Add-O-Matic

The world's first and only add-on installer for Windows versions of Photoshop Elements, and now Lightroom too! Quickly and easily get all your extra goodies into Elements with a drag, a drop and GO!

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Handy Actions

Your Swiss Army Knife for Photoshop Elements - over 70 of the most-requested tools from Photoshop

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Photo Lab

Photo Lab offers 39 ways to enhance your images, from crisp B&W to soft dreamy effects to desaturated and sepia toning. Check it out!

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Fun Foto FX

Over 30 ways to play - Fun Foto FX creates the best effects for your images!

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Glam Photo

56 effects (yes, 56!) are in this self-installing effects pack. With the Glam Photo FX Pack, you can create a huge variety of glamourous looks for your photos (and they work well on landscapes, too!)

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Splitter

16 ways to slice, dice & chop your photos, from simple splits to more complex chops and slices to torn in half or split three ways. Splitter helps you create interesting display options for you photos!

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Framer

Framer offers 24 ways to create frames, borders, outlines and vignettes around your photos

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Sketchy Paint

Graffi's Sketchy Paint offers 28 paint, crayon, pencil, sketch & watercolor effects for Photoshop Elements!

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@Graficalicus:

Check out this awesome photo from 500px: http://500px.com/photo/35278140


shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

Shared message via UberSocial

@Graficalicus:

Another, from 500px: http://500px.com/photo/35278144


shared via UberSocial http://ubersocial.com

Shared message via UberSocial

@Graficalicus:

More Hipster [vintage] sweetness http://500px.com/photo/35278146

Hipster

image

Released Today: Topaz Clarity Advanced Contrast Adjustment

Topaz’s new tool Clarity is designed to help you create compelling and powerful images by intelligently enhancing contrast and clarity without artifacts or halos. It can manipulate your micro, mid-tone and overall contrast while maintaining the “natural feeling” that is best to keep. Discounted 40% off until the end of the month for the launch sale, simply remember to use the voucher code CLARITYNEW at checkout. Now available here: Topaz Clarity

topaz clarity

New: Topaz Clarity (Click to Learn More)

Features introduced in Topaz Clarity:

  1. Selective Contrast Control. With Clarity, we have developed a cutting-edge process of selecting specific contrast variations in your original image, allowing you to quickly target and then increase or decrease the contrast and clarity in that specific variation.
  2. Breakthrough Halo-Free Algorithm. Boost contrast and clarity without emphasizing transitions between light and dark areas, eliminating the common problem of halos, noise and artifacts.
  3. Advanced Hue/Saturation/Luminance Technology. Using IntelliColor technology, you can easily enhance your image with the HSL filter, getting stronger, yet more natural HSL adjustments.
  4. Re-Imagined Masking Workflow. The masking module, now attached to each adjustment tab contains a comprehensive set of tools including an edge-aware brush, gradient mask, smart feather tool, color aware tool and more.
  5. User Interface Design. With Clarity, we have continued to develop a cleaner, more modern and efficient interface to improve usability, workflow and overall aesthetics.

If you’re interested, the launch sale can be found here: Topaz Lab’s New Clarity Tool

Go to full article: Released Today: Topaz Clarity Advanced Contrast Adjustment

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Article from: PictureCorrect Photography Tips

6 Secret Photography Lighting Techniques For Capturing A Good Photo

Everyone loves to take pictures. With the easy availability of cheap DSLR cameras on the market and the advent of affordable photography gadgets, who wouldn’t right? If you are one of those who loves photography, then you probably are already aware of one or two techniques to make your pictures look awesome! But if you’re looking to further improve your…    Continue Reading

The post 6 Secret Photography Lighting Techniques For Capturing A Good Photo appeared first on Photodoto.

free parking

free parking by graficalicus
free parking, a photo by graficalicus on Flickr.


GraffiLR-4

GraffiLR-4 by graficalicus
GraffiLR-4, a photo by graficalicus on Flickr.

Gearing up for the release of the Hipster [Vintage I] effects set for Photoshop and Elements!

5 Tips for Better Sunset Photography

Let’s wrap up our discussion of sunset photography with some tips that don’t warrant their own articles but are still valuable additions to your shooting arsenal.

"Winter Sunset" captured by Jack McCallum. (Click image to see more from Jack McCallum.)

“Winter Sunset” captured by Jack McCallum. (Click image to see more from Jack McCallum.)

Tip #1: Be Prepared

Sunset times vary. The time is dependent on where you live, the time of year, and so on.

The good news is there’s an app for that! And it is free. Download a good sunset times app so you can plan and be prepared.

You should shoot EVERY sunset you can–at least until you have mastered all of the techniques we’ve been covering.

Tip #2: Keep Your Camera Level

We covered getting a level horizon in a previous article, but nowhere is it more important than in sunset photography. Use the leveling bubble on your camera or tripod to be sure. If you don’t have a level, go to the local hardware store and get one. They are only a couple bucks and are well worth the cost.

Tip #3: Compose Carefully

On the topic of horizons, make sure you don’t have the horizon line at the level of your subject’s neck (or their head). Cutting off a person’s head is never a good idea. Place the horizon either lower or higher.

Ideally you do not want the horizon to intersect your model at all. If that is not feasible, have it crossing at the stomach or legs.

It is slightly off the topic of sunset photography horizons, but on the subject of background elements cutting into your models, watch out for tree branches sticking out of their heads, too.

The sunset icon on your camera is nothing more than an automatic setting. Your camera will try to guess at what the best shutter speed and aperture combination should be.

We’ve previously talked about automatic settings–remember, your camera is a machine! It is NOT AT ALL CREATIVE! It will not EVER be a replacement for your creativity!

Stay away from the sunset icon. Learn to shoot your sunsets on manual. That’s where the contest winners will come from!

"Sugarloaf" captured by James T. Workman II. (Click image to see more from James T. Workman II.)

“Sugarloaf” captured by James T. Workman II. (Click image to see more from James T. Workman II.)

Tip #4: Use Manual Mode

Tip #5: Choose the Right Lens

If you want a large sun in your sunset photography, use a telephoto lens. If you want a smaller one, use a wide angle lens. Be extremely cautious when looking at the sun through your camera lenses. Lenses can magnify the light’s intensity and cause damage to your eyes!

Get yourself a free photo app so you can plan your sunset photos and get out there! Reading photo tips is all well and good, but you don’t learn just by reading. You have to actually get out there and shoot some sunsets. Or landscapes or portraits or whatever. It’s not hard. Try using these photo tips and you will quickly master sunset photography!

About the Author:
Dan Eitreim writes for ontargetphototraining.com. He has been a professional photographer in Southern California for over 20 years. His philosophy is that learning photography is easy if you know a few tried and true strategies.

Top 15 Features of Your DSLR Camera That You Should Know

There’s a lot to learn when you first get a DSLR. The first things you need to know is how to get out of auto mode and start using your camera’s manual function. This tutorial will show you the 15 things you need to know when starting out:

The 15 Things You Should Know:

  1. Shooting Modes - Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode. Each has their own purpose.
  2. Depth-of-Field – This is a measure of how much of the scene is in focus and is most easily controlled by changing the aperture.
  3. ISO – This increases the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light, but also increases that amount of digital noise.
  4. Focus Modes – There’s fixed focus and servo focus, as well as a hybrid mode. Which is best to use depends on the movement of your subject.
  5. Focal Points – Selecting one or several focus points can help you fine-tune your focusing.
  6. Back Focus - Using the button on the back to focus can help you snap photos faster.
  7. Exposure Compensation – This is handy for tweaking the exposure values that the camera determines.
  8. Custom White Balance – If you want perfect white balance, customizing it is you best option.
  9. Highlight Control – Shows areas of the photo that have been blown out.
  10. Metering Modes – This controls how your camera determines the exposure.
  11. Live View Mode – This helps for previewing your exposure and fine-tuning your focus.
  12. Flash Control – Knowing when and how to control your flash is important when lighting your image.
  13. Image Stabilization – More importantly, when NOT to use this because it’s not always needed.
  14. The Beep – That beep when you focus for the most part is unnecessary.
  15. Customizable Menu -  For an easier time navigating your menus, you can make your own.
fifteen things you should know beginner

Depth-of-Field is a must know

For Further Training on Camera Settings:

There is a downloadable multimedia tutorial with videos that teaches you how to take control over your camera, and get creative and confident with your photography. By combining illustrations, text, photos and video, it will help you get control in no time. Includes a bonus Field Guide—a printable pocket guide with some of the most essential information beautifully laid out inside.

It can be found here: Extremely Essential Camera Skills