I want to know how MckMama makes those dark edges around all her pictures.  Do you know what I mean?

I sure do. It's called vignetting, and can be done pretty easily in an editing program. I add a vignette to my pictures using Adobe Lightroom.
Thanks for the question!

Anybody else have any questions? I need new ideas for my photo tip posts!

Can you explain Macro. My camera has a Macro function and I have no idea what to do with it.I've tried playing with it, but the images are terrible. When, why, and how should I use Macro.

Great question, Christina! If you don't mind, I'll work on a good answer and post it on Friday. What do your images turn out like (ie--what are you not happy with? Are they blurry, dark, etc)? And how have you tried using it in the past?

So sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. I've been super busy this week getting ready for my son's b-day party tomorrow.

When I first started the pics were blurry and really all you saw was blobs of color. I've been playing around with it this week and the pics are clear, but honestly I don't know what I've done differently..... and truthfully I can't see any difference in using Macro. I guess I'm just at a loss for what situation it is used for... indoor/outdoor, lighting, flash, still/landscape/action... and what are the best setting I should use with Macro. Or is it simply for an application the pic will be used in after the fact.

I purchased my camera used so I don't have a manual and I just haven't taken the time to print one. It's been more of a trial & error situation.

{sorry for the lengthy post}

Here's a quick explanation to Macro Photography (click to see post). I hope that answers your questions, Christina!

Hi Lolli,

I have a question. Actually, I posted it on another Forum, but since no one has yet answered, think it might have gone to wrong one. It would be great if you have the answer.

I'm in the process of fixing some old photos so they will be acceptable to Createspace (book publishing company) for my new book.

They say all pics must be 300 dpi. Lots of mine are way less--like 72 dpi, 150 dpi etc.

I'm using Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 (not very good at it yet) for some of the work, and Irfanview to fix the dpi.

There is a box on Irfanview especially for the dpi of each pic. I've been changing this to 300 dpi in each case and it looks like it's saving them. Only now, someone told me it's impossible to create a 300 dpi pic from a 72 dpi pic. Is this true???

And is dpi the same as ppi?

OK--first, ppi=pixels per inch and dpi=dots per inch. They are the same.

I know for sure that it is easy to change (downgrade) an image from a higher dpi to a smaller dpi. I am not certain, but I would imagine that it would be harder (impossible?) to change an image from a lower dpi to larger (72 to 300) because the 72 dpi image would not have the "dots" to fill the space. Is it possible to get the original image?  I tried to find a definitive answer, but couldn't seem to find anything that says for sure what happens when you try to "upgrade" an image.

Here's an article: http://www.imageconverterplus.com/help-center/article/changing-image-dpi/

Thanks so much, Lolli. Good information. I don't have the originals, unfortunately.

I wonder if I print the photos small with 72 dpi, then take a picture of the small version with my camera set on superfine, can I then somehow save a 300 dpi version of that? I have a little Canon Powershot Digital Ellph.