• It has a maximum color dpi (that’s dots per inch) resolution of 4800 x 9600, and a maximum bit-depth of 48. More bit depth translates into better output because more layers of information exist in the scan. Typically a bit-depth of 24 works just fine, but it’s nice to know you have the ability to tackle any scanning challenge.
• The USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface connects the scanner to your computer. This translates to a faster scan.
• The interface is easy to use – it turns on immediately with zero warm-up time, and large function buttons automate the scanning process. Just select the use for the image, and poof! Your scan is ready in seconds.
• The scanner comes with three mounts: one for regular print film negatives, one for 35mm slides, and one for 120-size negatives. The mounts are very simple to use. To save time, you can batch-scan up to twelve 35mm frames or up to four slides — either positives or negatives.
• The built-in retouching technology removes dust and scratches on those old family photos with an automatic retouch and enhance feature.
• It comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, the easy-to-use consumer version of the industry standard image-editing software program, Photoshop. This robust software program helps you organize, enhance, and share your images once they are scanned.
• The cost is $199.99.

Dear Jennifer,
You now have many more options! Digital cameras have come a long way in a short period of time.
They are better, faster, and less expensive than the original digital cameras.

• You need more optical zoom than a small compact camera can provide. Scrapbooking images look more compelling when you tell a story with your images. That means taking wide shots, medium shots, and close-ups. A sturdy camera with 10x optical zoom allows you to zoom in close from a distance and capture the action much more efficiently.
• A camera over 6 megapixels gives you enough resolution to make large prints and crop in very close to details in your images without losing clarity.
• Higher ISO capability gives you the ability to shoot in low light situations without using your flash.
• A Mode Dial lets you select Scene Modes or full manual control effortlessly.
• A good camera for you would be a Canon PowerShot SX100 IS. It retails for about $300, has 10x optical zoom, 8 megapixels, 1600 ISO and has other great features like Face Detection and Red-eye Correction.

• You can interchange your lenses. This is a big deal. Different lenses give you different looks. You can build your lens cache over time and produce much more professional looking images.
• It has a fast, 3 frames-per-second shooting with a 27 frame rate. That’s a lot of pictures, really fast! Great for your travel and action shots.
• 10.1 megapixels gives you more resolution and the ability to produce large prints and crop close without losing sharpness in your images.
• This camera configuration will stand the test of time. When you decide to purchase a new camera body years from now, you can still use the same lenses.

Dear Steve,
Producing prints that come close to matching what you see on your computer monitor can be difficult and confusing. There are so many variables; even the experts are often stymied by this dilemma. One reason is because an image on a backlit computer screen can never look exactly like a print on paper. Another reason is - digital cameras, computer monitors, and printers all reproduce a different range of colors, called a color gamut. It’s as if your camera speaks French, the computer monitor speaks German, and your printer speaks Italian. Mama Mia, what’s a person to do?
To gain control and consistently produce the prints you want, you need to manage how color is translated to each device. Color management can be very involved, so I’m going to stick to 3 basic steps:

You are not alone! Image organization is a problem that many people are frustrated about. Once you begin to transfer countless digital images onto your computer, the more difficult it can become to keep them in order and find what you’re looking for- unless you have a system in place to organize your images.

• Picasa is a free software download from Google that helps you locate and organize your digital images. It collects and organizes all the images on your computer, scanning the images and automatically sorting them by date. You can also edit and add effects to your photos with a few simple clicks, and then share your photos with others through email and prints, and online. Did I mention that it’s free?
• iPhoto includes a photo-organizing and viewing software program, and it comes bundled with every Apple computer. iPhoto allows you to import, organize, edit, and perform basic enhancements like removing red-eye, cropping, and improving image contrast.
• Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard for professional image-editing, and Photoshop® Elements® is the very robust, easy-to-use consumer version. It’s known for a myriad of retouching and enhancement options but it also includes image-organizing functions to categorize images with identifying information, or search for images by keywords or rating. It’s very easy to use and economically priced (free 30 day trial download on www.adobe.com and under $100 to purchase).

When organizing your images, think about the attributes that will help you identify that image. Some categories might include name, date, location, and the specific event.

On a final note, be sure to back up your images regularly. If you don’t, you are flirting with disaster. Here is a typical scenario: you took a lot of great photos, transferred them to your computer and then ‘poof’ - your computer crashes, something is corrupted and all those wonderful digital images you were saving vanish instantly.

The safest methods for backing up and storing your photos today include CD, DVD, online, external hard drives, and prints- with redundancy for insurance. I suggest backing up your images at least two times, with two different methods, and store them in two different locations. Make an appointment with yourself for an annual image storage checkup - open files to see if they can still be accessed via the current technology and double-check your online image sharing accounts.

A traditional, but tried and true method for saving your photographs is to print them out. You might not print photos as often as you did with a film camera, but there is still a special satisfaction when you are holding a printed picture or viewing it in a frame or a scrapbook, as opposed to seeing it on a computer screen. By using quality inks and paper, you can rest assured that your precious memories will last for generations to come.

I can understand why you want to showcase your images in a larger format- large prints provide an immediate impact and are very dynamic. To ensure that your images look their best when printed larger than the standard 8 x 10” size, a quality printer is required. I would recommend purchasing either a Canon Pro9000 or Canon Pro9500. Both models deliver up to 13 x 19” borderless, gallery quality photos in color or B&W, print on a wide selection of papers, offer print longevity, and include EasyPhoto-Print Pro software. However, these printers do have a few differences that might affect your decision - following is a brief comparison and summary that should help.

• 8 ink cartridges (Red, Green, Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, Photo Cyan, Photo Magenta, Photo Black)
• Dye-based inks.
• Prints on many paper types, from the Canon high-gloss Photo Paper Pro to Canon Fine Art Photo Rag.
• Longevity is 100 years in an archival album, 30 years behind glass, and 10 years in open air.

• 10 ink cartridges (Red, Green, Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, Photo Cyan, Photo Magenta, Photo Black, Matte Black, Gray)
• Pigment-based inks
• Prints on many paper types, but does not print on high-gloss paper.
• Longevity is 200 years in an archival album, 100 years behind glass, and 50 years in open air.

To summarize simply, the Pro9000 is the printer to use if you demand vibrant color detail, want to print on anything from high-gloss paper to Fine Art Photo Rag, and have budget concerns. The Pro9500 is the printer to use if you need vibrant color and more detailed B&W prints with the highest tonal gradation, don’t need high-gloss paper, and budget is not as important as print longevity.

You’ll notice that the Pro9500 uses pigment-based ink and the Pro9000 uses dye-based ink. Is one printer better than the other? My answer is, no! Just like most things we all ponder over purchasing, it depends on your specific needs and what you can afford to spend.

Gone are the days of needing a separate photo printer and film scanner for your images.
Behold the Canon PIXMA MP960 Photo All-In-One Printer! This is a great multi-function printer for your home office or studio. I use mine to print sharp text documents, beautiful photographs, copy, and scan anything from pictures to slides and negatives. It prints on paper from credit card size for wallet photos up to 8.5 x 11” and everything in between. You can even produce prints without connecting to your computer by inserting a memory card and making creative choices right from the printer’s LCD screen. Or you can connect a Pictbridge-ready digital camera or DV camcorder, or create prints by transferring them from a compatible Bluetooth device. The Easy Scroll Wheel makes everything easy to handle and your prints will be fabulous.