Friday, May 04, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
PC World Articles
Video Downloading Tools
15 Great Free Utilities you've never heard of
Top Anti-Virus Programs
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130869-page,1/article.html
Videos on PCWorld.com
http://www.pcworld.com/video.html
Top 5 external hard drives
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123728-page,1/article.html
Top 10 Black and White Laser Printers
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123860-page,1/article.html
Top 5 20-inch Monitors
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126075-page,1/article.html
top 10 Value Desktop PC's
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123848-page,1/article.html
Top 5 All-Purpose Laptops
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123678-page,1/article.html
Sunday, April 22, 2007
JPEG Photo Format on Its Way Out?
JPEG Photo Format on Its Way Out?
Microsoft's new HD Photo format offers higher-quality images half the size of JPEGs, company says.
PC Magazine Article from 03/08/2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Digital Books (ebooks)
Apple Pro Training Series - Final Cut Pro 5
Apple Pro Training Series - DVD Studio Pro 4
Advanced Editing and Finishing Techniques in Final Cut Pro HD (2nd Edition)
Advanced Editing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 5
Premiere Pro 2.0 Studio Techniques
Photoshop CS2 Studio Techniques
Word 2007: The Missing Manual
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Essential Photoshop Editing Techniques
501 Web Site Secrets: Unleash the Power of Google, Amazon, eBay and More
Photoshop CS2: Image Editing for New Users and Professionals
Shoot Like a Pro! Digital Photography Techniques (PDF)
PSP Hacks (O'Reilly, 2006)
Creating Photomontages with Photoshop (PDF)
Powerpoint Advanced Presentation Techniques
Enhancing CAD Drawings with Photoshop
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Photoshop Tips
From Outdoor Photographer:
Using Layer Masks
Use the X key when painting Layer Masks
Mistakes are reversible by switching from white to black or black to white and repainting the area. When painting in a Layer Mask, keep your free index finger hovering over the X key on the keyboard.
When you make a mistake, hit X and the painting color will switch to the opposite color. You can quickly paint out your mistake, hit X and go back to painting the Layer Mask.
Watch your progress on the Layer Mask in the working image on the screen. Look at the Layer Mask itself to examine whether certain areas are filled. Thumbnails in the Layers Palette are too small to judge critical areas. Use Alt-Click or Option-Click on the Layer Mask thumbnail in the Layers Palette to see the Layer Mask on the screen. Return to the image by clicking on the image thumbnail in the Layers Palette.
Layer Masks and Split Neutral Density Filters
Article from Outdoor Photographer
The Gradient tool shares the space with the Paint Bucket tool in the Tools Palette (ND 1).
The Gradient tool can be used in a Layer Mask to simulate several Split Neutral Density filters. Combined with the Brush and other tools, a Layer Mask can be adapted to enhance any image. The Linear Gradient and the Radial Gradient are the most useful Gradient modes for a Layer Mask.
Here’s a simplified start from the many modes and choices available. Click on the Linear Gradient and the Gradient Preset Picker and choose Foreground to Background (ND 2). In the Layer Mask, this means black to white or white to black.
To use the Linear Gradient, click somewhere in the image and drag the “rubber band” to some other point in the image. The space between the beginning and ending click points will be shaded from black to white. Outside of the click points will be solid colors. If you click at the very top and drag to the very bottom the whole area is shaded in a long, soft blend simulating a soft neutral density filter (ND 3).
If you click and drag a short distance, the blended area is small and there are large areas of solid color simulating a hard neutral density filter (ND 4).
The Linear Gradient can be used high or low in an image or at an angle. Combined with a Brush, a very accurate Layer Mask can be made for any image.
A Radial Gradient in a Layer Mask is used to spotlight a subject or vignette an image.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
How to convert DVDs to AVI or MPEG video files
WikiHow page on steps for converting a DVD to an AVI file or MPEG file.
AutoGK or DVDx can be used.
AutoGK (Official) Tutorial
For Macs
Handbrake, there's also Instant Handbrake.
Handbrake gives a good interface and multiple format/compression options.