How do I convert a photo to a digital file and share it on the Internet?

Converting a photo into a digital image file is easy. In fact, you don't even need additional hardware or software for your computer if you're starting out with a new undeveloped roll of film. Simply take the roll to a photo finisher that will develop the film and convert the prints into digital images on a CD-ROM in the same operation.

The best-known system for producing photo CDs is the Kodak Picture CD service (http://www.kodak.com), which is available at many national retailers, including CVS, Kmart, Kroger, Marsh, Meijer, Osco, Rite-Aid, Ritz Camera, Target, and Walgreens. For about $10 extra, the photo finisher will convert an entire roll of film into digital files and save them on a CD-ROM that you can work with on your computer.

Kodak Picture CD service requires one- or two-day service and will save your photos in the five most common types of digital image files: bitmap (.BMP), FlashPix (.FPX), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group; .JPG), PNG (portable network graphics; .PNG) and TIFF (Tagged Image File Format; .TIF). The Kodak Picture CD even includes software to help you crop, enlarge, and otherwise edit the photo.

However, this approach has its drawbacks. For starters, even professional photographers are lucky to get one or two really good pictures on a roll of film. As a result, spending an extra $10 or so per roll just to digitize one or two pictures isn't very cost effective. In fact, for what you would spend on six or seven photo CDs, you can purchase your own scanner.