Developing' the Pictures With a conventional camera, one drops a roll of exposed film off at the local lab or drugstore, then returns to find an envelope of finished prints waiting. With digital cameras, you develop the pictures yourself by transferring them to your personal computer. Then, using the accompanying software, you can either adjust the images until they're just the way you want them, or accept them as they are, which usually is good enough. Moving pictures from camera to PC can be a hassle. You must connect a cable from the camera to one of your computer's communications ports.
Manufacturers now offer easier alternatives.
Sony Corp.'s Digital Mavica cameras avoid the problem by storing pictures directly onto 3.5-inch computer floppy disks inserted into the camera. Avoid cables if you can. Once you've got the files on your computer, you can begin processing them. This is the aspect of digital photography most likely to confuse or unsettle a novice. The distressing part is being faced with a multitude of decisions about your pictures.