Post subject: Picasa Tutorial and Challenge for April 2012
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:41 pm
Therapy Master
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:18 pm Posts: 1587
Picasa Photo Editing
HI shutter gang. This month Lee-Anne suggested we have a look at Picasa. It’s a photo editing software that is reputed to be easy to use and it’s a free download. I’ve included the links to download it if you choose too.
Quote from Google. From Google: Picasa can transfer, find, organize, edit, print, and share images, all with this easy-to-use product. Watch Picasa automatically organize all your pictures into elegant albums by date. Having all your photos in one place means no more time wasted searching for folders or files. The program works with JPEG, GIF, BMP, PSD, and movie files and is compatible with most digital cameras; it detects your USB driver and imports pictures into albums. Editing tools include cropping (standard or custom), removal of red-eye, and enhancing--even switching from color to black and white. Create slide shows set to your MP3s. Integration with Picasa's free Hello instant picture-sharing software lets you share hundreds of photos in seconds and chat in real time. E-mail photos with Picasa's built-in client to take the guesswork out of compressing images, and order photo-lab quality prints or print at home with no mistakes. You can also make instant backups to CD (or to other hard drives) of your photo collections, to organize your photos using labels and stars (just like with Gmail), to write captions for all pictures, and to organize videos as well as pictures.
I use Photoshop CS5 as my editing program of choice as I shoot in Raw file, not Jpg therefore I’m unable to use Picasa, so I’m not really familiar with it. So I am in the same boat as all those who haven’t used it before.
So it’s been my mission this week to download it, play around in it and post a tutorial about using it for a variety of simple functions. I would LOVE this tute to be a 2 way tutorial. If someone asks a question on how to do something, lets say crop and straighten a photo of their LO, and you know the answer, step right up and answer it. You’ll be teaching me stuff too.
I’m hoping to gain knowledge and help those looking for answers with • Cropping, • Straightening a horizon • Removing blemishes’ • BW • Red eye removal
• And any other suggestions that you throw my way.
The more interactive the thread gets, the more we all can get out of it.
So step one, if you don’t already have it, download it, install it (follow the prompts) and open it up.
The first thing Picasa does is to make a library of all your image files. It doesn’t move or copy the files, it just locates where each file is and makes a directory. (Library). Depending on how many images you have, it may take a while. Start it going and go make yourself a coffee.
Rather than re invent the wheel, I’ll post a number of SHORT video tutorials I’ve found on the www. I am aware that not everyone has lightning fast Internet, so the videos I’ll link are short. Most of them should be under 2 minutes.
Watch these YouTube videos to give you an insight of Picasa so you can become familiar with it.
there's some funky borders and different effects with the little paint brushes on the left side tabs.
Your photography challenge for the month of April is to have a play with Picasa. Don’t fret if you use a different photo editing software, as you can use what you have. What I’m after is to see the original photo and then a second photo that’s been edited for improvement. Load them both up in this thread and your best three shots to go in the April ‘Tiff’s Photo Challenge’ gallery folder for the chance of the for the chance to win a $25 Scrap Therapy Voucher that’s valid for a month upon receipt of the voucher code.
The winner will be announced in May on Saturday after the announcement of the new Man of the Month which is the first Friday of the month.
Post subject: Re: Picasa Tutorial and Challenge for April 2012
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:56 pm
Therapy Member
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:41 am Posts: 35
I haven't been around for a while but am keen to get in touch with my creative side again - so here is my first attempt. The first shot is of a calf born this week at our place. The first photo is the unedited version but it has been resized.
Attachment:
023 (Medium).JPG [ 103.95 KiB | Viewed 4941 times ]
This is the edited version, also resized but cropped and I'm feeling lucky added.
Attachment:
edit of Tiddler (Medium).jpg [ 86.89 KiB | Viewed 4941 times ]
Post subject: Re: Picasa Tutorial and Challenge for April 2012
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:22 pm
Therapy Master
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:18 pm Posts: 1587
Theapol - Great use of cropping and using 'Im feeling lucky' on the calf shot. And again with your 'least hairy' grandson lol. The eyes really make an impact now.
Just be aware that for both the edited shots, you've used a non standard sized crop, so when you go to print those images it may cause issues with part of the subject missing as it won't fit on the photo paper.
For those who don't know what "I'm feeling lucky" is, it can best be described as an auto corrector. Sometimes it works a treat, but no always. Its a good place to start from as far as brightening a shot.
Post subject: Re: Picasa Tutorial and Challenge for April 2012
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:28 pm
Therapy Master
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:18 pm Posts: 1587
Tara and the D man!! You found the framing tab. Well done. And using the vignette helps to draw the eye to the centre of your photo.
I'm wondering how dark this is going to print up. It may pay to lighten the image, or use "I'm Lucky", save that image, duplicate the edited one to use the BW effect with the vignette and framing on.
Post subject: Re: Picasa Tutorial and Challenge for April 2012
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:42 am
Therapy Master
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:18 pm Posts: 1587
Pleasure chook. It used to catch me out before I twigged what I was doing. Cropping a 5x7 gives you a different crop from a 6x8 or 8x10. 8x12 is exactly double 4x6 so you shouldn't lose any of the picture.
Best way is to have a think of what the end size of the print will be and then crop it accordingly. (That's how I do it)
so we dont have to use piccasa? how much editing are we looking for? I m still in the middle of one, but will have to load up to see if its right. what a great idea this month to play with editing of photos thanks gis
Attachments:
File comment: i'm not sure what to do with the edge of door. also wanting to lighten the eyes, printing too dark and a little bit sharper the image too. there are 3 photos which i want to print narrow, there are not sized. zarah edit.jpg [ 110.57 KiB | Viewed 4887 times ]
File comment: ops didnt even rotate the original i think zarah original.jpg [ 162.16 KiB | Viewed 4887 times ]
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You'll probably remove the tubing too.
