Sending photos via e-mail

As much fun as it is to display photos on a website or send pictures via e-mail, photo prints remain the most popular way to share images. And the benefits of home printing are numerous. With a digital darkroom at your command, you can forego the waiting and produce prints immediately. Not to mention that printing your own photos is a real blast! Read on for surefire techniques for getting the best prints from your photo files.

Tips for e-mailing photos

No matter which method you use to send your photos, you'll always want to follow these simple guidelines.

• Verify.
  Make sure your recipient uses an e-mail program (like Microsoft Outlook) that allows him or her to view attachments. If you're not sure, test it out.
  
• Send small files.
  Files that are under 500K work best. And an image resolution of 72 dpi is just fine. Anything larger is overkill and can take too long to open.
  
• Use JPEG format.
  JPEG is a universal format that allows you to compress (or reduce) your photo file sizes for e-mail purposes.
  
• Limit your attachments to one or two.
  They will load faster when your friend or family member opens the e-mail message.
  
• Check in!
  It's always a good idea to check with the recipient after sending photos via e-mail. Ask things like "Was the size easy for you to view?"

You can send a picture via e-mail one of three ways: Download a photo from your digital camera, scan a traditional image into digital format, or send pictures instantly using a digital camera with the Instant Share feature.

1. Download photos from a digital camera
   If you have a computer, a digital camera, and e-mail, you've got the power to send pictures to family and friends in a flash.
   
2. Scan photos
   Sending photos electronically is still possible, even without a digital camera. All you need is the help of a scanner.
   
3. HP Instant Share
   New digital camera features have virtually eliminated any waiting time, so you can share photos instantly. Many HP Photosmart digital cameras feature Instant Share. You can choose from several different destinations, including e-mail addresses and printers. Just pick a digital photo, select the destination (like Grandma's e-mail address) with the press of a button, and connect the camera to a computer or optional HP Photosmart digital camera dock. Presto! The recipient will get a message filled with thumbnail photos and a link to an online photo album … without bulky, complicated attachments to download!
   

Visit the HP Digital Photography Centre