Week 3

27/09/07

So! I have to write about something technology related that interests me.
This exercise will certainly reveal to my peers that my computer knowledge is at Kindergarten standard.
Well, never mind. Here goes.


At our house we have new toys, THE DIGITAL CAMERA and THE COLOUR PRINTER.
I am delighted with what this combination can do.

I decide to take some special photographs of my two grandsons,
Blog (aged 5) and Spot (aged 3) helping me with little tasks around the hobby farm.
I shall print these photos and combine them in a little booklet to give to Theirmother/mydarlingdaughter for her fast approaching birthday.

I do the photography session when Blog and Spot are visiting. They co-operate very well.
"Natural little actors." I proudly think.

One shot involves tipping a bucket of waste water on the garden.
Blog elects to do the tipping. Spot chooses to do the watching.
"Point to the water," I instruct, thinking that will involve him a little more in the scenario.
Spot points. Blog tips. I press the shutter. The photo looks fine on the camera viewer.

Later, when Blog and Spot have gone home with Theirmother/mydarlingdaughter, I transfer my images to the computer. One by one I play with thier brightness, thier contrast etc. and print them carefully in glorious colour.

Until I come to the water tipping photo. Enlarged on the computer screen, I notice a problem.
When Spot pointed to the water puddle, he extended his second finger more than the others so it looks as though he is doing an upside down rude gesture. This photo is otherwise perfect - Blog is tipping with concentration - Spot is following the action - there is a stream of water from the bucket - and a nice puddle where it is falling, but I don't want to show it to Theirmother/mydarlingdaughter with an accidental rude gesture implanted.

So, from work, (I work in a library of course) I borrow books on image editing. One introduces me to a gadget called a clone tool. This looks like just what I need. The book shows illustrations of a whole person being erased. If they can erase a whole person, surely I can erase a finger.

Where can I obtain this clone tool? In Iseeyousee, the image editing program that came with our Pintucks camera right ? Wrong! I do manage to find the instruction "Clone" listed,
but it is a sepia colour and when I click it nothing happens. After many tries, I conclude that this part of the program is not available in my particular set up.

When working on the circ desk in my small country library, I try to cadge free advice from borrowers who, I know, have been getting digital photography books lately.
Deuce helps me out. "Easy," he says, "You need Piccassio. You can download it free from the net."
I find Piccassio on the net. I download it. I put my picture into it. I go for "cloning"
It gives me a spiel which roughly interpreted says the function I want is available as an additional extra which must be purchased.

I think, "Where can I buy this additional extra? Why at Harvic Foreman of course!"
I have reason to believe that as long as one is well dollared, one can buy almost any computer gear at Harvic Foreman. I ring them up. A very pleasant young man called Didyetell answers.
Yes they have MANY image editing programs. Yes they ALL have cloning tools. They range in price from ONLY $200 to $2000 !
I thank him. I assure him that I will think about it.
$200 minimum ! $200 to paint out a finger !

I go back to the net. I waste a lot of time looking and finally find a free program that seems to have my requirements. I choose "Download."
Warnings flash ! !
"Are You Sure This Download is Coming From A Reliable Source ? ?
It May Be Infected With A FATAL VIRUS. "

Will I take the risk ?
No Fear ! !
I click "CANCEL" and wipe the sweat off my brow.


So, at the moment this story stops here.

Any suggestions?

(Delete the photo maybe?)


(What a lot I have learned this week about computer functions but not much of it was actually to do with blogging.)

Thus week 3 is completed.

Week 2

20/09/07

Week 2

I have set up my blog, registered it and added this post as instructed.