how to save pics on computer

[rosspj59]

Is it best to save pictures on the hard drive or where? I'll admit that I am not very computer literate, thanks for any help. I have loaded the Kodak picture program from the discs that came with the camera. That is as far as I have gone.

[Royce Aardahl]

I usually save them in My Pictures in My Documents. Make a file for different things and it helps.

[Quackaddict9]

when you get a virus and have to restart the computer program with everything restarted up, you lose the pictures. not cool.

[Steve Foss]

Ross: Here's a post I had up awhile back. You don't need to go to such lengths, maybe, but pro or amateur, no one likes their photos to die with their hard drives.

With the upsurge in popularity of digital photography, from the smallest compact to the largest professional bodies, there are a couple ways to avoid the heartbreak of computers crashing and costing us digital images we can never replace.

I had my 250 Gb supplemental hard drive die a couple months back. I got a new one on warranty, and 95 percent of all I had on there was backed up on other format. A narrow miss, and the only stuff I lost was unimportant.

Here's how I download, process and back up digital images. Others may do it other ways, but this way covers all the bases, I think.

1. Download from memory card to dated folder in computer. Ex: 8-11-05 Basswood Lake. If you don't have a card reader you simply download them through the USB cable onto the desktop.

2. Remove card from reader and put it back in camera (or disconnect cable) but do not erase images from camera yet.

3. Go through images on computer and throw away those that you don't want. I shoot RAW plus small jpeg. I use RAW because of the flexibility and big enlargements it allows, and attach a small jpeg to each image because I can quickly pull up each jpeg and see if I want to keep the image.

4. Once the discarded images are gone, go back and give the ones you want names. If you're shooting RAW, make sure you leave the extension on the end of your filename. With my Canon 20D it's a .CR2, so a filename might read chickadeeflies.CR2. If they're jpegs, you don't have to worry about an extension. Naming your images makes it a lot easier to find the ones you want later.

5. OK, now your folder is in shape. Burn it onto CD or DVD. CD will allow less, about 700 Megs, while a DVD can handle a few Gigs. I have only a CD burner. Anyway, burn the folder onto TWO separate discs. File one at home, one in another location. Some pros have safe deposit boxes or other fireproof locations. The vast majority of folks who are shooting just to have fun or to capture the memories of a lifetime don't need to go to those lengths, but by filing one copy at home and another copy somewhere else, you not only protect against losing images from computer crash (an all-too-common occurrance), but from a fire or flood or other mishap at home. Whether you are a pro or an amateur or are just fooling around with digital, you still don't want to lose your work.

6. Once the discs are burned, erase the images from the memory card and you're ready to do it all over again.

[jonny_redhorse]

great info Steve!...now,all we have to do is take the time to do it!....no procrastination...lol!(actually I have already) but I'm sure there's people out there that haven't.....jonny

[rosspj59]

I did not get the pictures to the computer. I have a problem transferring from the printer doc to the computer. I little kodak icon shows up in the lower right corner of the screen but when I try to transfer an error comes up saying there is no connection for a transfer to be made. Looks like I will be on the phone with Kodak sometime. Darn technology. USB connection works fine for my internet but not with the printer doc. My frustration level was high last night.

[Steve Foss]

ross, if you have a memory card in your camera (almost all the digitals from all the makers use some form of memory card), you can simply spend $10 and buy a card reader. It's possible that, because Kodak uses a loading dock, they don't have a memory card in the camera, and then a reader won't do you any good. But if you use a card, the readers come 8-in-1 or 7-in-1 or so, and read all the major formats of cards. You just plug it into a USB port and stick your card in the right slot. An icon will appear on your desktop, and you can open it and drag all the jpegs over to a folder and SHAZAM, you've got pictures on the computer. And you don't need any type of software to make the transer. It's also the fastest way to transer pics from camera to computer. Any computer store will have card readers, as do tons of Online stores.

I keep one card reader hooked up to my computer at home and another one in my camera bag in case I'm out of town and need to download images. They work with most any Mac or PC.

[rosspj59]

Thanks for all the info stfcatfish! Kodak said to do a repair under add/delete on the control panel and it worked. Yeah! I will probably invest in the card reader too. Thanks again.