Using Vista’s online print-ordering service

Click the Start button and then choose All Programs and then select Windows Photo Gallery from the list on the menu. When the program launches, navigate to the folder that contains the photos for printing using the folder tree in the left-hand pane and then click anywhere in the main window. Hold down the Ctrl key and press ‘A’ to select all the photos and then click the Print button and choose Order prints.

Windows WILL find any available printing services that currently have a deal with Microsoft to print photos directly from Vista like this. When the list loads select one by clicking on it – we’ve chosen Jessops – and then click the Send Pictures button. Vista reminds us that by using the wizard we’re agreeing to send the selected photographs electronically to the commercial printing service. That’s fine, so we can just click Send.

Although each of the supported photo-printing services will vary slightly, they will all follow a similar format from now on. Type in your contact details like name, email address and phone number, taking care to complete all the fields marked with an asterisk; this is like filling in the back of the envelope for a traditional mail order developing service. When all the fields are completed, click the Next button.

At the next screen, use the plus and minus controls at the top to pick a size for all of the photos and then scroll down through the list and change the size for any individual photo that needs to be larger. Good photo-printing services like this one will flag up any photos that won’t print out well at larger sizes and it’s simple to get more than one of each picture developed by typing in a new number in the quantity box next to the photo.

Scroll through all the photos in the window, reviewing the quantities and sizes to make sure they’re OK and then click Next. Type in the address of the person who the photos are for and then click Next. At the next screen, enter the relevant credit card/payment information and click Next. Finally, review the charges (they’ll add postage) and then click the Next button to actually place the order.

The photo-printing service will then upload the photos one at a time. When all the pictures have been uploaded (which could take some time, if the images are large), click the Next button to finish the process. Finally, take a moment to jot down the order reference number and the estimated delivery date – that way it’s easy to give them a nudge if the pictures are slow turning up. Click the Finish button and you’re done.