Using Picasa for EASY editing

I dabble in photography – far from a professional, but I’ve always enjoyed it! I love capturing “those moment” in life – I also love framing those pictures and excessively displaying them all over my house! My shelves, walls and tables have been completely picturefied  (my own word). A couple years ago I braved up and bought Adobe Photoshop, which I had worked with in college but never mastered. I wanted to become a photo editing master!!! Well I tried to reteach myself – hours spent in front of “How to use Photoshop” videos.  I learned the basics (again) but very quickly I learned that all the layering and advanced editing options were wasted on me because all I wanted to do was make MY photos pop! I wanted a little more color or a little more depth, maybe a little glow or a black and white option. I was picky enough to be unimpressed with the In-Store editing options when I went to print my photos, but not determined enough to be a Photoshop expert. Here is where Picasa came in… Though I’m sure most of you are familiar with this FREE software it organizes and edits digital photos. It is pretty straight forward and does that little bit of editing that really made me happy with my shots.

First: Download the program at www.picasa.com (duh).

Once the program is downloaded it should automatically upload all of your photos into the program (if it doesn’t you can just import your photos by going to Import from option under your File tab, from there you can navigate to where your photos are stored.  

Now that your photos are in the program you can edit them as you wish. Double click on the photo you want to edit and it will take you to the editing options. I generally avoid the Auto Correct options and a lot of the Effects because they can off-balance the natural color in your photo and make your picture look corny.
Take full advantage of the Crop option as well as the Red Eye option. If you do want to use an Effect I would say Warmify, Saturate, B&W, Sepia and Tint are the best ones to use.  

Tint especially can either make a photo have the dramatic B&W effect and it can also leave a bit of color that gives the photo a real vintage look.

Slight color using Tint
Francis 4 months old

B&W using Tint
Francis' feet 3 months old 

I however, usually stick to the Tuning option.
Adjusting the Shadow in your photo (as long as it isn’t already too dark) will add the dimension you might be looking for-

Shadow and Focal B&W Effect
AnnaLee with a Ladybug

Shadow option combined with Highlights can give your picture a dramatic flair-

B&W with Shadow / Highlight
16 months- Disneyland Day

Tint with Shadow / Highlight
Francis 5 months

Adjusting the Color Tuning will often warm up your photo to make it glow –

Color Tuning and Shadow
Matt - Fall 2011

Color Tuning
18 months - Disneyland 

I would suggest that you work enhance the best features of your photo.

If it has vivid colors add a little Shadow for dimension and mess with the Saturation effect.

Saturated with Shadow
Fall '11

Tint B&W with Shadow
Francis and his pal Parker - sharing 

B&W with Shadow
Cousins 2010

If the picture seems to tell a story - B&W will simplify the photo so the viewer can focus more on the subject.

If the picture seems fairytaleish Glow it, if it seems cozy Warmify it, if it seems old fashion use Sepia.

Warmified with Glow
Thanksgiving 2010

Sepia with Highlights and Shadow
Beach Day - 16 months

Side Note: Always apply your Effects before you Tune your photo.

Ex//: Saturate before using the Shadow Tuning.

Don’t stick with the same editing formula for each photo because each photo is different.

Once you have edited to your heart’s content Select the photos you want to export (whether you put them in their own File or simply hold down the ctrl key and click on each one), go to File, then Export photos to folder. Select your folder and they will upload. You are ready to burn a copy of the pictures or directly upload them to a site that prints.

These Picasa Photo Editing tips come from a Non-Expert… But Picasa has allowed me to transform my basic photos into pictures I love. Try it!