| Digital cameras usually come with with editing | | | | be sure to consider the need for a full-color |
| software. They provide basic editing tools including a | | | | photography printer ideally with CD imprint capabilities. |
| red-eye reduction and cropping. Some have instant fix | | | | Depending on your needs, you may want to include |
| tools that are intended to correct color and lighting, but | | | | video editing software options that will allow you to |
| they can damage your photos with irreversible | | | | integrate your photographs in short movies and |
| correction where you have not saved a RAW file to | | | | audio-video presentations for home or work. CD and |
| return to if need be. To make the most of your photos | | | | DVD burner capabilities make sharing, archiving, labeling |
| you will need to invest in a graphics software program. | | | | and storing the creations you make from your |
| Investigate the various software packages out there | | | | photographs much easier. |
| to ensure quality. | | | | 4. Scrapbooking |
| 1. Basic Tools | | | | A popular new use of digital photographs is for digital |
| The software should include basic tools like cropping or | | | | scrapbooking. It is a great way to present your |
| cutting a portion of the photograph in one easy step. | | | | photographic treasures to family and friends. Digital |
| There should be a tool to combine various elements | | | | cameras can be used to document artifacts, art and |
| from different images to make a collage. It is essential | | | | items you want to sell on the Internet. Digital |
| to have a manual adjustment tool for brightness and | | | | scrapbooking and gallery techniques with related |
| contrast. You will need a software editing tool that | | | | software will assist you in achieving the best result. |
| allows you to adjust the color balance and saturation. | | | | Scrapbooking software may include tools for restoring |
| Filtering tools will ideally include custom, CC or Wratten | | | | old or damaged photographs and for retouching dirt |
| filters. The tool that allows you to convert the image | | | | specks and scratches. The software will have settings |
| color to black and white should include several editing | | | | for sharpening and unsharp, masking, removing |
| options. Two of the most common are greyscale and | | | | distracting backgrounds and creating album pages. Be |
| duotones. | | | | sure the software includes tools for resizing images, |
| 2. Dodge, Burn, Smudge Tools | | | | monitoring and changing the photographs dots per inch |
| Other important Digital Art tools that will assist you in | | | | or dpi resolutions. Resizing should provide several |
| making artistic statements with your photographs | | | | measurement options including per inch. |
| include global or selective dodging, burning, blurring and | | | | 5. Placing Images On The Web |
| mosaic. More advanced editing programs include | | | | Try Java Script if you want to edit images on the |
| vignetting, linen, solarizing, posterizing and embossing. | | | | internet. This allows you to manipulate your photos in a |
| Most wordprocessing and photo editing software | | | | variety of ways using mini programming techniques. |
| provide image management options today that allow | | | | Java Scripting may become an artistic goal of your |
| you to place an image in front of text, in-line with text | | | | photography and thus inspire a variety of options while |
| or behind text. Sophisticated desk-top publishing | | | | you are taking photos. |
| software will provide text and image boxes to | | | | Digital photography can be shared with anyone who |
| manually place your material. | | | | has internet access! That is ample motivation for |
| 3. Printing Options | | | | presenting the best image we can produce with the |
| Photo editing software should allow for a variety of | | | | time and resources we have. Become more familiar |
| print options including duplex printing and large format | | | | with editing programs and make the best out of your |
| document prints. When buying computers and printers | | | | keepsakes. |