The simplest and easiest way is to plug your camera into the USB connection of your computer using the cable supplied with the camera. You can also use the card reader on your computer (if it doesn't have one, they can be bought quite cheaply). Here you take the memory card out of your camera and plug it into the reader. This can be much faster - useful if you take lots of large pictures.
Switch the camera on.
Start the software supplied with your camera, scanner or Photo-CD to get the image onto your hard disc. Or, I think much easier, simply use Windows Explorer to drag and drop the camera files onto your hard disc (you may need Windows XP for this).
Store it in a folder where you can find it - probably a sub-folder within 'My Pictures'.
Set up a sensible filing system - I use a new folder each month, named, e.g., 702 for February 2007. You might also consider a folder called 'Images in progress'. Keep it here until you are satisfied with the result, then move it to its final location in your filing system.
Make a copy before you start work, in case you completely wreck the picture. (We will learn how to do this with layers later).
Some camera and scanner software allows you to move an image directly from camera to Photoshop (or other software). This is convenient but I prefer to do it in two stages so that I know where everything is and that I have a back-up copy.
In Session 6 we will look at a way of cataloguing all your images.
If you are inputting from a camera the size will already have been determined in the camera. Input it directly and change the size later if you need to.
When you have learned a bit more about sizing you may want to adjust the size at which your camera stores images. (Large size means better quality but more memory. Small size is OK for images that will only be viewed on a computer screen and allows lots of pictures on the memory card)
Try to get the size correct from the start. Too large an image uses more memory and is slow to scan and to manipulate. Too small an image will need enlarging and quality will be lost.
Think pixels!
If you are only going to show the picture on a computer screen then you don't want a picture that is bigger than your screen. Most computer screen, these days, are set to 1024 x 768 or 1280 x 1024. These are pixel measurements.
If you are going to put the picture on a website or email it, you may well be satisfied with something smaller.
If you are going to print the picture decide the size of the finished picture in inches. Multiply this by 150 or 200. Eg. a 7" by 5" picture will need to be 1050 x 750 or 1400 x 1000 pixels. (200 will give you better quality - more on this when we come to printing).
If you are going to print only part of the picture adjust the scan size so that that part will be the correct size.
Most scanners have a facility to set the scan resolution or 'lines per inch'.
Most also have a facility to set the final print size - I don't trust this. Go for something which allows you control over the number of pixels.
Suppose you are scanning a negative (1.5" x 1") and you know you will want a print of 9" x 6".
Your final print will need to be 1800 x 1200 pixels.
Therefore you need to scan your negative at 1200 pixels (or lines) per inch.
If you are only going to use a part of the negative, say 1.2" x 0.8", then you will need to scan at 1500lpi.
If you are using a flat bed scanner to scan a print that is 6"x4" and want the same 9" x 6" print, then you will need to scan at 300lpi.