PhotoShop CS2 for FREE August 20 2014

WHAT! Did you say for FREE!?!

Yes it's true. The latest version, PhotoShop CS6, costs $699 and has lots of new features, but CS2 is just as powerful with lots of great photo manipulation tools.

Watch this slideshow on how to install PhotoShop CS2. Pause it as often as you like.

Download here: Photoshop CS2 Download

Here's some basic photo editing tips to get you started.

Crop 

1. From the toolbar, click the Crop tool.
2. Check the Options bar to set any Crop tool options.
3. Drag diagonally over the desired part of the image. A selection box will appear.
4. Adjust the selection box as needed, by dragging the corners or sides.

• To constrain the proportions as you adjust the size of the box, hold down Shift while dragging a corner handle.
• To reposition the selection box, drag from inside the selection box. 
• To rotate the selection box, position the pointer outside the box and drag. The center point around which the marquee rotates, can be repositioned by dragging the circle at the center of the box.

     5. To complete the crop, double-click inside the selection box,or press Enter.
        You can also click the check button in the Options bar.
        To cancel the crop, press the Esc key on your keyboard, or
        click the Cancel button in the options bar.

Guest speaker: Richard Miller August 13 2014

Topic: Digital cameras and computers workshop Q&A

Editing photos - removing elements / manipulation - it depends on the software that you have on your computer. We will look at various editing tools in future meetings. ADOBE CS2 (Creative Suite) including Photoshop is free to download.

Get the photo right first e.g light and focus. Golden rule - always put the sun behind you and try to get even light; either full shade or full light and by moving the subject if possible.

Using flash - some digital cameras have settings for when to flash. If not you can alter the flash with a tissue, or move back from the subject.
With an external flash you can rotate it to bounce off the ceiling to achieve a softer light.

ASA setting on film was fixed but with digital you can change the ASA to affect the light. E.g. 50 for very bright sun or 4800 for very low light.
Always shoot on your camera's maximum quality setting and then you can reduce the size for emailing on your computer, while retaining the original for printing.
Always get a good quality camera card, e.g. SanDisk Extreme.

Image size verses canvas size - image size will change the resolution, canvas size will change the dimensions which will crop the photo if reduced.

Battery quality is important. When traveling a camera with standard batteries is best rather than having to take a recharging device with you and international plug converters.

If your digital camera has no view finder it can be difficult to see the screen in sunlight but you can buy a shade screen.

Taking waterfalls and rivers that are moving you need to lower your shutter speed to about 10 and use a tripod. A Gorillapod tripod is very handy, see joby.com available at OfficeWorks.

To get professional photos you should turn off automatic mode and set the aperture and shutter speed.

Thanks to Richard for his great knowledge.