Sunday, December 04, 2011

drag2share: Top 10 Photoshop Tricks You Can Use Without Buying Photoshop [Video]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5864755/top-10-photoshop-tricks-you-can-do-without-buying-photoshop

Top 10 Photoshop Tricks You Can Use Without Buying PhotoshopYou can do just about anything to an image with Photoshop, but if you don't have the cash to shell out, free program the GIMP—available for Windows, Linux, and OS X—can take you pretty far. Here are our favorite Photoshop how-tos that also work in the GIMP.

Note: If you're looking for a more native image editor on OS X, you might want to check out Seashore. It can't do everything the GIMP can do, but it comes pretty close, and runs much better on Macs.

10. Enhance and Touch Up Photos with Color Correction and More

Retouching photos is one of the first basics of Photoshop we covered in our night school, and you have most of those tools available in the GIMP as well. You don't have the advanced histogram that Photoshop does, but you can access the Color Balance, Levels, and Curves tools under the Colors menu in the toolbar. The closest equivalent of Photoshop's "Auto Tone" feature is the White Balance tool under Colors > Auto, and you'll find the Healing Brush and Clone Stamp tool in GIMP's toolbox, with the familiar stamp and bandage icons near the bottom of the topmost pane.

9. Remove Red Eye

Top 10 Photoshop Tricks You Can Use Without Buying PhotoshopThose of us with lighter colored eyes always seem to look like the devil in certain pictures, and while you can remove those red eyes with a program like Picasa, you'll get much better results if you take the time to do it manually. We've talked about how to do it in Photoshop before, and the process is identical in the GIMP—the only thing you need to know is that to change the layer's Blending Mode, just click the "Mode" dropdown at the top of the "Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo" toolbar.

8. Whiten Teeth

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su4nXX0aKcs Whitening teeth is easy in Photoshop, but requires a tad more work in the GIMP. the GIMP doesn't have a "Sponge" tool like Photoshop, you can emulate it by creating a new layer, making saturation changes to that layer, and then using the eraser to isolate the teeth. You can find more information about this technique at this GIMP user forum thread. The GIMP does have a Dodge tool, however, so you won't have to do anything differently there—it's the last button in the top pane of the toolbox.

7. Remove Blemishes

None of us are perfect, and if you want to remove a few blemishes from your photos, it's just as easy to do in the GIMP as it is in Photoshop. Like we said above, the Clone Stamp and Healing Brush tools are right there in the GIMP, and the Resynthesizer plugin works much like the Content-Aware Fill introduced in Photoshop CS5. With a combination of all three, you can banish that blemish and make it look as if it was never there.

6. Brighten Up a Specific Part of an Image

Brightening up just one portion of an image is easy, no matter what editor you're using. We've already discussed the tools necessary—mainly the Levels, Curves, and other color adjustment tools—so doing it in the GIMP is just a matter of learning the technique and knowing where the tools reside in GIMP instead of Photoshop. Check out our video tutorial to see how it's done.

5. Create Easy Reflections of Any Image

you want a cool reflection effect on some text or other image, it's incredibly easy to do, and actually just uses basic tools. Our video tutorial uses Photoshop, but you can flip an image in the GIMP from the Image > Transform menu, and all your eraser options are in the Toolbox, right where you'd expect them to be.

4. Extract Your Subject and Put Them on a New Background

We talked about this in our how-to on altering reality with Photoshop, and it's fairly easy to do in the GIMP as well. GIMP doesn't have a separate Polygonal Lasso tool, but you can still select areas in the same way with the regular lasso tool. Instead of clicking and dragging, just single-click different areas to get a polygonal selection. In fact, in the GIMP, you can even mix freehand and polygonal segments in one selection by hitting the "F" key as you select. You don't really have a Background Eraser either, but you can get similar effects by selecting the Brush tool, setting the mode to Color Erase, and setting the foreground color to the color you want to erase. The Magic Wand tool can also get the job done if your foreground and background are different enough.

3. Fix Distorted Images

Sometimes your photos don't turn out exactly as you wanted, and to fix distortion, you can just use Photoshop's Liquify tool. GIMP doesn't have a tool by that name, but you can get a very similar effect by heading to Filters > Distorts > Iwarp. You can try out other distorts as well, but Iwarp should take you wherever you need to go. Remember, it can take a little practice to get good at, so don't get discouraged with this one—it's tough.

2. Change a Specific Color

While Photoshop has a one-click color replacement tool, the GIMP doesn't—but that's okay, because doing it manually will probably get you better results (besides, it builds character). Like I said above, you can just use the regular Lasso as a Polygonal Lasso, and all the other tools in the video are available in GIMP right from the menus (as discussed above). The only thing that isn't obvious is how to change the blending mode of a layer. In the GIMP, this is right at the top of the Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo toolbar, under the "Mode" dropdown.

1. Create Instagram-Like Effects

Top 10 Photoshop Tricks You Can Use Without Buying PhotoshopUnfortunately, emulating old-school Instagram-type effects in the GIMP is not as easy as in Photoshop. If you're using Photoshop, you can just download a couple of Photoshop actions, but these won't work in newer versions of the GIMP. However, doing them manually usually isn't hard—our friends at the How-To Geek have already shown us how to make the Nashville and Lord Kelvin effects, and a quick Google search should reveal details on any other effect you want. If you're lucky, you might be able to find GIMP plugins that simulate them, too, like this Lomo plugin or this vintage plugin, though there don't seem to be as many that perfectly emulate Instagram's filters. Doing it manually might take a little longer, but it gives you more control and, ultimately, a better image, so it's worth the work.


Photoshop and the GIMP aren't exactly equals, but with a bit of ingenuity, you can get pretty far with free software, no matter what you're trying to do. For more Photoshop tricks, check out our #photoshop tag, and when it comes to finding comparable tools and tricks in GIMP, remember that Google is your friend. If you're trying to do it, chances are someone else has tried before, and found a solution. Got any of your own image editing tricks that work in the GIMP? Share them with us in the comments.

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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drag2share: Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop Wallpaper [Image Cache]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5864742/mirror-box-%2B-digital-camera--instant-holiday-desktop-wallpaper/gallery/1

Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop WallpaperIf you're not already swamped this time of year, here's a fun experiment you can do with a compact digital camera, a box made of mirrors, and any holiday themed items you might have lying around.

Ron Brinkmann created this easy-to-build project that really only requires you to know how to use duct tape and your camera's self-timer. Once you've got your scene set up inside you just drop your camera in with a few seconds countdown, put a mirror lid on top and wait for the results. It also provides the rare occasion to use your camera's built-in flash as a way to actually improve your photos, instead of just over-exposing them. [Digital Composting via Ron Brinkmann]

Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop Wallpaper
Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop Wallpaper
Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop Wallpaper
Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop Wallpaper
Mirror Box + Digital Camera = Instant Holiday Desktop Wallpaper

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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drag2share: iPhone Controlled Minimalist Coffee Maker Hides All the Hardware Under the Counter [Coffee Maker]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5864767/iphone-controlled-minimalist-coffee-maker-hides-all-the-hardware-under-the-counter

iPhone Controlled Minimalist Coffee Maker Hides All the Hardware Under the CounterIf the minimalist aesthetic in your kitchen is cramping your ability to brew up a cup of joe whenever you need a caffeine boost, Scanomat's Top Brewer keeps all the grinding and brewing hardware under the counter, out of sight.

In fact all that's visible is a gooseneck dispenser sticking out of the top of the counter, a small grate for catching spills and sprays, and an LCD touchscreen UI that serves as an alternate way to order up your beverage if an iPhone or iPad isn't readily available. While some drinks require longer brewing times than others, on average the Top Brewer can produce up to four cups of coffee per minute, and is self-cleaning so you can walk away and enjoy your brew right away.

It even has what it boasts to be the smallest milk foamer in the industry, installed at the very tip of the dispenser where it heats and foams to the required texture as needed. And if coffee isn't your thing, the Top Brewer can be configured to dispense hot and cold water, milk, fruit juices or even just steam for blanching vegetables. Pricing is still TBA, but you can expect it to cater to those who don't mind paying a premium for a great cup of coffee. [Scanomat via Uncrate]

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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drag2share: Samsung's two-faced SCH-W999 Android plays the dual core, dual SIM game

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/03/samsungs-two-faced-sch-w999-android-plays-the-dual-core-dual-s/

Remember Samsung's second-gen dual-screen Android clamshell we spotted about a month ago? Well, here it is at last: announced in partnership with China Telecom, this SCH-W999 flip phone packs two 3.5-inch 480 x 800 Super AMOLED panels back to back, along with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8660, Android 2.3 with TouchWiz, HyperSkin back cover (as featured on the Galaxy Nexus for grip plus anti-smear), five megapixel camera, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi and WAPI (China's not-so-successful take on WiFi, basically).

Like many phones on China Telecom, the W999 comes with dual SIM slots and dual-mode connectivity (GSM and CDMA2000, with the latter offering EV-DO 3G), but with the additional support for penta-band radio for globetrotters. Want to nab one? We're looking at a 2012 launch, though there's no word on prices just yet -- well, just so you know, the predecessor W899 starts from ¥8990 ($1,410), so good luck with your garage sale. We got you some pictures from the China launch event after the break, courtesy of Samsung Mobile.

Continue reading Samsung's two-faced SCH-W999 Android plays the dual core, dual SIM game

Samsung's two-faced SCH-W999 Android plays the dual core, dual SIM game originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon LTE hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/03/samsung-galaxy-nexus-for-verizon-lte-hands-on-video/

New Yorkers got a sneak peek at the Verizon LTE flavor of the Galaxy Nexus at the Samsung Experience in Columbus Circle today, and we dropped by to spend a few minutes with the Ice Cream Sandwich handset in the Manhattan showroom. Samsung had just four pre-production Nexus models on hand, which were running Android 4.0.1 -- not the final 4.1 version we're expecting to see shortly, with a baseband update in tow. None of the samples included SIM cards, so we were only able to test them using the built-in WiFi module. A security alarm sounded when we attempted to remove the back cover to install a SIM, though the battery was also superglued in place, further inhibiting our access.

We did take the unit for a speed test spin using our Verizon LTE MiFi, and achieved download speeds ranging from 5000-7000kbps and upload speeds of 300-2000kbps when connected to LTE over WiFi. These results don't represent what you'll see with the built-in module, but considering there was no way to get these running on the Verizon network, connectivity was limited to the MiFi and in-house WiFi. Still, this is your best shot at getting your hands on a device ahead of Verizon's official launch, so if you happen to be anywhere near NYC, head on down to the Samsung Experience to get your Nexus fix. Or hop past the break for our hands-on video.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon LTE hands-on (video)

Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon LTE hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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