Picture Quality / Size Options (7.5)
The 10-megapixel Canon PowerShot A640 offers a few image sizes in the Func./Set menu: 3648 x 2736, 3648 x 2048 (widescreen), 2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, and 640 x 480. These JPEG images can be compressed to Normal, Fine, or SuperFine files. At the top resolution and compression, an image file measures about 3.4 MB. This won’t leave a lot of room on a small memory card. In fact, it’s enough for only 9 pictures on the included 32 MB MMC card. Of note is that there are no image sizes optimized for 4 x 6-inch prints. Canon tried to skirt this issue by providing 3:2 guide lines that can be activated in the recording menu. However, users who want perfectly cropped 4 x 6-inch prints won’t have any way to print directly from the camera; they will have to upload the photos to a software program for cropping before printing.
Picture Effects Mode (8.5)
This PowerShot is loaded with picture effects, due mainly to the built-in My Colors mode. Available from the recording and playback modes, My Colors provides the following options: Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, and Custom Color. There is a live view that shows the effects of each when scrolled through in the Func./Set menu, although the titles of the effects are intuitive. Users can customize color with +/- 2 adjustments in full steps on the following parameters: Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Red, Green, Blue, and Skin Tone. Movies can be tinted all these colors before recording, but it cannot be changed in the playback mode. Overall, these effects aren’t replacements for Photoshop but are fun to play with and are easy to use.
