I haven't sent out a newsletter in a while, so this one is jam-packed!

Scanning Your Old Photos
New Shutterfly Free Software
How to Save on Ink for Your Printer
Digital Camera & Equipment Sales
Digital Photo Software Sales/Promos
Digital Photo Printing Services Sales & Discounts

Scanning Your Old Photos

Have you ever tried to scan 700 old family photos? A friend of mine did. What a nightmare. This is a tru story. She wanted to create a special memory book for her mother's 70th birthday and she had relatives send her their old family photos. She spent days painstakingly scanning these old images and still had hundreds to go. Then she heard about Kodak Gallery's mobile Scan Van and found out it would be in her area. She signed up for an appointment, gathered her photos, and Kodak Gallery had them all scanned within about 20 minutes! And it only cost about $25 for 200 photos. What a deal. She sure wished she had known about this earlier; it would have saved her a lot of time and effort. I admit, I didn't even know about this service. It's a real lifesaver if you have lots of photos to scan. Here's what to do:

• Check for a KODAK Gallery Scan Van event location near you. Right now (early May) the Kodak Scan Vans are in Southern California and South Florida.
• Schedule an appointment.
  
• Bring up to 200 prints that Kodak will scan for $24.99 while you wait. Each scan after your first 200 is just
  10 cents.
  
• Receive a coupon for a FREE Mini Photo Book (excluding shipping and sales tax).
  
• Access and share the digital images of your scanned photos from your KODAK Gallery account (free to join).

Get more info at Kodak EasyShare Gallery On the lower left side of the home page you will see the link to the Scan Van. Just click on it to go to the scan site.

Also, you'll get FREE shipping on any prints you order (thru scanning service or ON regular Kodak Gallery site) thru May 14. Use coupon code SHIP2MOM.

Shutterfly's Studio Version 1.7 Software: Lots of Features--and it's Free

If you're on a budget and don't want the expense of buying photo editing software, the free software offered by some of the major online photo services is getting better and better. Shutterfly recently release their free Studio Version 1.7. New features include:

• 11 new editing tools - Improve your pictures with tools to fix overexposed areas, remove or increase color saturation, straighten pictures, and more
• Faster editing previews - See your picture enhancements instantly as you are using editing tools
• Lighten shadows - Brighten underexposed areas and bring out more details
• Whiten teeth - Correct discolored teeth easily
• Create a painting effect - Transform your photo to look like an oil painting
• Picture comparison tool: View similar shots side-by-side and select your favorite.
• Maximize window in Edit mode: See the largest view of your pictures when editing.
• View pictures in a film strip: Scroll through a film strip in full-screen mode.
• Improved performance: Faster zooming, picture uploading and overall speed.

My favorite new feature is the ability to design a unique collage in minutes featuring up to 400 pictures. You can choose from 150 layouts or easily create your own, then personalize your collage with titles, captions, colored backgrounds and picture borders. You can order a poster print of your collage or put it on a personalized photo gift.

Download the free software at Shutterfly.com (click on the "free software link" at the bottom of page)

How to Save on Printer Ink Cartridges

Are you shocked at how quickly you go through ink on your photo printer? I sure was. It seemed like I was always replacing one or more of my 6 individual ink cartridges. It was getting expensive, and I don't even print that many photos at home.

Then I learned about InkSaver 2.0. This software has been around for several years and it can really save you money. It allows me to control the amount of ink used by my inkjet printer, making my ink cartridges last longer. InkSaver 2.0 uses special software algorithms to optimize printer data so that your printer uses less ink - even when printing at your inkjet's highest resolution. Once you setup InkSaver, you can forget about it because it works behind the scenes. I have found it to be the best way to save ink while maintaining high print quality.

The software is only $29.99, the approximate cost of 3 individual ink color cartridges. You will recoup the cost in no time and it can extend the life of your ink cartridges by up to 4 times. There is a configurable ink savings levels (just move the slider) that lets you choose the ink savings you prefer, from 0 to 75%. InkSaver works with all printer brands including HP®, EPSON®, Canon®, Lexmark® and others. It also works with any type of ink or refill kit. It works with Windows® 2000, and XP Home and XP Professional. It does not work yet with Windows Vista, but a new version that will work in this operating system is being planned. Get more info on InkSaver 2.0

Digital Camera and Equipment Sales

• Get a free memory card--up to 2 GB of photo storage--with the purchase of one of 35 top cameras from Canon, HP, Olympus, Panasonic, Nikon, and others. You can also apply the value of the free card to a higher-capacity card--up to 4 GB.
• Get $250 back on the Canon XH A1 HD pro camcorder
• Get the water-resistant 7.1-megapixel Olympus Stylus 750 with 5x optical zoom for only $229.94
• Get a free Classic Photo Book from Shutterfly--a $29.99 value--when you purchase qualifying products on Amazon.com, including digital cameras, lenses, and more.

Amazon's top-selling digital cameras:

Canon PowerShot SD800 IS 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera - $309.99
Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) - $219 (save $130!)
Canon PowerShot SD750 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)- $264.95
Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS 6MP with 12x Image Stabilized Zoom - $304.88
Canon PowerShot A630 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom - $195.00

Go to Amazon.com

» Walmart features lots of internet-only sales on digital cameras, printers and equipment that change regularly.

Canon 8 MP A630 Digital Camera and Photo Printer Bundle - $243.54
Pentax 7 MP Optio M20 Digital Camera - $129.84
Olympus 7.1 MP SP550 UZ Digital Camera and Photo Printer Bundle - $504.54

Many more camera deals are on line.

• 50% off of fashion accessories
• Savings on 2 select Kodak cameras, plus free shipping
• Save 15% on Photo Paper Kits with coupon code AFECA7PPK.
  

Shop the Kodak Store

>Nikon Coolpix S50 Digital Camera - Save $20 + Exclusive Metallic Brown Color Edition
>NIKON D40 DSLR TWO ZOOM OUTFIT - Exclusive Nikon Outfit Included + $50 Mail-in Rebate offer with Coolpix digital camera purchase
>CANON MP180 PHOTO ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER - Free after rebates with any Digital Camera purchase $50 Canon Mail-in rebate +$30 Canon Mail-in rebate +$20 Instant Rebate = $0 Final Price
>CANON POWERSHOT A550 DIGITAL CAMERA - Save $20 + Free $20 Gift Coupon
>PANASONIC DMC-TZ1K DIGITAL CAMERA(BLACK) - Free $20 Gift Coupon
>EPSON P-3000 STORAGE VIEWER - $100 Mail-in Rebate


There are lots more deals, too numerous to list them all. Go to WolfCamera.com to see them all.

• Get an Extra 5 Free 4x6 Prints. Use coupon code AFFPRINT50507. Exp. 5/31/07

• $0.99 off shipping. Use Coupon Code AFFOFF990507.

• 20% off photo gifts. Coupon code AFFOFF200507. Exp. 5/31/07
• $2 off any order over $10. Use Coupon Code AFFOFFTEN0507 Expires 5/31/07

• Get $5 off any order over $25. Use coupon code AFFOFF250507. Exp. 5/31/07
  

• Enjoy 15% off high-quality prints. Coupon code: 22AF-PPTS (Expires 5/8/07).
• Free shipping on orders $15 or more. New Member Offer (expires 5/8/07)
  
  

Free standard shipping on all digital prints thru May 7. Min $10 purchase. Coupon code CAPTURE10. Thru 5/7/07

Go to Photoworks.com

• Free shipping on $25 purchase thru May 13. Use coupon code SHIP2MOM

• Buy 10 or more Martha Stewart Cards and get up to 35% off No coupon required.

• Buy 10 or more Kodak Gallery photo cards and get up to 40% off!

Digital Photo Software - Sales, Rebates

Here are the current sales/promos on digital photo editing and organizing software as of May 4. They can change at any time. There are several rebates available too.

ACDSee Photo Editor $69.99 or download a free trial. (Read my review)

Save 20% on ACDSee 9 Photo Manager - only $39.99 (you can download a free trial)

Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 for Windows (reviewed here) is $99.99 full or $79.99 upgrade at Adobe.com. Get a free 30-day trial. Or you can get it for $79.99 at Amazon.com with free shipping.

Corel Paint Shop Pro XI is $49.99 with free shipping at Amazon and a rebate.

Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 Anniversary Edition only $19.99 with free shipping at Amazon

Roxio - FREE Toast Style Pack with Toast 7

Roxio: Buy Now and Save $50 on Creator 9 Deluxe Suite AND get a Dazzle DVC90 FREE! ($80 value)