If you follow this advice, you will find that your film and digital photography more fun and becomes a little easier. Remember, it's not about the type of camera you use, but is the result!
Film
1. Always check your manual film at the airport. You have the right to ask that they do not walk through the pass through X-rays. The effects of these X-rays are cumulative. Never film (exposed or unexposed) in checkedLuggage.
2. If you are in low-light situations, you can use your ASA film at least two stations, conveniently pushed (eg ASA 100 can be pushed two stops to ASA 400), but not forgotten, to take the finished part "400 characters" and it to a lab that they can handle.
3. Do not use rechargeable 'AA' Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. Each can last for 500 charge and offers a significant cost savings. Buy a set for your camera and a spare set (at least 2000mAh).
4. Get your films or negatives at the time of developing WITHOUT prints scanned. This saves you throw away most of the printers, and allows you to print the desired images.
Digital
5. Consider the purchase of four, 512 MB of flash memory cards and not one, 2GB card. You do not want all your pictures on a card when broken (and when) it.
6. Buy a camera at least 8x optical zoom (4x) for compact and has CamersIgnore the digital zoom. If you have to accept the budget, a digital camera, film, lenses for enhanced picture quality can consider buying.
7. The two major memory cards are SD (Secure Digital) and CFII (Compact Flash). I do not recommend the purchase of another kind, since they are not the norm. SanDisk Ultra II is the best
8. Make sure that your camera has a USB 2.0 or IEEE (Firewire) port for fast downloads on your computer, and in any case a portable card reader formuch faster downloads.
9. Everything you need for 4x6 and 8x10 photos) is a 5MP (mega pixel camera. If you have a little more in your budget, you can go for 6-8MP.
10. Also look for a camera that you receive, allows an optional wide angle and telephoto lens. It will increase your versatility (ie, I would recommend a DSLR) with separate lenses.
11. Photo with the lowest ISO (ASA) is possible and the images on the highest quality for the highest quality and versatility. The highestFiles, the quality is usually recorded in JPEG FINE, TIFF or RAW mode.
12. Practice Custom White Balance, if possible.
13. See above under # 3 film.
Scanners
14. If you have many slides and negatives to scan, I recommend you to their own film and slide scanner to buy. The quality is better and it will scan much faster than a flatbed scanner. A minimum of 4,000 dpi is recommended. Digital ICESoftware is a prerequisite here!
15. If you have a scanner, that they all do not want, then buy a flatbed scanner that has at least 2400 dpi. If it comes with Digital ICE (software that removes dust and scratches), which would be a plus! However, I do not think you are with the slide / negative scans happy.
16. Always scan in TIFF mode for recording the highest number of data. You can always JPEG convert later.
17. The bestSlide and negative scanner is the Nikon Coolscan V ED.
Computer
18. They are your monitor resolution to at least 1280 x 1024, as these give you the option of your photos in detail (see for manipulation later).
19. Need due to the size of the digital, you have a computer that want the following:
a. A recordable DVD (preferred) to back up your images for the shortTerm
b. At least 1 GB of RAM
c. A 100 GB hard drive minimum and a backup hard drive (usually 250 GB min)
d. At least 2, USB 2.0 ports and 1 IEEE connector
e. A separate free digital card reader for your digital camera and allow faster downloads.
Calibration
20. Get used to Color management workflow in your practice so that the colors you saw before you are taken your photo, the colors you get when you print the final output.
21. I recommend a separate system such as Pantone Huey Monitor Calibration that you can achieve very accurate measurements. If you set can not afford but, then again and again that your monitor's display approximately every month, through the control of the computer display.
Software
/> 22 I do not recommend any other package for image processing, with the exception of Adobe Photoshop. It comes in three variants () low, medium and high, Adobe LE, Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 and Adobe CS-3 (I still use CS-2).
23. When you print your images in Photoshop or another package, you'll want a minimum resolution of 300 ppi (pixels per inch).
24. The best color profile is Adobe RGB (1998), since it preserves the highest color gamut. However, if you areWorking with a service bureau, as the images on an sRGB color profile.
25. Be careful how much you crop your images, if you get too much culture, you waste valuable points and closing with an image that is grainy (ie a smaller number of MP).
26. You need a software package that you can organize your photos in a database. This is very important for tracking, retrieval and organization. The best for this iView MediaPro.
Service Bureaus
27. Use a service bureau for the reproduction of dozens of 4x6 or larger photographs. You can often each for less than 12 cents each.
28. Check out the various offices such as Shutterfly.com or snapfish.com etc. The quality of each lab is different and you should test for best results.
Printers
29. If you make many prints at your home or office, Irecommend a separate photo printer. It will be cheaper in the long run, and you will be using the printer for that is what they intended (photos) and not the text.
30. Make sure you have printer has separate ink tanks (at least 6-8), so you need to pay only for the colors and use.
31. Dye inks are the standard type at the bottom. They are not very long, and are not recommended to archive or museum quality work. However, if you just want to print the photos of the familyand friends, these printers are often (under $ 80) are needed all you. The best brands are Canon, Hewlett Packard and Epson.
32. Pigment inks provide greater longevity, and when they are produced on paper manufacturers, will give you photos that last more than 200 years. This is much better than a traditional photo lab. They look at Epson (R series) and Canon.
33. Stick with the manufacturer's inks. 3rd-party inks may clogged the print head and against yourWarranty.
Paper
34. Using the manufacturer's paper first. It will give the best results and allow you with the best longevity, either dye or pigment inks to achieve.
35. Use the correct printer and paper profiles in your printer driver on your computer. This ensures that you will always be the photo that you see in the colors on your monitor.
36. Your photos will be properly protected until then, either under glassor in a plastic (acid free) sleeves. If they are exposed outdoors, then they will not as long as the assessment of the manufacturer.
Backup
37. Always backup your original file first. Never work on an original file. I always make a second copy of my original file on my computer has problems.
38. Make a copy of your "priceless" digital images and store them in another place than home or office. It will give you rest andallow you to preserve precious memories.
Keep learning! Will spur Given the advances in technology and imagination, you must stay involved, otherwise you will risk falling behind. Keep an open mind when they try to maximize the potential of your digital workflow. Above all, have fun! For more information, see http://www.digitalphotoinstitute.com.