digital photo processing?? And a memory card question---

[JessetheCowgirl]

Hi!

I have a Toshiba PDR-3320 digi camera. I am still figuring it out and LOVE the way the pics look on my PC. But, when I take the memory card to Wal-Mart for processing, I am completely unhappy with the prints.

The two options at our Wal-Mart are: Kodak picturemaker prints or 1 hour processing. The Kodak prints look awful--color is WAY off like some faces having a greenish hue. The one hour color looks good, but our Wal-Mart prints on this sort of textured paper?? Matte finish, but the texture makes things look grainy if that makes sense. (The same paper is used on their 1 hour 35mm processing, so I know it is a paper issue).

I prefer glossy prints. So how are shutterfly's prints in quality? Any other ideas??

Question #2==about the memory card. I am computer illiterate We have only used the 8MB card that came with the camera and it will hold 6-12 pics depending on resolution. So when I see a 256MB card, does it hold proportionally the same amount??? As in, 256MB divided by 8MB = 31 times more pics??? So at least 136 pics up to 272??? Or did I just embarrass myself by showing how clueless I am when it comes to computers/digital media.

Thank you

 

[Azptcruiser]

Do not know about your first question, but as for your second, definately get another or a couple of memory cards...depending upon what you can afford. Not certain of the memory card that it uses, I would look at Costco to see if they have what it uses. Costcom tends to have less expensive prices on these items. I just paid $41.00 for a 256mb Sandisk Compact flash for my dig camera.

Also, not certain of the type of batteries that it uses, but I would also recommend that you get two sets of rechargables with a charger, three if you can afford it...I use Nickel Metal-Hydride (Nimh). Why three? One set in the camera; One on the charger; and one set that is carried as a backup.

 

[MarkRG]

I personally never run prints. Just burn them to a cd and you can always print them later if you want. Usually no need to, can always look at them on the pc, or, as my dw does, she does digital scrapbooking with them. Invest in your own film printer if you want prints, then you have total control on what you get. And it doesn't have to be a film exclusive printer either. I'm currently using this one, and in full on photo mode, there is no visible difference from the 'professional' prints. http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=540997

As far as the memory is concerned, read the manual. I am sure someplace in it there is some kind of chart explaining how much memory gets you how many pictures. A lot depends on how the camera is storing the pictures in the memory card, all are not the same when it comes to this, there are a lot of settings in the camera that affect it.

When it comes to cruising, MORE memory the better. The same on the batteries. I totally agree with the above poster, NIMH batteries are THE choice. I personally use the Rayovac Rechargible with the 1 hour charger. And I keep 4 sets, 1 in the camera, 2 charged on my person, 1 in the charger.

 

[ucralum]

Just got my first prints from Shutterfly--LOVE them! The site was super easy to use, even for the technologically-challenged, like me.

 

[absame]

there are a bunch of similar companies. Kodak's is ofoto.com. If we need a lot of prints we upload and let them print. I also bought a canon dye sublimation printer. Neat thing. Prints only 4x6 prints, but they come out dry and look like they came from a photo lab.

Definately buy extra memory. THe 8 mb card they give you is a joke just to show the camera works. We travel with a few 512mb cards and our laptop computer so we can delete and download photos along the way.

 

[Lew]

We tried Walmart's online photo service a few months ago and were completely unhappy with the color quality. We returned them for a refund.

Prior to that and since then, we've used Costco's online photo service which is operated by Kodak. Their quality and service is excellent. 4 x 6 prints are 24 cents each with mailing about $1.50.

We recently purchased Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0. It's great for organizing and fixing photos. I would highly recommend some type of organization program...before Photoshop Album it was a real chore to make any sense out of the photo files on my hard drive. You can download a free demo of Photoshop Album 2.0 Starter Edition to give it a try.

I can't imagine printing my photos directly from the memory chip without first making some adjustments...cropping, fixing red eye, etc. IMHO, by not doing this you're missing one of the biggest benefits of digital photography.

 

[scrapperjill]

Just wanted to add a couple ideas...If you go for printing at home...keep in mind ink cost..and photo paper. I print at home every now and then...but cost of having them printed at a photo shop out weighs buying inks so much...if you know what I mean. I've had prints made at our costo and they turned out great....They don't do the matte finish unless you request it...they norm is on glossy....I like the matte much better so when I saw they were printed in glossy I simply asked if they could be done in matte/luster insead....But that's just here at our Costo...don't know if others are the same.

The memory card....yes the more memeory your card has the more pic's it would hold. As another poster noted..check your manual and you should be able to see an idea of how many pic you camera will take with what size MB card.

Question??? When you had your pics develeped/finished...do you remember what pic quality/resoultion you had the camera set on? The grany look could be due to low resolution setting, and not so much the paper. Your going to get higer quality photos from a higher resolution setting on the camera...but you'll also use more memory on the card that way. So with your 8MB card you'd be able to get about 6 high quality photos.