How to Copy Digital Photos to DVD

Purchasing recordable DVDs in bulk can reduce the cost per unit.

Digital cameras produce photo files that range from one to 20 megabytes. A computer with 100 gigabytes of free storage space can hold a maximum of 200 photo files that are five megabytes each. Most camera memory cards can capture beyond 200 images, so copying photo files to a DVD is often essential to conserve storage space on your computer. The process for copying files to a DVD is slightly different on Windows and Macintosh machines.

Things You'll Need

• Blank writable DVD disc(s)

Instructions

Windows

1. Insert a blank recordable DVD+R, DVD-R or DVD±R disc into the computer's optical drive. The computer detects the recordable disc, and a "Blank DVD Options" pop-up menu appears on the screen.

2. Select the "Burn Files to Disc" option on the "Blank DVD Options" pop-up window.

3. Type a name for the the DVD in the "Name" text box. Use a name that relevantly identifies the photos you are copying, then click "Ok" or press "Enter" on the keyboard to confirm the name.

4. Select the folder that contains the photos you want to copy from the selection menu that appears on the right side of the disc burn dialog window, or locate individual photo files on the right side and drag and drop each into the burn queue on the left.

5. Click on the "Burn" button at the top of the window to initiate the transfer.

Macintosh

1. Insert a blank recordable DVD+R, DVD-R or DVD±R disc into the computer's optical drive. The computer detects the recordable disc, and a pop-up dialog window appears on the screen.

2. Select "Open Finder" from the pop-up prompt that says, "You inserted a blank DVD. Choose an action from the pop-up menu or click Ignore," and click "OK" on the pop-up menu. Double click on the "Untitled DVD" icon that appears on the Desktop, and a Finder window for the disc appears with a "Burn" button on the top right corner.

3. Open another Finder window by clicking on "New Finder Window" in the Finder's File menu, or pressing Command N on the keyboard while in the Finder. To verify that you are operating in the Finder, click on a blank space somewhere on the Desktop background before trying to open the new window.

4. Locate and select the photo files that you want to copy within the new Finder window. Select multiple photos in a single folder by clicking on each photo file while holding down the Command key on the keyboard, or select all the photos within a folder by clicking on that folder icon. Drag and drop the selection over to the "Untitled DVD" window by clicking and holding the selection as you move the mouse from the original location of the files to the "Untitled DVD" window.

5. Click the "Burn" button on the top right corner of the "Untitled DVD" window, and a pop-up dialog appears with the question, "Are you sure you want to burn the contents of 'Untitled DVD' to a disc." Type a name in the name dialog box on the pop-up menu that identifies the photos that you are storing on the DVD, and click "Burn" to initiate the data transfer.

References

• Hewlett Packard: Archive Photos to DVD