Picasa.txt 03/18/13 PHOTOS 3 - FIXING PROBLEMS -------------------------- What can you do when a photo looks awful but you just CAN'T throw it out? Actually, quite a lot. PICASA: ------- Free photo package from Google. http://picasa.google.com/ * Uses the folder setup you've already got! * Preserves your original photo. Sequence: 1. Select the photo, double-click to edit. 2. Apply the fix. If not an improvement, undo it. 3. File menu; Save 4. Return to Library Examples: X1-Tilt 1969 Tilted Tools; Straighten X2-Dark 1959 Too dark Tools; FillLight 60% X3-Crop 1969 Too far away Tools; Crop X4-Blue 1961 Way too blue. Light; FillLight 50%, ColorTemp 100% X5-Title 1959 Why take this? Tools; Caption Color -> White, 30pt, Bold X6-Fine 1959 * 54 years old and still good! * ** Show "Originals" sub-folder Re-Sequencing: (works, but...) 1. In Folder view, drag pics around. (Very easy and nice) 2. Select the relevant set. 3. File menu; Rename 4. Enter new name (do NOT end with a digit!) You get XXX, XXX-001, XXX-002, etc. Cannot see the new names directly. Use FastStone!! ENHANCEMENTS: ------------- Cropping Text in photos Borders OTHER FEATURES: Management - Tagging by faces Editing (fixing) Sharing via Picasa Web Albums or Google+ Lots more editing tools, including effects Slide shows Resizing Mapping (i.e., GPS) Tagging - can recognize faces Add captions (in Properties, not on the photo) Email with size reduction. Shortcomings: Sort of a random collection of functions. Can't see file names in Folder view No quick icon for Save after editing (?) Only way to 'Add' a folder is by 'Watching it' On Renaming: Rename is non-obvious and limited. Very easy to re-shuffle the thumbnails as you wish. But renaming doesn't do what you think it will, and you can't see the results immediately.