Ordering Photographs of Online Images

(These are preliminary instructions. If you have any problems, let me know...)

Any of the images you find here can be printed as normal photographs by online photo labs. There are three major steps involved in getting printed photographs made from the images. These steps are briefly outlined below and then described in (much) more detail.

1. First, install the FotoWire program on your system. This only needs to be done one time, of course.
2. Next, download all the images that you want to print to your computer.
3. Finally, run the FotoWire program to order the photographs.

Installing FotoWire

To install the FotoWire program, download and run the program from http://www.fotowire.com/home/download.asp.

Downloading Images

To download images, display one of the pages of picture thumbnails. Right click on the picture you want and click "Save Target As" (or perhaps "Save Link As"). The save dialog allows you to choose the directory and the filename you want. In most cases, you can just press the Save or OK button. Be sure to note which directory you are saving the file into. Later, you will need this information.

Ordering Photographs

This is the most complex part of the process. The instructions below will guide you through each step. The instructions look complicated, but that is just because they are very thorough. The FotoWire program is actually very easy to use.

1. Start the FotoWire program by clicking on the FotoWire icon on your desktop or by running FotoWire from the Start Menu.
2. If necessary, click the "Configure Connection" button to set up connection information. This should only need to be done the first time you run the program. Click Next when you've finished this step.
3. Enter your mailing information into the fields of the following screen and click the Next button.
4. Choose the photo lab you want to use.
   • Each photo lab offers different products and prices. Currently, there are three that service the United States: Mystic Color Lab, Signature Color, and Altiplano S.A. (which is actually located in Switzerland). After you select the lab, you will be able to see the prices and products. You can then switch to a different lab to see their choices, if desired.
   • The photo lab you selected when you last ran the program is already selected. If you want to switch to another, click the "Select Another Lab" button and make your choice.
   • Once you've chosen the photo lab, click the Next button to continue.
5. Click "OK" to update the lab information. When you do this, the program downloads a list of the lab's products and prices.
6. On the next screen, click the "Size and Paper" drop down box to see the lab's products and prices. This screen also lists any required minimum order. If you decide to try a different lab, click the Back button and return to step 4 of these instructions.
7. For each picture, do the following:
   • Click the "Select Image" button and choose the picture you want. You may need to change the directory to match the directory where you saved the image. If you single click on a picture, a preview will appear on the right side of the dialog box. Once you've located the picture you want to print, double click the filename or click the Open button.
   • The picture now appears (and is highlighted) in a list on the main program screen. While the picture is still highlighted, use the "Size and Paper" drop down to select the photograph size. Use the Quantity box to indicate how many prints of this image should be printed.
   • Notice that the picture is displayed in the upper right corner of the program. The picture normally won't exactly match the size of the paper, so you may see two white strips on either side or above and below the picture. There are two options to handle this situation:
     • If you accept the picture as it is, the white strips will be part of the photograph. Some labs will trim the white strips off, while others leave them on (so the picture remains a standard size).
     • Alternately, you can click the "View/Crop" button. On the screen that pops up, click the second button on the left to crop the picture. Part of the picture will get dim. Drag the bright part of the picture around to select the portion of the picture to print. The dim portions are discarded. If you change your mind, the top button switches back to the entire picture. When done, click OK to accept the crop.
   • This completes one picture. Repeat step 7 for each photograph you want to print. When done selecting pictures, click the Next button to continue.
8. Click Yes to confirm that you want to print these photographs. Actually, you still have a chance to cancel the order.
9. On the next screen, select the delivery option (which varies for each lab) and enter your payment information. Click the Next button to continue.
10. Finally, confirm the order by clicking the Finish button. Once you do this, each image will be uploaded to the lab. This can take a minute or two for each image. When the upload has completed, you are given the opportunity to print a copy of your order. The lab typically emails a copy of the order to you as well.
11. That's all there is to it...