in

Ann The Gran Community

Beautiful people who make beautiful things.

The Computerist

April 2010 - Posts

  • Post That Project Proudly

     

    The following tips can be used for both Windows XP and Vista.
    Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support.

    If you ask me what I most enjoy about the AnnTheGran site, it would have to be the people on both sides of the computer who make up the community.  From the helpful support system and great items for sale to the Forum Users and bloggers who (she says modestly. . .) have clever things to share, the people on this site are really great!

    We all have something in common; we get pleasure from doing really beautiful things and truly enjoy sharing those projects with others.  However, one thing that I see happening on the site is that people are uncertain as to how to upload their photos.  So this blog is going to be a step-by-step discussion as to how to accomplish that.

    Some who might be potential project posters have been rejected because of issues with the photo before it even gets a chance to be posted.  This has caused some embroiderers to stop attempting to post.  If you cannot determine why it is being rejected, how can you fix it?

    It has been my experience that the most common reason that a photo does not ‘make it on line,' regardless of the site, is that it is too large for posting on the Internet.   The following program, which is FREE (naturally) is easy to use and requires very little hard drive space. 

    Check out:  www.johnsadventures.com .  You will want to download the Image Converter which is at:  http://johnsadventures.com/software/imageconverter/  .  The Image converter needs just a couple of things to be really effective.  Tell John that Pat71896 sent you!  Consider a small donation because this is a really great program.  Additionally, he has a Background Switcher for your Desktop too.  You will love that program too.

    After downloading Image Converter, place two files wherever you will be working on your photos.  I personally placed mine on the desktop.   I call them "Photos Before and Photos After," how clever is that?

    When my photo software has completed the upload from my camera, the next thing that I do is copy them to ‘photos before.'

     Image Conversion

     

    I utilize the software, and then set the new size to 432 by 324 pixels.  That gives you a photo that is 6" by 4.5" which is great for printing.

    Image Conversion

     

    You still have your original photos in their original size, and the ‘after.'  Notice the large difference in the KB/MB.

     

    This is what is meant by the size being too large, not the physical size of the photo.

    Now that my photo is ready, let's discuss how to get them uploaded.

    There are two places that you can upload photos, the Forums and the Galleries.   The functions are generally the same, but don't forget, you must be signed in as a member to do any upload.

    In the Forum, you can either ‘Reply' to someone's post, or ‘Write a New Post' yourself.  In either event, you will be in the writing section to upload your photo.  Incidentally, you can also upload a small video or utube file in the same place.

    Madeira, upload, photos 

    Now, select Insert Media.

     The Computerist

    The remainder of the information is the same for both the Forum and Galleries uploads.

    If your photo is already online, you can enter the URL here and Select Insert.  You would be done.  However, most of your photos are still on your pc.  Select Browse.

    Insert, Media,  

    Next, you will Select Upload File to get the photo from your pc.

     

    Select Content

    Retrieve your photo from your pc, and Select Upload File.

     upload file

     

    Select your file with a double click of your mouse and it will be placed in your posting.

    Select, Content, The Computerist  

    Your file is too large so, we will adjust it.

     The Computerist

    Click on the photo to reveal the ‘Handles' and select a corner with your mouse.  Drag it down to a smaller, but still easily seen, size. 

    The Computerist  

    The Computerist

    This is a photo from my The Avid Embroiderer, Jacobean Style which shows the details that Morango puts into its digitizing.  The detail was very important while keeping the photo a reasonable size. That is it!  Nothing more to do except make a statement about your beautiful project!

     

    For uploading to the Galleries, Select the Gallery you want, either Embroidery or Scrapbooking.

    The Computerist  

    Select a subcategory.

    The Computerist  

    And, after that, you will select the ‘Upload' icon.  Remember that you need to be ‘signed in' in order to see the ‘upload' icon.   

    The Computerist  

    Fill in a descriptive name, and then use the icon "Specify File/URL."  By uploading from your PC, the photo will be available in your post. 

    Occasionally, some of the subtitles may not work.   You can try another subtitle, perhaps "General" rather than "Projects." 

    The Computerist  

    It takes longer for you to read this information than it does to do it, so there is no excuse!  Get those photos of your best and worst projects.  We all learn from a well done and a disaster project.  Share your love for your craft.

    And, don't forget to check out the terrific sales here at AnnTheGran, shop where you learn! 

  • Nine of the Best Internet Sites - IMHO

     

    The following tips can be used for both Windows XP and Vista.
    Operating systems vary. If in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support.

    Here is my version of great Net information and money saving tips and tricks.  I love finding these, and get a lot of my links from highly trusted sources.  I hope you will find something in this group that you are really pleased with.  There are job opportunities and medical sites that you can really use.  I hope you like them!

    If there is one thing on the Internet that gets my goat (where did that saying come from??), it is the "Work at Home" jobs that are a lot of nonsense.  There actually are some that are not phony, but how do you find those?  Well, check this site out:  www.flexjobs.com is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Member. 

    FlexJobs specializes in telecommuting or online positions, advertising more than 2,000 positions.  There is a fee, $14.95 per month or $49.95 per year with a money back guarantee! 

    Google Voice is a service that enhances the existing capabilities of your phone. You can access your voicemail online, read automatic transcriptions of your voicemail, create personalized greetings based on who is calling, make cheap international calls, and more using this free service.

    There is so much to Google Voice that you just have to look at it to see it all.  Check it out at www.google.com/voice

    Google is working hard at becoming the biggest and best destination for all your needs on the Internet.  This is just one of the things they have!

    If you enjoy trying new products, this site may be just what you can benefit from. BZZAGENT creates a connection between consumers and brands to activate word of mouth across social and offline media. It allows for the producer of a product to get feedback, and possibly hidden benefits, from an unpaid, unscripted ethical user, you.

    Give www.bzzagent.com.  The idea is to be able to get items for you to try, establish yourself as an advocate and have a little fun along the way.

    Despite there being a zillion pages of information on the Net, I sometimes have a hard time finding exactly what I want.  Sometimes I get items that are of no interest to me.  For instance, I was trying to find "Paisley" (like the design).  This is what I got from my old standby, Google:

    • 1. the design and related information
    • 2. Internal Audit, Risk Management, Compliance and GRC Software (I have no idea what that meant!!)
    • 3. BRAD PAISLEY New Single "Water" Available Now.

    If you have not tried www.bing.com  it is time to do so.  WOW, Brad Paisley did not come up until #7 and that Audit was nowhere to be found.  It really is cleaner and more usable than the others. 

    If you enjoy beautiful photos, you can make Bing your home page and every day you will see a different picture with interesting tidbits, just like this one:

    Bing in beautiful full color

    The search results in your information and when you select the arrow to the right, it gives you the first few lines of your selection.

    The Avid Embroiderer Bing Selection

    And last, and certainly not least, another of the many features of Bing is that you can 'earn' money with the "Cash Back" Program.  I don't buy a lot on the Net, but when I do, I will be watching for opportunities to 'cash back.'

    Do you have CDs, DVDs and Games that you no longer want?  (Who doesn't?) These are movies, games and programs that you or your kids could not wait to get your hands on (remember?).  Well, they may have lost their luster to you, but someone else wants to get their hands on them. 

    Simply go to www.spun.com/sell.jsp where you will find the opportunity to sell your programs.  Some of the titles are worth $8.00 and up.  Regardless of the earnings, you are not taking that disk into the landfill, and there is benefit in that too.  Check it out, and see if you have titles that still have value.  (I get 10%!!! LOL)

    When I found this site, I knew that I had found a treasure trove of money saving data like none other on the Net.  From the ‘Dollar Store' to ‘Savings Experiment:  How to Unclutter a Closet for Under $50' you are going to find ideas that you just may never have thought about.   (I love the selection of "10 Things *** won't tell you.")  That list includes drug companies, auto insurance companies and hospitals" to mention just a few.

    Check out www.walletpop.com and reap the benefits of the preeminent sources of trusted information.  Walletpop does not write it, it selects the best of the best.  There is just about anything you can think of and it is at your fingertips.

    It seems like all of us have an interest in saving money with our medical expenses.  I am someone who needs to save every dime.  This web site can find your prescription at the least expensive price.

    Type the URL www.medtipster.com, and include your zip code.  You will get a list of nearby pharmacies that carry generic versions of your drug and show it shows the price as well.

    If you are having symptoms that are puzzling you, you will find this next site to be quite helpful for you.  Enter your symptoms and you will get a list of probable causes and treatments.  There is no substitute for good medical treatment, but if your wrist feels a little sore, or you have a mild fever, you might want to check: www.symptoms.webMD.com/symptomchecker.

    Naturally, you will want to check with your medical provider if your symptoms warrant more.  I would never fix my own broken arm, but I am always interested in saving money when possible.

    It seems like finding things for kids to do can be a real challenge.  You may have an extensive library of CDs, DVDs and Videos, but those certainly get old after all while.  Keeping children interested in new things is one way that they learn.  Many of the videos or CDs are not just entertainment, and they are informative on various things.

    I think that children enjoy videos and books over and over again because they are very comfortable with that which is familiar to them.  When it is time to expand their horizons, you can find something for them at this site.

    Free and parent approved for kids at http://www.totlol.com/.  No surprises at this site.

    BONUS TIP:  With vacations just around the corner, don't forget about my blog on finding the best Airline seat available.  Getting a cheaper flight and comfortable seat requires early reservations.

    HAPPY EARTH DAY TO ALL!  Remember - -  Save Mother Earth, it is the only planet with chocolate!

  • Two Great Freebies

    The following tips can be used for both Windows XP and Vista.
    Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support.

    I hope by now everyone has read my blog on Rogue Software.   Protecting yourself and your family on the computer is really important.  No one wants to lose data or have other things go wrong, so do know the warning signs I have outlined in that blog.

    I have given a number of links where you can find usable items; I use them myself, for three to six months, before making a recommendation.  Please be assured that those are taken from VERY reliable sources such as the Microsoft site, MajorGeeks and PC World among others.  I believe these have been on the Net for a sufficiently long time that they have too much to lose by being taken in by rogue software.  They are trustworthy.

    About a year ago my old PC went to PC heaven.  A year before it departed this life, I worked with a technician at a place that has changed names again, and I have lost touch with them.  That is really sad for me because they were reasonable and reliable.  However, as the tech worked, I was watching him spend over 2 hours in a session in which they were (by my agreement) logged on to my PC.  Since they were not in Southern California, that just makes sense.

    One thing that I did was watch them as they worked.  It was a lot like watching paint dry, but I saw something that was worth its weight in gold to me.  I saw that they used software called "Glary Utilities."  After they completed repairing my PC, I went to the Internet to see what Glary Utilities was all about. 

    To my delight, it was a FREE utility that does multiple actions.  Those include a Registration Check, Shortcut Links Review, Defrag and so many other things.  I encourage you to download this excellent utility and see what I am speaking about.  I have used it for a little over 2 years, and it keeps my PC running faster and I feel, more reliably. 

     

    If you check the Modules tab, you will find the individual items for you to use them singularly rather than the "1-Click Maintenance" shown above.

     

     

    You will want to try the System Tools for the various things that may be helpful for you.

     

     

     

    If you love what they do with those "mosaic" photos - the ones where you see multiple photos to create a single design, you are going to love AndreaMosaics!

    This process is dependent upon multiple  factors.  However, don't be daunted by the information on the opening project page:

     

     

    Your input is guided by this information, and if you look at the individual options, you will see that there is some logic for you to follow.  I am not going to go into the individual selections, you will want to play with the program to get whatever results you may want.

    If you don't have a lot of photos of your own on your computer, you can even use photos from the Internet (watch for copyrights) and create something really fun and interesting.

    These are two of the completed photos.  Each has been done with 2,000 photos and of course, tweaked to be interesting.

     

     

     

    Try this FREE software.  Again, I get my information from reliable sources and use the programs for a time so that you need not fear having problems with them. 

     

    Bonus Information:

    I recently was reading from one of my sources that there was a study done at Wisconsin University on saving printing dollars for the computer usage.   Students were printing a very large number of pages, and the budget needed some relief.  

    The University switched from the Ariel Font to Century Gothic and found that they had a 30% savings after just 6 months.  

    If you find that your toner or Inkjet types of printing supplies are getting too expensive, try what they did - switch from the Ariel to the Century Gothic.  The font is is clear and crisp.  That is great for those of us who want to save money, and have a font that is easy to read.

    Give that one a try.  It won't take but a moment to change your default.  Money is still worth saving, at least it was last week. . . . .   Wink

About AnnTheGran -  Contact -  Site map -  Privacy Policy -  Security -  Gifts -  Shipping/Returns -  Links -  FAQ -  Thread Charts -  Print
©2005 - 2013 AnnTheGran and its contributors.