Simplifying printing for computer un-savy parents

[dbump]

I'm migrating my in-laws to their first digital camera, and and I'd like them to have a completely positive experience with it. They use a computer semi-regularly, but it's essentially black magic to them. Any thoughts on tools/techniques that would make it really simple for them to choose the images they want to print, and copy them to their memory card, so they can take it to a local print shop?

After playing with ZoomBrowser (which I don't use), I decided it wasn't as intuitive or easy to explain as Picasa 2. I've configured their computer to automatically download all images from a card inserted in the reader, delete them, and launch Picasa2--that's going to be a snap for them. However, when it comes to explaining how to copy images from various dated folders to the drive letter for the card reader, in order to print them, I'm less confident. I'm more than happy to help them whenever they need it, but I want them to feel like they can print any time they want to.

Am I missing some great built-in feature in either ZoomBrowser, or Picasa2? Or is there another product that makes that simple? They do not have broadband, so online printing is not an option (too bad--would work great!), and I don't think that a personal photo printer is a great option either, since that requires a certain amount of fussing.

[kraterz]

If they feel it's black magic, then I'd honestly suggest they stick with film, or drop off the CF card at a lab and get prints made. My uncle is (was, now retired) an engineer, but when we hooked up my digicam to his PC, he went blank after that. And when I talked about and showed him picasa, faststone, etc he simply turned off.

He's happy with letting the lab do his prints and for him, the end result is always going to be a few family or holiday prints, and this solution works well. Most labs these days do auto color and contrast correction and the results are very good. I'd suggest you head in that direction.

[Andy_T]

I also consider zoomBrowser a work of Black magic ... it's inconceivable to me that the people at Canon were able to develop such an un-intuitive piece of software without help from the netherworld.

Still, I'd also suggest to delete the pictures in the camera that you do not want to have printed, and drop off the CF card at the printshop.

Maybe there are labs that let you select the pictures you want to have printed and archive everything to CD.

Best regards,
Andy

[dbump]

Sorry I wasn't clear--I definitely want them to use a walk-in photo lab. I'm just wondering what simple way they can move the images they want to print to the card, so they can drop that off at the lab.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who looked at ZoomBrowser and wondered who it was designed for...

re: Black Magic--I seriously thought about keeping them on film, but I really do think they're not only capable of making the switch, but also interested in doing so. I'm not going to try to get them to edit their images (though I'll show them the possibilities, in case they ever want to try it, or just want me to make some corrections). However, I do want to create a very basic workflow of saving the images to disk, copying specific images back to a card for lab printing, and using a browser program to view/organize the images on the computer.

[flowe]

dbump wrote:However, I do want to create a very basic workflow of saving the images to disk, copying specific images back to a card for lab printing, and using a browser program to view/organize the images on the computer."Many ways to Rome", but recently I "discovered" and recommended in a similar case the "Windows Image and Fax Viewer" (referring to Windows XP).

I assume that a card reader would be used. Now folders and images can be transferred between card and disk using Windows Explorer and standard procedure. Camera folder and image names could serve as a basic organisation on the hard disk too, along with a notebook (paper variety) to assign date, event, content, description of individual images etc.

On disk, right click the first image, select "open with" and the WIFV. It adjusts the images to the screen, allows to rotate and delete and to jump between them. I'm not sure about speed (depending on PC speed and file size), but at this stage this might not matter that much.

Transferring a selection back to the card would entail Ctrl+click on the pertaining images in Windows Explorer and cut and paste to the card. A folder name might not be necessary, but before using the card again I would definitely re-format it in the camera.

Would that meet your requirements? HTH
flowe

[dbump]

That would work, but I'm pretty sure it would involve them writing the 'recipe' down on post-it notes, so they could walk through the process when I'm not there. But as a quick-and-dirty workflow to get them running until I can find another way, it would do the trick. I'd also thought about using the right-click, Send To... option, since the card will be listed as CANON_DM on the destination sub-menu.

I was hoping that I could find a package that would allow you to ctrl multi-select, or multi-check a series of images and then export them to a location (in this case, the card), so that they could browse through the images without having to hop through multiple folders in Windows Explorer. It looks like most of the software packages have teamed with an online print lab, or they assume you have your own printer.

With the explosion of digital camera sales, I'm surprised there aren't more packages for basic users--perhaps there just isn't enough profit margin?

[mbze430]

Should get them one of those printers with the memory card reader built in + LCD screen. Its the easiest way.

[dbump]

I have wondered about that. How easy is it--and I mean overall? I'm sure the first 10 prints are a breeze, but what about #200? How often do you have to clean the heads/change the ink, make sure the rollers aren't polished and are picking up multiple sheets, skewing the image, leaving bands, etc? How well do they work after sitting unused for a month? How robust are the prints compared to commercial labs, esp in terms of water and light? I don't have a current generation photo printer, but I've owned several ink printers, and they have all been a headache--and I work with broken tech 8 hours a day. I can't in good conscience give them something that would drive me up the wall. :) If they've changed, that'd be great though!

I'd also like to give them something that's reasonably economical, in terms of $/print. If you don't want results right now, or want to tweak photos for specific results, $0.29/4x5 is reasonably tempting.

[lancea]

I got myself a little Canon SELPHY CP-500 dye-sublimation printer. It produces excellent 4x6 prints (easily the equal of anything you'll get from a shop). Only drawback is that the prints cost around 80c each (New Zealand). There are other models of this printer that are cheaper. It will also print directly from the more recent Canon cameras.

I've printed mostly from Cerious Software's ThumbsPlus. I just select the area I want printed, and say print. I'm sure there's cheaper software, but it's great for thumnailing, moving files around and quick printing (it does a whole lot more too).

[Hellashot]

Just have them take their memory card to Walmart's Fuji or Kodak kiosk and have them choose the images to print there. For someone that doesn't know computers, you don't want to get them into downloading images, using an image viewer, then putting the images BACK on the card. It'll probably be the cheapest and most hassle-free way for them.

You could get them a printer that doesn't need a computer that has an LCD screen. Have them plug in the memory card and have them choose which ones to print there. But then they'd have to deal with buying photo paper, changing ink cartidges. So just have them take their card to Walmart and be done with it. Home printing is for people that know a computer well.

[rdenney]

Don't get a printer with a CD card slot--the consumables will eat you alive. It costs us 60 cents to make a 4x6 print on our Epson 925 that I bought for my wife, and you have to load new ink every 60 or so prints, it seems.

But by writing down the steps, she is able to put the CF card into a reader, copy the folder to her hard disk, look at them via the thumbnail display in Windows Explorer and Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, copy the ones she wants printed to a CD, and take the CD to Costco where they will make her prints for 19 cents each. The CD becomes her archive.

Forget Zoombrower, Photoshop, or any software intended for enthusiasts.

And don't even let them utter the word RAW. That will cause no end of trouble with your in-laws.

Rick "whose wife is a candidate for computer kindergarten" Denney

[lostdoggy]

This might be a consideration but won't resolve all your problem. The Epson Photomate is neat little package that prints 4x6 for 29 cents each. The printer is pretty small with a small lcd and card reader built in. The consumerable is convenient because it come pre-package with ink and 100 sheets of 4x6 for $29. Upon inserting the memory card it will ask if you want a proof sheet so you can select the photo you want to print. The only problem with this solution is keeping a copy of the Memory card on file. For that there are standalone cd burner. I use Apacer Dics Steno. This unit will allow you to insert a memory card and it will burn a copy of the memory card to CDR. It also can span large memory card to multiple CDRs. This process only take a couple of button pushes. This drive is about $250. There are also portable media HD as well that have Color LCD display but I'm not sure how it actually works. I hope this help. By the way I don't own the Photomate, but its rated to be the best in its class of photo printer.

[mkh]

FastOne would do this for you. All you have to do is select the images then hit the 'M' key. This opens a widnow and allows you to choose the destination. It even defaults to the last destination which in their case would be the card reader.

I would also suggest using DIM to import/load the images from the card. It can be configured to delete the images on the card after veryfing the upload. It is free and it's very configurable.

My workflow involves using DIM to import my images, rename them and assign a job name, write protect and back them up to a second directory. After the initial setup this only entails clicking one button and then typing the job name into a popup each time I do an upload.

Next I use FastStone to preview the images fullscreen and cull them (2 keystrokes is all that is required) . After that I import the images into PSE3's organizer and tag them. Sunday I uploaded 400 images using this method and it took less than 20 minutes.

[prime80]

If they have a high-speed internet connection, and are "reasonably" computer literate, you could have them try shutterfly.com. I've used it with great results, and have gotten some of my less computer literate friends to use it as well. It's a pretty straightforward, easy-to-use interface, and the prints are quite good. Much better than anything I've gotten from Wal-Mart or Target. At about 25 cents a print, it's economical as well.

[dbump]

Some great ideas--thanks!
I can see how leaving the images on card simplifies one side of the process, but it also limits the number of photos they can take before hitting a lab--even with a larger card.

There is a ton of promise in both FastStone and DIM--great tip!
For others' reference, here are the links to those:
http://www.faststone.org/index.htm
http://www.alanlight.com/dim/Dim.htm

FastStone's resizer also looks like something I need to investigate more--looks like I could configure it to batch resize/smart-crop their images to 4x6 before they take them in to print.
And I love the 'backup to alternate location' option in DIM. I already have an external USB drive connected to their system for image backups--this would take care of the software side of that. I don't ever want to have to explain that all their photos are gone due to a drive failure! I know from experience that it's only a matter of time...