Ingredients for Imaging
DIGITAL CAMERA
Prices range from $300 for top-sellers by Kodak and Casio to $20,000-plus for professional models. The cheapest cameras' low resolution works on the Web, but sharp printed images require a $1,000 unit. Prices drop daily, so shop around.
SCANNER
A color scanner such as the Hewlett-Packard ScanJet 4c or the Logitech PageScan Color runs $400. Resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (dpi) is needed to see details in photos or drawings. Test the scanner before buying: If images are streaky, grainy, or fuzzy, pass. Remember, color scanners and printers can take several minutes to process a photographic-quality image.
COLOR PRINTER
For crisp graphics get a printer with a resolution of at least 720 dpi. Color cartridges range from $30 to $75; glossy paper can cost $2 per sheet.
THE WEB
New software promises to deliver sharper images on the Web and let prospects and clients ''explore'' the pictures with a zoom function. For a demonstration, check out FlashPix (http://image.hp.com).
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