PictBridge gives you a way to bypass the PC when printing images.
A digital camera or camera-equipped mobile phone which features PictBridge technology allows you to connect the device directly to a printer for the purpose of printing pictures. This connection is made through a Universal Serial Bus cable and requires both devices to feature a USB port and to be PictBridge-capable. You can determine if the devices are PictBridge capable by locating the standard's logo on both devices.
Technology
PictBridge technology is a standardized product of the Camera and Imaging Products Association and came about as a result of the rapid increase of digital camera production. Because of the rapid growth of digital cameras, it is easier to handle images as digital data. Prior to PictBridge, a personal computer acted as a facilitator between a camera and a printer and required the presence of a software application to provide printing functionality. PictBridge technology was officially announced in 2002 as a joint venture between six digital camera manufacturers, including Canon, Fuji, Sony and Olympus.
Using PictBridge
Once a PictBridge-equipped cameras or camera phone is connected to a PictBridge-compliant printer, print options appear on the camera's display screen. Using the camera's print menu, you can control the size, media type and layout of the printouts you are producing. PictBridge gives you the option of printing single or multiple images or even all images contained on a camera's memory card. Large-scale prints, such as 13 by 19 inches, require the printer to have a memory card installed, if it is so equipped.
USB
At the time of publication, USB ports and cables are available in standard-, mini- and micro-sized versions, each of which may come with PictBridge cameras and printers. While USB cables and ports are used primarily for transferring data from one device to another, such as with PictBridge, they are also capable of transferring power. This feature enables the smaller device to charge while the connection is intact. Currently, USB version 2.0 is the most used USB technology and delivers transfer speeds of up to 40 times faster than those achieved by USB version 1.1. Contrary to what its name implies, "full speed" USB 1.1 connections are actually slow speed, while USB 2.0's "high speed" designation is just what the name implies.
Wireless Printing
While PictBridge technology gives digital camera users the option of printing using a wired connection, other companies, such as Apple, have introduced a wireless method for printing from an iPhone 4 that does not require a PC connection. Dubbed AirPrint, this feature allows you to wirelessly print from an iPhone 4 on an AirPrint-equipped printer. Currently, Hewlett-Packard is the only company that produces printers with the AirPrint feature.
Tags: digital camera, PictBridge technology, both devices, from iPhone, images digital
