CAUTION: It's important not to lose any data when transferring
your images. Some software offers to change the resolution or otherwise
edit your images during the transfer process. Don't let this tempt you
to take shortcuts–you should always save an original, or RAW,
file from which to work, allowing you to revert to an original
photograph should your editing go wrong.
UPLOADING DIRECTLY FROM CAMERA TO COMPUTER:
1. Install the software that came bundled with your camera and
assemble all the transfer hardware that you have as well.
2. Use the AC adapter for your camera when transferring images
directly to your computer. Don’t use your battery power if you don’t
have to.
3. Connect the USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable that came with your
camera to the camera and then insert the square plug into the USB port
on the back or front of your computer.
NOTE: Cabled transfer is the slowest form of image
transfer, but usually is the only way to view camera functions and
photographic file information. Some cable solutions allow you to
actually control your camera, including taking pictures directly to
your computer. Cabled transfer requires that your PC interconnect
with your camera's electronics and software, so it depends on your
manufacturer’s transfer software to complete the process.
4. Some forms of transfer software may even work like other device
drivers for your computer, making the camera show up as a device
alongside your hard disk, CD-ROM drive, or printer. Software of this
type allows the greatest flexibility, because it allows you to
transfer your photographs without otherwise processing the images.
USING A DIGITAL MEDIA READER
Most digital
cameras today use a removeable ditigal media card to store photographs.
With one of these cards, you can directly access the files as you would
any other type of disk. To do this, you will need a digital media
reader, a device, that when plugged into your USB port on your
computer, allows you to access it like either a hard drive or floppy
disk. You shouldn’t have to spend more than $10 to buy a multi-card
reader. Using this method, you can transfer your image files at hard
disk speeds. And with the size of image files in newer digital cameras,
this is a plus.
1. Plug the reader into your USB port. If you can, leave it plugged
in. But you may find that you only have one or two USB ports. Purchase
a USB hub (the USB equivalent to an electrical power strip) for about
$10, so that you have USB ports available for all your devices.
2. Insert your digital media card into the reader.
3. Click on My Computer and then double click on Removeable Disk
(whatever letter your computer assigned to it. This will open a window
for your reader in which you will find a folder icon.
4. Double click on the folder icon in your Removeable Disk window
and it will open it up to reveal all the photo files on the card.
5. Go back to My Computer and double click on your hard drive. This
will open a second window for it. Create a master folder called IMAGES.
Open this and then create a new folder for each photo session. DO
NOT put all your photo files in one folder.
6. Reduce the size of both the C: Drive window and the Removeable
Disk window by clicking on the center icon at the top right corner of
your screen. This will make both smaller than the full screen.
7. In the Removeable Disk window, go to EDIT at the top of
the window and click on SELECT ALL. This will highlight all the
files in the window.
8. Carefully put your cursor on any file that highlighted and click
on it. While holding down the mouse button, drag your cursor–and the
files–over to your new photo session folder on your hard disk. The
files will automatically begin to upload to your computer.
9. When the process is finished, go back to your Removeable Disk
window. Go to EDIT once again, and once again click SELECT
ALL. Then click delete. All the files will then be deleted and you’ll
have a fresh disk to insert into your camera for more photos.
NOTE: DO NOT take your digital media card out of the
reader until you close the Removeable Disk window and wait a few
seconds. This gives your computer’s hard drive a chance to
register the transfer.