Photoshop 101

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Logo

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most frustrating programs that people want to use. It is also the best photo editing software you can use, in my opinion. I have been using Photoshop since grade 10 in my Communications Technology class at St. Paul Secondary School in Niagara Falls. Here I was taught all I really know about the program. It was a tough start, but I got through it. This post is to make that tough start easier. This cheat sheet will explain what tools do and what you would use them for.

However, as I get more and more excited about writing my blog, I find new websites that help me do my job a lot easier. In my mini tablet blog, I mentioned a website called Make Use Of. This site is amazing because it also gives you a second opinion on reviews and many different cheat sheets for all kinds of software. What I am going to do is provide you with the same concept. Here we have the explanation to the cheat sheet. The PDF below will explain the tools shown in the cheat sheet. If you are more interested in the features of Photoshop CS6, click on this guide. 

Photoshop 101 Basic Tools.pdf by

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Documents can be a pain when it comes to pasting images. Think about having a signature on an electronic resume or a title for your blog. Websites do not always give you the best tools and sometimes you have to do things on your own. This is where software comes into play.

I use adobe Photoshop for these tasks, but I suggest beginners use adobe Photoshop Elements. Elements can run you about $129 CDN but it is about $670 cheaper than Photoshop. Both are Mac and PC compatibility (please check system requirements before purchasing the product to check if your computer is compatible). Before starting the tutorial, you should know the different file types. The one we will be focusing on is Portable Network Graphics (PNG or png).

This file type allows you to save an edited image with a transparent background. I find PNG files to have higher quality than JPEG but lower compatibility with some devices. The following steps are what I took to get my friend Erin’s blog title up and running without a background. Check out her blog here.

Thanks Linda for the guest blog post. If you, or anyone reading this, needs technology advice, tutorial or faces issues, please visit www.eztechspot.blogspot.ca or email me at jordanammendolia@gmail.com.

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From Disc to Digital

You have an iPod touch, tablet, laptop, multimedia streaming devices (i.e. Apple Tv or WesternDigital TV Live) and you still are puzzled how to get your Blu-rays and DVDs onto them. Have no fear a tutorial is here.

In today’s world, many DVDs are coming out with a digital copy, this you will see on the case content. What you don’t always see on the case is how long the digital copy is valid for. I just purchased the X-Men Trilogy a few days before the 2013 New Year and the digital copy expired September 22, 2010. Now you’re stuck. What do you do? Rip it of course.

Firstly, I encourage you to look at your laws in order to determine if this is legal in your country. Some allow you to do this for personal use only. Secondly, you are going to need some software and hardware. For DVDs, if your computer has been built in the last five years, you should be ok. Blu-ray Disc will need a Blu-ray reader. Be sure you use the "Presets" in Handbrake if you are unsure of what to use. One day I will get to using Handbrake.


Once I find software that is compatible with Mac I will do my best on inserting a guide for you.

There is one part where you will be waiting for a while. When this is happening, check out my friends blog. Her name is Courtney Charette and she is exploring the Niagara area. Her blog is called Rediscover Niagara.

What you will need to start this project:

A PC (sorry Mac users, the decryption software just isn't available unless you pay for it. I am also a fan of freeware software)

Handbrake

DVD Fab Passkey (PC Only)

From Disc to Digital Guide by jordanammendolia