Given a divisor $D$ on an algebraic curve $X$, there is a corresponding map $\phi_D$ from $X$ to the projective space (of dimension $\dim L(D)-1$). In particular, we know that if $D$ is a very ample divisor, then this is a holomorphic embedding into projective space. When $D$ is not very ample, how does one read off information about the map?
Here is a specific problem from Miranda's textbook to provide context:
Let $X$ be an algebraic curve of genus $2$. Let $K$ be a canonical divisor on $X$, and let $\phi_{2K}$ be the associated map to projective space. Show that the image of $\phi_{2K}$ is a smooth projective plane conic, and that the map has degree $2$.
Here are my thoughts so far. We know that $\deg(2K) = 4g-4 = 4$. By Riemann-Roch, we also have $\deg L(2K) = \deg(2K) + 1 - g = 3$. This would suggest that the image is in $\mathbb(P)^2$, and by the degree it could be a double covering of a conic, an embedding as a degree $4$ curve, or perhaps a quadruple covering of a line?