A while back I made a new blog header with Picasa. Yep, it’s that one right above this post. I have a copy of Photoshop and have tried numerous times to figure out how to do something simple, only to give up. Photoshop is just too flipping powerful for the likes of me. I downloaded a free copy of Picasa not thinking that a freebie program would be worth much, but I was wrong! I’m having so much fun messing with my photos that I’m not missing the frustration of Photoshop one bit.
I was inspired by Amy at My 3 Monsters when she did a guest post at Under the Table and Dreaming. Amy showed how she made some super cool wall art using the Flicker photostream of Leo Reynolds. Amy used Gimp to create hers, but since I’m not familiar with that program I thought I’d give Picasa a try instead.
To make my own version of Amy’s wall art. I followed these simple steps. I downloaded the letters I wanted from Leo Reynolds's Flicker photostream. Once in Picasa, I cropped them to all the same size. Then using Picasa’s collage tool, I chose the page format to be a custom 20” x 30” size because I plan on having it printed out poster size. Then I selected the “grid” setting which automatically arranges the photos into regular rows and columns. Once they’re all lined up, it was easy to arrange the letters to my liking.
I can’t decide if I like the horizontal version.
Or maybe the vertical one.
You can even add cool effects like this Sepia tone.
I’m definitely getting my money’s worth out of my free version of Picasa! Bye-bye Photoshop!
What tool do you use to edit photos?
Linking up to some of my favorite blogs!
August 13, 2010
Picasa is my New BFF
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Love this Carolyn...I think this is one of my all time favorites thanks to Amy! Yours look wonderful. Picasa is my friend too. Hope you have a fabulous weekend - Thanks so much for including the link - I really appreciate it. ~ Stephanie Lynn
ReplyDeletethank you, thank you, thank you!! i saw that post too, but cannot figure out my photo shop either. i will definately have to check out picasa
ReplyDeleteThese look great! I like the vertical version.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite software for collages is Photoscape. It is free, too. (and has straightforward photo editing options)
Looks fantastic! I will have to check Picasa out - I use Picnik and Gimp - but it is always good to add another free tool into the mix!
ReplyDeleteI love Picasa. I've been chided by my daughter, to get Photoshop, but keep resisting. I don't want to invest the time to learn it. There's tons of book to help you, but that's another time absorber.
ReplyDeleteVery fabulous! Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteLove Picasa...just created a collage myself!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn, I'm Brian from the Picasa team. Thank you for your kind words, I'm really happy you find Picasa so useful! If you like making collages, you should check out our recent addition to the Google Photos family at http://www.picnik.com/. Picnik adds even more photo editing awesomeness to Picasa Web Albums, and I think you'll get a kick out of the stickers and effects. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn! Omigosh, this week I posted my 'photgraphy art' - which used Leo Reynolds' photo collection. The only thing was, I couldn't remember where or whom I was inspired by! After I read your post, I realized that it was the same post that inspired you - Amy at My 3 Monsters and her guest post at Under the Table and Dreaming!
ReplyDeleteThanks - I always want to give credit where credit is due. :) I love your art as well...so funky and personal. :)
I am a photoshop girl, but also have a design degree so I was taught how to use it. However, over the years I have become a little rusty. I had NO idea picasa could do any of those things! I thought it was just a photo hosting site! Soooo good to know there is another (easy to use) program out there!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
Very cool. I may have to check out Picasa.
ReplyDeleteI am a Picasa lover! But.. wow this is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the tips!!
Oh, I love Picasa too! Well worth the money (hee hee). I'm actually driving my hubby nuts because I spend hours on there playing with the different features and then insisting he look at my artistic projects.
ReplyDelete