Android tablet: Using the camera

This short guide is a reference tool to help refresh your knowledge or practise what you have learned in the Android tablet: Using the camera online course, including:

how to quickly access the camera
how to take a photo, and how to take a selfie
how to set a photo as the background image
how to delete, edit, and send photos to a friend.

Before you begin

The Android tablet used in demonstrations in this course may not be the same as yours, but the menus and steps should be similar.

All about the camera app

The camera works like an app, and there are three main ways to access it.

Tap the Camera app icon on the Home screen.
Swipe up from the bottom to show the Apps screen, find the Camera app icon, and tap.
Press the Power button on the side of the tablet twice quickly. This works even when your tablet is locked.

The main screen of the Camera app shows a preview of what the camera can currently see. By default, this is the view from the tablet’s rear camera.

If you open the Camera app from the Lock screen, your tablet is still locked. You will be able to take photos and see the photos you’ve just taken. But you won’t be able to use any other features of your tablet until you unlock it.

How to take and view a photo and a selfie

When the Camera app is open you can take photos and videos. Next to the camera preview are different types of photos and videos you can take. It’s worth exploring these to see what effects and styles you prefer:

Select Photo to take a regular photograph.
Tap the Capture button to take the photo. The photo is saved in your tablet’s Gallery app. You can view the last photo you’ve taken by tapping the circle under the Capture button.
You can use the front camera of the tablet to take a selfie.
Tap the Switch Camera button, which looks like two arrows.
The preview changes to what the front camera sees, which is most likely your face as you look at the tablet.
Hold the tablet so your face is framed in the preview view. Remember to look at the camera, not at the screen.
Tap the Capture button to take a selfie.

How to use a photo as your tablet’s wallpaper

You can personalise your tablet by using a photo as the background of the Home Screen:

Open the Gallery app and choose a photo by swiping left and right.
Tap the photo to make it full screen.
Tap the three vertical dots in the corner of the screen to see some options.
Tap Set as wallpaper, then choose Home screen from the options that appear to set the photo as the Home screen background.
You’ll see a preview of how the photo will look on the Home screen. Tap and drag the photo to find a position you’re happy with, then tap Done to set the photo as the background.

How to edit a photo

You can edit a photo using the Gallery app. It may also be called My Photos or Camera Roll, depending on your tablet:

Open the app and tap a photo so it appears full screen.
Tap the Edit icon to see some basic editing options.
Use the edit controls, such as Crop, to alter the photo and tap Save to save the changes to the photo.

How to share a photo

Use the Share menu to send your photo to friends and family using other apps. The Share menu lets you choose, for example, to send a photo via the Messages or Email app.

From the Gallery app, tap a photo so that it opens full screen.
Tap the Share icon under the photo to see the options in the Share menu.
Choose an app, for example the Gmail app.
The app will open with the photo already attached.
Fill out the message details such as To, the Subject, and some text to send along with the photo.
Tap Send to send the email.