Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

New Digital Camera Owner, First ?

Oct 18, 2004 11:57PM PDT

My camera: Canon A85
My OS: Windows 98SE
My Software: ArcSoft Camera Suite 1.3 ZoomBrowserEX (Bundled with camera)
My competence: Very limited. I have had a PC for years but still do not understand them. Only use it for recreation, e-mail, forums, research and now photos.
My expectations: Learning to use what I have before considering venturing into more involved processing ie payware software.
My problem/question: "Help" says when a file is moved or copied to another folder it is also copied to the Windows file system. True enough but when I open the file in the Windows file system (Windows Explorer) it is too large for the window and, as such, it is of little use. Is there a way to make it fit and, if so, how.
I appreciate the opportunity of seeking help in this forum. I try to work things out on my own but sometimes hit a brick wall.

DC

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: New Digital Camera Owner, First ?
Oct 19, 2004 12:36AM PDT

I can't tell what your issue is. I'm going to GUESS that when you view a picture, it's too big for the screen and you must scroll around to see it.

This is easy to solve with some bundled software but I don't use your canon software so I can't point you to some magic setting such as "When I view an image bigger than my screen, shrink it to fit on the screen."

Try this viewer, its free -> http://www.irfanview.com

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: New Digital Camera Owner, First ?
Oct 19, 2004 2:23AM PDT

R.Proffitt said ". I'm going to GUESS that when you view a picture, it's too big for the screen and you must scroll around to see it." and that is exactly what I was trying to say.
I am still trying to work out the problem with what I have and if I can't I will try http://www.irfanview.com
Thanks for the helpful and speedy response.

DC

- Collapse -
Windows Explorer does not open or display files. Instead,
Oct 19, 2004 3:23AM PDT

it looks at the file's 'extension' like .txt, for example. It has a list of these extensions. If it has a program assigned to the extension, it starts that program to open and display the file. Photo programs usually have 'settings' or 'controls' which will change the size of the displayed image. Frequently, the icon used is a picture of a magnifying glass. This picture with a '+' in it will increase the size of the picture. If it has a '-', the size shown on your display will be reduced.

HTH

- Collapse -
Re: New Digital Camera Owner, First ?
Oct 19, 2004 10:56AM PDT

A quick and easy way to reduce size is to open the picture in "Paint" program which is usually on every computer. Then click image, stretch and skew, then change the dimensions in each highlited slot from 100% to perhaps 50 or 25%. Then, "save as" if you prefer to keep the original sized one and this new sized one. Otherwise just save and it will replace the larger one.

- Collapse -
Re: New Digital Camera Owner, First ?
Oct 19, 2004 12:36PM PDT

Thanks for the advice. It all works for me. I downloaded http://www.irfanview.com and kinda' like it. It has a "size to fit window" selection which works nice. I think I will use that program instead of the one that came bundled with the camera.
Opening in paint works fine too.
Two solutions are better than one.
I don't understand why the program automatically loads the image into Windows Explorer when it serves no purpose and, in fact, it is a nuisance.
Oh well, no matter now that I have a solution.
Thanks again to all.
BTW, I have enrolled in "Beyond Point & Shoot: Digital Photography Techniques" course offered by CNET so maybe I won't have to ask too many questions here.

DC