iMovie Basics

Turning your photos into movies is easy with iMovie, part of the iLife software package. I’ve heard the PC software equivalent to iMovie is Sony Vegas.
 
Here is a step-by-step instructional video I put together. I’m looking forward to seeing your projects! Let me know if you have additional questions.
 

• iLife, available at Apple Store, retails for $79.00.
• iPhone iMovie app, downloadable through iTunes, is available for $4.99.
• Sony Vegas, available at Sony Creative Software, priced at $44.95 and up.

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PS Tips VI: Photo Correction

Take the best qualities of individual photos and merge them into one.
 

 

 
I’m using PhotoShop CS2.
 
Step 1: Open the photos. File, Open, and select the jpg images you wish to work with.
 
Step 2: Select Lasso Tool. In this instance, I lassoed the open eyes.
 

 
Step 3: Select your Pointer Tool. Drag the open eyes to your main (keeper) photo.
 

 
Note: I adjusted curves to lighten the eyes and more closely match the keeper photo. To adjust curves: Image, Adjustments, Curves. Slide the line on the grid UP to lighten or DOWN to darken (with jpg images. The reverse is actually true for cmyk images.)
 
Step 4: Soften Edges. Using your Magic Wand, click anywhere on the image except for the new eyes. Make sure you are on the new layer.
 

 
Select, Feather. I chose 5 pixels. Press “ok”, and then your Delete Key. You can press delete several times to get a softer edge. If you go too far, use Apple + Z to reverse the last step.
 

 
Step 5: Repeat. I used these same steps to bring the horse over to the “keeper” photo.
 
Step 6: Erase hard edges. Instead of feathering, I chose to use the Eraser Tool to soften the edges of the horse layer.
 

 
Step 7: Copy/Paste. While on your main (keeper) background, copy (Apple + C) a few individual leaves and paste (Apple + V). A new layer will be created with these leaves. In the Layers Window, drag this new layer to the top (above the horse layer).
 

 
Using your Pointer Tool, drag the leaves around the photo and place them in a believable, foreground position. Feather or erase hard edges.
 

 
Step 8: Merge Layers. Layer, Flatten Image.
 
Step 9: Save As. File, Save As, enter a new name so the original file will be unchanged.
 
FINISHED PRODUCT: Christmas 2008
 

 
Thank you for reading!

PhotoShop Tips V: Add Text to Photos

Thank you to Steve for this tutorial suggestion.

Part 1: Downloading Fonts from the Internet

Check out FontSpace.com for free fonts.

Choose your free font, download it, and unzip it (doubleclick on the zipped file). It will appear in your download folder.

Launch your MAC hard drive (click on Finder or the icon for your hard drive). Click on System, Library, Fonts. Drag the new font file from the download folder to the font folder. If your computer requires a password to add fonts or programs, you will be prompted to enter your code. The font is now in your system, and will appear when you launch your applicable programs.

Part 2: Adding Text to Photos

Step 1:
Launch PhotoShop and open the jpg file you would like to work with.

Step 2:
Select your Text Tool (the uppercase T on your side toolbar). Drag your mouse over the area of the photo where you will type text. Font selection is on your upper toolbar. Scroll through the fonts and make your selection. You can also select color via your side toolbar.

Step 3:
Type your text. To quickly change the font size, depress Apple plus A, and tap your > or < keys (greater than or less than). While on your pointer tool you can drag your text anywhere on the photo.

Step 4:
Make sure your Layers window is open (Window, Layers). Click on the lowercase f to make style changes to your font. Options include Drop Shadow, Stroke and Outer Glow. Experiment with the options. You will see the previews for these styles on your text prior to clicking OK. You can simply hit Cancel if you do not like the effect.

Step 5:
To warp text, click on the lopsided, underlined T on the top toolbar.

Step 6: When you are satisfied with your text, combine the layers. Layers, Flatten Image. Then Save As (change the name of the jpg if you do not want to damage the original file.

Upcoming tutorials may include the scrumptious Mayflower Martini and finding my own a** with both my hands. Some say that later one can’t be done.

Remember, I’m always open to your suggestions.

PhotoShop Tips IV: Create a GIF

Thanks to Zero_Option for this tutorial suggestion.

This technique creates a gif with fading images. If you do not need to modify your jpgs, simply number in sequential order (see note in red below), and begin at step 10.

Step 1: In PhotoShop, open the two jpg files that you would like to animate.

Step 2: Enlarge the canvas of one jpg to give it a plain white border. Image, Canvas. Increase your width/height by 1″.

Step 3: Enlarge the canvas again to make room for the 2nd jpg. In this case, anchor the main jpg to the lower left, then increase width by 5″ and the height by 3″. Use the measurements of the 2nd photo to give you an idea how much of an increase is needed.

Step 4: Using your pointer tool, drag the 2nd jpg onto the 1st jpg.

Step 5: While on Layer 1 (the photo you have just dragged over), lower the opacity so you can see through it.

Step 6: Use your pointer tool to align the 2 photos. Code (the apple key) plus T allows you to transform. Shrink the photo to fit, and rotate to align. Make sure you hold the Shift button down keep proportions accurate. Otherwise your image will warp. Now return the opacity to 100%.

Step 7: Crop your image to remove any excess canvas. You are now ready to prepare your files for animation!

Step 8: Merge the layers. Layers, Flatten. When you save, create a new folder. File, Save As, 1.jpg.

Step 9: Undo the merge by pressing Code (the apple key) plus Z. You could also choose Edit, Step Backward.

Step 10: While on Layer 1, lower opacity to 90%. Merge the layers (Layers, Flatten). Save to your new folder as 2.jpg.

Repeat the process of undoing the merge, lowering opacity, and saving in numerical order.

Note: if you will have more than 9 final jpgs to combine, you will have to be creative with your numbering. Instead of naming the files 10, 11 and so forth, choose 91, 92, 93. The 10 would appear directly behind file number 1 and would throw things off.

When all of your files are ready, launch Adobe ImageReady CS2 (free with purchase of Adobe PhotoShop CS2).

Step 10: Choose File, Import, Folder As Frames. Select your working folder.

Step 11: On top of the Animation Box, click Animation and choose Select All Frames. On any of the frames, choose a speed (i.e. .2 seconds). Press the Play button to view the animation. Adjust speed if necessary.

Step 12: If it is all to your liking, select File, Save Optimized As… Change the default format to Images Only. Name your gif file.

Your GIF is ready!

If you have a suggestion for a future tutorial, please let me know.