Importing Pictures From a Digital Camera

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Camera Device that contains Pictures and Videos to be imported to the Computer


Purpose

This WIKI explains how to import pictures into the computer system for graphical editing, slide-show presentations, etc...
This tutorial will use a particular digital camera, but the procedures for other digital cameras will general be the same...


YouTube Video

If you want to see the visual steps for "Importing Pictures From a Digital Camera",
Here is a link to a customized YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bWwzf7z09c

Written Instructions

Below are the instructions on how to Import Pictures From a Digital Camera:

Importing Pictures

WARNING: WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD GET PERMISSION FOR USE FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL PRIOR TO POSTING ONLINE, OR USING FOR OTHER TYPES OF DISTRIBUTION. THIS RULE PARTICULARLY APPLIES TO PHOTOGRAPHING YOUTH - PARENTAL CONSENT IS ESSENTIAL AHEAD OF TIME...


Prior Assumptions

The camera used for this tutorial was:
  • Sony Cyber-Shot P39A
  • 5.1 MegaPixel
  • MPEG MOVIE VX, Smart Zoom


Creating a Storage Folder

Prior to importing pictures or video into the computer, it is recommended to create a folder to store the imported images.
Folder set-up Strategies:
  • Create a folder on your USB device for off-site storage.
  • Create a folder within the Pictures folder for your account (if number of pictures/video exceed USB storage device capacity).
Device Dialog box appears when "powered-on" camera is recognised by the computer system. The user is advised to "open folder".

Connecting the Digital Camera to Computer

The digital camera bag should contain a USB cable that is used to connect the camera device to a computer.
Connection Procedure:
  • Use the USB cable to connect the camera to the Computer by plugging into a USB slot.
  • Select the mode of the camera to "display pictures" (i.e. not camera mode).
  • Power-on the camera.


Opening the Camera Device

When the camera is powered-on, then a device dialog box should appear that gives the user options on how to proceed with using this device.
For Example:
  • Open device and run application to automatically import pictures and videos
  • Run another application to import and use pictures and videos
  • Open Folder to display pictures and videos
  • Do nothing (i.e. take no action)
Folder containing pictures and videos to be copied to off-site storage device (eg. USB device)
NOTE: Due to storage limitations in the Computer Lab, it is advised to select "open folder" to copy pictures and videos to an "off-site" storage device for permanent storage.
Although applications like Open Shotwell are great tools to managing pictures and videos on your home computer, the Computer Lab does not have the storage capacity to permanently store images and videos on its hard disk drive. Therefore, it becomes the responsibility of the user to store these pictures onto off-site storage devices, and remove pictures and videos from the computer system's hard-disk drive after importing and graphic editing sessions.


Transferring Pictures

In this case, we will interpret importing pictures and videos in this tutorial as copying pictures and videos to the folder that you created in the above-mentioned procedure. The disadvantage of using this technique is that the user will be required to manually deleted the pictures and videos on their digit camera now, or at a later date. See "Removal of Copied Pictures / Videos".
To copy these pictures, simple open another instance of Nautilus file manager, and use the mouse to click and drag the images to the new folder.
Here is a YouTube video on how to use the Nautilus file manager: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DsoidBjbjY


Transferring Videos

Some digital cameras store their videos under a different folder. Simply navigate throughout the folder structure of the digital camera to locate the videos.
To copy these videos, simple open another instance of Nautilus file manager, and use the mouse to click and drag the images to the new folder.
Here is a YouTube video on how to use the Nautilus file manager: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DsoidBjbjY


Off-Site Storage Considerations

Using a USB storage device is the simplest method of importing your Digital camera pictures and videos.
On the other hand, you may have too many pictures and videos, and they may exceed the storage capacity or your USB device.
For those situations, it is recommended to:
  1. Create a temporary folder under the Pictures directory.
  2. Copy the pictures and videos from the camera device to that temporary folder.
  3. Use gnomebaker application to burn contents of that folder to a CD or DVD.

    Here is a YouTube video on Gnomebaker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4N6giqxdc

  4. Confirm that CD/DVD contains copied pictures and videos.
  5. Remove the temporary folder and its contents.


Removal of Copied Pictures / Videos on Digital Camera

By using the above techniques, the pictures and videos will still remain on the digital camera device.
To remove pictures and videos on the digital camera, you can:
  • Use Nautilus file manager to remove the pictures and videos.
  • Use the digital camera's function to remove pictures and videos.


Additional Resources

Importing and Editing Pictures in Ubuntu: https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/musicvideophotos/C/photos.html
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