GeekSugar

Ask a Geek Girl: Which Is the Best Free Online Photo Editor?

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:05:25 PDT

We all want to have perfectly cropped and edited photos to post to our Flickr accounts, but how can you do that if you are working without some reliable software? Take it online that's how. We received this question from TeamSugar member bluespirit who wanted to know more about free photo editing software:

"I've wanted a free photo editing program for awhile now but can't afford something like Photoshop. A simple Google search turned up quite a few results, but which is the best free photo editing program out there?"

Good news for you, my photo-loving friend, because I have posted a ton of suggestions for amazing (and free!) online photo-editing sites here already. But to see my suggestion for you, and to find out which site is my current obsession, just

read more. Since you mentioned you'd love to get your hands on Photoshop, but can't afford the price tag, you should check out Photoshop Express. It contains most of the tools you'll find in the full-scale version, but it's online and free! That's right, free. The photo-editing site that's rocking my boat right now is Flauntr. Flauntr lets you edit like you're in Photoshop or iPhoto, plus it helps get your photos out of your computer and into the hands of friends and family all in one stop. What is your favorite free online photo-editing site? Share with the group in the comments!

Website of the Day: Mypictr

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:50 PDT

So now that you've secured your perfect Facebook URL, and are all over the Twitterverse, you're going to want a selection of profile pics to swap in and out on a regular basis. I mean, you don't want your adoring fans and followers to get bored, right? So if you just want to crop a new and cool photo on the quick, without having to open up Photoshop or iPhoto, just use Mypictr.

Mypictr allows you to upload a photo from your computer and quickly crop to either highlight your face, or just edit out the rif-raff in the background. It's easy to use and quickly gets the job done.

Have a cool website that you want to share? Learn how to submit it to our Website of the Day group when you

read more.
I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I’m done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Use Pixer.us to Crop, Resize, and Enhance Photos

GeekSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:00:46 PDT

Regardless of whether I'm away from my computer or not, I sometimes get lazy and like to use online photo editing sites for quick photo edits, rather than going into Photoshop, and so on. I've already told you about some of my top picks for free photo editing sites, but I've got another one to add to the list - Pixer.us - which offers more than just the basics (effects, brightness, resizing). It's no fuss editing online, and you don't even have to sign up for an account to get started.

To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group,

read more.
I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I'm done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

10 Free Online Photo Editing Websites

GeekSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:00:57 PDT

I remember when online photo editing sites were practically nonexistent, and you had to drop a load of cash to buy into software like Photoshop. That situation is a thing of the past thanks to free online photo editing websites that can turn your snapshots from drab to fab in just a few clicks. Here, 10 online photo editing sites that are totally free.

Download of the Day: Picnik Firefox Extension

GeekSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:45:24 PST

Remember when I talked about Picnik? The free online photo-editing program that lets you crop, resize, and add cool effects to your photos without having to download a thing?!

Well, lifehacker has just announced that there is now a Firefox extension download of Picnik that will let you edit any website image by right-clicking your mouse. No Photoshop, iPhoto, or other application required.

Great for those who are always taking screenshots or needing to do some quick online editing of pics!

6 Strategies to Save More This Year

Kiplinger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:27:21 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Saving doesn't come easily for us young adults. Entry-level salaries don't give you a lot to work with. And, well, we also tend to spend what we make - and then some - on the latest gadgets and flashiest fashions.

But don’t worry. We’re not doomed to frivolity and the wreckage it can make of our finances. Here's how you can start saving smart throughout 2012:

Periodically calculate how much you spend. What better time to review your budget than at the start of a New Year? “It’s really hard to [track your spending] each month, so aim for just once or twice a year,” says Jill Boynton, a certified financial planner in Newington, New Hampshire.

Just be sure when you do it that you track everything. Boynton recommends filling out a spreadsheet with a month’s worth of spending. Or you can try an online budgeting tool such as Mint.com (See our slide show: Which Budgeting Site is Best for You?). But note: Mint works best for those who deal mostly in plastic as opposed to cash. When you make an ATM withdrawal, the site labels the transaction as “Cash & ATM.” Unless you diligently manage your cash transactions (you can manually edit Mint’s labels), you can easily lose track of where the money goes.

The drudgery of tracking spending can pay off when you find surprising expenses you could easily cut. At the end of 2011, I crunched my own numbers and found that I shelled out about $200 a month at Starbucks and other restaurants. I’m sure I could cut that by at least half. That’s like finding a $100 bill every month in my back pocket.

Read on for more strategies.

This February, David Stark and Nina Freudenberger Transform Haus Interior Into WOOD SHOP

Elka Karl — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:11:46 PST

I love a great conceptual pop-up shop, and David Stark and interior designer Nina Freudenberger are collaborating on a really fun one for February with WOOD SHOP. From Feb. 3-27, Stark will transform Freudenberger's Haus Interior in New York City into a concept shop, WOOD SHOP. Featuring a limited-edition David Stark Design product line, everything at WOOD SHOP will also be available online through the Haus Interior website. Including everything from cards to home decor to adorable Valentine's Day gifts, you can find something within your budget, with prices ranging from $5 to $500.

I recently interviewed both David and Nina about the collaboration. Keep reading for a look at the pop-up shop's goods and to hear what each has to say about WOOD SHOP.

Best Apps and Tools For Serious Photographers

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:21:19 PST

Serious photography requires a serious camera, but that doesn't mean you have to be chained to a laptop or desktop to process them. Paul Pierson, app designer and photo nerd, tossed his laptop aside for six months in order to find out if the iPad and iOS apps could handle a professional photo work flow. He found that the iPad is actually quicker and more efficient in processing photos than the traditional setup of a computer and Photoshop software, not to mention a lot less expensive.

At this year's Macworld, Paul shared some of his favorite tools and apps to help you create a love match between your DSLR and iPad. First tip? Get a Card Reader from Photojojo ($30) so you can get those beautiful images captured on your DSLR to your iPad and, thus, your camera apps. Duh. Also you'll probably want an iPad with lots of storage - 64GB ($700), please.

Load up your iPad with the apps below for professional photographers, and experiment with more than one to create stunning images with less equipment.

Sunseeker ($5) - Helps you find where the sun is, or it will be, with the help of augmented reality. Great for landscape photos.

ioShutter ($70, coming Feb. 12) - Turns your iPhone into an intervalometer. This tool plugs into your iPhone and SLR, allowing you to fire your SLR again and again with the app and help you create beautiful time-lapse sequences.

Ollo Clip ($70) - This clip-on lens gives your iPhone or iPad an advantage with three different lenses built right in - fish-eye, wide angle, and macro.

ACDSee Camera Flash ($1) - Brings out details in underexposed images.

Snapseed ($5) - Won Apple's App of the Year because of its variety of filters, edit tools, and selective adjust tools like edge detection that applies changes to objects within the perimeter.

Ready for more? See the rest of the list after the break.

Jonathan Adler Transforms Taboo Topics Into Groovy Style Statements

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:16:48 PST

Interior designer, potter, and color-enthusiast Jonathan Adler takes happy chic to uncharted territory this month with the launch of his new toilet paper roll covers for Cottonelle's Spring collection. The three limited-edition roll cover designs are available online, and at just $2 per cover, practically everyone can afford to stash their spare rolls in Adler's signature style.

We caught up with Adler to chat about his Cottonelle collaboration and so much more! Keep reading to get the skinny on his bathroom must haves, bucket-list mantra, squeaky-clean lifestyle, and why he'll never use the male form in his designs.

Meet the Mind Behind the Going-Viral "Fotoshop" Video

Annie Tomlin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:27:30 PST

At first glance, the above video seems like any other beauty commercial: beautiful women, a flashy soundtrack, and promises of perfection. Keep watching, though, and you'll find that the key "product" is Fotoshop by Adobé. Filmmaker Jesse Rosten created the faux commercial as commentary on the prevalence of Photoshop, and we're betting his video will reach a million views by the week's end. We caught up with him to find out why he created the spot, what he hopes people will take away from it, and whether he's a Photoshop user himself.

BellaSugar: The idea for Fotoshop came to you while watching an infomercial with before-and-after pictures that looked identical, just Photoshopped. What moved you from watching the commercial to do a project about the subject?
Jesse Rosten: I suppose I just like to make things. They say when you have a song stuck in your head the remedy is to listen to the actual song. It's like that with me and ideas. If I get an idea that I'm passionate about, I tend to obsess over them. The only cure is to go produce the idea. The beauty of modern filmmaking tools and internet distribution is that one doesn't need permission anymore to go make something. This required a lot of work, but was relatively inexpensive to put together. Plus, it was a lot of fun!

BS: I have to confess - I actually expected you to be a woman when I saw the video, but I'm glad to see a man tackle the issue. Why do you think men should care if women have their wrinkles airbrushed away?
JR: I thought it would be funny to have a men's version of the product, putting one's head on a herculean body, etc. But I opted to keep it simple and focused on women since they suffer the most with societal expectations of beauty. This is a complex issue and I don't pretend to have the answer, but as the incidents of eating disorders and anorexia among American women continue to rise, I think it's important to keep the discussion alive.

Read the full Q&A.