Picture Quality / Size Options
The Image Quality settings for the HP Photosmart M425 are located within the main screen of the Capture menu which is opened by pressing the Menu/OK button on the back of the camera. The user can select among the following image quality settings: 5 MP Best, 5 MP Normal, 3 MP, 1 MP, and VGA. There is no 16:9 or 3:2 option, though the VGA size is small enough to email. Since it’s a basic point-and-shoot, it cannot capture RAW files, favors JPEGs instead, and offers no JPEG compression options.
Picture Effects Mode
The Picture Effects settings for the HP Photosmart M425 may be located within the Design Gallery submenu via the Menu/OK button on the back of the camera. Once this menu has been entered, users are able to select from a list of offerings that are far more extensive on the R-series released by HP this week at CES 2006. The M425 provides users with several color effects options as well as the new Add Borders feature.
The Color Effects menu allows users to process images with digital effects prior to uploading, sharing or printing images with settings for Black and White, Sepia, and Black and White Tints. Also available within the Design Gallery menu is the Add Borders submenu, which is fairly self-explanatory. The Add Borders feature allows users to view a thumbnail of their image while they scroll thru a list of options, each being displayed on the image as it is highlighted. When the proper border has been selected, users press OK and the border is set. The Add Borders menu for the M425 allows users to select between the following border formats: Soft Edge, Inset Border, Oval, Circle, Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle and Square. However, users are unable to control the border size and often this setting cropped far too much of the image. There is also a bizarre system in which a border color is automatically chosen by the camera, instead of allowing users to choose for themselves. Users may find the camera’s ineffable color palette to stray from the flattering and appealing qualities they perhaps hoped for. While an interesting idea, this feature still seems to be in an early stage, and performs adequately at best.
