feeder. It also offers bi-directional
TALKBACK
1
printing, which means only two passes of the
printhead have to be made when outputting
Each month we will poll our readers about a key issue in digital
colour pages. Most importantly, it can output
photography, via our website, and report the results here. Visit
prints at 4,800 x 1,200dpi resolution. digitalcameramagazine.co.uk to find out more!
Both printers promise 25 years lightfastness
using Canon’s paper, and can handle

WIDEANGLE
What’s happening around the world
LONDON UNITED KINGDOM TAIWAN

VANITY FAIR NEW LAW HITS SPIES
Research from Hewlett-Packard A new law is being passed to
reveals that 64 per cent of ensure hotel, shop and
Britons are deeply embarrassed by restaurant owners regularly sweep their
photographs of themselves, and 72 per premises for concealed digital cameras. recalled
cent of all women hate their pictures. 52 Spying and voyeurism have become a by Kodak
per cent of people questioned are happy major problem in Taiwan, with intimate due to a
to tweak their own images to make pictures being taken without people’s possible
themselves look better, while 18 per cent consent, then cut to CD and traded. electric shock
of respondents would undergo major hazard. If you
digital surgery on themselves in order to SEATTLE USA have one,
look ideal. MICROSOFT REINVENTS JPEGS phone
Microsoft has invented a new Kodak on
ST LOUIS USA image format, which compresses 0870 243 0270
ROBOT WEDDINGS image files to half the size of conventional to get it QUICK
A new robot photographer
has been invented to take
JPEGs. It’s part of its new Tablet PC but, as
yet, there’s no sign that it will appear in
inspected and, if
necessary, repaired.
SHOTS
wedding snaps, which don’t look posed or its digital photography products. The CCD is also physically larger – it’s
forced. Research shows that people don’t JAPAN approximately the same area as APS NEW EPSON
Epson has updated
feel as self-conscious being captured by a LONDON UNITED KINGDOM CHIPS GET BIGGER film. This means camera makers are
its photo printer
robot camera, resulting in more natural KODAK SHOCKER Sony has upped the stakes with now able to use standard optics across range with four new
images. The robot is able to frame Bad news for Kodak DC5000 a new 6.15-megapixel CCD, digital and traditional product lines, and models. They include
pictures according to the rule of thirds. ZOOM camera owners – it’s been producing images of 3,040 x 2,024 pixels. thus reduce prices. the Stylus Photo 830,
with up to 5760
'optimised' dpi, and
the 1290S, which
Digital use set to rocket

replaces the old A3-
sized 1290, with
improved edge-to-
edge printing.
Find out more at
www.epson.co.uk
You thought this year was exciting? Wait for 2003…
SONY DYESUB
Two new digital
CANON Digital camera makers seem to
have been taken by surprise by the
so on – but HP has found another
attraction. The company’s research
home printers are
EXPECTS TO dramatic acceleration in digital suggests that people like the idea that
coming from Sony.
The DPP-EX7 and
MAKE NO CAMERAS camera sales. Canon, for example, their photos can be digitally enhanced to DPP-EX5 offer
FEWER THAN reckons that sales of its digital cameras will make them look better, though there printing direct from
Memory Stick or
outstrip those of analogue models as early as are regional variations.
FOUR MILLION 2003. That’s sales in numbers, not just by value. Northerners are the
USB, employ dye-
DIGITAL Indeed, Canon expects to make no fewer than most likely to own a
sub printing
technology, and
CAMERAS THIS four million digital cameras this financial year – 70 digital camera (41.5 per have image quality
FINANCIAL per cent up on the year before. cent), but are least likely of 3.8 megapixels.
Find out more at
Sony-commissioned research suggested in to resort to cosmetic
YEAR January 2002 that digital camera sales would rise adjustments. East
www.sony.co.uk
by 30 per cent, but by May the increase was 65 Anglians are the most FASTER PCS
per cent, year on year. While HP reckons 40 per insecure, with 31 per cent Packard Bell's new
iXtreme 9701 uses
cent of camera owners in the UK have now gone admitting that they throw
Intel's latest chip
digital, another 40 per cent is planning to. away unflattering photos and running at an eye-
So why is digital taking off? We all know the 18 per cent using digital- watering 2.8GHz to
main reasons – speed, editability, convenience and imaging tricks. provide more
processing power. It
2
backs this up with
3
Information
supplied by BEST SELLER SUB-£100 SUB-£300 SUB-£800 512Mb RAM and a
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GADGETS CAMERA-ENABLED KIT .
Hidden away!
Not all digital cameras look like digital cameras – Paul Pettengale
discovers a variety of kit that does more than just the obvious
ith convergence of digital products gaining pace, we’re seeing exciting gadgets and gizmos
being released that have multiple functions – often ones that you just wouldn’t expect. With
W advances in miniaturisation, more and more features are being crammed into mobile phones,
PDAs and other portable devices, and digital camera functionality is just one area where there’s been
strident growth. With the dawn of photo messaging on mobile phones and the associated desire to be
able to email images quickly and easily from portable digital assistants, the digital camera is creeping
into increasingly diverse environments. A camera in a pen? You’d better believe it…
NOKIA 7650
MOBILE PHONE WITH MMS
£300 www.nokia.co.uk
Photo messaging via mobile phones is
going to be the next big thing, but you’ll
need a mobile with a built-in digital camera to
take advantage of this new craze. The 7650 from
Nokia is an ideal choice – simply use the colour
screen as a viewfinder and then point and shoot to
take your snap. You can then send the pic to a friend on
the same network, or email it to a computer.
02/SWANN PENCAM SW-P-PC

PEN CAMERA
£600 020 8964 9111
One for aspiring international spies among you: the Pencam
from Swann houses a tiny digital video camera and transmitter.
Click the pen once to start filming, and then a second time to
stop. The transmitter has a range of up to 100 metres, though
you’ll obviously need a receiver, too, as the pen can’t record –
merely transmit. Very cool, but what would you use it for?
03/MEADE CAPTUREVIEW
BINOCULARS
£149 www.captureview.co.uk
This pair of binoculars from Meade has hidden functionality: frame
something you want a permanent record of and you can press a
‘shoot’ button to take a digital snap. With autofocusing and
automatic exposure settings, all you have to do it hit a single
button to capture precisely what you’re looking at
through the 8x viewfinder. The resolution’s limited to
640 x 480 and there’s just 8Mb of built-in memory,
but you can download images from the
CaptureView to your PC via the supplied USB.
04/CASIO EXILIM EX-M1

DIGITAL CAMERA/MP3 PLAYER
£330 www.casio.co.uk
The EX-M1 from Casio is a product with something
of a split personality – is it a digital camera, or an
MP3 player? The answer is both. As well as taking
1,280 x 960 digital stills and saving them onto
removable SD and MMC memory cards, it can also store and
playback MP3 files, so you can listen to music on the move.
05/SONY CLIÉ N70V

PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT
£450 www.sony.co.uk
This PDA from Sony is a cut above the rest. Using the Palm OS it’s
a cinch to operate and it has a raft of functions. For instance,
there’s the built-in digital camera, with which you can take high
resolution snaps to email to friends or colleagues.
06/CASIO WQV-10
WRIST CAMERA
£250 www.casio.co.uk
Incorporating a digital camera into a watch is an excellent use
of miniaturisation, as demonstrated by this model from Casio.
As well as working as a fully functioning digital watch, with
all the usual gizmos, the WQV-10 can also take still images
of up to 16 million colours that can be stored on its internal
1Mb of memory or beamed via IR to your PDA or laptop.
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE
YOUR GUIDE STEVE BAVISTER

Steve is a photographic journalist and freelance photographer. He is editor of The
Photographer, a leading magazine for pro photographers, and author of ten books
on photography including Digital Photography and Take Better Family Photos
bavister@easynet.co.uk PORTFOLIO STEVE BAVISTER
People are easily the most popular subject, but you need to think carefully about what you are
trying to achieve, says Steve Bavister, if you want to produce pictures with lasting appeal
S
ince its invention over 160 years ago, Of course, one of the great advantages of using a digital that over the next couple of months there will be loads of
photography’s most popular subject has always camera is that you can review the pictures immediately, and parties, school plays and so forth, and you won’t find
been people – by a long way. While a relatively shoot them again if they’re not quite right – or even salvage yourself short of subjects.
small band of enthusiasts have specialist interests such as them later on a computer. The problem with using flash is that it’s not subtle.
landscape, still life or natural history, the majority of pictures Because it blasts light directly at your subject, you’re not
taken are of family and friends. Whether we’re out having a Getting it right going to get the best shots in the world. All too often you
wonderful time or simply relaxing at home, we like nothing But sometimes the opportunity has gone and there is no end up with white, over-exposed faces staring out from a m
more than to record the occasion for posterity. second chance – such as blowing out the candles on a
But all too often the results disappoint – failing to birthday cake. So it makes sense to get it right first time. At
capture the magic of the moment or the personalities of the heart of the problem is the fact that many
Shallow depth of field isolates the
those present. Even people you know really well can get photographers just pick up the camera and snap away subject from the background
tense and nervous when a camera is pointed at them, without thinking about what they are trying to achieve or
resulting in awkward poses and cheesy grins that ruin the how to get the best from the situation. Direct eye contact with the camera
engages the viewer
shot. Other images are let down by technical considerations However, with the right approach, a picture can be a true
such as poor composition, ghoulish red-eye, inaccurate and lasting portrait that reveals something of the real Muted background colours don’t
focus, wrong exposure or unflattering lighting. people or a treasured memento of a precious moment – not distract from the main subject
just a superficial snapshot. The bad
The model’s hair and arm pose
news about taking pictures of help to frame the face
Even people you know really well
4
people this time of year is that it
gets dark so early, and if you’re
can get tense and nervous when shooting after late afternoon the
WHY WE CHOSE
only option is to use the camera’s
OUR COVER PICTURE
a camera is pointed at them built-in flashgun. The good news is

3 IMAGE EXPLAINED
1 Touching heads together creates a sense of
intimacy and avoids the camera sensor focusing on
the background
2 Shooting into the light puts a halo of light around
the girls’ hair and back
3 Setting the built-in flashgun to give a burst of fill-
in flash ensures that the faces are fully illuminated
and there’s an attractive ‘catchlight’ in the eye
4 4 Using the top end of the
2 camera's zoom range and
1 placing the girls some
distance from the
background gives a three-
3 dimensional effect
You can minimise the likelihood of over-exposure gentle light you get in autumn and early winter is a
An increasing number of digital when using flash by not getting too close to your lot more attractive than the fierce light of summer.
cameras allow you to select the subject. Around two metres is a good working distance
with most built-in guns.
Cloudy days in particular are perfect for people
photography of all kinds. Shadows are much softer
aperture and shutter speed settings If you have children, though, and want to photograph
them in the Christmas play, you may need to increase
and more flattering, minimising lines on more mature
faces. And even when the sun is shining, the fact that
the sensitivity setting on your camera, from ISO 100 to it’s lower in the sky means you don’t get ugly, dark
black background. Worse still, your subjects may suffer 400 or even 800. The quality won’t be quite as good, areas under the eyes, nose and chin as you do in
from red-eye, caused by the flash reflecting back from but it will increase the effective range, and reduce the brighter weather conditions.
the blood vessels at the back of the eye. possibility of under-exposure. Getting there early and In fact, the position of your subject in relation to the
While red-eye is not difficult to correct using an bagging a front row seat is also a good idea. sun is of prime importance – and different results will be
image-editing program, why make work for yourself Sometimes you’ll have to use flash, and it’s ideal for achieved at different times of the day, as the sun rises,
when it can often be avoided? ‘party’ pictures, but if you aspire to more than that – circles the heavens, and then sets.
perhaps taking portraits with style and quality – it’s to Of all the kinds of lighting available to the
Dealing with flash the many moods of daylight you should turn. photographer, top lighting is probably the least
Many cameras feature a red-eye reduction facility that satisfactory. You get it in the middle of the day, when
will diminish and sometimes eliminate red-eye in the Making the most of natural light the sun is at its highest. Because shadows are point
majority of situations. If you don’t have such an option If, like many photographers, you associate taking pictures down and relatively dense, it really is best avoided
you could try switching on the room light – the pupil of outside with sunlight and blue skies, you might not be whenever possible.
the person you’re photographing will close down, inclined to step through your front door with your The best times for portrait photography
reducing the risk of their eyes ending up red. camera in your hand at this time of year. But, in fact, the outside are morning and afternoon, when the sun is

a
You can make people look thinner by As well as photographing people standing and
asking them to stand at 45˚ to the sitting, try out shots of them lying on the floor or
camera, rather than square on to it leaning against a wall
2 APERTURE CONTROL
closer to the horizon. Place the sun behind you and from the side, with the reflector held vertically on
your subjects will be evenly lit, with a catchlight (a point the opposite side to bounce light back into the
of light that’s a reflection from the sun) in their eyes, shaded areas.
bringing them to life. Reflectors are also valuable when taking pictures into If your camera enables you to select the aperture, you have direct control over how
A simple way to make the light even more appealing the sun – or contre-jour, as it’s also known. The much of the finished picture appears sharp. There is a zone, technically called the
is to improvise a reflector of the type widely used by backlighting from this arrangement can be attractive depth of field, in front of and behind the point on which the camera lens is focused,
professional photographers. Any white or reflective because of the ‘Ready-Brek’ glow it gives to hair and which varies according to the size of the aperture. When you set a small aperture
material will do – a white piece of card, an old sheet or body, but if you just shoot away you may end up with a (confusingly, a big number such as f/11 or f/16), there’s a large zone of sharpness,
a square of polystyrene. Simply ask the person to hold it silhouette. Setting your camera’s flash menu to provide with most things appearing in focus. When you set a large aperture (a smaller
at waist height, so it’s not seen in the picture, and you’ll ‘fill flash’ can be an effective, but less controllable, way number, such as f/5.6 or f/8), the zone is much narrower, and only the main subject
be astonished how much it improves the lighting. of making sure people are fully illuminated. sharp. Choosing a small aperture is ideal where you want to show your subjects in
If you have a friend on hand who can act as an When taking pictures outdoors in autumn and their natural environment. Selecting a large aperture is preferable where you want
‘assistant’, try positioning your subject so they’re lit winter it’s a good idea whenever you can to get your to concentrate attention on the person.
1 By focusing on an area in
front of the subject and
choosing a large aperture
setting, the subject is
outside the shallow area of
depth of field. This creates
the unusual effect here
1 By selecting a small aperture,

more of the subjects in the
shot remain in focus.
Unlike their traditional
film equivalents, digital
cameras rarely offer a depth
of field preview, so some
experimentation may be
required to get the result
you want
1 Extreme depth of field

effects can be enhanced
in an image-editing
program. Here, the effect
of shallow depth of field
has been greatly
exaggerated by digitally
blurring the background
Learn more about depth of

field in our camera
techniques feature on
page 86

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
The best way to get an interesting facial
expression is to be unobtrusive. Don’t ask your
subject to ‘say cheese’ – instead, lie low and snap
off a few shots when they’re least expecting it

g
Before you take a picture, look around When shooting indoors using room lighting,
the frame to see if there's anything switch off ceiling lighting, which causes ugly
messy or potentially distracting shadows, and use table lamps instead
2 2 WIDE-ANGLE CONSIDERATIONS
subjects to wear bright clothes, to stop them blending
FILL-IN FLASH into their surroundings.
Only gloomy days it's a good idea to set your Camera settings Experimenting with wide-angle lens settings can produce some interesting effects when
camera's flashgun to fire a burst of fill-in flash The lens setting you use and where people are shooting people. Wide angle lenses cause some interesting, if at times unflattering
balanced to the existing lighting to make sure that positioned in respect to the background are important distortion of the facial features, and the wider the lens you use the more this will be
your subject is fully illuminated. factors. If you want people to stand out, so the apparent. You can also try experimenting with the Spherize filter in Adobe
emphasis is on them rather than the surroundings, you Photoshop/Elements on a normal picture to recreate the effect of a wide-angle lens.
should use the top end of your zoom range and get
them to stand well away from the background. What
this does at a technical level is reduce the depth of
field – the amount of the scene that appears sharp in
the finished picture. If you have a powerful zoom and
the backdrop is some way behind, your subject will
stand out almost three dimensionally.
When you want to shoot an environmental portrait,
showing people in their surroundings, you should do
the opposite – go for a wide-angle setting and position
people close to the background.
An increasing number of digital cameras allow you to
select the aperture and shutter speed settings, rather
than leave it to the camera’s exposure system. If you
have this option, you can control the depth of field in a
direct and creative way.
Taking candid photos

Whether you shoot indoors or outside, getting your
subjects to relax while you’re photographing them can
sometimes be a challenge. As soon as you pick up your
camera and point it in their direction many people get
tense and nervous – with stiff body language and
frozen smiles ruining the shot. Or worse, they start
acting up and pulling silly faces.
But there’s a simple way to avoid these problems –
8
by shooting candid pictures. Instead of asking people to

pose, you photograph them when they’re unaware of
you. This allows you capture them as they really are, at
their most natural, enabling you to get a glimpse of
their real character.
And shooting candid pictures isn’t hard to do. You
simply have to develop a different way of working.
Instead of getting people to ‘Say Cheese’, you stand at
a distance using a telephoto lens setting, waiting for the
right moment to release the shutter. Expressions change
in a fleeting second, and opportunities can arise and be
gone before you know it – blink and you miss them. So
you need to concentrate on your subject completely,
anticipating the right moment and acting decisively
when everything falls into place.
Of course, if you’re shooting candids indoors using
flash, the first picture you take will give the game away. have some idea how you would like to start things in
Outside, though, you may be able to take a sequence terms of location, pose, lighting and composition,
of pictures, especially if the person is immersed in and then make changes as you go along.
some kind of activity or chatting to someone else. The best way to put people at their ease is to chat to
The downside of candids is that you have little them about things that interest them, such as their
control over things such as lighting or background, and hobbies or work – taking pictures as they grow more
for that reason you will almost certainly want to control animated and lost in the conversation.
the two approaches.
Photographing children
Taking posed photos This works particularly well with children, who often
If you do go the posed route, be prepared to offer have a short attention span, and get bored with posing
direction rather than leave people to their own devices. quickly. Subjects such as pop music and TV programmes
The more you tell them what to do, within reason, the are a good place to start, and a fund of knock-knock
more confident they will be in your abilities. It’s best to jokes or amusing stories can help break the ice with

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f
Flatter people and make them look younger by using the flash whatever the weather.
This softens shadows and bleaches lines. To reduce any potential harshness, secure a
piece of tissue over the flash – this diffuses the light
2 EXPERIMENTING WITH COLOUR

01
Some digital cameras may give you the option to
shoot in black and white, but for greater flexibility
shoot in colour and then convert the image on your
PC. Contrasty images work best when converting to
black and white but this can also be tweaked in your
contrast settings in your image editor. Here we see
various colour alternatives, as well as black and white,
try experimenting with duo, trio and quadtones.
1 Monochrome variation
2 Sepia toned image
3 Duotone image (black + yellow)
4 Duotone image (black + magenta)
02
©THE WALCOT STUDIOS [w] www.thewalcotstudio.co.uk
03 04
youngsters. As any parent knows, if you’re bossy they’ll

start to rebel. Encourage them to try different poses
One option is to include all of the person. This works
well if you want to show them in context, but can lack One of the great advantages of using
rather than telling them to – perhaps by getting them to
play with a favourite pet or toy, or asking them to
impact because they often seem far away. For general
picture-taking a three-quarters crop, typically from just
a digital camera is that you can show
pretend they’re a princess or king.
One of the key things when photographing children
above the knees, is a good choice – the face isn’t so
small in the frame but you can still see the background.
your subjects the results straight away
is to get down to their level, both literally and For maximum impact, try cropping even tighter, to a
metaphorically. Crouching so you’re the same height as head and shoulders. You get lots of eye contact, and the them to put their arms around each other and tip their
them means you don’t get awkward expressions as only real downside is you don’t see any of the setting. heads together is a simple way to create a sense
they strain to look up at you. If your camera has a zoom lens, it’s better to use that of intimacy. It also avoids the common problem of the
Babies are easy to photograph, because they stay to fill the frame with the subject, rather than move focusing sensor going between the heads and focusing
where you put them, but toddlers can be tricky because physically closer. Avoid taking tightly cropped pictures of on the background – with both people ending up out
they tend to be in perpetual motion – rushing towards people at the wide-angle end of your range – the of focus.
you when you try to photograph them. For that reason a distortion that results is far from flattering. With groups, try to avoid lining them up like a firing
candid approach is more likely to be successful. As you go closer you need to make sure you focus on squad. The key to success lies in making sure you can
the eyes because the depth of field is greatly reduced, see everyone’s face and that there’s some kind of shape
Improving composition and if the eyes are unsharp it tends to make the whole or structure. One simple technique is to create a
As with other areas of photography, composition plays picture look wrong. ‘triangle’, with the tallest person in the middle, and
an important part in portraiture. How big you make the When photographing one person, you’ll often want to others slightly in front and to the side.
person in the frame, and where you place them is, to a place them at the centre of the frame – though it’s Whoever you photograph, and however you
large degree, a matter of personal preference. And worth experimenting with other positions, such as to the photograph them, one of the great advantages of using
while you will obviously want to enhance images once side, or even dynamic compositions such as at a a digital camera is that you can show your subjects the
you get them on a computer, you don’t want to lose diagonal, by tilting the camera. results straight away, giving them immediate feedback
quality by throwing too many pixels away – and it’s a When photographing two people together, you on how they’re coming across. And once they see they
good idea to get your composition as right as possible in should aim to capture something of the relationship look okay, they’ll noticeably relax, paving the way for
the first place. between them. If they’re related in some way, getting even better images.

Red-eye
removal
It’s a hoary old problem – people’s eyes
going demonic red when taking photos 8
indoors with a flash. It’s easily fixed…
SELECT THE EYES DESATURATE TO GREY

O
ne of the most basic problems when
QUICK TIPS photographing people, is red eye when 01 Mark up both eyes with a selection marquee 02 Shift the reds to greys. Under the Image
using a flash. Red eye happens when the ready to edit. Use any of the selection tools menu, go to Adjustments and choose
bright light from a camera’s flash unit reflects off the with the Shift key held down to select both affected eyes Desaturate. This turns the red in the eyes to grey. In the
FIXING RED-EYE IN ADOBE
PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2
the subject’s retina. Some cameras have red eye in the photo. For best accuracy, you should zoom in and Layers palette, click on the Create New Fill or Adjustment
1 Select the Red Eye brush reduction features built-in but even then, you may trace around the eyes with the Lasso. Layer button and pick Hue/Saturation.
from the tools palette. still have this problem
2 Choose a brush from the Luckily, it’s something easily fixed. Many low-end
pop-up palette and select an photo editing programs feature dedicated red-eye
appropriate brush size. You removal tools and wizards. The latest versions of
can select the colour you Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact and Photoshop elements
want to remove when you all do but surprisingly the gorilla of the bunch,
click in the relevant part of
Photoshop, expects you to do it all manually.
the image.
We’ve used Photoshop to show you how to fix it
3 Choose a replacement
colour, either via Default
without recourse to fancy tools, but if you have
Colours or Replacement Elements 2, take a look at our tip opposite.
colour. You will probably
want a good, deep black. Two steps to heaven
4 Choose a Tolerance (how There are several ways to approach the problem
close in colour different pixels using paint brushes and alpha channels, but here
must be to the ones they are we’ve chosen the most popular method using an COLORIZE THE LAYER REDUCE THE LAYER OPACITY
replacing). The lower the easy two-step technique: first turn the red to grey, 03 Apply a new colour to the selected grey eyes. 04 Artificially applied colour can look fake so tone
tolerance, the closer the
then Colorize that grey to something else. The Hue/Saturation dialog window appears it down with layer transparency. Tone it down
colours need to be to those
Using an adjustment layer also enables you to automatically. Add a tick next to Colorize, drag the by dragging on the Opacity slider in the Layers window.
they are replacing.
5 Click the pupils to change
temper unrealistically coloured eyes by making the Saturation slider to the centre (50%) and drag the Hue This allows some of the grey in the Background layer to
their colour. layer partly transparent. Now take a look opposite: slider until you find the eye colour you want. Click OK. temper the hue you chose.
Correcting
skin tones
Get that skin colour right!
ADD AN ADJUSTMENT LAYER TUG THE CONTRAST

M
aking skin look correct is very difficult because
QUICK TIPS people have an idea in their head what colour 01 Start with a new Adjustment Layer for each 02 Adding more contrast will prevent dark
skin ought to look, regardless how the rest of action. Open the Layers palette, click on the areas from colourising in subsequent steps.
the image appears. Add A New Fill or Adjustment Layer button and choose In the Curves dialog window, tug the diagonal line
USING PHOTOSHOP
The best tool for repairing Another problem is certain kinds of lighting conditions Curves from the drop-down list. An Adjustment Layer is down slightly from the middle in order to turn it into a
skin tones is Photoshop, or a predominance of colours like blue (like outside on a created and the Curves dialog window appears. gentle curve.
because it enables you to sunny day) can affect the balance of all the other
work in CMYK mode (the four colours, deadening them or making skin tones look cold.
colours that make up printed Luckily your image editor contains tools which enable
colours – Cyan, Magenta, you either to replace these colour casts or add warm
Yellow and Black). You can colours to your image to offset them.
precisely adjust the CMYK On the other hand, once you begin editing a photo
values separately.
for skin tones, it’s easy to lose track and end up sending
everyone’s faces pink instead of buff.
USING ELEMENTS 1 & 2
The Variations tool (under
Enhance) enables you to add Fixing it up
more of certain colours. The quickest method is to experiment with Variations
under Photoshop’s Image8Adjustments menu or
USING PAINT SHOP PRO 7 Elements’ Enhance menu, but careful use of multiple
Do something similar using Adjustment Layers gives you more control. This is
the Manual Colour Tool to especially important when you’re trying to add colour to ADJUST THE COLOUR BALANCE NUDGE LEVELS
remove a cold colour cast skin (as shown here) rather than take it away. You can 03 Use sliders to swing the emphasis from greens 04 Moderate the colour change by adjusting the
and replace it with a warm
do something similar in Paint Shop Pro 7 although the to reds in the photo’s midtones. Click OK, then Levels balance to finish. Create another
colour category like ‘woods’.
tools here are less flexible. use the Add A New Fill or Adjustment Layer button to Adjustment Layer, this time choosing Levels from the
See www.jasc.com/tutorials/
robin/ for more information. Probably the best rule of thumb is: add reds, to warm create a Color Balance layer. Gently move the sliders to drop-down list. A tiny adjustment is required here. In our
up an image. Take a look opposite: compensate one channel colour against another. Click OK. case, a slight movement of the middle slider to the right.
Preserve your
Memories
on CD or DVD
From your camcorder…
From your digital camera…
From your PC…
…to your TV.
The fun and easy way to share your home movies

and digital photos on CD and DVD
• Capture from digital cameras and camcorders
• Photo and video manipulation tools
• Create motion menus
• Automatic slideshow creation
• Automatically fit your slideshow to your music
• Automatic label creation
For more information call us on 01895 424228

or visit us at www.pinnaclesys.com/expression/digicam
www.pinnaclesys.com
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4
NEWHARDWARE&SOFTWARE
100% definitive
Kit reviews
What you’ll want next, reviewed and rated
MAIN CAMERA REVIEWS
Our reviews are carefully crafted to give you all the info you need
H
ello and welcome to the first On a slightly different tack, digital
reviews section of Digital photography isn’t just about the best kit ■ FUJIFILM FINEPIX F401 P32
Camera Magazine. As our at top prices. Many of us also want a ■ KONICA KD-400Z P34
reviews section develops in future issues, second, cheaper mini camera that is ■ OLYMPUS C-4000 ZOOM P36
it will be our aim to be the first to bring small enough to slip in a pocket, and ■ TOSHIBA PDR-T20 P38
■ KODAK DX4330 P40
you the very latest digital cameras and handy for firing off a few shots when CAMERA RANGE OTHER MAKES
related software. something catches our eye. We’ve SOFTWARE REVIEWS Is it better to pay a Is there a better deal
This month, with aftershave ads on TV compared six of the best in our two-page ■ ADOBE ELEMENTS 2 P42 bit more for a bit available from
■ QUICK FIX PLUG-INS P44 extra? Our 'range' box on the another manufacturer?
pointing ominously to Christmas, we review of mini cameras on page 46.
bottom left-hand corner of the
thought it would be a good idea to kick What’s the best format for storing your ARCHIVING SOLUTIONS
review lists other cameras 3D CAMERA TOURS
off with some of the crop of compact image collection away from your ■ IOMEGA ZIP 750 P45 supplied by the manufacturer. Try before you buy!
cameras out on the market at the computer? A 750Mb Zip disc or a CD-RW ■ IOMEGA PREDATOR 2 P45 Rotate and view each
moment. We’ve taken a representative drive? We look at two solutions from COMPARISON STRIP camera on-screen with our
MINI CAMERAS
sample of cameras so you can see what Iomega on page 45. Peel back each right- unique virtual reality tour.
■ SIPIX STYLECAM BLINK P46 hand page, line up
your money will buy you in the £300 to Finally, all this great kit is no good if
■ FUJIFILM FINEPIX A101 P46 the Performance strip with the LINKS TO THE WEB
£600 price range. your printer coughs out bad quality ■ MUSTEK GSMART MINI2 P46 other strips, and compare the test Visit our website for
We have a slightly belated look at prints or produces colours that fade faster ■ FUJIFILM @XIA SLIMSHOT P47 shots from each camera. even more info.
Photoshop Elements 2 on page 42. With than a British racing driver. We’ve put ■ PHOTOCLIP 5-IN-1 P47
its huge range of quality image-editing six colour A4 inkjets through the Digital ■ SONY DSC-U10 P47
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90+ An outstanding and almost IMAGES Rates resolution, colour
faultless product. Buy it! balance, ability to handle varying
80-89 A well thought out product conditions and accuracy
BEST BUY CAMERA – KONICA KD-400Z BEST BUY CAMERA – OLYMPUS IOMEGA ZIP 750 let down by a few minor details BUILD Rates styling and how well
70-79 A product that scores well the camera has been constructed
and is worth considering VALUE Rates whether the camera
50-69 Average. A middle-of-the- is good value for money
road product that certainly doesn't
set the world alight
30-49 A below average product
DIGITAL
CAMERA 0-29 Something that insults the
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REVIEWS 2-MEGAPIXEL ZOOM COMPACT
FUJIFILM FINEPIX F401

Price £400
Resolution 2.1 megapixels
Lens 38-114mm 3x zoom
Memory 16Mb SmartMedia
Contact Fuji 020 7586 1477 www.fujifilm.co.uk SAMPLE IMAGES ALL THESE IMAGES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CD
Fujifilm FinePix F401

The FinePix F401 is the baby of Fujifilm’s F range, sitting below the F601. It shares some similar styling
features with the F601, but it’s a lot more compact, and it has its own special charms…
T
he F401 is one of the best looking ultra-
* ON OUR
COVERDISC compact digital cameras around, with a sleek
silver finish and glowing blue lights. The
camera’s on switch is the vertical strip of silver that
houses the three blue lights. Pull this back and the
Super EBC Fujinon lens pops out to provide a useful
38-114mm, 3x optical zoom range. The automatic 4
aperture selection is based on a range of f2.8-f4.8/f7-
f11.6, making the lens quite slow at full zoom. When 1
VIRTUAL TOUR not in use, the camera hides the lens behind a strong
Try before you buy! Rotate and
view this camera on-screen with in-set cover.
our unique virtual reality tour
Round the back
ON OUR Turning our attention to the reverse of the camera,
C WEBSITE there’s a small viewfinder at the top, which you really
OPINIONS & SHOPPING have to squint through, but it does its job well enough.
Visit our website, read our review, The LCD is bright, sharp and has the option of a 2 x 2
post your views, see what other
readers think then click straight
grid overlay, which is great for composing shots.
through to buy this camera! The body feels tough and the build quality and finish
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk is excellent. Buttons and switches feel well put together
and small details such as the three blue lights certainly
give the camera a touch of class. A smart black case is
DIGITAL RANGE provided to protect the F401 while it’s not in use. 3
FUJIFILM Fujifilm quotes a 1.9 effective megapixel rate for the
F401’s CCD. However, as this is a Third Generation Super
F6800 ZOOM
Price: £550 CCD, it enables you to take 4-megapixel images as well.
Megapixels: 3.1 The 4-megapixel images are created from the 2-
megapixel CCD resolution using Fujifilm’s own algorithm
F601 ZOOM
Price: £500
and will take up more space on your memory card.
One of the benefits of this latest Super CCD is a high
7 7 7
Megapixels: 3.1 FLASH LENS COVER CONNECTIONS
ISO range of 160/200/400/800/1,600 (though the last
The built-in auto- Hidden behind a Connections for
F401 ZOOM two are only available at 1,280 x 960 pixels). Another flash offers red-eye strong silver power and USB
5
Price: £400 positive point about this CCD is its ability to record video reduction and slow cover, the lens is are left open for
Megapixels: 2.1 synchro modes well protected the cradle
at 320 x 240 for up to 120 seconds at a good standard
2600 ZOOM of quality.
Price: £220 Operation is straightforward, with mode switches and Fujifilm claims the F401 is capable of 450 shots off Supplied in the box is a 16Mb card, which allows nine
Megapixels: 2 zoom controls all easy to reach. The menus shown on one charge with the LCD off. With the LCD on this photos to be stored at the 4-megapixel resolution, or 39
A101 the LCD are controlled by only a couple of adjacent number drops to 200. The battery life impressed in our at a resolution of 2 megapixels.
£ Price: £120 buttons, making this a very user-friendly camera. The tests and we didn’t need to change the battery once Supplied with the camera is a stylish cradle, which
5 Megapixels: 1.3 subtle animations and bold colours of the menus help
maintain the fresh stylish image of the exterior.
during a day’s shooting. The camera’s SmartMedia card
is kept under the same cover as the Lithium-ion battery.
gives added convenience for downloading images and
charging the battery. Alternatively, the power and USB

CAMERA REVIEW REFERENCE CARD

Price £400
Memory 16Mb SmartMedia
Contact Fuji 020 7586 1477
www.fujifilm.co.uk
KEY FEATURES
7 BATTERY 7 CRADLE 7 VIDEO
Expect the Lithium-ion The F401 offers ease of use Record up to 480 seconds
battery to last about 300 and a stylish body, together of continuous video
shots when fully charged with a convenient cradle with sound
Fujifilm FinePix F401 FULL SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor 2.1 (effective) megapixel, 1/2.7-inch Super Video output N/A
1
CCD in interwoven pattern Movie recording Up to 480 seconds with sound
Image size 1,600 x 1,200 Other features DPOF, Exif 2.2
Lens Super EBC Fujinon 38-114mm Image storage SmartMedia
3x optical zoom (1.44x digital) Batteries Rechargeable Lithium-ion
Focus Auto and macro (10-80cm) AC adaptor Supplied
Exposure Auto and Programmed AE Software DP Editor, FinePix Viewer, VideoImpression
Metering 64-zone TTL Weight 185g (excluding battery)
Monitor 1.5-inch colour TFT LCD (114,000 pixels) Dimensions 85.0(w) x 69.4(h) x 27.5(d)mm
AE Compensation +1.5/-2.1 in 1/3 stops Transfer USB
Flash Auto-flash, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synchro OS Windows 98/2000/Me/XP, Mac OS 8.6+
2
MINOLTA TOSHIBA NIKON PANASONIC
WORTH DIMAGE X PDR-T20 COOLPIX 2500 LUMIX DMC-F7
A LOOK £300/1.96MP £300/2MP £260/2MP £280/2MP
Small and funky Features 80 1

with pretty good Images 85 1
Verdict
Build 90 1
image quality Value 85 1
84%
This is an excellent 2-megapixel ultra- FINAL
compact camera. It offers lots of style
and high image quality to back it up.
SCORE
However, when shooting in the 4-
megapixel mode, the 16Mb SmartMedia
card is insufficient
1
Closeup
NEXT MONTH
PERFORMANCE
;
WE REVIEW THE
FUJI FINEPIX F601 TURN THE PAGE TO
COMPARE TEST SHOTS FUJIFILM FINEPIX F401
2 SKIN TONES
7
2 1 BATTERY
Expect the Lithium-
ion battery to last
about 300 shots
when fully charged
7 LCD PANEL
The LCD is
detailed and the
brightness level 5 PRO Good colour accuracy means that most skin
tones are well presented
can be adjusted
6 CON Being limited to a resolution of two effective
megapixels, prints over A4 show problems
2 OUTDOOR SHOTS
3 CRADLE
The F401 offers ease of use and a stylish
4 body, together with a convenient cradle
7 7
VIDEO
Record up to 480
seconds of ZOOM CONTROL
5 PRO The metering system is very reliable and, if
needed, exposure compensation is provided
6
continuous video 3x optical zoom plus
with sound 1.44x digital zoom CON The optical viewfinder is cramped, making you
rely largely on the LCD
cables can be plugged straight into the camera. group shot in low light. It features the usual modes conferencing software to show a real-time image of
2 INDOOR SHOTS
The FinePix F401 has reasonably fast operating of Auto, Red-eye Reduction and Slow Synchro. yourself right across the world.
times. The lens is out and the camera ready to shoot The menu includes a continuous shooting mode, When in manual mode, you are able to select
in just over two seconds. After taking a shot there is which enables you to hold down the shutter so the exposure compensation, white balance and ISO, plus
a delay of about two seconds before you can take camera can fire continuously. And you are able to a self-timer option. Despite this rather basic menu,
another picture, but turning the post view option off choose whether it stores only the last four or the photos taken by the FinePix F401 show a high level
decreases this time. Taking a shot without pre- first four photos. of colour accuracy, and the images appear sharp.
The optional ISO settings and exposure
compensation give a limited amount of manual
The F401 is one of the best looking ultra- control and very good results can be achieved.
5 PRO The white-balance system causes no grief and
the flash has just enough power for low light shots
6
In-camera metering and the automatic white- CON Although a very minor problem, the tripod
compact digital cameras available, with balance performs well with only the occasional slip- mount is at the very edge of the camera
sleek silver finishes and glowing blue lights

up. Image noise levels are very low, with none of
the ugly patterns seen on some cheaper digital 2 IMAGE QUALITY
compacts. Even at the higher ISO settings the third
generation CCD proves to be capable of delivering
focusing means delays of between 0.5 and 0.9 Image quality options enable you to select from above average results.
seconds. Shutter lag on pre-focused shots is good, 0.3-, 1.0-, 2.0- and 4.0-megapixel images. Higher The FinePix F401 fulfils the main requirements for
varying around 0.1 seconds. These figures mean you resolutions increase the size of the images produced, a digital compact camera very well. It is suited to
won’t become impatient waiting for the camera to so if you plan to shoot at four megapixels, you’ll most beginner photographers, offering good image
catch up with you, and you’re less likely to miss a benefit from buying a 128Mb SmartMedia card. quality, excellent portability and a limited amount of
shot because of the camera. Something that’s unusual to find with digital manual control. If you need a flexible level of control
With a range of 3.5m, the flash is moderately camera of this class is webcam functionality – but over shutter speeds and apertures, you’ll have to
useful and it’s powerful enough for the occasional the FinePix F401 has included it. This lets you use look at a slightly higher-end model. 5 PRO For 2 megapixels, a lot of detail is present.
Colour accuracy is good, with low levels of noise
6 CON It would have been good to have options for

sharpness and colour saturation
Fujifilm FinePix F401 FULL SPECIFICATIONS 1 Small and funky

with pretty good
Features
Images
80
85
1
1
Verdict
Sensor 2.1 (effective) megapixel, 1/2.7-inch Super CCD Video output N/A
in interwoven pattern Movie recording Up to 480 seconds with sound Build 90 1
Image size
Lens
1,600 x 1,200
Super EBC Fujinon 38-114mm 3x optical zoom
Other features
Image storage
DPOF, Exif 2.2
SmartMedia image quality Value 85 1
(1.44x digital) Batteries Rechargeable Lithium-ion
84%
Focus
Exposure
Auto and macro (10-80cm)
Auto and Programmed AE
AC adaptor
Software
Supplied
DP Editor, FinePix Viewer, VideoImpression
This is an excellent 2-megapixel ultra- FINAL
Metering
Monitor
64-zone TTL
1.5-inch colour TFT LCD (114,000 pixels)
Weight
Dimensions
185g (excluding battery)
85.0(w) x 69.4(h) x 27.5(d)mm
compact camera. It offers lots of style
and high image quality to back it up.
SCORE
AE Compensation +1.5/-2.1 in 1/3 stops Transfer USB
Flash Auto-flash, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synchro OS Windows 98/2000/Me/XP, Mac OS 8.6+ However, when shooting in the
4-megapixel mode 16Mb SmartMedia
2
MINOLTA TOSHIBA NIKON PANASONIC card is insufficient
WORTH DIMAGE X PDR-T20 COOLPIX 2500 LUMIX DMC-F7
A LOOK £300/1.96MP £300/2MP £260/2MP £280/2MP

KONICA KD-400Z
Price £400
Resolution 4 megapixels
Lens 3x optical zoom, 39-117 mm equivalent, f2.8-4.9
Memory 16Mb Multimedia card, plus Memory Stick slot
Contact Konica 020 8751 6121 www.konica.co.uk SAMPLE IMAGES ALL THESE IMAGES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CD
Konica KD-400Z
Konica says it’s ‘the world’s smallest camera in its class’. And at such a competitive price, is this camera too
good to be true? We put it through its paces to find out…
DIGITAL
* ON R
ight from the word go, the Konica KD-400Z
OUR CAMERA
COVERDISC does not feel like a £400 camera. Its solid, MAGAZINE
metallic construction is reminiscent of the far
more expensive Canon Ixus and S30/S40 models. And
not only is the Konica really well made, it’s really small
as well.
Slide back the lens cover (which is a bit stiff and
awkward, it has to be said), and the lens pops out, a
blue lozenge-shaped lamp below the lens twinkles and
VIRTUAL TOUR a short chime indicates the camera’s ready for use.
view this camera on-screen with Konica reckons it has got the world’s fastest start-up
our unique virtual reality tour time, and while we can’t confirm that with tests of our
own (not without getting together every camera on
ON OUR sale), it certainly is amazingly quick – a shade under two
C WEBSITE seconds in our timings.
OPINIONS & SHOPPING This speed is carried through into other functions. We 4
Visit our website, read our review, timed the shutter lag at consistently below one second,
readers think then click straight and while that’s still far from instantaneous, it beats
through to buy this camera! many mid-range rivals, including the new Kodak
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk DX4330 reviewed on page 40. Having said that, you
can’t take another shot until the image-saving process is 3
completed, which takes a couple of seconds.
Playback is fast, too – photos take about a second to 7 7 7
appear on the LCD, and zooming in to view fine detail
ZOOM LENS TRIPOD BUSH
and panning around images is fast. Price and size Could maybe do Use this for
DIGITAL RANGE notwithstanding, the Konica’s general processing and SLIDING LENS COVER with being a bit long exposures
Also acts as the
KONICA operating speed is excellent. power switch
wider at the
wideangle end
to prevent
camera shake
The optical viewfinder is a little cramped – the
KD-400Z
eyepiece is so small that it can take a moment to get
5
Price: £400
Megapixels: 2 your eye positioned correctly, but it’s crisp and clear between them they offer easy and logical navigation of to find the dual-format feature useful for swapping
with minimal distortion. And while the 1.5-inch LCD is the Konica’s attractive looking menu system (which can images with a wider variety of other devices.
KD-310Z small, it’s bright, saturated and sharp. It updates quickly, also be set to either Basic or Detailed mode). It’s hard to fault the other controls and buttons on the
Price: £330 too, so there’s no streaking, blurring and jerking if you – back of the Konica. The zoom buttons are small but easy
Megapixels: 3.2
or your subjects – move. One step beyond to find, and zooming itself is quick. A trio of buttons to
KD3000 The navigation controller is positioned right at the Increasing numbers of camera makers are swapping the top-left control playback, the LCD display and image
Price: £300 bottom of the backplate, but this doesn’t pose any real from Compact Flash or SmartMedia to SD/Multimedia deletion, and they’re positive with good tactile
Megapixels: 2.2
problems once you get used to it. It’s a bit stiff and cards. The Konica goes further with two slots: one for an feedback. The flash mode and macro/infinity/self timer
KD100 imprecise at first, but works well enough, and at least SD card and one for a Memory Stick. You can copy or options are controlled by pressing right or left on the
£ Price: £100 Konica’s resisted any temptation to put an OK button in move images from one card to another as required and, navigation controller, respectively, to cycle through the
5 Megapixels: 1.3 the middle. Instead, the controller works in conjunction

with a Menu/Set button directly alongside, and
in theory, the two slots can double the camera’s
memory capacity. In practice, though, you’re more likely
options. This reduces the number of buttons on the back
plate and works well.

Konica KD-400Z
Price £400
Lens 3x optical zoom,
39-117 mm equivalent, f2.8-4.9
Memory 16Mb Multimedia card,
plus Memory Stick slot
Contact Konica 020 8751 6121
www.konica.co.uk
KEY FEATURES
7 ZOOM LENS 7 SLIDING LENS COVER 7 TRIPOD BUSH
Could maybe do with Also acts as the Use this for long
being a bit wider at the power switch exposures to prevent
wideangle end camera shake
Konica KD-400Z FULL SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor 4.13-megapixel CCD Movie recording With sound
1
Image size 2,304 x 1,704 Other features In-camera picture resizing,
Lens Hexanon 3x optical zoom, 39-117mm voice annotations
equivalent, f2.8-4.9 (2x digital) Image storage SD card and Memory Stick
Focus Auto and macro (10cm-infinity) Batteries Rechargeable Lithium-ion
Exposure modes Programmed AE AC adaptor Charger supplied, AC adaptor optional
Metering Centre-weighted, spot Software Basic manuals and drivers
Monitor 1.5-inch TFT Weight 198g without battery or memory card
AE compensation +2/-2EV in 0.3EV increments Dimensions 94(W) x 29.5(H) x 56(D)mm
Flash auto-flash, red-eye reduction, Transfer USB
night portrait, off OS Win98/Me, 2000 or XP, Mac OS 9.0 or later
Video output N/A
2
HP PHOTOSMART KODAK SAMSUNG OLYMPUS
WORTH 812 DX4900 DIGIMAX 410SE C-4000
A LOOK £400/4MP £400/4MP £400/4MP £450/4MP
Should a camera Features 78 1

this good be this Images 1
90
Verdict
Build 90 1
inexpensive? Value 97 1
90%
The KD-400 is a remarkable camera. It’s FINAL
not just the size, build quality, results or
price which, individually, can be
SCORE
matched by rival cameras. It’s the fact
that you get all four in a package that
really is hard to fault
Konica KD-400Z
1
Closeup
TURN THE PAGE TO
PERFORMANCE
COMPARE TEST SHOTS KONICA KD-400Z
2 SKIN TONES
5 PRO Very good in all conditions, including overcast

daylight, sun and shots taken using the flash
6 CON None. A very good, reliable and consistent

performance all round
1
2 OUTDOOR SHOTS
4
3
7 7 7
BATTERY LCD
The Konica’s It’s only a 1.5-inch
5
NAVIGATION CONTROLLER
lithium cell is unit, but it’s PRO The Konica copes well with bright skies,
A bit stiff but, like the which routinely confuse cheaper cameras
6
recharged very sharp, bright other buttons, it’s positive
off-camera and responsive CON Highlights have a tendency to wash out on
and feels well made
the white doors, frames and T-shirts, for example
Photographically, the Konica is fairly limited. It’s offer a fair degree of photographic flexibility in the megapixel digital camera. More expensive
2 INDOOR SHOTS
not designed for photo enthusiasts, and its features right hands. enthusiast’s models will give you more photographic
are much on a par with those of other mid-range All the time you’re examining the Konica’s control, but any differences in outright image quality
compact cameras. Half-pressure on the shutter options and controls, you continue to be struck by will be so small as to leave you wondering whether
release locks the exposure, and there’s also an just how small and how well made this camera is. It you’re just splitting hairs.
If the Konica does have a weakness, it’s that
there’s no software bundle. You get a CD containing
The Konica doesn’t appear to have many the camera’s driver and a PDF-based instruction
manual, but that’s all. That won’t be a problem for
weaknesses. The exposure accuracy and those who’ve got image-editing software already,
5 PRO Konica’s smooth shutter release helps keep
hand-held shots sharp
6
though, and the Konica does connect to your CON Flash power looks low when set to auto in
colour balance are consistently good computer simply – it acts as an external drive, daylight when it’s balanced against ambient light
leaving you free to use Explorer if you want to view

and copy your photos to your hard disk. 2 IMAGE QUALITY
exposure compensation control that works in 0.3EV oozes quality throughout, and where some digital There are lots of other 4-megapixel digital
increments. You do have to access the menus to get cameras can prove disappointingly plasticky, this one cameras to compare the KD-400Z with, but few at
to this, though, and this illustrates a difference is really quite exceptional. £400. The two big-name rivals are HP’s PhotoSmart
between snapshot cameras and those designed for That, and the very reasonable asking price, leaves 812 and Kodak’s DX4900, and the Konica is
enthusiasts – snapshot cameras offer many of the you wondering if the image quality is going to be miles better than both of them. It’s better made,
same features, but in a less accessible form. the weak link. But it’s not. Indeed, the Konica produces better pictures (certainly in the case of the
By default, metering is centre-weighted, but doesn’t appear to have many weaknesses. The HP) and it’s nicer to use. It’s not often we can
there’s also a spot metering system for tricky exposure accuracy and colour balance are recommend a camera unreservedly, but for image
subjects. Combine this with optional manual white- consistently good, the autofocus is reliable and the quality, price and build, the Konica KD-400Z is in a
balance settings and you’ve got a camera that does image quality is as good as you’ll get on a 4- class of its own. 5 PRO The Konica might be tiny, but that doesn’t
appear to affect its optical performance
6 CON A tendency to overexposure can blot out the

highlights, reducing your images’ dynamic range
Konica KD-400Z FULL SPECIFICATIONS 1 Should a camera

this good be this
Features
Images
78 1
1 90
Verdict
Sensor 4.13-megapixel CCD Movie recording With sound

Image size 2,304 x 1,704 Other features In-camera picture resizing, voice annotations Build 90 1
Lens Hexanon 3x optical zoom, 39-117mm equivalent,
f2.8-4.9 (2x digital)
Image storage
Batteries
SD card and Memory Stick
Rechargeable Lithium-ion inexpensive? Value 97 1
Focus Auto and macro (10cm-infinity) AC adaptor Charger supplied, AC adaptor optional
90%
Exposure modes
Metering
Programmed AE
Centre-weighted, spot
Software
Weight
Basic manuals and drivers
198g without battery or memory card
The KD-400 is a remarkable camera. FINAL
Monitor
AE compensation
1.5-inch TFT
+2/-2EV in 0.3EV increments
Dimensions
Transfer
94(W) x 29.5(H) x 56(D)mm
USB
It’s not just the size, build quality,
results or price which, individually, can
SCORE
Flash auto-flash, red-eye reduction, night portrait, off OS Win98/Me, 2000 or XP, Mac OS 9.0 or later
Video output N/A be matched by rival cameras. It’s the
fact that you get all four in a package
2
HP PHOTOSMART KODAK SAMSUNG OLYMPUS that really is hard to fault
WORTH 812 DX4900 DIGIMAX 410SE C-4000
A LOOK £400/4MP £400/4MP £400/4MP £450/4MP

OLYMPUS C-4000 ZOOM

Price £449
Lens f2.8 3x zoom lens
Memory 16Mb SmartMedia supplied
Contact Olympus 0800 072 0070 www.olympus.co.uk SAMPLE IMAGES ALL THESE IMAGES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CD
Olympus C-4000 ZOOM

The latest Camedia 4-megapixel camera packs in tons of features to a classy looking
body. And the quality of the images is absolutely superb…
DIGITAL
O
ver the past year or so, Olympus has gained a
* ON OUR CAMERA
COVERDISC good reputation in the mid-range consumer MAGAZINE
digital camera market. The reasons behind
this are plain and simple – robust, attractive cameras
with superb image processing and excellent usability.
The C-4000 ZOOM has been launched after the
success of the incredibly rugged and semi-pro feeling
C-4040 ZOOM, and although it features the same basic
design, it is a very different camera. Gone is the black,
VIRTUAL TOUR speckled metal feeling of the C-4040 that we like so
view this camera on-screen with much, to be replaced by a slick, brushed metal and
our unique virtual reality tour silver plastic case.
Don’t get us wrong, the finish is top-notch and the
3
ON OUR camera certainly feels strong enough to take a few
C WEBSITE rough knocks but, all in all, it seems like it’s more prone
OPINIONS & SHOPPING to scratches, and lacks the professional feel of the
Visit our website, read our review, C-4040. In terms of feature positioning, the C-4000 is
identical to the C-4040, sporting a 1.8-inch LCD, menu 2
through to buy this camera! controls, quick display control, exposure settings and a
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk flash control button on the back. A Power/Mode dial
sits on the top of the camera directly behind the
shutter/W/T zoom controls.
DIGITAL RANGE
OLYMPUS Usability
E-20P
The C-4000 ZOOM is a doddle to set up and use. Much 7 7 7
Price: £1,499 of this is due to the incredibly intuitive menu system.
BATTERIES SMARTMEDIA VIDEO
Megapixels: 5 Appearing on the LCD, the colour-coded system enables The C-4000 The C-4000 outputs
The C-4000 takes AA
you to do all the usual things – change resolution/file batteries as well the comes bundled QuickTime video
E-10 type and so on, as well as set up white balance, Olympus-only with a 16Mb and shows all the
Price: £999 Lithium-ion versions SmartMedia card LCD menu screens
sharpness, contrast and generally customise the
Megapixels: 4
camera’s settings. It’s a simple, yet effective menu
C-4000 system that puts other manufacturer’s convoluted of this affects the final shot, of course, so maybe we’re Indeed, the TruePic technology seems to live up to the
5
Price: £449 systems to shame. The virtual dial system (enabling you just being picky. company’s claims – the C-4000 takes better quality
Megapixels: 4 to cycle through mode options) is similarly intuitive. shots in all conditions. Indoor shots are refreshingly
C-300Z The C-4000 sports a f2.8 3x zoom lens, with a focal Good images, vibrant colours vibrant, and shots capturing close-up subjects such as
Price: £299 length equivalent to 32-96mm in a standard 35mm Olympus’ image processing is simply superb, and the flowers retain a remarkable amount of detail – even
Megapixels: 3 camera. Add to this the 3.5x digital zoom and you have the company’s TruePic technology goes a long way to when the flash is used. The skin tones remain true to
C-220 up to 10x magnification – impressive stuff for a camera optimise all elements of an image, including contrast, the viewfinder in low-light conditions, thanks to the
£ Price: £199 in this price bracket. One thing that takes away from colour purity and gradation. As a result, Olympus boasts camera’s excellent automatic white balancing.
5 Megapixels: 2 this, however, is the clunkiness of the zoom. It seems to

jar slightly as you zoom in and out on a subject. None
images that are vibrant, well defined and feature a
good tonal range.
The six pre-set white balance settings enable you to
get the most out of daylight, overcast and fluorescent

Olympus C-4000 ZOOM

Price £450
Lens f2.8 3x zoom lens
Memory 16Mb SmartMedia supplied
Contact Olympus 0800 072 0070
www.olympus.co.uk
KEY FEATURES
7 ZOOM LEVER 7 MODE DIAL 7 MENU
3x optical zoom and 3.5x Change between Move through the
digital zoom gives a total shooting modes with C-4000’s excellent set-up
zoom of 10x standard mode dial menu with these buttons
Olympus C-4000 ZOOM FULL SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor 1/1.8-inch CCD solid-state image pickup Movie recording
1
QuickTime Motion JPEG recording
with 4.13 million pixels Other features AF area selection system
Image size 3,200 x 2,400 (in Print enlarge mode) Image storage SmartMedia
Lens Olympus 3x multivariator zoom lens Batteries Lithium-ion
Focus TTL system iESP autofocus AC adaptor Not supplied
Focusing range 0.2 m – infinity Software USB drivers, Camedia Master
Exposure Programmed auto exposure, Aperture Weight 290g (without batteries and Smart
priority auto and Shutter priority Media card)
Metering Spot metering. Multi-spot metering Dimensions 110 (W) x 76 (H) x 70 (D) mm
Monitor 1.8-inch colour TFT LCD monitor AE Transfer USB
Compensation ±2 EV in ±1/3 EV steps OS Windows 98/2000/NT/XP, Mac OS 9+/OS X
Flash Auto, red-eye reduction, off, fill-in slow synch
2
NIKON CANON KODAK SONY
WORTH COOLPIX 4500 POWERSHOT S40 DX4900 DSC-P9
A LOOK £599/4MP £549/4MP £349/4MP £469/4MP
A fantastic sub- Features 90 1

£500 4-megapixel Images 93 1
Verdict
Build 90 1
digital camera Value 90 1
90%
A range of creative and photographic FINAL
features are on offer – making this
camera suitable for both the beginner or
SCORE
intermediate photographer looking for a
second, more compact camera
Olympus C-4000 ZOOM
1
Closeup
TURN THE PAGE TO
PERFORMANCE
COMPARE TEST SHOTS OLYMPUS C-4000 ZOOM
1
2 SKIN TONES
5 PRO Skin tones remain excellent in almost all

conditions – the auto white balancing is excellent
6 CON Colours can be rather washed out in

artificially lit shots
2 OUTDOOR SHOTS
4
7 7 7
ZOOM LEVER MODE DIAL MENU
Choose modes like Move through the
5
3x optical zoom and
Scene Programming C-4000’s excellent PRO Great range of colours and tones, bright and
3.5x digital zoom colourful images
6
gives a total zoom especially for set-up menu with
beginners these buttons CON Range of exposure settings can be a little
of 10x baffling for beginners
lighting conditions. We were struck by the results plus multi-spot metering for setting up the exposure Other highlights include the ability to record small
2 INDOOR SHOTS
of the AF area selection system, which enables you based on several user-defined metering points. QT movies; five flash modes, providing a good
to move the metering point along a horizontal One Mode of interest is the Scene Programming amount of control over artificially-lit shots; and a
and vertical axis in the viewfinder, so you can mode. When switched to this, you’re presented noise reduction feature for slow exposure shots.
focus on areas other than the centre of the shot. with a graphical dial interface. Primarily aimed at In the box you get the normal USB lead for data
Impressively, a histogram also enables you to tweak beginners, this enables you to choose the type of transfer, an AV cable and Olympus’ Camedia
Master software for basic image management and
editing. What is inexcusable, though (and we wish
Olympus would sort this out), is the lack of a
In terms of creative control and features, the rechargeable battery and adaptor in the box.
5 PRO Colours remain true and image quality
sharp – even in close-ups shots
6
Although you can buy a battery separately, you
C-4000 has much more to offer than your really shouldn’t have to do so.
CON Flash can be a tad bright and needs to be
carefully adjusted
standard 4-megapixel automatic camera

Having said this, the camera does take AA
batteries as well as Olympus-only Lithium-ion 2 IMAGE QUALITY
batteries, which is handy if you run out of juice in a
foreign location.
brightness levels from a graphical interface. shot you’re going photograph so the camera can Olympus has built an affordable, 4-megapixel
In terms of creative control and features, the adjust its settings accordingly. camera that follows in the footsteps of its consumer
C-4000 has much more to offer than your standard The Scene modes include portrait, landscape, range. Fantastic image quality, a vast range of
4-megapixel automatic camera. These are mainly sports and night shots. And once you’ve become creative controls, excellent build quality and a neat
within the camera’s comprehensive exposure and adept at adjusting manual metering functionality, design make the C-4000 a really great bit of kit. If
scene selection controls. The iESP autofocus works you can save your settings and refer back to them at you’re looking for a sub-£500 camera that oozes
well when you want to point and shoot, but more any time – again, this is a novel and genuinely class and is extremely easy to use, then you need
control is possible. The usual spot metering is here, useful feature. look no further… 5 PRO Olympus’ TruePix technology means that
fine details in images are captured beautifully
6 CON Focusing on close-up subjects can be tricky

just using the LCD
Olympus C-4000 ZOOM FULL SPECIFICATIONS 1 A fantastic sub-

£500 4-megapixel
Features
Images
90
93
1
1
Verdict
Sensor 1/1.8-inch CCD solid-state image pickup with Flash Auto, red-eye reduction, off, fill-in slow synch
4.13 million pixels Movie recording QuickTime Motion JPEG recording Build 90 1
Image size
Lens
3,200 x 2,400 (in Print enlarge mode)
Olympus 3x multivariator zoom lens
Other features
Image storage
AF area selection system
SmartMedia digital camera Value 90 1
Focus TTL system iESP autofocus Batteries Lithium-ion
90%
Focusing range
Exposure
0.2 m – infinity
Programmed auto exposure, Aperture priority
AC adaptor
Software
Not supplied
USB drivers, Camedia Master
A range of creative and photographic FINAL
Metering
auto and Shutter priority
Spot metering. Multi-spot metering
Weight
Dimensions
290g (without batteries and Smart Media card)
110 (W) x 76 (H) x 70 (D) mm
features are on offer – making
this camera suitable for both the
SCORE
Monitor 1.8-inch colour TFT LCD monitor AE Transfer USB
Compensation ±2 EV in ±1/3 EV steps OS Windows 98/2000/NT/XP, Mac OS 9+/OS X beginner and intermediate
photographer looking for a second,
2
NIKON CANON KODAK SONY more compact camera
WORTH COOLPIX 4500 POWERSHOT S40 DX4900 DSC-P9
A LOOK £599/4MP £549/4MP £349/4MP £469/4MP

TOSHIBA PDR-T20
Price £300
Memory 8Mb SD
Contact Toshiba 08704 424 424 www.home-entertainment.toshiba.co.uk SAMPLE IMAGES ALL THESE IMAGES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CD
Toshiba PDR-T20
We take a look at this touch-sensitive, ultra-compact digital camera with a stylish
appearance and some unique features
2
T
he first digital cameras available to the public
* ON OUR
COVERDISC were generally expensive, bulky and not
terribly well made. In the fast moving world
of digital technology things have changed dramatically
for the better. The Toshiba PDR-T20 shows just how far
things have advanced: it’s compact, stylish and offers
advanced technological features.
When not in use, the lens is hidden by a shiny metal
cover, providing an extra level of protection. When this
VIRTUAL TOUR cover is slid back and the camera switched on, the lens
view this camera on-screen with extends out and the flash pops up. Providing only a
our unique virtual reality tour modest 38-76mm 2x focal range, the lens offers a
reasonably fast aperture of f2.8 at full wide angle and f4
ON OUR at full zoom.
C WEBSITE 2 3
OPINIONS & SHOPPING Sensitive soul
Visit our website, read our review, Flipping the camera over, we can see the most
interesting feature – the touch-sensitive LCD. Toshiba has
through to buy this camera! broken away from the usual interface design to create
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk something unique. Held in your hand with the lens
cover closed, you could be forgiven for mistaking the 7 7 7
PDR-T20 for a PDA or mobile phone. SLIDING LENS COVER
POWER
DIGITAL RANGE However a good idea it might seem, some people The stylish metallic FLASH The disappointing
cover slides
TOSHIBA will just find it too quirky and bothersome. Those smoothly over the
The flash has
built-in auto flash,
battery life means
you’ll have to
who do approve of this system will probably like the lens to protect it red-eye reduction recharge regularly
PDR-M81
Price: £700 animated graphics and speedy operation. Although a
Megapixels: 4.2 stylus is provided, it’s easy to use your fingers instead –
but be careful you don’t scratch the screen. This system and reasonably weighted, and the lozenge shape fits camera such as this, it’s crucial that the battery
PDR-3310 allows you to paint directly onto the photo from within into a pocket easily. The one major criticism of the body performance is excellent (because it lacks any optical
Price: £400
the camera, and optionally save the result. is the absence of a tripod mount. viewfinder, it’s useless without the LCD switched on).
Megapixels: 3.2
Regardless of whether you like the touch screen, the Stored under the same compartment cover as the
PDR-T20 fact of the matter is that it is hard to see the LCD in In performance battery, there is the camera’s SD card. The card supplied
5
Price: £300 strong sunlight. And with no alternative optical This camera uses a 3.7V 1035mAh battery, which is 8Mb so it’s only possible to store six photos in the
Megapixels: 2 viewfinder this is likely to cause frustration. means it has a fair bit of power behind it. Coincidentally, best quality mode.
PDR-T10 Combining the reflective silver aluminium finish with the battery is identical to that used in the other digital After pulling back the lens cover, the lens takes
Price: £250 a minimalist control pad makes the PDR-T20 one of the compact cameras by Pentax and Fujifilm. Toshiba quotes around six seconds to extend and be ready to take a
Megapixels: 2 most stylish cameras around. To help keep it looking 120 shots off one battery charge with the flash at 100 shot. Shot to shot times are good, with the camera
PDR-M25 shiny, Toshiba has included a soft and protective case per cent. This is a reasonable figure but, unfortunately, ready to take another shot almost immediately. After
£ Price: £250 that’s a rather ugly green colour. The build quality of the the battery didn’t perform so well in our tests. It was pre-focusing on the subject, the shutter lag of the
5 Megapixels: 2.2 body is above average for a camera of this class. The
aluminium finish means that the camera feels tough
only because we were carrying a spare battery that we
were able to continue shooting on a day out. On a
shot being taken is minimal for a digital compact at
around .1sec. Focusing times indoors are reasonable,

Toshiba PDR-T20
Price £300
Memory 8Mb Secure Digital
Contact Toshiba 08704 424 424
www.home-entertain
ment.toshiba.co.uk
KEY FEATURES
7 JOG DIAL 7 TOUCH-SENSITIVE 7 BATTERY AND SD CARD
Used to control the in- LCD SCREEN The battery and SD card
camera menu or for A stylus replaces a are stored inside a
functions such as zoom button- operated LCD neat compartment
Toshiba PDR-T20 FULL SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor 2.01 (effective) megapixel, Movie recording N/A
1
1/2.7-inch colour CCD Other features Exif V2.2
Image size 1,600 x 1,200 pixels Image storage SD memory card
Lens 8-76mm 2x zoom lens. f/2.8 (W)/4 (T) Batteries Lithium-ion
Focus AF, macro (10-27cm) AC adaptor Supplied
Exposure Program, Auto Software USB Driver, ACDSee
Metering TTL Weight 170g (excluding accessories,
Monitor 1.5-inch colour TFT LCD (118,000 pixels) battery and SD card)
AE Compensation N/A Dimensions 54(w) x 108(h) x 29.5(d)mm
Flash Built-in auto flash, red-eye reduction Transfer USB
Video output N/A OS Windows 98/2000/Me/XP, Mac OS 9.0+
2
MINOLTA FUJIFILM NIKON PANASONIC
WORTH DIMAGE X FINEPIX F401 COOLPIX 2500 LUMIX DMC-F7
A LOOK £300/1.96MP £400/2.1MP £260/2MP £280/2MP
Stylish but let Features 75 1

down slightly by Images 70 1
Verdict
Build 85 1
image quality Value 70 1
73%
Although it provides a stand-out-from- FINAL
the-crowd appearance and handling,
the image quality is only average.
SCORE
Build quality and looks are the main
selling points – especially if style is
important to you
Toshiba PDR-T20
1
Closeup
TURN THE PAGE TO
PERFORMANCE
COMPARE TEST SHOTS TOSHIBA PDR-T20
2 SKIN TONES
5 PRO The resolution of the camera means a full

frame portrait shot contains reasonable detail
6 CON From a distance the camera’s resolution is

insufficient for fine detail
2 OUTDOOR SHOTS
2 7 7 7
JOG DIAL BATTERY AND
Used to control the TOUCH-SENSITIVE SD CARD
in-camera menu or
for functions such
LCD SCREEN
A stylus replaces a
The battery and SD
card are stored inside 5 PRO The metering and white-balance systems are
usually reliable
as zoom button operated LCD a neat compartment
6 CON In bright sunlight the LCD can be hard to see.
No alternative optical viewfinder
ranging from 0.9 seconds to 2.1 seconds, depending choose from – 100, 200 and 400. In addition, there with pale skin tones and colours often under-
2 INDOOR SHOTS
on the lighting. Image playback functions are very are five pre-set white-balance settings and an saturated. The image noise levels are low, however,
fast and you can scroll around the image using your automatic setting. and respectable up to ISO 400. There are some
finger on the screen. In order to help beginners get the best possible image artefacts present, but these shouldn’t be
The built-in flash pops up as soon as you slide photographs from the camera, there are five scene noticeable at smaller print sizes.
back the lens cover. In common with many compact modes – Portrait, Portrait + Landscape, Macro, Sports The in-camera metering performs well, but
without exposure compensation to rely on, it may
prove to be problematic. The automatic white-
Held in your hand with the lens cover balance system works intelligently, even coping well
closed, you could be forgiven for mistaking

with some potentially tricky shop display lighting.
5 PRO The LCD is easy to see for composing shots. The
white-balance system copes with tricky lighting
6
There are some features that are noticeably CON There is no tripod mount, so achieving a sharp
shot in low light can be difficult
absent, which means that this is basically an
the PDR-T20 for a PDA or mobile phone automatic camera with a limited degree of manual
2 IMAGE QUALITY
control over image quality. The biggest concern for
this camera is the lack of manual modes. Some
digital cameras, it lacks power. It has a red-eye and Portrait + Night scene. There is also an more manual controls – especially exposure
reduction mode, which can be turned off through automatic control option and a Multi-shot option that compensation – would make an appreciable
the camera menu, and although it will be enough takes 16 small photographs and saves them as a difference to most photographers. Also, many people
for some low lighting indoor shots, it can’t be totally single image. will be disappointed with the absence of a video
relied upon to deliver good results. capture mode – something that is almost standard
Through the camera menu there are a limited Style over substance? on compact cameras at this price point.
number of settings for image quality, with high and Image quality on the PDR-T20 is distinctly average, Having said that, the PDR-T20 is still competitively
standard quality modes for the highest 1,600 x with occasional shots not appearing sharp and some priced, and worth considering if style is a big priority
1,200 resolution. It features a range of ISO options to fine details lost. Colour rendition is also average, for you. 5 PRO Selectable ISO settings and colour modes allow
a small degree of user adjustment
6 CON Detail levels are only average and at an A4

print size the failings will become apparent
Toshiba PDR-T20 FULL SPECIFICATIONS 1 Stylish but let

down slightly by
Features
Images 70
75 1
1
Verdict
Sensor 2.01 (effective) megapixel, 1/2.7-inch colour CCD Other features Exif V2.2
Image size 1,600 x 1,200 pixels Image storage SD memory card Build 85 1
Lens
Focus
8-76mm 2x zoom lens. f/2.8 (W)/4 (T)
AF, macro (10-27cm)
Batteries
AC adaptor
Lithium-ion
Supplied image quality Value 70 1
Exposure Program, Auto Software USB Driver, ACDSee
73%
Metering
Monitor
TTL
1.5-inch colour TFT LCD (118,000 pixels)
Weight
Dimensions
170g (excluding accessories, battery and SD card)
54(w) x 108(h) x 29.5(d)mm
Although it provides a stand-out-from- FINAL
AE Compensation
Flash
N/A
Built-in auto flash, red-eye reduction
Transfer
OS
USB
Windows 98/2000/Me/XP, Mac OS 9.0+
the-crowd appearance and handling,
the image quality is only average.
SCORE
Video output N/A
Movie recording N/A Build quality and looks are the main
selling points – especially if style is
2
MINOLTA FUJIFILM NIKON PANASONIC important to you
WORTH DIMAGE X FINEPIX F401 COOLPIX 2500 LUMIX DMC-F7
A LOOK £300/1.96MP £400/2.1MP £260/2MP £280/2MP

REVIEWS 3.1-MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA
KODAK DX4330
Price £300
Lens 3x optical zoom, 38-114mm equivalent, f2.8/5.1
Memory 16Mb Multimedia card
Contact Kodak 0870 243 0270 www.kodak.co.uk SAMPLE IMAGES ALL THESE IMAGES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CD
Kodak DX4330
Kodak’s latest EasyShare software and cameras aim to bring digital photography to the
masses. Does it succeed with the DX4330, or is it just too simplistic?
K
odak’s digital camera range is changing
* ON OUR
COVERDISC quickly right now, and at the time of going to
press it consists of two models in the
essentially point-and-shoot CX range, and two in the
more advanced DX range.
‘Advanced’ is a relative term, however, and even the
most generous-minded photographer will have to admit
that the DX4330 is pretty basic. With only exposure lock 1
(half-pressure and shutter release) and an exposure
VIRTUAL TOUR compensation function (via the menus) by way of
view this camera on-screen with manual overrides, you’re largely at the mercy of the
our unique virtual reality tour automated functions.
The DX4330 is switched on using the multi-function
ON OUR mode dial on the top plate. The first position is the
C WEBSITE Auto setting, which handles flash, exposure and
OPINIONS & SHOPPING automatic focus, while other positions optimise the
settings for sports photography, night scenes, landscapes
3
Visit our website, read our review,
and macro shots.
through to buy this camera! The DX4330 is simple enough to pick up and start
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk using straight away, and the controls on the back
are scarcely more complicated. The four-way navigation
controller has a central OK button for switching the
LCD display on and off and navigating around the 7 7 7
camera’s menus. There are also Delete, Menu and
POWER LENS
Review buttons. 2x AAs or a single 38-114mm MODE DIAL
DIGITAL RANGE The DX4330 has a further Share button. In Review Lithium-ion CRV3 (equivalent) zoom: Springy and
cell – convenient surprisingly crisp
KODAK mode, this enables you to pick out specific pictures for and inexpensive and punchy
firm, but a little
imprecise, too
printing, emailing or for tagging as Favorites to help you
DX4900
Price: £350 find them quickly. This feature works with Kodak’s
Megapixels: 4 EasyShare software. As soon as you hook your camera Nice and easy? The drive towards simplicity has left the camera itself
up to your PC (either using the supplied cable or Kodak’s Most keen photographers want to know what’s going with one surprising omission – no white balance control.
DX4330 separately-available Camera Dock), the pictures are on with their cameras. And the simplest type of Granted, you can nearly always leave digital cameras
5
Price: £300 transferred, printed or emailed automatically. image transfer system is where your camera acts set to auto-white balance and never give it another
Megapixels: 3.1
The EasyShare software does its job very well. You as an external hard drive and you view and move thought, but all Kodak’s rivals offer this feature, and
CX4230 slot the camera into its dock and press the button (or images across using Windows Explorer. You then go most experienced photographers will feel slightly
Price: £200 hook it up to your PC via the USB cable), the software on to use whatever image-editor or cataloguing uneasy at the thought of it not being there.
Megapixels: 2
starts and you are prompted through the transfer software takes your fancy. But what’s the DX4330 like to use? In common with
CX4210 process. Afterwards, you can use EasyShare to browse Although Kodak’s all-in-one approach is great for previous Kodaks, it’s chunky enough but does not feel
£ Price: £150 your photo collection, add keywords (Labels), print, beginners, it means they are only going to learn how to especially expensive. The main mode dial’s got quite a
5 Megapixels: 2 email your photos and run on-screen slideshows. It’s all
very user-friendly.
use the EasyShare software, and little about image
management and image editing in general.
positive metallic springiness to it, which feels good
initially but soon proves a bit imprecise. On the back,

Kodak DX4330
Price £300
Lens 3x optical zoom,
38-114mm equivalent, f2.8/5.1
Memory 16Mb Multimedia card
Contact Kodak 0870 243 0270
www.kodak.co.uk
KEY FEATURES
7 FOUR-WAY 7 SHARE BUTTON 7 ZOOM CONTROL
CONTROLLER On-camera Share button for The zoom is slow and
Those central OK buttons tagging images for emailing you’re restricted to a
are always a fiddle to use and printing maximum 4x zoom
Kodak DX4330 FULL SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor 3.3-megapixel CCD Movie recording Yes, with sound
1
Image size 2,160 x 1,440 Other features On-camera tagging for email, printing,
Lens Kodak Retinar 3x optical, 38-114mm favourites
equivalent, f2.8/5.1 (3.3x digital) Image Storage Internal memory (8Mb) and SD card slot
Focus Auto and macro (7-70cm) Batteries CRV3 Lithium-ion or 2 x AAs
Exposure modes Program with ‘scene’ modes (macro, AC adaptor Not supplied (optional Camera Dock)
landscape, sport, night, movie) Software Kodak EasyShare
Metering Multi-pattern TTL Weight 210g (without batteries)
Monitor 1.8-inch ‘indoor/outdoor’ type Dimensions 110.5(W) x 66(H) x 39(D)mm
AE compensation +2/-2EV in 0.5EV increments Transfer USB
Flash Built-in auto-flash, red-eye reduction, fill, off OS Win98/Me/2000/XP, Mac OSX
Video output NTSC/PAL
2
OLYMPUS SONY HP PHOTOSMART KONICA REVIO
WORTH C-300 DSC P71 720 KD300Z
A LOOK £300/3MP £350/3.2MP £300/3.3MP £300/3.2MP
A good beginners’ Features 55 1

camera but lacks Images 63 1
Verdict
Build 62 1
real charm Value 70 1
63%
Kodak’s EasyShare system certainly is FINAL
easy, but it’s designed more as an
all-in-one solution for snappers
SCORE
with little interest in learning the
technicalities. Image quality is reasonable,
but certainly not perfect
Kodak DX4330
1
Closeup
TURN THE PAGE TO
PERFORMANCE
COMPARE TEST SHOTS KODAK DX4330
2 SKIN TONES
1
3
5 PRO Good, both in direct sunlight and when using

flash indoors, with no unflattering colour shifts
6 CON Outdoor shots in overcast lighting have dull,

pinkish tinge (exposure compensation might fix)
4 2 OUTDOOR SHOTS
7 7 7
FOUR-WAY SHARE BUTTON
CONTROLLER On-camera Share ZOOM CONTROL
Those central OK
buttons are always
button for tagging
images for emailing
The zoom is slow and
you’re restricted to a 5 PRO Good highlight control with a reduced
tendency to highlight burn-out
a fiddle to use and printing maximum 4x zoom
6 CON Tendency towards underexposure and tonal
compression leaves many shots looking flat
the controls are similarly uninspiring. There’s a bit Compact Flash card reader, as many digital restricted to a maximum 4x zoom level, too
2 INDOOR SHOTS
too much play in the four-way navigation pad, and photographers will have. (contrast this with the Konica KD-400Z on page 34,
it’s too easy to push it in one of the four directions That’s not necessarily relevant, though, since the which races through startup, image display and
while you’re pressing the central OK button. This DX4330 is clearly aimed at digital first-timers. In this zooming, right up to 12x magnification).
makes menu navigation a bit of an ordeal. respect it does a good job, providing crisp, bright, The results delivered by the Kodak belie its fairly
The battery requirements are modest (just a pair colourful images with point-and-shoot reliability. The crude feel and specifications. They’re sharp, colourful
of AA cells or the supplied rechargeable CRV3 cell), image transfer and tagging system might not appeal and well exposed. It’s only when you get the fine
detail that you start to see a loss in quality – not so
much in outright sharpness, but more in the
The DX4330 is clearly aimed at digital first- smudging of subtle tones. High-contrast detail comes
5 PRO The white balance copes with mixed lighting
and the flash balances with ambient light
6
out well, but low-contrast detail less well. CON A softer/smoother shutter release would
timers. In this respect it does a good job, The DX4330 has a couple of nice touches that reduce the risk of camera shake in low light
providing crisp, bright, colourful images

other cameras don’t include, such as automatic
picture orientation to save you having to rotate 2 IMAGE QUALITY
portrait-format shots on your PC, and an LCD
designed to be viewable in both bright daylight and
and the in-dock recharging is a neat and foolproof to established digital photographers, but for indoors (though we found it a bit dim and lacklustre
way to keep them topped up. beginners it’s neat and accessible. in both sets of conditions).
We’re less keen on Kodak’s recent swap from Picture reviewing is slow. Although the Kodak Beginners will be happy with this camera, and it
Compact Flash cards to Multimedia cards, though. displays a low-res preview of each shot immediately, delivers a satisfactory blend of performance, quality
Compact Flash is the commonest and cheapest it takes a couple of seconds to render a full- and price but, in reality, it does little better than any
format, and it’s hard to understand why Kodak’s resolution version on the LCD. Zooming in is slow – one of a number of similarly-priced 3-megapixel
designers couldn’t find space to slot it into the new you’ll have to get used to watching that hourglass if cameras on the market. And, for a little more
DX range. It’s a nuisance, too, if you’ve already got a you want to look at your shots close up, and you’re money you can get a lot more camera… 5 PRO Crisp, sharp and colourful with objects that
have clearly-defined detail and plenty of contrast
6 CON Tends to go mushy with detail that’s less

contrasty, such as delicately shaded vegetation
Kodak DX4330 FULL SPECIFICATIONS 1 A good beginners’

camera but lacks
Features
Images
55
63
1
1
Verdict
Sensor 3.3-megapixel CCD Video output NTSC/PAL

Image size 2,160 x 1,440 Movie recording Yes, with sound Build 62 1
Lens Kodak Retinar 3x optical, 38-114mm
equivalent, f2.8/5.1 (3.3x digital)
Other features
Image Storage
On-camera tagging for email, printing, favourites
Internal memory (8Mb) and SD card slot real charm Value 70 1
Focus Auto and macro (7-70cm) Batteries CRV3 Lithium-ion or 2 x AAs
63%
Exposure modes Program with ‘scene’ modes (macro,
landscape, sport, night, movie)
AC adaptor
Software
Not supplied (optional Camera Dock)
Kodak EasyShare
Kodak’s EasyShare system certainly is FINAL
Metering
Monitor
Multi-pattern TTL
1.8-inch ‘indoor/outdoor’ type
Weight
Dimensions
210g (without batteries)
110.5(W) x 66(H) x 39(D)mm
easy, but it’s designed more as an
all-in-one solution for snappers
SCORE
AE compensation +2/-2EV in 0.5EV increments Transfer USB
Flash Built-in auto-flash, red-eye reduction, fill, off OS Win98/Me/2000/XP, Mac OSX with little interest in learning the
technicalities. Image quality is
2
OLYMPUS SONY HP PHOTOSMART KONICA REVIO reasonable, but certainly not perfect
WORTH C-300 DSC P71 720 KD300Z
A LOOK £300/3MP £350/3.2MP £300/3.3MP £300/3.2MP

REVIEWS IMAGE-EDITING SOFTWARE
PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2
Manufacturer Adobe
Price £69
Contact Adobe 0208 606 40000
Website www.adobe.co.uk
WEBSITE www.adobe.com:80/products/photoshopel/main.html
Photoshop Elements 2
A vast range of quality image-editing features for the digital camera user on a budget. We introduce the
latest release of Photoshop Elements – it’s a truly class act…
W
hen it comes to image editors, there is
* ON OUR
COVERDISC nothing better than Adobe Photoshop. A long-
term industry standard, its depth and breadth
DIGITAL
CAMERA
MAGAZINE
EXCLUSIVE! of high-quality colour correction, image-enhancement
PHOTOSHOP 7 TRIAL and compositing tools make it an essential tool for any
Try the very newest version of
Photoshop for yourself professional digital artist or photographer.
However, at nearly £600, it’s beyond the budget of
PAINT SHOP PRO 5
Full version of this well-known many people. So, what options are there for the digital
image-editing software – see for camera user on a budget?
yourself whether you need to
upgrade to Elements 2 You could opt for Jasc’s popular Paint Shop Pro or a
freeware offering such as The GIMP. Alternatively, you
could go for Adobe’s latest budget image-editing
application, Photoshop Elements 2.
Elements 2 is a cut-down, digital camera-orientated The Picture Package feature lets you print Photoshop Elements 2’s new Quick Fix dialog
version of Photoshop. It keeps and adapts certain multiple versions of the same image or different enables you to easily adjust images without
Photoshop features that the digital photographer will size images on one sheet of photo paper wading through many menus
need and discards other, more professional, print-
orientated features. simple to use. The context-sensitive tool options bar Filters palette has remained much the same (but
The first release of the application offered an intuitive provides access to all the brushes, as well as opacity Photoshop’s hasn’t changed in a long time, either), but
interface, excellent colour-correction tools, an innovative and blending mode controls. this is no real surprise.
file browser and an easy path to the higher-end world Layer styles (which enable you to automatically
of Photoshop. So what’s changed? Well, nothing in apply certain image effects) have been improved, and Creative tools
x FEATURES terms of product positioning but, as far as features go,
both beginners – and existing users who want to
now the quick creation of a wider range of professional
drop shadows and bevels is easier than before. The
The only real addition as far as creative tools are
concerned is the Selection Brush. Add this to the Magic
NEW STUFF upgrade – will be in for a pleasant surprise. Drawing tools library has been updated, with more Wand and Marquee tools that already exist in Elements,
■ Quick Fix dialog The interface itself is elegant, and sports the familiar vector shapes available for use in your compositions. and you have a formidable number of tools for creating
■ Smart Messages Adobe look and feel, and it works on both Microsoft’s Enhancements to the ever-intuitive Liquify dialog come cutouts and masks. Much like Photoshop’s Quick Mask,
■ Glossary and Apple’s latest operating systems (Windows XP and in the form of Wacom tablet support, which makes the Selection Brush enables you to paint on selections
■ Selection Brush OS X 10.2 Jaguar). pushing, pulling and warping your images a breeze. The using Elements’ range of brushes. Selection methods
■ Create PDF Slideshows
2 WHICH IMAGE EDITOR?

■ Import frame from video
■ Attach email What it offers the
digital photographer
ENHANCED STUFF The main improvement to the creative-based tools in Budget: if budget is not a purely because it includes handy correction and print-preparation tools,
■ File Browser Elements is within the Brush tools. Taking its lead from consideration, get Photoshop 7. features for correcting and publishing it just won’t wash. The ability to
■ Variations dialog Photoshop 7, Elements 2 contains a variety of natural It’s as simple as that. If budget your photographs. import a frame from a movie file as
■ Picture Package brushes, enabling you to echo traditional media effects is a consideration, then it’s a toss-up Features: the range of tools on offer an image is a boon. It also has a first-
■ Brushes within your digital artwork. between Elements 2 and Paint in Adobe’s flagship app is stunning. rate help system.
■ Drawing tools library Shop Pro 7, with both offering While it’s true that Elements 2 does Platform: finally, while Paint Shop
Although not as comprehensive and powerful as
■ Layer Styles comprehensive file-browsing many of the things that Photoshop Pro is only available for Windows,
■ Liquify
Photoshop’s brushes (with dynamic controls that enable and image-editing tools. We’d does on a consumer level, when it Elements is available for both Mac
■ Save For Web you to alter brush shape, paint viscosity and other give the edge to Elements 2, though, comes to professional colour and PC platforms.
elements as you paint), they do a fine job and are

NEXT MONTH
PERFORMANCE
;
LOOK OUT FOR A
TRIAL OF ELEMENTS
2 ON OUR CD PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2
2 CREATIVE TOOLS
2 USING ELEMENTS 2 01 02 03 04 05
The Elements interface is very similar to

the one in Adobe Photoshop. Here’s
how it works 06
08
1 Shortcuts bar 07
Create a new file, open a document and print files
amongst other things in this handy shortcuts bar
2 Filters 5 PRO New brushes tools, Selection Brush and

updated Layer Styles features
6
This palette enables you to apply certain special
effects filters to a selection, layer, or entire image CON The FX filter’s not updated. Mind you,
Photoshop hasn’t seen a filter update in years
3 Recipes
These ‘How To’ guides enable you to learn basic and
more complex image-editing operations
2 FILE BROWSING
09
4 Effects
Add various texture, vignette and frame effects your
image using this palette
5 Undo History
Retrace your image-editing steps and never
accidentally lose a great effect with this Photoshop-
inspired palette
6 Tool Options 7 File Browser 8 Layer Styles/Layers 9 Hints

5 PRO The File Browser is intuitive to use, and has
handy new features and help system
6
This content-sensitive tool bar changes as you change Search for, rename, open and Apply effects individual layers and This palette is context-sensitive and
tools – providing all the options you need in the same rotate files using Elements’ intuitive manage your layers for better changes to give hints and tips on CON It’s extremely hard to complain about the
place, every time File Browser composite images here the tool that’s currently selected file browsing and ease of use!
2 COMPATIBILITY
can be combined (add a Marquee selection to a additions to the app, but not exactly groundbreaking. ingenious, help-orientated feature is Smart
Selection Brush, say) and they can now be saved Adobe has acknowledged that high-quality Messages. If an error message occurs and there’s a
out and loaded back in. Adobe has added many photographic paper is expensive to buy and can’t be word or sentence underlined, you can click on this
new tools that will please those of us who have wasted. For this reason, the company has included to help prevent the error happening again. It makes
ever taken a badly lit shot. the Picture Package function (updated since version perfect sense and is a breath of fresh air – finally
In our opinion, the most useful tool is the new 1). This enables you to print varied size images on new users can demystify error messages. A user-
Quick Fix dialog. This brings together a number of the same piece of paper – without messing about friendly glossary is now searchable from within the
image-correction tools into one dialog. From within with a DTP app such as XPress or InDesign. Contact application, and Recipes (a crummy name we
the Quick Fix dialog you can correct brightness, sheets are also possible, as is the ability to stitch know), which give step-by-step advice on basic
5 PRO Elements supports all the major file formats
and the File Browser will even read EXIF data
6
colour, focus, plus rotate the image. The top half of photographs together to create panoramas. and more complex image-editing techniques, has CON Nothing to worry about here
the dialog is taken up by a relatively large preview, been improved.
displaying before and after results.
Another new dialog is the Colour Variations
Workflow tools
Finally, we should look at the workflow tools. The
Finally there’s an enhanced Save For Web dialog
that lets you optimise your images for web output; 2 ENHANCEMENT TOOLS
feature. A similar dialog is found in Photoshop, and main workflow tool in Elements 2 is the File an enhanced Create Web Photo Gallery command
provides you with an easy and visual way to add Browser. Adobe introduced this in version 1 and for quickly uploading folders of images to the web;
and take away colour from your image. liked it so much it put it in Photoshop 7. The File the ability to quickly add an image to an email; and
Simply choose the area of the image you wish to Browser in Elements 2 not only enables you to the ability to create PDF slideshows.
correct (Midtones, Shadows, Highlights or browse for files on your hard drive, but also lets you We’d never say that Elements is a replacement
Saturation), adjust the colour intensity and choose a rotate, rename, reorder, label and view file type and for Photoshop. However, for those wanting an easy
thumbnail in order to increase or decrease certain EXIF data. It’s efficient, a doddle to use and does route into Photoshop – learning the basics of colour
colours within your image. As you click a thumbnail, exactly what it says it will do. correction and compositing techniques – Elements 2
the After preview box updates immediately. Batch processing tools go hand in hand with the is the best application around. And at £69, it’s
browser, enabling you to quickly rename, change stunning value for money. 5 PRO The new Quick Fix dialog and the Variations
dialog are excellent and intuitive to use
Quick fixes
A Red Eye brush is here for those less talented (or
the file format or resize multiple images at once. It’s
features like this that make Elements stand out from
6 CON We’d like to see channels introduced into
Elements – but, then again, it is only £69
patient) when it comes to removing glare manually, other sub-£100 image editors.
Elements 2 is Features 90 1
as is an Auto Straighten/Crop tool for automatically
straightening up your images. These are both novel
Adobe has made an effort to introduce the
beginner to digital image editing. The first, and the best budget Navigation 92 1
Verdict
Performance 93 1
image-editing app Value 94 1
It keeps and adapts certain Photoshop
93%
For under £70, you’re getting a great FINAL
features that the digital photographer image editor with a plethora of SCORE
intuitive and powerful features. The
will need, and discards other, more application also provides an easy
route up to Photoshop
professional, print-orientated features
REVIEWS PHOTOSHOP PLUG-INS
PhotoFixes PLUG-INS OPTIPIX, OZONE, LIGHT!
Rather than learn complex image-editing techniques to fix up a photo, use a plug-in instead. Steve Jarratt tests a few of the latest, in this irregular series
Reindeer Optipix 1.02 AT WORK

In this
instance,
Optipix is
This suite of five tools promises to improve the exposure, contrast and detail of your shots averaging two
exposures to
produce a
Price $100 (£64) on the exposure levels of the images being them up. The other two filters, Edge Enhancement third, balanced
System Any Mac or PC capable of running Adobe blended; it doesn’t work well if they’re too over- or and Safe Sharpening, endeavour to clean up your image
Photoshop 5.0 or above
under-exposed and, of course, it’s limited to static digital image, bringing out detail without amplifying
8
Manufacturer Reindeer Graphics Inc
Website www.reindeergraphics.com subjects – even the slightest change in clouds, for noise. They work in a similar fashion to Photoshop’s
Telephone (001) 828 252-7515 instance, can produce unexpected results. Sharpen and Unmask Sharp, and while the results One shot of
Auto Contrast is a one-click tool for improving are a definite improvement over the built-in filters, this abbey is
M
ost digital photos require some image contrast. You simply run the filter and it they still need to be applied subtly, otherwise you exposed for
restoration in Photoshop, and that’s spreads the available colour data across the entire end up with harsh, contrasty edges. the brickwork
where Optipix aims to help. The suite value range, so that your blacks are solid black, and Version 1.02 has made some major (above);
consists of five filters that can be used in concert to your whites are pure white. improvements to Edge Enhancement, although the the other for
improve exposure, increase contrast, reduce noise It’s usually better to turn your image into a 16-bit main problem is that the preview window displays the cloudy
and sharpen edges, and they all work in 8- and 16- file beforehand, and then run Auto Contrast – the the image at 100 per cent. It would have been far sky (left)
bit colour space. resulting image uses the full 16-bit spectrum and more useful to have some degree of magnification
8
The first step is to use the Exposure Blend to the stretched histogram remains smooth. – you do find yourself hopping in and out of the
produce an image with detail in both highlights and An alternative to Exposure Blend is Image plug-in to zoom in on areas independently. The two
shadow. It works best with cameras that auto- Averaging, which adds any number of variously Optipix is certainly greater than the sum of its images are
bracket exposures: as long as the camera is steady, exposed shots into the buffer and averages their parts. But it doesn’t feel like you get a lot for your blended,
two differently exposed images can be blended individual pixel values. This is useful for removing money, and while some people will appreciate its sharpened
together with pixel-perfect accuracy (the Nudge noise from a photo (the averaging process gradually power, Optipix probably isn’t a wise investment for and the
filter can be applied to images that are misaligned removes extreme colour values), and can generate the casual photographer. contrast
85%
FINAL improved to
and it works in sub-pixel increments). similar results to the Exposure Blend. In reality, Overall, it’s a serious tool for SCORE
The technique is easier than simply cutting and though, it’s not nearly as useful, and the results are the serious digital produce the
pasting between shots, but it’s largely dependent generally desaturated, requiring further work to tidy photographer. final shot
Ozone 1.0
System Mac/PC, Adobe Photoshop 5.0+
Light!
System Mac/PC, Adobe Photoshop 5.0+
Price $75 (£48) Website www.digitalfilmtools.com
Price $75 (£48) Website www.digitalfilmtools.com
Based on Ansel Adams’ system for still photography, This unusual filter adds dramatic shadow textures to
this plug-in splits an image into 11 discrete zones your photos.
based on luminance values, such that each zone is To give the impression that the shadow is falling
twice as bright as the one preceding it. entire black and white images. And because across the scene, it’s possible to skew the texture,
Once divided up, each zone can then be adjusted changes take place across areas of similar and then use the luminance values of the image to painless to use and results are quick and
in terms of its luminance or red, green, blue, cyan, luminance, it’s relatively easy to make alterations displace it. Obviously, the result isn’t strictly believable. It’s the sort of tool that’s best used
magenta and yellow hues. All of the adjustments without affecting the whole image or needing to accurate in terms of how the shadow falls in 3D, to jazz up flat-looking indoor shots.
take place within the preview window, so that you create masks. but it’s certainly good enough to fool the eye. It Little that Photoshop’s
79% 58%
FINAL FINAL
can adjust the image before making a change. Not must-buy but useful SCORE can be used to produce soft blooms, fog, mist and transfer modes and SCORE
You can tweak the colour or brightness values of nonetheless for those with glows using the masks alone without any shadow displacement filters
specific regions of your photo, or even colourise an artistic eye. texture. And that’s about it: it works, it’s fairly don’t already do.

IOMEGA CD VS. ZIP DISC REVIEWS
Gimme some space!

Iomega Zip 750 vs Iomega Predator 2 CD-RW
What’s the best format for storing your image collection away from your computer? Cheap-but-
slower CDs or expensive-but-quick Zip discs? Nick Peers looks at two solutions from Iomega
T 1
he main advantage of the Zip drive is discs. While the Predator 2 enjoys the edge in
that it’s easy to set up – install the
drivers, plug it in and you can use it like
regular reading and writing speeds, performance
took a nosedive when the CD-RW disc was used
HEAD-TO-HEAD VERDICT
a floppy or hard drive. Any back-up software will as a virtual drive in Windows. Although it’s the IOMEGA ZIP 750 IOMEGA PREDATOR 2
transfer your images to disk (or you can manually only category in which the Zip came out on top, £152 £181
copy them across yourself), and finding your it’s arguably the most important one if you want
images again is easy with any cataloguing to be able to use the CD-RW like any other drive in If you want to be able to use your While CD is not as fast as Zip when
software or your operating system’s Find function. Windows. It’s not an issue, however, if all you drive like a hard or floppy disk, then used as a removable drive, it’s still
The same is true of CDs, although you’ll need a want to do is burn discs for yourself and friends for this definitely has the edge in terms far cheaper and easy to share. That Read time
in seconds
CD-RW and some special software such as the use in a read-only capacity. of performance. But unless you said, we suggest you shop elsewhere (based on a
HotBurn program that’s supplied with the Predator regularly copy 500Mb of data as (Mac users will find plenty of group of files
and folders
2. In return for a lengthy formatting process – up to Which is best for digital images? opposed to 50Mb of data, is the equivalent Firewire drives available) Zip CD-R totalling 500Mb)
40 minutes per disc, around 130Mb of space and a While the Zip drive is easier to use and faster as a extra outlay worth it for a dying for a better deal.
severe performance hit – you can use it in exactly drag-and-drop drive, we feel it’s had its day. Zip standard? We think not.
the same way as a Zip disk. disks are far too expensive – around £10 each
compared with £1.50 for a CD-RW, and can’t easily
Share and share alike be shared among friends and family. FEATURES 65% FEATURES 70%
If you want to share your photos with family or Before you go out and buy the Predator 2, BUILD QUALITY 75% BUILD QUALITY 70%
friends, then the CD drive is the only way to go. though, consider this. It’s overpriced – even with a VALUE FOR MONEY 50% VALUE FOR MONEY 55% Write time
in seconds
While the CD-RW disc is less likely to work in USB2 card in special promotional packs – and you (based on a
60% 65%
FINAL FINAL
SCORE SCORE group of files
another machine, you can easily burn a CD-R that can do far better elsewhere. Mac users should look and folders
plays happily in 99 per cent of all CD and DVD for Firewire alternatives, while PC owners should Zip CD-R totalling 500Mb)
drives, Mac or PC. start their search at www.pcindex.co.uk for
Zip drives are less portable – less people have comparative prices.
the drive, which makes it difficult to share your
images with them via this format. The fact that
you can only read from the most common format
– the 100Mb disk – reinforces this point further.
Performance tests
We tested the drives by copying 500Mb of image
files, stored in various folders, to and from various
REVIEWS MINI CAMERAS
SIPIX STYLECAM BLINK

The StyleCam Blink is tiny, but maybe a fraction bulkier than the The picture quality from its 0.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is
others here – partly due to its use of a AAA battery rather than a tolerable, but only if you’re pretty undemanding and happy with
compact lithium cell. This battery is handy in some respects, the novelty value alone. Exposure control seems pretty fair, both
because you can get a replacement anywhere if the power goes. indoors and out, but images aren’t very sharp, especially towards
The Blink is a still camera, video camera and, when connected the edges. The @xia SlimShot is a better performer in this respect.
via its USB lead, a PC/webcam. The video mode, though, isn’t all it What you do get with the StyleCam Blink, though, is a good
seems. Indeed, the maker calls it a ‘streaming snapshot’ mode. software bundle. As well as the AVI Maker application, you also get
Pictures are captured at a rate of three or four per second, then ArcSoft PhotoImpression 3.0 (image acquisition, organisation and
assembled on your PC using the bundled AVI Maker program. A editing), ArcSoft VideoImpression, ArcSoft
73%
frame rate of 3-4fps is obviously going to make for pretty slow and PhotoFantasy and ArcSoft PhotoMontage. FINAL
SCORE
jerky movies, and it’s a pain having to assemble the frames The StyleCam Blink promises a lot, but the
manually, too. So is the Blink really a video camera? Only just. results and its capabilities are a bit lame.
4
Price £40 Lens Fixed focus, f3.0 Battery 1 x AAA
Contact SiPix 0870 241 4289 Memory 8Mb internal Weight 50g (est)
Sensor 310,000-pixel CMOS Movie mode Snapshots at 3-4fps
FUJIFILM FINEPIX A101

The FinePix A101 is no styling masterpiece, but it’s setting and adjust the flash mode where necessary.
solidly made. Switch it on, and it’s ready for use after The movie mode’s okay for occasional use, but the
just a second or so. There’s next to no shutter lag, 8Mb SmartMedia card limits your movie duration to a
either, since it uses a fixed-focus lens with no maximum of 47 seconds, and at just 10fps with no
autofocus delays. This fixed-focus thing isn’t as scary as sound recording, it’s not going to replace a camcorder.
it sounds because the tiny lenses on digital cameras The results from the A101 are very good, given the
offer huge depth of field and the A101 offers pictures limitations of any 1.3-megapixel CCD. Exposure is
that are sharp from 0.8m to infinity – and there’s a accurate, colours reasonably punchy and detail as
macro mode, too, set by a switch next to the lens, sharp as 1.3 megapixels can be. There are few frills on
84%
which lets you get as close as 8cm. this camera, but it’s a snapshot FINAL
SCORE
The controls on the back are easy to navigate, and tool that’s easy to use and
there’s really not much to do except pick the quality produces good results.
4
Price £140 Lens 36mm (equiv) Battery 2x AAs
Contact FujiFilm 0207 586 5900 Memory 8Mb SmartMedia Weight 145g
Sensor 1.3-megapixel CCD Accessories USB cable
MUSTEK GSMART MINI2

The Mustek’s not much heavier than the SlimShot, but heavily biased towards nearby objects, and we suspect
it’s significantly less pocketable, thanks to a protruding the shutter release is bleeping a fraction ahead of the
lens barrel that kind of spoils the miniaturised effect. It picture being recorded – we had a few mis-timed
contains a fixed focus lens, but you rotate the lens shots. With this in mind, the GSmart’s maximum
barrel to switch between standard and macro mode. (interpolated) resolution of 2.1 megapixels is just too
This gives the camera added versatility, and it’s easy to ambitious.This camera is no rival for a ‘real’ digicam.
leave it switched to macro and muck up lots of With care and familiarity, though, the Mustek might
ordinary shots by mistake. do better. And it has the advantage of a movie mode
The results from the Mustek are a disappointing. The and the ability to hook up to your PC as a webcam.
71%
1.3-megapixel CMOS chip occasionally produces some Like the SlimShot, it recharges via FINAL
SCORE
quite sharp results, but it is hard to know when that is the USB lead, so it gets top marks
going happen. The fixed focus seems a little too for practicality.
4
Price £80 Lens Fixed f2.8 Battery Rechargeable Lithium
Contact Firebox 0870 241 4289 Memory 16Mb internal Weight 40g
Sensor 1.3-megapixel CMOS Accessories Adjustable mount

NEXT MONTH
; 2 SUB-£100
BUDGET CAMERAS
FUJIFILM @XIA SLIMSHOT

The @xia’s one of those little gadgets that just leaves you awe-struck. It’s light as a feather, will fit into your top
pocket without any snagging or sagging and is ludicrously simple to operate. You switch it on, and the lens panel
on the front pops out a couple of millimetres. Compose your shot with the good-sized optical viewfinder (no LCD
displays on this baby), press the shutter release and a little bleep immediately signals the picture’s been taken.
The results from the 0.3-megapixel CMOS chip are predictably poor, but the colour and contrast are reasonable,
even if the resolution isn’t, and the results are fine for novelty value and some unambitious web use. The SlimShot
uses an ‘Autobrite’ system to manage high-contrast scenes, and the results are quite good in that respect.
What’s clever is the way the SlimShot recharges from your computer’s USB port. The controls are utterly
undemanding, too. One button on the back controls the mode – high res (these things are relative), low res, delete
82%
last (picture) and delete all. Another button switches the sound effects on and off. FINAL
SCORE
As an aide-memoire or a novelty camera for the kids, the SlimShot is wonderful. A bit
more memory would help – you can only take 26 high-res shots – but that’s just carping.
4
Price £80 Lens 47mm (equiv) f3.8 Battery Rechargeable Lithium
Contact Fujifilm 0207 586 5900 Memory 8Mb internal Weight 35g
Sensor 310,000-pixel CMOS ISO 100
PHOTOCLIP 5-IN-1
The list of things this gadget will do is absolutely barmy. You can shoot 1.3-megapixel digital photos and
sequences, record 320 x 240 movies (with sound), record audio clips (and annotations with still images) and play
MP3 files. Amazing.
Not surprisingly, there are compromises. The 1.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is adequate, but not as good as the
1.3-megapixel CCDs in equivalent ‘proper’ digital cameras. You can control the white balance and exposure
compensation, but the LCD panel on the backplate has a lot to do (there’s no colour LCD preview screen on this
camera), and it can be a bit of a faff.
The specs are good, with an excellent 64Mb of built-in memory plus a Compact Flash card slot, but the build
quality leaves something to be desired. There are dire warnings about over-rotating the swivelling battery
75%
compartment (it doubles as a prop-up camera stand) and, sure enough, it feels quite FINAL
SCORE
delicate – inserting batteries is awkward, too. Worse still, the ultra-flimsy card slot cover
broke as soon as we tried to use it. The controls on the back are okay, if a bit cheap-feeling.
4
Price £200 Lens 50mm (equiv), f2.8 Accessories Headphones, soft case
Contact Firebox 0870 241 4289 Memory 64Mb internal Battery 2x AA
Sensor 1.3-megapixel CMOS plus CF slot Weight 99g
SONY DSC-U10
Next to some of the other miniaturised gadgets on the shelves, the Sony feels like it’s hewn from solid granite.
Slide back the lens cover on the front and, in around a second, it’s ready for use. Uniquely, this camera has no
optical viewfinder, but relies instead on a dinky 1-inch LCD that’s nevertheless sharp, bright and responsive.
The photographic controls are accessed by a trio of buttons below the LCD – and you get a lot more control than
you might expect. There are portrait, night shot and landscape ‘scene’ modes in addition to the default auto-
everything setting, and the flash modes include auto, always on, always off and red-eye reduction. The dinky little
menu system is reached using a dinky little button, but there’s not much else to sort out here beyond the image
size and various initial set-up options.
The DSC-U10 will fit neatly in the palm of your hand, dangle from your wrist or sit in your pocket or bag. It feels
85%
solid and sturdy, and with the lens cover slid back over the lens, generally well protected. FINAL
SCORE
The image quality is pretty good, too. A little prone to lens flare, maybe, with slightly
muted colours, but good nonetheless – especially in a camera as tiny as this one.
4
Price £200 Lens 22mm (equiv), f2.8 Battery 2 x AA
Contact Sony 0990 111 999 Memory 8Mb Memory Stick Weight 118g
Sensor 1.3-megapixel CCD Accessories 2x rechargeable AAAs

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Y
ou can take all the digital photos you like and barriers to the universal take up of inkjet photo printing: SUB-£400 PRINTERS
spend hours manipulating them to the longevity and cost. A4 INKJETS
nth degree, but even the best digital images
are not much use unless you can output them at a good Universal acceptance CANON
quality. Ideally, at a quality that can rival conventional First, many photographers who experienced the early BUBBLEJET S820
Price: £219
silver halide photo prints. days of digital inkjet photo printing remember with
Fortunately, the technology behind inkjet printing has horror their prints literally fading before their eyes. This
CANON
advanced in recent years, and a print from a quality was largely due to the paper and ink technology of the BUBBLEJET S900
inkjet printer is often as good as one processed by a time. Air pollution and damage from ultra violet light is Price: £329
high street lab. responsible for making short work of inkjet prints.
The other, and equally important, advantage of digital Fortunately, those problems have largely been sorted EPSON STYLUS
PHOTO 830
photography is the degree of control that image- with the use of advanced inks and special fade-resistant Price: £99
manipulation software – such as Photoshop or Paint photo papers.
Shop Pro – offers over the final appearance of your These days, most prints from a photo inkjet printer EPSON STYLUS
photos. Unlike the results from a photo lab, printing your will probably offer an image that will be as stable and PHOTO 950
Price: £379
own images at home on an inkjet printer gives you last at least as long as a conventional silver halide print.
ultimate control over the colour balance, cropping, print As long as the finished photo is kept out of strong HP
size and even the content of the photo. sunlight or displayed behind glass, then it stands a pretty DESKJET 5550
Price: £149
You can turn your snaps into photographic good chance of giving years of pleasure.
masterpieces before outputting them – virtually in an Of course, one of the main advantages of digital
HP
instant – at home. photography is that if your print does fade, then you can PHOTOSMART 7350
However, if inkjet printing is so good, why hasn’t the easily print off another copy, secure in the knowledge Price: £199
whole world moved over to it? There are two main that your stored digital images will still be there – fresh

LAB TEST A4 INKJET PRINTERS – FEATURES
TOP TIP Looking for photo paper or ink cartridges? Try www.inkjet-cartridges.co.uk
3 IN DETAIL CANON CANON

PAPER
EPSON STYLUS
There are two basic types: porous
BUBBLEJET S820 BUBBLEJET S900 PHOTO 830
and swellable. Porous paper dries
quickly and is scratch resistant. It’s
not very glossy and is prone to
fading. Swellable paper takes
longer to dry but has a higher gloss
finish and resists fading better.
DIGITAL DIGITAL
CAMERA CAMERA
MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
FEATURES FEATURES FEATURES

Build You can’t exactly call the S820’s styling exciting, Build When it comes to photo printers, the Canon S900 Build Flimsy is the best word to describe the build
but it cuts a fairly cool dash in its battleship grey. really is the business. It looks the part and has quality of the Epson Stylus Photo 830, but don’t let that
? EXPLAINED There’s a lid that opens up to access the individual ink
tanks, and controls are limited to two buttons: one for
obviously been well engineered. Particularly welcome
are the separate ink tanks including the use of photo
put you off. The print speed is very good for the price
and the photo output is well up to Epson’s usually high
LIGHTFASTNESS power and one for paper feed. cyan and photo magenta cartridges. standard. Combined colour ink tanks make running
The amount of time your photos costs a bit higher.
will last without fading. Depends on Printing The use of six inks instead of the usual four Printing When used in conjunction with Canon’s Photo
whether it’s behind glass, the paper reduces grain in the output of the 820 – particularly on Paper Pro (one of the glossiest papers on the market) Printing Quiet in operation, the 830 makes for a good
quality and the type of ink. things like flesh tones. The S820’s swift print speed the results are impressive. However, most astonishing budget printer. Its quoted resolution at 5,760dpi
makes for a perfect balance between price and quality. is the print speed, which makes some of the other (optimised) sounds a bit misleading as no separate
printers on test here look as if they’ve been sedated. vertical and horizontal resolution figure is quoted.
8 8 8
CARTRIDGES CARTRIDGES CARTRIDGES
Canon has pioneered separate Separate ink tanks can Epson’s use of combined five-
ink tanks in budget printers. dramatically reduce the colour cartridge makes for
They certainly save you running cost of a photo higher running costs and
money and you can printer. As with the more waste. Changing
visually gauge how much Canon S820, the S900 has cartridges is easy. Each
ink you have left. Fitting is photo cyan and photo cartridge has a microchip
easy and quick. magenta cartridges. to monitor ink levels.
as the day you pressed the shutter button. The second begins to look rather favourable since with you’re not high-end output devices. Remember that most
main objection to the use of inkjet printers in paying out for the privilege of proofing your prints. printer manufacturers sell their printers at a virtual
photography has been the cost of producing finished With a digital camera and PC you can proof loss, but make up their profits by selling you papers
images. True, on a price-per-print basis, a 4 x 6 print will everything on-camera, or on-screen and just pick the and ink. The running cost of a photo printer should be
cost more to output from an inkjet than a images that you want to print off. a factor you take into consideration when buying
straightforward package at a high street photo lab. your printer.
However, recent research indicates that people are Which printer? For our lab test, we asked each manufacturer of
only happy with about 10 per cent of conventional film So, now that we’ve persuaded you that inkjet printing is photo printers to supply us with two inkjet models for
images that they have developed at a photo lab. Add to the way to go, which photo printer should you consider testing in the £100 to £350 price range. Photo inkjet
this the horrific price that most photo labs charge for buying? Well, we looked at six A4 printers that are stalwart, Epson, put forward the sophisticated Stylus
reprints and enlargements, and the inkjet option actually neither absolute rock-bottom budget machines, nor Photo 950, and the brand new Stylus Photo 830, which

? EXPLAINED
EPSON STYLUS HEWLETT-PACKARD HEWLETT-PACKARD INTERFACE
PHOTO 950 DESKJET 5550 PHOTOSMART 7350 The way your PC connects to the
printer. All printers these days carry
a USB connection but a few also
offer parallel interfaces for use with
older PCs. USB tends to be faster
and more flexible, and is our
recommended option.
INK
There are two types of ink used in
inkjet printers: dye and pigment.
Dyes are more common but fade
more easily, while pigments last
longer but aren’t as shiny.
FEATURES FEATURES FEATURES

Build For an A4 inkjet, the Epson Stylus Photo 950 Build Odd rounded styling and a flimsy casing let Build The company that recently merged with Compaq
pushes at the group price bracket. The Epson 950 has down what is a very competent photo printer that has decided to go for the digital photography market
something special about it: separate ink tanks and a offers true photographic quality when used with the in a big way – hence products like the Photosmart
paper cutter. The 950 can take roll paper and will even optional HP Photo cartridge. The main advantage with 7350. Included with the printer are four memory card
print directly onto a CD. the Deskjet 5550 is that it can double up as an slots for direct printing. The biggest disappointment is
excellent general-purpose printer if you replace the the incredibly slow speed of the 7350. The figure of 27
Printing A nice feature for digital photographers is the photo cartridge with a regular black version. minutes for our test print was unacceptable.
borderless printing facility that makes more of your
photographic paper. The separate ink tanks feature Printing Oddly, our test showed that the 5550’s print Printing Good points for the 7350 is the use of newly
dye-based quick-dry inks provide high-resolution speed was considerably faster than the HP 7350. Using formulated inks that, when used with HP’s range of
output at a very acceptable 2,800 x 1,440dpi. a USB2 interface could cut down print times a little. Premium papers – offers 65 years of lightfastness.
8 8 8
CARTRIDGES CARTRIDGES
3 IN DETAIL
CARTRIDGES
Separate ink tanks with newly The ink cartridges in the By using the optional photo ink
formulated inks provide Deskjet 5550 are a new cartridge, you can
much longer-lasting prints design and there’s an dramatically improve the PRINT TECHNOLOGY
when used with Epson’s option to swap out the stability and lightfastness There are two main types of
special photo papers. Note black cartridge for a special of your prints. However, HP printing technologies used in
the two shades of black for photo version. Note the ink inks aren’t the cheapest on consumer printers. The most
improved B&W output. warning light above. the market. common is thermal inkjet where
the ink is heated before being
used. The less common (used by
Epson) is the cold Piezo method,
is aimed at entry-level digital photographers. storage cards: SmartMedia, CompactFlash, Memory Stick models on test here are the three-ink S900 and the where ink isn’t preheated.
Our second manufacturer, HP, volunteered its new and MMD/SD. photo-specific S820, which Canon markets as a printer
entry-level photo printer, the Deskjet 5550. This no-frills Our final inkjet manufacturer in this test is a relative specifically tailored to photo printing.
model with its curvy new styling offers HP’s new newcomer to the photo printing market – but not to
PhotoRET IV technology. the world of inkjets, which it prefers to call BubbleJets. Down to specifics
HP also presented us with its PhotoSmart 7350. As Canon has been in the imaging business for a long There are two schools of thought when it comes to
well as incorporating PhotoRET IV technology, the time and its latest range of ink printers offer some measuring the resolution of an inkjet printer. Strictly
PhotoSmart 7350 has some unique tricks up its sleeve outstanding results at reasonable prices. speaking, a printer should quote two resolution figures:
that enable you to print photos directly from your Their main advantage is the use of separate ink tanks, one for vertical resolution and one for horizontal. The
camera’s solid-state storage card. To do this it has four which mean you can replace the coloured inks in your figure in dpi (dots per square inch) may be unfeasibly
slots that can accommodate the most popular formats of printer as each cartridge runs out. The two Canon high in one direction but quite low in another. Be wary

LAB TEST A4 INKJET PRINTERS – PRINT QUALITY
TOP TIP If you find your printer’s installation software isn’t right for your PC, check the manufacturer’s website, all of them carry downloadable versions of the latest drivers
* ON OUR
COVERDISC
CANON CANON EPSON STYLUS
PRINTER TEST IMAGE
Find the test file we used to
BUBBLEJET S820 BUBBLEJET S900 PHOTO 830
generate the print results on this
page on our coverdisc A, look for
a link to it on the disc intro page
ON OUR 8 8 8
C WEBSITE PRINT RESULTS PRINT RESULTS PRINT RESULTS
Colours Strong and striking Colours There’s little – if Colours For a printer as
BUY A PRINTER
You can buy all these printers at colours but with a hue that is anything – to separate the cheap as this one, the print
their latest prices via our website: believable and not too quality of output between the quality really is outstanding. The
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk overblown. That is, perhaps, the best Canon S820 and the S900. Print speed colours are fairly natural and pleasing to
way to describe the principal characteristics of the print may be a bit faster, but that’s about it. the eye. Another bonus with the 830 is the ability
output from Canon’s BubbleJet S820. to print borderless prints. It’s amazing how
Resolution If anything, in our print test, there was much difference a borderless print can make to a
Resolution The dither pattern on the output all but slightly more fuzziness around the edges of some of finished photograph.
disappears, thanks to the combination of six inks and the colours, particularly where light areas juxtapose
Canon’s excellent Photo Paper Pro which has all the with darker areas. In one or two areas, midtones had a Resolution Because the Photo 830 uses a five-ink
hallmarks of a high quality photographic paper. Despite little noise about them but, once again, not such that colour cartridge, the gradients and dithering are good.
being a porous paper, Photo Paper Pro has the you would be too bothered. Remember that all the Although the quality is good, there are a few
? EXPLAINED
glossiest finish of any special photo paper and this prints here were outputted at each printer’s highest drawbacks – notably the print speed and the cost. The
undoubtedly helps to sharpen the final output. resolution so you would expect fairly decent results. 830 may be cheap to buy but its wasteful five-ink
cartridge and sluggish print times could cost more in
PICOLITRES Blacks The blacks in the Bubblejet S820 print aren’t as Blacks The strange thing about printing at this the long run.
The amount of ink that a printer black as some of the other prints in this test, but they resolution on Canon’s Photo Paper Pro, is that the
can squirt in one dot can be as tiny are dark enough and still leave fine detail in the image is quite light at first, particularly in the black Blacks Looking closely at the texture of the face we
a 3 to 4 picolitres. A picolitre is a can see that the amount of darker dithering used to
shadow areas of the image.. It is hard to criticise the areas, but after 15 minutes it develops (almost like a
million millionth of a litre.
quality of the S820 and it certainly holds its own with a conventional photo) and exhibits strong but not solid make up the shading in the texture of the skin is very
conventional silver halide print. Canon quotes lightfast blacks. Curious. fine indeed.
data of 27 years.
* WEB LINKS
MICROSOFT INSIDER
PRINTING SOLUTIONS
WEBSITE
www.microsoft.com/insider
/printhelp
Microsofts’s Printing Solution Center
has information ranging from
printer set-up and driver installation
to solutions for specific error
messages, establishing networks,
and articles for Microsoft programs
and operating systems.
of the figures quoted. Also, high resolution doesn’t is better’ argument with its PhotoRET IV technology. sharpness… not quite. In terms of producing a good
automatically mean that a printer produces either a Although HP does offer a high dpi setting for those who print… yes. PhotoRET IV is very good at mixing subtle
sharper or clearer print. want it, the PhotoRET option offers faster printing with colours with its clever layering technology, but it’s still
Squeezing ever more dots into each square inch by results that the company claims are almost as sharp as no substitute for high-resolution printing. Just as well,
firing smaller and smaller droplets of ink at it isn’t the the highest resolution printer, despite printing at 300dpi. then, that the HP print drivers have an option to skip
whole story. It’s as much a matter of how the ink How does it do this? By layering up to 30 dots of ink, PhotoRET IV and print at maximum resolution.
behaves when it hits the paper and how the paper one on top the other, in order to build up subtle
reacts. For example, it can be as different as the results variations in tone. Consumables
of writing on Basildon Bond or blotting paper with the Does it work? Well, yes and no. It depends on what Of course, the printer manufacturers want you to buy
same pen. One manufacturer, HP, eschews the ‘more dpi you’re looking for in a digital print. In terms of their range of inks and paper – that’s how they make

0 EXPERT TIP
EPSON STYLUS HEWLETT-PACKARD HEWLETT-PACKARD
PHOTO 950 DESKJET 5550 PHOTOSMART 7350 MARK SPARROW
PRINTING EXPERT
PRINTING PHOTOS
Printing photos isn’t very
different from other types of
printing, although you do have a
few more choices to make. As
long as you set the print driver to
match the type of paper that
you’re using, and choose to print
at a resolution that matches your
image, then you should have
few problems.
If you’re printing out a
relatively low-resolution image
8 8 8 then don’t be tempted to
rack up the printer resolution.
PRINT RESULTS PRINT RESULTS PRINT RESULTS You’ll simply be printing a
Colours As with other Epson Colours Our print shows Colours The HP offers finer grain and won’t be able
printers, colours are reasonably colours that are a bit too lively. ‘American’ colours. Apparently, to increase the clarity of the
natural and not too warm or too The reds show up as scarlet while the North American public prefer image. What’s more, you’ll
cold – in fact, just right. If you’re fussy a print of a banana had a definite green vibrant blues and reds to the more use more ink and it will take
about colour then you really will appreciate the Stylus tinge to it. One good point about the HP photo natural and muted colours that we Europeans are longer. So, be careful about
Photo 950. cartridge is that it now handles flesh tones more supposed to prefer. This may explain why the maxing out on resolution…
accurately. Previously, getting a believable flesh tone PhotoSmart 7350 has a much brighter output. more isn’t always better.
Resolution Separate ink tanks and the addition of a with an HP tricolour printer was difficult. A print is only as good as the
light black or grey option means that the print output Resolution The HP Photosmart 7350 ostensibly shares source that you’re printing on. If
from the 950 is very high. Unlike the HP way of Resolution Dithering of the lemons in our test print the same print engine as its cheaper sibling. But you you haven’t adjusted the
doing things, the Epson technology uses finer dots was larger and rougher than we would have liked. wouldn’t think so from the results. We noticed some image’s levels and produced a
of ink at astonishingly high resolutions to produce The Deskjet 5550 should turn out very good prints quite severe JPEG artefacts in the image, coupled with well-cropped image, then your
the illusion of continual tones (as in a conventional since our test model had been fitted with HP’s brand the same over-enthusiastic colours. The use of the HP print will be disappointing.
Leave your print to dry for at
photographic print). new photo cartridge that substitutes the plain black photo cartridge is supposed to reduce the amount of
least 24 hours before you
cartridge with one that contains photo inks and black. grain in the prints that the 7350 produces. However, on
attempt to put it behind glass.
Blacks The 950 really scores in its output of black and HP offers better lightfastness – 65 years behind glass. close inspection we didn’t notice a staggering amount
It’s likely to smudge if you don’t.
white prints. These are notoriously difficult to get right of difference. There is a slight improvement in skin
Crop your print to make a really
on most colour inkjets due to the use of colour inks to Blacks The blacks in the print are good but the glossy tones where redness is reduced but, otherwise, you
good composition. Even an
achieve a pseudo-monochrome finish. Having a finish of the paper is somewhat diminished in the may be better off by not investing in the photo ink. average photo can be improved
second, grey ink means that the atmosphere of a black black areas. This is probably to do with the new with a good bit of judicious
and white print is more achievable. formulation for the fade-resistant ink. Blacks Again, the blacks are good. cropping. Be creative.
their money. But surely, any ink or paper will do, cutting To get decent quality prints, simply use the ink and And because all these printers use USB interfaces (there
a few corners will get you prints for less? The answer is paper recommended by your printer manufacturer. are one or two with a parallel option), connection
an emphatic “no.” There’s no secret to it – just stick to those rules and your shouldn’t be too taxing.
The manufacturer of your particular printer will have photos should print out perfectly. The things you have to set up via the driver when
spent millions of research dollars formulating its own printing are the paper size and the paper type. Each
brand of ink and paper products to work perfectly Installation issues printer behaves differently depending on the media
together. The printer, paper and ink are sometimes Printing out your photos on an inkjet printer is a that you are feeding into it. The HP models feature
referred to as a ‘golden triangle’. straightforward affair once you’ve got your parameters an automatic paper sensor that can distinguish between
Replace any one of the three elements and the set up. Installing the printer drivers is no more difficult four basic types of media and will deliver the correct
triangle no longer works and your prints will look awful. than putting any other piece of software on your PC. density of ink and the right resolution for the media

LAB TEST A4 INKJET PRINTERS – SPECIFICATIONS
BUYERS’ TIP Factor in the cost of paper and ink, don’t just look at the headline price. Some companies charge less for the printer, but more for the consumables
SPECIFICATIONS
AT A GLANCE
1 CANON S820 CANON S900 EPSON STYLUS PHOTO 830 EPSON STYLUS PHOTO 950
DIGITAL DIGITAL
CAMERA CAMERA
MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
Rating 95% 90% 86% 88%
Price £219 £329 £99 £379
Maker Canon Canon Epson Epson
Warranty One year, on site One year, on site One year, on site One year, on site
Telephone 0800 616 417 0800 616 417 0800 220 546 0800 220 546
URL www.canon.co.uk www.canon.co.uk www.epson.co.uk www.epson.co.uk
Print technology Bubblejet Bubblejet Micro Piezo Micro Piezo
Maximum resolution (dpi) 2,400 x 1,200 2,400 x 1,200 5,760 optimised 2,880 x 1,440
Maximum paper size A4 A4 A4 A4
Inks B, M, C, Y, PC, PM B, M, C, Y, PC, PM B, M, C, Y, PC, PM B, M, C, Y, PC, PM
Ink tanks Separate Separate Combined Separate
Paper capacity 100 sheets 100 sheets 100 sheets 150 sheets
Max/min weight of paper 64 to 105g/mm2 64 to 105g/mm2 60 to 255g/mm2 60 to 255g/mm2
Memory 80Kb N/A N/A 256K
Interface USB + Parallel USB USB + Parallel USB + Parallel
Borderless printing Yes Yes Yes Yes
Max print speed (mono) 4ppm 7ppm 14ppm 8.8ppm
Max print speed (colour) 4ppm 7ppm 13ppm 8.5ppm
Real test speed 2' 27" 2' 10" 3' 31" 4' 15"
Black cartridge cost £8.99 £8.99 £21.91 £9.99
Colour cartridge cost: £8.99 £8.99 £17.75 £10.34
Size 430 x 294 x 177mm 443 x 319 x 185mm 480 x 260 x 181mm 515 x 333 x 209mm
Weight 5.2kg 5.8kg 3.32kg 7.6kg
OS All Windows + Mac OS 9 and X All Windows + Mac OS 9 and X All Windows + Mac OS 9 and X All Windows + Mac OS 9 and X
5 5 5 5
PRO Super fast,
5 CON Bit dull PRO Super fast,
5 CON Difficult to PRO Good smooth
5 CON Feels a bit PRO All-rounder,
5 CON Not
great output, looking great output, find fault output, very fragile, no Duplex option, particularly well
separate inks separate inks fast printing separate inks photo quality built, slow
that you are using. The other two makes of printers into a full-blown photo program like Photoshop. It’s a serious digital photographer you will probably want to
? EXPLAINED require manual setting of the paper types. So, if handy feature if you’re in a hurry. You can also set the download your photos first and adjust the levels and
you’re using glossy photo paper you’ll have to set way your printer handles colour. All the models on test crop the image accordingly. Unless you’re one of the
DPI the driver accordingly. Likewise, if you’re using here handle Apple’s Colorsync system and for PC users minority that can produce a perfectly exposed and
Look out for the DPI figure quoted
plain paper, then you’ll need to check that option there are controls that adjust how vivid the colours are composed print every time, then these card slots may
for your inkjet printer. DPI stands for
Dots Per Inch. The higher the figure, before you print. You can also select the print resolution that your printer delivers. be an expensive gimmick.
the higher the quality… in theory. via the print driver and print in draft mode just to see Some photo printers – notably the HP range – offer
if the print fits on the paper properly and looks Useful extras duplex printing so that you can print on both sides of a
roughly right. Because you’ll be using your printer mainly for piece of paper. While it may be tempting to print details
All of the printers that we tested feature a range of outputting photos, you may want a model that has of your photograph on the reverse side, the chances are
custom options that you can set in the print driver. You memory card slots for printing direct from a Compact that your nice new print will be heavily scratched going
can save these custom settings and even paper sizes so Flash card or SmartMedia. through the printer for a second time. Also, since HP’s
that you don’t have to re-enter all the values each time Generally, the more you pay the more likely you are glossy papers are the swellable variety, you may find
you want to print out a picture. Options available for to find these little extras. Some Epson printers even that they take quite a while to dry and will get
special features include things like borderless printing, come with a roll paper feeder to turn your inkjet into a smudged if you put them through the printer again
special effects and even the tone of the image and mini photo lab. It seems like a good idea, but rolled without allowing for enough time.
other features like watermarks. paper can be a devil to make flat and you may well find
The new HP printers even have a range of photo that individual 4 x 6 glossy photocards are easier and Test results
manipulation features such as Digital Flash. You can cheaper to use. If you do like the idea of printing directly All the printers on test here are capable of delivering
adjust the images you’re about to print without going from cards, make sure it’s a feature you’ll use. If you’re a extremely good results. Naturally, the quality of output

NEXT MONTH
; 2 WE TEST AND COMPARE THE

LATEST CD BURNERS
HOW WE TESTED
THE PRINTERS
T
esting a photo printer requires a driver to maximum resolution. Unfortunately,
HP DESKJET 5550 HP PHOTOSMART 7350
source image that can stretch the this bypasses the PhotoRET IV technology
75% 75% abilities of the printer as well as with the HP printers but it is the only way of
£149 £199 taxing the print driver to its limits. comparing like for like.
We had two test images: a fruit display For information we also noted the time
HP HP
and a test card. The fruit display was taken taken to print with the PhotoRET switched
One year swap One year swap with a 4-megapixel Olympus E10 on a on, since many users will be perfectly happy
0870 547 4747 0870 547 4747 bright day at noon, under a glass canopy. with that setting and will appreciate the
The canopy diffused the light and reduced time saving option.
www.hp.com www.hp.com
the highlights yet still provided a bright and Each print was assessed for its sharpness,
Thermal inkjet Thermal inkjet well-detailed image. Although the colours colour balance, grain and dithering. We
4,800 x 1,200 4,800 x 1,200 are up in the yellow end of the spectrum, looked closely at the amount of black
A4 A4 this is a good test of the printer since dithering introduced in shadowy areas to
yellows can often turn a nasty greenish see if any roughness was introduced.
B, M, C, Y + Photo B, M, C, Y + Photo
colour. The test card was a PDF containing a All the prints were laid out in a blind test
Combined Combined portrait, an action shot, a black and white and assessed against each other. These real
100 sheets 100 sheets photo and a series of calibration tests. world tests are important since we don’t all
60 to 90g/mm2 60 to 90g/mm2 The first aspect of our test was to see scrutinise our photos with a magnifying
how fast an A4 print takes with each printer glass. The overall impression that a print
8Mb 8Mb
bearing in mind that the test photo is a gives may often be better from a distance
USB2 + Parallel USB2 10.8Mb tiff file. To do this we set the printer than a print that looks good close up.
Only 4 x 6 Only 4 x 6
17ppm
BLACK CARTRIDGE COST £s
9ppm 10ppm
21 mins (4' 35" PhotoRET) 11 mins 20 seconds
£16.45 £16.45
£21.14 £21.14
456 x 385 x 156mm 475 x 391 x 152mm
5.3kg 6.5kg
All Windows + Mac OS 9 and X All Windows + Mac OS 9 and X
5 5
PRO Easy to use
5 CON Very slow PRO Prints directly
5 CON The output
when printing from at its maximum from memory not brilliant, print
memory cards resolution cards, produces speeds are
index pages surprisingly slow
COLOUR CARTRIDGE COST £s
depends on you using the correct combination of inks want a reasonable photo printer that can also double up
and paper. You’ll also need to set up the print driver for as a general-purpose inkjet then these two models are
the type of paper and the job that you’re doing. Once worth a closer inspection.
that is done, it’s a question of sitting back and waiting… Finally, the Epson contingent. The Stylus Photo 830
and waiting, in some instances. offers excellent photo output at an amazing price. The
Canon’s BubbleJet s820 and BubbleJet S900 were drawback is the running cost of the Epson combined
the fastest of those in our lab test. Incredibly, they cartridge and the unreasonable cost of the black
ripped through our test print in just over two minutes. cartridge. If you print a lot of photos you may find that
This is not due to interfaces, but the efficiency of the the money you save on the initial investment is eaten
driver and the speed of the print-head. The fact that away by expensive consumables. So, if Epson is your SINGLE A4 PRINT MINUTES
the Canon range uses cheap separate ink cartridges choice, consider the Stylus Photo 950 that has the
also makes it a very economical proposition for the advantage of using separate ink tanks and turning out
digital photographer. impeccable prints.
The HP printers promise a great deal. HP makes However, the printer that takes the prize for offering
many claims for PhotoRET IV technology and the new the perfect mixture of price, performance and features
photo cartridge. In practice, we found that there was has to be the Canon S820. At £219, this is a reasonably
very little difference in the output between the prints priced inkjet that offers incredible photographic quality
using the photo ink and those outputted with the black and a print speed that is truly unbelievable. Running
cartridge. The print times count heavily against both the costs should be low and the borderless printing feature
Deskjet 5550 and the Photosmart 7350. However, if you works perfectly.

YOUR PHOTOS
Dayinthelife
Each month, we give a digital camera to someone in an
8
interesting job and ask them to document a day’s work.

To kick off, we went to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire…
W
e were sitting in our office trying to
think of interesting subjects for day
in the life pictures. Obviously, our
own jobs are out of the question – who
wants to watch a bunch of stressed-out
journalists depth-charging gallons of coffee on
a variety of ill-considered deadlines? Then it
came to us: where better to kick off this new
series than Longleat Safari Park, a place full of
MEET IAN TURNER… potentially fascinating wildlife shots. Even
Ian is the Deputy Warden better, it turned out that the Deputy Warden,
of Longleat Safari Park in Ian Turner, is a keen amateur photographer.
Wiltshire. It’s his job to Over to Ian…
help care for the zebras,
lions and giraffes. He’s STARTING TOP LEFT 8
also a keen amateur Morning time: the self-described Motley
photographer – his work Crew – Ian’s team of wardens at Longleat – get
is used to illustrate ready for a day’s animal welfare. The first job
Longleat’s brochures. We is to release the giraffes and zebras from their
offered him a Minolta heated shed, where they are kept overnight.
digital camera in At around 9am it’s time for them to hit the
exchange for a day park – it’s back to the shed when the last car
looking over his shoulder. leaves the park about 5-6pm.
Here are the results.
Pet Corner: it’s feeding time. Val prepares fruit
Many thanks for the guinea pigs, rabbits and birds.
to the staff at
Longleat, and Watch out for the gorillas… actually, it’s a
Minolta UK, who kindly quiet day for the gorillas, who spend much of
donated time and the day watching TV. Visitors board the boat
equipment for this article. that sails around Gorilla Island – watch out for
8
the hippos and pelicans in the water.
Lunch time: later on in the day, a quick check

on the zebra and giraffes. Their shed is
mucked out while they’re outside. Next it’s
time to give the animals their lunch. The food
@ CONTACT US in this shot is for the iguanas. Then it’s onto

the elephants (the one in the photo is seven- 8
Now it’s over to you: we want years-old – they can live for 20 years in
your life in our hands (or on captivity), and the famous lions.
these pages anyway). If you
have a visually interesting job End of the day: The animals are led back into
that you think might make a
their pens for feeding and welfare. Ian sedates
good Dayinthelife, please email
us today at:
a giraffe because some medicines have to
be injected rather than fed. This giraffe –
editor.dcm@futurenet.co.uk Roxanne – is being fed antibiotics to keep her
healthy through her old age.

8 8
8
Ian Turner, armed with his camera,
about to record his day’s work at
Longleat Safari Park
8
8
8 8

TrailBlazers
Travel the world, see interesting things and shoot them BE INSPIRED WWW.LONELYPLANET.COM
Email us shots of your destination, and the best one each month gets printed and framed. See opposite for more information!
2 SINGAPORE
9
2 HONG KONG
2 BANGKOK
Photographed by: Stephanie Forsey

Location: this beach on Sentosa, a small island just off the coast of
Singapore, was a good place to escape the bustle of the city
1
Camera used: Minolta Dimage X
Photographed by: Rachel Spooner Framed
and
Location: this shot of two fishing boats was taken on the island of Cheung Returned
Chow, one of the islands off the coast of Hong Kong
Camera used: Olympus 3030Z Photographed by: Andrew Crook
Location: situated on the upper terrace of Grand Palace in Bangkok, this is
a model of Angkor Wat, a famous temple complex in Cambodia
Camera used: Nikon Coolpix 885
2 BEIJING
2 SHANGHAI
Photographed by: Phil Sowells

Location: the superb colours, textures, light and shade – this time in
Beijing – are what captured Phil’s attention. The result is this lovely image
Camera used: Pentax Optio 330
Photographed by: Phil Sowells

Location: this shot of a man napping on his bike was taken in Shanghai
Camera used: Pentax Optio 330

2
YOU HAVE ONE MORE THING TO DO…
…while you’re in that ramshackle cybercafé in the middle of some hellhole up a
mountain somewhere, and that’s send us the pictures! We want your digital photos
direct from the spot you’re visiting, with a few words on what made you want to
capture the event, the make of the camera, and your details. We’ll print the best here.
And, each month, one outstanding picture from a reader will be printed at the
largest size we can manage, framed and posted to their home.
■ We’re looking for landmarks, shots with lots of local interest, unusual events or
just something fabulously composed. Start planning that trip away today!
Email us at gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
2 MALAYSIA
2 NORWAY
Photographed by: Steve Taylor

Location: one of the many beaches in Kelantan, in Northern Malaysia
Camera used: Fuji Finepix F601
Photographed by: Dave Musgrove

Location: this nicely composed shot of two canoeists was taken on Ulla
River in Central Norway
Camera used: Nikon Coolpix 4500
2 EGYPT
2 SYDNEY 2 GREECE
Photographed by: Mark Phillips

Location: this shot was taken from a boat on the Red Sea, and shows a
scuba diver checking out the famous coral on the coastline of Tiran island
Photographed by: Patrick Joscelyne Camera used: Ixus 330 Photographed by: Dan Griliopoulos
Location: this shot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was taken in the Location: this landscape was taken at Meteora, in Thessalonika. The
summer. The concrete pillars are purely for reassurance and decoration – buildings on the vertical rocks are monasteries
they serve no engineering function Camera used: Olympus C-2020
Camera used: Sony DSC-F707

Viewfinder
We want your letters! Email us at letters.dcm@futurenet.co.uk and we’ll print the best
to the more reasonably-priced cameras. So digital enthusiasts as seriously as the traditional
Welcome… What’s your reviews policy?

Dear DCM,
The amount of information you get on your
they’re well worth looking at, to see what’s
going to be the standard in a couple of years.
We’re also aware that many readers may
photo magazines.
But hey, we know how it works. You’ll drop the
two CDs and tips cards first chance you get, eh?
…to the first letters page. Like all first camera reviews pages is impressive and I like the want to upgrade their cameras once they Steve
issues, we’ve been stuck with the problem Performance strip you can turn back to compare get into their stride with our camera technique
of how to fill a letters page when we’ve shots. However, all the cameras you’ve reviewed tutorials. So we will be covering a wider DCM Nope, no plans to do that, Steve! Although
yet to receive any letters. So rather than are compacts. Is this deliberate or will you be range in the future – being a launch issue, we we can’t guarantee everything will stay the
fill this valuable space with the made- covering higher-end cameras at a later date? went with compacts in order to get a same forever, it’s two CDs every issue with full
up ramblings of our editorial team, we David McNally, Bristol representative spread of cameras across our software, the fold-out section and – for another
invited a few digital camera owners to take target price range. couple of issues at least – tips cards.
a look at some early pages and tell us what DCM Thanks for the feedback, David. No, it’s We know we can do two CDs every issue
they thought. not our policy to only review compacts. What image editors because we’re published by Future Publishing,
However, in future issues, we’d love to Our aim is to cover cameras mainly within are you covering? which has being covermounting software for
publish your comments. We’ve worked the £250-£700 price range because this is Dear DCM, years across more mags than anyone else in
hard to get our first issue as right as we where we believe most of the buying action Will you mainly be covering Photoshop? Most the UK, so we have the resources to get the
can, but we know that it’s hard to get it is located. people can’t afford to spend that much money on best software first.
perfect first time. For us to evolve and However, we also realise that some of the a piece of software, no matter how good it is. On to the price, we’re no more expensive
improve, we need to know what you think, most exciting stuff is only available in the Brad Neaves, Swindon than a couple of the other mags on the
what we’re doing well, and what we can £800-£1,000 price range, and usually includes market, and we offer considerably better value
do better. the kind of features that, in time, filter down DCM Our aim is to focus as much as possible on and production quality.
We hope you like the broad shape of the Elements and Paint Shop Pro, as we believe
magazine and will forgive the odd these are the most widely-used home image- Do you accept submissions?
inevitable launch issue rough edge. We’ll editing applications. Although we will use Dear DCM,
be working hard to smooth it out over the Photoshop for some of the higher-end creative I would like to try to get my pictures published –
next few months. Now write in, to projects, it’s unlikely we’ll be using many tools do you accept stuff for publication?
letters.dcm@futurenet.co.uk that require Photoshop’s most advanced R Rix, Bristol
features. Elements and PSP are just so good
and digital photography-friendly. DCM Yes we do. If you’re sending in work to a
specific area of the mag, like the Galleries or
Nick Merritt Managing Editor Are you doing two CDs and TrailBlazers sections, email the addresses given
tips cards every issue? at the bottom of those pages. Otherwise, if
Dear DCM, you’re a professional, send in your work on CD
It’s a weighty old magazine you have here, (please include an SAE if you want it returned)
which is just as well at the price! I must say, and a covering letter. We are on the look out
We’re the only digital
I am impressed just how much of it there is, for good photos we can use in our Getup&go
camera magazine to
and by the overall feeling of quality throughout – section, and cover features. See the box below
covermount two packed
it’s nice to see a magazine that finally takes us for more info.
CD-ROMs every issue!
We want The UK’s biggest digital camera mag is looking

for freelance contributors to help put distance
We’re looking for wildlife, nature and landscape
photographers, plus events ideas/writers for
editor at dylan.channon@futurenet.co.uk.
2 If you’re looking to have your work published (it
your articles between ourselves and our rivals.
We want to be the best digital title. If you’re a
Getup&go, submissions to our galleries, reader
photos, tutorial writers and much more.
doesn’t matter how experienced you are, all that
matters is the quality of images), please email the
and pictures! photographer looking to get your work published, 2 If you’re a journalist looking to contribute relevant section:
we can promise the highest production values and tutorials and articles, email the editor directly at For Getup&go, email getupgo.
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with work you want others to see? stuff onto small, shoddy, cramped pages when 2 If you’re an artist who uses digital photography For general picture enquiries, email picdesk.dcm
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4
PROJECTSTUTORIALSTIPSIDEAS
100% authoritative
Your images
Our tutorials are carefully crafted to give you more
Expert guides to making and creating better pictures

CREATIVE PROJECT
T
aking digital photos is only half you how to integrate your digital photos
the story. Once your image is into a single piece of work, using a ■ PHOTO MONTAGES P64
safely ensconced on your PC variety of techniques from adding Create a stunning montage.
hard drive, you’ll probably wonder if shadows and shrinking images to motion PHOTO CLINIC
there’s anything you can do to improve it. blur. You’ll find all the files needed for this ■ RESTORING A PHOTO P70
That’s the beauty of digital on our CD. Fix a damaged photo. KEY DETAILS EXPLAINED
photography – the control it offers over Take a look at our Photo Clinic on page Your quick reference Any tricky jargon and
DIGITAL PHOTO FIXES
your pictures, whether you want to add 70, where we take one fond, but to any covermounted concepts are
■ ENHANCING YOUR PICS P74 extras, full or trial software, how explained in more detail here.
to them creatively or fix up little errors damaged, picture from a reader, repair it Use Photoshop and Elements. long each project or tutorial is
and blemishes for a perfect result. and show you how we did it. If you have likely to take you to complete, IN FOCUS
PHOTOSHOP AND ELEMENTS TOOLS
Each month in this section, we aim to an old image that has become faded, and what software delivers the We talk about a
bring you the best creative ideas torn or maybe there are people you want ■ HOW TO USE LAYERS P76 best results. particular idea or tool
Unleash the power of layers. in depth, so you have a clearer
combined with essential photo fixes and to remove from it, send it in – your
image-editing techniques. We also aim to picture might be repaired next month! PAINT SHOP PRO TOOLS TOP TIPS, ONE- understanding of key concepts.
CLICK FIXES
put as many of our tutorial files on our CD In our our Photoshop and Elements ■ COMPLETE GUIDE TO PSP5 P78
Quick ways to get WEBSITES
as possible so you can follow our techniques tutorials, we explain how Get the best out of PSP5.
more from the program or More info online is
walkthroughs, step by step. We’ll cover to fix common photo problems and IMAGE EDITING technique under examination. always available.
the three main image-editing programs: simulate high-end camera effects on ■ MOTION BLUR P82
Abobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop lower-end images. Add movement to your photos.
Elements and Paint Shop Pro. Finally, don’t forget our Paint Shop Pro Your expert team
This month, we kick off with our tips – just fire up your coverdisc software They’re here to help you improve your skills
creative project on page 64, which shows and use our handy guide.
CREATIVE PROJECT PHOTO CLINIC PHOTO FIXES
TIM DALY ED DAVIS

Tim is a lecturer on Ed is a pro photographer. He
photography and is the author is also a member of the
of several best-selling digital National Association of
P70 P74 photography books. Photoshop Professionals.
PHOTOSHOP/ELEMENTS TOOLS TOP TIPS
GEORGE CAIRNS SIMON DANAHER

George is a university lecturer Simon is one of the country’s top
P64 P76 P78 teaching Photoshop skills. He experts on Photoshop and
has written tutorials for Elements, and is currently
Computer Arts magazine. publishing a book about them.
Tutorials you can trust ■ Authoritative
A leading professional in their field writes
the tutorial for yourself, delivering a
complete package
4
Our mission is to ensure that our tutorials every tutorial ■ Clear CONTACT OUR TUTORIALS TEAM
bring you creative ideas, expert techniques, ■ Valued added Our large page size means we can add If you have a comment, suggestion, or submission you would
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own work. and full or trial software so you can try each tutorial website at digitalcameramagazine.co.uk

PROJECT CREATIVE PHOTO MONTAGE
YOUR GUIDE GEORGE CAIRNS

George has been writing tutorials and features for years in
magazines like Computer Arts Special and 3D World. He also
teaches Photoshop to students at university level
george@georgecairns.com PORTFOLIO GEORGE CAIRNS WEBSITE WWW.GEORGECAIRNS.COM
Create your own

stunning photo montages
Take on the Hollywood pros as George Cairns shows you how to master a variety of Photoshop tools
and techniques to select a model and composite her into a specially shot background scene
W 7TOOL SCHOOL
hen we thought of a project that would combine them with the files on our CD and send a
PROJECT
demonstrate a range of useful creative thumbnail into us at gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk?
KEY DETAILS image-editing techniques, we wanted The best images will be published in issue 3 and one
2
MAKING MASKS
ON THE DISC something challenging that would demonstrate a range winner will receive a Crucial 128Mb CompactFlash card
Learn how to use Quick Mask to make
The source images of the girl of Photoshop tools applied to everyday photographic for their effort. complicated selections like isolating a
and the background can be themes. So the idea of having kids playing in a paintbox person from other picture elements
found in tutorials/
seemed ideal. What you’ll learn FIND IT HERE Quick Mask
fairies/images on CD A
Actually organising and photographing the separate In this tutorial we’ll turn one little girl into a gang of kids
elements was a big challenge. Luckily, we have our own in a paintbox playground, using a variety of Photoshop
2 SKILL BOOSTER photo studio here at Digital Camera Magazine, so we tools and techniques. We’ll show you how to take Being confident with masks and layers will give you
8 were able to shoot each element digitally. Then we source images of our model and use masks to remove skills that you can apply to many different digital
asked George to produce the final image. unwanted elements like backdrops. Then we’ll use projects. What was once in the realm of Hollywood
2 TIME TO COMPLETE We’ve placed all the files from this tutorial on our multiple layers to combine her with a specially shot professionals is now achievable on your own PC with
7 HOURS CD (disc A) for you to reproduce the final image.

And when you’ve mastered the techniques here, why
not cut your own friends and family down to size,
background. To sell the illusion we’ll make the girl
interact with the background image by adding shadows
and footprints in the paint.
the click of a mouse.
Well, quite a few clicks, as you follow our step-by-
step tutorial over the next few pages…
HOW WE SHOT
THE INDIVIDUAL
ELEMENTS
PHILIP SOWELS
8 8
PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPH THE BACKGROUND DIRECT THE MODEL SELECT THE IMAGES

A This element of the final composition was shot B Ensuring you get good shots is as much C Working digitally meant we were able to
THANK YOU in our studio. We bought an art set from a local down to the model’s personality as anything preview images as they were shot, and re-
TO MODEL MILAN UPTON store and shot it using our top-of-the-range Horseman clever you can do at the shoot. We were very lucky that shoot if necessary. Once selected, we used our own CMYK
AND STYLIST GENIE, BOTH AT
BOSS MODELS DigiFlex. The light cast across the set, simulating a window Milan Upton really seemed to enjoy the absurd things we tools on the elements (Photoshop’s CMYK filters are
pane, was actually a spotlight with a Gobo filter. asked her to do. adequate but not up to top-quality repro standards).

Everything you need to
create this image is on your CD
We’ve put all the images, filters and
plug-ins you need to create this image
THE PAINTBOX PEEKING JUMPING SLIDING WALKING HANGING LOOKING
2
on your cover CD
filename/paintbox.tif filename/peeking.tif filename/jumping.tif filename/sliding.tif filename/walking.tif filename/hanging.tif filename/looking.tif
CDA/tutorials/fairies/images
ONE-CLICK FIX To clarify which tools this tutorial is referring to, hold your mouse over each Photoshop icon and a handy label will appear telling you its name
STAGE 1 2
MAKING MASKS
We're going to use various
Photoshop tools to isolate
and remove the girl from
the unwanted elements
in the photographs (like the
grey backdrop).
UNLOCK THE LAYER SELECT THE BACKGROUND USE THE QUICK MASK
01 Open Peeking.tif. Make sure the Layer Palette 02 Choose the Magic Wand Tool [W] from the 03 To fine-tune the selected areas, click on the
is visible. If it isn’t, go to Window8Layers. Tool Palette. In the top menu bar set the Quick Mask icon at the bottom of the Tool
Notice the Layer thumbnail for the image is called tolerance to around 34. Shift + click in the grey Palette. The unselected areas turn red showing that they
background and is locked. Double click on it and label it background. A dotted line appears to indicate the selected are masked. However, some of the girl's shoulder has
‘Peeking’. It is now unlocked and ready to be worked on. area. Shift + Click to add extra parts to the selection. been selected as well as the wispy strands of her hair.
0 EXPERT TIP
GEORGE CAIRNS
PHOTOSHOP LECTURER
CHANGING YOUR
BACKGROUND VIEW
Press [F] to replace all your
desktop clutter with a plain grey
background that doesn’t distract
you from your work on the
image. Press [F] again to get a
black background.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK FINE-TUNE THE SELECTION NIFTY BRUSH WORK

04 Zoom in using the Zoom Tool [Z]. To tidy up the 05 Spray the Brush over the areas that should be 06 If you spray red into a section you don't want,
mask, choose the Brush Tool [B]. If you’ve got masked to turn them red, too. To adjust the press Command + [Z] to undo the last stroke.
a stylus use it to help you paint more accurately. Press D brush size, click on the Brush Preset Picker in the menu Use a softer brush near the edge of the figure for a less
to set the default foreground and background colours to bar at the top. Alternatively, activate the pressure jaggy selection. Press on the Tool Palette's Standard Mode
black and white. sensitivity of your stylus using the adjacent airbrush icon. icon to see how your selection is shaping up.
REMOVE THE BACKGROUND USE THE LASSO TOOL REMOVE THE BOOK PROP
07 You will need to go back to Quick Mask Mode
08 To remove the rough book prop, hold down
09 Turn on Quick Mask. Paint out the red areas
to fine-tune certain areas. When you've the Lasso Tool icon. Select the Polygonal Lasso. near her hands using a white brush (Press [X]
finished, click on standard Mode and press the backspace This tool creates a selection line between each point you to change the foreground colour to white). Then go to Edit
key to delete the unmasked background. The chequered click on. Do a rough selection of the main areas of the in Standard Mode and delete the selected prop. The girl
pattern indicates the transparent parts of the layer. prop book. Double-click or press Return to complete. has been isolated from the unwanted elements.

PAINT SHOP PRO PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS GRAPHIC CONVERTOR (MAC)
4
USING OTHER You’ll be able to duplicate most of this tutorial in Paint Shop Its Selection Brush is similar to Photoshop's Quick Mask Although it'll open absolutely anything, it lacks the
SOFTWARE Pro 5. Some of the shadow effects will be hard to do, though mode. No Layer Mask function, though (see step 17) selection tools and layer controls of Photoshop
WWW.PLANETPHOTOSHOP.COM/RESOURCES.HTML T ADD TO FAVOURITES
STAGE 2 2
CUT HER
DOWN TO SIZE
Now we're going to see how
Photoshop's layers enable us to
position and edit the girl to fit
into our main scene.
ADD SOME LAYERS SCALE THINGS DOWN ROTATE THE LAYER ELEMENTS
10 Open the file paintbox.tif and the Peeking 11 On the Peeking layer choose Edit8Transform8 12 Choose Edit8Transform8Rotate to tilt the
image. Click on the Peeking layer and drag it Scale from the menu bar. A box appears Peeking layer until the line of the stand-in
onto the paintbox image. Notice that the paintbox image around the girl. Hold the Shift key to constrain the layer's book matches the line of the background book. Scale her
now has two layers. The Peeking image appears as a proportions and drag a corner box to scale her down. Hit down further if necessary. Fine-tune her size once more
separate layer on top of the background layer. Return. Move her into position with the Move Tool [V]. girls have been added to the scene.
STAGE 3 2 IN FOCUS Enhance interaction by using filters

INTERACTION
FUN WITH FILTERS On the Twang layer, go Copy and paste a selection
To sell the concept of our 15 Photoshop lets you manipulate your layers to Filter8Blur8Motion of paint from the
miniature maiden we
in all sorts of amazing ways using a variety Blur. Type in the values background layer. Motion
need to make her appear to
of powerful filters. We'll use Motion Blur and Ocean shown. Reduce the blur the new layer to streak
interact with the elements in
Ripple to fine-tune the effect of the girl as she bounces master opacity for the it. Apply Filter8Distort8
the scene – especially the knife
off the knife and slides through the paint. layer to 85%. Ocean Ripple.
and the paint.
COPY THE BLADE

13 Using the techniques in Stages 1 and 2, cut out
and position the girl from jumping.tif next to
the knife. Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to select the
knife’s blade. Choose Edit8Copy. Select Edit8Paste and a
new layer is created containing the blade. Label it ‘Twang.’
* WEB LINKS
PHOTOSHOP FILTERS
www.icnet.de
Some handy filters here, which can
save you time when working with
Photoshop files. Now includes
Windows XP updates.
ROTATE THE BLADE

14 Go to Edit8Transform8Rotate. A box appears
round the blade. By default, it rotates around a
pivot in the centre of the box. Drag the pivot to the top-
left corner where the blade begins. Rotate the blade in
the same way as the girl was rotated in Stage 2.

ONE-CLICK FIX By pushing the numeric keys when using the painting or cloning tools, you can change the opacity of whatever you are applying
STAGE 4 2
NEED FOR SPEED
Let's add some momentum to
our character to put a sense of
motion into our still image.
MAKING MOTION ADD A LAYER MASK USE THE GRADIENT TOOL

16 Duplicate the Slide layer and place it on top of 17 Select the blurred layer. Click on the Add Layer 18 Select the Gradient Tool from the Tool Palette.
the original layer. Apply the motion blur filter Mask icon at the bottom of the Palette. Make the foreground colour black. Select the
to the copied layer in the usual way. We need to make Painting black on the Layer mask makes the corresponding Layer mask thumbnail. Click + drag with the mouse to
the blur effect subtler so we can still see her expression. parts of the main layer transparent. Painting white on the draw a gradient across the girl. Now the blurred layer
mask makes those areas of the layer solid. shows through at her feet but doesn’t obscure her face.
STAGE 5 2
ME AND MY SHADOW
Shadows help to anchor our
composited youngster into
the image.
ADD THE WALKER CREATE A SHADOW FLIP THE SHADOW

19 Open walking.tif. Using the Magic Wand and 20 Right click on the Walking Layer Thumbnail to 21 Zoom out. Go to Image8Transform8Flip
Quick Mask, isolate the girl and remove her select its transparency. Click on the Create a Vertical. Drag the Shadow layer below the
background. Drag her layer onto the main image. Or go to New Layer Icon. Go to Edit8Fill. Set the contents of the fill Walking layer. The light in the background scene is coming
Select8All. You can then Edit8Copy her onto the paintbox to black. Press Command + D to Deselect the selection. from the right and is casting shadows to the left. We need
image. Scale her and move her into position. to make our shadow behave in the same way.
3 IN DETAIL
GROUPING LAYERS
It’s easy to group different layers
together if you want, so you can
move them around together –
handy if you want to move an
object and its shadow at the same
time. Select a layer then click in
the box between the eye and
thumbnail of the layer you want to
join it to.
DISTORT THE SHADOW LIGHTEN THINGS UP TWEAK THE COLOUR

22 Go to Edit8Transform8Skew. A selection box
23 The shadow is too harsh so let's lighten it up.
24 In nature shadows aren’t grey. They are a
appears around the girl. Drag the handles on On the Layers Palette make sure the Shadow darker version of whatever colour they are cast
the box until you've distorted the Shadow layer as shown. layer is selected then reduce the master opacity of the onto. To warm this one up go to Image8Adjustments
The key light in the image is quite high, leading to short layer to 25%. To soften the edges go to Filter 8Hue/Saturation>Colorize. Adjust the settings as shown.
shadows. Hit Return when you're happy with the shape. 8Blur8Gaussian Blur and set that to 2.1. Tidy up the extra bits by her boots using the Erase Tool.

TOOL PRESETS
4
USING Save yourself some time – the new Tool Presets feature
PHOTOSHOP 7 enables you to save and recall frequently-used tool settings
WWW.ADOBE.COM/PRODUCTS/TIPS/PHOTOSHOP.HTML T ADD TO FAVOURITES
STAGE 6 2
ADD FOOTPRINTS
Emphasise the patter of feet by
creating some fairy footprints.
SELECT THE SOLES SAMPLE THE PAINT ADD A MASK

25 Imagine our fairy-sized female has run 26 Create a new layer and label it Footprints. 27 Turn on the chain icon next to each footprint
through that blob of nearby paint and left a Select the Eye Dropper Tool [I] from the layer’s Eye icon. Click on the top right of the
trail. Select the Polygonal Lasso Tool [L] and give it a Tool Palette and click on the paint nearby. The palette and choose Merged linked. Create a Layer mask
feather of 2. Draw around the sole of her boot to create a Foreground Colour matches the colour sampled. Choose for the layer and select it. Go to Filter8Render8Clouds.
footprint shape. File8Fill8Foreground Colour and create more footprints. Random sections of the footprints disappear.
STAGE 7 2 IN FOCUS Add the final touches

CHANGE COLOURS
THE ICING ON THE CAKE Use the Quick Mask Use the technique
How to make one of our fairies 30 Once all the fairies have been added you technique to add the learnt in Stage 5 to
unique by changing the colour
may want to fine-tune the size of some of girl to the brush – give the other girls
of her T-shirt.
them. Select all the elements belonging to a particular you’ll need to rotate shadows tinted to
fairy by clicking its layer’s Link icon. Then when you her to align with it. match the object they
scale its shadow its linked footprints will scale, too. are cast on.
SELECT THE T-SHIRT

28 Click on the Walking layer. Set the Magic Wand
to a tolerance of 33. Click to select the white
areas of her T-shirt. Hold down Shift and click to add more
areas to the selection. Use the Quick Mask technique to
isolate the shirt from the rest of the scene.
@ WIN!
We want your creative efforts!
Send them in and the best image
wins a great 128MB CompactFlash COLOUR THE SELECTION
card, courtesy of Crucial 29 With the T-shirt selected, create a new layer.
Technologies. (Find out more about
Click on the Tool Palette's Foreground Colour
Crucial at www.crucial.com/uk
icon. In Colour Chooser, click on Custom and choose a
gallery.dcam@futurenet.co.uk colour. Go to Edit8Fill using the foreground colour. In the
Layer Palette choose the Multiply Blending Mode at 85%.

PhotoClinic PORTFOLIO ED DAVIS WEBSITE WWW.ED-DAVIS-PHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK
Got a picture that needs restoring? Send a JPEG to us at picdesk.dcm@futurenet.co.uk. See below for full details!
Restoring a damaged
YOUR GUIDE ED DAVIS
Ed Davis is a London-based
advertising and corporate
photograph
photographer with many years
Don’t despair if a much-loved photo is damaged beyond repair. Our experts can help you out. Each month we’ll fix a
experience of studio and location
photography. He specialises in reader photo and show you how we did it, so you can apply the same techniques to your own pictures
image manipulation, and delivers
W
creative solutions that combine elcome to the Photo Clinic, the only fix-‘em- how they did it. It doesn’t matter if your photo was shot my family tree and wanted to give my research – plus a
photography and digital up section in any digital photo magazine. traditionally or digitally – our aim is to show you how family photo – to my grandmother, as a birthday
technology. He is a member of Each month we’ll set our experts the task of digital tools can put them right. present. However, over the years, the picture has
NAPP (National Association of repairing the most impossibly damaged, faded or First up in our new section is this disaster from John become severely damaged. Can you help?” Enter Ed
Photoshop Professionals) disappointing photos you have, and show the rest of us Dugdale of Huddersfield. John told us: “I have researched Davis, a specialist photo retoucher…
Equipment used: a scanner

and Adobe Photoshop 7
[w] www.ed-davis-
photography.co.uk BEFORE Through the years the photo has become
folded, cracked, ripped, stained and damaged AFTER Reconstructed: the
photo is saved!
TEARS AND RIPS

Solution: put sections of the
image on separate layers.
Move the layers into position
making them meet.
COLOUR IMBALANCE
Solution: remove colour using
@ SEND ’EM IN!

the Desaturate command. The
image will be re-toned once
the retouching is completed.
8
We want your faded, damaged
pictures today!
Send them in, we’ll fix them up for MISSING AREAS
free, show everyone how we did it AND CRACKS
and send them back restored! Solution: find an area with
similar tonal range, copy and
The sort of pictures we’re after
paste to fill the gap. Balance
need to be decent photos which
have become damaged –
out the tonal differences
unfortunately we can’t make badly with Levels.
composed/shot photos good.
STAINING
■ Contact us via email, with a small Solution: copy an unstained
JPEG of the photo attached, and if
part of the boarder and paste it
it’s right for the mag, we’ll get in
@
into position over stain. Then
touch. How’s that for a bargain?
Email the following address: use clone tool to repair it.
picdesk.dcam@futurenet.co.uk

4
STAGE 1 2
HOW TO RECONSTRUCT
THE RIPS
The first thing we need to do
R1 R2 R3
is get each part of the
damaged photograph onto its
own layer.
SELECT THE PRINT REMOVE THE WHITE
01 Using the Lasso Tool, draw around a section of 02 Remove the white background from the 03 REMOVE THE RIPS
the print. Press (Ctrl + J) to put the selected image using the Magic Wand Tool. Select the The base paper is visible on the ripped edge
section on its own layer. Now all the parts of the tool, set the Tolerance to about 20 and click in the white (R1). To bring the pieces together, select the Eraser Tool
photograph have their own layers, delete the background area around the photograph. You can now remove the and remove the white edge on each of the pieces (R2).
layer by clicking on the layer and dragging it into the bin selected area by pressing the Back Space Key or Next, use the Move Tool to bring the ripped edges
at the bottom of the Layers Pallet. Edit8Clear. All the white should now have gone. Repeat together (R3). Align the pieces using the Free Transform
this in the other pieces of the photo. command. Finally merge the layers.
STAGE 2 2
REMOVING STAINS
AND DISCOLOURATION
The colour of this sepia-toned
photograph is uneven, due to
discolouration over the years.
It is also stained with blue ink.
We need to remove the
different colours from the print
before retouching.
DESATURATE THE IMAGE 05 THE DESATURATED IMAGE 06 REMOVE THE BORDER STAINS
04 Open Image8Adjustments8Desaturate or use This is what your image looks like now all the Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool with a 3 pixel
the short-cut Shift + Ctrl + U. This will remove all colour has been removed. The original sepia Feather, make a selection around the border
colour from the image, leaving a monotone photograph. tone colour will be re-applied once the retouching work area including the missing section. Make a new layer by
This makes it much easier to copy and paste from different has been done. clicking on the icon at the bottom of the Layers Pallet.
parts of the photograph.
? EXPLAINED
DESATURATE
To remove all colour from an image
leaving it monotone.
FREE TRANSFORM
Enables you to copy an area within
an image and stretch it into another
shape. If the area selected contains
fairly regular shapes and colours.
you can use this technique to fill
tricky spaces with the image.
SELECT A NEW COLOUR REMOVE THE PHOTO STAINS STRETCH THE COPY
07 With the new layer active, use the Eyedropper 08 To remove the ink stain, select and copy a 09 Open Free Transform and stretch the copy
Tool and select an area in the border that has a good area close to the stain, then make a so that it fits the space then adjust with Ctrl + L
little tone. This now becomes the foreground colour. By loose selection around the stained area with the or Image8Adjustments8Levels. This technique is a lot
clicking Ctrl + Backspace it will fill the selection with the Feathered Lasso Tool. Use Edit8Paste Into. The piece you quicker than laboriously using the Clone Tool to repair
foreground colour; you now have a clean border. have just copied is inside the selection and a Layer Mask any blemishes.
has been created in the Layers Pallet.

PhotoClinic
Got a picture that needs restoring? Send a JPEG to us at picdesk.dcm@futurenet.co.uk. See below for full details!
STAGE 3 2
MISSING AREAS
AND CRACKS
Damage that removes
detail from a picture can
be hard to fix. Here’s how to go
about it.
FIXING THE EYE MOVE AND FLIP MOVE INTO PLACE

10 Select the Lasso Tool (L) with the Feather 11 Press (Ctrl + T) or Edit8Free Transform. Once 12 Once the copy of the eye is in place, click to
Setting at about 5 pixel. Make a selection this is activated you can move the new eye accept. Lower the opacity of the eye until you
around the boy‘s good eye then use Ctrl + J. This will put into place and flip the image by clicking onto the right can see the image (click Opacity in the Layers Pallet, and
the eye on its own layer. edge and dragging it to the left. slide the percentage bar to the required level).
0 EXPERT TIP
ED DAVIS
USING LAYERS
FILE SIZES
Each layer you create increases
the size of the file so keep the
layers to a minimum if memory
is short and merge as you go.
MATCH TONES REPEAT... ...UNTIL DONE

13 To match the new eye with the skin, click Ctrl 14 By similarly copying and pasting good parts 15 Remember to put everything on separate
+L or Image8Adjustments8Levels. This brings of the image we can cover large areas of layers so if you make a mistake, you can go
up a histogram of the tonal range. Slide the clear triangle the photograph quite effectively. This will cut down the back a stage and get it right. When complete, merge all
over to the left to lighten the image. time considerably. the layers to flatten the image, for the final stage.
STAGE 4 2
ADDING MISSING PARTS
Now we need to add in large
areas missing through being
torn and lost.
COPY AND PASTE SELECT AND MOVE SCALE TO FIT

16 As before, we can use the copy and paste 17 Make your selection. The Ctrl + J (the function 18 Use the Free Transform Tool to position the
method to replace the lost corner. In the image that was used to put the eye on its own layer new section in place. Click Ctrl + L or
you can see a balcony (top right-hand corner). We can use in Step 1) is now moveable. Lower the opacity and place Image8Adjustments8Levels to fine tune. Perfect!
this section to fill in the gap. it into position.

STAGE 5 2
CLEAN IT UP
Small imperfections, scratches
and specks of dusk still need
to be removed.
SELECT THE CLONE TOOL SELECT THE BRUSH SIZE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL
19 Using a separate layer, select the Clone Stamp 20 Select a brush size large enough to cover the 21 Once all the cloning, cutting and pasting and
Tool, set the mode to normal, the opacity to damage you want to correct, place the cursor adjustments have been made we need to
100 per cent and check that Use All Layers is selected. near the scratch, press Alt + click mouse to set the clone give it some colour again, so that the picture is returned to
source, then clone over the scratch. its original tones.
STAGE 6 2 IN FOCUS Which colour?

CHOOSE THE COLOUR USE THE TOOLS Stay with black and This Magenta hue This is the colour
Finally, we need to re- 22 You can choose any colour you white for that requires you to use we’ve chosen as it
colourize the image, from like from the hue and 1940s feeling – you the Colourize controls most closely matches
monochrome to whatever saturation options within Photoshop. If you may only need to – see next steps the colours of the
you like! want to continue with an aged feeling, adjust the contrast opposite for how. original photo.
sepia hues are the best. But you have and brightness.
plenty of other options.
p CONCLUSION
Easier than USE HUE AND SATURATION
you might 23 To open the Hue & Saturation dialog box
think! click Image8Adjust8Hue & Saturation. This
What seems presents a series of sliders you can use to add colour
to be a to your image.
difficult job
can often
turn out to
be easier to
do than you realise. The key
techniques used for this
tutorial are first, to make the
whole image monochrome,
then match the different bits,
and use the Free Transform
tool quickly to stretch ‘good’
parts of the
image over
damaged
parts. Now try CLICK THE BOX
it with your 24 Click on the box marked Colourize. Move
pictures the top slider and see what colours you
at home! can get (click the box to ensure you see the changes
in real-time). Job done!
WE WANT YOUR PICTURES! If you have a much-loved family photo that you think is beyond repair, or needs retouching, send it to us, we’ll fix it up
and send the new version back. Email picdesk.dcm@futurenet.co.uk with a JPEG and we’ll see what we can do

TUTORIAL ENHANCING YOUR PHOTOS IN PHOTOSHOP & ELEMENTS
YOUR GUIDE TIM DALY
Tim has written several books on photography, including
The Digital Photography Handbook, The Digital Printing
Handbook and The Desktop Photographer, and he continues
to write for The British Journal of Photography and AG. His
photographs have been exhibited across Europe
tim@photocollege.co.uk PORTFOLIO TIM DALY WEBSITE WWW.PHOTOCOLLEGE.CO.UK
Fixing low contrast and

low colour saturation
Disappointed with the quality of raw files opened straight from your memory card? Don’t be harsh on yourself – digital
cameras deliberately produce low contrast and low colour saturation results, but Tim Daly explains how to put them right
I
nkjet prints made straight from unprocessed setting highlights and shadows; image brightness; colour This has a useful impact on image compression, with
TUTORIAL
digital camera images can look dull and correction; colour saturation; and sharpening your image smaller data created for storing low colour image files.
KEY DETAILS insipid, so it’s useful to know a quick and for print out. Despite the loss, all this can be put back in your imaging
2 ON OUR CD easy way to make things better.
Just like processing film in conventional photography,
In practice, it’s a good idea to run through the
first four stages with every image you intend to keep,
application without too much aggravation. Never be
tempted to improve the look of your raw files by
Use our trial of Photoshop 7 to
try the fixes revealed here digital files need to be processed and prepared carefully but the final sharpening phase should only be carried experimenting with the contrast or sharpening settings
before they are printed out, and they are just as out immediately before printing. Badly prepared images on your digital camera – it’s much better to leave them
2 SKILL BOOSTER intolerant of errors and sloppy workmanship. Despite the will never print out properly and will never show the on low or turned off altogether.
5 comprehensive rescue tools available in the digital fine details and sensitive colours present in the original Finally, if you are ever in doubt about your sensitive
workflow, once an image has been badly processed and image file. In camera aliasing, filters cause a drop in image-enhancing skills, make sure you duplicate the
2 TIME TO COMPLETE re-saved, the quality has gone forever. This tutorial takes image sharpness and, in turn, help to minimise the size background layer you are working on, leaving your
10 MINUTES PER
IMAGE
you through the five key stages of image processing: of colour palette used to render the image. original image untouched.
2 NEXT MONTH
IMAGE PROCESSING Follow these steps to clean up and sharpen an image before you
More useful photo fixes
print it out – a bit of preparation makes all the difference…
? EXPLAINED
PIXEL
The basic unit of a digital image.
A pixel is a single block or tile
of colour.
CLIPPING GROUP
THE RAW FILE AVOID THE AUTO FIX ANALYSING THE
A special group of layers whose
bottom layer 'clips' away layers
01 Transferred directly from the camera and 02 It’s tempting to fire off the Enhance8Auto 03 LEVELS HISTOGRAM
above it. opened in Elements, the raw file looks flat Contrast command if you want to see quick A better way to alter image contrast is to
and lacks the vivid colour of the original scene. The results, but your image will lose quality immediately. use Levels, found under Enhance8Adjust
TRANSPARENT PIXELS greens should be varied and bright and the blue sky Shadow areas will start to spread out and there may Brightness/Contrast8Levels. The black mountain
Have no colour, you can see right
looks muddy. These problems are easily rescued using be highlights where you least expect them. With this shape of the histogram shows peaks at the shadow
through them.
the Levels dialog. example, the sky has become too bright. and midtone end, but little at the highlights.

Check out some very handy tips on taking and making better
4
BETTER AUTUMN autumn photos at www.kodak.com/US/en/digital/
PHOTOS dlc/techniques/archive/autumn.jhtml
0 ONE-CLICK FIX
TIM DALY
ON ELEMENTS 2
USING THE QUICK
FIX COMMAND
A useful addition to Elements II is
the Quick Fix dialog. With all
common adjustment tools
presented in a one-stop shop,
you can easily make your raw
images better with a before and
after preview. This is ideal if you
are new to digital photography
SETTING HIGHLIGHTS CORRECTING BRIGHTNESS AUTO COLOUR CORRECTION because you can easily undo
04 AND SHADOWS 05 Next, make the image brighter or darker 06 Once image brightness is set correctly, you mistakes or revert to your
There’s a decent black shadow already, so using the Levels midtone slider. Move it to can turn your attention to colour balance. original file.
the first step is to set new highlight point. Pick up the the right to make your image darker and to the left to As with the Auto Contrast command, the Enhance8
triangular slider at the far right of the Input Levels and make it brighter. You can also enter numerical values Auto Colour Correction command has made things
move it left until it sits at the foot of the black in the centre blue Input Levels text box. This image worse with a red cast visible in the midtone areas. A
mountain. If you go too far, pull it back to the right. was brightened slightly from 1.00 to 1.10. much better option is the Colour Variations dialog.
BETTER COLOUR CONTROL IMPROVING COLOUR SATURATION FINE FOCUS

07 Enhance8Adjust colour8Colour Variations 08 Washed-out colours can be enhanced using 09 The final stage in the fixing process is to
gives you better control over colour change. the Saturation slider. Do Enhance8Adjust tweak image sharpness before printout.
Make sure the Midtone option is selected and reduce Colour8Hue/Saturation and move the saturation to Don’t use the pre-set sharpening filter on a digital
the Colour Intensity from its default midway position. the right. Don’t go beyond +10 for this adjustment, or camera, as it can’t be removed once an image has
This image, taken in early morning, was bluish, so the your image will look posterised and overcooked. Don’t been recorded. This example shows an unsharpened
Decrease Blue thumbnail was clicked once. touch the Lightness slider, or you’ll get a crude result. image with blurred detail and soft edges.
? EXPLAINED
ALIASING
A grid of square pixels makes a bad
job of describing curved shapes and
lines. Aliasing was invented to
reduce the visible jaggy lines or
THE SHARPEN MORE FILTER THE UNSHARP MASK FILTER READY TO PRINT staircasing effects in digital images
10 Surprisingly, Photoshop Elements has four 11 A much better option is the USM filter, with 12 The end result is brighter, cleaner and more
and works by reducing contrast at
shape edges. All digital cameras
sharpening filters, designed to increase variable controls for the quantity and range like the original scene. Badly prepared have an anti-aliasing filter fixed in
contrast at shape edges. This gives the impression of of sharpening. A good starting point is Amount 100, images look even worse after printing because inkjets front of the sensor to minimise this
increased sharpness, but it can be taken too far. This Radius 1.0, Threshold 1.0. Any more than this and can’t cope with excessive shadow areas or highlights. effect, but with a loss of image
example shows the destructive effect of two you’ll start to cause damage, especially if your raw file As your picture is perfect, any colour imbalance in the sharpness and contrast.
applications of the Sharpen More filter. was saved in camera as a low quality JPEG. print should be tackled using the printer software.

TUTORIAL PHOTOSHOP & ELEMENTS TOOLS
YOUR GUIDE SIMON DANAHER
Simon Danaher is a digital artist specialising in Photoshop,
compositing and 3D. He is also a consultant, trainer and
author. Simon has been working professionally in the
graphics industry for over six years, and is currently writing
his second book on professional graphics techniques
letters.dcm@futurenet.co.uk PORTFOLIO SIMON DANAHER
Getting the most

out of Layers
Layers enable you to unleash the power of Photoshop's image-editing capability,
Simon Danaher shows you how to use them to their full potential…
P
hotoshop is the pre-eminent digital document or open an image file, Photoshop presents Photoshop's control centre. It's where the layered
TUTORIAL retouching, editing, colour-correction and you with a single layer: the Background layer. This is a structure of your document is displayed and modified.
KEY DETAILS painting tool. Elements is rapidly becoming layer unlike any additional ones you might add (though Visually, the Layers Palette is simple to understand.
2
the same for the home user. It's the ideal you can convert it into a normal layer if you wish). Layers are added in the palette from the Background
ON OUR CD
accompaniment to any digital darkroom, and it runs on New layers can be created in different ways. You can layer upwards, so opaque portions of upper layers
Use our trial of Photoshop 7 to
explore the techniques here both Mac and Windows PCs. At its heart is the concept create a new, transparent layer by clicking the New obscure layers below them.
of layers. Layer button at the bottom of the Layers Palette; Layers have three components: image pixels,
2 SKILL BOOSTER Layers are like a stack of clear celluloid sheets, onto duplicate an existing layer by dragging it onto the New transparent pixels and layer masks (and, in Photoshop 6
4 which you can paint, copy, paste, adjust, clone and so Layer icon; or copy and paste a selection from another and 7, an additional forth component – vector masks). In
on. Any changes made on one layer will not affect the layer. In all these cases, Photoshop adds an extra sheet this tutorial we'll look at what these components do,
2 TIME TO COMPLETE layers above or below it. When you create a new to the pile. You can think of the Layers Palette as and how you can make the most of them.
30-45 MINS
2 ELEMENTS LIMITATIONS
None THE BASICS In this quick overview of basic layer functions, we show you how to create a
new layer, add some text and edit an image
2 NEXT MONTH
Cloning, healing explored, plus
Elements 2 trial on our CD
8 8
? EXPLAINED
PIXEL
The basic unit of a digital image.
A pixel is a single block or tile of colour.
CLIPPING GROUP OPEN AN IMAGE CREATE A NEW LAYER DUPLICATE IT

A special group of layers whose 01 Launch Photoshop (try the trial on our CD) 02 Now, create a new layer using the menu 03 To delete the layer, drag it to the trash icon
bottom layer 'clips' away layers or Elements and open an image. The command Layer8New8New Layer, or by at the bottom of the Layers Palette. Now
above it.
document contains a background layer containing the clicking the New Layer button at the bottom of the create a duplicate of the image by dragging the
image pixels. Notice that we can't alter the Layers Palette. We can paint on this new layer, or background layer onto the New Layer icon. This
TRANSPARENT PIXELS
Background layer's Opacity slider or its visibility (the create some text and it won't affect the pixels in the enables us to edit the image pixels in the duplicate
Have no colour, you can see right
through them. 'eye' icon). image below. Notice that we can alter this layer's keeping a duplicate for safety. In this example we've
opacity and visibility. used the Clone tool to remove some of the tableware.

Do you need Photoshop? You can do all the techniques mentioned below in Elements
4
LAYERS IN and Elements 2. With the new Layer styles in Elements 2, the reasons for spending
hundreds of pounds on Photoshop 7 are disappearing – unless you’re a professional who
ELEMENTS needs to produce CMYK files. See our Elements 2 review on p42-43 for more details…
* WEB LINKS
USING LAYERS Making use of layers gives you flexibility when you are editing digital images. Follow
our nine-step walkthrough on how to modify a portrait using layer techniques [w]
[w]
www.adobe.com
www.arraich.com
/elements/psE_intro.htm
[w] www.arraich.com
/ps_intro.htm
8 8
OPEN A NEW IMAGE SELECT THE IMAGE MOVE AND FILL

04 Now we’ve got simple layer usage 05 We want to crop the image to make a
06 Move the selection by dragging with the
under our belt we can move onto some family portrait (without the breakfast in arrow keys. Invert the selection by typing
more complex stuff. We are going to work on a view) and create a frame vignette. Before we commit command/control-shift-i. This means that everything
simple portrait that we intend to modify using various to cropping, add a new layer, then make a selection outside it is selected. This is filled with white
; READ ON
layer techniques. using the Elliptical Marquee tool. (Edit>Fill... and choose White from the pop-up menu).
HOW TO CHEAT AT
PHOTOSHOP BY STEVE CAPLIN
8 8
CROP TO CREATE A BORDER FILL IN ANY GAPS LOCK IT

07 With the vignette layer selected in the Layer
08 Fill in gaps with white using a rectangular
09 Lock the transparency and add a new layer
Palette we can use the Move tool (V key) to selection. At the top of the Layers Palette to the stack. With it above the vignette
Published by Focal Press
adjust its position. Once we’re happy with the position, there are buttons next to the word 'Lock:'. With the layer, alt-click on the dividing line between them in ISBN 0240 517 024
we can switch to the Crop tool and crop the image so vignette layer still selected click the first one. We can the Layers Palette. The new layer is indented in the Price £24.99
that it leaves a bit of a border. fill this layer with colour, without losing the ‘hole'. palette and a small arrow appears next to it. Website www.bh.com/focalbooks
A handy collection of quick image

editing techniques by the well-
known illustrator. Check out some
sample tutorials from this book in
our sister magazine PCFormat.
8 8
? EXPLAINED
ADVANCED USES/
FEATURES
GROUP LAYERS CHOOSE A PATTERN OVERLAY THE PATTERN Layers have many different controls
10 This is a way to group layers in Photoshop 11 Type Edit8Fill... and chose a pattern. Use 12 Select the pattern layer, then choose and options. Double click a layer to
access the Layer Options palette.
called a Clipping Group. Now if you fill this the ribbed pattern that comes with Overlay from the pop-up menu at the top
This large palette contains controls
new layer it will respect the locked transparent pixels Photoshop. Although it gives texture to the frame, of the Layers Palette. We can still easily change the for advanced blending and masking
of the layer below it – in other words, the 'hole' will we've lost the colour. Luckily layers can be blended so colour of the vignette layer and the pattern will amongst other things.
remain even though the layer is actually fully opaque. that they affect those beneath in different ways. overlay it.

TIPS PAINT SHOP PRO 5
YOUR GUIDE NICK MERRITT

Nick has edited, managed or launched some of the UK’s leading technology
magazines, and has been writing about and using computers for longer
than he wants to admit
nick.merritt@futurenet.co.uk WEBSITE www.futurenet.co.uk
Your complete guide

to Paint Shop Pro 5
TIPS GUIDE You don’t need thousands of pounds to become an image-editing whiz – just Paint Shop
KEY DETAILS Pro 5 and this guide to getting the best from it
2 ON OUR DISC
Yep, it’s the full, no-holds-barred,
P
aint Shop Pro (PSP as its fans like to call it) is simple task can be a struggle. Paint Shop Pro, on the easy ways to get your snapshots onto the screen; and
complete version of Paint Shop
Pro 5, one of the ‘big three’ probably the most popular piece of home other hand, makes things simple for you. selections and masks. So let’s get started…
image editors image-editing software in the world, with It’s been around for more than ten years, and in that
Find it on the front of this mag more than 20 million users. time it’s been tweaked and honed to become the Restoring old or damaged pictures
2 SKILL BOOSTER
And thanks to the free version on our coverdisc,
hopefully a few more too.
friendliest yet most powerful graphics-manipulation
program for home users that budget-conscious users
■ Adjust the overall gamma of an image in order to
bring out more detail in the shadows.
8 It’s an ideal package for retouching images, creating can buy. ■ Use gamma rather than just brightness to keep the
web graphics and animations, and jazzing up your tired Paint Shop Pro 5 brought the program into the relative weights of highlights, mid-tones and shadows.
2 TIME TO COMPLETE old photographs. mainstream and secured its popularity. Packed with Go to Colors8Adjust8Gamma Correction…
2 HOURS But hang on, what about Photoshop? Although

professionals swear by Photoshop, it’s not intended for
features yet a doodle to use, it’s full of possibilities, and
over the next four pages we show you how to restore
■ Make sure Link is ticked and tick the Auto Proof
option, so you can see any changes you make in real
2 NEXT MONTH
Discover our essential
beginners, and figuring out how to achieve a seemingly old or damaged pictures; red eye removal; quick and time on the main picture.
collection of tips, techniques

and skill boosters for Adobe
TEXTURES
Photoshop 5.5
It’s easy to apply textures to your photographs to simulate the effect of grainy
paper for example. Here’s how
PAINT SHOP PRO 5
TOOLBAR
Here’s a quick guide to the
tools mentioned on the
following pages. To
8 8
rearrange the toolbars, drag
the handles at their left-
hand ends.
8 Selection
8 Mover
8 Freehand
8 Magic Wand
OPEN A PATTERN ADD THE TEXTURE …OR USE LAYERS INSTEAD
8 Paintbrushes 01 You can use patterns to add texture to a photo. 02 Switch to the photograph and use Masks8 03 You can achieve a similar effect using layers.
8 Picture Tube Open one of the .tex files from the Papers
folder and save it under a new name. Use Colors8
New8Hide All to create a mask that obscures
it. Select Masks8Edit so you’re working on the mask
Instead of creating a mask, add a new layer to
the photograph. Set its Blend Mode to Multiply and pour
8 Flood Fill Negative to make it predominantly light, and increase the rather than the image, then click anywhere with the in the pattern, then knock the Opacity back to about 40
8 Text
contrast slightly. Select Flood Fill, then select the texture as
the pattern source.
Flood Fill tool. The photo reappears, looking like it’s been
printed on rough paper.
per cent. Other Blend Modes produce different effects –
why not experiment?

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FREE TUBES AND BRUSHES OFFICIAL JASC SITE
4
3 QUICK http://mardiweb.com/web/ for articles, tips and PDFs http://autumnweb.com/Roxys/Tubes/ www.jasc.com kindly agreed to us covermounting
WEBSITES for download – very useful 2RoxysTubes.html for a good selection Paint Shop Pro 5, so visit and check out PSP 7
LAYERS There’s so much you can do with layers – the walkthrough below is only a simple guide
but it’s enough to get you started TIPS GUIDE
RESOURCES
Looking for more tips
and ideas? Dive into the
following websites…
Paint Shop Pro Users Group

http://pspug.org
A huge site and one of the
originals, the PSP Users
Group features an enormous
amount of info, including
tutorials, reviews, forums,
SELECT THE SKY INVERT THE SELECTION FEATHER IT competitions, plug-ins, help,
01 One great use for layers is to replace skies in 02 Choose Selections8Invert so that the selection
03 Choose Selections8Modify8Feather… and
advice and, well, just about
everything you could want.
your photos, with better ones. To make the sky is enclosing the statue. Use the Rectangle or feather by three pixels. Load the new sky
interesting here, use the Magic Wand to automatically
select the sky behind the statue, clicking and adding until
Circle selection tool – hold down [Ctrl] as you remove the
area from the selection, until you have just the statue
image and, in the statue picture, choose Edit8Copy.
Switch to the new sky image and choose Edit8Paste
2
the entire background is selected. itself selected. 8As New Layer.
PSP Tutorial Links

www.psplinks.com
You want tutorials? It’s got
tutorials. At least, it has links
to just about every tutorial
site on the web, organised
into categories such as
Animation, Digital Painting,
and so on.
MOVE STUFF AROUND CORRECT EACH LAYER AS YOU WANT MORE ABOUT LAYERS
04 The statue is floating as a layer in front of the
05 You can toggle layers on and off, adjust their
06 Layers are a powerful tool – try adding more JASC
www.jasc.com/learncenter.asp?
sky. Move it around using the Mover tool. Go to opacity (transparency), group them and layers to the image; the best way to JASC’s (PSP’s developer)
View8Toolbars and tick the box next to Layer Palette to change their blend mode (how they’re drawn on layers understand their power is to experiment. There’s more site has a reasonable
collection of beginner
see the two layers listed. underneath them). about layers on pages 76-77. tutorials, together with
resources and hints for photo
image-editing, web graphics
and art creation. Many are
■ Move the sliders – the shadows reveal more detail ■ Try the Despeckle filter (Image8Noise8Despeckle) if as is comfortable to get a good look at the eye, biased towards Paint Shop
when you increase the gamma. Set it to a value that you want to try to get rid of spots on the image. while keeping the other normal size for reference. Pro 7, though.
looks good without washing out the picture too much. ■ Use the Clone Brush if you need to remove light ■ Make a new layer by choosing Layers…8New, and
■ Most scanned pictures benefit from a little flare. Copy and paste from nearby parts of an object then click OK to create the layer. Now choose the eye- 2
sharpening. Go to Image8Sharpen8Unsharp Mask... to try to recreate the proper look. This takes time dropper tool and select a colour from a normal-coloured
Tick Auto Proof and play with the strength until the and a lot of experimentation – fiddle with the brush part of the pupil.
image looks better. Don’t overdo it, because too settings and be very delicate with your strokes. ■ Choose the paintbrush tool and select a very small
much sharpening makes extra noise. ■ The retouched area probably looks much smoother size brush from the controls – it may even be only
■ Most scanned pictures benefit from a little sharpening. than the rest of the image. No problem – use the one pixel big. Now carefully brush over the red areas Scanning tips
www.scantips.com
Go to Image8Sharpen8Unsharp Mask… (the filter that Selection tool, choose Circle, and make a selection round in the eye, watching the result in the unzoomed Although scanning is
gives most control over sharpening). Tick Auto Proof the area. Now go to Image8Noise8Add… and apply a image. Reselect colours as needed to match the simple, there’s a lot of
tips and tricks you can use
and play with the strength until the image looks better. bit of uniform noise to the selection area. brightness of the pupil. to improve your results –
Don’t overdo it, because too much sharpening makes ■ Remove any stray bits using the eraser tool. When and this site is the bible
extra noise. Red-eye removal you’re satisfied, choose Layers8Merge All (Flatten) to for everything scanworthy,
with an enormous amount
■ Use the gamma function to lighten a picture up ■ Make a copy of your picture by choosing the add the layer to the picture. Save it under a different of excellent theoretical
and reveal some details in the shadows Window8New Window menu. Zoom into one as far name to the original, so you always have a copy. 8 and practical info.

TIPS PAINT SHOP PRO 5
ONE-CLICK FIX If the shapes you draw aren’t quite right, try using a font instead. ‘Shapes’ fonts are available for free download at www.astigmatic.com
SELECTIONS The selection tool is your basic tool within Paint Shop Pro 5. With it you can mark
out basic shapes and regions within an image
BASIC TOOL DRAGGING IT USING IT

01 Enables you to mark out rectangles, squares, 02 Dragging the selection has the same effect as 03 Try using a pattern fill to create a document full
ellipses, circles. You can combine them to cutting and pasting it – you end up with a hole of dots. Select the white background with the
create more complex shapes – hold down [Shift] to add to in the picture. To move a copy of the selected area, float it Magic Wand, then invert the selection. Use Selection, Save
the current selection, or [Ctrl] to remove. (using Selections, Float) before you drag. to Disk to save the outline in a .sel file.
Working with images

8
■ The Magic Wand selects adjacent pixels of similar selection twice, but it makes it easy to remember
■ Use the Window8Duplicate command (or press colour, hue or brightness. Adjust the tolerance to what’s in the .sel file.
TOOLS 2 [Shift]+[D]) as soon as you start to work on a new

image. That way, you’re working on a copy of
your original, so if you accidentally save, you still
increase or decrease the range of colours it grabs.
■ Don’t set the Magic Wand too high – you’ll have
more success if you use a moderate tolerance and
■ Masks are greyscale images that conceal parts
of the underlying image. Black areas are opaque,
white areas are see-through and grey bits are
Paint Shop Pro 5 always has
the right tool for your job have a backup to start over with. [Shift]-click to add more pixels. something in between.
■ On a smaller display, things can get pretty crowded ■ You can use the Freehand tool to tidy up your shape. ■ You can use a grey background and fill an expanded,
8 Crop with all the toolbars open at once, so close the ones Sometimes it’s easier to select the things you don’t feathered outline with black. Fill the original outline with
This simple tool
will become your you don’t need very often (such as the Histogram want. Use the Magic Wand to select the background, white to complete the mask.
best friend. It display). You can always open them again later using then reverse the selection using Selections, Invert. This ■ Switch to the document you want to transform
simply enables you to select an area
the View8Toolbars… command. trick is also useful when you want to apply an effect and go to Masks8New8From Image. Select the
of the image and discard the rest.
Drag out a rectangular area, adjust ■ The toolbar (top), tool palette (left) and colour outside a boundary. mask document from the drop-down list and click
the edges by dragging them as you palette (right) don’t have to stay where they are; ■ To move the selection outline on its own, switch OK to place it over the image.
wish, then just double-click to crop.
you can drag them to any area of the screen and to the Mover tool, hold down the right mouse ■ To edit the mask, select Masks8View and Masks8
resize them however you like. What’s more, they button and drag. Edit, then use the painting tools to make changes. To
8 Magic Wand always float in front of your picture and don’t get ■ To produce instant Op Art, use Selection, Load make the effect permanent, go to Masks, Delete, Yes.
Great for lost behind it. from disk to reactivate dots.sel. Invert the selection, ■ To see the result of your efforts, go to File8
automatically
selecting large ■ Use the View8Image Information… menu set the background colour to white and press Preferences8 General8 click Transparency and set
areas of a similar command to get a one-stop collection of handy [Delete]. Strictly speaking, you don’t need to invert the Grid Colors to None. ■
colour. Just select the colour you information about your picture, including its
want, then click in an area. You can
resolution, how many layers it has, how big it will
adjust its tolerance using the controls
palette, to be more or less sensitive. print, and the amount of memory it’s taking up. You TOP TIP Using the right file format
can also assign copyright information here.
8 Retouch
A quick and easy
way to selectively Selections and masks Paint Shop Pro 5 supports all the major file formats, which means it’s
apply various
■ To give the selection soft edges, go to Selections, compatible across the range of image editors
handy effects such
as lightening, darkening and Modify, Feather and enter a number. You’ll end up with
softening. Just choose the effect a border of semi-transparent pixels that gradually fade As well as its .psp format, Paint Shop Pro can save LEFT JPEGs use
you’re after from the controls palette
menu and then paint it on.
out to a see-through edge. in all major formats. a type of
■ Feathering is useful when you’re pasting an JPEG makes the smallest files at the expense of compression that
image onto a coloured background or trying to make quality (although you can vary the settings averages out
8 Picture tube seamless joins. depending on how much space you have), and is certain areas of an
An extremely
powerful little ■ Use the Freehand tool to draw round irregular shapes. best for the web. image, producing
tool that can It doesn’t matter if your first attempt isn’t perfect – hold PNG (.png) is great for the web if the image ‘artifacts’ like
automatically
down [Shift] or [Ctrl] and draw round the pixels you doesn’t have too many colours. these. This is why
draw a set of images as you move
the brush around. We’ll come to want to add or remove. TIFF (.tif) or Targa (.tga) are great for high-res, they’re unsuitable
this in more detail later, but for ■ Select Antialias to smooth the edges of any high-colour images. If you are manipulating files for top quality
now you can experiment with the
preset images and modes using the
curves. It’s best to feather the selection afterwards, for printing, use TIFFs. print work
controls palette. once you’re happy with its shape.

…PAINT SHOP PRO 7 …PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2 … ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 7
4
PAINT SHOP PRO 5 Includes vector graphics for drawing and specific tools Superior layer control and fully compatible with Adobe Different weight class of image editor, so comparisons
VERSUS… for digital photography enthusiasts Photoshop. PSP 5 is a much smaller install though are a bit unfair. Still the best though
WWW.PSPIZ.COM/ T ADD TO FAVOURITES
2SHORTCUTS PLUG-INS So many plug-ins, so little time… but is what’s on offer right for you? Here’s our
pick of some of the best, plus where to get them
Ten PSP shortcuts No need to
delve into those menus…
Save [Ctrl]+[S]
Resize [Shift]+[S]
Rotate [Ctrl]+[R]
Full screen preview
[Shift]+[Ctrl]+[A]
Zoom [G]
Crop [R]
Eye Dropper [Y]
Magic Wand [M]
Eraser [E]
Text [X] EMBOSSWORKS MEZZY EDGEWORKS
01 www.cybia.co.uk 02 www.cybia.co.uk
03 www.cybia.co.uk
There are 20 different plug-in filters for A set of 15 different filters that add a Yet more from Cybia, this time a set of 20
producing various embossing effects, in addition to the mezzotint or screen-style to an image. As with all Cybia filters that produce different edge effects. These can be
ones already provided with PSP5 here. All manner of filters, you can alter various parameters for an amazing used to add a stylised print and Pop Art look to anything,
effects are available. number of combinations. à la Andy Warhol.
SIMPLE FILTERS FILTER FACTORY ADRENALINE

04 www.btinternet.com/~cateran/
05 http://showcase.netins.net/web/
06 www.v-d-l.com/adrenaline.html
simple/#qt wolf359/plugins.htm A mix of freeware and inexpensive
A bunch of simple filters that do one particular thing. You Home to an astounding number of filters and plug-ins. commercial plug-ins, such as Old Movie, which turns your
can’t alter any of their parameters, but useful if you need Each set includes numerous abstract and more concrete image into just that. NightVision, for example, simulates
to do something complicated. effects – it could take hours to see them all. those army infra-red goggles – nice.
CLONING Need to remove some lurkers from your holiday snaps? Time to wheel out the
clone brush and get scrubbing
REMOVING A PERSON ZOOM IN ON HIM SELECT SOURCE AREA TIDY UP

01 That yellow-shirted guy to the
02 …and select Clone Brush from
03 Move the clone brush and it
04 We might as well get rid of
left of the picture is slap the tools palette. Bring up the replaces the area under the everyone else, using the same
bang in the way and distracting from the controls palette and choose a brush. cursor with the source area you chose. method. Take your time, and with a little
main subject – as is often the case with [Shift]+click on an area of nearby beach to Select a new source area by [Shift]+clicking judicious cloning, you can empty an area
holiday snaps. Let’s remove him, using the set the clone source, then start brushing from time to time, so you don’t get a of people to keep your subject the centre
Clone Brush. him out. repeating pattern. of attention.

What is it? Motion blur is most often found in sports photography and can add dynamism and
TUTORIAL IMAGE EDITING
4
WHY YOU’LL LOVE movement to still shots. Can my camera do it? To get the best effects you need to be able to control
THIS TECHNIQUE the exposure settings. Can I get around it? See our tutorial below…
YOUR GUIDE SIMON DANAHER

Simon is a digital artist specialising in Photoshop, compositing and 3D.
He has been working professionally in the graphics industry for over
six years, and is writing a book on professional graphics techniques
BEFORE & AFTER A STILL SHOT BECOMES DYNAMIC
How to add movement

to your digital photographs
Create motion blurs in an image, using the motion blur tool in Elements. Simon Danaher shows you how
T
he Radial Blur filter in Elements and Photoshop of the image towards the edges are blurred more than will appear blurred. As you can imagine, this is pretty
TUTORIAL
can be used to simulate the effects of motion the centre, and the results can be both dizzying and tricky to get right with either a traditional SLR or digital
KEY DETAILS blur. Radial blur in Spin mode creates the dramatic. If the subject is also rotating while you twist camera. Digitally it's simple, but it does take some
2 IMAGE EDITORS
YOU CAN USE
effect of rotating the camera with a slow exposure: parts the camera it will appear unblurred, but the background preparation work to get a good result.
Use either Adobe Photoshop

or Elements (as we have here)
to reproduce the effects
mentioned on this page
2 SKILL BOOSTER
6
2 TIME TO COMPLETE
50 MINUTES
OPEN YOUR IMAGE CREATE A LAYER SELECT THE CLONE TOOL TAKE LOTS OF SAMPLES
01 In this image we want to add 02 Duplicate the image by 03 There is a sneaky way to get 04 To use the Clone tool, alt-click
? EXPLAINED
some movement. It would dragging the background to the around this, though. If we first where you want to sample
have be nice if the girl had actually been New Layer button in the Layers Palette. If edit a copy of the image so that there is from – in this case, the window behind the
rocking and we'd followed her when we we try to do the trick of blurring one layer no girl in the background, then we can girl. Go carefully, and take lots of sample
CLONING
Copying pixels from one part took the picture to motion blur the and erasing the unblurred one we won’t blur away without getting a smear. Select points. As you progress you'll have a
of an image to another using a background. But we didn't, so we’ll use get the result we want because the girl's the Clone tool and begin to clone out the bigger area to sample from, which will
brush-like tool. motion blur instead. image will be smeared in the background. girl from the duplicated layer. make it easier.
RADIAL BLUR
A blur filter that progressively blurs
pixels around a point.
STACK
The stack of layers in an Elements
document that are viewed in the
Layers Palette.
@ SEND ’EM IN! 05

SWITCH TOOLS
Remove a large section from 06
NOW IT’S BLUR TIME
After a while this is what we 07
APPLY THE FILTER
With the filter applied to the 08
TWEAK UNTIL HAPPY
If there's too little movement
Try out the techniques in this article the top so you can stop using end up with. Not perfect by any cloned-out duplicate on the girl and chair, rectify this
then send us your pictures. We’ll
@
the Clone. Switch to the Marquee tool and means, but good enough for our purposes. background, make another copy of the by duplicating the original image again
print the best each month. Email us
drag to select an area of window. To add the motion blur, apply Radial Blur original background layer and move it to and applying Radial blur. Move it to the top
at the following address:
Command/control-alt-drag to copy the (Filter8Blur8Radial Blur) set to Spin mode the top of the stack. Use the erase tool to of the stack and use a large brush to erase
picdesk.dcm@futurenet.co.uk selection. It doesn't have to be perfect and move the centre to the bottom near rub out the background, making the everything but the parts of the blur we
because it will be blurred later. the base of the rocking chair. blurred-on show through. want to show through.

What is it? Depth of field is a photo technique often used to blur the background so objects in the
4
WHY YOU’LL LOVE foreground jump out of the picture. Can my camera do it? Many cheaper ones don’t have the controls.
THIS TECHNIQUE Can I get around it? Yes, we show you how to use an image editor to blur the background instead
FIND OUT MORE
;
SEE OUR DEPTH OF
BEFORE & AFTER SUBJECT STANDS OUT MORE FIELD TUTORIAL ON
PAGES 86-87
How to recreate a depth of field

effect with a low-end camera
Are your snaps looking a bit flat? It’s easy to simulate depth in your photos with a bit of image-editing creativity. Here’s how…
D
igital image editing can help to add a traditional SLR such as varying the exposure, shutter to add in those much needed depth effects.
TUTORIAL
photographic techniques that would otherwise speed and f-stop. A typical use for depth of field is to separate the
KEY DETAILS require a more expensive digital camera. Only However, using image-editing applications such as subject of the picture from its background. In this tutorial
2 IMAGE EDITORS
YOU CAN USE
the more expensive models give you the full features of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Elements can enable you that's just what we'll be doing.
We’ve used Elements here but

Paint Shop Pro (on our disc)
and Photoshop all support this
handy technique
2 SKILL BOOSTER
4
2 TIME TO COMPLETE
30 MINUTES
RUN THE PROGRAM CREATE A LAYER SELECT THE OBJECT CHECK PROGRESS
01 Our test image here already has 02 By selectively filtering the 03 Use the Polygonal Lasso tool 04 ...but if you turn off the visibility
a minor degree of depth of image we can increase the blur and select along the right, top of the background layer by
field blur, but a lot of cameras won't allow of the background so that the foreground and left sides of the image, plus roughly clicking the Eye icon, we can see what has
you to change the settings to vary the subject stands out more, and attracts the around the table and girl. Select the happened and where we’re up to. Simply
depth of field if you want a stronger effect. eye better. Duplicate the background layer duplicated layer and hit Delete to erase the repeat the procedure outlined in the
Enter Adobe Elements, which makes it by dragging it onto the New layer icon in pixels. Nothing will appear to happen in previous step to cut out the fiddly sections
easy to blur selected parts of an image. the Layers Palette. the picture… under her arms.
? EXPLAINED
LEVELS
A tool in Photoshop and Elements
used to adjust contrast and
brightness in an image.
GAUSSIAN BLUR
A filter that is used to blur
pixels in an image. It is named
BLUR THE LAYER SELECT THE DEGREE ERASE ANY ROUGH BITS TWEAK THE FINAL IMAGE
after the mathematician, Carl
Friedrich Gauss.
05 Make another copy of the 06 OF BLURRING 07 In fact, even if we make a 08 The results are very good using
background layer. This lets us Adjust the slider in the Gaussian more accurate selection there this method, but you can try
POLYGONAL LASSO practice with blurring while saving the Blur filter to achieve the amount of will probably still be an edge visible. The some other effects, too. Try changing the
A selection tool that uses a series original copy. With the new layer selected blurring you want. Click OK to accept the best way to deal with this is to paint it out blurred layer's blending mode or applying
of straight segments (a polygon) in the Layers Palette and no selection result of the filter and apply the blur to the using the Eraser tool. Use a medium, soft- Levels (command/control-l) to adjust its
to make a selection. active (command/control-d), apply layer. The result is good but the rough edged, brush and carefully erase the brightness and contrast for the best
Gaussian Blur (Filter8Blur8Gaussian Blur). selection is a problem. unblurred surround on the cut-out layer. possible quality.
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TECHNIQUEQ&AGETSTARTED
100% authoritative
Your camera
Expert guides to taking better pictures
CAMERA TECHNIQUES
O
ne of the joys of digital begin with, the results will be well
photography is discovering worth the effort. And when you do ■ CREATIVE DEPTH OF FIELD P86
how easy it is to view your take a photograph you’re particularly Take control over your image
images on the LCD screen after proud of, email it to us at sharpness with depth of field.
taking them, and deleting the ones gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk and we’ll CAMERA TECHNIQUES
that haven’t worked. print it in our Eyewitness section. ■ PERFECT EXPOSURE P88 FURTHER INFO or tool in depth, so you have a
But if you have a relatively decent Also check out our monthly Q&A Get your camera exposure Quick ways to clearer understanding of the key
camera – one costing upwards of £450 section on page 90, where we’ll do our right the first time. get more from concepts described.
the technique or project that is
– there’s the opportunity to do much best to solve your camera and PHOTO HELP under consideration. EXPLAINED
more. Many useful and dramatic photography problems. We’re
■ Q&A P90 Any tricky jargon and
photographic effects are within your interested in all sorts of problems, from All your camera and image- WALKTHROUGH concepts are
reach, accessible via the camera technical questions to image-editing editing queries answered! We don't just describe explained in more detail here.
controls. We’ll show you how to queries. Please send us a technique; we show
FIRST STEPS
achieve them. your questions to help.dcm@ you how to do it step by step. SEND EM’ IN
■ GET STARTED WITH DIGITALP94 We want your
Each month we’ll show you a couple futurenet.co.uk, and we’ll do our best
Why you’ll love digital – IN DETAIL contributions! Please
of key techniques, how they work, to tackle them within our pages.
taking, displaying and sharing Here's where we talk send in your suggestions, article
what they do and how you And don’t worry if you’re new photos has never been easier. about a particular idea ideas, tutorials, pictures and more.
can use the same effect in your to digital photography because
own photography. we’ve included a ‘get started’ guide in
This month we look at depth of field this issue. Turn to page 94 to Your experts
and exposure. Don’t be put off if these find out why you’re going to love Our photography writers are here to help
topics seem a little complicated to digital photography…
TIM DALY
Tim is a lecturer on photography and is the
author of several best-selling books about
CAMERA TECHNIQUE CAMERA TECHNIQUE Q&A
digital photography and image-editing
techniques. His work has been exhibited
around Europe.
AIDAN O’ROURKE
Aidan has contributed to the Manchester
Evening News and has been using digital
photography for years. He’ll be answering
P87 P90 your technical and photographic questions
every issue.
GET STARTED GET STARTED
4
CONTACT OUR TUTORIALS TEAM

If you have a comment, suggestion, idea or
submission you would like to make, please email us at the
following addresses:
P86 P94 P95 ■ For technical help/problems: help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk

■ For submissions to our gallery section: gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
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complete package
■ For suggestions, ideas for articles: editor.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
■ Talk about the magazine and our tutorials with other readers:
Our mission is to ensure that our tutorials every tutorial ■ Clear visit our website at digitalcameramagazine.co.uk
bring you creative ideas, expert techniques, ■ Valued added Our large page size means we can add
tips and quick fixes you can use in your Where possible, we include image files, extra elements, explanations and detail to
own work. and full or trial software so you can try each tutorial

TECHNIQUE USING YOUR CAMERA
YOUR GUIDE TIM DALY

Tim has written several books on photography including The Digital Photography Handbook, The
Digital Printing Handbook and The Desktop Photographer, and he continues to write for The
British Journal of Photography and AG. His photographs have been exhibited across Europe
To take control of your image sharpness, you need to get to grips with depth of field.
Tim Daly shows how it’s an easy way of improving your photographs
D
ABOVE Professional etermined by your lens aperture setting and millimetres to infinity. To use this technique, you need to
photographers use both your proximity to the subject itself, depth of control the aperture.
shallow and deep depth of field is unique to photography. When looking
field to emphasise their around us, the human eye focuses so quickly on Aperture and depth of field
subject matter to make much subjects at different distances that we hardly notice any The aperture is a variable-sized circular opening inside
more memorable images transition. In fact, we are blissfully unaware that we your camera lens used to moderate existing light levels
can’t keep sharp focus on a close-up object and the for a successful exposure, and it also determines depth
FAR RIGHT This image shows a distant background simultaneously. of field. A typical lens has an aperture range like f2.8, f4,
sweep of sharpness from With photography, however, you can create an image f5.6, f8, f11 and f16.
foreground to background that presents more information to the human eye than In terms of controlling exposure, an aperture of f2.8 is
achieved with an aperture of happens in reality. the widest and lets in the most amount of light. At the
f16 and a focus point set at a Depth of field is a photographic term used to describe f16 end of the scale, the aperture is at its narrowest and
third of a way in the range in which two objects at different distances lets in the least amount of light. In depth of field terms,
look equally sharp, and can be varied from a matter of f2.8 produces the shallowest result with little sharp

If you are interested in the long lens techniques used in sports photography, then visit the NEXT MONTH
4
FURTHER professional sports photography agency, Empics, on www.empics.co.uk. Click on the sports fans 2 THE LENS
AND FOCUSSING
INFORMATION section and see if you can figure out how these great shots were taken
RIGHT The same photograph was taken twice using

different aperture values. The image on the left was
shot at f4 and shows a noticeable background blur.
3 IN DETAIL
The other image was shot at f16 and shows a much EXIF INFORMATION
more distracting background A much under-used feature of
digital photography playback is the
photo information captured with
your image file. This panel of
detail beyond your chosen subject. At the f16 setting, settings is recorded and stored
sharper detail is rendered both in front of, and beyond, with most digital images and
your main subject. can be previewed on the
On budget digital compacts there’s usually a reduced camera LCD, or in your image
set of apertures to choose from, such as f4 and f11. On browser after transfer to your
PC. The photo information records
better compacts this will extend to five or six options,
the vital aperture and lens
with a full range available on the top-price SLRs. focal length settings so you
Aperture values are usually accessed via a can tell exactly how a depth of
thumbwheel or menu on the rear of the camera body, field effect was created. This image
but can only be selected in manual or aperture priority was shot with an aperture of f3.3
exposure modes. In auto and other programme modes, to create the characteristic blurred
out background.
7 the camera meter decides on an appropriate aperture

value to generate a correct exposure, without taking
than five metres away will record with a similar level of
sharpness as the furthest parts of the scene.
your depth of field wishes into account. The aperture
priority exposure mode lets you take control of depth of Focus points
field and leaves you to select a shutter speed. Especially important when focussing at close range is a
The other factor in creating depth of field effects is third factor: your exact point of focus. A common
your distance from the main subject. If a landscape mistake when shooting portraits is to focus on the
image is divided up into foreground, middleground and nearest part of your sitter, usually the tip of the nose,
background, then it’s important to realise that you can’t which can leave the eyes slightly unsharp. Instead, pick
separate objects lying in the same plane with shallow the nearest and furthest parts you want sharp, then
depth of field effects. As subjects get further into the focus one third of the way in.
background, it becomes harder to assign sharpness to Depth of field doesn’t remain constant throughout the
1 one element and not the other. For mid-range zoom far-reaching landscape and close-up photography. As you
lenses found on most digital compacts, anything more get closer and closer to your subject, the effective depth
of field diminishes until it can be reduced to a matter of
? EXPLAINED
LEFT This advanced SLR has a thumbwheel selector millimetres – even at maximum f16. If you want to IMAGE DETAIL
for setting lens aperture values just beyond the capture detailed images at close range your small In addition to affecting depth of
shutter release. The current aperture, f5.6, is apertures will force you to use slower shutter speeds field, aperture values also have a
displayed in the LCD on the top plate than normal, and necessitate the use of a tripod. bearing on the amount of fine
detail recorded. A lens recording the
sharpest detail best of all if it's set
to the value in the middle of the
FOCUS POINTS As depth of field extends both in front of, and behind, your point of
focus, it’s essential to pick the right spot to gain the best results
scale. On a lens that ranges from
f2.8 to f22, the sharpest results will
be produced at f8.
CAMERA MODES
For many photographers, the
aperture priority exposure mode is
popular because it lets you take
control of depth of field and leaves
the less crucial task of selecting an
appropriate shutter speed to the
camera itself.
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SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD TELEPHOTO LENSES WIDE-ANGLE LENSES Try out the techniques in this article
01 02 03 then send us your photos. We’ll
@
This effect is used to blur out a distracting Used by wildlife and sports photographers, this The nature of a wide-angle lens is to push
background and allows a greater emphasis to creative effect can only be made using ultra subjects away from the photographer and this
be placed on the main subject. This is created by selecting long telephoto lenses and won’t work on subjects sitting example shows how an extensive depth of field can be
a large aperture like f2.4 or f4 and framing your subject in the background. Compact users will need to invest in a created from a nearby object to monuments several gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
tightly in the viewfinder. digital SLR camera. hundred metres away.

TECHNIQUE USING YOUR CAMERA
How to get
perfect exposure
Despite the convenience of rescue tools found in image editing applications, there’s no
substitute for getting your exposure right first time. Tim Daly reveals how
C
ABOVE Contrary to your orrect exposure is achieved through the right function is to enable the photographer to shoot
expectations, white subjects combination of aperture and shutter speed, photographs in widely different lighting conditions. The
will always be recorded and makes a world of difference to your final ISO scale sets the sensitivity of the image sensor and
darker than you perceive image quality. Every digital camera has a built-in light works in an identical way to ISO speed in conventional
them. Snowy landscapes sensitive meter, which is used to determine all auto film. At low light levels, a higher ISO value like 800 is
will record grey and muddy exposure functions and, on more advanced cameras, the best selected, so the sensor can operate with less light
if you leave the camera to manual exposure readout in the viewfinder. than normal.
judge exposure. Light Light meters can only respond to the brightest values At bright light levels, a smaller value like 200 is set.
meters attempt to turn in your subject, regardless of their size, shape and On basic digital compact cameras, the ISO value is fixed,
bright whites into a darker colour, which means they can be fooled by everyday but better models have a selection of different values
shade of grey and need to situations. A perfect exposure results when the such as 100, 200, 400 and 800.
be fooled for better results photographer guides the meter into capturing a balance Once your sensitivity has been set, then the right
of highlight and shadow detail. Too much or too little combination of aperture and shutter speed is sought to
light will have a profound effect on image detail, tone make a good exposure. The aperture is in your camera
and colour reproduction. lens and is essentially a hole of varying size designed to
let more or less light reach your sensor.
Aperture, shutter speeds and ISO Apertures are a uniform size on all cameras and
These three independent variables are entirely conform to an international scale described as f numbers
interlinked and when one is changed, another needs to like f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, f11, f16 and f22. At the f2.8 end of
be changed to compensate. In addition to the creative the scale, an aperture is at its largest and lets in the
consequences of using these scales, their primary most amount of light available. At the opposite end of

Go along to the exposure section at Say Cheese www.saycheese.com/simplesteps/camera_ NEXT MONTH
4
FURTHER basics/Exposure.asp for information on how light meters work, tools to lock in exposure, 2 SHUTTER SPEEDS
AND MOVEMENT
INFORMATION exposure distortion and exposure compensation
3 IN DETAIL
the scale, such as f22, an aperture is at its smallest and
PROBLEMS WITH EXPOSURE lets in the least amount of light. To accompany the
aperture scale is the shutter speed scale, again designed
in a standardised range, but in fractions of a second THE EXPOSURE
How to recognise, and what causes, underexposure and overexplosure such as 1/1000th, 1/500th, 1/250th, 1/125th, 1/60th, COMPENSATION DIAL
Most good digital compacts and all
1/30th, 1/15th, 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2 and 1s. At the
SLRs have an additional exposure
1/1000th end of the scale, the shutter remains open for control called the exposure
HOW TO RECOGNISE short time, but at 1/2 second, the shutter remains open
01 UNDEREXPOSURE for longer.
compensation switch. Identified by
the ‘+/-’ symbol, this can be used
Underexposed images are dark, lack detail to counteract lighting situations
and have muddy colours. With severe examples, so Metering systems which would otherwise fool your
light meter. It works by allowing
little light reaching the sensor cells has caused bright There are three common metering systems used in
more or less light to reach your
red or green error pixels called noise. On the histogram, digital cameras. Centre weighted on the left, matrix in
sensor as follows: to increase
the pixel count is high towards the left-hand side the middle and spot metering on the right. exposure, use the + settings (for
describing the large quantity of black or dark grey Most digital compacts use the functional rather than example, +0.3), and to decrease
pixels present. foolproof centre weighted metering. Centre weighted exposure, select the – settings (for
metering works by making an exposure judgement example, –0.6). Each whole
HOW IT’S CAUSED based on subjects that are placed in the centre of the number represents a difference of
02 Underexposure occurs when too little light viewfinder. This is perfectly adequate for centrally placed
one aperture value, commonly
referred to as a stop.
hits the camera sensor and causes dark compositions, but can come unstuck if you intend to
8
images with muddy colours. Underexposed images can frame your subjects off-centre.
be rescued by imaging software, but excessive changes The much better matrix or segment metering system
will result in the sudden appearance of random is designed to cope with the greater demands of more
coloured pixels and a deterioration in image quality. adventurous photographers. It works by taking individual
Underexposure frequently occurs when shooting in brightness readings from the four quarters of your
low light on automatic exposure mode, as the cameras frame, plus an extra one from the centre. These five
shutter speed range may not extend beyond a few readings are then averaged out into a single exposure
seconds. A common cause of underexposure when reading, resulting in a better balance.
using flash occurs when the subject is further than five The more complex spot metering system takes a
metres away, as the small burst of light is too weak to reading from a much smaller area, typically the tiny
reach out to distant subjects. centre circle superimposed in your viewfinder. Useful for
getting accurate light readings from skin tones or other
HOW TO RECOGNISE small and precise elements of a composition, a
03 OVEREXPOSURE successful spot reading will emphasise this over other
Overexposed images are bright, have little
detail and very washed out colours. In extreme cases,
less important parts of your image. ? EXPLAINED
so much light reaches the individual sensor cells, Where to take your readings STOPS
that it spills over and influences adjacent cells, resulting The camera meter never knows which is the most A stop is a photographic term used
to describe a single shift along the
in a spread out effect called blooming. Overexposed important part of the image. It can only respond to
exposure scale. The term is derived
images display a strong pixel count in the right-hand variations in brightness so you have to trick the meter
from the series of different aperture
half of the histogram. into behaving differently. With so many different levels settings which were traditionally
of light reflecting off objects, the best exposure is a changed on the camera lens.
HOW IT’S CAUSED trade off between recording simultaneous detail in both With each shift up and down the
04 Too much light makes pale and low contrast highlights and shadow areas. scale would be accompanied
images with burnt out detail which can not Most good digital compacts have an exposure lock by a recognisable click stop,
hence the term stop. When
be rescued by software trickery. Digital cameras rarely button located close to your shooting hand, or accessible
analysing exposure or the
encounter overexposure when set to automatic when the shutter is half-depressed. Exposure lock quality of processed images,
exposure mode, but it can still occur if too high an ISO enables you to take meter readings from the important professional photographers refer to
value, such as ISO 800 is selected under bright lighting areas of your image, save the reading then recompose variations in brightness using ‘stop’
conditions. The commonest cause of overexposure with before shooting. as a key term.
8
digital compacts occurs when using flash to light a

nearby subject. Camera histogram
Close-up flash can still be too much light for a small All digital SLRs and quality compacts offer the benefit of
aperture value to cope with and will cause image a Levels histogram where an image is played back on
highlights to white out. On fully manual mode the rear LCD preview monitor. If you find it hard to judge
overexposure is caused by selecting a very slow shutter if your image file is overexposed, check its histogram.
speed or a large aperture. The histogram shows the quantity of pixels on the
vertical scale together with their brightness values along
@ SEND ’EM IN!
LEFT You can see the difference between an the horizontal scale. At the left-hand end of the graph Try out the techniques in this article
then send us your photos. We’ll
@
underexposed and correctly exposed picture here. The there is the shadow point with the highlight point set at
top tree’s foreground is too dark because the the opposite right side. As each image is recorded, it’s
photographer hasn’t compensated for the brightness possible to judge exposure by looking at the histogram.
of the sky. See opposite for more details on how to If this function is not available on your camera, it can be gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
get this right accessed via the Levels dialog in your image editor.

PhotoHelp PORTFOLIO AIDAN O’ROURKE WEBSITE WWW.AIDAN.CO.UK
Got a question about cameras or images? Send your emails today to help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk and Aidan will do his best to help!
YOUR GUIDE AIDAN O’ROURKE
All your camera

Aidan O’Rourke is a freelance
photographer who has been
questions answered
Send us your camera and image-editing queries and Aidan will do his best to help
2
working with digital imaging and
photography since 1994. He image capture stage by placing the top corners up and out makes the may be the fault of the camera, the
created ‘Eyewitness in Manchester’ building within the upper half of the rectangle even again. This is what we do operating system or the computer the
(part of Manchester Evening
HOW DO I CORRECT frame, and cropping off the lower half at image manipulation stage – see the operating system is running on.
News), the largest online source of
CONVERGING VERTICALS? later on. walkthrough below. If the camera is new, then the chances
2
photos and information about IMAGE EDITING If you’re too close or don’t have a are the fault lies with the computer
Manchester. He’s currently running ■■ INTERMEDIATE wide-angle lens, then you’ll need to aim hardware or software. Doing a clean
seminars on digital photography I’ve heard that I need to correct the camera up, which will give you install of your operating system, and then
around the country
Q converging verticals on converging verticals.
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD re-installing the software supplied with
photographs of buildings. Why is this These can be corrected at image
PHOTOS FROM the camera may solve the problem.
[seminars] necessary and how do I do it? manipulation stage using the Distort tool. MY CAMERA? There may be a hardware problem –
www.aidan.co.uk/seminars/ Ian Yates Before we do this, let’s try to understand PC USE try using the USB port with another
index.html exactly what we are doing. A building ■ BEGINNER device. Or there may be a conflict
Photographs of buildings generally captured with converging verticals I’m having problems between the version of the camera
A look more pleasing to the eye appears on the canvas as a rectangle
Q downloading photos from my software you’ve been supplied with and
when vertical lines are vertical or nearly with a shortened upper side. camera to my computer running the OS you’re using – check with the
vertical. The problem is, in order to What we need to do is stretch the Windows XP. I’ve tried everything but manufacturer’s website or email it.
include the building within the frame, we canvas at the top to restore the shape as nothing seems to work. Another option is to use an external
often have to aim the camera up, so that close as possible to an even rectangle Philomena Dare card reader (some printers have them
the building appears to be leaning back. with vertical sides. Imagine the canvas built in). They’re cheap, simple, compact
If you are using a wide-angle lens, it’s is made of rubber stretched out on a There may be a number of and sometimes do the trick, even if a
possible to avoid converging verticals at frame with extendible sides. Pulling the
A reasons why this is happening. It camera connection doesn’t work.
2 ANSWERED! 2HOW TO FIX CONVERGING VERTICALS

IMAGE EDITING If your image-editing program has a Distort or Transform function, fixing verticals is easy
Converging verticals . . . . . . . . .90
Picture resizing . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
PC USE
Downloading to Windows . . . .90
Improving scan quality . . . . . . .92
CAMERA USE
Cropped images . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Flash photography . . . . . . . . . .91
Fuji’s xD card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Auto controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 We are looking up at the Select the rectangle, Here we can see that the We can now crop the
Hot pixels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Field of view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
01 derelict mills of Ancoats 02 apply Distort and drag the 03 verticals are more or less 04 completed picture – we
in Manchester. The upper corners upward properly aligned. There have lost some picture
MEDIA verticals are pointing inward and the and outward. Using a vertical may be slight curvature due to the information at the edges, but the
Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91, 93 facade appears to be narrowing reference line we can tell if more effect of your lens, but this isn’t arrangement of forms looks more
Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
towards the top. Distort is needed. overly noticeable. pleasing to the eye.

8
WEBSITE REVIEW www.canon.co.uk
Ease of use: unlike Nikon’s dark, flash-driven website with sound effects, Canon’s
site is an all-white affair with a standard layout
Content: the site has details on current and forthcoming cameras, and talks about
the company’s Kyo-sei philosophy of ‘working together for the good of everyone’
Verdict: we find the simplicity and lack of gratuitous Flash appealing
2
HOW CAN I SOLVE THE
2 HOW AND WHEN TO CROP A PICTURE
You don’t need to rely on the good sense of your local photo processing lab
0 EXPERT TIP
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
PROBLEM OF LACK OF
DETAIL IN MY PRINTS? 1 Avoid red-eye by using a flash
that’s as far as possible from the
IMAGE EDITING lens. This, of course, depends on
■■ BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE the camera you’re using but
I’ve tried resizing my photos generally the further away and
Q and printing them out, but they
preferably above, the better.
are completely lacking in detail. What 2 Switch on as many room lights

have I done wrong? as possible – this will have little
Tim Scott effect on the lighting in the
picture, but it will help to close
It sounds like you may have This photograph of Ile des Embiez, on the the pupils of your subjects’ eyes.
A resampled the photograph down south coast of France, was captured at 4 x 3
aspect ratio. To print it at 6 x 4 inches (3 x 2 3 Don’t use the flash if there’s
to a small size rather than changed the aspect ratio) we will have to crop the top available daylight, it may well
display size. and bottom of the photograph. The extra
turn out better but you will need
shaded border indicates the area that might
Here we are dealing with the thorny be cropped when the photo is printed. The to hold the camera steady.
subject of resolution and print size – one bottom edge of the nearest yacht is cut off –
of the most misunderstood concepts in perhaps it might be better to crop off a 4 Do use the flash in very bright
wider edge at the top of the photograph sunlight. It can fill in shadows
digital photography.
and make faces look better.
When measuring the size of digital This photograph of the cathedral in Marseille was captured at 4 x 3 ratio. To print at 3 x 2 we
photographs, there really is only one sort need to crop off part of the image. Here I’ve chosen to crop off the redundant lower edge. 5 Use an external flash without
of measurement that’s important, and Unfortunately, cropping at print stage may cut into the left-hand cross – we will have to see
a synch cable. It can only be
how it comes out but, next time, leave a bit more sky at the top!
done in very dark conditions
2
when the camera’s auto
Printing services often crop We encountered this problem when exposure settings leave the
A photographs, removing a strip off we made a 6 x 4-inch print of a picture
shutter open for a long exposure.
Turn off the on-camera flash,
all four edges. captured using a popular digital camera.
HOW CAN I AVOID A more serious problem may be a Most digital cameras use an aspect ratio
point at the subject – hold the
external flash above your head –
CROPPING OFF mismatch between the shape of the of 4 x 3 (that is, computer screen aspect fire the shutter, and then
MY PRINTS? window or frame used at image ratio), but the smallest standard print immediately after it, the external
CAMERA USE capture to the one use at printing stage. format uses an aspect ratio of 3 x 2 (the flash. Examine the result. If over-
■BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE Cameras use many aspect ratios, same as 35mm film). If you don’t want exposed, reduce the flash
When we select Image8Image size to change intensity and keep trying!
I often find that parts of my ranging from panoramic to square. blank borders, then you have to crop.
the display dimensions of the picture, the Q photographs are cropped off If you capture an image using one If the picture was originally 1,200
resolution of the file is already set at 72
pixels per inch, giving a print size of 22.223 when I send them to be printed. aspect ratio and wish to display it using pixels wide and 900 pixels high, you’ll
inches wide. The obvious thing to do is change
Please could you tell me why this another, then you have two choices: need to crop the picture at the top
the print size to 8 inches, but as the Resample
Image box is checked, Photoshop will resample happens and is there a way round either include the entire image with and/or at the bottom reducing it to 800
the image down, losing 85 per cent of the the problem? blank borders or crop it so it fills the pixels. See our print techniques article
picture information
Jeremy Bowman new frame size. later on.
that is the pixel dimensions. A digital cameras produce images that have a size down from large screen size to
photograph is a certain number of default setting of 72 pixels per inch (ppi), small print size, and this is where many
pixels wide and high. Many digital which is the resolution of the average people go wrong – they reduce the
cameras produce pictures at 1,600 x computer monitor. display size but keep the resolution
1,200 pixels. The size you display the At this resolution, our picture will fill at 72ppi.
image is up to you. If you’re making a the entire screen area of a large size The computer, being the dumb
digital print, then 200 pixels per inch 1,600 x 1,200 pixel monitor, which is machine that it is, will then resample the
will give you good results. approximately 22 x 16 inches – far too image from 1,600 x 1,200 pixels (5.5-
First we need to uncheck the Resample Image
box. Now when we change the print dimensions This resolution gives a print size of big to fit inside the dimensions of an 8 x megabytes) down to 576 x 432 (just
to 8 inches, the file is left unchanged, and the 8 x 6 inches. A problem lurks on 6 print. under three quarters of a megabyte)
print resolution is set to 200 pixels per inch. The
picture will print correctly
screen when preparing the image We need to change the picture throwing away over 85 per cent of the
6
for printing because most digital dimension settings and shrink the display picture information!

PhotoHelp
Got a question about cameras or images? Send your emails today to help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk and Aidan will do his best to help!
The solution is to change the display

? EXPLAINED size without resampling the image. You DEALING WITH AUTO-EXPOSURE
1 It was a cloudy and overcast day when I
completely white but 4 the fountain and
water surfaces were still a little dark, but
can do this in Photoshop, but it’s
FUJI’S XD PICTURE CARD important to make sure you don’t check
took this photograph in central the exposure was usable
WHAT IS IT? Birmingham using the Nikon CoolPix 990 5 I selected the top part of the first
The Fuji xD picture card is a new the box ‘Resample image’. set to monochrome image capture. First I photo and pasted it onto the second
type of Flash memory card that When you change the display size, aimed the camera towards the sky to photo applying a graduated fill in black to
is considerably smaller and you’ll see the resolution jump to 200ppi. capture the clouds, but 2 the foreground darken the clouds a little more.
lighter than existing cards. It was too dark to use. 6 I didn’t need to do much to the
That’s now the resolution (resolution is
was released in mid-2002. 3 So next I aimed the camera at the foreground. All the main details were
pixel dimensions divided by display size – darker foreground – the sky came out clearly visible
HOW IT WORKS: 1,600 divided by 8 = 200 pixels per inch).
Similar to other Flash memory Wouldn’t it be great if, when printing
2
cards, the xD picture card is an image, the software automatically override them. Can you please tell me may be under unusual lighting conditions
used to store image data
adjusted the resolution to the print size? how I can do this? or for creative work – roughly 20 per cent
produced by a digital camera or
other image-capturing device. Oh, and if it automatically adjusted the Jane Fu of the time for many users.
Inserted into the camera, it acts landscape and portrait settings to save a HOW CAN I OVERRIDE The more expensive cameras have
as the camera’s memory – the lot of wasted paper, too. AUTO-EXPOSURE? Auto-exposure is a marvel of manual over-ride, but if your camera
equivalent to film. The The more intelligent software CAMERA USE A camera technology, the result of doesn’t have this facility, it is still possible
difference with the xD picture ■ BEGINNER
card is that 0.79 x 0.98 x 0.07
packages already do this but, for the rest years of development work by talented to exert your control and get the camera
of us, the solution is to understand My digital camera has R&D teams. But there are times when to do your bidding, not the other way
inches it is much smaller than
existing cards and has a resolution. We’ll talk more about this in
Q automatic controls only, but we’d rather dump the auto-exposure round! Auto exposure controls are
higher capacity – or at least it another issue. there are times when I want to technology and use manual settings. This generally adjusted for the average, but
will have a higher capacity in
future. Currently cards are
2 IMPROVING SCAN QUALITY

available at 16, 32, 64 and
128Mb. 256Mb cards are
reported to be shipping later in
2002. The card will feature
faster read/write speeds and Even with scanning, there are ways to ensure your results are the best possible
lower power consumption.
DO I NEED IT?
The card is an integral part in a
number of new Fuji cameras, so
if you’re buying one of them,
2HOW CAN I IMPROVE THE QUALITY
8
you will be able to try it out for
yourself. PCMCIA and CF Card
OF MY SCANNED PRINTS?
Adapters will be available, so PC USE
you will be able use a Fuji xD ■ BEGINNER
card in your existing camera.
Whenever I scan a print I’m disappointed
But why would you want to
do this? Since an 8Gb capacity
Q with the results – the colours are muddy and
isn’t available – and won’t the picture lacks sharpness. Is there anything I can
be for some time – there isn’t do to improve the quality?
a compelling reason to change
Dawood Al-Turiman
to xD. This picture of a tram in St Peter’s Square in Manchester has This is the same picture scanned from the negative using a film
been scanned from the print. The automatic settings on the scanner. The colour is much closer to how it looks in real life –
OUR VERDICT The answer is not to scan prints, but to either
It’s great to see innovation and A use a film scanner or to have your film
machine have made the print far too light, and there is a brown
colour cast. Shadow and highlight detail has been lost
there is far more detail. It’s the same photograph, but how
different it looks when the two scanning methods are compared
improvement in performance, scanned by some of the excellent scanning services
but no matter how good the
technology is, unless it satisfies
that are available. lose information. In the case of a print from a information. We may not realise that it’s a bad copy
an urgent need, it is unlikely to Despite advances in digital camera technology, negative, it’s possible to lose over half the picture of a negative or slide – after all, the film is too small
take over as the standard. film remains an excellent medium for the capture information – bright and detailed clouds burn out to for our eyes to read and you’re unlikely to be able to
and storage of picture information. It doesn’t matter patches of white, shadow detail is reduced to a dark make sense of a negative.
whether the film is colour or monochrome, negative pool of black and sharp edges are softened. The problem starts when, often using a low-cost
or slide. If the colour balance isn’t right because the flatbed scanner, we make a copy of what is already a
A high-resolution film scanner will extract an chemicals haven’t been topped up correctly, you lose rather ropy copy.
enormous amount of information from the film and colour information. The best way to see the difference is to compare
turn it into digital format. So why bother making a print? Well, a print an image scanned from a print on a flatbed with one
A print is a copy of an image on film. In the contains more than enough picture information for scanned from film. The answer is clear – always try
analogue world, every time you make a copy you our eyes to extract and we tend not to notice the lost to scan from film!

8
FANSITE www.panoguide.com
Ease of use: the work of London-based photographer and IT professional James
Rigg, the layout of this site is simple, unsophisticated and easy to navigate
Content: the site provides comprehensive and independent information about
making panoramas, particularly QTVR panoramas
Verdict: good stuff
2UNDERSTANDING FIELD OF VIEW

many routine pictures have characteristics
that fall outside the average, such as a ; READ ON
bright sky and a dark foreground. The
average exposure is often below the
PHOTOSHOP 7 KILLER TIPS How to handle areas too big for your lens…
correct level for the sky, so it comes out
white, and above the correct level for the
foreground, so it comes out dark. In this
case, we can manipulate the camera and
get it to do our bidding.
To expose correctly for the sky, aim
the camera at the sky, lightly hold down
the shutter, reposition it and take the
shot. To expose correctly for the dark
foreground, aim the camera down, and
do the same. We now have two pictures
that can be merged into one in image Published by New Riders
editing later (see the box left for more ISBN 0735713006
details on this). Price £30.99
Buy from www.amazon.co.uk
Many cameras have auto-exposure
compensation. However, if you’re aiming Who it’s for: expert Photoshop
at a dark subject against a light users looking for time-savers
background, then you can set the What you get: lots of tips and
compensation to the plus setting, making techniques from well-known
American Photoshop expert Scott
it overexpose, and vice versa. Apart from
Kelby. It focuses on getting things
switching off the flash, there’s not much done faster to a high standard.
you can do to manipulate the auto-
exposure settings, so if you really want to
take control, then it may be an idea to camera’s internal electronics. On longer
get a higher specification camera. exposures, you’ll notice more of these This is a composite image consisting of seven overlapping shots. I have managed to
2
pixels. More recent digital cameras have include the whole facade within the frame, but you'll notice that it appears to curve round.
This was the result of the changing angle of the lens as I moved it from left to right
a noise reduction mode, but the problem
is still there. In bright conditions with
HOW CAN I GET RID OF
2
short exposure times, the problem of hot cheap at well under a £100. Sounds Using the wide-angle teleconverter with
THE TINY SPOT? pixels is less but, as in this case, there great, but there are problems with the Nikon CoolPix 990 I have managed
CAMERA USE to capture the full width of Lyme Hall,
may be a persistent offender – usually in barrel distortion and chromatic Cheshire, but there is curvature
■■ INTERMEDIATE one position.
WHAT CAN I DO aberration at the edges. It simply isn’t
When I look at my digital I usually sort out the problem of ‘the
TO WIDEN THE FIELD possible with a cheap screw-on lens of
Q photos, every image has a tiny phantom pixel’ manually by using the OF VIEW? this type to achieve the quality of a
spot on the right-hand side. What is cloning tool in Photoshop (create an CAMERA USE 35mm SLR lens.
this and can it be fixed? Action to take care of particularly ■■■ EXPERT At smaller sizes, or on web pages,
Ian Harris persistent problems). As part of my job I often have you won’t notice the lack of quality, and
There’s also a shareware program that
Q to photograph buildings but I the lens is small and easy to carry
The so-called ‘hot pixel’ is can cure the problem. You can find it at find that the lens on my Nikon round. If you want to preserve image
A probably generated by the www.tawbaware.com CoolPix digital camera isn’t wide quality, it may well be better to move Moving back and to one side enables us
enough to take in the full width of further back. We have been known to to capture the full width of the house,
but the effect isn't satisfying
the building. I don’t have the budget get our feet wet in a canal.
for a digital SLR. What can I do? If you want to include the whole of
Lochlann Coggin the building and use your camera’s
built-in lens at its best, then that’s the
The Nikon CoolPix series has a only easy option.
A set of screw-on lenses, including Or you can take a panorama. Holding
a wide-angle (0.66x) converter. the camera vertically, take a series of
This turns a standard lens at its overlapping shots. Then simply stitch
Here is the offending pixel, generated by the If you try to do a time exposure on many digital widest setting, equivalent to 35mm, them together in an image editor like
cameras, you get the ‘sky at night’ effect. The Looking from the other side of the pond
camera's electronics. It's small but annoying.
If there's just one, then it can be cloned out level of noise is low, but noticeable (see the into a 24mm lens. It’s surprisingly Elements or Paint Shop Pro. gives us a classic shot, with a reflection
fairly easily. right-hand side of the picture).

FirstSteps DISCOVER HOW YOUR CAMERA WORKS, PLUS PRINTING AND SCANNING
Email us your questions and we’ll help if we can. Contact help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk today!
Get started with digital

Taking, sharing and displaying photographs has never been easier. Thanks to digital cameras, you can do
what you’ve always done – but better. Jeremy Gray explains why you’re going to love digital photography…
■ No more waiting: you can see – and check – your ■ Editability: you can do things with digital images
* WEB LINKS
igital cameras are getting better and cheaper
EPHOTOZINE
D all the time. If you’ve been holding out for
the right time to switch to digital, you’ve held
photos straight away.
■ On-the-spot editing: if you take a photo that goes
that would be next to impossible in a traditional
darkroom environment.
www.ephotozine.com
out long enough! wrong, you can bin it before you take another ■ Convenience: you can print just the pictures you
An online magazine aimed at both So what’s so great about digital cameras? A whole list ■ Image quality: 35mm still offers the potential for want and store a collection of hundreds on a single CD,
beginners and more experienced of things. We look at these in more detail over the next higher quality, but less so with time – we explain why which means they’ll never fade or get damaged.
users, with lots of reviews, tutorials
four pages, but they boil down to the following things: later on in this article ■ Simplicity: you don’t even have to own a PC to use a
and tips.
■ Running costs: you’ll never have to buy another film ■ Photographic control: digital cameras offer digital camera or display your images, thanks to high
ever again. photographic control such as different exposure modes street ‘developing’ services that can output your digital
■ Foolproof operation: reliable auto-everything. and sophisticated metering systems photos onto photo paper.
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FRONT BACK INSIDE
CAMERA BASICS: FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND

PHOTOEXPERT
www.photoexpert.co.uk There’s little basic difference between conventional and digital cameras
Website run by scanner and printer
maker, Epson, offering professional
■ Flash: as with 35mm cameras, just about all digital cameras come with a built-in
photographers’ portfolios and digital
flash. This is connected to the exposure circuitry inside the camera so that the flash
photography tips.
exposure is handled automatically. There are usually several flash modes, including
automatic (the flash fires when needed), flash off, flash always-on, red-eye reduction
(a series of brief pre-flashes that makes your subjects’ irises contract before the main
flash) and slow sync (to balance flash with ambient lighting).
■ Viewfinder: like 35mm compact cameras, digital cameras come with separate
viewfinders that work in just the same way. You compose the image in the
viewfinder and press the shutter button. But with digital cameras, you can also
compose the image on the colour LCD panel on the back, as we shall see…
■ Lens: just like a traditional camera, digital cameras need a lens to focus the light
into an image. Cheaper digital cameras come with a fixed focal length lens; while
more expensive models come with a zoom. The focal lengths of digital camera lenses
are much shorter than those of 35mm cameras because they’re focussing the image
on a smaller area, but the angles of view are similar. Indeed, digital camera zoom
ranges are often quoted in terms of their 35mm camera equivalents.

0
0
0
FRONT BACK INSIDE
CAMERA BASICS: HOW EVERYTHING WORKS

The main difference between digital and conventional cameras lies in the way
light is captured, and images are stored
■ Viewfinder: the viewfinder (usually referred to as the ‘optical’ finder to
? EXPLAINED
distinguish it from the LCD panel on the back) does not show you the photo as
seen by the taking lens, so there may be some positional difference (‘parallax
error’) with nearby subjects where what you see in the viewfinder doesn’t quite
match what the camera takes. However, the optical viewfinder doesn’t consume KNOW YOUR
battery power (the LCD panel does), and it can be easier to use in bright daylight, MEMORY CARDS
because of lack of glare. Instead of film, a digital camera
uses a memory card. These come
in distinct flavours and sizes:
■ CCD: this is the heart of a digital camera. It’s a light-sensitive electronic chip CompactFlash
that records images as a series of minute, individual dots of colour – pixels. Seen CompactFlash is the
from far enough away, these pixels merge to form a photographic image. The most widely-used
digital image recorded by the CCD when you press the shutter button is saved to memory card
the memory card immediately, ready for you to take the next picture. format. Measuring
42mm x 36mm, CompactFlash
(CF) cards are just a few mm thick.
They come in a variety of
■ Memory card: where traditional cameras store images on film, digital cameras capacities, from 8Mb (Megabytes)
store them on memory cards. Memory cards come in different sizes that hold to 1,000Mb. The number of
different numbers of images, depending on the camera. Once you’ve transferred images you can store depends on
the images to your computer, you can wipe the memory card clean and use it the capacity of the card and the
again, repeating this process indefinitely – digital photos cost nothing to take! A resolution of the camera.
typical memory card can store 16-30 images depending on the image quality you Prices: 16Mb £15; 128Mb £66.
want, but bigger memory cards are easily available.
SmartMedia
SmartMedia cards
are a little smaller
0
0
than Compact
FRONT BACK COMPOSITE Flash. Like CompactFlash, they
come in sizes of 8Mb right up to
256Mb, though 128Mb is the most
CAMERA BASICS: HOW YOU USE IT readily available maximum size.
Prices: 16Mb £11; 128Mb £70.
View pictures on the LCD screen at the back of your camera
Memory Stick
■ Video features: an increasing number of digital Memory Sticks are a
cameras offer a ‘movie’ mode. In this mode, they proprietary format
■ Navigation controller: digital cameras are used by Sony. There are long, and
shoot short movie clips of 20-60 seconds or
more sophisticated than film cameras. They will a similar thickness to CompactFlash
so (depending on the capacity of your memory
often have more advanced photographic controls, cards. They come in sizes from
card), sometimes including sound. These movies
and you need to be able to control the playback of 8Mb to 128Mb.
can then be transferred to your computer for
images on the CCD. Many of these options are Prices: 16Mb £30; 128Mb £90.
editing and playback. The picture and sound
controlled by menus displayed on the LCD screen.
quality won’t match that of a proper camcorder,
To help you move around these menus and play
but on the better digital cameras the quality is still Secure Digital
back images, digital cameras offer a four-way
controller on the back panel.
surprisingly good. (SD/Multimedia card)
Secure Digital (SD) cards
are growing in
popularity among
camera manufacturers.
■ LCD: the LCD screen on a digital camera has a ■ Other buttons: digital cameras usually offer a
The smallest of all the cards, these
number of functions: when you’re taking pictures, selection of buttons on the top plate and/or the back.
come in a range of capacities from
it can display the images as seen by the CCD – in Typically, there will be buttons for switching flash
8Mb to 512Mb. Again, there’s little
other words, through the camera lens itself; it mode, focus mode (autofocus/infinity/macro) and
operational difference between SD
displays images already stored on your memory exposure compensation (for difficult subjects or
cards and any other, but
card when you enter playback mode; and it lighting conditions). You’ll also find a button for
CompactFlash and SmartMedia are
displays the menus needed to set up your digital ■ Mode dial: this incorporates the on/off switch, set-up mode, switching the LCD panel on and off, and another for
more widely-used standards.
camera’s photographic options record/playback, exposure modes and movie modes. displaying the menu system.
Prices: 16Mb £20, 128Mb £135.

FirstSteps
Email us your questions and we’ll help if we can. Contact help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk today!
? EXPLAINED
RESOLUTION
One of the most important
WORKING WITH YOUR PC Taking pictures with your digital camera is only the beginning.
Your computer is the real hub of your digital photography system
specifications to look for in a digital
camera is its ‘resolution’, measured ■ CD-writer: essential for transporting
■ Monitor: this is often the weak link in any
in megapixels. We’ve explained large numbers of digital photos – CDs are
digital photography setup because manufacturers
elsewhere how digital images are cheap enough to buy, so you don’t have the
tend to supply low-cost budget models as part of
made up of arrays of tiny pixels, worry of sending valuable items through
PC systems. You need a good-size screen to
and the more pixels in your image, the post, or not getting your discs back.
start with – 17-inches is a bare minimum, but
the finer the detail it will display. They’re also ideal for backing up or
19-inches is better. You also need a good quality
screen. Look out for flat-screened Mitsubishi archiving your photos. Remember, digital
MEGAPIXELS DiamondTron and Sony FD Trinitron models camera images have no physical form, and
Megapixels means ‘millions of (many independent makers use these tubes). if your hard disk fails and you don’t have
pixels’, and it’s the total number of backups, they’re gone for good.
pixels used by the CCD. For
example, a camera with a CCD
that saves images measuring ■ PC: the faster and newer your PC, the
1,800 pixels x 1,200 pixels will better it will be at handling high-
be a 2.16 megapixel (1,800 x resolution digital images. Any PC or
1,200) camera. laptop with a 1GHz processor or faster
The higher a camera’s will be fine. If you’re running Windows
resolution, the more you can Me, 128Mb RAM will be okay, but if
enlarge its images before the you’re using Windows XP, you really need
individual pixels become visible and 256Mb minimum. A good-size hard disk
the image starts to break up. A 2- is handy – we suggest 40Gb minimum.
megapixel camera is about the
bare minimum for snapshots;
3-megapixels is a starting point
for enthusiasts; 4-megapixels is a
good compromise between quality
and price; and 5-megapixel
cameras represent the peak.
IMAGE SIZE
If you lack space on your memory
card, you can adjust the size of the
images as you take them, to fit on
more or fewer images. To pack
more shots onto your memory
card, you need to reduce the size of
each image, sacrificing quality.
Conversely, to get the best possible
image quality, you have to
increase the image size, so you
can fit fewer images onto your
memory card. It’s up to you – but
your camera makes choosing the f you own a PC, you have the option to use do this is up to you. To print, one option is to take your CDs full of images for a rainy day. The advantage of using
appropriate setting simple.
I an image-editing program to remove any
flaws, errors or blemishes from your freshly-
memory card to Jessops, Boots and so on, who will then
output your photos onto photographic paper – in a similar
your PC for archiving purposes is that you always have a
fresh, as-good-as-the-day-it-was-taken backup of a
taken pictures. Or you can use the program to take the way to the old developing process. treasured picture, which means if your printed version
individual pictures and create new compositions from If you have a decent colour printer of your own, you starts to fade with time, you an always dig into your
them – it’s up to you. (We’ve covermounted Paint Shop can print them yourself. There are lots of options for this – archive and print out a fresh, new replacement.
Pro 5, a free fully featured image-editing program you can see our lab test this month for more information on A4 There are many advantages to using digital cameras
use for this purpose.) inkjet printers. While some cameras enable you to display over the conventional sort, and we’ve looked at some
your images on TV, all cameras now hook up, via a PC, to of them already in the opening section. The best reason,
Print, store and share the internet, so you can share your pictures with friends though, is the opportunity to improve the quality of
Once you have the images as you want them, it’s a and family from around the world. And you can always the images, and then print or share them online with
matter of printing, storing and/or sharing them. How you use your PC to archive images onto its hard drive, or burn other people…

■ Printer: for printing photos, ■ Modem/internet connection: ■ Scanner: scanners come in two ■ Firewire ports: a newer, faster ■ USB ports: if your computer
inkjet printers are the only An internet connection is now pretty basic types – flatbed scanners and and more expensive type of doesn’t have USB ports, it’s
sensible choice. They’re well essential for any kind of film scanners. Flatbed scanners are connection than USB. Many new probably too old for digital
inexpensive to buy, and while the computing activity, never mind the cheapest and most common. computers come with Firewire imaging and you should think
special papers and the ink digital photography. Photographers, They can scan prints and (also called iLink by Sony, and about getting a new one! USB is
cartridges are quite expensive, though, will find they can email documents, which you place face- IEEE1394 by the techies), and you now the standard way to connect
the costs are still lower (and the images to friends and relatives, down on the scanning bed. You’ll can get Firewire cards for scanners, printers, digital cameras
convenience far higher!) than create online photo albums and get better quality, though, by installing in computers that and other peripherals.
; READ ON
getting enlargements done at their own websites, and browse scanning your negatives and slides don’t yet have it. It’s widely used If you don’t have enough spare
traditional photo labs. Dedicated other photographers’ galleries. There directly. Flatbed scanners can only in the digital video market for USB sockets for all your gadgets,
‘photo’ printers use six ink colours are lots of interesting and do this with special ‘transparency connecting camcorders to your PC, you can get USB ‘hubs’ for £50 or DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
instead of the standard four, and informative photography sites out adaptors’, and even then the image and some high-end scanners and so, which only take up one USB HANDBOOK
the quality is that little bit better. there to look around, too. quality isn’t as good as that you get storage devices (plug-in hard slot but offer four more on top
See our Lab test on p49 See our tutorial on p122 with dedicated film scanners. disks) use Firewire too. of that.
DO YOU NEED TO UPGRADE? What kind of PC do you need, and what accessories
and peripherals should you be looking for?
o get the most from your digital photographs, your printer, scanner and digital camera won’t be a something a lot faster. An entry-level 1GHz machine
T you need a computer in order to store and

display your images, to print them, turn
problem, improving other aspects of your PC’s
performance might be.
will be fine for nearly every purpose, but if you can
stretch to it, a 2GHz PC will really race along, and you
Published by
Author
ISBN
Argentum
Tim Daly
1902538102
them into web pages, run slideshows, email them and In particular, if your PC is more than a couple of years shouldn’t have to think about upgrading again for quite a Price £10.99
Website www.amazon.co.uk
edit them. old, it’s likely to have a pretty slow processor – by few years to come.
The great thing about computer systems is that you today’s standards, anyway. It’s possible to limp along Our annotated diagram on the previous page will show It’s by Tim and it’s good. In-depth
can expand them as you go along, adding the devices with an old 500MHz Pentium III, but in order to work you what else you need to look out for when you’re guide to digital imaging with
information on scanning too. There
and internal components you need. But while upgrading with today’s high-resolution images you really need planning your perfect digital photography system.
is a bit of a Photoshop bias, but
many of the techniques can be
adapted for other programs.
2 THE INTERNET AND YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOS THE DIGITAL

Sending photos Also remember that some email servers you want to upload. They’re then well use it. You will need a web page PHOTOGRAPHERS A-Z
There are a number of ways the net can put limits on the maximum file size you transferred to the album site where you creation program, and some
help you share your photos. One of the can send to other people, so you may can organise them, rename them, add information from your ISP about where
easiest is to send pictures to other need to reduce the image first. captions and more. You can then invite you upload the finished pages, too, but
people as email attachments. If the photo’s just designed to be other people to come and look at your it doesn’t take long to pick it all up.
This can be done using Microsoft seen on-screen and not printed, you photos. One of the best examples is the Some image-editing programs, like
Outlook Express, Outlook, Netscape don’t need to send a full-sized version. service provided by MSN (Microsoft Adobe Photoshop, Elements and others,
Mail, AOL or whatever other email Many beginner-orientated digital photo Network) at photos.msn.co.uk. Here you can automatically create web page
service you’re using. programs will resize a photo for can upload full-resolution files, organise albums from selected folders of images.
Watch out for the file size of your emailing in a couple of easy steps. You them into albums and slideshows, plus If you don’t mind spending a few
digital photo. Bear in mind that unless can also resize photos manually. print and send them to other people. hours learning web design tricks,
you and the person you’re sending the Emailing photos to other people is easy. You pay for any printing you have done though, you can do it yourself. Serif’s
You just attach your photo as a file, or but the rest is free. WebPlus 7 (£30) is just one example of Published by Thames and Hudson
photo to are using broadband, file
resize it to fit the screen dimensions a program that makes website design Author Peter Cope
transfer speeds via ordinary modems
and embed it in the message itself Your own website easy, and you can even create web ISBN 0500542473
are in the region of 5k per second.
You have even more control over the pages in Microsoft Word. Price £11.96
That means a typical 1Mb digital Website www.amazon.co.uk
photo will take a little over three Online photo albums look and presentation of your pictures if
minutes to send and a similar amount A number of companies offer online you create your own website. Nearly all ■ Matthew Richards shows you how to
Handy, spiral-bound reference to
of time to download when received at albums completely free. You set up your Net accounts come with free web space make the most of photo communities
everything to do with photography
the other end. user account, then choose the pictures just for this purpose, so you might as on page 122.
and, of course, digital photography.

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Getup&go
PLUS
Detailed maps
for easy-to-use
navigation
Where to go, what to shoot NOVEMBER 2002
THIS MONTH
WILDLIFE
Get yourself to the British
Wildlife Centre and snap
badgers, squirrels and more
BONFIRE NIGHT
We show you how to capture
brilliant fireworks at your local
bonfire night
HOW TO
CAPTURE
LANDSCAPES FIREWORKS
Where to go and what to Fold out this utumn is a time for celebration. images full of whiz and bang, head
shoot in Dorset in November. guide to find A Many ancient customs take for the large, organised displays –
Includes maps and local info 11 top tips place at this time of year, most with and take a tripod! Long exposures
one thing in common: a preoccupation capture colourful overhead bursts, and
Light up
with fire. And fire and fireworks are a tripod ensures exploding trails don’t
stunning subjects to photograph – if look ragged.
you know how to capture them. Don’t overlook the bonfires, they’re
Bonfire Night may be the big one, a great source of light. For dramatic
but fireworks fill the skies every night impact, silhouette onlookers against
the skies!
for weeks, with public displays the flames, or use the glow of the fire
everywhere. One of the best displays, to illuminate the faces of children
on Primrose Hill in London, is free. In waving sparklers. Snap them watching
Sussex, historic bonfire societies in the brilliant swirls of light they create.
AUTUMN COLOURS towns such as Lewes and Rye stagger At Hallowe’en, golden pumpkins
Capture the glory of their celebrations from September to glow with candlelight, and children
autumnal colours at November, so they don’t clash. dress in gruesome costumes and
EVENT Pete Martin uncovers the secret of how to A simple bonfire and a few rockets masks. In Scotland, pagan fire
Westonbirt Arboretum
Detach this section and take it on your travels!
photograph firework displays and bonfire night can provide good pictures, but for societies celebrate Samhuinn, 8
8 8 8 GET SOME INFORMATION Check the online listings at Firework magazine’s website [w] www.fireworks-mag.org for details of displays near you. SkyDreamz [w] www.skydreamz.com, has lots of picture
Getup&go to… ALTON TOWERS MIDLANDS
ALTON TOWERS
GO TO… ALTON TOWERS
8
8
FIREWORKS
Alton Towers stage four nights of
spectacular firework and laser displays around
Hallowe’en – visit the adventure theme park
on 26th-27th October and 1st-3rd November. AIM FOR ALTON
The kids will be happy and you can By car: Alton Towers is clearly signposted
photograph the rides as well as one of the from the M1. Travelling north, take
best pyrotechnic displays in the country. Why Junction 23a Junction 15 off the M6.
not round off the trip with a stay at the Alton Travelling south, take Junction 28 off the
Towers hotel? M1 or Junction 16 off the M6
HOW TO GET THERE
© CROWN COPYRIGHT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: AM134/02

CAPTURE THE CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE
8
Bridgewater’s massive Guy Fawkes Carnival is the biggest of its kind in the country, with over 100
extravagantly decorated and brilliantly lit floats to photograph. This year it’s on Friday 8th November at
7.15pm, but get there early – last year 140,000 spectators attended!
ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPPING

8 BONFIRE
PARTIES
Lewes in Sussex holds its
bonfire night on 5th November.
Nearby Rye holds its celebration on
9th November. Both are part of
county-wide bonfire celebrations
DETAILS
8
around this time
WHAT IS IT?
EDINBURGH An adventure theme park
8
NIGHT
Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire WHEN IS IT OPEN?
Society celebrates Samhuinn on Park season: 9.30am to 5.30pm from
31st October, starting at about 9pm 16th March to 3rd November
in the Old Town. Visit its website
(www.bfs.samhuinn.org) for more WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES?
information, including the ancient Alton Towers Hotel (you get discounted
traditions behind this pagan festival tickets if you stay here), disabled access,
school and corporate groups catered for
EXPERT ADVICE HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Avoiding mistakes: The main ■ Adults £25
reason for dull, disappointing ■ Children under 11 £20
firework pictures is exposure times ■ OAPs/disabled £15
that are too short. This is easy ■ Family (two adults, two children) £74
Pete Martin
specialises in enough to rectify.
travel and MORE INFO
craft photos [t] 08705 204060
Try these settings: Forget
automatic metering and set [w] www.altontowers.com
filling Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with aperture and shutter speed ■ To order Ordnance Survey maps for
manually. With everything this location call 0845 200 2712
macabre medieval processions, fire
happening so far away, set the
eaters and fireworks; while in Devon aperture to about f11, focus on
flaming tar barrels are carried aloft infinity and use the shutter to
through the streets of Ottery St Mary. control your images. The longer the
FIREWORKS PHOTOS
8
When taking photos, use a touch of exposure, the longer the radiant
trails will be. Experiment with
flash to freeze the action and long SUGGESTED SETTINGS
times, using the camera’s LCD
exposures to capture the flames. display to check results. With ISO 100, shutter speed 1-2 seconds,
Asian communities celebrate practice you’ll soon learn to judge aperture f8, focus infinity, flash off.
where in the sky the bursts will Check photos on your LCD as you take
Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights,
appear and therefore where to them and adjust as you go – a key
most notably in Leicester. Fireworks advantage to using a digital camera
point your camera.
increasingly play a part in the festival, over a traditional one
and you’ll get unusual and colourful Get a tripod: It’s also vital to ■ See tear-off factsheet for more tips
pictures. Or try the legendary secure your camera properly if you
are using long exposures, to prevent POST-SHOOT
Bridgewater Carnival in Somerset. Use the contrast/brightness controls in
blurring. So use a tripod and ideally, PRIMROSE HILL
8
Although there are few fireworks, your image editing program to ensure
a remote control if your camera One of the most popular London firework
100 floats take part, each ablaze with supports it. displays is free (donations are collected). It’s colours are bright against a dark sky
thousands of light bulbs. ■ held on Primrose Hill on 2nd November
res of fireworks plus links

Getup&go to… THE BRITISH WILDLIFE CENTRE SURREY
8 NIGHT WATCH
GO TO… THE BWC
8
Badgers are nocturnal creatures so
you'll need a flash to capture them
AT THE WATERSIDE
8
You'll find otters in lakes, rivers and on
rocky coasts
AIM FOR LINGFIELD
By car: The British Wildlife Centre at
Newchapel, near Lingfield in Surrey is ten
minutes from M25, Junction 6
HOW TO GET THERE

ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPPING
INTO POSITION
8
Squirrels are easily lured with bait such
as nuts and seeds
DETAILS
8
WHAT IS IT?
If you can’t get out into the wild, try a
day out at the British Wildlife Centre,
where you can photograph badgers, red
squirrels, foxes, pine martens and other
© COLIN SEDDON / www.lastrefuge.co.uk
British animals in its collection
WHEN IS IT OPEN?
This month it is only open 26th October
to 3rd November, but it reopens for the
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY Easter holiday. Contact the Centre for
8
Otter sanctuaries offer a chance to get

further opening times
close to these elusive creatures
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
■ Adults £4
WILDLIFE WALK ON THE WILD SIDE ■ Children £3
MORE INFO
[t] 01342 834 658
WHO NEEDS EXOTIC WILDLIFE, SAYS COLIN SEDDON, WHEN YOU'VE GREAT ANIMALS ON YOUR DOORSTEP? [w] www.british-wildlife.co.uk
■ To order Ordnance Survey maps for
utumn is the perfect time to Formby Point near Liverpool where this location call 0845 200 2712
A photograph many of our smaller they're tame enough to allow close-up
native animals at their best. Squirrels photos without a telephoto lens. EXPERT ADVICE
are out there busy stockpiling for They're also evident on Brownsea Island Lying in wait: Small animals
WILDLIFE PHOTOS
8
the winter, and foxes and badgers in Poole Harbour and the Isle of Wight. photograph better if you get
down to their level, so don't
can often be found in family groups as Urban environments attract foxes
the year's offspring prepare to leave and badgers. You'll often see foxes Colin Seddon
stand there and snap away, try KIT TO USE
specialises lying down. You’ll get better Long lenses at wide apertures (f2.8, f4)
their parents. feeding in gardens in early evening, in wildlife pictures if you avoid making help separate an animal from its
photography
You’ll find grey squirrels in every park with lots of young cubs around at this noise or movements. Set background, giving more definition and
in the land, but our native and far more time of year. Badgers are increasingly yourself up and wait for them to impact. If you're hooked on wildlife
come to you. photography, consider upgrading to an
picturesque red squirrels are another found near modern housing
SLR-type digital that will use these
matter. The demise of our woodlands developments because their setts have Using the camera: Avoid using
and the aggressive habits of the grey been built on. It's illegal to disturb their flash. A tripod is useful in this POST-SHOOT
interloper have caused a dramatic setts so you must contact your local situation – especially one with a In the meantime, if your budget doesn’t
flexible ball and socket head. Set stretch to an SLR, try using Gaussian
decline in their numbers. Though badger group to locate the ones you
an aperture priority metering Blur in Adove Photoshop (Filters menu)
mainly found in the coniferous forests are allowed visit. Alternatively, the mode, and wide apertures to to defocus the background slightly
of Scotland (such as The Cairngorms), British Wildlife Centre in Surrey has a defocus conflicting backgrounds.
you'll see them at the National Trust's number of animals in captivity. ■
WILDLIFE INSPIRATION [w] www.nfbg.org.uk The website of the National Federation of Badger Groups [w] www.mammal.org.uk The Mammal Society's website
Side A Side A This is side A. Turn over for side B
few words on how the shoot went, and we’ll print the best
to fold this booklet:
■ Now send us your pictures! Email them to getupgo@digicammag.co.uk with your name and a
8 8 8 How
around into a square in half horizontally from rest of section
STEP 3: Now fold STEP 2: Fold this side STEP 1: Detach sheet
burn through the sky. better results. is with a tripod.
streaking effects as rockets telephoto lens produces even absolute best way to do this
sites will inspire you... you get brighter images and your camera supports it, a solidly supported. The
coastlines, villages and historic Variable shutter speeds let camera’s built-in lens, but if need to ensure your camera is
scenery in the the UK: Dorset’s
Capture some of most stunning
CAMERAS results with your exposure times, you
5 Visit Corfe Castle in Dorest. SHUTTER SPEED 03 You’ll get good 02 Because of the long
01
VARIABLE LENS TRIPOD
how to get there
■ Detailed maps of EQUIPMENT: three items for better results
2
SIDE B: OUT AND ABOUT
2 IN DORSET
you’re watching
are as spectacular as the events overall shot
FIREWORKS/LANDSCAPE
It’s easy to take pictures that effective way of framing your
fireworks this autumn? Do use people’s silhouettes as an
5 Shooting
Don’t restrict your view but
£3.25)
ER (VALUED AT ■ Dos/don’ts COMPOSE THE SHOT
TWO PEOPLE ORD CASTLE TEAROOM – WHEN
FE
FROM THE COR CREAM TEA ■ Equipment
L OF SOUP OR
ONE FREE BOW ne
magazira
DigitalCame ■ Tips
FREE MEAL
INDEX: away from your view
magazine PRICE OF ONE
DigitalCamera TWO ENTRY TICKETS FOR THE your back so smoke gets blown
AND GAIN
CORFE CASTLE,
VOUCHER AT Do make sure it’s coming from
PRESENT THIS
OF ONE! CHECK THE WIND DIRECTION
PRICE
✃ ✃
TWO FOR THE SIDE A: 11 TIPS ON HOW TO
2 PHOTOGRAPH FIREWORKS
Corfe Castle on side B WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
Money off vouchers to TOPICS COVERED spectacular streaking effects
for longer, enabling you to get
Do adjust the speed so it’s open
>
ADJUST SHUTTER SPEED

NOVEMBER 2002 TEAROUT FACTSHEET NO.1
Dos and don’ts
GETTING IT RIGHT: SHOOTING FIREWORKS
FOLD ALONG THIS LINE SECOND
Getup&go
FOLD ALONG THIS LINE FIRST
.
Getup&go FIREWORKS
We’ve all shot firework displays in the past and there’s no DON’T JOG intense when it falls on SHOOT THE SMOKE ice or water in the foreground,
doubt that if you get it right the results can be spectacular.
2 THE CAMERA the CCD, and not faded out 8 Smoke can reflect you may be able to capture
Conversely, it’s all too easy to fail to capture the sheer energy To get good results you need a as can happen with larger light, and you can potentially the reflections of fireworks as
and dynamism of a cracking firework display, ending up with weedy tripod, and ideally (if your aperture settings. Good compose some striking they go off.
8 settings are f8 and f11.
bursts, limp trails and empty skies. No longer. Follow our guide below camera supports it) a remote pictures with it in-frame.
and you’ll be capturing fantastic firework displays perfecty – and make control. If you don’t have a ILLUMINATE
your friends wonder how you did it. tripod, try securing your SWITCH OFF COMPOSE THE SHOT
10 FOREGROUND
5 YOUR FLASH 9 Look around and see OBJECTS
camera to a fence post or
something similar and set the You don’t need a flash ways that you can use the Although we just told you to
self-timer. The secret is to because the fireworks landscape or buildings to switch off the flash on your
avoid doing anything that jars supply enough light. If improve your shot. Try camera, you can use it to great
the camera because even the your camera doesn’t allow shooting crowd shots as effect if you want to illuminate
slightest vibration can blur the you to switch off the flash at people crane their necks to foreground objects as the
image. The results won’t be night, stick some masking watch the fireworks, or shoot fireworks light up the sky
ideal, but if you’re lucky they’ll tape over it. kids with sparklers. If there’s behind them.
be good enough.
TRY THESE
6 CAMERA SETTINGS
CAPTURE THE
3 WHOLE FIREWORK Try ISO 100, shutter speed
DETACH HERE
Use a slow shutter speed to of 1-2 seconds, aperture
6
capture the rocket trail and setting f8, focus infinity and
burst all in the same frame. flash off. But don’t be afraid
Anything from one to four to experiment with longer
seconds should do the trick, exposures if your camera is
depending on how long it rock-steady.
takes the firework to shoot up
and explode. Experiment a BE PREPARED
7 Try to get a good
little to get the best results.
AVOID COMMON MISTAKES If you want to capture the position so you’re not
1 If you’ve taken pictures of fireworks in the past and effect of a whole symphony of photographing the backs of
been disappointed that they never come out as bright or firework bursts, try leaving the peoples’ heads. See if you can SHOOT MULTIPLE BURSTS
shutter open for 10, 20 or set up your tripod on a 11 Capture a number of bursts in a single frame by locking
explosive as the firework display itself, you’ve been doing
several things wrong. The basic problem is that light is not even 30 seconds and see what platform to avoid this. Don’t the shutter open and covering the front of the lens with card –
falling on your camera’s CCD for long enough. Rectify this in results you get. get too close as you want to remove it when the bursts occur, and cover it up again when
two ways: use an ISO setting that’s low – about 100 (better be able to get the rocket trail they fade. Ignore the rocket trails but use them to calculate
quality, less graininess); and adjust your camera’s shutter speed ENSURE AN and explosion all in a single when the explosion is likely to occur. With a bit of patience,
4 INTENSE IMAGE frame (unless you are happy you can shoot a symphony of bursts. Once finished, remember
so that it stays open for longer (enough light hits the CCD to
create a bright image). You’ll want a narrow aperture to stitch together panoramas to close the shutter before removing the lens
setting so that the light is back home on your computer).
PULLOUT NO.1
Getup&go... routeplanner
The Isle of Purbeck 2 1 SWANAGE RAILWAY
Your guide to landmarks, places to visit, campsites and information centres on the Isle of Purbeck Right by Corfe Castle, it’s six miles of track
between Swanage and Norden.
ollow our Landscape guide opposite and you’ll be visiting some of the Castle – as you can see below. Hopefully our Landscape guide will make you While you’re there: Trains run every
F most beautiful scenery in the UK. If you visit the Isle of Purbeck, there’s want to make a trip to the castle and fire off a few photos. If so, the National weekend – find out the latest details of
events and places to stay and eat at
plenty to see and do, but if you want to make a few days of it, there’s a Trust has kindly offered every reader a ‘two tickets for the price of one’ deal,
www.swanagerailway.co.uk. The railway
range of camp and caravan sites, nature walks, local landmarks, museums, plus a free bowl of soup or cream tea (if two people order). Just show the passes right by Corfe Castle.
woodland and even a preserved railway you can visit. It’s all centred on Corfe coupons on this page, printed below and do send us your pictures! Family-friendly? There’s a ‘day out with
Thomas the Tank Engine’ week from 26th
October to 3rd November.
Map key
Lighthouse in use
Campsite
BASED ON ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPPING
© CROWN COPYRIGHT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED:
Caravan site
2 2 CORFE CASTLE
AM134/02
Castle
Built by the Normans to guard the road onto Country park
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!
✃ ✃
the Isle of Purbeck, it’s now owned by the
2 3 KIMMERIDGE BAY
Golf course
National Trust.
While you’re there: Visit the castle, then Information centre
PRESENT THIS VOUCHER AT
take a stroll along Corfe Common (walks On the South West Coastal Path, it’s a good
CORFE CASTLE, AND GAIN Museum
leaflet available from Corfe Castle for 50p). place to visit for country walks.
DigitalCamera TWO ENTRY TICKETS FOR THE Exhibition centre has interactive displays. While you’re there: Visit Clavel’s Tower at Nature/forest trail
magazine
PRICE OF ONE Family-friendly? Baby-changing facilities at the east end of Kimmeridge Bay, built in Tourist feature
visitor centre; baby carriers, highchairs and 1820. Originally a folly, it’s now ruined. See it
children’s menu. Children’s guidebook. before it vanishes into the sea. Picnic site
FREE MEAL DigitalCamera
magazine Children must be accompanied by an adult
within the castle.
Family-friendly? Not specifically, but below
the tower there’s an Information Centre for
Preserved railway
ONE FREE BOWL OF SOUP OR CREAM TEA Money-saver: See left for money-off coupons the Dorset Trust for Nature Conservation. Also Viewpoint
FROM THE CORFE CASTLE TEAROOM – WHEN – show them when you’re there and get the South West Coastal Path runs right through Youth Hostel
TWO PEOPLE ORDER (VALUED AT £3.25) money off food and entrance to the castle. this area if you fancy a walk.
Getup&go to… WESTONBIRT GLOUCESTERSHIRE
GO TO… WESTONBIRT
8
AIM FOR TETBURY
By car: Westonbirt is three miles south-
west of Tetbury on the A433 Bath road in
Gloucestershire. It’s 20 minutes north-east
of M4 Junction 18, and 20 minutes south-
east of M5 Junction 13
USE THE MACRO SETTING
8
Use your camera’s Macro setting to

zoom in on items
HOW TO GET THERE

COMPOSE YOUR SHOT
8
Notice how the trees and people have

been framed in spaces of about a third
of the width of the picture
DETAILS
8
WHAT IS IT?
Run by the Forestry Commission,
Westonbirt Arboretum houses one of
the world's finest collections of trees
LIGHT AND SHADOW
WHEN IS IT OPEN?
8
A shadowy foreground frames lighter

areas further back in the shot It’s open 365 days a year from 10am to
© FOREST LIFE PICTURE LIBRARY
8pm (or sunset if that is earlier)

DAY OUT AT WESTONBIRT
It’s open all year round, but now’s the
time to go, with the liveliest colours
8 ■ Prices vary according to season. In
October and November tickets cost £5
per adult, concessions £4 and
children/disabled £.
■ In December entrance is free
NATURE A BLAZE OF AUTUMNAL COLOUR WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES?

Visitors' centre, restaurant, courtyard
café, shop and toilets
PETE MARTIN TAKES A STROLL AMONG THE TREES AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM
MORE INFO
s bright summer colours turn to Holford brought his own knowledge to the is white and washed out, but make full use
[t] 01666 880 220
A rusty hues, autumn is one of the project, experimenting with propagation and of it for colourful contrasts if it is blue and
[w] www.westonbirtarboretum.com
finest times of the year to visit the hybridisation, and laying out the great rides cloudless. And if the sun is out, go among
National Arboretum at Westonbirt. Located and walks that still exist today. the trees and shrubs where you can find
on the edge of the Gloucestershire Depending on the weather, in late October brilliant leaves backlit against it. ■
NATURE PHOTOS
8
Cotswolds, Westonbirt draws over 300,000 to early November Westonbirt has some of
visitors every year. In over 600 acres the finest autumn leaf colour displays in SHOOTING OUTDOORS
EXPERT ADVICE
of woods and 17 miles of walks, you can Europe, with its Japanese acer glades A shower hat is useful to cover the
Patience is the name of the
lose yourself for hours photographing some awash with brilliant swathes of reds and camera in a sudden downpour while
game. Go for wide angle shots
of the tallest, oldest and rarest trees in yellows. Commonly known as maples, you keep shooting
and you'll have to contend with
the world. these vibrant specimens compete with each Pete Martin
people wandering into frame, so
USING A TRIPOD
The collection was started in 1829 by other for your attention, and draw thousands specialises in set them up accordingly, and
travel and
Make a lightweight tripod more
wait for the right person to be
the Victorian arborealist, Robert Holford. In of photographers to Westonbirt from around craft photos substantial by hanging your camera bag
just where you want them
keeping with many of the great landowners the country. under the centre column
before pressing the shutter.
of the time, Holford commissioned plant Dull weather can be the best conditions Better still, zoom the camera
into its telephoto setting and
POST-SHOOT
hunters to search for unknown and unusual for photographing foliage. There are softer It’s relatively easy to remove people
trees from around the world, including China, shadows and highlights, and colours become look for tight shots – perhaps of
using the cutout tools in Photoshop
a single specimen or branch.
North America, South America and Japan. more saturated. Keep the sky out of shot if it
GET SOME INSPIRATION [w] www.chrishoneysett.com has black and white images of forest light and shadow [w] www.tonyhowell.co.uk/plants.htm has images shot at Westonbirt
Getup&go to… THE ISLE OF PURBECK
Islands in
the mist
LANDSCAPE Guy Edwardes explains why early morning
starts are essential to capture dramatic Dorset landscapes
arm days followed by cool nights bring strong sidelight will pick out the contours of
W early morning mists – perfect for the land.
atmospheric autumnal landscapes. And Corfe Castle, the ruins of a Norman
where better to capture them than the stronghold, was built to guard the road onto
rolling Dorset countryside, with its downs the Isle of Purbeck. The surrounding village
and heaths, ancient beech woods and nestles between two hills, so there are good
spectacular coastline? views all day from a number of directions.
Two popular locations are Cranborne Morning light is best for Old Harry’s Rocks,
Chase and the Isle of Purbeck. The Chase, the cliffs and sea stacks beyond Corfe.
with its high chalk downlands incised by Beaches are photogenic in low light, with
wooded valleys, is renowned for wide long exposures blurring the waves into mist
panoramas. Rows of hills stretch away to that drifts between the rocks. Kimmeridge
the horizon, but get here well before the Bay is another favourite for these moody
sun rises because the early mists soon shots – especially on the receding tide, when
turn to haze. Emerging shapes make wet rocks reflect the rising light.
good monochromatic compositions, while Dorset is a county of contrasts so don’t
forget the evening light. Head west down
8 SAVE £££S
the ‘Jurassic Coast’ to where the wide bay
and great sea arch of Durdle Door sweep out
Bring Digital Camera Magazine to Corfe Castle towards the sunset. Or turn back onto the
and save £££s on the entrance fee, plus get a free Chase in search of Gold Hill in Shaftesbury.
meal when you’re there! See Side B of the ‘tear Captured in this ‘golden hour’, it’s a typical
out’ factsheet opposite for the coupon and Dorset scene that can’t fail to work. Hovis
complete details
certainly thought so! ■
FIND A GOOD VANTAGE POINT CATCH THE SUN RISING PURPLE MIST
8
8
8
Standing high on West Hill enables you to photograph Corfe Castle from above, setting it against a Shooting into the sun silhouettes Corfe’s church tower and trees A one-stop graduated filt
backdrop of low hills rising from the morning mist. The brightly lit trees in the foreground help lift the against the mist. Work quickly because autumn mists don’t stay control in this picture of C
design and add an extra splash of colour around for long once the sun gets up flare when shooting into the sun –
DAYS OUT IN DORSET: [w] www.thedorsetpage.co.uk The best of the online Dorset Gazeteers, with loads of things to see and do, plus places to stay around the county [w] www.jurassiccoast.com A mine of fascinating information a
DORSET
© GUY EDWARDES
GO TO… CORFE CASTLE
8
AIM FOR WAREHAM
By car: Corfe Castle is on the A351
between Wareham and Swanage, Dorset
HOW TO GET THERE

DETAILS
8
WHAT IS IT?
Now in the hands of the National Trust,
Corfe Castle originally guarded the
gateway through the Purbeck Hills. It is
built from the local limestone for which
this beautiful peninsula is renowned

■ Adults £4.30
■ Children £2.15
(Save money with our offer far-left)
WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES?

Family centre, schools resources, Braille
guide, café, tours, shop and toilets
ETHEREAL MIST MORE INFO

8
Beaches before sunrise are photogenic in low [t]01929 481 294

light. Here a long exposure of more than 30 [w] www.nationaltrust.org.uk
seconds has blurred the waves into a mist that drifts ■ To order Ordnance Survey maps for
between the rocks at Kimmeridge Bay this location call 0845 200 2712
EXPERT ADVICE
Camera use: Landscapes aren't just WIN FREE NATIONAL
8
about horizontal pictures. Don't be

afraid to tip the camera on its end
TRUST MEMBERSHIP
for vertical shots. Patterns such as GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT! CAPTURE
Guy Edwardes
specialises in receding hills work well like this. CORFE CASTLE AND YOU COULD WIN
in landscape
and travel
SOME HANDY PRIZES
photography Composition: At sunrise and
sunset, low light and the small The National Trust, in conjunction with
apertures necessary to keep Jessops, is running a competition for the
foregrounds and backgrounds in best photograph of Corfe Castle. The
focus mean long exposures, so a winning image, as judged by the
tripod is essential. This will also National Trust, will be framed, gain you
help you refine your compositions. free membership of the National Trust
Graduated neutral density filters for one year, and a £10 Jessops voucher.
reduce the brightness of the sky ■ For full details of the competition,
CROP YOUR SHOT and help you record detail without
8
prizes, entry form and rules, see the

ter helps bring the bright sky under The graphic image seen here was cropped from one originally losing shadows; adjust the filter so file Corfe_compo.pdf on coverdisc 1.
Corfe Castle at sunrise. Look out for lens taken on Cranborne Chase as a vertical picture. Landscapes its edge follows the horizon.
especially with zoom lenses sometimes work well in either format so shoot both if you have the time
bout the geology of the Dorset coast, now officially declared a World Heritage Site. This may seem dry but it will help you understand the landscape
TEL: 01273 402814
we’ll help take
you places
every customer. our portfolio. We research
F
Synonymous with ounded in the late
ARTWORK COURTESY OF OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE
1960’s by the Lowe To be the best at what and rate materials on charac-
innovative, top quality family. Ralph Lowe we do, we invest heavily in teristics you may have never
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phy. product and has created buckles slide into position
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Competition Question one:
Which member of the Lowe family
inspired the first Lowepro bag?
Don’t miss your chance to win one of Simply answer our three questions, Send your entries to: Question two:
three superb Lowepro backpacks and pop your entry form (photocopies Lowepro UK (DCAM01 Comp.) What are the side-release buckles
to see the quality of the product for OK) off to arrive no later than Unit 6 Merryhills Enterprise Park
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used on Lowepro bags made
yourself! December 31st 2002. Wolverhampton WV10 9TJ from?
Tick box if you do not want to receive quarterly email news

Question three:
1 st
PRIZE
2 nd
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How long has Lowepro been dis-
tributed in the UK?
Name & Address details
email
Lowepro Nature Trekker AW - SRP £199; Lowepro Mini Trekker - SRP £99; Lowepro Orion Trekker - SRP £49
16 The Broadway 115 Lower Church Road
HAYWARDS HEATH BURGESS HILL
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Olympus BU60SE Batts+charger £29.99
Pentax D-LI2 **SPECIAL PRICE** £24.99*
Olympus FL40 Flashgun £319.99 MSA 16MB £24.99 MICRODRIVE
MSA 32MB £29.99 IBM 1GB £199.99
INDEPENDENT BATTERIES/ CHARGERS PLEASE PHONE MSA 64MB £38.99* I B M 1 G B TRAVEL KIT £229.99
Hahnel 4 AA NIMH batts+charger £19.99
Hahnel 4xAA NiMH 1800 mAH batts £12.99 01444 245316 MSA 128MB £59.90*
Uniross 6xAA batts+fast mains/car charger £34.99 FOR ALL OTHER ACCESSORIES NOT LISTED Q U A L I T Y M E M O R Y C A R D S AT T H E L O W E S T P R I C E S I N T H E U K ?
o n l y £ 3 . 9 9 fo r n ex t d ay d e l i ve r y - p l e a s e p h o n e 0 1 4 4 4 2 4 5 3 1 6
All prices include VAT @ 17.5% Opening times Monday-Saturday 8:30-5:30pm. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Switch. Alternatively, send
next day delivery
cheque to Park Cameras Ltd, 115 Lower Church Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9AA. Figures in Brackets Indicates stock level held at
memory cards £3.99
unrepeatable prices at time of going to print. NB Goods will not necessarily have been sold at SRP for 28 days prior to this. Prices correct at time
larger items £6.99
of going to press, check on website for latest prices. E&OE. *ON MENTION OF DIGITAL CAMERA MAGAZINE
™
THE UK’s No1 INKJET COMPANY
Web. www.mx2.com
Tel. 01481 740200
Fax. 01481 740300
Email. sales@mx2.com
NEW 10N0016
NEW 10N0026
BLK .............£17.90
CLR.............£22.00 BC01 BLK...............£13.90
EPSON
MX2 is the NEW T033640 Photo Mag..£8.70
NEW T033540 PhotoCyan£8.70
17G0060 CLR.............£17.99 BC02 BLK...............£13.75 NEW 6656A BLK.................£TBA UK’s largest
BC05 CLR ..............£15.90 NEW 6657A TRI -CLR ......£17.99 NEW T033440 Yellow .......£8.90
17G0050 BLK .............£17.90 seller of NEW T033340 Magenta ...£8.90
13619HC CLR.............£23.90 BC06 PHOTO .........£13.99 NEW 6658A PHOTO .........£16.90
BC10 BLK...............£23.50 NEW 8727A BLK...............£13.50 EPSON Inks NEW T033240 Cyan..........£8.90
13400HC BLK .............£17.99 NEW T033140 BLK ...........£8.70
12A1970 BLK .............£17.99 BC-20 BLK .............£16.90 NEW 8728A TRI -CLR ........£TBA & Photo
BC-21 Print Head....£29.99 6615D BLK...............£17.99 NEW T032440 Yellow .......£9.50
12A1975 BLK .............£28.90 6578D CLR...............£23.90 papers. NEW T032340 Magenta ...£9.50
12A1980 CLR.............£25.90 BC-22 PHOTO ........£15.90
BC-23 BLK...............£17.99 6578A CLR...............£38.83 NEW T032240 Cyan..........£9.50
12A1990 PHOTO .......£27.99 6614D BLK...............£17.90 NEW T032140 BLK .........£17.90
15M0120 CLR.............£26.45 BCI-3 BLK.................£7.90
BCI-3 C/M/Y ...each £5.90 1823D CLR 30ml .....£23.50 T029401 CLR .........£15.90
BCI-5 BLK.................£6.99 1816A PHOTO .........£22.99 T028401 BLK .........£17.99
NEW LEXMARK COMPATIBLE BCI-5 C/M/Y each....£6.90 51649A CLR...............£17.99 T027401 PHOTO ...£12.50
C-12A1970 BLK .............£13.90 BCI-5 PM/PCeach ...£6.90 51645A BLK...............£17.99 T026401 BLK .........£14.90
C-12A1980 CLR.............£14.75 BCI-6 BLK.................£6.90 51641A CLR...............£23.50 T020401 CLR .........£14.50
C-12A1990 PHOTO .........£TBA BCI-6 C/M/Y each....£6.50 51633M BLK...............£17.90 T019401 BLK .........£16.50
C-13619HC CLR.............£15.50 BCI-6 PM/PCeach ...£6.50 51629A BLK...............£17.99 T018401 CLR .........£13.99
C-13400HC BLK .............£14.75 BC-30 BLK...............£22.90 51626A BLK...............£17.99 T017401 BLK .........£16.90
C-17G0050 BLK .............£14.65 BC-31 CLR ..............£23.99 51625A CLR...............£23.50 T009401 PHOTO ...£13.90
C-17G0060 CLR.............£14.65 BC-32 Photo............£24.99 T008401 PHOTO ...£10.70
Hewlett Packard Paper T007401 BLK .........£12.50
C-15M0120 PHOTO .......£15.90 BC-60 BLK...............£17.99 NEW 6818 A4 Brochure & Flyer Gloss 160g (50)£8.99
BC-61 CLR ..............£17.90 T005011 CLR .........£17.90
BC-62 PHOTO .........£29.99 NEW 6984 A4 Photo Quality Paper 160g (25) ....£6.90 T003011 BLK .........£15.99
BCI-10B BLK x3............£9.50 6832 A4 Premium Photo Glossy 230g (20)£9.50 T001011 PHOTO ...£15.50
INKJET PAPERS BCI-11B
BCI-11C
BLK x3............£6.99
CLR x3 .........£11.00
6951
6040
1847
A4 Premium Photo Matte 230g (20) .£9.50
A4 Premium Photo Paper 220g (15) .£5.99
A4 Photo Glossy Paper 160g (20).....£5.99
20193 PHOTO ...£10.99
20191 CLR .........£14.90
20189 BLK .........£13.99
MX2’s comprehensive and best selling range of BCI-21B BLK.................£4.99 51634Z A4 Premium LX 95g (200)................£10.95 20187 BLK .........£12.90
compatible inkjet papers, provides high quality BCI-21C CLR ................£9.90 1853 A4 Photo Matte 2 sided 135g (100)£10.50
NEW BCI-24B BLK.................£5.90 20138 CLR .........£10.90
output and ultimate value for the enthusiast. 6945 15x10cm Prm Photo Paper (20)........£5.99 20110 PHOTO ...£10.90
NEW BCI-24C CLR ................£9.90 6050 A4 Iron-on Transfers (10) ..................£9.99
BCI-61 CLR ..............£12.99 20093 BLK .........£12.50
NEW MX2 Papers BCI-62 PHOTO .........£17.90 6042
3832
Greeting Cards + Env. (20) ................£5.49
A4 Transparency Film (20) ..............£12.00
20089 CLR .........£14.90
See website for full range of Inks
The UK’s No 1 choice for the digital BJI-201B BLK.................£5.80
BJI-201 C/M/Y ...each £5.50 NEW 41620 A4 Photo Glossy Paper x50 ...............£12.00
enthusiast introduces a professional H.P. COMPATIBLE NEW 41622 A4 Photo Paper x50............................£12.50
NEW 41624 A4 Premium Photo Glossy Paper x50..£17.50
range of bright white Glossy & Matte QUALITY RECONDITIONED HP 41328 A3+ Premium Semi-Gloss x20...........£33.95
inkjet papers for top Quality Photo CARTRIDGES FROM KMP & IT IMAGE 41316 A3+ Premium Photo Paper 255g x20£29.50
printing and the Ultimate value. 41143 A3+ Photo Paper 190g x20 ................£17.99
C-1823D CLR ....................£13.30 41264 A3+ Photo Matte 167g x50 ................£27.99
PR-101 A4 Glossy Photo Paper (15) ..............£8.90 C-51625A CLR ....................£12.99 41334 A3 Premium Semi Gloss x20 .............£27.95
TBA M270G A4 MX2 Pro Photo Glossy 270g (40) ...........£TBA GP-301 A4 Glossy Photo Paper 165g (20).....£6.90 C-51626A BLK ......................£9.99 41315 A3 Premium Photo Paper 255g x20 ..£25.00
NEW M240G A4 MX2 Pro Photo Glossy 240g (50) ...........£9.99 HR101 A4 Photo Matte Paper 90g (200).....£16.50 C-51629A BLK ....................£11.90 41261 A3 Photo Matte 167g x50...................£17.99
C-51633M BLK ......................£9.99 41142 A3 Photo Paper 190g x20 ..................£17.50
NEW M200G A4 MX2 Pro Photo Glossy 200g (50) ...........£9.99 HR101 A4 Photo Matte Paper 90g (3x50)...£12.00 41125 A3 Photo Paper 120g x20 ..................£14.90
NEW M220M A4 MX2 Pro Photo Matte 220g (100)..........£9.90 HR101 A4 Photo Matte Paper 90g (50).........£4.99 C-51645A BLK ....................£11.50 NEW 41330 Premium Semi Gloss Photo Roll.......£10.90
NEW M160M A4 MX2 Pro Photo Matte 160g (150)..........£9.99 TR201 A4 T-Shirt Transfers (10)....................£8.50 C-51649A CLR ....................£14.99 41071 A4 Photo Glossy Film x15..................£17.90
C-6614D BLK ....................£11.90 41332 A4 Premium Semi Gloss 251g x20 ......£9.50
CANON COMPATIBLE C-6615D BLK ....................£11.90 41287 A4 Premium Photo Paper 255g x20 ....£8.99
Photo Glossy Papers EACH...........DISCOUNT C-6578A CLR ....................£15.99 41140 A4 Photo Paper 190g x20 ....................£6.90
NEW CP274 A4 ICI Photo Glossy 2 sided 270g (20) .....£13.99 NEW C-BC01 BLK ..................£9.95......2 PK £17.50 41126 A4 Photo Glossy 120g x20 ...................£5.99
NEW C-BC02 BLK ..................£9.90......2 PK £17.80 NEW 41560 A4 ColourLife Photo Paper 245g x20£11.50
CPR0A3 A3 ICI Photo Glossy Paper 260g (20).......£17.75
CPR050 A4 ICI Photo Glossy Paper 260g (50).......£16.99 C-BCI-5B BLK ..................£3.99
Vectorjet Refill Kits & Inks NEW 41342 A4 Matte Archival Paper 192g x20 .....£9.50
41256 A4 Photo Matte 160g x50 ....................£7.90
CPR020 A4 ICI Photo Glossy Paper 260g (20).........£8.50 C-BCI-5 C/M/Y ..............£3.99 Refill your empty cartridges 41106 A4 Photo Matte Adhesive x10 .............£7.90
CPRO64 6x4” ICI Photo Glossy Paper 260g (20)......£5.50 C-BCI-10B BLK (x3) ...........£4.99 .....2 PK £8.99 41061 A4 Photo Matte Paper 90g x100 .........£7.90
CS26A3 A3 ICI Photo Satin Paper 260g (20)..........£17.75 C-BCI-11B BLK (x3) ...........£5.99......2 PK £11.00
& SAVE £££s 41154 A4 Iron-on Transfers x10 .....................£8.90
CS2650 A4 ICI Photo Satin Paper 260g (50)..........£16.99 C-BCI-11C CLR (x3)...........£7.50......2 PK £13.98 41176 Photo Stickers 5x4 ...............................£3.99
CS2620 A4 ICI Photo Satin Paper 260g (20)............£8.50 Black Refill Kit (50ml)....£4.90 (100ml)..£6.99 41122 10"x8" Photo Card x30.........................£9.99
C-BCI-21B BLK ..................£2.75 .....3 PK £7.50 41121 8"x5" Photo Card x30...........................£4.90
CP22-3P A3+ Photo Glossy/Photo Matte 220g (20) £17.99 C-BCI-21C CLR..................£3.99......3 PK £11.00 Colour Refill Kit (75ml)....£7.90 (150ml)..£9.99 41148 8"x5" Cards + Envelopes x10 ..............£5.90
CP22-A3 A3 Photo Glossy/Photo Matte 220g (20) .£15.99 C-BCI-61C CLR..................£7.99......2 PK £15.00 Black & Clr Refill Kit (125ml)......................£9.95 41134 6"x4" Photo Paper 190g x20 ..................£4.99
CP22-50 A4 Photo Glossy/Photo Matte 220g (50) .£14.50 C-BCI 62 PHOTO ............£8.99......2 PK £17.00 41144 A6 Photo Stickers x20..........................£3.90
CP22-20 A4 Photo Glossy/Photo Matte 220g (20) ...£7.99 Photo Refill Kit (150ml)...............................£9.99 41054 A6 Photo Card x50................................£5.99
CARDS A5 Glossy Greeting Cards 220g (20) ..........£7.99 C-BJI201B BLK ..................£1.99 .....3 PK £5.50 Black Ink (250ml)...£5.90 (500ml)£16.90 41147 A6 Cards + Envelopes x20...................£5.90
CP22-A5 A5 Photo Glossy/Photo Matte 220g (20) ...£4.75 C-BJI201M Mag...................£2.50 C/M/Y Inks Each(250ml)..£6.90 (500ml).£16.99
NEW CP1750 A4 ICI Photo Glossy Paper 170g (50).........£9.99 C-BJI201C Cyn...................£2.50
C-BJI201Y Ylw ...................£2.50
Photo Inks C/M/Y(250ml).£9.90 (500ml)£17.90 EPSON COMPATIBLE
NEW CP1720 A4 ICI Photo Glossy Paper 170g (20).........£4.99 Cleaning Fluid (125ml).£3.99 (250ml)..£4.90 SAVE UP TO 70% ON EPSON INK
CS50
CS20
A4 ICI Photo Satin Paper 170g (50)............£9.99
A4 ICI Photo Satin Paper 170g (20)............£5.99 STORAGE MEDIA Ink Jector Kit (Kit without ink).............£2.90
©
MX2 is the UK’s largest seller of EPSON
Compatible Inks & Print-Rite Ink Products
MEMOREX CDR
NEW CP3P
CPA3
A3+Photo Glossy Paper 150g (20)............£14.99
A3 Photo Glossy Paper 150g (20).............£11.99 80/700MB 24 Speed.each 65p/10 PK £5.99 DIGITAL CAMERA FOOD are our Best Performing Brand.
EACH DISCOUNT
CP100 A4 Photo Glossy Paper 150g (100)...........£14.99 80/700MB.............50 Pack Spindle £16.50 COMPACTFLASH CARDS NEW C-T029 CLR......................£6.90......3 PK £20.52
CP50 A4 Photo Glossy Paper 150g (50)...............£8.99 16MB .......................£11.20 NEW C-T028 BLK......................£4.99......3 PK £14.52
CDR Audio 80min..99p each /10 Pk £9.45 32MB .......................£12.90 NEW C-T027 PHOTO ................£6.99 ...............£20.52
CP20 A4 Photo Glossy Paper 150g (20)...............£4.25
CPA5 A5 Photo Glossy Paper 150g (20)...............£3.25 CDRW 650/74....99p each /10 Pack £8.99 64MB .......................£17.90 NEW C-T026 BLK......................£5.99 ...............£17.52
Hewlett Packard CDR 128MB .......................£42.00 C-T020 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
Photo Matte Papers 256MB .......................£79.99 C-T019 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
NEW CM314 A4 ICI Super Heavy Artist Paper 310g (20) .£13.99 80min/650MB.......79p each /10 Pack £7.50 512MB .....................£179.00 C-T018 CLR......................£6.90 ...............£20.25
NEW CA240 A4 Artist Watercolour Paper 240g (10) ......£6.99 SMARTMEDIA CARDS C-T017 BLK......................£7.90 ...............£23.25
MEMOREX MINIDISCS 16MB 3.3V .................£7.50 C-T014 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
NEW CM234 A4 ICI Photo Matte 230g (50) ..........................£9.99 NEW 80min 5 Pack................................£6.75 C-T013 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
32MB 3.3V .................£9.49
CMH3P A3+ Photo Matte 2 sided 210g (20) ..............£11.00 64MB 3.3V ...............£16.70 C-T009 PHOTO ................£6.90 ...............£20.25
CMHA3 A3 Photo Matte 2 sided 210g (20)...................£9.99 USB KEY DRIVES 128MB 3.3V ...............£46.99 C-T008 PHOTO ................£6.90 ...............£20.25
CMH A4 Photo Matte 2 sided 210g (50)...................£6.99 32MB Key Drive ..............................£29.99 SECURE DATA CARDS C-T007 BLK......................£6.90...................TBA
NEW CM1750 A4 ICI Photo Matte 2 sided 170g (50) ............£9.99 NEW 32MB........................£27.90 C-T005001 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
64MB Key Drive ..............................£49.99 C-T003001 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
NEW CM17100 A4 ICI Photo Matte 2 sided 170g (100) ........£12.99 128MB Key Drive ............................£79.00 NEW 64MB........................£44.90 C-T001001 PHOTO ................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
CANA3 A3 Canvas Photo Paper 140g (20)............£13.50 NEW 128MB......................£69.00 C-T032140 BLK......................£6.99......3 PK £20.52
CANA4 A4 Canvas Photo Paper 140g (20)..............£5.99 IOMEGA Digital Accessories C-T032240 CYAN ...................£5.90......3 PK £17.25
CHR3P A3+ Photo Matte 2 sided 130g (50)..........£15.50 CLIK 40MB ..............................each £7.99 Integral Dual Compact/Smart Reader/Writer...................£17.99 C-T032340 MAGENTA ...........£5.90......3 PK £17.25
CHRA3 A3 Photo Matte 2 sided 130g (50) ............£12.50 ZIP 100MB PC or MAC............each £6.99 C-T032440 YELLOW..............£5.90......3 PK £17.25
CHR A4 Photo Matte 2 sided 130g (100) ............£7.75 Integral Smart Media PCMCIA Adaptor............................£17.99 C-20193 PHOTO ................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
ZIP 250MB PC or MAC............each £9.75 Integral Compact Flash PCMCIA Adaptor.........................£5.99 C-20191 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
NEW CM120 A4 ICI Photo Matte 120g (100) ........................£7.99 C-20189 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
Specialist Products Maxell LS-120 120MB Super Disc ...£6.75 MULTIMEDIA CARDS C-20187 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
16MB ......................£11.90 C-20138 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
CMETAL A4 Silver Metallic Film (10)..........................£6.99 IMATION 3.5” DISKS 32MB .......................£14.99
NEW CHOLO A4 Silver Holographic Film .........................£7.95 C-20110 PHOTO ................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
NEW Black IBM 1.44Mb 10 Pack.......£2.99 64MB .......................£36.99 C-20108 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
CTFR A4 Transfers for T - Shirts etc. (10)............£7.99 C-20097 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
CLING A4 Cling Film 720 Dpi (10)...........................£7.50 NEW Neon IBM 1.44Mb 10 Pack.......£3.50 Memory Stick for all SONY equipment C-20093 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
NEW CMAG A4 Magnetic Photo Sheets (5) ....................£7.90 MEMOREX DVD STORAGE 32MB Memory Stick ......................£23.50 C-20089 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
CLEAR A4 Transparencies for Projectors (20) .......£7.50 64MB Memory Stick ......................£39.00 C-20049 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
CLAM A4+ DIY Laminate for Menus etc. (10).......£6.99 NEW DVD-R 4.7Gb.................................£5.90 C-20047 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
NEW DVD-RW 4.7Gb.............................£9.49 128MB Memory Stick ....................£52.50 C-20036 CLR......................£3.99......3 PK £11.50
CBUS DIY Laminate for Business Cards (50).......£5.99 © C-20034 CLR......................£3.99 ......3 PK £11.50
NEW CDKIT CD & Zip Kit (50) Free CD Software.........£11.99
CDM2 Photo Matt CD Labels 2 per A4 (2x10) ......£5.99
NEW DVD+RW 4.7Gb.............................£9.99
DIGITAL VIDEO FOOD C-20025 BLK......................£2.50........3 PK £6.99
CD2 Photo Glossy CD Labels 2 per A4 (2x10)...£6.50 TDK 5.2Gb DVD RAM..................... £12.99 SONY DVM 60min Premium (no chip)..........£4.90 CLEANER CARTRIDGES
CD3 Photo Glossy CD Labels 3 per A4 (3x10)...£6.50 SONY DVM 60min IC Excellence (with chip)£7.90 Cleans your Epson printer and improves performance.
CBC Glossy Business Cards 220g (10x10).........£5.75
ePROMOCARD MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE
Panasonic AY-DVM 60min EK (no chip)........£4.90 CL-20110.......£6.90 CL-20193 ........£6.90
NEW CAB Art Canvas Business cards 10 per A4 (10x10)£5.90 NEW Multimedia Business Card kit £14.90 FUJI Hi8 P5-90 Heavy Metal Particle............£4.99 CL-20108.......£3.90 CL-20191 ........£7.90
CAD20 Address Labels (adh) 10 per A4 (10x10) ....£5.99 NEW Business Cards......................... £9.90 FUJI 8mm P5-60 Metal Particle (2 PK).........£4.20 CL-20093.......£3.90 CL-20189 ........£3.90
NEW CMOUSEDIY Mousemat Kit (2) ..................................£5.90 NEW Business Card Labels (120)...... £7.90 FUJI 8mm P5-90 Metal Particle....................£2.49 CL-20089.......£6.90 CL-20187 ........£3.90
MX2 is the Best & Cheapest Place to Buy On or Off-Line Your DVD’S, MUSIC CD’S, GAMES & BOOKS...
Film Food FilmFood FilmFood FilmFood Game Food Game Food Game Food Music Food Music Food Music Food Food for Thought
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PAPA ROACH OASIS RED HOT NOW 52

LoveHate Heathen CHILLI Various
By The Way Tradgedy Chemistry
E.T GOLDMEMBER MINORITY BLADE 2 MONKEYBALL 2 MARIO SUNSHINE DEAD TO RIGHTS COMMANDO2 £8.99 £8.99 £8.99 £12.99
£15.99 £14.50 REPORT £14.50 GAMECUBE GAMECUBE XBOX PS2 THE BEST NEW COMPUTER &
£16.99 IMPORT £49.99 IMPORT £49.99 IMPORT £52.99 UK £34.99 UK CHART CD’S from Only £8.99 INTERNET BOOKS STOCKED...
P&P ONLY £1.95 PER ORDER. DELIVERY 3 - 7 WORKING DAYS

MX2 Computers Limited supplies to Home Users Only (sorry we do not supply Business to Business). Prices shown include any VAT & duties where applicable and are Accurate at time of going to Press E&OE.
MX2 Reserves the Right to Change Prices. Please check our Website or Phone Us for up-to-the-minute Prices. The above Trademarks are recognised and used for illustrative purposes only.
The best name and prices on the net
Prices constantly changing- log on or call for the latest information
MEGA DEALS LATEST PRICES

Canon Powershot A200 £149 Kyocera Finecam S4 £369
Canon Powershot A30 £189 Minolta Dimage S304 £345
Canon Powershot A40 £209 Minolta Dimage X £289
£277
£328.00& £277.00& £369
Canon Digital Ixus V2 Minolta Dimage F100
INC. VATRY INC. VATRY
Canon Digital Ixus V3 £329 Minolta Dimage 5 £499
DELIVE DELIVE Canon Digital Ixus 330 £289 Minolta Dimage 7i £749
Canon Powershot S30 £377 Nikon Coolpix 2000 £179
Canon Powershot S40 £465 Nikon Coolpix 775 £269
Fuji Finepix F401 Fuji Finepix 2800 Canon Powershot G2 £538 Nikon Coolpix 2500 £279
Canon Powershot G2 Black + Nikon Coolpix 4500 £527
1GB Microdrive £667 Nikon Coolpix 5000 £697
Canon Powershot G3 £579 Nikon Coolpix 5700 £869
Canon EOS D60 £1939
£465.00& £125.00& Canon EOS ID +
Nikon D100 Body £1699
INC. VATRY INC. VATRY Nikon D1X Pro Kit £3879
DELIVE DELIVE 1GB Microdrive £4590 Olympus C120 £159
Casio GV-10 £229 Olympus C220 £179
Casio QV-R3 £339 Olympus C300 Lux Kit £309
Casio QV-R4 £379
Canon Powershot S40 IBM Microdrive 340MB Olympus C4000 £397
Casio QV-4000 £459
Olympus E10 SLR £799
Casio QV-4000 + 340MB £539
Olympus E2ON SLR Bundle £1299
Fuji Finepix A202 £155
Pentax Optio 230 £259
Fuji Finepix A204 £199
£546.00& £749.00& Fuji Finepix 2800 £277
Pentax Optio 330RS £326
INC. VATRY INC. VATRY Pentax Optio 430RS £396
DELIVE DELIVE Fuji Finepix A303 £279
Fuji Finepix F401 £328 Ricoh Caplio RR120 £199
Fuji Finepix F601 £459 Ricoh Caplio RR10 £284
Fuji Finepix S602 £546 Ricoh Caplio RR30 £257
Fuji Finepix S602 Minolta Dimage 7i Fuji S2 Pro Body £1739 Ricoh Caplio RR1 £468
Fuji S2 Pro Body Pro + Samsung Digimax 130 £125
Battery Kit £1795 Samsung Digimax 230 £179
Kodak DX 3215 Easyshare £137 Samsung Digimax 350SE £299
ABOUT US Kodak CX4210 Easyshare
Kodak CX4230 Easyshare
£149
£189
Samsung Digimax 410
Sony Cybershot DSC-P31
£349
£199
Kodak DX4330 Easyshare £279 Sony Cybershot DSC-P51 £229
• Owned by the oldest family photographic firm in Kodak DX 4900 Easyshare £319 Sony Cybershot DSC-P71 £309
the world (est. 1862) Kodak LS443 £379 Sony Cybershot DSC-S85 £499
Konica Revio KD400 £346 Sony Mavica MVC FD200 £427
• FREE Internet printing with each camera purchased £799
Kyocera Finecam S3 £279 Sony Mavica MVC CD400
• FREE delivery on all orders over £100 (UK mainland only) Kyocera Finecam S3X £299
• Account facilities available (subject to status)
ACCESSORIES
INTERNET PRINTING Smart Media Multimedia Cards
Fuji 16MB £9 Sandisk 16MB £19
Your prints on photo Fuji 64MB £26 Sandisk 64MB £49
Fuji 128MB £49
quality paper from as Secure Digital
Compact Flash (Type I&II) Sandisk 16MB £23
little as 29p Fuji 16 MB £15 Sandisk 32MB £32
Fuji 64MB £29
Fuji 128MB £52 Memory Sticks
IBM 340MB microdrive £125 Sony 16MB £29
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4
WINDOWSARCHIVINGPRINTINGNET
100% authoritative
PC&Internet
Using a PC to get the most from your digital photos
WINDOWS
I
f you’ve followed all our seconds, so you can find the picture
advice, your photos will be in you’re after easily. ■ DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
fine shape. But that’s just the Once you have your pictures to AND YOUR PC P118
start – now you have to store them, hand, you need to print them. For most How to use Windows Me and
archive them, locate old pictures on people, the default settings on their Windows XP to transfer, view
and organise your pictures.
your hard drive or on CD and retrieve colour inkjet will often be enough, but FURTHER INFO SEND ‘EM IN
them. Each month we’ll bring you a if you’re after something more IMAGE MANAGEMENT Get more from the We want your
series of tutorials on the best way to powerful, our new series on printing ■ FINDING A STORED IMAGE P120 program or technique contributions! Please
Find the image you want under examination. send in your suggestions, article
use your PC. techniques on page 121 will show you
ideas, tutorials, pictures and more.
We show you the digital photo how to get the best results. without having to open
EXPLAINED See the box below for details on
support built into Windows 98 and Me. Finally, over the course of the next hundreds of files.
Any tricky jargon and where to send your emails.
We also take an in-depth look at few months, we will look at how you PRINT TECHNIQUES concepts are
Windows XP, as this new operating can use the internet to enhance ■ CREATING A TEST STRIP P121 explained in more detail here. IN DETAIL
system has a multitude of digital your digital photo experience. Not only In the first of a series on Here's where we talk
WALKTHROUGH about a particular
photography support features, including are there quick ways to publish your printing techniques, how to get
We don't just describe idea or tool in depth, so you
photo-transfer wizards, Filmstrip images online with image communities perfect prints every time.
a technique; we show have a clearer understanding of
thumbnail views and handy one-click at places like Yahoo! and MSN, but INTERNET you how to do it, step by step. the key concepts.
CD burning. there are also tools for quick net
■ PUTTING YOUR PIX ONLINE P122
This month we’ve taken a look at publishing built into Photoshop 7. And, Get your pictures published on
several image-management tools you of course, there are internet-based a worldwide scale quickly, Your experts
can use on your PC, which can help photo printing services. Over time, easily and for free with online MATTHEW RICHARDS NICK MERRITT
you browse huge thumbnail archives in we’ll cover it all… photo communities. Matthew has As well as editing
edited several Digital Camera
computer and internet Magazine, Nick also oversees
PRINT TECHNIQUES IMAGE MANAGEMENT INTERNET titles, reviews digital cameras Microsoft Windows XP: The
for worldwide specialist Official Magazine, one of the
press, as well as being a UK’s leading PC titles.
keen photographer.
TIM DALY
JOE CASSELS Tim is one of the
Joe contributes to UK’s leading digital
some of the photo experts. He’s written
UK’s leading PC titles. He many books on the subject
P120 P122 specialises in the digital photo and his photographs have
features built into Windows XP. been exhibited across Europe.
WINDOWS OUR WEBSITE
4
CONTACT OUR TUTORIALS TEAM

If you have a comment, suggestion, idea or submission you
would like to make, please email us at the following addresses:
■ Talk about the magazine and our tutorials with other readers: visit our
P121 P118 P124 website at digitalcameramagazine.co.uk
■ For technical help/queries: help.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
complete package
■ For submissions to our gallery section: gallery.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
Our mission is to ensure that our tutorials every tutorial ■ Clear ■ For general response and feedback: letters.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
bring you creative ideas, expert techniques, ■ Valued added Our large page size means we can add ■ For suggestions, ideas for articles: editor.dcm@futurenet.co.uk
tips and quick fixes you can use in your Where possible, we include image files, extra elements, explanations and detail to
own work. and full or trial software so you can try each tutorial

TUTORIAL USING YOUR PC
YOUR GUIDE JOE CASSELS
Joe Cassels writes regular tutorials for a wide range of computer magazines. He is an
enthusiastic digital photographer with a track record of helping many people get
more from their PCs
joe@cassels.org.uk PORTFOLIO JOE CASSELS
Digital photography
and your PC
Windows Me and Windows XP boast sophisticated digital photo features. Joe Cassels explains how to use your PC
to transfer, view and organise your pictures
T
he joy of taking digital photographs is that need your own photo-handling software (most cameras from your camera to your PC. Once you’ve got the cable
TUTORIAL
you can manipulate them easily. Once your come with a suitable program). Windows Me includes correctly plugged in, the rest is a breeze. The Scanner
KEY DETAILS camera is full of pictures, you only need to the Scanner and Camera Wizard (which you can launch and Camera Wizard is easy to follow with clear step-by-
2 WHICH WINDOWS? copy them to your computer in order to free up space to through the Control Panel), thumbnail views in picture step guidance.
In this series we’re talking about take more snaps. This means that transferring pictures folders and an enhanced picture viewer. However, there’s more to transferring photographs
Windows XP, as this contains a from your camera to your PC is an important skill to When it comes to handling picture files, Windows XP than simply moving pictures from camera to PC. You
number of new image and
archiving features especially for master, but how good at managing pictures are the is the best of the lot. Most common photography tasks need to name the picture files suitably and place
digital photographers various version of Windows? are easily accomplished via simple wizards, and you them in appropriately named folders so you can retrieve
As Microsoft Windows has developed, its handling of rarely need to install a software driver – the program them at a later date without problems. Windows XP
2 SKILL LEVEL graphical files has became better and better. There are that tells your computer how to operate your camera. handles this job well, but you might have to adopt
1 next to no specialised photography tools in Windows 95. In this tutorial we’ll be using Windows XP to show more discipline if you’re working with an older version
In Windows 98 there is a picture viewer, but you really you just how easy it is to transfer your digital photos of Windows.
2 TIME TO COMPLETE
20 MINUTES
With Windows XP it really is just a
2 THIS MONTH PART 1
■ How to connect camera
■ How to transfer files to PC
CONNECTING YOUR CAMERA case of plug and play…
2 NEXT MONTH
How to store and find picture
files on your PC
8 8
? EXPLAINED YOU NEED A USB LEAD PLUG INTO USB SOCKET THEN INSTALL DRIVER
01 Most current digital cameras use the Universal 02 This may be located in front of, or behind, your 03 If Windows detects but doesn’t recognise your
THUMBNAIL
A small version of a photo, often Serial Bus (USB) standard. The most technical PC. It will normally be labelled, but your cable camera, you’ll need to install its driver and
used for indexing purposes. thing you really need to know is which cable to use is unlikely to fit in any other socket. When the cable is photo-handling software. There’s little more to this than
Viewing a folder of pictures in and where to plug it in. Basically, the wider, flatter end plugged in and turned on, Windows should detect the popping the CD that comes with the camera into the
Thumbnail view is very similar to
looking at a contact sheet. goes into the computer and the smaller end connects to camera. In addition, Windows XP might recognise which computer’s CD drive and following the instructions it
your camera. camera you are using. gives you.

WINDOWS 98 WINDOWS ME WINDOWS XP
4
SHOULD YOU Almost no digital photo support in Windows 98. A smidgen of digital photo support… the My Pictures Digital photography is a key feature: thumbnail views,
UPGRADE? There’s the Picture Viewer but that’s it folder and the scanner and printer wizard new editing and print tools, new transfer wizards
TRANSFERRING YOUR PHOTOS How to use Windows XP to copy over

pictures from your camera to your PC
0 EXPERT TIP
8 8 JOE CASSELS
WINDOWS XP EXPERT
FREE UP MEMORY
When copying photos, remember
to select ‘Delete pictures from my
device after copying them’. This
leaves your camera’s memory
free so you can take loads
CONNECT THE CAMERA FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS SELECT THE PICTURES more pictures.
01 Connect your camera to your PC, using its USB 02 The Scanner and Camera Wizard starts. You 03 You now see thumbnails of the pictures
cable. Windows should detect the hardware can work directly with the pictures in your held on your camera. Scroll down to see
and present you with a list of options. Choose ‘Copy camera without copying them to your PC first, but you run all of them. If there is a picture that you don’t want to
Pictures to a folder on my computer’ using Microsoft
Scanner and Camera Wizard. Click OK.
the risk of deleting pictures before they’ve been copied so
it’s not recommended. Click Next to begin.
copy to your computer, clear the tick from the box at its
top-right corner.
; READ ON
THE COMPLETE MICROSOFT
WINDOWS XP HANDBOOK
8 8
Published by Future Publishing

Available from WHSmith
NAME YOUR PICTURES NAME THE FOLDER CLEAR THE CAMERA Price £12.99
04 Click Next. You now need to provide a 05 You now need to name the folder that locates 06 You are now returned to the previous screen. Website www.futurenet.com
filename for the pictures and a folder to put your pictures. By default, this is the My Pictures To clear your camera once the pictures are Created by the team behind
them into. It’s best to name the pictures after the place, folder, but it’s useful to make a folder for each main group copied over, check the box next to ‘Delete pictures from Microsoft Windows XP: The Official
event or main subject that they depict. Type this name of photos. Click Browse and Make New Folder. Type the my Device after copying them’. This makes room for you Magazine, it’s the only guide to
where indicated. new folder name and click OK. to take more photos. Click Next. Windows XP you need. Includes
chapters on digital photography.
* WEB LINKS
MICROSOFT
8 8
www.microsoft.com/
windowsxp/default.asp
Home page for Windows XP at the
Microsoft website. Contains links to
digital photography features and
forums where you can get extra
help and advice.
WAIT FOR THE PICTURE TRANSFER DELETE AND FINISH VIEW YOUR PICTURES
07 Watch as your photos are copied from your 08 The wizard deletes the pictures from your 09 You’re taken to the folder containing your
camera to your computer’s hard drive. Each camera. Once complete, you are given the pictures, which you can see as thumbnails.
picture carries the name you selected, plus a number that option to publish to the web, order prints or finish Double click on any thumbnail to see the picture in the
increments with each picture copied. If you need to halt working, which is selected by default. Go with this setting larger Picture and Fax viewer. Here you can flick through
the process at any time, click Cancel. and click Next. Click Finish. the photos or view them as a slideshow.

Adobe Photoshop 7 – the trial of which is on our CD –
TUTORIAL IMAGE MANAGEMENT
4
BROWSING IN now includes a handy image browser. You can use it
to overview and catalogue files – find it under the
PHOTOSHOP 7 Recipe menu option
YOUR GUIDE NICK MERRITT

Nick has edited, managed and launched some of the UK’s leading
technology magazines for nine years, and has been writing about
and using computers for much longer
editor.dcm@futurenet.co.uk WEBSITE www.futurenet.co.uk
Locating a stored image

So your PC is groaning with thousands of digital pictures. How do you find the one you want without
opening hundreds of files? Nick Merritt reveals some answers
3 IN DETAIL I
t was a great trip. Beautiful scenery, fantastic PC, Firegraphic XP (www.firegraphic.com) is a decent (www.jasc.com), and if you’re a Nikon owner, you may
weather – perfect, in fact, for reeling off integrated file viewer that enables you to view images, be familiar with FotoStation (www.fotostation.com) –
hundreds of digital photos... to add to the change file types and perform some basic image there’s a trial there for everyone but Nikon users get an
WINDOWS XP thousands of pictures that already lurk on your hard editing. A similar tool for the Mac is iView MediaPro for upgrade deal option.
The new digital photo features in
drive from all the other great trips. OS9 and X (www.iview-multimedia.com). But what do you do if you need to find an image in a
Windows XP are a big
improvement on earlier versions How fast those happy memories can fade when list of 5-10,000? One of the most interesting tools we’ve
of Windows. There’s the digital you’re sitting in front of the PC, desperately trying to Video thumbnails found is a non-commercial piece of software created by
camera wizard that makes it figure out if DIGIPIX0001012.jpg is that staggering Another good option is Firehand Ember 6 Human Computer Interaction Lab, a research department
easy to download photos from picture of the Taj Mahal or the one of you chasing next (www.firehand.com), which enables you to browse at the University of Maryland. Called PhotoMesa
camera to PC. The My Pictures door’s dog out of the garden. multiple folders simultaneously and perform simple (www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/ photomesa), it’s been created
folder enables a range of useful
How, then, do you find a particular image in a file of editing tasks quickly. There’s an extension pack available as part of a project into how people use computer
thumbnail views. You can resize
images prior to emailing, do
thousands? The answer depends on the type of for it as well, which adds various Windows XP-like interfaces. As a result, it doesn’t quite have the slickness,
‘one-click’ attachments and view computer you’re using. Windows XP already provides features like slideshows. speed or functionality of a full commercial piece of
files large-size without opening thumbnail/Filmstrip views and has a built-in picture From the makers of PhotoImpact comes Photo software, but it’s intuitive to learn and easy to use.
them in an image editor. viewer. But the options on older operating systems Explorer Pro 7 (www.ulead.com). One extra is that is If you move your mouse across the thumbnails it will
aren’t as good. enables you to play video, which is handy if you have expand each image like a magnifying glass. Left-click
So it’s time to turn to one of the good file-viewing been using the movie features on your camera. and it will zoom further into the image; right-click and it
tools out there. There are a couple that are useful if you If you are a fan of Paint Shop Pro, there’s a will zoom out. You can then select and drag the image
need to browse a smallish number of images. For the companion tool called Jasc Media Center you want – onto your desktop or into another folder.
PHOTOMESA IN ACTION It’s an interesting non-commercial tool, which shows the way
file browers might evolve in the future
8 8
Firegraphic XP is handy if you are
running an older version of
Windows (98/Me) and need to
find a file on your hard drive
BROWSE THE THUMBNAILS IMAGES EXPAND DRAG AND DROP

01 When you browse a directory, images are 02 Scan your mouse across the images to find the 03 When you’ve located the right picture, simply
presented as small thumbnails. Multiple image you’re after. As you do so, each image choose the ‘select’ tool (the arrow to the top-
directories are labelled and presented side by side. expands so you can see what it is. Left- and right- click to left, above) and drag the image onto your desktop. You
(Drawing the thumbnails can take some time.) zoom in and out of each directory. now have it ready for use.

4
TUTORIAL PRINT TECHNIQUES PART 1 WHAT IS
A COLOUR CAST?
Colour casts occur when one colour appears to dominate the print.
Change the brightness of the image with your Levels controls, and
print colours will look more saturated and free from casts
YOUR GUIDE TIM DALY

Tim has written several books on photography including The Digital Photography Handbook, The
Digital Printing Handbook and The Desktop Photographer, and he continues to write for The
British Journal of Photography and AG. His photographs have been exhibited across Europe
Creating a test strip

A great picture needs great printing and often this is an area that lets digital photography down. No longer. In
the first of a series on printing techniques, Tim Daly shows you how to get perfect printing every time
I
TUTORIAL f you’ve taken time to colour calibrate your document for proof printing. Instead, you can print a
KEY DETAILS monitor and worked out the best printer
software settings for your paper, there’s still
selection area onto a small sheet of paper from the very
image you’re working on. Any paper size can be used,
2 ON OUR CD
Photoshop 7 trial, plus our printer
no guarantee of perfect prints each and every time. Test but it’s much more economical to set up a custom paper
strips help you to solve simple problems quickly. size in your printer software beforehand.
test file printertestimage.pdf Central to the craft of conventional darkroom printing Every printer has its limitations on minimum media
2 SKILL BOOSTER
is the test strip. When thin pieces of photographic paper
are painstakingly exposed to different amounts of light,
size, but an A4 sheet cut into four quarters will give you
enough paper to test at least one image. It’s rare that
5 the photographer generates a useful selection of you’ll need to make more than a couple of test strips
2
variations to choose from. Yet digital image-makers but, if you do, label the corrections that you’ve made.
TIME TO COMPLETE never print out variations and place too much trust in Don’t adjust image size or resolution between tests and
30 MINUTES the self-correcting nature of printer software. When

prints turn out wrong, most of us try another
final print, or you’ll have to start all over again.
When test strips are ejected by the printer, it’s Correcting problems with Levels
2 NEXT MONTH
How to correct a colour cast
combination of printer software settings rather than
modify the image in Photoshop.
important to let them dry before making your decision
because some papers with sticky top coats can take a
The Levels dialog is the easiest way to manipulate
midtone brightness, the cause of most printing
With this straightforward technique, there’s no need couple of minutes to absorb ink and dry. Always judge problems. Move the triangular slider to the left to
to copy and paste tiny image sections into a new your results under natural daylight. brighten the image, or to the right to darken it.
3 IN DETAIL
WHAT MAKES A
GOOD PRINT?
MAKING A TEST STRIP Solve simple print problems quickly with test strips, and make better use
of costly ink and paper consumables
The definition of a good
photographic print is identical for
both digital and traditional photos.
Good prints exhibit a rich tonal
range between small areas of full
black shadows and clean white
8 8
highlights; fine details are present
and visible without needing to
scrutinise at close distance. Finally,
the principal subject should be
clearly emphasised using
variations in light and dark to
direct the viewer’s attention away
from irrelevant details. See our
printer test file for more.
DEFINE THE TEST AREA SEND TO THE PRINTER ANALYSE THE TEST RESULTS
01 Make sure your selection includes both 02 Make sure your printer software recognises 03 Monochrome or toned images often print
highlights and shadows. Once your image is your selection. From the File menu choose darker than expected due to the way RGB
ready to print, select the rectangular marquee tool. Make Print and in the printer software dialog box, select the image colours are translated into printer ink colour.
sure the feather value has been set to zero, then click-drag Print Selected Area option. This command will print your Shadow areas can also start to fill-in and prevent image
a rectangular selection that includes a cross section of selection in the centre of your chosen paper size. Use the detail from appearing. To correct your image, cancel the
highlights, shadows and midtones. same paper for both test and final print. selection, then use your Levels controls.

TUTORIAL SHARING YOUR PHOTOS
YOUR GUIDE MATTHEW RICHARDS

Matthew Richards reviews digital cameras for worldwide specialist press, as well as being
a keen photographer using both conventional 35mm outfits and digital systems. His main
areas of interest are sports, landscape and people photography
matthew.richards1@ukonline.co.uk PORTFOLIO MATTHEW RICHARDS
Putting your pix online

Getting your pictures published on a worldwide scale can be quick, easy and totally free.
Matthew Richards shows you how to make the most of online photo communities
Y
ou’ve got some great digital photos, and you is a nightmare in itself. Apart from the people you Most photo community sites are free to use, yet offer
TUTORIAL
want to show them off. How are you going to actually tell, nobody will know where to look, unless a reasonably generous amount of free server space for
KEY DETAILS do it? You could email them to all your you spend a lot of time promoting the site. you to use. Another bonus is that communities are
2 ON OUR CD
Full software – Arles Image Web
friends, family and colleagues but, with lengthy
download times for even medium-resolution files, Community spirit
normally divided into categories so you can showcase
your shots in areas that are most likely to attract the
Page Creator on Disc B people get upset when their inboxes are clogged up. The best way to share your photos with an eagerly right attention.
Another way to share your photos is to create your awaiting public is via online communities. By far the As well as providing a home for your digital photos
2 SKILL BOOSTER own website. This is better than email because you can easiest to use is run by Microsoft, through its MSN online, most commercially run communities also provide
4 simply send people the address of your site and they service, but there are many others to try (see opposite). services for ordering paper-based prints of your shots for
can then look it up if and when they want to. However, Online photo albums, or communities, have distinct delivery in the post.
2 TIME TO COMPLETE there are two basic problems with creating a photo advantages over other methods of photo sharing via the
30 MINUTES album as your personal website. First, most of us only

have one website, as a function of the free web space
net. The design templates and mechanics for operating
the site are already put in place on the net. All you have
Choosing a service
There are many online community services available but
2 NEXT MONTH
How and where to order prints
offered by whatever ISP (Internet Service Provider)
we’re using. Second, driving traffic to a personal website
to do is slot your photos into the spaces that are already
waiting for them – simple.
most of them are based in the US. This poses no
problem if you’re simply looking for someone to host
over the net
UPLOADING YOUR SHOTS New MSN tools make uploading your photos easier
than ever. Here’s how it’s done…
3 IN DETAIL
TALK ABOUT IT!
8 8
Discussion boards and chat
rooms, as well as email,
are ideal for a little ‘constructive
criticism’ of your photos
online. Make the most of
these additional features within
MSN Groups.
CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOS UPLOAD YOUR SHOTS SHARE WITH A GROUP

01 The first time you upload shots to MSN Photos, 02 Once you’ve selected all the shots you want to 03 The final step is to share your photos in an
the system will download and install the upload, click the Upload button to transfer MSN Group. This goes beyond simply storing
necessary tools to your PC, which takes about three them to the web. You can then rearrange the order in your photos online, and gives access to your shots to the
minutes. Once that’s done, a thumbnail preview helps which photos are presented, rotate any shots as world at large. Click the ‘Share photos in this folder’ link
you choose shots to upload. necessary and add meaningful titles. shown on the previous step.

2 MSN PHOTOS 01
IN ACTION 02
The MSN Photos at photos.msn.co.uk
service includes some great tools for
making everything easy and intuitive.
05
Here are the most important ones
MSN Photos has everything you
need and more besides for
06
making the most of your digital
photos online
03
07
01 Quick links
The quick links across the top of the window
provide easy access to MSN Home, My Photos and
Gifts & Prints, as well as the Tips & Tricks help section
of the site.
02 Photo Tasks
Common photo tools are provided here, for adding
photos to the web folder, sharing a folder in MSN
Groups, ordering prints online, and running a slide
show of pictures within the currently viewed folder. Many online community sites for
03 More Tasks 08 sharing photos have some great
This task pane enables you to organise your photos by features, but most of them are
rearranging them on screen, copying or moving them
to a different folder, or creating entirely new folders. only available in the US
04
04 Storage Meter
MSN Photos provides you with 30Mb of storage space
for your online photos. Use the Storage Meter for a
quick reference to how much of that space you’ve used
up and how much is still available.
05 Selection 06 MSN Groups 07 Photo Meter 08 Rotation
? EXPLAINED
As well as the individual tick boxes for selecting or Use this icon for quick access to On a scale of one to five, the Photo Meter If you have a picture that should be in
deselecting single photos, you can select or deselect all MSN Groups from within the MSN gives you information on the size and portrait mode and is displayed in
photos within a folder using these links at the top and Photos service. quality of photos stored on the online landscape mode, use these rotation tools.
bottom of the screen. system. More bars, the better the quality.
UPLOAD
This is the process of transferring
data (in this case photo files)
your photos online, but if you want to take advantage of The only catch is that you have to remain an ‘active Moving away from the task panes and into the main from your digital camera or PC to
printing possibilities, you’ll need to pick a service that member’ of the MSN Photo service, which means that area of the page, further tools allow for simple rotation the internet. Likewise,
has a UK operation. As our pick of the crop is MSN, let’s you have to view your photos, or add, share or order of photos and how they’re presented online, while downloading is the process of
stick with that one and see how to get started. prints of them, at least once every six months, a handy Photo Meter gives a bar graph indication copying data from the Internet to
your own PC.
The first thing you need to do is to get a Microsoft otherwise your photos will be permanently deleted. You of what you can do with your online photos, based on
.NET passport. You can register for free at can safeguard against this by signing up for the paid-for the image size and quality they’re stored at. Ranging
www.passport.com, but if you’ve already got a free version of the service, available through the same from one to five bars, a photo with a three-bar display
Hotmail account, the chances are that you’re already website for £19.99 per year. will be suitable for emailing to friends, sharing online,
registered. From here, it’s one short mouse-click to the home printing, or ordering prints online at a size of up
MSN Photos site at http://photos.msn.co.uk. The main Keeping track to 4 x 6 inches.
screen provides options for adding photos to your The MSN Photo community site has some handy
community site, sharing photos online, viewing your features for keeping track of your photos, and their More fun
shots and ordering prints online.
The free MSN Communities service initially gives
online status. In a similar style to the excellent task
panes that feature in Windows XP photo folder views,
Sharing your photos is the main aim of any community
site, but many add a little extra fun to the mix and, * WEB LINKS
you 3Mb of online space to use, which is enough for task panes within the site layout give you quick access again, MSN Photo leads the way. As well as enabling
RECOMMENDED SITES
up to about 20 photos at a resolution of 1,024 x 768 to tools for adding, sharing or ordering prints of photos. you to create pictorial puzzles based on your photos, For more general photo sharing
pixels, depending on the amount of JPEG compression Other tools for organising your online albums include you can order a wide variety of photo-based products sites, here’s a good selection…
you use when storing them. However, once you’ve those for rearranging shots, creating new folders, online, bearing your own pictures. These include aprons,
started using the MSN Photos service, the storage moving photos between folders or deleting old pictures calculators, children’s watches, kit bags, mouse mats, MSN Photos
space given to you is bumped up to 30Mb, which to make way for new ones. mugs, sweatshirts, T-shirts and more besides. http://photos.msn.co.uk
MSN Groups
provides a lot more scope for creating multiple folders, Particularly useful is the Storage Meter, which gives a To sum up, MSN Photos provides a quick, easy and
http://groups.msn.com
or sets of photos and submitting them in a variety of graphical display of how much space you’ve used and free way to store your digital photos online. However,
Club Photo
community groups. how much is still available, within your 30Mb allocation. you can also share them more effectively within www.clubphoto.com
the service by adding them to an MSN Group. In this FotoTime www.fototime.com
way, your photo albums will form part of MSN NikonNet www.nikonnet.com
The best way to share your photos with Communities, and your shots can be added to a group WebPhotos
www.webphotos.com
photo album that already exists, or you can start a
an eagerly-awaiting public is via online new one. Each group can also include other features,
Webshots www.webshots.com
Yahoo! Photos
communities. By far the easiest to use like a message board, chat room and email, helping to
bolster the all-important community spirit. All in all, it’s
http://photos.yahoo.com
Photobox
is run by Microsoft the perfect way of making more of your digital

photography online.
www.photobox.co.uk

Visit Digital Camera
Magazine online!
The UK’s best digital photography magazine now has a fantastic community
site on the internet – and we want you to join in today!
O
ver the next few months, we want to turn issue, swap tips and techniques, add your own kit
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk into one of reviews, read our tutorials, post your pictures and
the UK’s biggest and most dynamic digital much more!
photo communities, and we hope you’ll pop along to Plus you’ll be able to click straight through from
help us! We’ll be putting up articles from every issue one of our camera reviews, to the relevant page
of the magazine for you to download, plus you can at one of the UK’s top retailers, and buy it! Nobody
meet the team online in our forums and talk about else offers you such a simple, comprehensive
specific issues and ideas you want to share. service. In the meantime, why not visit
You’ll be able to meet thousands of other Digital www.digitalcameramagazine.co.uk and start the
Camera Magazine readers, discuss each month’s ball rolling…
The most comprehensive digital camera site...

www.digitalcameramagazine.co.uk
Our homepage
4
Your magazine online
Discover tutorials, reviews, buyer guides,
tips and places to meet and discuss each
issue with other digital photography
enthusiasts and users.
01 Buy kit online

Link through to retailer websites
01 and you can buy your cameras via
the internet, in several simple steps –
it’s so easy!
02 Become a member
and get more
Don’t just look – become a member and
you’ll gain access to all the magazine’s
material and extras, too!
03 Search for a review

We have tons of reviews up there
already and, as we grow, there’ll be
thousands more added. Start now and
you won’t miss out.
02
03
Our forums Our reviews

4
4
01
03
01
02
02
03
Join our community of enthusiasts Comprehensive reviews from every issue
Each month meet up with other digital photography fans and let off steam, swap Looking to buy a new piece of kit – camera, accessory or piece of software, perhaps?
ideas, get help, add your own reviews and much more! We’ll put our reviews online so you’re fully informed
02 Chat on our forums 02 Talk about kit 03 Tell us about 01 Clear kit pictures 02 Comprehensive 03 Clear verdicts
Add your opinions to Post your own comments the mag We make it easy to inspect camera tests We make it obvious
our ongoing discussions on our kit reviews – it’s We want to hear your the kit you’re buying We put each camera whether each camera
about any aspect of the best way to access thoughts about the before you part with your through its paces so you offers you good value
digital photography that both Digital Camera mag – what you like and hard-earned cash. know exactly what to for money.
interests you – we want to Magazine’s opinion of a don’t like, and how you expect if you do decide
hear it all! camera, and the opinion of think we can do better. to buy it.
other users! Get writing!
88888 Visit www.digitalcameramagazine.co.uk today!

On your discs
Two CDs every month! Here’s what we’ve lined up for you this November…
This November…
Jeremy Ford is your host for this hands on, interactive section of the magazine. This is
your chance to get to grips with the software we’ve supplied…
W
elcome to the Digital Camera Paint Shop Pro is fully loaded with all the facilities are extremely impressive and most of the work is
Magazine disc section. Within the next you need to edit your digital camera snaps. performed automatically by the software.
few pages you'll find details regarding all Crop, resize and image enhancement tools are Our third full product is called Arles Web Page
the content we've provided on the two CD-ROMS. within easy reach on the interface and more Creator. If you've ever wanted to publish your own
To help you get the best out of the magazine, advanced users can use the software to add pictures on the internet, then this is the software
we've included software featured in the magazine, special effects to images. To help you get started for you. Using a simple wizard it takes you through
plus additional test shots from all the reviewed you will find our extensive ‘get started’ tutorial an easy-to-follow process of taking a folder of
cameras, and files to enable you to follow our starting on page 94. images and building them into a thumbnail
magazine tutorials. And you'll also find lots of gallery, building all the HTML code ready to be
additional software to help you get the most out Enhance your images uploaded to your web space.
Jeremy Ford is both the online editor of your digital camera. If you prefer a simpler way to enhance digital
and disc editor for Digital Camera For this first issue we are proud to present you images, then take a look at ColorPilot on disc 1.
Magazine. Each issue he'll be gathering with the fully working version of Paint Shop Pro 5. This superb tool adjusts the colour balance ■ Don't miss next issue. Again we'll have two
the best software on CDs for your digital This application has long been regarded as a of poorly taken shots such as where poor lighting packed discs full of essential resources for your
camera. And you'll also find him on the serious, cost-effective alternative to Photoshop. has effected the colours of an image. The results digital camera. On sale 21 November
website updating you with the latest
news, reviews and features on
everything digital camera related
■ Should you have query regarding the

CD or website you can contact Jeremy at
STARTING UP Time to fire up your disc and see what’s in store for you. There’s a
wealth of software at your fingertips and it’s ready to use…
jeremy.ford@futurenet.co.uk
START-UP THE DISC USER AGREEMENT BROWSE THE DISC

01 To get started with the Digital Camera 02 Please read the first screen carefully and 03 Use the menu bar at the top of the
CD-ROMs simply insert them into your click the Agree button to continue. You screen to navigate to the different areas
drive. The interface should run automatically. will be taken to the main screen, for where you can on the disc – simply use your cursor to highlight the
However, if it doesn't, click the Start button and progress to the rest of the disc contents. menu item and click the mouse button. Instructions
select the Run option. Type D:\digitalcamera on how you use each section of the disc are
(where D is the drive letter denoting your drive) included on the interface itself.
and press Enter.

Using our
interface
The CDs are crammed with information
but navigation is straightforward
Our CD-ROMS provide special interactive features to

complement the five digital cameras reviewed in the
magazine. The two discs also incorporate a multitude of
software and resources that will help you to get the most
from your digital camera.
We’ve packed the two CD-ROMs with software, resources
and exciting interactive features. Disc 1 includes a virtual tour
section, providing a hands-on experience for each of the
reviewed cameras.
You can interactively rotate each camera through a full 360
degrees, inspect intricate features in close-up and compare
the quality of example pictures taken with each camera. Next
issue, you’ll be able to rotate up-and-over too!
Disc 2 contains two full products ready for you to install,
along with a library of software including drivers, plug-ins,
utilities and demonstration products to enable you to
complete the tutorials in the magazine.
Easy navigation
Quickly and easily navigate both CD-ROMs using this
intuitive multimedia interface.
Click an item from the top row to select the main section
and the relevant sub sections will be revealed in the yellow
bar below.
Software installation
VIRTUAL TOURS Our virtual tour enables you to get a proper feel for the five digital
cameras we’ve reviewed this issue
Featured software can be installed directly from
the CD by clicking on the install icon displayed.
In each section you will find a description of the
software, additional installation instructions if
required and a link to the product websites
where appropriate.
Virtual tours
Select ‘virtual tours’ from the main navigation
bar to visit this special interactive feature.
The new menu displayed for this section
offers 3D Fly around, detail shots and test shots
for each of the five reviewed cameras. Relevant
website links are also provided.
FLY AROUND DETAIL SHOTS TEST SHOTS Test shots

01 Use the pink arrows to the left and right 02 Nine detail images of each digital 03 We’ve taken test shots in four different This section enables you to compare actual
of each camera image to spin the camera have been provided for your lighting situations to enable you to view pictures taken using the reviewed digital
camera around. Rollover the outside arrows to auto inspection. Zoom in to the required close-up shot by the image quality of the individual cameras. These cameras. Choose a test shot from the four
rotate the camera in that direction or click the inside simply clicking the thumbnail or pressing the include a detail picture, a skin shot, plus indoor and provided and, using the simple drag-and-drop
arrows to manually rotate the camera to the number key shown below each one. outdoor shots. See a large version of each shot by interface, you can select similar pictures from
position you want. clicking the thumbnail or pressing then number key two cameras and compare them alongside
displayed below each image. each other.

Color Pilot 3.86
Do your reds tend to be blue-ish, while your blues are mostly green?
This program has the answer to all your colour-correction problems
* SOFTWARE
SPECIFICATIONS
PUBLISHER INVENTION PILOT
PRODUCT STATUS FULL VERSION
CONTACT INFORMATION WWW.COLORPILOT.COM
AS SOLD FOR $29.95
G
et the white balance or lighting wrong
on a digital camera and your image
colours could turn out to be less than
realistic. So how can you make the sky more blue,
the trees more green and remove that reddish
tinge from granny’s face? OPEN AN IMAGE COLOUR CORRECTION MANUAL TWEAKS
One approach is to use an image editor, like 01 Select File8 Open Image, and use the 02 This picture has a very poor colour 03 The program will correct both colour and
PhotoShop or Paint Shop Pro. These programs can Preview window to browse through balance, especially in the sky. To try brightness, then display the results in a
produce great results, but could be overkill if all the sample images. Double-click on swiss.jpg to automatically correcting it, just select Start on the new window. That’s a big improvement, but the
you want to do is alter a few colours. (And the open it. Color Pilot toolbar. house is still a little dark.
sheer number of colour models can make them
intimidating for the beginner – should you use
CMYK/RGB/HLS?)
If you prefer the simple life, try Color Pilot
instead. Just choose a colour to change, a
reference colour you’d like to match, and that’s it.
You can even use the same reference colours on
multiple images – ideal if you’re preparing pictures
for a catalogue.
COMPARE IMAGES CREATE A REFERENCE COLOUR MAKE YOUR SELECTION

04 Try increasing the Gamma value to 2.0, 05 Close all your images, then open 06 Open PIC38.jpg – that looks better. Click
then click on Start again to create a new PIC41.jpg. This shot looks a little washed- on the Extract new color... button (the
image. Choose Window8 Tile to compare the out, especially in the foreground – can we change one with the Enter arrow) and draw a box around
pictures side by side. the grass colour? an area of grass.
4 Visit the website where you can find

out much more information about this
product and how to use it
DEFINE A TARGET REGION COPY COLOURS LEARN BY EXAMPLE

07 Now we've got a Grass reference 08 Click on Start, then select Window8 09 Keen to learn more? Just choose an
colour, switch back to PIC41.jpg. Draw a Tile to compare the results. Color option from the Examples menu – there
region in the grass here, indicating the colour we'd Pilot has improved the colours, but left the are 15 different choices, explaining all the key Color
like to change. brightness untouched. Pilot features.

Arles Web Page Creator
So you’re putting your photos on the web? Then you’ll want to create an index page –
and here’s just the tool you need
* SOFTWARE
SPECIFICATIONS
PUBLISHER DIGITAL DUTCH
PRODUCT STATUS FULL VERSION
CONTACT INFORMATION WWW.DIGITALDUTCH.COM
AS SOLD FOR $49
A
fter much practice, you’ve finally got a
collection of digital photos that are good
enough to share with the world. Putting
them on a website would seem to be the best
approach, but beware – there are a couple of
potential gotchas you’ll need to avoid. LOCATE YOUR IMAGES BUILD THE INDEX VIEW YOUR RESULTS
For example, it’s not a good idea to put all your 01 Arles Image Web Page Creator needs 02 Click on the All toolbar button, and the 03 Click on the Show toolbar button to see
images on one page. You might have ADSL, but some images before it will work, so click program will create the thumbnails and the index page in your default browser.
lots of other people still have slow dial-up on File locations and use the Source folder box to index pages automatically. This status window will Hmm, it all works as it should, but what if the
accounts, and waiting 20 minutes for all the tell the program where your pictures are located. keep you updated on what's going on. thumbnails are a little too small?
pictures to download will really try their patience.
Some people recognise this, and try to create a
TWEAK THE THUMBNAIL SIZE MAKE HTML ADJUSTMENTS CHECK YOUR CHANGES
04 05 06
4
Click on the Thumbnails tab, and change For more customisation options, click on Finished tinkering? Click on All again to
At www.digitaldutch.com, you can the height and width values from 100 to the Index page tab. Here you can give recreate the thumbnails and image
discover some clever ways to use 200. Leave ‘Lock aspect ratio’ checked to avoid the page a title, or change the size and layout of pages, using your new settings, then click on Show
this application distorting the pictures. the image table. to see the new look.
page of ‘thumbnails’ – smaller versions of your

pictures. Good idea, but if you just scale the image
in your HTML editor, then it will still use the full-
sized version. And your visitors will still have to
wait an age for every tiny picture to appear.
The solution? Bypass all these potential
problems by using Arles Web Page Creator to do
the hard work for you. Just point the program at
your images folder, and it can create the
thumbnails, HTML index and image pages with a
single mouse click. And if you need a more
customised approach, no problem – everything
from the thumbnail size to index and image page
layout can be altered to suit your needs. Arles makes it easy for your website visitors to Get rid of the Nag screen by entering the free Find out what other users have created with
quickly find their favourite photographs Registration key you'll find at www.digital Arles, at www.digitaldutch.com/arles/
dutch.com/arles/extern/netmag_special.html examples/showcase

Upgrade it! …and save yourself some money! Here’s how:
Upgrade to Color Pilot 4

If you want even greater control over image correction, Color Pilot 4 will be right up your street
L
ike Color Pilot 3? Thanks to Digital photograph. Once you have adjusted one image, com/offer/future_cp.html for full details of
Camera Magazine, you can buy Color you can save the changes you made to a the software and the offer. If you'd like to take
Pilot 4.x now with a 5 per cent discount! ‘processing file’. This can then be applied to a Color Pilot 4 for a test drive before splashing
Upgrading to Color Pilot 4.x costs $28.45 number of images in the same folder. out on it, you can download a trial version from
(about £17) and include six months worth Another new feature of Color Pilot 4 is the the website.
of free upgrades! option to create panoramas. This can be achieved At the website you will also be able to view a
Poor colours can ruin the best photographer’s by simply stitching together two or more images series of example, indicating just what Color Pilot
work, but Color Pilot makes it easy to compensate and then making the join invisible. Version 4 of 4 is capable of producing.
4
for poor lighting or other factors leading to the program has newly added support for non-24 - Create collections of frequently-used colours
unsatisfactory colouring. The same technique can bit images, PMG, PCX and PSD file formats. - Batch processing of images
be used to alter the colour of any subject matter – As well as all of these exciting new features, - New Collection Manager
such as the colour of somebody’s clothing or hair. Colour Pilot 4 also includes a number of bug fixes - Store successful processings for repeat use
You can fine-tune the reference
colour you first choose to ensure If you find that you are using the same colour and the improved interface will enable you to - Open several files simultaneously
perfect results every time or a number of colours repeatedly, you can create work even faster. You may not have your images - Support for additional languages
a colour collection using the Collection already stored on your hard drive for editing, but - New Panorama function
Management tool. The new batch processing TWAIN support enables you to capture - Email images from the program
option is a very useful tool if you need to apply photographs using your scanner beforehand. - TWAIN support
the same colour effects to more than one Visit the special order page at www.colorpilot. - New interface
Upgrade to Arles Image Web Page Creator 4

If you liked version 3 of to Arles Image Web Page Creator, take a look at what’s on offer in version 4
T
he latest version of Arles Image Web JPEG images (jpg, jpeg), Kodak Photo CD included in your galleries by using the EXIF tags.
Page Creator not only includes a (*.pcd), Paint Shop Pro (*.psp) and Photoshop If you would like to find out more information
number of bug fixes, but also a wide (*.psd, *.pdd). about this program, you can view the full list of
range of new features to make it even easier to There are a number of new options available features by visiting www.digitaldutch.com.
publish your images online. for displaying your images. Framed galleries can Readers of Digital Camera Magazine and our
The all-new Arles Image Explorer makes it easy now be created with just a few clicks of the sister magazine, .net, can upgrade to the latest
to manage all the images you have stored on mouse, and a slideshow effect can be created by edition of Arles Image Web Page Creator for just
your computer. The Explorer-like interface makes configuring the next image page to be £25 (that's a saving of £16 on the regular price).
4
browsing through your pictures very simple, and automatically loaded after a certain delay. To take advantage of this offer, you will need to
files can be dragged and dropped to re-order Individual images can be customised by simply go to our special offer page, which you can find at
them or moved to another application. Any adding one of three different types of border, www.digitaldutch.com/arles/extern/netmag_
information you enter is automatically saved to a single pixel, button effect or 3D level. You can special.html. Here you will find ordering
The revamped Image Explorer
makes it very easy to browse database which enables you to sort your files. also protect your pictures by adding 3D instructions and a full listing of the great new
through your pictures and view a No matter which image editing program you watermarks to them. features you can use.
raft of information about them have been using to tweak your images, you You can also add drop shadows to images, with If you would like to try Arles Image Web Page
should find that Arles Image Web Page Creator offset, transparency, blur and colour all being fully Creator 4 before you buy, you can download a
supports the format you saved the file. In total configurable. Image EXIF information can be trial version from the website located at
there is support for over 20 file formats including viewed in the Image Explorer, and it can also be www.digitaldutch.com.

Adobe Photoshop 7
Hugely powerful and with more features than ever, this is the image editor used by professionals everywhere
* SOFTWARE
SPECIFICATIONS
PUBLISHER ADOBE
PRODUCT STATUS 30-DAY TRIAL VERSION
CONTACT INFORMATION WWW.ADOBE.COM
FULL PRODUCT COST £525
A
dobe has introduced so many new
features to Photoshop 7 that we can’t
cover them all, but some stand out
from the crowd. The new File Browser, for
example, lets you quickly view thumbnails of the
pictures on your hard drive. Improved Picture
Packages let you print multiple images on one
page, and there are new web tools to simplify the BROWSE FOR FILES USE THE HEALING BRUSH PROTECT YOUR COPYRIGHT
creation of image maps, rollovers and animations. 01 Got lots of photos stored on your PC? 02 Old photos often have scratches, creases 03 If you're putting images on the web,
The new Auto Color option simplifies colour Select File8 Browse to navigate through or marks. Adobe Photoshop now add a Watermark (Filter8 Digimarc8
correction, and a scripting plug-in adds JavaScript. them, and just double-click on one to open it. includes the Healing Brush, to automatically Embed Watermark) it'll help prevent others stealing
clean these away. your work.
IMAGE EDITOR PHOTO MANAGEMENT PHOTO ENHANCEMENT FILE MANAGER PANORAMA BUILDER
Photo Photo Professor Media Panorama

Impact 8 Mail 4.0 Franklin Manager V6 Maker 3
PUBLISHER ULEAD SYSTEMS PUBLISHER GETWARE PUBLISHER STREETWISE SOFTWARE, INC PUBLISHER ACSSOFT INC PUBLISHER ARCSOFT
STATUS 30-DAY TRIAL VERSION STATUS 30-DAY TRIAL VERSION STATUS 30-DAY TRIAL VERSION STATUS 30-DAY TRIAL VERSION STATUS 15-DAY TRIAL VERSION
CONTACT WWW.ULEAD.COM CONTACT WWW.GETWARE.COM CONTACT WWW.SWSOFTWARE.COM CONTACT WWW.INTERLOG.COM/~ACSSOFT CONTACT WWWW.ARCSOFT.COM
FULL PRODUCT COST £81 FULL PRODUCT COST $15 FULL PRODUCT COST $40 FULL PRODUCT COST N/A FULL PRODUCT COST N/A
The new PhotoImpact 8 can acquire You’re proud of your digital photos Turn ordinary digital photos into works AcsSoft lets you build up an album of Who needs a high-resolution digital
digital images directly from your digital (well, some of them, anyway) – so of art, with this unusual and interesting your digital photos, but that’s not all – camera? Panorama Builder takes
camera, scanner or webcam. Once why not share them with your friends? tool. Once you've imported your image, you can add video and audio files, too. vertical, horizontal or tiled sets of
you've corrected any problems with the PhotoMail 4.0 can acquire images from just choose a painting style The completed album can be shared pictures, then combines them to create
host of colour adjustments, you can any TWAIN source (that’s most digital (watercolour, oil, chalk and more), then across the internet, or you can even a full panorama (even a full, 360
enhance your shots with photographic cameras or scanners), then lets you use the mouse to ‘paint’ directly over distribute them on CD (assuming you degree view). Colour enhancement and
effects like the star or spot filters. The email them, or post your images to a your photo. The results can be very have a CD writer, of course). A royalty- image matching are done automatically
bundled web tools are a welcome website. You can even build a impressive, certainly much better than free viewer ensures everyone will be in seconds, so no skill is required (but
bonus, simplifying the task of creating slideshow that others can view without the similar effects filters you'll find in able to see (and perhaps hear) the you can tweak the results manually if
banners, icons, buttons, and other web having to install PhotoMail first. image editors. contents of your album. they're not quite up to scratch).
page components.

PHOTO DOWNLOADER IMAGE ENHANCEMENT IMAGE EDITOR PHOTO MANAGER IMAGE MANAGER
cam2pc 2.0 Camera Paint Shop PhotoAssist Foto

Enhancer 1.3 Pro 7 1.2 Station 4.5
PUBLISHER NABOCORP PUBLISHER MEDIACHANCE PUBLISHER JASC PUBLISHER BURROTECH PUBLISHER FOTOWARE
STATUS FREE/NON COMMERCIAL USE STATUS FREE STATUS 30-DAY TRIAL VERSION STATUS LIMITED TO 10 DOWNLOADS STATUS TRIAL VERSION
CONTACT WWW.NABOCORP.FIRSTREAM.NET CONTACT WWW.MEDIACHANCE.COM CONTACT WWW.JASC.COM CONTACT WWW.BURROTECH.COM CONTACT WWW.FOTOSTATION.COM
FULL PRODUCT COST N/A FULL PRODUCT COST N/A FULL PRODUCT COST £70 FULL PRODUCT COST £9.50 FULL PRODUCT COST £40
If importing pictures from your digital Do your photos sometimes look a little One of the longest-running and most Don’t spend ages managing your digital It doesn’t take long to build up a large
camera is less than easy, then take a flat? Poor contrast, colour imbalances successful shareware programs ever, photos – use a tool like PhotoAssist to collection of digital photos, but
look at cam2pc. It can auto-detect and other lighting problems can be Paint Shop Pro is still one of the best keep things simple. After downloading FotoStation 4.5 is the ideal tool to help
some cameras (see www.nabocorp. corrected in an image editor, but it’s not image editors around. Whether you all the images from your camera in a keep your collection organised. Not
firstream.net/cam2pc for the details) always easy. This clever tool can want to acquire images from cameras couple of clicks, you can freely arrange only can you create albums for your
when they're connected, then enhance your pictures in seconds, and or scanners, tweak colour settings or them into thumbnail galleries. You can pictures, each displaying neat
download any pictures to the folder of requires no special knowledge at all – add special effects, you'll find email photos directly from the program, thumbnails, but you can also attach
your choice, and open them in your just adjust a slider or two until it something to help here (and web and it’s possible to print up to 20 shots comments and keywords to each
favourite image viewer. Bonuses produces the desired result. tools like Animation Studio 3 are a on a single A4 page. picture. (Note: requires a full install of
include support for image renaming welcome bonus). QuickTime 4/5).
and rotation.
Full disc contents…

Not sure what’s on which disc? Just check our full DISC 1 PhotoImpact 8.0 Fuji FISNet
FULL SOFTWARE PhotoMail 4.0 Color Darkroom 1.0
index below and navigate safely around both Paint Shop Pro 5.0 Photoshop 7 FotoPage
packed CD-ROMs DEMO SOFTWARE Professor Franklin's Platinum 2.5
Paint Shop Pro Instant Photo Harry's Filters 2.0
7.04 Artist 1.04 HotTEXT
XPhoto Lite 1.0 Image Doctor
1 DISC 2
FULL SOFTWARE
ColorPilot 3.86
Arles Image Web
Color Pilot 4.42
Arles Image Web
Page Creator 4.94
Melancholytron
1.02
PhotoFrame 2.0.1
Plugin Galaxy 1.5
Page Creator 3.3 FREE SOFTWARE Unplugged
AhaView 1.1 Nick Sharpener
DEMO SOFTWARE cam2pc 2.0
2
AcsSoft Photo Fine View 0.63 DRIVERS
Album & Media Gimp 1.2.4 Kodak Easyshare
Manager 6.0 IrfanView 3.75
ArcSoft Panorama Power Albums
Maker 3.0 2.04
Digital Camera SlowView 1.0 RC1
Enhancer 1.3 UltimateZip 2.7.1
FotoStation 4.5 VCW VicMan's
PhotoAssist 1.2 Photo Editor 6.998

READER OFFER PAINT SHOP PRO 7
Reader offer
Paint Shop Pro 7
1
Here’s your chance to enjoy a massive discount on the very latest version of one of the
most popular pieces of home image-editing software in the world
50%
off the
usual price
T
he PC’s favourite image-editing program is enjoyed automatically remove red-eye and fix blemishes caused by
by over 20 million users worldwide. It’s the easiest, dust and scratches.
most affordable way to achieve pro-looking results
fast. There’s no need to waste time learning a high-end And there’s more…
professional-orientated product, or to use slow, clunky There’s a new Effects preview browser that makes it easy to
programs that are more akin to painting by numbers than add special effects to your images – and you can fiddle around
proper PC image work – Paint Shop Pro can do everything you with over 80 filters to preview effects without committing
want and more. yourself to a decision.
It’s packed with features and is robust enough for The software also comes with an arsenal of colour-correction
professional-calibre image-editing, as well as being easy facilities, including channel mixers that enhance the red, green
enough for artists of all levels. This multi-skilled design program and blue channels in an image by adding percentages of the
is perfect for creating banners, web images and logos, as well
as drawing vectors and fiddling around with photos.
other two channels. You might not know what that means yet,
but Paint Shop Pro 7 makes it simple to mess around and
lt’s packed with features and
Seventh heaven
experiment with ideas.
Paint Shop Pro 7 has a strong web graphics slant, with
is robust enough for
Version 7 is stuffed with great features that make it a worthy
upgrade from the version we’ve given you. The help system
facilities to create and optimise images files for download over
the internet. There are built-in web tools, artistic drawing and
professional-calibre image-
is wonderful – introducing you to Paint Shop Pro’s many
features without having to dip into any jargon. Its interface is
text tools.
And we shouldn’t forget the bundled Animation Shop 3,
editing, as well as being easy
straightforward and fuss-free, with menu commands that which enables you to design impressive animations. enough for artists of all levels
2 Paint Shop Pro 7 really is the image-editing application of choice – see the box
below to find out how to save over 50% off the usual price
How to order ■ Call Digital Workshop on 0870 120 2186, quote Digital Camera
■ Get your hands on this magnificent software Magazine, and you’ll be able to order the program for the special
Now you own the full version of Paint Shop Pro 5, you’re eligible to upgrade price of £41.07 – that’s over £52 less than the normal retail
upgrade to Paint Shop Pro 7 at a reduced price. price. [w] www.digitalworkshop.co.uk

DIGITAL CAMERA MAGAZINE CLASSIFIED
TO ADVERTISE HERE please email dcamclassifieds@futurenet.co.uk
COPY SLIDES/NEGS DIGISCOPING MOUNT

FOR DIGITAL STILL & VIDEO CAMERAS
ONTO TRIED & TESTED BY BIRDWATCHERS

mounts from camera
www.srbfilm.co.uk
tripod socket
DIGITAL 3 sizes
available for
£24.95 eye pieces
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thread (state size) via with full hints & tips, neg
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HOTLINE (01582) 572471 Fax. (01582) 572535 FULL RANGE OF FILTERS & ADAPTORS
E-mail: SRBFILM@aol.com. P&P £1.95 per order. Subject to availability.

DIGITAL CAMERA MAGAZINE CLASSIFIED
TO ADVERTISE HERE please email dcamclassifieds@futurenet.co.uk

4
CAMERASPRINTERSACCESSORIES
Kit covered overleaf
BuyerGuide
Ensuring you make the right choice
Here’s where to find the kit you’re looking for
CAMERAS PRINTERS
138 140
A
s with a traditional camera, the image before it will appear pixelated. control, but you may be able to apply
more you pay for your digital However, the higher the resolution of an exposure compensation for tricky MEMORY CARDS BATTERIES
camera, the more features and image, the bigger its file size and the subjects. Once you get to the £300-£400
better quality images you will get. Bear in more storage space you’ll need. Some price range, lens quality improves, the
mind that digital cameras are more cameras quote two resolution sizes, in CCD resolution increases and most
expensive than their traditional which case the larger image size is cameras incorporate zoom lenses.
equivalents so don’t expect to get print- usually interpolated. Keen photographers should look out for
quality images from a digicam that costs What happens is that the CCD has the cameras that offer a range of exposure
less than £200. number of pixels quoted in the lower modes, from fully-programmed auto to
If you just want to try out digital figure, but some clever software adds shutter-priority and aperture-priority
142 142
photography for fun and only intend to pixels to the image by evaluating automation right through to full manual
use the images to email to friends and the surrounding pixels and producing control over both shutter speed and
relatives or upload onto your website, additional matching ones. This enables aperture. You’ll often get a choice of light
5 steps to safe shopping
then a simple point-and-shoot camera you to print larger images without them metering patterns, too, from all-purpose These days, buying online isn’t the problem it used to be. Improved
security and better knowledge have made buying online a pretty stress-
with relatively low resolution may suit appearing pixelated, but the quality of the ‘pattern’ or ‘matrix’ systems designed for
free option. However, if you follow our checklist below, you’ll reduce
you fine. image suffers. the majority of subjects to ‘spot’ metering further whatever slight chance there is of problems:
If, however, you want to use your that reads the light from a central portion
digicam as your main camera and intend Budget (£0-£199) of the image only.
CHOOSE YOUR SITE
to order prints of some of your images to Cameras in this price range are designed 1 You can’t go much wrong if you buy from one of the
put in an album, then you are going to mainly for snapshots. At or below the High-end (£600+) established retailers. We recommend Jessops.com, Dabs.com
need to consider one of the megapixel £100 price level, you’re into ‘webcam’ High-end digital cameras are designed for and Amazon.com for starters.
cameras currently on the market. These territory – cameras designed to be used those people who want the ultimate in
USE A CREDIT CARD
range from simple point-and-shoot either connected to your computer as both picture quality and photographic 2 If you are buying goods worth more than £100 in total, use a
cameras to fully featured SLR-style ones. basic video cameras, or carried around control. You can expect the range of
credit card. This is because in the event of any problems, you
with you for capturing short movie clips exposure modes and metering patterns are entitled to claim against the credit card company as well as the
Resolution or still images. The photographic features described for mid-range cameras, high- seller (you won’t get your money back twice but the company is there
The resolution refers to the number of are usually pretty basic. You point and quality lenses and extended zoom ranges. to claim against if the seller has gone bust.) You might also get extra
pixels captured by the camera’s image shoot and leave the camera to sort out You’re likely to get other advanced insurance, so check with your credit firm.
sensor or CCD. Early digital cameras exposure and focussing itself. There’s little features, too, like ‘auto-bracketing’. This is NEVER PAY IN CASH
and those at the low end of the market photographic control on offer here, so where the camera takes a series of three 3 If you can’t pay by credit card, use a cheque or postal order
have what is known as VGA resolution these cameras are only appropriate if photos of the same subject in rapid instead. Don’t send cash through the mail, even by registered
with 640 pixels across the image and you’re looking for cheap and cheerful succession, but use different exposures – post. Apart from the risk of theft, you can’t stop payment if you need
480 down. results – though it has to be said that you pick the best exposure afterwards. to, and it’s impossible to prove how much you sent.
At this resolution, an image can only their simplicity of operation makes them Nikon cameras offer a clever ‘Best Shot KEEP A RECORD
really be used for email or for putting on ideal for kids or photographic novices. If Selector’ for low light levels – it takes a 4 Keep records if you’re paying by credit card over the phone.
a website. If you print the image out or you’re at all interested in developing your series of identical shots, but only Print off web pages after you have entered your details on
try to enlarge it, it will appear pixelated. photographic skills, you need to buy at saves the sharpest to the memory card. them. Keep notes of exact times and the name of the person who took
The term megapixel is used to mean a the top end of this price range or you’ll Your camera may also enable you your order, if you’re paying by phone. Always keep your receipts.
million pixels and refers to the total be disappointed both by the results and to change the contrast, colour saturation DON’T USE A DEBIT CARD
number of pixels in an image. For the lack of creative control. and sharpness of your image before 5 Many debit cards don’t have the protection or insurance
example, the Canon PowerShot A10 it’s saved, and some offer a RAW options afforded to credit cards, so avoid using one.
produces images with 1,280 pixels across Mid-range (£200-£599) mode that preserves maximum-quality
the top and 960 pixels across the bottom, It’s in this price range that you start to get picture information for editing on your
4
making the total number of pixels ‘serious’ digital cameras. Towards the computer. It’s also possible to buy CONTACT OUR TEAM
If you have problems ordering the kit you wanted, we’d like to
approximately 1.3 million or 1.3 bottom of the range, makers are still digital SLR cameras, but these start at
know. Email our team at letters.dcm@futurenet.co.uk with details of
megapixels. The greater the number of selling point-and-shoot cameras that may around the £2,000 level and are aimed
your experiences and we’ll do our best to help.
pixels, the more you can enlarge the not offer much in the way of manual at professionals.

BUYER GUIDE DIGITAL CAMERAS
WEBSITE Visit www.dabs.com – the prices quoted below are accurate as we go to press
22
RESOLUTION VS. PRICE
Not sure which camera to get? The following guide build quality will be better and the photos will be fine High-end (£600+)
enables you to see how the type of camera you buy for web pages and postcard-sized prints. If you can get good 4-megapixel cameras for £599 or
influences the pictures you take. less, why pay more? Because lens quality, overall
MEGAPIXEL Mid-range (£200-£599) engineering and photographic features count for a lot.
The measurement of a camera’s
resolution in millions of pixels. The
Budget (£0-£199) This price range is where the bulk of digital cameras fall, You can get good cameras in the mid-range price
general rule is the higher the better. Cameras in this price range will have varying resolutions. and one where you'll see nearly as much variation in bracket, but if you can stretch beyond £600 you'll
Anything from 3-4 megapixels usually Cheaper cameras may offer images measuring just 640 x image quality as you do in photographic features. At the encounter some real class acts.
means good quality. 480 pixels, or ‘VGA' resolution. This might sound okay for bottom of the range are basic 2-megapixel cameras that Not only do the lenses get the maximum definition
screen display or for photos designed for web pages offer reasonable picture quality – certainly good enough from the camera's CCD, the auto-exposure systems
because they'll still take up a good proportion of the for 6 x 4-inch snaps. The image quality will start to are more sophisticated and accurate, as is the auto-
screen. In practice, though, the quality of the camera deteriorate with prints of 7 x 5-inch and above, though. focussing. Both help produce super-sharp, perfectly-
engineering and the chip that records the image If you want to produce enlargements of this size, look exposed shots.
combine to produce still images that aren't really fit out for a 3-megapixel camera. These are cheaper now, But if you save up a little more cash still, you can
for anything. thanks to the arrival of 4-megapixel and 5-megapixel make the step up from 4-megapixel cameras to 5-
You need to go for a 1-megapixel or 1.3-megapixel models, but the image quality is still very good. You can megapixel models. With a 5-megapixel camera, sharp,
camera to get anything like a usable picture, and for this produce A4-sized prints which still look good, but if you smooth-toned A4 enlargements become a reality, and
you're likely to be entering the £100-£199 price range. get close up you will see a difference compared with the you reach a level of quality that's hard to beat, even
It's worth it, though, because the camera design and results from a 4-megapixel camera. with the best 35mm cameras, film and technique.
1 BUYERS GUIDE DIGITAL CAMERAS All the following cameras will be on the market from October 24th
CAMERAS GUIDE PRICES

Category
Compact
Brand
SiPix
Product name
SC1300 & PC200 Bundle
Inc VAT
£229.12
Ex VAT
£195
1
Compact SiPix Stylecam Silver £41.12 £35
Compact SiPix SC2300 £163.32 £139
Compact SiPix Stylecam Blink camera £36.42 £31
Compact NISIS QuickPix QP1 digital camera £29.37 £25
Compact NISIS QuickPix QP3Pen digital camera £75.2 £64
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP 318 digital camera 2.3MP £139.82 £119
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP C200 digital camera AC £35.25 £30
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP 120 digital camera 1MP £88.12 £75
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP 812 digital camera 4MP £304.32 £259
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP PhotoSmart P130 £123.37 £105
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP 320 digital camera 2.1MP £139.82 £119
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP 620 digital camera 2.1MP ZM £182.12 £155
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP 720 digital camera 3.3MP ZM 269.07 229
Compact Hewlett-Packard (HP) Photosmart P7150 £151.57 £129
Compact zoom Hayes Zoom USB camera £57.57 £49
Compact zoom Hayes ZoomCam for iMac £59.92 £51
Compact Epson PhotoPC 2100Z £319.6 £272
FUJIFILM FINEPIX F401
Review on p32 Compact Epson PhotoPC 2100z/Photo 810 Bund £319.6 £272
Camera Epson Image Presentation camera £2,673.12 £2,275
Camera Epson Image Presentation camera £1,404.12 £1,195
Compact Panasonic LC5 £586.32 £499
Compact Panasonic LC20 £222.07 £189
Compact Panasonic SV-AV10 £280.82 £239
Compact Sony DSC-P5 Cybershot £487.62 £415
Compact Sony FD75 Mavica £821.32 £699
Compact Sony DSC-S75 Cybershot £316.07 £269
Compact Sony MVC-FD200 digital camera £433.57 £369
Compact Sony DSC-P31 Cyber-shot £175.07 £149
KODAK DX4330
Review on p40 Compact Sony DSC-P51 Cyber-shot £222.07 £189

CAMERAS CONTINUED
Category
Compact
Brand
Sony
Product name
DSC-P71 Cyber-shot
Inc VAT
£311.37
Ex VAT
£265
1 1
Compact Samsung Digimax 130 digital camera £116.32 £99
Compact Samsung Digicam 200 £163.32 £139
Compact Samsung Digicam 230 £175.07 £149
Compact Samsung Digicam 350SE £304.32 £259
Compact Samsung Digimax 410 £351.32 £299 KONICA KD-400Z
Compact Kodak DX 4900 without dock £304.32 £259 Review on p34
Compact Kodak DX 3500 without dock £163.32 £139
Compact Kodak DX 3700 without dock £213.85 £182
Compact Kodak DX3900 Without dock £257.32 £219
Compact Kodak DX 4330 £269.07 £229
Compact Kodak CX 4230 £175.07 £149
Compact Minolta Dimage5 £504.07 £429
Compact Minolta Dimage S304 £327.82 £279
Compact Minolta Dimage X £304.32 £259
Compact Minolta Dimage 7i £821.32 £699
Compact Minolta Dimage F100 £386.57 £329 OLYMPUS C-4000 ZOOM
Compact Minolta Dimage F100 – Indigo £445.32 £379 Review on p36
Mini BenQ DC300 Mini digital camera £45.82 £39
Mini BenQ DC1300 £75.20 £64
Compact BenQ DC2110 £166.85 £142
Compact BenQ DC3310 £287.87 £245
Compact dabsxchange Pentax EI-2000 digital camera £304.32 £259
Mini Toshiba PDR-3310 £374.82 £319
Mini Toshiba PDR-T10 £205.62 £175
Compact Logitech Clicksmart 310 £49.35 £42
Compact Logitech Clicksmart 510 £99.87 £85
Mini Logitech Pocket digital £88.12 £75 TOSHIBA PDR-T20
Compact Casio QV4000 £428.87 £365 Review on p38
Compact Casio Exilim EX-S1 £264.37 £225
Compact Casio QV-R3 £334.87 £285
Compact Casio QV-R4 £381.87 £325
Compact Nikon E3 digital camera £5,521.32 £4,699
Compact Nikon D1 camera bundle without lens £4,052.57 £3,449
Compact Nikon Coolpix 775 £276.12 £235
USING A PRICE
COMPARISON SITE
SLR Nikon D100 – digital SLR body only £1,878.82 £1,599
The best way to ensure you get the
Compact Nikon Coolpix 2500 £276.12 £235 latest, best price is to use one of the
Compact Nikon D1X – Pro Kit £3946.82 £3,359 internet’s price comparison sites.
Compact Nikon Coolpix 4500 £551.07 £469 These automatically search the web
Compact Nikon Coolpix 5700 £891.82 £759 each day searching for the lowest
SLR Nikon D100 digital SLR kit £2,231.32 £1,899 prices on a range of consumer goods.
Compact Fujifilm FinePix A101 £111.62 £95 There are a few worth looking at – as
Compact Fujifilm FinePix A201 £143.35 £122 well as a number of handy digital
Compact Fujifilm FinePix 2800 zoom £284.35 £242 camera-specific sites too:
Compact Fujifilm FinePix 30i £287.87 £245
Compact Fujifilm Axia-ix 100 £96.35 £82 ■ www.pcindex.co.uk is worth a
Compact Fujifilm FinePix F601 zoom £457.07 £389 look. It’s pretty good on PC-related
Compact Fujifilm FinePix S602 £562.82 £479 stuff, but its digital photography
Compact Fujifilm FinePix 401 £351.32 £299 information is skimpy.
SLR Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro SLR £1,714.32 £1,459
■ uk.kelkoo.com has a good range
Compact Fujifilm Finepix A202 £135.£12 £115
of digital photography stuff, including
Compact Fujifilm FinePix A204 £10.32 £179
second-hand cameras. The major
brands are represented but it’s weak
Compact Fujifilm FinePix S304 £374.82 £319
on the smaller names.
SLR Olympus E-10 Camedia £1,009.32 £859 ■ www.simply-camera-
SLR Pentax EI-2000 digital camera £304.32 £259 prices.co.uk is probably the best of
Mini l’Epsion L’Espion Spy camera £36.42 £31 the three. Specialising in cameras
Compact Olympus C-700 2.1mpixel 10x zoom £398.32 £339 unlike the above, its range is the
Compact Olympus E-20P £1,408.82 £1,199 most comprehensive.

BUYER GUIDE DIGITAL CAMERAS/INKJET PRINTERS
LATEST DRIVERS Here’s a site worth bookmarking: www.windrivers.com contains all the peripheral drivers you’re likely to need, in one simple location
CAMERAS CONTINUED
Category
Compact
Brand
Olympus
Product name
C40 Luxury Kit
Inc VAT
£96.35
Ex VAT
£82
1
Compact Olympus C120 £146.87 £125
Compact Olympus C3020 ZOOM £428.87 £365
Compact Olympus C-4000 ZOOM DIGITAL
CAMERA
£410.07 £349
MAGAZINE
Compact Olympus C300 Luxury Kit £299.62 £255

Compact Konica Revio KD400Z DIGITAL
£346.62 £295
CAMERA
MAGAZINE
Compact Konica KD-100Z £92.82 £79

Compact Konica KD-3000 £257.32 £219
Mini Ericsson MCA-20 communicam £123.37 £105
Compact Canon VC-C4 Communications camera £786.07 £669
Compact Canon PowerShot S30 £468.82 £399
Compact Canon PowerShot S40 £527.57 £449
Compact Canon Vizcam 1000 desktop camera £1,291.32 £1,099
Compact Canon PowerShot A30 £193.87 £165
Compact Canon Ixus V2 £304.32 £259
Compact Canon Powershot G2 B&W 1GB Mdriv £821.32 £699
Compact Canon MV5 £675.62 £575
Compact Canon MV5i £727.32 £619
Compact Canon MV5IMC £880.07 £749
SLR Canon EOS D60 digital SLR £2,113.82 £1,799
Compact Canon Powershot A200 £170.37 £145
Compact Canon Canon AV products XM2 £1,878.82 £1,599
Mini Kyocera Online backup, 1yr subs WinCD £452.37 £385
PRINTERS GUIDE PRICES 1

PAPER AND Category Brand Product name Inc VAT Ex VAT
LIGHTFASTNESS Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 1220C 11ppm USB/Parallel £232.65 £198
There are two basic types of Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 350C £158.62 £135
printer paper and either can Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 350cbi £180.95 £154
make a significant difference to Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 1220PS w. Adobe s/w £370.12 £315
the quality of your prints. Porous Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 990cxi £178.60 £152
paper dries quickly and is scratch Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 990CM 17ppm mono 175.07 £149
resistant. It’s not very glossy and Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 350CBI includes case £233.82 £199
is prone to fade. Swellable paper Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 845c £52.87 £45
takes longer to dry but has a Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 995C £285.52 £243
higher gloss finish and resists Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP PhotoSmart P100 £99.87 £85
fading better. Each type of paper Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP CP1160 colour inkjet printer £139.82 £119
can affect lightfastness, which is
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP CP1700ps colour inkjet printer £428.87 £365
the amount of time your photos
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP CP1700d colour inkjet printer £435.92 £371
will last without fading. This also
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP CP1700 colour inkjet printer £339.57 £289
depends on whether it’s behind
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 1200 14ppm 1,200dpi £257.32 £219
glass and the type of ink used.
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 1200n 14ppm 1,200dpi £381.87 £325
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 1000W 10ppm 600dpi £175.07 £149
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP business Inkjet 2230 £304.32 £259
Desktop Hewlett-Packard Business Inkjet 2280 £457.07 £389
Desktop Hewlett-Packard Colour LJ4500 Fuser £186.82 £159
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 3420c £64.62 £55
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP Deskjet 450CI £222.07 £189
Desktop Hewlett-Packard HP Deskjet 450CBI £269.07 £229
Desktop Brother HL-1650 – 8MB £446.50 £380
Desktop Brother HL-1230 £173.90 £148
Desktop Brother HL-1470N £360.72 £307
Desktop Epson SC1520 1,440dpi 6ppm A3+ £370.12 £315

PRINTERS CONTINUED
Category
Desktop
Brand
Epson
Product name
Stylus Photo 2000P
Inc VAT
£428.87
Ex VAT
£365
1
Desktop Epson Stylus Photo 890 £130.42 £111
Desktop Epson EPL 5900L £158.62 £135
Desktop Epson EPL 5900 £233.82 £199
Desktop Epson EPL 5900N £316.07 £269
Desktop Epson EPL 5900PS £351.32 £299 CANON BUBBLEJET S900
Desktop Epson EPL-6100 £264.37 £225 Find out on p50
Desktop Epson EPL-6100N £351.32 £299
Desktop Epson EPL-6100PS £381.87 £325
Desktop Epson C62 £69.32 £59
Desktop Epson One Touch Bundle – C42Ux/660 £88.12 £75
Desktop Panasonic KXP-7100 Laser £146.87 £125
Desktop Panasonic KXP-7105 Laser £198.57 £169
Desktop Panasonic KXP-7110 Laser £334.87 £285 EPSON STYLUS 830
Portable Panasonic SV-P10 £143.35 £122 Find out on p50
Desktop Canon BJC-5500 720dpi 7ppm A2 port £480.57 £409
Portable Canon BJC-85 720dpi 5ppm A4 portable £198.57 £169
Portable Canon BJC-55 portable printer USB £245.57 £209
Desktop Canon CP-10 photo printer £163.32 £139
Desktop Canon S500 £135.12 £115
Desktop Canon S520 £123.37 £105 EPSON STYLUS 950
Desktop Canon S750 £151.57 £129 Find out on p50
Desktop Canon S820D photo printer £304.32 £259
Desktop Canon LBP -810 £186.82 £159
Desktop Canon S330 photo £76.37 £65
Desktop Canon S530D £240.87 £205
Desktop Canon S830D £292.57 £249
Desktop Sharp AJ-2100 colour photo printer £198.57 £169
Desktop Sharp AJ-1100 £76.37 £65
Desktop Sharp AJ-2200 £84.60 £72
Desktop Lexmark Z35 £55.22 £47
Desktop Lexmark Z65n £163.32 £139
Desktop Lexmark T520 £499.37 £425
Desktop Lexmark E210 £170.37 £145
Desktop Lexmark E322N £428.87 £365
Desktop Sony DPP-SV77 digital photo printer £292.57 £249
Desktop Sony DPP-SV88 photo storage printer £233.82 £199
Desktop Samsung ML-1650 electrophotographic £245.57 £209
Desktop Samsung ML-1651N £363.07 £309
Desktop Samsung ML 1220M £193.87 £165
Desktop Samsung ML7000/7300N/7050 lower feeder £205.62 £175
Desktop Samsung ML-1450 £233.82 £199
Desktop Samsung ML-1451N £351.32 £299
Desktop Samsung ML-1250 £193.87 £165
Desktop Samsung SM151P TFT Porsche designed 15 £99.87 £85
Desktop Kyocera Mita FS-1000N+ £481.75 £410
Desktop Kyocera Mita Drun Unit for FS1000 £327.82 £279
Desktop Kyocera Mita FS-1010 £240.87 £205
Desktop Kyocera Mita FS-1050T £445.32 £379

BUYER GUIDE INKJET PRINTERS/MEMORY CARDS/BATTERIES
BUYERS’ TIP Try to estimate the cost of paper and ink over the prices below. This is because some companies charge less for the printer, but more for the consumables
PRINTERS CONTINUED 1
Category Brand Product name Inc VAT Ex VAT
Desktop Kyocera Mita FS-1010N £452.37 £385
Desktop Kyocera Mita FS-1010T £393.62 £335
Desktop Kyocera Mita FS-1010TN £445.32 £379
Desktop Fujifilm Digital photo printer NX-500 £233.82 £199
Desktop Olympus P400E DYESUB photo printer £468.82 £399
Desktop Ricoh RXP-10 digital colour printer £351.32 £299
Desktop Optrox 6e 600dpi 30bit parallel £81.07 £69
Desktop Optrox 6f 600dpi 30-bit ISA £92.82 £79
MEMORY CARDS GUIDE PRICES

CompactFlash Crucial Technology 16MB CompactFlash Type 1 £13.07 £11.13
1
CompactFlash Crucial Technology 32MB CompactFlash Type 1 £15.26 £12.99
WHICH MEMORY CompactFlash Crucial Technology 64MB CompactFlash Type 1 £23.98 £20.41
FORMAT? CompactFlash Crucial Technology 128MB CompactFlash Type 1 £39.24 £33.40
Almost all new digicams come Card Reader Lacie Hexa Media Drive 6 in 1 USB £45.82 £39
with some sort of removeable
Card Reader Dynalink USB card reader/writer £29.37 £25
storage, usually in the form of
Card Reader Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP CompactFlash reader USB £37.60 £32
flash memory cards. Flash
Memory Stick Sony Memory Stick floppy adaptor £57.57 £49
memory cards use solid state
Memory Stick Sony MSA-CUS1A Memory Stick reader £54.05 £46
chips to store image files.
Smart Media Jenoptik Firewire Smart Media reader £52.87 £45
Unfortunately, there is no
standard format as yet although Smart Media Kodak 16MB Multimedia card £23.50 £20
CompactFlash and SmartMedia CompactFlash Kodak 32Mb CompactFlash memory £22.32 £19
cards are leading the market. CompactFlash Kodak 64mb CompactFlash memory £34.07 £29
CompactFlash cards, CompactFlash Kodak 128MB CompactFlash card £52.87 £45
developed by SanDisk, are about CompactFlash Kodak 256MB CompactFlash card £111.62 £95
the size of a matchbook whereas Card Readers Kodak CompactFlash card reader USB £22.32 £19
SmartMedia cards are smaller Card Readers Minolta CompactFlash card reader £81.07 £69
because they are no more than a CompactFlash Minolta 8MB CompactFlash card £54.05 £46
flash chip on a card and contain CompactFlash Minolta 8MB CompactFlash card £54.05 £46
none of the controllers or CompactFlash Minolta 32MB CompactFlash card £170.37 £145
supporting circuitry. Smart Media Minolta Dimage V Smart Media SSFDC 2MB £11.75 £10
As far as performance goes Smart Media Toshiba Smart media 16MB £38.77 £33
there is nothing really between Smart Media Toshiba 32Mb Smart media for PDR camera £69.32 £59
the different flash cards (Sony SD Toshiba 16MB (SD) Memory card £21.15 £18
Memory Sticks, MultiMedia Cards
SD Toshiba 32MB (SD) Memory card £34.07 £29
and PC Cards also use flash
memory), the main thing is to
check that the digicam you buy
SD Toshiba 512MB (CF) Memory card £233.82 £199
will support one even if there
CompactFlash Casio 48Mb Compact Flash card £57.57 £49
isn't one included in the package.
To be honest, even if your camera Card Readers Fujifilm S1 Pro Firewire Card Reader £99.87 £85
comes with an 8Mb card, you will Smart Media Fujifilm 16Mb Smart Media £17.62 £15
probably want to buy at least a Smart Media Fujifilm 128Mb Smart Media £58.75 £50
16Mb card or higher for a 3- XD Fujifilm x-D 16MB £11.75 £10
megapixel camera. XD Fujifilm x-D 32Mb £17.62 £15
XD Fujifilm x-D 64MB £34.07 £29
XD Fujifilm x-D 128Mb £52.87 £45
Smart Media Olympus M-16PIE 16MB Smart Media card £17.62 £15
BATTERIES A(A/C ADAPTORS/CHARGERS/BATTERY PACKS) GUIDE PRICES

Adaptor Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP AC adapter for 315 camera £35.25 £30
1
Battery Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP rechargeable Lithium-ion £76.37 £65
Battery Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP Lithium-ion battery C912 £41.12 £35
Battery Hewlett-Packard (HP) HP digital camera starter kit £29.37 £25
Battery Canon Powershot S10 battery £29.37 £25
Adapter Sanyo Digicam 200 mains adaptor £88.12 £75
Adapter Sanyo Digicam 300 XGA mains adaptor £57.57 £49
Adapter Sanyo DigiCam 250/350/400 AC adaptor £52.87 £45
Battery Sony F950 camera battery £428.87 £365
Adapter Sony Mavica Stamina battery charger £99.87 £85

BATTERIES CONTINUED
Type Brand Product Name Inc VAT Ex VAT MORE ABOUT
Battery Sony NP-FC10 battery For DSC-P5/P9 £317.25 £270 MEMORY CARDS
Adaptor Sony AC-LS1 AC Adapter Cybershot P £45.82 £39 The number of photos you can
Adaptor Sony ACVF50 F Series AC Charger £35.25 £30 fit on, say, an 8Mb card
Adaptor Sony BCVC10 C Series AC Dual Charge £69.32 £59 depends on the file size of the
Battery Sony NP-22H NiCAD rechargeable battery £57.57 £49 images; and the file size of the
Battery Sony Lithium-ion battery £41.12 £35 images depends on a number
Battery Sony NP-F330 Lithium-ion £34.07 £29 of factors such as resolution,
Battery Sony CR2032 Electronic Lithium-ion £1.76 £1.50 compression, colours, camera
Battery Sony AM4ST-E4 AAA Stamina 4 Pack £3.52 £3 model and the shooting
Battery Sony AM3STE-BM BMW Stamina £3.52 £3 conditions. For example, on the
Adaptor Minolta 2300/2330 Powerbox adaptor £35.25 £30 HP PhotoSmart 318 (a 2.2-
Battery Minolta NI-MH Rechargeable batteries £12.92 £11 megapixel camera), you will
get seven best-quality shots on
Battery Minolta External battery Pack – Dimage £186.82 £159
the 8Mb card supplied, but, on
Adaptor Minolta MainsPower adapter £49.35 £42
the Nikon CoolPix 995 (a 3.4-
Adaptor Minolta AC Adapter – Dimage X £45.82 £39
megapixel camera), you will
Adaptor Nikon CoolPix 900/950 mains adapter £52.87 £45
only get one shot on its 16Mb
Adaptor Nikon CoolPix 600 mains adapter £52.87 £45
card if you go for full size and
Battery Nikon Coolpix 880 Lithium-ion battery £38.99 £33.19 highest resolution setting.
Battery Nikon MBE5700 battery Pack £116.32 £99 Compression formats can
Adaptor Nikon EH-53 AC Adapter 4500 & 5700 £41.12 £35 reduce file sizes by ten-fold and
Battery Nikon MB5000 battery Pack – CP5000 £119.85 £102 more, enabling you to carry
Adaptor Fujifilm BC-80 Fast battery charger £52.87 £45 more images on your card,
Adaptor Fujifilm 3V camera AC adaptor £29.37 £25 often with very little overall
Battery Fujifilm 2HR-3UF rechargeable battery £9.40 £8 loss in quality.
Adaptor Fujifilm BK-NH fast battery charger £52.86 £44.99
Adaptor Fujifilm DX-9/MX-700 Lithium-Ion battery £41.12 £35
Battery Fujifilm Rechargeable battery £34.07 £29
Adaptor Fujifilm AR-FX9 adaptor ring £25.85 £22
Adaptor Fujifilm NP-60 rechargeable battery £34.07 £29
Adaptor Olympus DIMO Adaptor £81.07 £69
Adaptor Olympus C-1400L AC adapter £64.62 £55
Battery Olympus Battery charger + batteries £69.32 £59
Battery Olympus C-1400 battery £17.62 £15
Adaptor Olympus C2000/2500 AC adaptor £64.62 £55
Adaptor Olympus C2000 CLA adaptor £19.97 £17
Adaptor Olympus C-21 AC adaptor £61.10 £52
Adaptor Olympus C960z AC Adapter £41.12 £35
Battery Olympus E10 battery pack Grip&Charger £581.62 £495
Battery Olympus E10 rechargeable battery £287.87 £245
Battery Olympus NHE rechargeable battery pack £52.87 £45
Adaptor Olympus Li-Po battery charger Kit £527.57 £449
Adaptor Olympus C-6AC Adaptor for Digi cameras £45.82 £39
Adaptor Olympus C-3AC adaptor for C-1 C-1 zoom £45.82 £39
Adaptor Olympus BU-60SE overnight charger £29.37 £25
Battery Olympus 4 x NiMH rechargeable batteries £14.10 £12
Battery Olympus AA battery Holder (E-Series) £17.62 £15
Battery Olympus Lithium battery (1 Pack) £10.57 £9
Battery Olympus Lithium batteries (2 Pack) £17.62 £15
Adaptor Olympus Battery charger (E Series) £264.37 £225
Battery Olympus E10 battery Holder – B-HLD10 £19.97 £17
Adaptor Konica AC adapter for KD400z £45.82 £39
Battery Konica Spare battery for the KD400Z £29.37 £25
Battery Canon Rechargeable batteries A10/20 £15.27 £13
Adaptor Canon S30/S40 battery charger £34.07 £29
Adaptor Canon Battery charger for Ixus £34.07 £29
Adaptor Canon AC power adaptor for S30/S40 £34.07 £29
Adaptor Canon ACK500 power supply DC coupler £135.12 £115
Battery Canon MV550i battery Pack £61.10 £52
Adaptor Canon A40 – compact power adaptor Kit £25.85 £22
Batteries Canon CBC-NB1 Ixus in-car battery £37.60 £32
Batteries Canon XM1/XL1 – battery pack BP930 £76.37 £65
Batteries Epson PhotoPC 700 battery £17.62 £15
Batteries Epson PhotoPC 700 battery/charger pack £57.57 £49
Batteries Epson PhotoPC 800 AC adaptor £51.70 £44
Batteries Epson PC850 battery £52.87 £45

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SELECT THE EYES DESATURATE TO GREY

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