Computer Info – March 13, 2002

(** obtain handouts at http://www.hdprint.co.uk/ftp/florida **)

 

This Week’s Program

            We are going to demonstrate some of the features in PhotoShop Elements – a photo editing program.

 

PhotoShop Elements

            PhotoShop Elements is a good photo editing program for most amateur photographers and computer operators.  It costs anywhere from $69 to $99 – depending on whether you get a rebate or not.  Amazon.Com is offering it for $69 ($99 minus a $30 rebate from Amazon) until March 31st.

            We have demonstrated PhotoShop LE 5.0 in the past, so I will try to cover some of the new additions.

            MULTIPLE UNDOs -- This version keeps track of the history of changes that you make to a picture – so that you can go back and delete a specific change that you made, and not interfere with other changes that you have made.

            PRINT MULTIPLE COPIES OF PHOTO -- Under FILE – AUTOMATE – PICTURE PACKAGE, you can print multiple copies of your photo and numerous different layouts – for example  1 – 5x7 and 8 -2x2.5 pictures on one page – or  1 – 5x7 and 2 - 2.5x3.5 and 4 – 2x2.5 pictures on one page --- and all placed automatically for you.

            PRINT PREVIEW – Print Preview lets you determine where on the page you are going to print the photo and how large the photo will be.

            FILL FLASH – This is found under ENHANCE.  It is used to brighten dark or shadowed pictures.

            STRAIGHTEN PICTURE – This is found under IMAGE – ROTATE – STRIAGHTEN IMAGE.  This automates the process of straightening a picture that you had not placed square in your scanner.

            TEXT – This is one of the greatest changes – the ability to do vertical text and also curved text.  You will find these on the TOOLS menu. 

            CUSTOM SHAPES – This is also a very nice addition.  It is also found on the TOOLS menu.  Here you can add a small heart – or a footprint to your layout.

           

Use a Filter on Your Picture In PhotoShop

            Select an item in your picture using your lasso tool.  After you have it selected, click on SELECT – INVERSE.  This will make the rest of the picture selected, rather than the item you selected.  Now apply a filter from the FILTER menu to it.  Try the TEXTURE – STAINED GLASS.

            Anyway, this can give an interested look to your picture.

 

Uninstalling Programs

When uninstalling a program by using the ADD/REMOVE PROGRAM in the CONTROL PANEL – does it remove all references to it in the WIN.INI – SYSTEM.INI - AUTOEXEC.BAT – CONFIG.SYS – and REGISTRY?

When uninstalling a program using the program’s uninstall – does it remove all references to it in the WIN.INI – SYSTEM.INI - AUTOEXEC.BAT – CONFIG.SYS – and REGISTRY?

Either of these methods is the correct way to uninstall a program, but that does not mean that all references to it are removed from these files.  That is determined by how the uninstall program was written.  Also, many programs will leave folders on the computers that contain your settings for that program or projects that you created in those programs.  If you read the uninstall information that is given when the typical message stating that the program has been uninstalled successfully is shown – it will normally tell you that some information could not be removed and you can check the details for what.

 

You should never uninstall a program by just deleting it ‘s folders.  This is a sure way to NOT have any of the references to the program removed from the WIN.INI – SYSTEM.INI – AUTOEXEC.BAT – CONFIG.SYS and REGISTRY.

 

Running a Batch File Under Windows XP

            Can you still run a DOS batch file under Windows XP?  Yes, you can still access DOS.  From the START button – choose RUN.  Type  Command and click OK.  This will place you in the DOS mode.