You've just returned from vacation with a bunch of great pictures that you've taken with your digital camera. Wouldn't it be great to share them with your friends and family? There are tons of fun ways to share your digital pictures — all you need is a digital camera, Microsoft Office XP, and a little imagination! Here are some ideas to get you started.

Send a digital picture postcard

Maybe you bought postcards while you were on vacation, or maybe you thought your own photos would make better postcards to send to friends. With Office XP, you can use digital pictures to create postcards to can send in the mail, or you can simply send your digital image — plus your own text — through e-mail.

To create an e-mail postcard

1. Open a blank document in Microsoft Word, and add a title or caption about your vacation at the top.
2. To add your own picture, on the Insert menu, point to Picture, and click:
   • From Scanner or Camera, if your digital camera is connected.
   • From File, to choose one that you have already saved to your hard disk drive.
3. Type a message about your vacation in the space below the image.
4. On the File menu, point to Send To and then click Mail Recipient to convert the document to an e-mail message.

To create a printed postcard

1. Select a Microsoft Word Postcard template, and then click the Download Now button on the Templates page.
2. To delete the placeholder image and text, and add your own picture, on the Insert menu, point to Picture, and click:
   • From Scanner or Camera, if your digital camera is connected.
   • From File, to choose one that you have already saved to your hard disk drive.

You may want to resize your picture or add additional text to the front of the postcard. Be sure to add your name and address to the back, along with your own message about your vacation. Then you can print your postcard on your own printer using heavy stock paper that is suitable for mailing.

Sending a postcard with your own photographs can be a fun way to keep in touch at the holidays, too!

Create a virtual photo album

But what to do with the dozens of photos you've taken while on vacation that you would still like to share? With Microsoft FrontPage® 2002 or Microsoft PowerPoint® 2002, you can create a virtual photo album to display on your personal Web site or home computer.

To create a FrontPage 2002 photo album for your personal Web site

1. In FrontPage 2002, on the File menu, click New, and then click Page or Web.
2. In the New Page or Web task pane, under New from template, click Photo Gallery.
3. Follow the instructions on the page to add your own images, personalize the design, and add your own explanations and text.

To learn more about creating a FrontPage 2002 photo album, read the Office Online article, Display a Gallery of Photos on your Web site with Front Page 2002 .

To create a PowerPoint 2002 photo album to display on your computer

1. In PowerPoint 2002, on the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click New Photo Album.
2. Follow the instructions in the dialog box to add your pictures and choose a design, and then click Create to make the album.

To learn more about creating a PowerPoint 2002 photo album, see Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 Help.

Create a CD with your digital pictures

After you've created your virtual photo album, you may want to make a lasting copy or create copies to distribute by burning a compact disc. Or you may want to copy your images to a CD for storage — the digital equivalent of a shoebox full of negatives. When you create a CD to store your pictures, you can create customized labels for the CDs, too. At Templates on Microsoft Office Online, you'll find templates to help you make a CD label for photographs or CD face labels.

A personalized CD of family photos may also make a nice gift for birthdays or other occasions.

More ideas for digital pictures

In addition to postcards and CD labels, you can also use your digital pictures in other documents. For example, in Templates on Microsoft Office Online, you'll find newsletters, greeting cards, and calendars that you can personalize with your own digital photographs.

You can also find more ideas for using your digital photographs in MSN PhotoAlbums.

Related links

• Display a Gallery of Photos on your Web site with Front Page 2002
• Templates:
  • Postcards
  • CD label for photographs
  • CD face labels
  • Newsletters
  • Greeting cards
  • Calendars
• MSN PhotoAlbums