Slide processing, just like any photo film processing, is all about choosing the right chemicals at the correct temperature and the right amount of time. If any of these are mixed up, the result can be unpredictable. It is especially true when working with slide film. Generally, black and white film is less sensitive to temperature and length of time it is being treated with chemicals. Colour film, for example, will react to any changes much quicker.

Now, a question that I hear get asked a lot is why do some many people prefer to use slide films and not print films. In reality, both of these film types have their advantages and disadvantages. You should choose which film fits your needs for the given occasion. Also, remember that slide processing is more challenging and not as straight forward as print film processing.

Film quality has improved a lot in the past few years, which is very good news to both the amateurs and professional photographers alike. Grain has gotten much smaller and less noticeable, so there is less compromise on quality and speed for film cameras.

So, why should you choose slide film?

First of all, the image is actually positive. Meaning that after slide processing you get to see the actual image before it's even printed. Compared to the negatives, that don't give you a clear idea about the colours until you print your photos, positives allow you to see everything just as it was captured on the film. This, without a doubt, is really convenient. You can see straight away which areas of the image are over or under-exposed, for example. Any adjustments to the camera you make will be reflected on the image so it makes for an invaluable learning tool to experiment and play with the settings.

Scanning images is another reason why positive slide image wins over a negative every time. When you need to remember the precise tone of some part of the photo, a positive will always display it "as is", whereas negative images might need a lot of guesswork on your part. Colour accuracy is definitely the reason to go with slide processing.

Slides usually appear more contrasty and images seem more vibrant. It is thus no surprise why so many people prefer to work with slides rather than negatives. Once slide processing is done, your photos really come to life on the light table, making even the low contrast images stand out.

Storing slides is easier as you do not need to have a print out to see what the actual image is. Negatives need to be provided with prints. That way, you can keep your slides in a box, no printed photos necessary. They take up less space and you can quickly find the image you are looking for. And if you don't think it's such an important thing, think about professionals who shoot thousand of photos. Keep all these negatives with prints would be very costly and demands a lot of space.

In conclusion, if you think of becoming a photography professional, slides are definitely the way to go. Slide processing might seem daunting at first, but the benefits greatly outweigh the disadvantages. As a side note, many publications now do not accept negatives at all, showing the respect and demand for slide film in professional photo society.

When it comes to digital cameras, one of the greatest benefits is digital photo processing. If you are new to digital photo printing, this guide will help you find your way around digital prints and how to choose the best service for your precious family moments or creative snaps.

How to upload images for digital photo processing First stop – some tips on using online digital photo printing services. Many companies will provide you with a website address or even a software tool that allows you to easily upload your images. The layout and instructions usually are very easy to follow and within minutes your photos will be sent to the service provider. Aside from the speed and convenience it provides, it also has an additional benefit of security - your images will be stored on the company server and if you accidentally delete them from your camera and/or hard disk, you may still be able to recover them. Some companies even supply you with software than uploads your images to an online server as soon as you connect your camera, making the process run in the background with no input or hassle. When you are ready to get your digital prints, you simply log on to your account and choose the photos you want to print, along with other options such as size, number of copies and finish. At this stage you can also upload some additional photos if you wish. Keep in mind - most services offer bulk discounts, so it's better to have all your digital prints done in one go.

How to edit images before ordering digital prints

There is nothing worse than having a beautiful photo spoiled by the dreaded "red eye" effect. Back in the day that would doom the image to the furthest reaches of the photo album. Luckily nowadays it is no longer a concern as most digital cameras have a way of eliminating this effect. However, if the read eyes do occur, it can be dealt with easily and quickly. Good digital photo processing companies will provide you with free tools for simple photo editing, such as cropping, red eye removal, colour balance change etc. Be sure to check with your provider if it is something they can do for you, as it will greatly enhance the quality of your digital prints. The easiest way to make these alterations is via online tools that save you from the hassle of downloading and installing additional software. You can make all the necessary adjustments straight from your user account, where you see all your uploaded photo ready to be printed. Now you can do simple enhancement and design tasks yourself without turning to pricey photo editing services.

There are numerous digital photo printing companies out there. Many will offer you free sample prints for you to choose their service based on quality. Be sure to inquiry about any samples before ordering your digital prints. Sometimes the images will not appear the same as they do on your monitor or phone screen, so you must check that you are happy with he colours and resolution.

Least but not least, delivery charges and delivery options also need to be taken into account. You need to make sure that there are no excessive shipment costs and that your digital prints will be delivered to you promptly and safely, without them being damaged or even lost along the way.