Tip 11: Effortless black and whites (and other colors too)
Today’s digital cameras make it easier than ever to add different effects to your images, including transforming them from color to black & white.
This is a simple and easy way to enhance your creativity with very little effort! Explore your digital camera’s menu and look for creative color effects. The type of color effects that digital cameras offer can differ, but they typically include options such as black & white and sepia.
Some digital cameras may also identify black & white or other colors by various names.
For example, Samsung labels its black & white creative color effect as “CLASSIC.” Samsung digital cameras also give you the ability to either take a photo with a color effect, such as black & white, or apply the effect to an image you’ve already taken and save it as a “new” file, right on the camera itself. This is a significant advantage as it gives you the ability to always have an original in color!
If you’re using the Samsung SL202, simply press the “Fn” button while in “AUTO,” “P” (Program), or “DIS” (Dual Image Stabilization) mode, and scroll down to Photo Style Selector. Here you’ll be able to choose from a variety of creative color effects to take a photo with.
To apply a color effect to an image you’ve already taken with the SL202, press the small play button, represented by a sideways triangle, and scroll to the photo which you want to edit. Once the image you wish to edit is displayed on the LCD, press the “MENU” button, select “EDIT,” and scroll down and select Photo Style Selector. When you select the creative color effect you want, a brand new file will be saved.
Tip 12 after the drop!
Tip 12: Use your TV as a picture frame
If you’re a shutterbug that has just returned from a vacation or even a day out with the family, you’re going to want to share those great images and memories with others.
Instead of just passing around your digital camera to those interested in taking a look at your latest images, why not use your HDTV as a huge digital picture frame!
Many digital cameras come packaged with standard AV cables that allow you to connect your digital camera right to your TV. Look for the cable that features a “yellow” plug. Simply insert the “yellow” plug into the coordinating “yellow” port on your HDTV. This will give you the ability to see your digital camera’s menu screen on your TV and then playback your photos. On some higher-end digital cameras, like the Samsung high-definition HZ15W, you have the ability to connect the camera to an HDTV using a mini-HDMI cable, which will display your photos and videos in HD quality.
Additionally, if you know ahead of time that you’re going to be showcasing your photos on your widescreen HDTV, check your digital camera to see if it offers a 16:9 shooting mode. On Samsung digital cameras, this option is available by adjusting the resolution.
To change the resolution on your Samsung digital camera, pull up your camera’s menu and search for the “FUNCTIONS” option. Within the “FUNCTIONS” option, choose “PHOTO SIZE” and select the resolution offering a 16:9 aspect ratio. Some Samsung cameras, like the HZ15W, offer a “FUNCTIONS” shortcut button represented by an “Fn” on the back of the camera. Pressing the “Fn” button will take you directly to the part of the menu where you can make these types of adjustments to the camera.
Shooting in 16:9 will allow you to impressively display your photos on your widescreen HDTV as each will take up the full widescreen without displaying black bars on the left or right of the image.
Check back for more photo tips from Samsung over the month of May!
