Introduction

What's in this book?

Part 1: Gearing Up

Part 2: Easy Does It: Taking The Fast Track to Great Pics

Part 3: Moving Beyond Full Auto

Part 4: From Camera To Computer And Beyond

Part 5: Part Of Tens

Appendix

Icons and other conventions used in this book

What do I read first?

Part 1: Gearing Up:

Choosing your first (or next) digital camera:

Choosing a basic camera type

dSLRs: not just for pros anymore

Mirrorless compact system cameras

Rangefinders

Fixed-lens, point-and-shoot cameras

Gadget cams

Getting specific: what features do you need?

Understanding resolution

Assessing sensor size

Looking at lenses

Considering viewfinder options

Finding a low-light performer

Exploring make-it-easy features

Stepping up to advanced features

Getting the speed you need

Evaluating video capabilities

Reviewing a few other fun (and practical) features

So-is it time for a new camera?

Getting more shopping guidance

Extra goodies for extra fun:

Buying and using memory cards

Shopping for memory cards

Care and feeding of memory cards

Protecting your camera

Steadying your camera

Adding a few filters

Equipping your digital darkroom

Tablet computers

Desktop or laptop computers

Sorting through software solutions

Free entry-level, photo-viewing and editing programs

Advanced photo-editing and browsing programs

Grabbing a few handy extras

Part 2: Easy Does It: Taking The Fast Track To Great Pics:

Getting your camera ready to go:

Juicing up: checking the batteries

Working with memory cards

Adjusting the viewfinder to your eyesight

Looking at a few setup options

Setting the resolution and file type

Resolution: how many pixels are enough?

Pixels and print quality

Pixels and screen images

Pixels and file size

Setting the file type

JPEG

Camera raw

TIFF

Easy does it: great photos in automatic mode:

Composing a stronger image

Following the rule of thirds

Creating movement through the frame

Working all the angles

Editing out the clutter

Giving them room to move

Taking your first pictures

Setting the focus mode: auto or manual?

Choosing an automatic exposure mode

Reviewing other critical capture settings

Pressing the shutter button

Part 3: Moving Beyond Full Auto:

Taking control of exposure:

Understanding exposure

Introducing the exposure trio: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO

Doing the exposure balancing act

Adjusting f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO

Choosing an exposure mode

Getting good autoexposure results

Using "priority" exposure modes

Solving autoexposure problems

Applying exposure compensation

Choosing the exposure metering area

Expanding tonal range

Bracketing exposures

Adding flash

Using a built-in flash

Using an external flash

Adjusting flash power

Manipulating focus and color

Diagnosing focus problems

Understanding focusing systems

Working with fixed-focus cameras

Taking advantage of autofocus

Focusing manually

Showing some depth of field

Controlling color

Exploring the world of digital color

Using white balance to solve color problems

Using white balance for effect

Shooting raw for absolute color control

Exploring even more color options

Getting the shot: how the pros do it:

Capturing captivating portraits

Shooting better action shots

Taking in the scenery

Getting gorgeous close-ups

Broadening your horizons: shooting panoramas

Coping with special situations

From Camera To Computer And Beyond:

Viewing and downloading your pictures:

Taking advantage of playback options

Downloading your images

Look at your downloading options

Tips for smoother downloading

Downloading from a card reader

Downloading from the camera

Converting raw files

Printing your pictures:

Getting prints from a lab

Buying a photo printer

Inkjet printers

Laser printers

Dye-sub (thermal dye) printers

More printer-shopping tips

Avoiding printing pitfalls

Checking resolution: do you have enough pixels?

Getting print and monitor colors in sync

Choosing good quality paper

Printing your own photos

Printing from windows live photo gallery

Printing from Apple iPhoto

Seeing things in black and white

Publishing your own coffee-table book

Onscreen, Mr Sulu!:

Step into the screening room

Preparing pictures for screen display

Creating web-friendly copies in windows live photo gallery

Prepping photos using Apple iPhoto

Nothing but Net: photos on the Web

Viewing photos on a TV

Creating a slide-show screen saver

Creating a windows screen saver

Creating a Mac screen saver

Hanging photo wallpaper

Creating wallpaper in Windows 7

Hanging wallpaper on a Mac

Part 5: Part Of Tens:

Ten great online resources:

Digital photography review

Imaging resource

ePHOTOZINE

Digital photo magazine

Outdoor photographer

Shutterbug

Strobist.com

Photo.net

PhotoWorkshop

Manufacturer Websites

Top ten maintenance and emergency care tips:

Keep spare batteries on hand

Use the strap!

Safeguard your memory cards

Clean the lens and LCD with care

Update your Firmware

Protect your camera from the elements

Clean the image sensor

Back up your images regularly

Use image recovery software to rescue lost photos

Clean out your computer's hard drive

Appendix: Glossary of digital photography terms

Index

Peering through the Digital Viewfinder

Filmless Fun, Facts, and Fiction

Film? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Film!

Fine, but Why Do I Want Digital Images?

But Can't I Do All This with a Scanner?

Now Tell Me the Downside

Just Tell Me Where to Send the Check...

Mr. Science Explains It All

From Your Eyes to the Camera's Memory

The Secret to Living Color

Resolution Rules!

Lights, Camera, Exposure!

In Search of the Perfect Camera

Mac or Windows

Does It Matter?

You Say You Want a Resolution

The Great Compression Scheme

Memory Matters

To LCD or Not To LCD

Special Breeds for Special Needs

What? No Flash?

Through a Lens, Clearly

Exposure Exposed

Is That Blue? Or Cyan?

Still More Features to Consider

Sources for More Shopping Guidance

Try Before You Buy!

Extra Goodies for Extra Fun

Memory Cards and Other Camera Media

Download Devices

Long-Term Picture Storage Options

Software Solutions

Camera Accessories

Mouse Replacement Therapy

Ready, Set, Shoot!

Take Your Best Shot

Composition 101

A Parallax! A Parallax!

Let There Be Light

Focus on Focus

Shifting Depth of Field

Digicam Dilemmas (And How to Solve Them)

Dialing In Your Capture Settings

Balancing Your Whites and Colors

Composing for Compositing

Zooming In without Losing Out

Catching a Moving Target

Shooting Pieces of a Panoramic Quilt

Avoiding the Digital Measles

Dealing with Annoying "Features"

From Camera to Computer and Beyond

Building Your Image Warehouse

Downloading Your Images

Now Playing on Channel 3

File Format Free-for-All

Photo Organization Tools

Can I Get a Hard Copy, Please?

Printer Primer

How Long Will They Last?

So Which Printer Should You Buy?

Comparison Shopping

Thumbing through Paper Options

Letting the Pros Do It

Sending Your Image to the Dance

On-Screen, Mr. Sulu!

Step into the Screening Room

That's About the Size of It

Nothing but Net: Photos on the Web

Drop Me a Picture Sometime, Won't You?

Tricks of the Digital Trade

Making Your Image Look Presentable

What Software Do You Need?

How to Open Your Photos

Save Now! Save Often!

Editing Safety Nets

Editing Rules for All Seasons

Cream of the Crop

Fixing Exposure and Contrast

Give Your Colors More Oomph

Help for Unbalanced Colors

Focus Adjustments (Sharpen and Blur)

Out, Out, Darned Spots!

Cut, Paste, and Cover Up

Why (And When) Do I Select Stuff?

Selection Moves, Copies, and Pastes

Deleting Selected Areas

Digital Cover-Ups

Hey Vincent, Get a Larger Canvas!

Amazing Stuff Even You Can Do

Give Your Image a Paint Job

Spinning Pixels around the Color Wheel

Uncovering Layers of Possibility

Turning Garbage into Art

The Part of Tens

Ten Ways to Improve Your Digital Images

Remember the Resolution!

Don't Overcompress Your Images

Look for the Unexpected Angle

Light 'Er Up!

Use a Tripod

Compose from a Digital Perspective

Take Advantage of Image-Correction Tools

Print Your Images on Good Paper

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Read the Manual (Gasp!)

Ten Great Uses for Digital Images

Design a More Exciting Web Site

E-Mail Pictures to Friends and Family

Create Online Photo Albums

Add Impact to Sales Materials

Put Your Mug on a Mug

Print Photo Calendars and Cards

Include Visual Information in Databases

Put a Name with the Face

Exchange a Picture for a Thousand Words

Hang a Masterpiece on Your Wall

Ten Great Online Resources for Digital Photographers

www.dpreview.com

www.imaging-resource.com

www.megapixel.net

www.pcphotomag.com

www.pcphotoreview.com

www.peimag.com

www.shutterbug.net

rec.photo.digital

comp.periphs.printers

Manufacturer Web Sites.