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Transferring images...
Storage in the camera is only meant to be temporary. When you want to use
or edit the images, or make room for new ones, you transfer the images on
the card to the computer.
Almost all digital cameras come with software that will transfer your im-
ages for you as do newer photo-editing and image management programs.
As useful as these tools are, you should also know how to use your operating
system’s tools. Here are some reasons why:- Availability. Operating system tools are on every computer of the same
type, anywhere in the world. - Change. If you change applications, what you have learned about operating
system tools remains useful. What you have learned about the old application
might as well be forgotten. - Control. Many programs have a mind of its own and rename and store files
in a manner you may not choose were you given the choice. Operating system
tools let you use your own file management system.
Regardless of how you transfer the files, you have to choose whether to move
or copy them. - If you move files from the camera’s storage device, they are first copied
to the computer and then deleted from the storage device. If anything goes
wrong during the transfer you may loose image files. - If you copy files, they are not automatically deleted from the storage
device. You either have to do that using your computer or one of the camera’s
commands. Although deleting the images after the transfer is an extra step,
this procedure is safer than moving files because if anything goes wrong you
still have the original images on the card.
To transfer files you have to connect the camera or memory card to the com-
puter or other device and there are a variety of ways to do this.
CArd reAderS And SlotS
One of the most common ways to transfer images to a computer is using a
card reader or card slot that accepts your card with or without an adapter.
Card slots are increasingly being built into computers, printers, and even TV
sets. If your system doesn’t have one, there are inexpensive card readers that
will plug into a USB port.Card readers are
often connected to a
computer’s USB port,
or may even be built in.
Cards inserted into a
slot are treated just as
if they were removable
hard drives. Cards
vary in size and have
different connections so
many readers now have
a variety of slots.
Photo courtesy of PQI
atpqi1st.com.
Some home printers,
print kiosks in public
locations, and even TV
sets have slots that
accept cards directly
from your camera
so you can view or
print images without
a computer. Courtesy
of Hewlett Packard at
hp.com.
If a card is smaller
than a slot, or if your
notebook has an
ExpressCard Slot you
can usually find an
adapter that mates your
card to the slot. Here
is Delkin’s adapter that
lets you read CF cards
in an Expresscard slot.
Some adapters accept
a variety of cards
Courtesy of Delkin.
Click for an animation
on dragging and
dropping files.
trAnsFerring imAges