AboutScott Valentine Expertise Most anything about digital post processing (Photoshop, etc), effects, and image restoration, some technical information about digital imaging systems, light and electron microscopy, optical physics and image analysis. I can help with shooting basics, lighting setups, and getting the most out of your digital camera. I am also an 'expert' here for Photoshop (Computers/Technology > Software > Graphics Software > Photoshop).
Experience I've been an image analyst and advanced amateur photographer for over 6 years. I run an Adobe user group, focusing on digital media, and have lectured on digital image capture systems. Currently, I am an administrator for a rather large instructional Photoshop forum
Organizations Adobe User Groups, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Advanced Imaging Specialists
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Physics, University of California, San Diego
Awards and Honors Winner: Best in Show and several category first place awards - Imaging Professionals of the Southwest Print Competition (multiple years)
Expert: Scott Valentine Date: 3/16/2008 Subject: flash memory transfer
Question Scott...I too am really into photography and photoshop since I retired but I don't have an answer to this question. My son has a new Dell 948 all-in-one printer but doesn't have a computer yet. Is there any way to take my photos to him via flash memory (usb) and upload them into his camera to enable him to print using the camera dock? According to him, his new printer must print a "proof" sheet of ALL of his camera photos before he can print using the Dell and that wastes a lot of ink. Thanks, Bill
Answer Hi Bill,
Looks like your son got a very convenient printer! According to Dell's website, you can indeed print from a USB flash drive or even your camera directly using the PictBridge slot on the front.
If you want to print your shots directly from your camera, you may be able to choose individual images for printing. I did not find any explicit information on how to do this, but other printers do work this way.
Using a USB flash drive, you'd have no way of knowing which images you wanted to print unless you knew specifically the file name for each image. On the other hand, you could potentially only upload the images you knew you wanted to print. The reason for the proof sheet is so you can choose your images. A proof sheet is just a sheet of thumbnails, so it shouldn't use too much ink. I don't see a screen on the printer for previewing images, so a proof sheet may be the only way to choose what to print.
On the plus side, a proof sheet can be archived so you have a nice, convenient way to store a hardcopy of your image database as a catalog that you can flip through. This would make it easy to keep track of your images, so long as you don't change the file names.
