This article sponsored by Canon. Looking
for printing ideas, fun projects, scrapbook
pages, calendars, greeting cards or photo
tips? Visit the Creative Park Web site from
Canon at www.canon.com/c-park. Costco
carries a variety of Canon digital imaging
products, from cameras and DV camcorders
to printers. From input to output, Canon’s
got you covered.
Making your printer
a personal photo lab
THERE’S A SIMPLE SAYING about taking photos in the digital age: If you
care—you share! Unfortunately, many photo takers today are turned off by
complicated steps needed to transfer photos from the camera to a printer or
a software program.
A smart solution is to make your printer into your personal photo-printing lab. Here’s how.
Direct printing from your camera
Top-quality printers have direct printing options, allowing you to print
photos directly from your camera. Use one of the following options to transfer photos to the printer.
Through a cable. With this quick and easy method, you
use the cable that came with the camera. Specify on the
camera the pictures you want to print or share (for exam-
ple, through a Print/Share button). You may also be able
to enhance photos before printing, although any changes
you make will not be saved back to the camera.
With your memory card. Take the memory card out
of the camera and insert it in the proper slot on your
printer (some cards may need a special adapter). Some
printers will make a photo index sheet. Just choose
your photos, choose a size, select simple enhancements,
choose the number of copies, then print.
Wirelessly. Camera phones and other wireless devices
let you transfer photos directly to the printer without
wires. Your printer may require an optional Bluetooth
adapter. It’s a simple process: Set up your device
(phone, PC or PDA) according to manufacturer’s directions. Then, select the photo, select the printer and
transfer (“beam”) the photo.
Quick photo improvements
Some printers offer tools to make basic improvements to your photos
without bringing the photo into a software program. In these cases, you can
make your photos better with tools on the printer. These tools may include:
One-touch image enhancement. Uses face detection and scene analysis to
evaluate an image, then applies enhancements (if needed). Canon Auto Image
Fix, for example, corrects backlighting, fogging and over- or underexposure,
and adjusts face tones while adjusting the background.
Red-eye reduction. Removes the effects of flash photography.
Color adjustment. Adjusts brightness or contrast, makes background colors
more vivid without distorting skin tones and lets you try special effects.
Face correction. Corrects out-of-focus faces, smoothes facial lines and adjusts
skin tone.
