Thread: Photo Editing

Cropping a photo removes unwanted areas around the subject of a photo and it's very simple to carry out. Left click on the top left icon in the Tools toolbar.
Position the cursor at the top left of the area you want to keep, press the left mouse button and, without letting go, drag the mouse to the bottom-right comer of the area to keep and let go .

You will find that the area selected now has a moving dotted line around it and is shaded blue. Don't worry, as this is just to highlight it and will not affect the image. Click on the Image menu and select Crop to Selection. If the cropping is not right, press Ctrl and Z together to undo the change and start again. Digital cameras can often lack contrast, leaving the results a little dull and uninspiring. Fortunately, the Auto Levels tool provides a quick fix. Click on the Adjustments menu and select Auto Levels.



Small blemishes are easy to remove with the Clone Stamp tool. This takes a part of the image and copies it elsewhere on the image. This does rely on there being an undamaged part of the image, but it's easy to use. The Clone Stamp tool is the eighth icon down on the left of the Tools toolbar. Find an area that you want to use to cover the damaged one, hold down the Ctrl key and click the left mouse button. Now release the Ctrl key, move the cursor over the blemish and draw by holding down the left mouse button and moving the mouse. The tool essentially copies the area around the original selection. Release the button and then click again to start from the first selection.

Windows Vista comes with several animated screens avers that have a more modern look than those that have been in Windows XP. Aurora simulates the Northern Lights, while Ribbons shows multicoloured ribbons across a black background.
Bubbles blows bubbles over whatever is on the screen - a more subtle effect, but attractive nonetheless. Finally Windows Energy is based around the logon screen graphics.