Combining graphics anything but simple

Q: I use a lot of aerial photos and wish to be able to add property lines and text. Can you please tell me an easy way to do this to digital images? My Toshiba laptop tries to open the image in Microsoft Office Picture Manager, which does not give me the option to insert lines and text. Some files open in Microsoft Office Document Imaging.

How do I control which one opens and what do you recommend is the best to use for simple changes as described? I have tried to avoid more complex photo-editing software due to the learning curve.

— Bill Binford, Kirkland

A: Actually, what you're wanting to do is — as far as the computer is concerned — a fairly complex operation. You're trying to combine two different types of graphics. Those aerial photos are bitmapped graphic images. Bitmap graphics are composed of pixels, each of which contains specific color information. A single image may be composed of hundreds of thousands of individual pixels.

When you type text and draw lines on a computer, you're generally creating vector graphics, which are generated mathematically rather than pixel by pixel. If you zoom in on a bitmapped image, you lose resolution. If you zoom in on a vector graphic you don't lose resolution.

Combining the two kinds of graphics requires relatively complex software. You can do it in programs that allow you to work in layers, such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. But I haven't found any "simple" programs with a shallow learning curve. If any readers know of such an application I'll be happy to pass along the information.

As for where you control what applications Windows employs to open a file when you click on it, the specific steps depend upon the version of Windows you're using. In Windows Vista, for example, you'd go to the Control Panel and select Default Programs. In the dialog program that comes up, select "Associate a file type or protocol with a program." Once you click on that you'll see a list of file types and the applications that open them, along with options to change those associations.

Q: For the third time over some time, my computer screen turns sideways, 90 degrees to the right, and I have a heck of a time working sideways to get to System Restore. Any suggestions?

— Bill Johnson

A: The first suspect would be the drivers for your graphics adapter. Make sure you've got the most up-to-date driver for your graphics adapter for the version of the operating system you're using. If the problem persists, contact tech support at the manufacturer of your graphics adapter.

Q: I own a disgustingly temperamental printer. It's a Samsung ML-1210. When it has sat a few days unused, while I'm away from my desk temporarily it will absolutely refuse to print on my return.

I dutifully pull out the cord connecting the printer to my power strip and the laptop, and then replug everything very carefully and very firmly, and sometimes if the beast is in a good humor that day, it will deign to resume printing, if it's not it just sits there and does nothing.

These fits can last a week, and then quite suddenly, as if nothing has happened, it will start up again. Have you any idea what causes this moody behavior and what can be done to curb it and make the machine see reason?

— Keith Percival

A: Seems to have a personality of its own, huh? It's funny, but we tend to give equipment human qualities when it acts unpredictably.

And, unfortunately, unpredictable behavior by equipment means it's harder to troubleshoot.

In this case, I'd suggest you start troubleshooting by making a clean start. First, make sure you've got the most up-to-date printer drivers available from Samsung.

Second, uninstall the present driver and install the most recent drivers (even if you had the most recent drivers installed). Finally, make sure the cable between the printer and the computer is securely attached.

If the problem persists, I'd try a different cable.

If the problem still persists, I'd begin to suspect either a faulty printer or a conflict with another driver or application.

Questions for Patrick Marshall may be sent by e-mail to pmarshall@seattletimes.com or pgmarshall@pgmarshall.net, or by mail at Q&A/Technology, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.