Tools Archives - Page 20 of 30

Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: PicMaster

January 28, 2007 by Liz

How Do They Create Those Mosaics?

Great Find: PicMaster

Permalink: http://www.graphics-tools.com/

Target Audience: All Windows users

Content: This week we’re taking a look at a program called PicMaster. There are a number of features this program is known for, but the one I like the best is the mosaic function. I’ve seen those mosaics made with a lot of little photos and wanted to try it. This software makes it easy. Make sure you have a large selection of photos that can be made into thumbnails for the finished piece. Then it’s just a matter of telling the software what you want and waiting a few minutes.

VoilÃÂ¡! A mosaic for your viewing pleasure.

PicMaster is offered as Shareware so you can try it before paying the $29.90 U.S. fee. There are restrictions though, so if you like what this tool offers, you will want to purchase it to eliminate the watermark and realize the full potential of the software.

Here are seven things I like about PicMaster :

Create mosaics.
Remove red-eye with the image editor.
Manage your pictures with the image browser.
Print individual pages to make a huge poster.
Morph images (e.g., a cat into a dog).
Use the filters (preview first) to create neat effects.
Add sound comments to your pictures.

I had fun with this program. Let me know what you think.

Stay tuned… next week we’ll have a graphics tip!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: Pixel Ruler

January 21, 2007 by Liz

Need to measure graphics? Here’s a great tool . . .

Great Find: Pixel Ruler v3.1

Permalink: http://www.mioplanet.com/products/pixelruler/index.htm

Target Audience: All Windows users

Content: This week I want to tell you about a tool I use a lot. It’s a virtual ruler for your desktop that you can use to measure pixels. What are pixels? They are the tiny colored squares that make up a web page. It helps to communicate with others if you speak the same language.

I also worked in the print world, and it’s an adjustment to switch from thinking about inches to measuring in pixels. So I looked for help. There’s plenty of tools out there, but this one works great, the price is right, and it’s simple. Click the screen shot to take you there.

Here are three things I like about Pixel Ruler:

It’s handy for reading large tables and spreadsheets.
You can change the color of the skin.
It’s free.

The next time someone asks you the size of a banner or graphic, use a ruler that floats on your screen. Keep a shortcut to Pixel Ruler handy so you can open it quickly. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Stay tuned… next week is another tool that’s free!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: FavIcon from Pics

January 14, 2007 by Liz

Sometimes It’s the Little Things That Get Noticed . . .

Great Find: FavIcon from Pics

Permalink: http://www.chami.com/html-kit/services/favicon/

Target Audience: All computer users

Content: You’ve probably noticed those small graphic symbols next to the URL in the address bar of your browser or in your bookmarks. Maybe you wondered how they did that. The symbols are called favicons. What’s that?

Favicon is short for favorite icon, and sometimes you will see it referred to as a bookmark icon. The file is very small (16×16 pixels and 16 colors) and is saved with the name favicon.ico.

You can convert your logo or picture with special tools. There are several to choose from, and the one we’ll talk about today is Favicon from Pics. This tool creates still or animated favicons from your images.

Simply browse to select the file on your computer (it must be a *.gif, *.jpg, *.png, *.ico or *.bmp) and click the GenerateFavicon.ico button. Then you have a choice to Download Favicon or Test in Browser.

How slick is that?

Three things I like about FavIcon from Pics are:

It’s easy to use.
It’s free.
It’s web based, so there’s nothing to download except your finished file.

Depending on which blogging software you use, the instructions for uploading your file vary. Check the help section for instructions.

Stay tuned… next week is another tool that’s free!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: SnagIt

January 6, 2007 by Liz

There’s more to SnagIt than capturing screen shots and editing visual elements . . .

Great Find: SnagIt

Permalink: http://www.techsmith.com/snagit.asp

Target Audience: All computer users

Content: This week I want to tell you about a tool that’s earned a permanent home on my PC. For everyday use, I always turn to SnagIt from TechSmith. It’s fast and easy-to-use for screen captures and editing visual elements, and it has more power than you might expect for $39.95. The development team is supportive and always looking for ways to improve the product.

Here are eight ways I use SnagIt:

Capture graphics of my screen when collaborating with others
Convert file formats (e.g., .jpg to .gif)
Capture all the image files from a specified URL
Capture a rolling screen
Select options like borders or resolution before making the capture so my images are consistent
Edit photos in batches to save time
Use paint tools to add arrows, text, etc.
Making a collage

There is a capture timer feature that allows you to take screen shots at predefined times. (I’m trying that next!) They offer a Tip of the Day, tutorials, and lots of help screens. Try the 30-day free trialtoday!

SnagIt is a tool I have come to rely on and I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think!

Stay tuned… next week is a tool that’s free!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

About Spam in my Spam Filter

December 27, 2006 by Liz

Today It Was 309

Every morning as one of my start up routines I sift through my spam filter — to remove false positives. It’s bad enough that comments get caught there. I don’t want them to get eaten.

This spam cleaning ritual is extending my horizon.

I meeting some interesting people.

spammers with unusual names — Best regards
alien spammers with names I cannot pronounce — ixfwq.
lazy spammers whose sole message is one character — 2 or x, or /
efficient spammers who can pack what seems like 10,000 links into one message
spammers who try flattery “Thanks, guy, for a great site!” They tend to assume I’m a guy or amigo.
spammers who pretend to be looking for information
spammers who lie outright, “Great site. I’m bookmarking it right now!”
spammers who apologize “Sorry, but I need the money.”
shy spammers who only leave links without a message
celebrities who take to time spam me

I know where to go to find

hotel rooms available around the world
play poker
learn blackjack
win at slots
enjoy all of the amenities of a casino online
a range of pharmaceuticals
a variety of physical . . um, er . . . enhancements

In another life when I change my ringtone, I’ll have to try the one that sounds like a mosquito.

Spammers can teach how to get a mortgage loan, get the best shoes, finance my car, spruce up my blog, find quotes and other useful information. I can get enrolled for a college education, learn to garden, fix my home, and get household insurance. This past two weeks lead to a whole list of prom dresses and christmas list ideas. It’s a regular spam shopping mall behind my front page.

Then there’s the porn, oh my! Please someone write a plug in with parental controls for spam catchers. I’m not sure I’m old enough to read the titles in the name lines. I know I’m not ready for Granny’s sex life, but cartoon porn! C’mon I’m a visual thinker . . . I can do without images of Mickey and Minnie at 4:30a.m.!

I imagine great uses for this technology when I think as a mother. Clean out all of that ad spam and let me leave messages for my own and my kid’s spam dash board . . . mine would be filled with my calendar. His would be gentle reminders that said . . .

Sweeheart, clean your room.
Darling, don’t forget that spelling test.
Tuesday is take out the trash day. You’re so good at that!
Excuse me, the dishes are still waiting for you in the kitchen.
Remember, Mr. Streetwise, that gorgeous girl you’re talking to online (w00h00t!) — I know you showed me the photo –could really be a 65-year-old ugly, wrinkly online predator with one eye, a tattoo, and a taste for boys who don’t like to take out the trash or clean the kitchen.
Hey Guy, you have a dentist appointment on Wednesday.
Dad’s birthday is coming up. Have you decided yet what to get him?
Honey, change your underwear.
Ok, Mastermind, time for bed.

Now that’s spam that any mother could love.

Don’t get me wrong. I think spam is evil, but a nice girl can dream of a better day . . . can’t she? I’m still working on some sort of copywriting game using the spam ads as examples of bad advertising. If you have ideas email me. . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: Paint.NET

December 24, 2006 by Liz

Paint.NET packs a lot of power in a small package

Great Find: Paint.NET

Permalink: http://www.getpaint.net/index2.html

Target Audience: All computer users

Content: Who doesn’t like free? While some argue that this might not be the application a graphics professional would use, it is a powerful photo and image manipulation application to add to the average computer user’s toolbox. This week we’re looking at Paint.NET, a Windows application.

Thanks to Chris at Martial Developmentfor pointing out this tool.

Here are five things I like about Paint.NET:

The application is free and open source (of course this is #1)
It’s easy to learn – no classes needed
You can undo and redo actions with the history feature
It has layers, allowing you to easily create composites
Red eye removal, rotate, and zoom are just a few of the special effect adjustments you can make

Click the screenshot to go there.

Paint.NET is a tool you will want to try. The CNET review lists it with 4 stars from both editors and users.

Stay tuned… next week is ?

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Great Graphic Find: Photoshop Elements
Great Find: Film Loop
Great Find: Wufoo Ã¢â¬â Form-making Tool