Holga + Vivitar 285 = ?
May 07, 2008 11:00 AM Filed in: Photography | Cameras
By Robert LachmanWhen is simple better? This is an example of simple lighting with an inexpensive strobe. This portrait of actor Neil Patrick Harris was photographed by me the for the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times. The lighting setup was simple: one Vivitar 285HV ($90) off camera on a stand with a light orange gel and a small snoot on the strobe to narrow the light beam. It's nice to focus the light into a smaller beam. I used a Holga, a $29 camera, shooting ISO 400 Kodak 120 film. What look like a second light is just the blue cast of the background fill from the shady balcony. I only shot every other frame on this film which gave me the dark edges left and right when I scanned the negative. The vignette is caused by the low tech quality of the Holga camera with the plastic lens. Ok I did use a a Pocket Wizard radio remote to set off the strobe. I could have use a sync cord. Just an example of old school mixing with the new school digital age.
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Ansel Adams
May 07, 2008 11:00 AM Filed in: Photography
Check out a very nice multimedia project in the New York Times which features an interview by Ansel Adams' assistant Andrea Stillman and some of Adams' most famous photographs at www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/04/27/travel/20080427_YOSEMITE_FEATURE.html.______________________________________________________________________
Win a Dusty Old Kodak Brownie
May 03, 2008 01:56 PM Filed in: Cameras
Ask a photo question and you might win a dusty old (or vintage) Kodak Brownie. The person who sends in the best photo or Mac computer related question to PhotographyAndTheMac.com in the month of May 2008 wins. I will judge the contest and the winner will be announced at the beginning of June. The email address is in the sidebar on the left or just click on the blue rectangle. Robert Lachman______________________________________________________________________
You Control: Fonts
By Robert Lachman
I recently changed from Microsoft Word to Apple’s Pages. I broke down and went with the iWork '08 software suite. My only problem so far, is Apple’s font selection menu in Pages. I only use a normal amount of fonts, I consider myself the average user but, I need to see what the fonts look like as I choose them from the menu. Microsoft gave me this with WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) font menus but Pages didn’t.
I’m not sure why it isn’t included. Also the list of fonts is long and I’m probably never going to use so many.
My solution: You Control: Fonts, from You Control Software. The program, which sells for $19.95, solved all my font issues.
From a very simple pull down menu, they give you a choice of current type, favorites, recent, size and then a list of all fonts.
Lets face it, you only rely on a few of your favorite fonts. They should be right at the top of your list and easy to reach. I’m breezing through changing my fonts now.
Ever wonder what font you are using? Just click or highlight the type and go to the top menu item, Current Font. It displays the current font and size.
Next you have Favorite Fonts. I use this most of the time. Adding fonts to this list is simple. Just pick a type font and select add to favorites.
Recent Fonts is next. The software keeps track of what you like to use. How simple is that?
Changing the size is another option down the menu list.
Last is a complete list of all your fonts. They are shown WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get). As you choose the font, menus expand giving choices of style and size.
This software is a cinch to use and simply makes working with your fonts seamless. It works all programs I use on my computer.
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I recently changed from Microsoft Word to Apple’s Pages. I broke down and went with the iWork '08 software suite. My only problem so far, is Apple’s font selection menu in Pages. I only use a normal amount of fonts, I consider myself the average user but, I need to see what the fonts look like as I choose them from the menu. Microsoft gave me this with WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) font menus but Pages didn’t.
I’m not sure why it isn’t included. Also the list of fonts is long and I’m probably never going to use so many.
My solution: You Control: Fonts, from You Control Software. The program, which sells for $19.95, solved all my font issues.
From a very simple pull down menu, they give you a choice of current type, favorites, recent, size and then a list of all fonts.
Lets face it, you only rely on a few of your favorite fonts. They should be right at the top of your list and easy to reach. I’m breezing through changing my fonts now.
Ever wonder what font you are using? Just click or highlight the type and go to the top menu item, Current Font. It displays the current font and size.
Next you have Favorite Fonts. I use this most of the time. Adding fonts to this list is simple. Just pick a type font and select add to favorites.
Recent Fonts is next. The software keeps track of what you like to use. How simple is that?
Changing the size is another option down the menu list.
Last is a complete list of all your fonts. They are shown WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get). As you choose the font, menus expand giving choices of style and size.
This software is a cinch to use and simply makes working with your fonts seamless. It works all programs I use on my computer.
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Essentials 2
By Robert Lachman
Have you ever wanted to put one of those cool looking arty photographic edges on one of your photographs? Maybe you needed to cut someone out of the background of a photo, wanted to make a poster from a small image, or have had problems working with levels or curves, then Essentials 2 by onOne software is for you.
Essentials 2, the add-on to Photoshop Elements is broken into four parts: Make it better, Cut it out, Frame it and Enlarge it.
Open your photograph in Photoshop Elements and you’re ready to go. A new small onOne Essentials 2 box shows up and you choose one of four modules.
Let’s start with Make it Better. It puts your photo into two side-by-side windows. Just click on which window looks best for correcting the dynamic range, brightness, warm and cool temperature, color, and then two more fine color adjustments. Just six quick steps for better looking photos.
It even makes a cool swishing sound after you click on the window and as it moves to the next choice. They also give you an option for more control with a slider at each step of the way.
The second add-on choice is Cut it Out. Now, this isn’t one you will use every day, but when you need it, it’s a life saver. Let’s say you need to put together a brochure, need to make a collage, put someone in front of a solid background or cut out the background. Separating hair or tree leaves out of a background can be very difficult. The Photoshop Elements program does have it’s own simple extract feature but the Essentials 2 “Cut it out” tool takes the process to a high level. You need to remember, this process takes some time.
The process uses their “Color decontamination technology.” It compares the colors, letting you paint the background away. Also, it allows you to use a pen tool to work off the edges. It works in real time so you can check the process as you work.
Next is Frame It. This tool is worth the price of the whole program and my favorite. Every wonder how to get some cool edges on your photographs, look no further. This is so SIMPLE and CREATIVE at the same time. Check out all the edges including: photographic frames like, emulsion edges, sprocket holes, acid burns, instant film and vignettes. Also try the art style splatter edges. You can even have realistic frames with mats. This is just the start. The programs allow you control over the background, shadows and different color glows to the frames which really gives them a great finishing touch.
The last add-on is Enlarge It. This one is used for taking a small photographic file and and making the file bigger for a poster print. This program uses some mathematical algorithm to maintain the detail and continuous tone. I don’t know what a mathematical algorithm is but it sounds good and it works.
This program is a great value at a retail price of $59.95 and $49.95 at the Apple store and website. When you consider it's four programs in one. The have combined and simplified the featured of their more expensive programs like FrameIt 3, Genuine Fractals 5, Pro Mask 4 and Photo Tools.
At this price you will be glad you’re a Photoshop Elements user instead of a full version Photoshop users.
I highly recommend this program giving it five out of five stars.
Make sure you go to the onOne website and check out their tutorials at http://www.ononesoftware.com/tutorials/tutorials_essentials.php before you start. Go there first and get some instruction so you can take advantage of all the features of the program.
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Have you ever wanted to put one of those cool looking arty photographic edges on one of your photographs? Maybe you needed to cut someone out of the background of a photo, wanted to make a poster from a small image, or have had problems working with levels or curves, then Essentials 2 by onOne software is for you.
Essentials 2, the add-on to Photoshop Elements is broken into four parts: Make it better, Cut it out, Frame it and Enlarge it.
Open your photograph in Photoshop Elements and you’re ready to go. A new small onOne Essentials 2 box shows up and you choose one of four modules.
Let’s start with Make it Better. It puts your photo into two side-by-side windows. Just click on which window looks best for correcting the dynamic range, brightness, warm and cool temperature, color, and then two more fine color adjustments. Just six quick steps for better looking photos.It even makes a cool swishing sound after you click on the window and as it moves to the next choice. They also give you an option for more control with a slider at each step of the way.
The second add-on choice is Cut it Out. Now, this isn’t one you will use every day, but when you need it, it’s a life saver. Let’s say you need to put together a brochure, need to make a collage, put someone in front of a solid background or cut out the background. Separating hair or tree leaves out of a background can be very difficult. The Photoshop Elements program does have it’s own simple extract feature but the Essentials 2 “Cut it out” tool takes the process to a high level. You need to remember, this process takes some time.
The process uses their “Color decontamination technology.” It compares the colors, letting you paint the background away. Also, it allows you to use a pen tool to work off the edges. It works in real time so you can check the process as you work.
Next is Frame It. This tool is worth the price of the whole program and my favorite. Every wonder how to get some cool edges on your photographs, look no further. This is so SIMPLE and CREATIVE at the same time. Check out all the edges including: photographic frames like, emulsion edges, sprocket holes, acid burns, instant film and vignettes. Also try the art style splatter edges. You can even have realistic frames with mats. This is just the start. The programs allow you control over the background, shadows and different color glows to the frames which really gives them a great finishing touch.
The last add-on is Enlarge It. This one is used for taking a small photographic file and and making the file bigger for a poster print. This program uses some mathematical algorithm to maintain the detail and continuous tone. I don’t know what a mathematical algorithm is but it sounds good and it works.
This program is a great value at a retail price of $59.95 and $49.95 at the Apple store and website. When you consider it's four programs in one. The have combined and simplified the featured of their more expensive programs like FrameIt 3, Genuine Fractals 5, Pro Mask 4 and Photo Tools.
At this price you will be glad you’re a Photoshop Elements user instead of a full version Photoshop users.
I highly recommend this program giving it five out of five stars.
Make sure you go to the onOne website and check out their tutorials at http://www.ononesoftware.com/tutorials/tutorials_essentials.php before you start. Go there first and get some instruction so you can take advantage of all the features of the program.
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Nikon Web Site
By Robert Lachman
Nikon enthusiasts should check out the new interactive website at www.nikonusa.com and Nikon Picturetown with 2GB of free photo storage. According to their advertising, "Up to 20 GB free until April 30, 2008." Later in the site Tour, the Picturetown's services says you need subscribe to my Picturetown Gold for the extra storage which is available only in the US and Japan. 
It was tough to tell how much extra this was going to cost without signing up. I just signed up for Photoshop Express. Enough is enough with signing up for stuff. Ok after a little further checking you're going to get nailed on your credit card for $2.99 a month for the 20GB's of storage after April 30. Remember you're already getting 2GB of storage free so you're
paying the monthly fee for only 18GB's of storage. Just like those extended warrenties. Probably not a great deal.
The site does interact with their new line of cameras which will transmit via WiFi. This seem cool until you realize most cell phones will email photos instantly already
I certainly do want to give kudos to Nikon for their new D3 camera. The quality of the camera is amazing with high ISO settings like the 1600. They look like ISO 200 compared to a many of the similar cameras. ______________________________________________________________________
Nikon enthusiasts should check out the new interactive website at www.nikonusa.com and Nikon Picturetown with 2GB of free photo storage. According to their advertising, "Up to 20 GB free until April 30, 2008." Later in the site Tour, the Picturetown's services says you need subscribe to my Picturetown Gold for the extra storage which is available only in the US and Japan. It was tough to tell how much extra this was going to cost without signing up. I just signed up for Photoshop Express. Enough is enough with signing up for stuff. Ok after a little further checking you're going to get nailed on your credit card for $2.99 a month for the 20GB's of storage after April 30. Remember you're already getting 2GB of storage free so you're
paying the monthly fee for only 18GB's of storage. Just like those extended warrenties. Probably not a great deal.The site does interact with their new line of cameras which will transmit via WiFi. This seem cool until you realize most cell phones will email photos instantly already
I certainly do want to give kudos to Nikon for their new D3 camera. The quality of the camera is amazing with high ISO settings like the 1600. They look like ISO 200 compared to a many of the similar cameras. ______________________________________________________________________
Happy Birthday
By Robert Lachman
The MacReviewCast celebrates its third birthday this week with a special podcast with interviews of many of the Mac reviewers including me. Check it out at www.surfbits.com. Tim Verpoorten does an amazing job on the podcast with all the latest and greatest in Mac software. Also this week, David Sparks celebrates the one year birthday of his website: www.macsparky.com. David alway has such informative and up-to-date posts on his site. ______________________________________________________________________
The MacReviewCast celebrates its third birthday this week with a special podcast with interviews of many of the Mac reviewers including me. Check it out at www.surfbits.com. Tim Verpoorten does an amazing job on the podcast with all the latest and greatest in Mac software. Also this week, David Sparks celebrates the one year birthday of his website: www.macsparky.com. David alway has such informative and up-to-date posts on his site. ______________________________________________________________________Photoshop Express
By Robert Lachman
More fanfare, confetti, maybe a marching band, Adobe's web 2.0 Photoshop Express has arrived. I'm already getting bored. I decided to give it try and of course you need to join. Guess it's the
wave of the future. You can’t get anything these days without handing out your email address. I'm sure I'm on fifty new mailing lists by now. After a brief try of Photoshop Express, it's just more of the same, just another simple version of a photo editing program. It does work quickly over the net and has the basic controls. For now, I would suggest sticking with iPhoto. I kept trying to undo with command Z, it's just a hard habit to break. Look for a more detailed review in the next few weeks. ______________________________________________________________________
More fanfare, confetti, maybe a marching band, Adobe's web 2.0 Photoshop Express has arrived. I'm already getting bored. I decided to give it try and of course you need to join. Guess it's the
wave of the future. You can’t get anything these days without handing out your email address. I'm sure I'm on fifty new mailing lists by now. After a brief try of Photoshop Express, it's just more of the same, just another simple version of a photo editing program. It does work quickly over the net and has the basic controls. For now, I would suggest sticking with iPhoto. I kept trying to undo with command Z, it's just a hard habit to break. Look for a more detailed review in the next few weeks. ______________________________________________________________________Where are the Layer Masks in Elements 6?
By Robert Lachman
In my review of Photoshop Elements 6 I had noticed the program didn’t feature layer masks. For the beginner, layer masks may seem like a tough concept but as you progress, it’s a much needed feature.
Layer masks allow only certain portions or percentages of your corrections or changes to show in a non-destructive way.They sort of omit or hide this feature in Elements 6, but there is a work-around I found on The Graphic Reporter website at http://www.graphicreporter.com/tutorials/elements_secretlayermasks.html by Lesa Snider King. Check out the other great Tutorials and Tips on her website at www.graphicreporter.com ______________________________________________________________________
In my review of Photoshop Elements 6 I had noticed the program didn’t feature layer masks. For the beginner, layer masks may seem like a tough concept but as you progress, it’s a much needed feature.
Layer masks allow only certain portions or percentages of your corrections or changes to show in a non-destructive way.They sort of omit or hide this feature in Elements 6, but there is a work-around I found on The Graphic Reporter website at http://www.graphicreporter.com/tutorials/elements_secretlayermasks.html by Lesa Snider King. Check out the other great Tutorials and Tips on her website at www.graphicreporter.com ______________________________________________________________________Photoshop Elements 6
By Robert Lachman
This week’s review: Photoshop Elements 6. I feel like it needs a little fanfare. The program has been updated from Elements 4. I’m not sure whatever happened to version 5 for the Mac. I guess when your a Mac user you can’t expect to get all the different versions. I am not sure why.
Elements has always been my recommended software for those who want to work with their photos and want take the next step up from the rudimentary controls in iPhoto. It continues to be the perfect step and the new version makes it even easier.
The first noticeable difference is the new dark gray interface with a thin orange racing stripe across the top with the updated looking controls.
With this version, Adobe really tried to makes the controls easy to use for the novice up to the advanced user using three buttons: Guided, Quick, and in the Pallet Bin.
The Guided mode gives the beginning user a step-by-step work through of cropping, rotating, sharpening, how to lighten or darken, and color correcting along with the advanced activities which include; touching up imperfections like dust spots or other blemishes.
I found that using the Guided method is clunky and limited and doesn’t let you use many of the needed tools. If you don’t want to learn the how to use some of the more advance tools and selections tool, effects, save some money and stick with iPhoto, which already includes simple tools and effects for most people.
The real reason to buy Elements 6 is for those who want to start learning to be a Photoshop power user without the high price of Photoshop CS3.
The second or Quick button also is gimmicky. It features a quick route to a bunch of sliders to control color and exposure but why bother? It’s not really a reason to invest in a new digital editing photography program.
The Full mode is were Elements 6 excels. It’s the real point of the program. You’re going to start using some of the Photoshop tools like the pros use.
Elements 6, which also includes the photo organizing software, Bridge CS3, is a great product and at the $90 price tag for both, it’s a bargain compared to the Photoshop CS3 which costs $650.
It’s missing features you would probably never need unless your doing high-end professional work. Not included are: CMYK color, no actions for automating your repetitive steps, the old school curves where you can actually click and drag on the curve line making very exact adjustments, or extract for making intricate selections.
OK, What’s new to the program besides the new gray interface and an orange racing strip? Elements has added “PhotomergeGroup” (check out Adobe tutorial at www.adobe.com which is a fun way of picking out the best faces from similar group shots in your photographs at the same location.
You can get the best of everyone in one photo. So remember, when you shoot those group shots, take two or three, then mix and match the best expressions and you will have a nice picture with everyone’s eyes open.
Also new is, “PhotoMergeFaces” which is used for doing your own cosmetic surgery trying out other peoples eyes, noses and mouths. This tool is a lot of fun to play with. Once you start, it’s tough to stop. I makes it so easy to align stuff up and experiment.
The “PhotomergePanorama” is used for making those super wide angle photos which was included in the early version.
Also added is a quirky curves tool called “Adjust Color Curves,” a curves tool where you can see the curve but can’t actually click on it. You use slider or preset choices to change the points on the curve. They try to make it easier for the beginner giving little explanations of what you are doing.
Other little changes have been made like moving unsharp mask, adjust sharpen and convert to black-and-white to the enhance menu. Also added Create button for projects which include: books, website, CD/DVD covers, collages and ordering prints. If you are making books stick with iPhoto or Blurb, making CD/DVD covers try Disc Cover. These features are weak add-ons and should be left to programs which do them very well.
After working with the programs, it was tough to get excited over any of the updated features unless you get excited over tools palette being in color instead of black-and-white.
My old copy of Photoshop Elements 4 seems to work fine with Leopard and it might be tough to recommend to update. The new version 6 is faster and a little more streamlined.
For most who want to improve their photoshop skills, I would recommended a trip to the book store or checking out some of the free photoshop podcasts like: Photoshop for Digital Photographers or Understanding Abobe Photoshop which are both available for free at iTunes. There also are so many fine third party books on Photoshop Elements which really is the best way to improve your skills. I also recommended to check out the books at a local book stores and decide on one which seem the easiest for you to understand. Every author and publisher take on different approaches.
Photoshop Elements 6 is the complete package for most, especially when you consider it includes the Bridge CS3 for organizing your photographs. You can work with most types of photographs including RAW images. It is a great value at the price of $90. It should handle most needs for those moving up from iPhoto.
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This week’s review: Photoshop Elements 6. I feel like it needs a little fanfare. The program has been updated from Elements 4. I’m not sure whatever happened to version 5 for the Mac. I guess when your a Mac user you can’t expect to get all the different versions. I am not sure why.
Elements has always been my recommended software for those who want to work with their photos and want take the next step up from the rudimentary controls in iPhoto. It continues to be the perfect step and the new version makes it even easier.
The first noticeable difference is the new dark gray interface with a thin orange racing stripe across the top with the updated looking controls.
With this version, Adobe really tried to makes the controls easy to use for the novice up to the advanced user using three buttons: Guided, Quick, and in the Pallet Bin.
The Guided mode gives the beginning user a step-by-step work through of cropping, rotating, sharpening, how to lighten or darken, and color correcting along with the advanced activities which include; touching up imperfections like dust spots or other blemishes.
I found that using the Guided method is clunky and limited and doesn’t let you use many of the needed tools. If you don’t want to learn the how to use some of the more advance tools and selections tool, effects, save some money and stick with iPhoto, which already includes simple tools and effects for most people.
The real reason to buy Elements 6 is for those who want to start learning to be a Photoshop power user without the high price of Photoshop CS3.
The second or Quick button also is gimmicky. It features a quick route to a bunch of sliders to control color and exposure but why bother? It’s not really a reason to invest in a new digital editing photography program.
The Full mode is were Elements 6 excels. It’s the real point of the program. You’re going to start using some of the Photoshop tools like the pros use.
Elements 6, which also includes the photo organizing software, Bridge CS3, is a great product and at the $90 price tag for both, it’s a bargain compared to the Photoshop CS3 which costs $650.
It’s missing features you would probably never need unless your doing high-end professional work. Not included are: CMYK color, no actions for automating your repetitive steps, the old school curves where you can actually click and drag on the curve line making very exact adjustments, or extract for making intricate selections.
OK, What’s new to the program besides the new gray interface and an orange racing strip? Elements has added “PhotomergeGroup” (check out Adobe tutorial at www.adobe.com which is a fun way of picking out the best faces from similar group shots in your photographs at the same location.
You can get the best of everyone in one photo. So remember, when you shoot those group shots, take two or three, then mix and match the best expressions and you will have a nice picture with everyone’s eyes open.
Also new is, “PhotoMergeFaces” which is used for doing your own cosmetic surgery trying out other peoples eyes, noses and mouths. This tool is a lot of fun to play with. Once you start, it’s tough to stop. I makes it so easy to align stuff up and experiment.
The “PhotomergePanorama” is used for making those super wide angle photos which was included in the early version.
Also added is a quirky curves tool called “Adjust Color Curves,” a curves tool where you can see the curve but can’t actually click on it. You use slider or preset choices to change the points on the curve. They try to make it easier for the beginner giving little explanations of what you are doing.
Other little changes have been made like moving unsharp mask, adjust sharpen and convert to black-and-white to the enhance menu. Also added Create button for projects which include: books, website, CD/DVD covers, collages and ordering prints. If you are making books stick with iPhoto or Blurb, making CD/DVD covers try Disc Cover. These features are weak add-ons and should be left to programs which do them very well.
After working with the programs, it was tough to get excited over any of the updated features unless you get excited over tools palette being in color instead of black-and-white.
My old copy of Photoshop Elements 4 seems to work fine with Leopard and it might be tough to recommend to update. The new version 6 is faster and a little more streamlined.
For most who want to improve their photoshop skills, I would recommended a trip to the book store or checking out some of the free photoshop podcasts like: Photoshop for Digital Photographers or Understanding Abobe Photoshop which are both available for free at iTunes. There also are so many fine third party books on Photoshop Elements which really is the best way to improve your skills. I also recommended to check out the books at a local book stores and decide on one which seem the easiest for you to understand. Every author and publisher take on different approaches.
Photoshop Elements 6 is the complete package for most, especially when you consider it includes the Bridge CS3 for organizing your photographs. You can work with most types of photographs including RAW images. It is a great value at the price of $90. It should handle most needs for those moving up from iPhoto.
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Ice Cream
March 27, 2008 01:29 AM Filed in: Misc.
By Robert Lachman
Time to go a little off topic. How much should an ice cream cone cost? My wife and I stopped at the Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop at the Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach.
The price for a cone: Kiddie size $3.45, Regular $4.45 and Large $5.45. When I was growing up an ice cream cone at Thrifty Drug Store cost one nickel. Now that’s inflation I know that was in the late 50’s. But really, $4.45 for a regular single scoop of ice cream.
The prices didn’t seem to deter anyone on this beautiful spring day. I’m sure those 50 or so in the Apple Store down the way checking out the new Air or Mac Pro wouldn’t mind high prices. I finally found something more unbelievably priced than inkjet ink. ______________________________________________________________________
Time to go a little off topic. How much should an ice cream cone cost? My wife and I stopped at the Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop at the Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach.
The price for a cone: Kiddie size $3.45, Regular $4.45 and Large $5.45. When I was growing up an ice cream cone at Thrifty Drug Store cost one nickel. Now that’s inflation I know that was in the late 50’s. But really, $4.45 for a regular single scoop of ice cream.
The prices didn’t seem to deter anyone on this beautiful spring day. I’m sure those 50 or so in the Apple Store down the way checking out the new Air or Mac Pro wouldn’t mind high prices. I finally found something more unbelievably priced than inkjet ink. ______________________________________________________________________
Disc Cover
By Robert Lachman
It’s my Dad’s 90th birthday this week and after spending time working on a multimedia project for the party, I burned a DVD then got out the Sharpie Permanent Marker and wrote “90th Birthday Movie” on the disc.
It’s just such a weak link in the chain. You’ve drank endless cups of coffee, cleaned up the sound, picked out the perfect transitions, chosen the music, made those still images come to life with the “Ken Burns Effect” turning it into professional looking movie.
Then it’s “Sharpie Time.” Well, now I’ve seen the light. I am going to finish what I’ve started and I’m going to finish strong. After checking out a number of products, I chose from Disc Cover 2 for my Disc Labeling. The program which was released on March 18th works with iPhoto and Aperture.
This new version of Disc Cover is simple and fun to use. This software is another example of how great the Mac developer makes things easy and so simple for the user.
When you open Disc Cover you start with the assistant which gives you a choice of numerous templates and they show up in a nice cover-flow looking window.
They ask you to choose a design from a drop down menu: Music, Photos, Files and Data, DVD, General, and Blank.
I picked the Photos which gave me a choice of about 40 templates. I picked Lady Sketch for a friend’s 40th birthday party pictures. Then I clicked on next which took me to my iPhoto library
I clicked on finish and now my photos of the birthday party appeared in the left window pane of the software.
Now I could drag over the photos individually, but I went for the collages menu. I couldn’t resist. I went for a collage called photo-cross. I dragged over the collage ungrouped it and and removed two of the photos to customize it. Now I dragged photos over from my iPhoto library to replace the placeholder photos the software put in. Now I double clicked on the photo and was able to crop and rotate as needed. The program gives you complete flexibility.
Five minutes later I’m ready to bring to my Epson R200 printer which can print directly on the DVD.
Next I wanted to make a label for my father’s 90th birthday multimedia CD.
Other very nice features in the software include: importing your song titles automatically into the project. Also can redesign each element of your work independently. There is a large clip art gallery, which also features a place where you click on the small globe and the software will search for art on the internet based on the information from your iTunes data. There's a random background generator, a good selection of layer masks which can also be applied to images, drop shadows, a variety of borders and the option to curve the text.
I give the software five out of five stars. If there was a fault with this program, I couldn’t find it. The cost is $34.95 via download at www.belightsoft.com.
______________________________________________________________________
It’s my Dad’s 90th birthday this week and after spending time working on a multimedia project for the party, I burned a DVD then got out the Sharpie Permanent Marker and wrote “90th Birthday Movie” on the disc.
It’s just such a weak link in the chain. You’ve drank endless cups of coffee, cleaned up the sound, picked out the perfect transitions, chosen the music, made those still images come to life with the “Ken Burns Effect” turning it into professional looking movie.
Then it’s “Sharpie Time.” Well, now I’ve seen the light. I am going to finish what I’ve started and I’m going to finish strong. After checking out a number of products, I chose from Disc Cover 2 for my Disc Labeling. The program which was released on March 18th works with iPhoto and Aperture.
This new version of Disc Cover is simple and fun to use. This software is another example of how great the Mac developer makes things easy and so simple for the user.
When you open Disc Cover you start with the assistant which gives you a choice of numerous templates and they show up in a nice cover-flow looking window.
They ask you to choose a design from a drop down menu: Music, Photos, Files and Data, DVD, General, and Blank.
I picked the Photos which gave me a choice of about 40 templates. I picked Lady Sketch for a friend’s 40th birthday party pictures. Then I clicked on next which took me to my iPhoto library
I clicked on finish and now my photos of the birthday party appeared in the left window pane of the software.
Now I could drag over the photos individually, but I went for the collages menu. I couldn’t resist. I went for a collage called photo-cross. I dragged over the collage ungrouped it and and removed two of the photos to customize it. Now I dragged photos over from my iPhoto library to replace the placeholder photos the software put in. Now I double clicked on the photo and was able to crop and rotate as needed. The program gives you complete flexibility.
Five minutes later I’m ready to bring to my Epson R200 printer which can print directly on the DVD.
Next I wanted to make a label for my father’s 90th birthday multimedia CD.
Other very nice features in the software include: importing your song titles automatically into the project. Also can redesign each element of your work independently. There is a large clip art gallery, which also features a place where you click on the small globe and the software will search for art on the internet based on the information from your iTunes data. There's a random background generator, a good selection of layer masks which can also be applied to images, drop shadows, a variety of borders and the option to curve the text.
I give the software five out of five stars. If there was a fault with this program, I couldn’t find it. The cost is $34.95 via download at www.belightsoft.com.
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