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»  Importing photos
»  Automatic scan for photos
A woman using HP Photosmart Essential software

Introduction

Images from digital cameras can be downloaded easily using free HP Photosmart Essential software and then stored into selected folders on your computer. Even after you disconnect your camera, the images are still safe and secure on your computer.

Importing photos

Downloading photos from an HP digital camera Importing adds your photos or videos to the HP Photosmart Essential Library. You can then view, share, print, and create projects using the photos in the Library. You can also use the Library to open and view video clips.

You can add photos and videos to the Library in several ways:

  • Connect your camera to your computer
  • Insert a memory card into a card reader
  • From the memory card slot of your printer or all-in-one

Click the Import Photos button in the Library, and then select the device, such as your camera, scanner, camera phone, removable drive, CD, or a folder location of the photos.

In HP Photosmart Essential, browse to a folder on your computer and click Add These Photos.

Drag a selection of photos or a folder of photos from your computer into the Library.

When you import photos, you are copying the photos to the Library folder you designated the first time you started HP Photosmart Essential.

Tip: When you select a folder to import, you can choose to include the folder in the Library, rather than copy the contents of the folder to the Library. Including the folder ensures you do not have two instances of the imported photos on your computer; one in your original folder and a copy in the Library.

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Automatic Scan for Photos

HP Photosmart Essential software will start an initial scan for images the first time you launch the program. It will automatically look for photos located on your computer in the "My Pictures" directory and its subdirectories, then place a shortcut in the View Images list to where each of the images is found. You can cancel the initial scan at any time.

HP Photosmart Essential will look in the My Pictures directory and subdirectories for new photos with each initial launch.

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