Weather looks good! Bring a coat!
We're meeting in the car park at Barry Comprehensive at 6:30pm tonight, and can leave from there.
Don't forget your camera!
Monday, 24 June 2013
Monday, 17 June 2013
Tonight's Digital Camera Class.
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| Don't worry it's not my cat, or camera! The cat would be dead if it were! |
I thought we'd have a look at some composition techniques in 'other peoples' pictures. Also talk about the considerations when hanging your photographs on the wall.
Bring your cameras - just in case! You never know!
Chris
Monday, 20 May 2013
Tonight's Class
The weather seems reasonable....so it's a green light for Porthkerry Park!
See you all there in 40 mins!
Monday, 22 April 2013
What a Washout!
The weather has been a bit hit and miss all day, and really we shouldn't have come out! But these days you can't ignore the opportunity of a bit of fresh air. Here is a group shot of those who were brave enough, or crazy enough to face the elements!
Back to the classroom next week, but we'll have our camera's with us in case there is a heatwave - some chance!
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Meeting at the Norwegian Church
The weather looks fine for this afternoon, so we'll go for it!
See you outside the church at 2:15pm...ish
If you can't make it, do not worry, and if you're late, you're bound to catch up with some of us somewhere in the vicinity!!
If you need directions, this is where we are meeting:
View Larger Map
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Five Week Camera Class 3
Last week we started off looking at some of the tools in Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Tonight we continued in a similar theme, but this time I provided a series of images on USB memory sticks for the students to alter. There were several images on the sticks, and I allowed the students to pick and choose the ones they were happy with.
We concentrated mainly on the Clone Stamp Tool.
Here are some 'before' and 'after' images from the class. Everyone did an excellent job!
You can click on each of the images to see a larger version.
Tonight we continued in a similar theme, but this time I provided a series of images on USB memory sticks for the students to alter. There were several images on the sticks, and I allowed the students to pick and choose the ones they were happy with.
We concentrated mainly on the Clone Stamp Tool.
Here are some 'before' and 'after' images from the class. Everyone did an excellent job!
You can click on each of the images to see a larger version.
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| Before. |
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| After. All of the People have been removed from the image. I particularly like the way the man has been removed from the stone, and how the shape of the stone has been reconstructed. |
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| Before |
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| After. Few more flowers have been added to the top of the bush! |
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| Before |
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| After. The Car has been completely removed from the picture. Ensuring the pebbles are the right size is particularly tricky in this example, but a good job was done here. |
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| Before |
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| After. Where have the cows all gone? They've wandered off! Good job in reconstructing the hedges. |
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| Before |
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| After: "I'm sure there were cows here too!" |
Congratulations to all in the class, a great session's worth of editing!
Next week we'll do some more, and start piecing together the student's folders so you can get your Agored Certificates!!
Monday, 4 March 2013
Digital Camera Class 8
Time is running out for us pretty quick, I cannot believe this is the eighth class already! Time flies when you are having fun!
The first order of business was to discuss Class 9. Back when we began I suggested that it might be a good idea if we spent one of the classes out of the classroom. The problem with teaching nightclasses at this time of the year is that the light is against us. So I suggested that we go somewhere perhaps on the weekend instead, at a time when it is convenient with the majority. After much deliberation, and making sure Richard has enough time to do the dishes after Sunday lunch, we decided on Cardiff Bay, meeting up outside the Norwegian Church at 2:15pm on Sunday 17th March.
You can zoom in and out of the map below, and switch it to a standard map if you wish.
View Larger Map
Anyway, thats for the weekend after next.....
Tonight's class centred around a few topics, so it was going to be a bit of an in depth session, but you can't have it all, when you're having a nice time out, for the following class!!
We started off by discussing F Numbers and Aperture Settings on Cameras. Basically altering the opening and closing of the aperture controls the amount of light let into the lens. Its very similar to how our eyes work. Further bedtime reading if you really want to know more can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
We then looked at ISO Speeds and Shutter Speeds, of which detailed reading can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_speed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed
....the latter being a bit like rocket science, so apologies for that!!
Getting the techy stuff out of the way, we then went on to look at how we copy and paste the pictures off our cameras, backup our data.
First of all, I find it so much easier to use a card reader with the computer. You dont have to mess about with cables and various pieces of software, you simply plug in the memory card from the camera into the computer, and simply cut, copy and paste to the folder you want. Delete the contents of the memory card, and away you go!
Finally we ended the session by looking at the various ways we can backup our data. The external USB drive seems to be the best solution for most people. Combine that with the Windows Vista/ 7 'Backup and Restore Centre' and you've got all bases covered!
Don't forget, no class next Monday, we'll be meeting the following Sunday. I will post a message on here on Sunday 17th, at noon, as to whether or not we'll be meeting up, ie. just in case of bad weather on that day!
Over and out!!
The first order of business was to discuss Class 9. Back when we began I suggested that it might be a good idea if we spent one of the classes out of the classroom. The problem with teaching nightclasses at this time of the year is that the light is against us. So I suggested that we go somewhere perhaps on the weekend instead, at a time when it is convenient with the majority. After much deliberation, and making sure Richard has enough time to do the dishes after Sunday lunch, we decided on Cardiff Bay, meeting up outside the Norwegian Church at 2:15pm on Sunday 17th March.
You can zoom in and out of the map below, and switch it to a standard map if you wish.
View Larger Map
Anyway, thats for the weekend after next.....
Tonight's class centred around a few topics, so it was going to be a bit of an in depth session, but you can't have it all, when you're having a nice time out, for the following class!!
We started off by discussing F Numbers and Aperture Settings on Cameras. Basically altering the opening and closing of the aperture controls the amount of light let into the lens. Its very similar to how our eyes work. Further bedtime reading if you really want to know more can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
We then looked at ISO Speeds and Shutter Speeds, of which detailed reading can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_speed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed
....the latter being a bit like rocket science, so apologies for that!!
Getting the techy stuff out of the way, we then went on to look at how we copy and paste the pictures off our cameras, backup our data.
First of all, I find it so much easier to use a card reader with the computer. You dont have to mess about with cables and various pieces of software, you simply plug in the memory card from the camera into the computer, and simply cut, copy and paste to the folder you want. Delete the contents of the memory card, and away you go!
Finally we ended the session by looking at the various ways we can backup our data. The external USB drive seems to be the best solution for most people. Combine that with the Windows Vista/ 7 'Backup and Restore Centre' and you've got all bases covered!
Don't forget, no class next Monday, we'll be meeting the following Sunday. I will post a message on here on Sunday 17th, at noon, as to whether or not we'll be meeting up, ie. just in case of bad weather on that day!
Over and out!!
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
PC Maintenance Class 2 Term 7
Last week we examined how routers are setup and configured.
This can be a complicated topic, but to keep it within the level we are comfortable within the group, I centred on the following aspects.
If all you remember about routers is the above information, you'll do well. To no understand, could potentially allow security to be compromised and also possibly allow others unauthorised access to A) your Internet Connection, and B) worst case scenario, access to your files!
The Basics: What is a Router?
A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork. A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When a data packet comes in one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it reaches its destination node.
The most familiar type of routers are home and small office routers that simply pass data, such as web pages, email, IM, and videos between the home computers and the Internet. An example of a router would be the owner's cable or DSL modem, which connects to the Internet through an ISP. More sophisticated routers, such as enterprise routers, connect large business or ISP networks up to the powerful core routers that forward data at high speed along the optical fiber lines of the Internet backbone. Though routers are typically dedicated hardware devices, use of software-based routers has grown increasingly common.
What is an SSID? What does it stand for?
The SSID (or Service Set IDentifier) names and identifies a wireless network, It is something that access points broadcast to client devices to announce the presence of the access point. The SSID denotes the name of a network on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and could be any name up to thirty-two (32) characters in length.
For security reasons, broadcasting of this SSID is commonly turned off on some routers. All access points and all devices using a specific wireless network must use the same SSID.
Channel Frequencies: Changing them for Improved Performance
When talking about wireless networking, a channel is simply another term for the frequency at which your wireless router broadcasts its signal.
Click this weblink to read more about Changing Channels
What are Encryption Protocols
You're gonna love this.....great bedtime reading!!! It’s critically important to secure your wireless networks, but security can be complex, particularly when it comes to configuring each network component appropriately. Routers allow you to encrypt data as it travels in and out of your network, making it much more difficult to be read or altered by hackers trying to steal confidential information. Most small business routers let you choose which data encryption protocol you want to use, but in order to make the best choice for your network, you need to understand the differences between encryption protocols.
For wireless networks, the data encryption protocol is WPA, or Wi-Fi Protected Access. WPA was introduced in 1999 after significant flaws were discovered in the original wireless encryption protocol, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy); even though many routers still include WEP, it’s too insecure to rely on to protect your business. Instead, opt for one of the protocols in the WPA family.
Since the introduction of WPA, one more encryption protocol has been added to the family, along with two different modes: WPA2 and the WPA2-PSK (Pre-Shared Key) and WPA2-ENT (Enterprise) modes. Using WPA2 has become the general default, but the mode you choose depends on your business needs and IT environment.
Launched in 2004, WPA2 is even more secure than WPA. It is the full implementation of the 802.11i standard for securing wireless networks, while WPA was a subset of the standard and intended only as a stop-gap solution until WPA2 was completed. WPA2 uses the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), which provides government-grade encryption capabilities that are stronger than the TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) used by WPA. In fact, AES is thought to be uncrackable by even the most skilled hacker.
The two other WPA protocols are designed for different types of networks. WPA2-PSK is intended for home and very small office networks. Each wireless device is authenticated by the same 256-bit key. With this mode, you set an encryption passphrase that must be entered by each user when connecting to the network. This passphrase can be stored on each computer, but it must be entered—or changed—individually for each device. All users share a locally stored passphrase, which can be found and copied from a computer by anyone. This makes WPA2-PSK less secure than the WPA2-ENT mode.
WPA2-ENT is made for the enterprise network, but it’s a smart choice for any business network. It provides security against more attacks than WPA2-PSK and separates users from the router’s passphrase to the network. WPA2-ENT creates new encryption keys each time users log on to the network with their unique passwords, and the passphrase to the network is not stored locally. It also allows for centralised control over users’ access to the wireless network, which makes management easier than with the WPA2-PSK mode. In a nutshell we don't have to worry about WPA2-ENT ;)
No matter which mode you choose, you must set all of your wireless networking devices to the same one for them to communicate properly.
Secure Passwords, and Why we Should Use Them.
Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute-force attacks. In its usual form, it estimates how many trials an attacker who does not have direct access to the password would need, on average, to guess it correctly. The strength of a password is a function of length, complexity, and unpredictability.
Using strong passwords lowers overall risk of a security breach.
When it comes to setting a password on your router, the more complicated the better. As suggested if it's too easy, and simple, it could be easy to guess.
Click this link for some additional information on Strong Passwords.
This can be a complicated topic, but to keep it within the level we are comfortable within the group, I centred on the following aspects.
- SSID
- Channel Frequencies
- Encryption Protocols
- Secure Passwords
If all you remember about routers is the above information, you'll do well. To no understand, could potentially allow security to be compromised and also possibly allow others unauthorised access to A) your Internet Connection, and B) worst case scenario, access to your files!
The Basics: What is a Router?
A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork. A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When a data packet comes in one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it reaches its destination node.
 |
| Pictured above is a Virgin Media 'Super Hub' Router. Fibre Optic cable provides the most effective way of connecting to the Internet, and in this picture it is the white cable. It is likely that a computer is plugged directly into the router via the yellow CAT5 cable. |
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| Here we have a picture of a BT Home Hub - which is there router for the home. It is combined in this instance with a telephone base unit. |
The most familiar type of routers are home and small office routers that simply pass data, such as web pages, email, IM, and videos between the home computers and the Internet. An example of a router would be the owner's cable or DSL modem, which connects to the Internet through an ISP. More sophisticated routers, such as enterprise routers, connect large business or ISP networks up to the powerful core routers that forward data at high speed along the optical fiber lines of the Internet backbone. Though routers are typically dedicated hardware devices, use of software-based routers has grown increasingly common.
What is an SSID? What does it stand for?
The SSID (or Service Set IDentifier) names and identifies a wireless network, It is something that access points broadcast to client devices to announce the presence of the access point. The SSID denotes the name of a network on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and could be any name up to thirty-two (32) characters in length.
For security reasons, broadcasting of this SSID is commonly turned off on some routers. All access points and all devices using a specific wireless network must use the same SSID.
Channel Frequencies: Changing them for Improved Performance
When talking about wireless networking, a channel is simply another term for the frequency at which your wireless router broadcasts its signal.
 |
| The Channels you can set your Router to. (Click the image to enlarge) |
Click this weblink to read more about Changing Channels
What are Encryption Protocols
You're gonna love this.....great bedtime reading!!! It’s critically important to secure your wireless networks, but security can be complex, particularly when it comes to configuring each network component appropriately. Routers allow you to encrypt data as it travels in and out of your network, making it much more difficult to be read or altered by hackers trying to steal confidential information. Most small business routers let you choose which data encryption protocol you want to use, but in order to make the best choice for your network, you need to understand the differences between encryption protocols.
For wireless networks, the data encryption protocol is WPA, or Wi-Fi Protected Access. WPA was introduced in 1999 after significant flaws were discovered in the original wireless encryption protocol, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy); even though many routers still include WEP, it’s too insecure to rely on to protect your business. Instead, opt for one of the protocols in the WPA family.
Launched in 2004, WPA2 is even more secure than WPA. It is the full implementation of the 802.11i standard for securing wireless networks, while WPA was a subset of the standard and intended only as a stop-gap solution until WPA2 was completed. WPA2 uses the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), which provides government-grade encryption capabilities that are stronger than the TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) used by WPA. In fact, AES is thought to be uncrackable by even the most skilled hacker.
The two other WPA protocols are designed for different types of networks. WPA2-PSK is intended for home and very small office networks. Each wireless device is authenticated by the same 256-bit key. With this mode, you set an encryption passphrase that must be entered by each user when connecting to the network. This passphrase can be stored on each computer, but it must be entered—or changed—individually for each device. All users share a locally stored passphrase, which can be found and copied from a computer by anyone. This makes WPA2-PSK less secure than the WPA2-ENT mode.
WPA2-ENT is made for the enterprise network, but it’s a smart choice for any business network. It provides security against more attacks than WPA2-PSK and separates users from the router’s passphrase to the network. WPA2-ENT creates new encryption keys each time users log on to the network with their unique passwords, and the passphrase to the network is not stored locally. It also allows for centralised control over users’ access to the wireless network, which makes management easier than with the WPA2-PSK mode. In a nutshell we don't have to worry about WPA2-ENT ;)
No matter which mode you choose, you must set all of your wireless networking devices to the same one for them to communicate properly.
Secure Passwords, and Why we Should Use Them.
Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute-force attacks. In its usual form, it estimates how many trials an attacker who does not have direct access to the password would need, on average, to guess it correctly. The strength of a password is a function of length, complexity, and unpredictability.
Using strong passwords lowers overall risk of a security breach.
When it comes to setting a password on your router, the more complicated the better. As suggested if it's too easy, and simple, it could be easy to guess.
Click this link for some additional information on Strong Passwords.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Five Week Camera Class 2
Adobe Photoshop Elements is a raster image editing product. Targeted at hobbyists and consumers, it is sold at a fraction (roughly 1⁄6) of the cost of its professional sibling, Adobe Photoshop CS. It contains most of the features of the professional version but with fewer and simpler options. The program allows users to create, edit, organise and share images, all from the same product.
We started off tonights session by exploring some of the mainly used tools in Photoshop Elements. Palmerston Centre is using version 8, but the latest version is version 11. All of the tools are the same in the versions, they simply add additional functionality into the products.
Tonight's session was aimed at giving the students the freedom to simply play around with the product, get a feel for what it can do. They downloaded some images from the Internet, using a Google Image search, and pasted them into Photoshop Elements.
Some useful links:
Here are some video tutorials you may like to watch:
Next week I will be setting the class some specific exercises to alter - I'll post some of the good examples afterwards! We'll also be taking some pictures in class of some 'still life' arrangements, if people remember to bring something in.
Monday, 25 February 2013
Digital Camera Class 7
Tonight's session started off by looking at the remaining pictures from last week, where we had ran out of time.
The main topic tonight was using the Saturation Tool in Paint Shop Pro, with the aim of creating some arty 'IKEA' shots, as I called them, just like the example below.
The way this is done, is by choosing the Saturation tool, and to paint out the areas of colour on the photo. The left click boosted the colour strength, and the right click stripped the colour away to leave black and white.
The term saturation comes into play when measuring the amount of color being reflected. If an object absorbs every color except blue, for instance, then that blue is considered to be highly saturated. If, however, the object absorbs some of the blue along with everything else, then the blue is less saturated.
Photographers who deal with film choose their film based partially on its level of saturation. Some film will have a high saturation while others a low. A photographer may choose to shoot a portrait with a low saturation so as to bring out the details in the subjects face. A landscape photographer may want a heavily saturated film because it punches up the colors and the finer details that get lost aren’t as important.
With digital cameras there tends to be a standard of setting a low saturation as a default. Most cameras will let you adjust that before you take the picture. People are more likely to play with the saturation of their digital pictures after the shot has been taken though. Doing so is easy with almost any photo editing software out there.
The main topic tonight was using the Saturation Tool in Paint Shop Pro, with the aim of creating some arty 'IKEA' shots, as I called them, just like the example below.
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| Strip away all but one colour, and with the right photo, the results can be striking! |
So what technically what is this all about? Once someone dives into
the science of photography they begin to hear a lot of words, such as
saturation, that can sound quite confusing. When used in the context of light,
saturation doesn’t mean the same thing it normally does.
Most people are used to
thinking of saturation as the result of absorbing liquid. A paper towel can
quickly get saturated with water or a cotton with ether and so on. So when we
normally think of something as being highly saturated we think of it as being
very wet, or having absorbed a lot of something else.
In terms of color and
light things work differently. A beam of white light
contains every color. Therefore, in terms of light, every color combined equals
white. When an object appears to be white, it is because the object is
reflecting every single color towards us. When an object appears to be the
color red is actually absorbing every color except for the red, which it
reflects. At the other extreme is an object that is black. This is absorbing
all of the colours in the white light and reflecting none.
The term saturation comes into play when measuring the amount of color being reflected. If an object absorbs every color except blue, for instance, then that blue is considered to be highly saturated. If, however, the object absorbs some of the blue along with everything else, then the blue is less saturated.
When all of this is
brought back to the context of photography it can be a little trickier; still,
the same basic idea is applied. A photo with very dull colors is considered to
have low saturation. Further, the more blacks and greys that appear in the
photo, the less saturated it is.
Photographers who deal with film choose their film based partially on its level of saturation. Some film will have a high saturation while others a low. A photographer may choose to shoot a portrait with a low saturation so as to bring out the details in the subjects face. A landscape photographer may want a heavily saturated film because it punches up the colors and the finer details that get lost aren’t as important.
With digital cameras there tends to be a standard of setting a low saturation as a default. Most cameras will let you adjust that before you take the picture. People are more likely to play with the saturation of their digital pictures after the shot has been taken though. Doing so is easy with almost any photo editing software out there.
To get a better idea of
what saturation levels actually do to a picture then open up your editing
software and play with some of your shots. If you have a picture that has very
bland coloring then increase the saturation and you may be surprised at the
result. Have fun, but pay attention to what you’re doing. That way you’ll
better understand what you’re doing.
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Five Week Camera Class 1
A new class for after half-term, a five week Digital Camera Class.
Tonights class, an introductory session to the kinds of things we will be looking at during the course.
A copy of the presentation shown in class can be downloaded with the link below. Please not you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the file.
http://www.christopherjthomas.com/downloads/classes/photography/Digital%20Photography%20January%202013.pdf
Visit www.adobe.com if you need to download a copy of Acrobat Reader.
This course is an Agored Accredited class, and you need to keep a student file. You will find the templates for your file here at the below link:
http://www.christopherjthomas.com/downloads/classes/photography/
For further information on the Kodak Top Ten tips, visit the following website:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/corp/top10tips/index.jhtml
Monday, 18 February 2013
Digital Camera Class 6
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| Last week's class - voting on what photographs we liked!!! |
The purpose of the session was mainly, to discuss and critique the work that each of the students did. I explained that it was to be an open session where we say exactly what we think of the images, not meaning to be nasty, but to offer constructive critisicim such as '..it could have been better if the image was taken from another angle' and that sort of thing.
The session went very well, and was very positive indeed. Time caught up with us though, and we had two more students to review. We'll look at them first thing next week.
Monday, 4 February 2013
Digital Camera Class 5
Can you believe it's half-term next week? Time flies when you are having fun! That being said, if you turn up next week for class you'll be disappointed, because the doors will be locked!
Not wanting to disappoint, I have set the class a project for the next two weeks,
Not wanting to disappoint, I have set the class a project for the next two weeks,
From the following topics, choose three, and take 6 pictures from each category. By all means take more pictures whilst you are doing so, but put the best ones in your student folder. So that’s 18 photographs in total.
Your choices are:
1. “The Weather”
2. “Things that make me smile!”
3. “An Afternoon Walk”
4. “Colourful Things”
5. “Past, Present & Future.”
6. “Enjoying Food.”
7. “Planes, Trains or Automobiles.”
8. “My Town.”
Students in the class will print out there pictures to go in their student files, and bring in the images so that we can see them on the whiteboard, and have a constructive criticism session, which has proved very useful based on classes gone by.
Anyway, putting that aside for now, onto tonights class....
We had a brief look at the Student folders and saw how they should be set out, and what you need to achieve, based on the criteria set out in the documentation. Everyone seems happy about this. If you have any questions about this, please do not panic, either have a chat with me in class, or email me at chrisjthomas@gmail.com
We had a brief look at the Student folders and saw how they should be set out, and what you need to achieve, based on the criteria set out in the documentation. Everyone seems happy about this. If you have any questions about this, please do not panic, either have a chat with me in class, or email me at chrisjthomas@gmail.com
Ploughing on, we continued with the same theme as last week, but taking it a step further. I provided the group with a set of 14 images, which ranged in complexity. The reasoning behind giving 14 images was to ensure that there were plenty of exercises for everyone to do, no matter their level. I jokingly said that if they finished all 14 they could go home early.
I had uploaded the images onto the Internet, so the first task was to download some of the images and save them into their own folders. The task was to make some relatively modern images look old fashioned. This was to be achieved by removing any forms of modernisation from the images with the Clone Brush and Scratch Remover, and then to apply a Sepia toning, and finally to blur the image several times to make it look dated and old.
I must say the results around the room from everyone in attendance was incredible - well done to everyone!!
Click this link to open up the webpage with the sample pictures on. If you do not have a copy of Paint Shop Pro, then you can download a trial from www.corel.co.uk and then you can have a go at some of the exercise pictures at home!
Enjoy the half-term and I'll see you in a fortnight!!
Monday, 28 January 2013
Digital Camera Class 4
Click click click....that's all I could hear as I glanced around the computer room at 19:54 this evening. It was the noise of a class full of students heavily engrossed in the task that I had set for tonight.
The task for tonight was to alter a set of images that I had provided and to correct various elements in them. Such as remove some over-head cables, or to remove a burnt car wreck from the beach.
I started the class with a simple demonstration of how the Clone Brush and Scratch Removal tools in Paint Shop Pro worked.
Paint Shop Pro from Corel, is one of two graphics packages installed on the school computers, the other is Adobe Photoshop. Experience has taught us, despite its alleged reputation, every student that has come through the door of my class has left and said how much easier Paint Shop Pro is, and that's why we continue to use it. If I can show you fantastic ways to alter images, and get great results in an easier manner, why would you choose do to do something the hard way!?
There were 14 images in total, the reasoning behind that, was that there would be more than sufficient to keep even the brightest student in the group going until beyond 9pm, although I did say that if anyone did finish all 14 pictures to my satisfaction they could go home early!!
I gave a set of simple instruction out in class, they were printed in black and white, if anyone would like a set in colour then you can click here to download the notes, and print them off on your own printer.
Here are a selection of photographs of tonight's class busy editing their photographs!
]
The task for tonight was to alter a set of images that I had provided and to correct various elements in them. Such as remove some over-head cables, or to remove a burnt car wreck from the beach.
I started the class with a simple demonstration of how the Clone Brush and Scratch Removal tools in Paint Shop Pro worked.
Paint Shop Pro from Corel, is one of two graphics packages installed on the school computers, the other is Adobe Photoshop. Experience has taught us, despite its alleged reputation, every student that has come through the door of my class has left and said how much easier Paint Shop Pro is, and that's why we continue to use it. If I can show you fantastic ways to alter images, and get great results in an easier manner, why would you choose do to do something the hard way!?
There were 14 images in total, the reasoning behind that, was that there would be more than sufficient to keep even the brightest student in the group going until beyond 9pm, although I did say that if anyone did finish all 14 pictures to my satisfaction they could go home early!!
I gave a set of simple instruction out in class, they were printed in black and white, if anyone would like a set in colour then you can click here to download the notes, and print them off on your own printer.
Here are a selection of photographs of tonight's class busy editing their photographs!
]
Next week we will be making some old fashioned looking photographs from modern images!