Module 16 - Tricks and Tips

Getting even more from Facebook

Facebook Social Plugins

• Like buttons
• Like box

E-Petitions

• iPetitions - Create your own petition
• Gopetition.co.uk - Create your own petition now

• 38 Degrees - Suggest a campaign
• Avaaz - Join and get a weekly poll about priorities

Edit Photos

Photo editing can be a very complex art but it can also be a quick and easy if the task is simple. You don't have to be a Photoshop whiz to edit digital photos. Here are a few tools:

• Paint (default on Windows) 

1. Open Paint on Windows by going to "Start > All Applications > Accessories > Paint"
2. Then open the image you want to edit File > Open > click on image and open
3. Choose the select tool (square with dotted line) 
4. Click and select the area you want to keep
5. Click on the top tool bar "Image > Crop"
6. Click "File > Save as > Save as" a title and jpeg

More tips for using Paint:

-Tips & Tricks for using MS Paint

-Drawing tips for Windows Paint

• Picasa- free software from Google

1. Download Picasa and install on your computer
2. Open Picasa and find the photo you want to edit by double clicking on it
3. Here you have the options of 'Basic Fixes', 'Tuning', or 'Effects'
4. Select the 'Crop'
5. Then select the area of the photo you want to keep
6. You can click 'Preview' or 'Apply'
7. Go to "File > Export Picture to Folder"
8. Select the details you want (image quality, file name)
9. You can also add a watermark such as 'Copyright MRCF 2010'
10. Click on 'Export' but remember the location that you export to so you can find it!

Custom Banner

1. Find out the width of your blog

1. Go to your blog > Design > Click the 'Edit' button of the banner widget
2. In the window 'Configure Header' click on the Image > From my computer
3. Look at the very bottom of the page and it will say something similar to: 'Image will be shrunk to 840 pixels wide.'
4. Write down the number of pixels (Usually between 800-1000)

2. Create an image (jpeg) for your header 

1. Go to your favourite photo editor (either Paint or Picasa)
2. Open a picture or a new image and set the size to the width of your blog (840 x 250)
3. Edit the picture and add text
4. Export your picture (File > Export Picture to Folder > Select Image size and Resize to 840 > Export) 

3. Upload image to blogger

1. Go to your blog > Design > Click the 'Edit' button of the banner widget
2. In the window 'Configure Header' click on the Image > From my computer > Select the image from your harddrive'
3. Wait for it to upload
4. Select 'Instead of title and description
5. Click Save

4. Adjust as needed- You may need to adjust by going back and forth between the photo editor and Blogger. It took me at least 10 times to get it to look even remotely right.

Photo Slideshow

There are several free photo sharing sites that allow you to upload photos and share them with the world or keep them private. Some of the best are:

• Flickr - The most professional and widely used site for photos. It is especially used by photographers who want their photos to be discovered and by artists who use Creative Commons.

1. Upload photos - you have the option of choosing 'Private' or 'Public'

2. Create a set

3. Click on 'Slideshow' in upper right corner

4. Then click in the right hand corner 'Share'

5. Then copy the embed HTML

6. Go to Blogger post, click on the HTML tab (not the Compose tab) and paste in the HTML

• Picasa Web Albums - This service is very easy to use and is integrated with all of the Google products including your Blogger account. You actually already use Picasa because all photos uploaded to your blog are stored in an album on Picasa.

Copyright

There are two things to consider on copyright. First is that because of the nature of digital technologies you cannot *guarantee* that any photo is completely protected. Do not upload any pictures that you would not want others to see. Second is that you are uploading pictures to improve your reputation as an organisation and to share experiences with others. The more private your settings, the less benefit you will get from using these tools. 

You and your organisations should decide together on a photo and video policy. You may decide that you have to have written consent from every individual in your photos. Others may decide that as an informal organisation you can be more relaxed but discuss it with your members.

Finally, remember that while the work of our organisations is important it probably will not be all over BBC tomorrow if you make a mistake or post the wrong photo. Your content will provide you with another free resource that your organisation can benefit from. You are most likely not the target of someone trying to steal your photos, posters, or videos.

Creative Commons - This is an international system of a range of different copyrights that allow you to use, edit, or repost in other spaces. Search and protect your images on it as well.