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How do I transfer my pictures from my camera to my computer? How do I attach a picture to an email? I have 4 copies of all of my pictures! I can’t find my pictures! These are the problems I hear about again and again, and the solutions always boil down to file management.
The main secrets to de-stress image file management are to always:
- File the files in a subfolder of My Documents/My Pictures
- Use an image management program such as Picasa or Adobe Photoshop Elements to display/edit/organize/create slideshows etc.
Using My Documents/My Pictures to file images
If you haven’t learned file management yet, now is the time. This is a must-have understanding for working with all files, but especially image files. It’s very similar to a paper filing system, using folders and subfolders to logically organize information. For guidance on a PC, go to Start>Help and Support>Windows Basics>Core Windows tasks>Working with files and folders.
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Personally, I file my images in subfolders of My Documents/My Pictures by year. This system allows me to easily find images to work with them in image editing programs, attach them to emails, or back them up in a logical fashion.
New folders and subfolders can be created in the process of transferring the images from your camera card to your computer, or by going to Start/My Documents/My Pictures, and selecting Make a new folder from the task bar at left. Type in the new folder name and press Enter on the keyboard. To create a subfolder of the folder you just created, double click that ‘parent’ folder and select Make a new folder from the task bar at left, type in a name, press Enter again.
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To look at your files after they have been transferred from your camera or card, go to Start/My Documents/My Pictures and open whatever subfolder(s) you have created to get to the files with which you want to work. Once the folder with your files is open, click the View menu and select Thumbnails to see thumbnails of all of your images. Then click View>Details to see the details of your images, including file size and the date the picture was taken (very useful information!).
Check out Filmstrip view too while you’re at it. |
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Select an image file (single click it) and use the task bar at the left to view your images as a slideshow, move, copy, delete, print, rename and back up your files to a CD or DVD (if you have a burner) etc.
Note that the ‘Email this file’ tool won’t do you much good unless you use Outlook Express or Outlook (ah Microsoft). |
Using image management software
Organizing image files in subfolders as described above is Step One of managing your files. As described above, you can do a lot with the files simply by opening the folder they are in, but there are limitations to that system. So, after filing the images, you need to open the images using image management software which enables you to:
- See images in more than one folder at a time
- Edit images
- Resize images (important to prepare them to send via email)
- Put keywords/tags on images (enabling you to quickly find like images)
- Create projects such as slideshows/cards/calendars etc.
Note that many of these features are available in the new Windows Vista Operating System (replaces Windows XP).
Personally, I use Picasa to do my preliminary image editing (cropping, redeye, color/brightness correction etc), then I use Photoshop Elements for more advanced editing if desired (adding text, correcting blemishes etc.). Remember that images DO NOT BELONG to any one program – you can open them from the folder in any number of different programs.
I cover file management and image editing software in my Digital Image 101 class – please click here for more details about this class and my Digital Camera 101 and Picasa classes. I also offer one-on-one training, and work with small private groups at their convenience.
Happy Snapping!
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