Howcast

How to Create an Animated Gif Using Photoshop

Howcast — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:46:22 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Start a new composition Open your images in Photoshop. Start a new composition by going to File, New, and then setting the image to your desired size.
Step 2: Unlock the background layer Double click on the Background layer in the Layers window to unlock it. Click Okay when prompted to change the background to Layer 0. Put each image in the new composition and Photoshop will create a new layer for each picture.
TIP: Set the color of Layer 0 to whatever color you prefer for the background of the animation.
Step 3: Add images to the composition Go to the first image you want to import, and double click the Background layer to unlock it. Using the Move tool, grab the image and drag it into your composition. Repeat for the remaining images; the composition automatically puts them on their own layer.
TIP: Resize the image by going to Edit, Transform, and Scale so that it fits the composition.
Step 4: Launch Animation window Launch the Animation window by selecting Window on the top menu, and then clicking Animate. The Animation window will appear at the bottom.
Step 5: Hide layers Specify which layers you want to see on the first frame of the animation by hiding the others. Hide a layer by clicking on the eyeball icon next to it in the Layer menu.
Step 6: Add new frames Click the Add New Frame or Duplicate Selected Frames button in the Animation window. As you add new frames, specify which layers to hide and show as the animation progresses.
Step 7: Adjust the animation Set the animation to loop by selecting Forever at the bottom left corner of the Animation window. Click Play to test the animation and adjust the timing by clicking the seconds under the frame.
Step 8: Save Save the animated gif by going to File, Save for Web and Devices, and selecting GIF. Test the animation by dragging the file into your internet browser.
FACT: Eadweard Muybridge invented the camera shutter in 1869, and photographed sequences of people and animals in motion.

You Will Need

Computer
Pictures
Adobe Photoshop

How to Make Life Easier Using a Digital Camera

Howcast — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:20:46 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Use it for rentals Snap photos of the existing blemishes on rental cars and in apartments to protect yourself from having to pay unwarranted fees or losing a security deposit.
Step 2: Find your way back Take pictures of landmarks and signs near your hotel or parking spot when you travel to find your way back after a day of sightseeing.
TIP: Showing a photo of where you’re staying to a cab driver can save time if you don’t remember the address or speak the language.
Step 3: Keep track of kids Snap a pic of your kids when you’re on vacation or in a big crowd. If they get lost, you’ll be able to show a police officer what they look like.
Step 4: Use it as a digital notepad Make digital notes to yourself — take pictures of hairstyles you want to copy, knitting patterns, or even recipes you might try.
TIP: Respect copyright and privacy laws when taking photographs of people or protected material.
Step 5: Take a “before” photo Take a “before” photo of a keyboard or other gadget before you clean or repair it so you’ll know how to put it back together.
Step 6: Keep maps handy Take a closeup shot of the map at an amusement park, airport, or mall so you can check your location without stopping at every kiosk.
Step 7: Give your camera an i.d. Keep a photo of your contact information under the word “reward” in your camera’s permanent memory so it can be easily returned if you leave it behind.
Step 8: Keep in touch with loved ones Send a camera phone picture of where you are and what you’re doing to your parents or friends throughout the day — it’s easier and more fun than texting.
Step 9: Play games Take photos of familiar places to make clues for a treasure hunt that will lead your kid or your better half to a fun surprise. There’s almost no limit to the fun and practical uses of a digital camera.
FACT: In 1988, the Fuji DS-1P became the first digital camera to capture images as computerized files.

You Will Need

Rental cars or apartments
Landmarks or signs
Kids
Gadgets
Map
Contact information
Camera phone
And familiar places

How to Share Digital Photos Online

Howcast — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:46:00 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Choose photos Choose your digital photos. Whether they are on your digital camera, computer, or from your scanner, choose which photos you’d like to share online.
TIP: If pictures aren’t saved on to your computer, you will need to connect the camera to the computer and upload them first.
Step 2: Choose online site Choose an online site that allows you to share your digital photos.
Step 3: Create account Create an account with the online site of your choice. Most photo-sharing sites are free, as well as video-sharing sites, and will require that you enter a valid e-mail address to get started.
TIP: Some of the sites require that you have a particular ID. Flickr requires that you have a Yahoo ID and Picassa requires that you have a Google ID — follow the steps on each site to create the appropriate ID.
Step 4: Upload photos Upload your photos now that you’ve created an account. Each uploader is different — once photos are uploaded, you can adjust properties such as size, angle, and, in some instances, color.
Step 5: Share Share either by providing those you love with a link to your public profile on these sites, or by finding the Share link on the photo page. This will allow you to share via e-mail or by embedding the photo in a web page or blog.
TIP: Remember to use discretion when posting photos online.
Step 6: Use social networking sites Don’t forget to utilize Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. These social networking sites also provide photo-sharing applications. Whichever method you choose, make sure your best photos are out there for the world to enjoy, or in your sister’s case, envy.
FACT: In 1981, Sony unveiled Mavica, the first digital camera. Magnetic impulses were recorded on a 2-inch floppy disk, producing images. The camera offered a 720,000-pixel image and 25 images could be stored on a disc.

You Will Need

Digital photo
Internet access
E-mail address
Discretion (optional)

How to Use a Digital Camera

Howcast — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:15:43 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Learn about megapixels Learn about megapixels. A megapixel refers to the resolution of the image a camera takes, or the dots that make up the quality of the image. The larger the number of megapixels, the higher the quality.
Step 2: Adjust quality settings In the menu, adjust the quality settings of the camera. The higher the setting, the better the picture, and the more space each picture will take up on the storage card.
Step 3: Understand zoom Understand the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom. With optical zoom, the lens physically moves, and zooming in does not change the picture quality. With digital zoom, the picture is being cropped in, which results in a loss of quality. Change to your desired setting in the menu.
Step 4: Insert the batteries Charge and insert the batteries for the camera. Look whether your camera takes a unique battery or standard batteries that can be bought at any store.
Step 5: Take a picture Snap a picture.
Step 6: Store your pictures Become familiar with your camera’s storage device — cameras store pictures on SD cards, compact flash cards, memory sticks, and XD cards. Each camera takes a specific card.
TIP: Delete pictures that turn out poorly from your card to save space.
Step 7: Play with the settings Play around with the exposure, flash, and color balance settings on the camera. Most cameras also have a mode menu that has predetermined settings for portrait, landscape, and action pictures.
Step 8: Consult the manual Consult the instruction manual to learn about all of the features specific to your camera.
FACT: Released in 1994, Apple’s QuickTake 100 was one of the first consumer digital cameras on the market, and took pictures with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels.

You Will Need

Digital camera
Storage device
Patience
Instruction manual

How to Make People Naked with Photoshop

Howcast — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:46:16 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Choose a photo Scan a picture to manipulate. People wearing tops of lighter tones or sheer fabric Photoshop the easiest. Almost make sure the original photo used flash.
Step 2: Open in Photoshop Open the picture in Photoshop and use the pen tool or the “Magnetic Lasso” tool to select the area you want to reveal.
TIP: You can also use the Elliptical Marquee tool with Feather set to 15 to select the area of interest.
Step 3: Make a new layer Type Control-C and Control-V, or Command-C and Command-V on a Mac, to copy the selection and create a new layer.
Step 4: Adjust levels Go to Image, then Adjustments, and click on Levels. A box will pop up with a graph labeled Input Levels. Adjust the three triangles underneath this graph until you get an eyeful.
TIP: Try the High Pass Filter under Other in the Filter menu to sharpen the selected area.
Step 5: Experiment Experiment with the Color Balance, Brightness, and Contrast until you feel like you have X-ray vision.
FACT: In 2007, photographer Spencer Tunick photographed a group of 18,000 naked people on the Zocalo square in Mexico City.

You Will Need

A computer
A scanner
A picture
Adobe Photoshop

How to Lighten & Darken in Photoshop

Howcast — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:47:09 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Open the photo Open your photo in Photoshop. Click File, Save As in the top menu bar, and rename the file so that you’re working on a copy, instead of the original.
Step 2: Open Shadow/Highlight Open the Shadow/Highlight Adjustment by choosing Image, Adjustments, Shadow/Highlight from the top menu bar. Click Show More Options to expand the dialog box, which adds Tonal Width and Radius options to both the Shadows and Highlights sections. Also, it adds a new section called Adjustments, which contains the Color Correction, Midtone Contrast, Black Clip and White Clip options.
Step 3: Move the Amount Slide all of the sliders to the left. Move the Amount slider in the Shadows section to about 20 percent. Change how much you’ll lighten the shadows by moving the Amount slider in the Shadows section to 20 percent.
TIP: Moving the sliders back and forth allows you to gauge your changes.
Step 4: Adjust Shadows Tonal Width Adjust the darkest areas by moving the Shadows Tonal Width slider to the right.
Step 5: Change the Radius Adjust the area of the photo you’ll affect by moving the Radius slider to the right. This helps soften some areas of adjustment, keeping your retouching from being rough and obvious.
Step 6: Adjust the Highlights Adjust the three Highlights sliders.
Step 7: Fine-tune Make fine-tune color adjustments to the areas you’ve changed by sliding the Color Correction slider around.
TIP: If you find that certain settings work well for most photos, choose Save As Defaults at the bottom of the box.
Step 8: Tweak Black and White Clip Increase or decrease the Black and White Clip values. Be careful: It’s easy to lose detail in the Shadows or Highlights if you move these values too much.
Step 9: Save If you’re not happy, close the file and delete it. Reopen the original file, save it under a different name, and start again. If you are satisfied, click OK and save your file.
FACT: In 2009, French health officials considered requiring magazines to disclose how much they used Photoshop to retouch the photos they published.

You Will Need

Adobe Photoshop

How to Transfer Super 8mm Film to Your Computer

Howcast — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:34:35 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Place projector and camera Place the projector and camera side by side, 4-6 feet from the wall.
Step 2: Frame projection in viewfinder Power up your video camera. Then, turn the projector lamp on. Finally, frame the projected image through the viewfinder in your camera.
Step 3: Load your film Attach your roll of film to the supply reel spindle. Then, insert the film into the loading slot. Finally, make sure your film is loaded properly.
Step 4: Record Hit the record button your camera and turn the projector on. If correctly loaded, your film should begin projecting.
TIP: For the best quality, capture your image in an area with as little light as possible.
Step 5: Transfer and edit your film Plug your camera into the computer according to its specified method. Then, use the editing software of your choice to capture the footage. Once you’ve successfully transferred the film to your computer, you can edit it, put it on a DVD, or share it with your friends and family online.

You Will Need

A smooth
white wall or piece of white paper
A flat
raised surface or table
A super 8mm projector
A roll of super 8mm film
A tripod
A video camera
An area with low light

How to Buy a Digital Camera

Howcast — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:48:04 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Set your budget Decide how much you want to spend.
TIP: Your goal is to find the best camera in your price range.
Step 2: Think about your needs Think about what you want to do with your digital camera. Do you want to be able to take pictures at night? Make large prints? Carry it with you everywhere?
Step 3: Shop Visit a camera store—online or brick and mortar—to narrow down your choices. Find the largest selection possible.
Step 4: Decide what kind Decide if you want a ‘point-and-shoot’ camera or a ‘digital SLR’ (single-lens reflex) camera. Digital SLR cameras are larger and more expensive but usually have more features and interchangeable lenses.
TIP: A digital SLR camera is a great professional camera but probably unnecessarily expensive for the amateur photographer.
Step 5: Decide what resolution Figure out what resolution you want, known as the ‘megapixel’ rating. Basically, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the picture you can print and the higher quality the image will be.
TIP: A five-megapixel camera has sufficient resolution to print out a high-quality 11′ by 14′ picture.
Step 6: Focus on batteries Look for digital cameras that use rechargeable batteries, and find out if you need a separate charger.
Step 7: Consider optical zoom Decide on how much optical zoom you need. The higher the zoom, the steadier your hand must be. Most people would rather have a higher zoom than a higher resolution.
TIP: Don’t worry about digital zoom. All it does is magnify a photo, meaning the higher you zoom, the lower the picture quality. Optical zoom is what’s important.
Step 8: Consider the features Consider what built-in features—like low-light focusing or red-eye reduction—are worth the expense for your needs.
TIP: A fast-acting camera is key to avoiding so-called ‘shutter lag,’ which is the delay between your pushing the button and the camera taking the picture.
Step 9: Consider video Decide whether you want video capability, but realize your filming length will be limited and will fill your memory card quickly.
TIP: If you want to digitally record video, you’re better off investing in a digital camcorder.
Step 10: Consider comfort Don’t forget that comfort counts. If you’re planning to carry the camera around a lot, a smaller, lighter camera will be best.
Step 11: Buy memory Most cameras don’t include enough memory, so purchase a memory card or stick. Most cameras come with a 16 MB ‘standard’ card, but you’ll most likely want to buy another larger card so you’ll be able to store lots more pictures on it.
Step 12: Consider LCD screen size All digital cameras have LCD screens. They vary in size; larger screens make the camera easier to use but will probably drain the batteries faster.
Step 13: Buy a case Whatever you end up choosing, be sure to buy a case for it. Digital cameras can be easily damaged, and you don’t want your investment going to waste.
FACT: In 2004, Kodak stopped making new film cameras.

You Will Need

A budget
A general idea of what you want to do with your camera
And time to comparison shop

How to Convert Old Photos to Digital

Howcast — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:33:09 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Organize your photos Before scanning, organize your photos – and slides and negatives, if you have them – into logical groups. This will make renaming and labeling them much easier later on.
Step 2: Clean your photos Using a soft photography or makeup brush, gently clean your photos. Any dirt or smudges will be visible in your scans.
Step 3: Clean the scanner Using isopropyl, or another cleaning agent that won’t leave residue or streaks, and a lint-free cloth, wipe any dust, smudges, and fingerprints off the scanner’s glass bed.
TIP: Turn on the scanner’s light to reveal any overlooked smudges, fingerprints, or dirt.
Step 4: Select your DPI based on your image use For images you intend to print, a DPI (or dots per inch) of 300 is recommended. Slides or negatives need a DPI of at least 2,400. For use on the Web, a DPI of 72 is acceptable.
Step 5: Scan your old photos Using the software that came with your scanner, scan each photo into your computer.
Step 6: Rename your digital scans Your scans will likely have numerical names that tell you nothing about the content of the scanned image. Rename each file.
Step 7: Edit your images Using photo- editing software, view each image, cropping out bits you don’t want, straightening slightly crooked images, and using color correction where necessary.
Step 8: Backup your images Photo library software makes organizing and viewing photos on the computer simple, but you should also burn your scanned photos to a CD, DVD, or an external hard drive for safekeeping. You can typically save about 1,200 images on a CD and close to 7,000 on a DVD when you save them as JPG files.
FACT: You can get a scanner the size of a ballpoint pen, meant for scanning single lines of text.

You Will Need

Photos
slides
or negatives
A computer
A flatbed scanner with attachments for slides and negatives
A soft photography or makeup brush
A lint-free cloth
Isopropyl alcohol
Photo editing software

How to Make a Camcorder Stabilizer

Howcast — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:32:52 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Begin building bottom Attach two 45-degree elbow connectors to either end of a 6-inch PVC pipe. This will be the bottom of your camcorder stabilizer.
Step 2: Attach T-connector Add a piece of 2½-inch PVC pipe to each connector’s open end and then attach a T-connector to both.
Step 3: Connect PVC to cross Separately, affix the two 3-inch pieces of PVC to opposite ends of the four-way cross connector. Attach an elbow to the open end of each 3-inch piece. This assembly will serve as your camera’s base.
Step 4: Link Ts to elbows Attach the two assemblies you’ve built so far by attaching the elbows to two 1½-inch PVC pieces, and those pieces to the inward-facing holes in the T-connectors.
Step 5: Add remaining PVC pipe pieces Add the remaining two 2½-inch PVC pipe pieces to the open holes on each T-connector, and attach elbow connectors to the pipes.
Step 6: Connect side pipes Attach a pair of 6-inch PVC pipes to the open ends of the elbow connectors. Attach elbow connectors to their open ends.
Step 7: Build top Now build the top of the stabilizer. Attach a pair of elbow connectors to either end of a 6-inch PVC pipe. Then, attach the two remaining unused 6-inch pieces to the other ends of the elbow connectors.
Step 8: Attach top piece Connect the elbow connectors on the top pieces of your stabilizer to both 6-inch side pieces, forming an octagon and completing your basic frame.
Step 9: Seal with cement Seal all the connections on your stabilizer by brushing on PVC cement, and let dry.
TIP: Spray-paint your stabilizer black to make it look sleeker.
Step 10: Drill hole in end cap Create the camera mount. To begin, drill a hole the size of the bolt through the center of a PVC end cap.
Step 11: Thread bolt in cap Thread the carriage bolt through the underside of the cap so it pokes through the top of the cap. Screw the nut down the bolt until it meets the cap, holding the bolt in place.
Step 12: Connect PVC to cap Attach the underside of the cap to the remaining 1½-inch piece of PVC and cement them together. Let them dry.
Step 13: Attach wing nut and washer Screw the wing nut onto the top of the bolt and add the washer.
Step 14: Screw in camcorder Screw the bolt into the camcorder’s bottom tripod hole and tighten the wing nut.
TIP: For easier handling, apply grip tape to the two side bars of your stabilizer.
Step 15: Attach camera mount to rig Once your camera is secured to the bolt, attach the assembled mount to the top of the cross connector in the center of your rig and cement the connecting PVC. You’re ready to start recording, one steady shot at a time!
FACT: The first movie to use a handheld stabilized camera rig – or Steadicam – was the 1976 David Carradine film Bound for Glory.

You Will Need

PVC pipe 1 1/2 to 2 1/2″ in diameter
6 6-inch pieces
2 3-inch pieces
4 2 1/2-inch pieces
And 3 1 1/2-inch pieces
10 45-degree elbow connectors
2 PVC T-connectors
A four-way cross connector
A can of PVC cement
A PVC end cap
A drill with a 1/4-inch bit
A 1/4-inch carriage bolt
about 4″ long
A 1/4-inch nut
A 1/4-inch wing nut
A 1/4-inch fender washer
A camcorder
Black spray paint
Grip tape

How to Back Up Digital Photos

Howcast — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:32:44 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Open photo folder If you have Windows XP, open the folder where photos are stored. If the Picture Task area is not showing on the left side, click Tools, then Folder Options.
TIP: Set up a monthly reminder for yourself so you get in the habit of backing up new photos.
Step 2: Choose “Show common tasks in folders” On the General tab, choose “Show common tasks in folders,” then click “Apply” followed by “OK.”
Step 3: Highlight the photos Highlight the pictures you would like to back up, then click on “Copy all items to CD,” which is in the Picture Tasks area on the left.
Step 4: Click on the balloon When the balloon stating “You have files waiting to be written to the CD” appears, click on it to open the window and view your files.
Step 5: Choose “Write these files to CD” Choose “Write these files to CD.”
Step 6: Insert a CD When prompted, insert a CD, then click “Next.” Enter a name, then click “Next” again. Eject the disc when a message appears indicating that burning is complete.
Step 7: Double click on hard drive For Mac iPhoto, double click on your hard drive. When the window opens, click on “Pictures” in the left hand column, then choose the “iPhoto Library” folder.
FACT: Only 13% of digital photos actually get printed.
Step 8: Drag the iPhoto Library folder to the disc Drag the iPhoto Library folder onto the blank disc icon on your desktop.
TIP: As an alternative, highlight the iPhoto Library folder, then click on the black and yellow circular symbol on the right hand corner of the window.
Step 9: Insert blank disc Insert either a blank CD or DVD. When asked to initialize it, give the inserted disc a name.
Step 10: Eject the disc When a message appears that burning is complete, eject the disc.

You Will Need

A collection of digital photos
And blank CDs or DVDs

How to Use Flickr

Howcast — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:57:39 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Go to flickr.com Go to www.flickr.com and click ‘Create Your Account.’
Step 2: Make a Yahoo! ID At the next page, sign up for a free a Yahoo! ID or sign in if you already have one.
Step 3: Create your Flickr account You’re now on an account creation page, with two options, either to merge this Yahoo! ID with an existing Flickr account or create a new account. Click create new account.
TIP: At this point, you can also change your username to differ from your Yahoo! ID, if you choose.
Step 4: View your main profile page From your new main page, you can now upload your photos, change innumerable preferences, edit a profile, and much more.
Step 5: Choose some photos to upload Choose some photos you wish to upload. Do this by clicking the ‘Choose Photos’ link, which will pop up a file browser to choose from. Select a photo.
TIP: If these are private photos for only those with a password to see, click the ‘Private’ radio button and follow the steps to protect your photos from viewing.
Step 6: Add as many photos as you want Click ‘Add More’ if you wish to add more photos.
Step 7: Click upload photos when done Click ‘Upload Photos’ when you are finished selecting all your photos.
Step 8: Title and describe your photos Once the photos have been uploaded, click ‘Describe Your Photos’ to add a titles, descriptions, and tags. When you’re finished, click ‘Save This Batch.’
Step 9: Repeat process You have now stored photos online with Flickr. Repeat this process each time you wish to add photos to your collection.
Step 10: Share your photos Share your photos by giving friends and family the link in the address bar from your homepage on Flickr.
FACT: Flickr started as a tool for an online gaming site that let players share photos with each other—but it was so successful that the game itself was abandoned.

You Will Need

Digital photos to upload
A free Yahoo! account

How to Take Great Pictures with Your Cell Phone

Howcast — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:08:06 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Set your camera phone Set your camera phone to take the highest quality (and largest file size) photo possible.
Step 2: Clean your camera lens Make sure your camera lens is clean—and that you know exactly where it is!
Step 3: Arrange your subjects Arrange your subjects or scene as you see fit.
Step 4: Make sure there’s plenty of light Make sure there’s plenty of light. If you have a flash, turn it on, and stand with whatever other light source is around behind you, so it shines on your subject.
TIP: Don’t block the light with your own body, casting shadows on your subject.
Step 5: Get in close Get in close so that the subject is in full-frame.
Step 6: Use the rule of thirds Use the rule of thirds, framing your subject in either the left or right third of the frame, not dead center—creating a more interesting picture.
TIP: If you’re shooting a celebrity at a club, use the rule of fourths—if the bodyguard is four times your size, don’t take the picture.
Step 7: Keep the camera steady Keep the camera as steady as possible—the less movement the better, so stabilize yourself as best you can.
Step 8: Snap your shot Snap your shot and hope for the best—or the worst, as the case may be.
FACT: Both Sharp and Kyocera introduced the first camera phones in 1997.

You Will Need

A camera phone