The Kenningtons

Digital Cameras for Teachers

Introduction to Digital Cameras

B. What do you plan to do with your photos?
_____ 1. Use the images on web pages, online galleries, or with email
_____ 2. Import pictures into a word processing document or presentation
_____ 3. Print 4x6 photos
_____ 4. Print 8x10 photos
_____ 5. Make panoramas
_____ 6. Make photo collages
_____ 7. Make printable photo albums
_____ 8. Store photos and slideshows on my computer, CDs or DVDs

Megapixels: what are they?

Since your camera's image quality is determined by the amount of color information available in digital format, the greater the detail, the bigger the file size. The more pixels, or digital color units, that your camera can handle, the greater the resolution of your camera in megapixels.

It doesn't hurt to have more megapixel power than you may need, giving you room to grow as you understand your camera better, and as you learn to use photo editing software.

A one-megapixel camera or less (often the resolution of cell phone cameras or web cams) is adequate for emailing or use in web pages. Two megapixel cameras are fine for emailing and web images as well as printing 4”x6” prints. Three-megapixel cameras can print up to 8”x10” quality prints, although the file size may prove too large for email.

Some cameras have email options and will take photos of two different sizes, one for print, and one for email.

Four or five-megapixel cameras and higher will produce professional quality images at large sizes. A tiff-format image of 10 megabytes and up is not unusual. These cameras usually have advanced features for serious amateurs and professional photographers who are familiar with photo editing programs such as Photoshop.

*Remember that you can always decrease the size of a picture file, but you can't increase the quality and resolution of a too-small picture.

Digital Cameras for Teachers

EOU Malheur County Center (541) 889-7468 or (541) 889-6222

pjrkennington@yahoo.com

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