Using a digital camera is just as straightforward as using a traditional camera. You compose the picture, press the shutter button, and the shutter opens briefly to allow light into the camera.

But a digital camera does not use film, instead they use a CCD (charge coupled device) to convert it into tiny coloured squares know as pixels. When combined together, these pixels make up the photograph - and the greater the number of pixels, the greater the image quality, or the resolution. The image is then stored either in internal memory or - on all but the most inexpensive models - on a removable memory card. But unlike film, once the images have been transferred, you can wipe a memory card clean and use it again and again.

Polish Your Memories
While you can print straight from your memory card, or even directly from the camera on some models, most people transfer their digital images to a computer where they can be changed and enhanced using photo manipulation software.

You can stitch pictures together for a panoramic 360 degree view, cut, clone, crop, adjust colours, resize, wrap, ripple, splatter, mirage - just about every effect you can think of.

These can be used either to enhance your pictures - for example to crop the edge of your photograph if the composition is slightly wrong, or to correct imperfections such as red-eye on your subjects.

You can also make cosmetic changes, to get your images looking just how you want them. Make people look fatter, thinner, taller or shorter - or even remove them from the photograph altogether. The possibilities are virtually limitless.

Sharing Your Masterpiece
Once you've created your photographic masterpiece, you're ready to share it with family and friends - and digital technology gives you so many different options.

Find out more about:
Introduction to Digital Cameras
Choosing a digital camera