For this assignment, I decided to download Gimp to give it a try. I am always looking for free tools to share with faculty. I have only used Microsoft Picture Manager in the past for some VERY basic image manipulation. I can see that I need a lot more time with Gimp to really use it effectively. I tried out several features just playing around with the original photo above....taken of me in my office. The final modification I have shared here I reached using the following steps: 1. Figuring out how to crop took quite a while. The process (at least in my opinion) was not nearly as intuitive as it should be for so basic a function. I was finally able to reach the cropped section above by using Rectangle Select, from Tools then Crop to Selection from the Image tools. This part took me quite a while to figure out. I was not expecting simple cropping to take more than one step. I am so accustomed to the cropping tools in microsoft products I was looking for a similar procedure here. 2. Then I played around with the Filters menu. I reached this effect with Filter, Old Photo - Sepia, then Filter, oilify + blur. The end result looks like some of the family photos my elderly mother has stored up from back in the 1940s....
After modifying the image, I saved as a .jpg (from the Gimp .xcf default) then uploaded here. I resized the images above a bit so they would look better side by side...after I inserted them here using the Image Properties editing tools here in Blackboard (Get to these by right clicking an image after inserting into the wiki).... Cheers! Definitely need more time with Gimp to master it!
Graphics Activity 2
For this activity I again utilized GIMP to continue to learn features and tools of the program. I made a valiant attempt to try to figure out how to accomplish this task without looking at help or tutorials. I spent time browsing tools and options and testing and trying, but finally gave up when I realized there are still some parts of the program I find more challenging - and again not intuitive. I think it may just be my lack of experience with image editing, but some things I expect to find using same naming conventions as other programs I work with frequently just don't work the same in GIMP. While I think that technically I accomplished the assigned task, I would rate it as rather crude at best. I am not entirely sure that I yet understand layering or other ways I might have cut and utilized only portions of my images. So, still more to learn.
I reached this final image using four photos I took in June at Glacier National Park. I know these might seem an odd collection, but my family has been to the park many times and this year I purposely looked for other interesting park features to photograph - not just for the sake of memory building, but for creating a library of images I might use for things like presentations and such. I really got interested in moss and tree roots as much as mountains and lakes and what you see is a sample of 4 of the roots I spotted on 4 different hikes.
The steps in GIMP were (roughly) as follows (editing out multiple re-dos along the way to try to figure out what different tools would do): 1. I first created a 'canvas' to hold the collage by opening, and sizing according to the assignment instructions using File, Create New Image. This option allowed me to set the image dimensions at 500 X 360 as specified in the assignment. 2. I had already dropped a collection of images into a folder for this assignment, so I then selected 4 from the collection using GIMP to File, Open. 3. Each of the separate images had to be resized to fit into the canvas. This was done using Image, Scale Image. After resizing, I moved each image onto the canvas using Edit copy and paste. The tricky part was figuring out how to move the separate images around once I pasted them onto the canvas. This is the point at which I had to resort to GIMP help and a tutorial I found : Creating a Collage Using GIMP . because when the images are moved onto the canvas they are set into the center by default. This tutorial is for an ealier version of GIMP, but had nice tips I was able to apply here (and save for future reference!). Using the Move Tool (yes, it was that simple...duh!) I was able to position the images onto the canvas. I am not totally happy with the final outcome because edges/corners do not line up. Given more time I would like to experiment with the Intelligent Scissors to snip portions of images to use in a collage as described in the tutorial. I did play with that some, but could not snip well enough to come up with an acceptable segment. 4. I added the text title onto the image using the Text Tool. 5. Then saved the image as a jpeg into my project folder on my desktop.
What challenges?
The basic part of making a 'container' to hold the collage was straightforward enough. And I knew from the images I started with they would need to be resized in order to fit onto the specified container. The thing I struggled with most was the moving of the images once I copied them onto the canvas. I know that seems simple, but it took quite a while before I looked elsewhere for help. I was hoping for click and drag! :-) I started over again and again until I figured this basic part out.
What learning?
This project allowed me to just generally poke around again in GIMP. I must say that it seems to me to be a rather robust image editing program with many nice features. The online help for the program is comprehensive and worthwhile. And the whole GNU online help community is great. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about this tool.
Graphics Activity 3
GA 3 - Online Image Editor Comparison
Part 1 - Edit Photo
The two image editing programs I selected were Photoshop Express Editor via Photoshop.com and PhotoBucket. Both required setting up a free account in order to upload.
Image edited using Photoshop Express Editor:
Original
Edited image
Original imageImage edited using Photoshop Express Photoshop Express Image Editing requires opening a Photoshop.com account. Uploading an image file is simple and easy. Once the image is uploaded to a 'Library' it can be edited using the Express Image Editing option. The edited photo above was created adjusting Saturation, then using the Sketch Option. The edited image as embedded after copying the code as rendered by the Express editor, then adding it via the HTML Source Editor here in the wiki tools.
Image edited Using PhotoBucket
Fall 2009 edited
Image edited with PhotoBucket Editing tools Photobucket also requires account creation and upload to an album. From the same original image above, this edited version was created in PhotoBucket using Effects, Colorsplash & Painting. I then added the frame border using Decorate, Borders. Similarly to the sample above from Photoshop Express, the embed code rendered by the site was inserted here using the HTML Source editor.
Part 2 - Comparison/Discussion
Features of the two programs are summarized in the following table. Each of the tools offered handy editing options that were simple and easy to use after first creating an account. Each offered a respectable set of options for modifying/editing images and included other tools like the ability to use different social media outlets for sharing and options to associate other accounts like flickr. Also, both editors offer hosting, slideshows, albums. PhotoBucket offered mobile apps options as well. As noted below, the one site characteristic that would prevent my recommending it to others is the endless string of pop-up adds that could not be bypassed on PhotoBucket.
Criteria
Adobe Photoshop Express Editor
PhotoBucket
Tool selection
This is a quite robust tool considering that it is free. The 'tools' include the Express Editor, Organizer, Slideshows, and Uploader.
I was familiar with PhotoBucket as an image hosting site similar to flickr, but was not aware that they offered editing tools (via FotoFlexr). Additional tools are available with the account including options to create slide shows, scrapooks, cards and albums. Mobile apps are available as well as a variety of upload options.
Interface
The Editor tool interface is very easy to use after opening an image. The options are intuitive, and undo, redo is handy at the bottom of the screen. Editing options are presented on the left navigation bar.
Simple and straightforward with various editing options presented in tab categories across the top of the editing window.
Speed
Saving the edited photo was a bit sluggish, but could have been because I was using a wireless connection.
Each function I tried was snappy. Again, saving the edited image was slower though.
Export
Offers a number of options for saving the image to Photoshop.com or 'sharing' via outlets like Facebook, Flickr, PhotoBucket. Link, embed (code) or email options are available.
Also offers options for saving and/or sharing the image, including embed code and connections to other social media. Also offers email share option or send to mobile.
Flash/HTML
Embed code or linking available.
Embed code or linking available.
Max file size
2 GB of total storage is allowed!
500 MB space is allowed,
Max. resolution
Not noted
Not noted
Cost
Free
Free
Layers
I may well have overlooked, but did not see layering capability on the basic editing options.
Some layering options are available...certainly not to the extent of GIMP but appears to be more than the Photoshop Express offered.
Effects
Offers Basic (Crop, rotate, resize, red eye, saturation, etc), Adjustments (White balance, highlight, full light, sharpen, etc.), and Advanced (pop color, hue, tint, sketch,etc.)categories
Edit options include Effects, Decorate, Animations, Beautify, Distort, Layers, Geek with each category offering multiple options.
Killer feature
I'd say that the amount of storage space available is a determining factor, plus the continuous pop up adds on PhotoBucket are a definite deal-breaker.
In this case I am interpreting 'killer feature' as the one
that will 'kill' this tool and keep me from coming back: That 'killer feature' is the endless pop up advertisements every time the mouse is moved!
Graphics Project + Audio Activity 1
Meanings For the graphics project, I chose the option to illustrate a quote. The quote I have chosen has particular meaning for me this semester. I am participating in a Networked Faculty Seminar, "Awakening the Digital Imagination" sponsored by Baylor University and the New Media Consortium based on essay readings from The New Media Reader. The reader is a collection of historical pieces exploring technical invention and cultural expression enabled by new media. The quote is from Alan Kay, one of the visionaries included in the volume. I knew this was the quote I would work with for the project and set about finding a way to graphically illustrate the ideas the quote conjures for me.
Processes
The project offered another opportunity to continue to master GIMP for graphics projects. I began with an image of my own as background on a canvas. I thought about different ways to join the idea of computing and music. I considered clip art musical notes and such. But thought they might not fit the style of my photograph. I explored on a site I sometimes use for copyright free images, Morguefile. I found a quite nice simple graphic of an empty musical treble cleft positioned diagonally across the image. Then came the challenges. A summary of my quite lengthy process of experimentation to reach this final product is as follows. Setting my original image (resized to adhere to assignment specifications) onto a canvas was completed using the same procedures as prior assigments. I hoped to fade the original image to the background and lay the treble cleft over it. I spent a fair amount of time in GIMP just playing around with the various tools to see what would happen. It was through this trial and error process that I found a Filter, Light and Shadow, SuperNova option I could add and position into the image. I liked this very much for adding emphasis to the point in the image where the stylus meets the tablet screen - thus signifying the 'ideas' part of the quote I was after. The most challenging part was changing the level of transparency of the cleft image so that the computer could be seen through it. I almost abandoned the process and was about to resort to the clip art when I finally happened on some of the layering tools that allowed me to change color of the top layer - Layer, Transparency, Add Alpha Layer, Color to Alpha. With this set of tool selections I was able to desaturate the top layer so that the background was visible through it (what you see here). I had to do a little cropping of the top layer (MANY attempts needed) using tools from that same section to remove unwanted excess from the top image to eliminate some overhang. I added the text in after I was relatively satisfied with the other manipulations. But the background image was still in sharp focus and not quite what I was looking for. I tried out a number of the filters to modify the background image and finally settled on what you see here - 'soft glow.' I saved the image as a .jpg and checked to make sure that it met assignment specs of having no dimension >800 pixels and a completed file size of <100K.
Choices
I hope that the combined effects point to the main ideas in the quote: representation of the 'computer' - in this case a tablet used to write, thus adding to representation of the 'ideas'. Addition of the 'nova' effect to further suggest the 'ideas.' And finally the overlay of the graphic illustrating the idea of 'music'. I used an image of my own to begin this creative process and combined that with a copyright free selection from the web. I used GIMP to continue my learning process with that tool. While this was most definitely a creative process and I began with at least a notion of what I wanted to do to illustrate the quote, I would say that my process and outcome were definitely constrained by my level of expertise with using the application I selected for the project (GIMP). Writing would not involve the same level of constraint brought on by knowledge of writing tools. All-in-all, I am satisfied with the final product.
Graphics Activitiy 1
1. Figuring out how to crop took quite a while. The process (at least in my opinion) was not nearly as intuitive as it should be for so basic a function. I was finally able to reach the cropped section above by using Rectangle Select, from Tools then Crop to Selection from the Image tools. This part took me quite a while to figure out. I was not expecting simple cropping to take more than one step. I am so accustomed to the cropping tools in microsoft products I was looking for a similar procedure here.
2. Then I played around with the Filters menu. I reached this effect with Filter, Old Photo - Sepia, then Filter, oilify + blur. The end result looks like some of the family photos my elderly mother has stored up from back in the 1940s....
After modifying the image, I saved as a .jpg (from the Gimp .xcf default) then uploaded here. I resized the images above a bit so they would look better side by side...after I inserted them here using the Image Properties editing tools here in Blackboard (Get to these by right clicking an image after inserting into the wiki)....
Cheers! Definitely need more time with Gimp to master it!
Graphics Activity 2
For this activity I again utilized GIMP to continue to learn features and tools of the program. I made a valiant attempt to try to figure out how to accomplish this task without looking at help or tutorials. I spent time browsing tools and options and testing and trying, but finally gave up when I realized there are still some parts of the program I find more challenging - and again not intuitive. I think it may just be my lack of experience with image editing, but some things I expect to find using same naming conventions as other programs I work with frequently just don't work the same in GIMP. While I think that technically I accomplished the assigned task, I would rate it as rather crude at best. I am not entirely sure that I yet understand layering or other ways I might have cut and utilized only portions of my images. So, still more to learn.I reached this final image using four photos I took in June at Glacier National Park. I know these might seem an odd collection, but my family has been to the park many times and this year I purposely looked for other interesting park features to photograph - not just for the sake of memory building, but for creating a library of images I might use for things like presentations and such. I really got interested in moss and tree roots as much as mountains and lakes and what you see is a sample of 4 of the roots I spotted on 4 different hikes.
The steps in GIMP were (roughly) as follows (editing out multiple re-dos along the way to try to figure out what different tools would do):
1. I first created a 'canvas' to hold the collage by opening, and sizing according to the assignment instructions using File, Create New Image. This option allowed me to set the image dimensions at 500 X 360 as specified in the assignment.
2. I had already dropped a collection of images into a folder for this assignment, so I then selected 4 from the collection using GIMP to File, Open.
3. Each of the separate images had to be resized to fit into the canvas. This was done using Image, Scale Image. After resizing, I moved each image onto the canvas using Edit copy and paste. The tricky part was figuring out how to move the separate images around once I pasted them onto the canvas. This is the point at which I had to resort to GIMP help and a tutorial I found : Creating a Collage Using GIMP . because when the images are moved onto the canvas they are set into the center by default. This tutorial is for an ealier version of GIMP, but had nice tips I was able to apply here (and save for future reference!). Using the Move Tool (yes, it was that simple...duh!) I was able to position the images onto the canvas. I am not totally happy with the final outcome because edges/corners do not line up. Given more time I would like to experiment with the Intelligent Scissors to snip portions of images to use in a collage as described in the tutorial. I did play with that some, but could not snip well enough to come up with an acceptable segment.
4. I added the text title onto the image using the Text Tool.
5. Then saved the image as a jpeg into my project folder on my desktop.
What challenges?
The basic part of making a 'container' to hold the collage was straightforward enough. And I knew from the images I started with they would need to be resized in order to fit onto the specified container. The thing I struggled with most was the moving of the images once I copied them onto the canvas. I know that seems simple, but it took quite a while before I looked elsewhere for help. I was hoping for click and drag! :-) I started over again and again until I figured this basic part out.What learning?
This project allowed me to just generally poke around again in GIMP. I must say that it seems to me to be a rather robust image editing program with many nice features. The online help for the program is comprehensive and worthwhile. And the whole GNU online help community is great. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about this tool.Graphics Activity 3
GA 3 - Online Image Editor Comparison
Part 1 - Edit Photo
The two image editing programs I selected were Photoshop Express Editor via Photoshop.com and PhotoBucket. Both required setting up a free account in order to upload.Image edited using Photoshop Express Editor:
Original image Image edited using Photoshop Express
Photoshop Express Image Editing requires opening a Photoshop.com account. Uploading an image file is simple and easy. Once the image is uploaded to a 'Library' it can be edited using the Express Image Editing option. The edited photo above was created adjusting Saturation, then using the Sketch Option. The edited image as embedded after copying the code as rendered by the Express editor, then adding it via the HTML Source Editor here in the wiki tools.
Image edited Using PhotoBucket
Image edited with PhotoBucket Editing tools
Photobucket also requires account creation and upload to an album. From the same original image above, this edited version was created in PhotoBucket using Effects, Colorsplash & Painting. I then added the frame border using Decorate, Borders. Similarly to the sample above from Photoshop Express, the embed code rendered by the site was inserted here using the HTML Source editor.
Part 2 - Comparison/Discussion
Features of the two programs are summarized in the following table. Each of the tools offered handy editing options that were simple and easy to use after first creating an account. Each offered a respectable set of options for modifying/editing images and included other tools like the ability to use different social media outlets for sharing and options to associate other accounts like flickr. Also, both editors offer hosting, slideshows, albums. PhotoBucket offered mobile apps options as well. As noted below, the one site characteristic that would prevent my recommending it to others is the endless string of pop-up adds that could not be bypassed on PhotoBucket.that will 'kill' this tool and keep me from coming back: That 'killer feature' is the endless pop up advertisements every time the mouse is moved!
Graphics Project + Audio Activity 1
Meanings
For the graphics project, I chose the option to illustrate a quote. The quote I have chosen has particular meaning for me this semester. I am participating in a Networked Faculty Seminar, "Awakening the Digital Imagination" sponsored by Baylor University and the New Media Consortium based on essay readings from The New Media Reader. The reader is a collection of historical pieces exploring technical invention and cultural expression enabled by new media. The quote is from Alan Kay, one of the visionaries included in the volume. I knew this was the quote I would work with for the project and set about finding a way to graphically illustrate the ideas the quote conjures for me.
Processes
The project offered another opportunity to continue to master GIMP for graphics projects. I began with an image of my own as background on a canvas. I thought about different ways to join the idea of computing and music. I considered clip art musical notes and such. But thought they might not fit the style of my photograph. I explored on a site I sometimes use for copyright free images, Morguefile. I found a quite nice simple graphic of an empty musical treble cleft positioned diagonally across the image.Then came the challenges. A summary of my quite lengthy process of experimentation to reach this final product is as follows. Setting my original image (resized to adhere to assignment specifications) onto a canvas was completed using the same procedures as prior assigments. I hoped to fade the original image to the background and lay the treble cleft over it. I spent a fair amount of time in GIMP just playing around with the various tools to see what would happen. It was through this trial and error process that I found a Filter, Light and Shadow, SuperNova option I could add and position into the image. I liked this very much for adding emphasis to the point in the image where the stylus meets the tablet screen - thus signifying the 'ideas' part of the quote I was after.
The most challenging part was changing the level of transparency of the cleft image so that the computer could be seen through it. I almost abandoned the process and was about to resort to the clip art when I finally happened on some of the layering tools that allowed me to change color of the top layer - Layer, Transparency, Add Alpha Layer, Color to Alpha. With this set of tool selections I was able to desaturate the top layer so that the background was visible through it (what you see here). I had to do a little cropping of the top layer (MANY attempts needed) using tools from that same section to remove unwanted excess from the top image to eliminate some overhang. I added the text in after I was relatively satisfied with the other manipulations. But the background image was still in sharp focus and not quite what I was looking for. I tried out a number of the filters to modify the background image and finally settled on what you see here - 'soft glow.' I saved the image as a .jpg and checked to make sure that it met assignment specs of having no dimension >800 pixels and a completed file size of <100K.
Choices
I hope that the combined effects point to the main ideas in the quote: representation of the 'computer' - in this case a tablet used to write, thus adding to representation of the 'ideas'. Addition of the 'nova' effect to further suggest the 'ideas.' And finally the overlay of the graphic illustrating the idea of 'music'. I used an image of my own to begin this creative process and combined that with a copyright free selection from the web. I used GIMP to continue my learning process with that tool.While this was most definitely a creative process and I began with at least a notion of what I wanted to do to illustrate the quote, I would say that my process and outcome were definitely constrained by my level of expertise with using the application I selected for the project (GIMP). Writing would not involve the same level of constraint brought on by knowledge of writing tools.
All-in-all, I am satisfied with the final product.