How Do I Do My Screen Captures?

 

 

Capture. Edit. Share.

I’m a big fan of Techsmith’s Screen Capture software. Camtasia is a POWERFUL video screen capture and editing tool. Perfect for teachers, but also really useful for any videos in which one needs effects, objects, animations and more. With a simple user interface and super-powerful tools.

But, when I need to capture either a still or video on my screen, I use Snagit! That’s right – it captures still images, full screen, part screen, menus, anything you want. It also captures video of your actions (with or without your audio and/or webcam). It has a simpler editor than Camtasia, and it’s quick, easy, and powerful enough for me to make quick demo videos and go further.

Also, both of these programs will allow you to edit video and still images captured from your phone or camera (not camera raw).

Take a look at Snagit! It’s $49 for regular users, and only $29 for educators!

Let me know what you think, in the comments!

 

SnagIT 2020 Released!

 

 

 

Snagit 2020 – Quick, Powerful Screen-Capture, Capture Editing Software

Have you guys ever wondered what software I use to create my quick captures of my screen? The shorter ones, that include arrows, pointers, that capture still images and video of my screen, that allows me to quickly point out what’s important in my capture, and allows me to share it quickly to my YouTube channel, or to the Adobe Community pages?

Well, that software is Techsmith’s Snagit. And the 2020 version has been released!

Snagit is more than just a screenshot tool. It enables better visual content, by providing quick tools and screenshot/capture editing power. Customize and edit every screenshot or video (or convert videos to animated GIF’s) with ease, power and performance.

To check out the power of Snagit, visit here!

Here’s what’s new in Snagit 2020:

  • Snagit 2020 introduces two new creation tools and enterprise outputs to Slack and Box – With over 15 sharing outputs Snagit makes it even easier to share content at work
  • Create from templates: Use pre-made layouts to create visual documentation, tutorials, and training materials.
  • Create video from images: Talk and draw over a series of screenshots to create a quick “how-to” video or GIF
  • TechSmith Assets for Snagit: Create even better-looking instructional content with an annual subscription to TechSmith Assets for Snagit. A paid subscription gets you access to thousands of stamps, photos, and templates.

Get ALL of that functionality for $49.95 USD

Snagit is one app I can’t do without. I hope you find it just as helpful as I do!

The new On1 Photo RAW 2020 is Released, and it’s AWESOME!

ON1 Photo RAW 2020

On1 Photo RAW 2020 is OUT!

I’ve been speaking so highly of On1 Photo RAW for so long, I’ll bet you know all the previous features by heart! If you don’t, I recommend you check out their site for the wealth of information on just how this can be the MOST powerful image editing program you can use. Yes – I said it! As far as image editing, this program is in SO MANY ways more intuitive and simpler to use than Photoshop (and you KNOW I LOVE PHOTOSHOP!), and since it has so many “automatic” features that you can tweak, I feel that in many ways this give the user greater power to perfect their images in a more efficient manner. AND, the license is a LICENSE, NOT A SUBSCRIPTION!

With Photo RAW 2020, you’ll encounter SO many new, exciting AI-based features, even avid Photoshoppers will find themselves opening On1, just to plain ‘ol get things done.

Here’s some of what’s new in this version:

  • New AI Match — Match how your raw photos look to what you saw on the back of the camera. This automatically detects when you shoot in black and white or custom film looks in your camera.
  • New AI Auto Tone — The new algorithm does a much better job on all types of photos, also controls the amount of auto-tone you want. By analyzing thousands of photos, the algorithm has learned how to do an even better job, especially on tough images.
  • New Speed & Performance Updates — Opening raw files in Edit is up to two times faster, and brushing is smoother, even on integrated graphics cards.
  • Enhanced Raw Processing for Fujifilm – The decoding of Fujifilm X-Trans raw files has been improved to reduce scalloping and other artifacts.
  • New Hottest and Trending Presets — Over 100 new looks and styles curated from today’s hottest photographic trends. We also added tons of new skies, backgrounds, and textures for your masking pleasure.
  • New SmugMug Integration — Select photos and videos, then publish them to any of your SmugMug galleries. Even create new galleries and control the size of the photos you upload. I love my Smugmug membership, and if you use their service, this new function is a BOON!
  • New Custom Camera Profiles — Get predictable, natural color results by creating custom profiles for your camera and lights. We have partnered with X-Rite, the leader in color management, to make this easy. Photograph an X-Rite target with your camera, then import it into ON1 Photo RAW, then send it to the X-Rite Camera Profiler software to build a custom camera profile.
  • Better Noise Reduction — The new state-of-art noise reduction algorithm can reduce noise, both color and luminance independently, while maintaining detail, even with today’s ultra high-ISO cameras.
  • New Color Balance Filter — Remove a cross color cast from the shadows or highlights or create unique duotone or tritone tints by adjusting the color and brightness of the highlights, mid-tones or shadows.
  • New Weather Filter — With the new Weather filter in Effects, you can add rain, snow, and fog to your photos to create a realistic atmosphere.
  • New Channel Mixer Filter — For precise black and white conversions, channel swaps for infrared, or shift entire color ranges.
  • New Sun Flare Filter — Add realistic sun spots, lens flares, and bokeh to your shots all powered by real photographs from renowned photographer and educator Matt Kloskowski.
  • New Print Module — Print contact sheets, a wall portrait, or tile multiple photos into package prints, the improved print dialog can handle it all. Easily print individual images. Also, print multiple photos on one piece of paper to create packages like 2 5×7’s or 4 4×5’s. Add watermarks and sharpen before you print.
  • New Timeline Albums — Exploring your photos by date has never been easier. The new automatic timeline albums organize your photos by year, month, and day.
  • New Map View — View where your photos were taken on a map, explore photo locations, and add location metadata to photos that don’t have GPS metadata. Even search by location address to find photos quickly, without having to add additional metadata.
  • New Focus Mask Overlay — Now you can view what’s in-focus in our photos easily. The new Focus Mask overlay marks the areas of best focus with green so you can compare similar photos and pick out the sharpest photo quickly.
  • More Language Support — ON1 Photo RAW is now localized into eleven languages, giving many more photographers access to the best photo editor out there. It currently supports English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch.
  • New Enhancements — Before/after image preview splitter, control preset opacity from the preset browser, Windows installer now gives the option to install on other drive, UNC paths on Windows, Lossy Canon CR3 support, Visualize brushstrokes with a red overlay.
  • New Camera and Lens Support Added 

And all this is just for their initial release of 2020! Updates and upgrades will introduce more features.

And remember, On1 Photo RAW 2020 can stand alone, or can be used as a plugin for Photoshop – so you get the best of both worlds!

Price and Availability.

ON1 Photo RAW 2020 is available today for download from the ON1 website. Previous owners of any ON1 product can order the upgrade for just $79.99, and those who don’t own earlier versions of ON1 can order the full version for $99.99. For a limited time, ON1 Photo RAW 2020 is bundled with launch bonuses that include an additional 100 pack of presets covering some of the hottest looks and trends. A single purchase of ON1 Photo RAW 2020 works with both Mac and Windows and is a perpetual license (own it forever) for activation on up to five computers. A free 30-day trial with no watermarking and no credit card required is also available from the ON1 website.

 

 

 

WARNING About Apple iOS 13 Release

image courtesy of Pexels.com

So, I was all set to upgrade my iPhone 8 to the newly released iOS13. I’d backed up my phone and cleaned up what I could.

Before any update or upgrade, I usually do a last-minute check to see how others are doing with it (WISH I’d done that with Safari 13, but hadn’t even noticed it’d been released!) And, I’m SO GLAD I checked today!

According to many articles, including Forbes Magazine, this major iOS is a dud, despite the GLOWING pre-release reviews! This article even quotes one developer as describing the iCloud synchronization (KEY for almost every Apple Device User) as a “clusterfuck”!

I had been looking forward to this, but I’m SO grateful I read about it first.

I know some of you don’t know how to turn off the Automatic Update feature. There are a few ways to accomplish this, depending on what you’re updating:

  1. Go to the Settings App, Choose General, Select Software Update, and at the bottom or your screen, turn Automatic Updates to “Off”. If your software is already downloaded, you may (depending on your device) delete the download from that screen, or
  2. In the Settings App, select iPhone Storage. There, you’ll see a list of what’s installed (and how much space it takes). Many devices will show the download there, and if you select it, you can Delete it. AND
  3. From the Settings App. Scroll to find “iTunes & App Stores”, and turn off Automatic downloads for Updates (and anything else you want to control, personally).

I hope this can save you the headache of having to deal with a messed up system, likely messed up Contacts and Calendaring, and awaiting the pushed up update until a few days from now.

 

On1 Photo RAW 2019.5 Discount Ends May 15th!!

ON1 Photo RAW 2019.5 - The Best Alternative to Lightroom and Photoshop

$30 OFF On1 Photo RAW 2019.5!

By now, many of you may know WHY I suggested backing up your systems with older versions of Adobe software installed. Unfortunately, I was under NDA, so I could not disclose that as of a few days ago, Adobe has pulled ALL previous versions of the Creative Cloud Apps, leaving only this version and the last most recent version. In this case, leaving only last year’s and this years. An exception to this is InDesign, which, for a while will still offer access to older versions. While this doesn’t affect people who bought boxed versions of software (despite some technical difficulties in accessing the electronic download files at the moment), anyone who was using something from CS6 Subscription, to CC2017 are out of luck in ever restoring these versions, if necessary. This includes me – who started using the subscription model at CS6.

I know that Adobe is not doing this because they want to. I know they have a legal reason for doing so (which was not disclosed to us), but it goes against every promise Adobe made to it’s subscription users from the beginning – the promise that we’d have access to older versions at any time.

For people who have been balking about the subscription model, this has just added fuel to the fire.

The good news for those who need alternative software to Adobe’s Photoshop/Lightroom bundle, there are a few great alternatives. In a previous post, I revealed a discount from Skylum, on their Luminar offering.

But, On1 Photo RAW has extended it’s $30 off discount in it’s software until May 15th.

SO many features to list, but the new ones are:

  • Dual Mode — Easily undock the Browse Module from the Edit Module, use a second display, or make sales or client presentations on a projector or TV. The dual mode will allow photographers to customize how they want to work when browsing and editing photos.
  • Edit History — A full edit history will be added when working on photos. Each editing step will be viewable, along with the ability to roll-back and compare adjustments. Photographers can also revert to the beginning of the editing session.
  • Settings Applied Info — Photographers will be able to quickly view which modules, tools, and filters are applied to a photo. This non-linear approach will also allow photographers to double-click on a setting and jump straight to it for further adjustments.
  • Selective Sync — Enhanced granularity in which settings to apply when syncing your settings (or pasting and saving a preset) will be added. For example, photographers will be able to drill down and only apply a white balance adjustment. The ability to sync cropping, retouching and brush strokes between photos will also be included.
  • Hierarchical Keywords — The master keyword list will now support nesting keywords inside of other keywords. Nested keywords will allow photographers to organize keywords as they see fit. Importing a list of nested keywords from other apps like Adobe Lightroom® will also be supported.
  • Apple® Photos® Extension Enhancements — Integration with Apple Photos now supports the full raw data, improving adjustments to tone and color. It also supports re-editable non-destructive editing and more native ON1 Photo RAW features like layers, crop, and text.
  • First Launch Experience — If it is your first time using ON1 Photo RAW, there will be new walkthroughs to help you learn the basics. This will give photographers a running start and directs them where to learn more.
  • Tool Tips — Tool tip animations will be added to improve the usability and shorten the learning curve for each tool.
  • Layers Enhancements — Create a new canvas of any size or change the size of the existing canvas.
  • Text Tool Enhancements — Add a background color to a text box and control its opacity. Easily control the character and line spacing. New options also will allow photographers to duplicate and change the order of text boxes and automatically insert text from a photo’s metadata.
  • Performance Improvements — Zooming, panning, and brushing are now much faster. A new preview quality option can help increase performance on lower-end and integrated video cards as well. Export is now up to 10x faster when resizing or exporting a photo or photos already edited.
  • Local Adjustments — The Local Adjustments tools will be faster to brush and adjust.
  • Windows High-DPI — Support for high-dpi displays on Windows will be dramatically improved. The scaling of the fonts and controls will work much better, especially on 4k displays and laptops.
  • Keywording — Keywords will be easier to search, add, delete, and modify. Also, keywords are now case sensitive.
  • Soft Proofing in Resize — The soft-proofing feature will also be available in ON1 Resize (Genuine Fractals®).
  • Drag and Drop from Film Strip — Drag and drop photos from the film strip to add them as new layers.
  • Increased Thumbnail Size Range — The range of thumbnail size will be increased, so photographers can go all the way up to two giant thumbnails or down to tiny thumbnails to survey an entire folder.
  • Default Photo Location — Now control the default photo location in Browse. This is where ON1 Photo RAW will look to find photos instead of the Pictures folder.
  • Preview the Resize Algorithm — When using the Genuine Fractals algorithm, photographers will be able to preview the resulting quality at 100% zoom to more accurately adjust the options and sharpening.
  • Persistent Crop Preset State — The crop tool settings will be persistent and remembered across photos.
  • Search by Adjustments Added — Search for photos based on specific adjustments applied such as cropped, retouched, etc.
  • Update to Lightroom Migration — The Lightroom Migration tool will now migrate the pick and reject flags.
  • Added for Support New Cameras and Lenses
  • Many other under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements.

On1 Photo RAW works with RAW, jpg, psd, and so many more file formats, you OWN your license in perpetuity, and you can install it on up to 5 Windows and Mac Computers. Check it out, NOW!

Skylum Luminar 3.1 Sale Ends May 14, 2019

For those of you who want to get out of the Adobe software subscription plans and still use POWERFUL image editing software at a reasonable price for a license you own, please note that Skylum Luminar’s Spring Offer is ending in less than a week!

Don’t forget the pricing – and to add SGANS_DISC as your coupon code!

Despite the fact that Under pressure, Adobe has reconsidered it’s “test” of new pricing for it’s photography bundle and gone back to $9.99/mo for Photoshop/Lightroom, this is a serious consideration for photographers who want powerful image editing capabilities. One never knows what’ll happen in the future.

I use Techsmith Camtasia and SnagIt, and LOVE them!


People often ask me what I use to create my training videos and enhance my screenshots and my answer is: Techsmith Camtasia for videos, and I use SnagIt for quick captures (still or video).

Camtasia is a powerful, yet easy video editor, an screen capture tool. You can capture your monitor, your voice, your webcam, your keyboard entries, and even your computer’s system sounds, and choose whether to use or edit all of those parts, as you wish. And, it’s easy to add video captured on another device, like a video camera, a still camera with video capabilities, even your smartphone! The markup tools can be used to enhance what your viewer sees – you can add highlights, callouts of text or graphics. You can animate items in the app, you can even use your computer’s voice to speech capabilities to create closed captioning! The learning curve is simple and Techsmith has some amazing online free videos (and I teach this, as well). Check it out HERE!

SnagIt is a Screen Capture and Screen Recorder application. It will capture screenshots and Videos, and allow you to mark them up or simple quickly produce a video to share online. It doesn’t have the power of al the video editing capabilities of Camtasia, but if you need a quick and powerful capture tool with great markup functions, this is a quick, accessible tool to choose.

View both Techsmith Camtasia, and Techsmith SnagIt at Techsmith’s website.

By the way – this is one of those companies that offers smart and professional customer support. It’s one I hold up as a standard for all the rest!

On1’s Photo RAW 2018.1 Intro Offer Ends 4/27/18 – $50 OFF with my link!

Photographers LOVE On1 Photo RAW 2018.1!

The Adobe World is an excellent one. So much so, that even it’s competitor, On1 has made it’s software usable as a plugin to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.

BUT, On1 Photo RAW 2018.1 has positioned itself to be a replacement for the Adobe workflow – without having to pay subscription fees! Now, I have to admit, this software is for image editing, refining, adjusting, and it doesn’t have near the capabilities of Photoshop for Compositing, Animation, 3D and more. This is an Image Editor – and a SERIOUSLY GREAT ONE! There are so many refinements and effects, you can take an image you might have thought to throw away, and create something you may want to hang on your wall! If your focus is Photography, this is one you can’t do without! And it’s all available for $69!!!

Of course, you can try this free for 30 Days, if you Click HERE.

Or, if you want to take advantage of this Limited Time Offer – Click HERE.

EDITED – Hold Off on Upgrading Lightroom CC – A Suggestion

EDIT: I have removed the link to the website – his post is great, and I’d had good experiences with this website before, but he has a bait and switch link for free presets, that leads to a SALE page. I have NO respect for that – so although I appreciate his email, I will no longer endorse his site!

This past week, Adobe released a bunch of updates, with some EXCELLENT new features for Adobe Lightroom CC. However, an email from LightroomPresetShoppe.com an excellent resource for some very cool Lightroom presets, has sent out a warning for Lightroom Classic CC users to HOLD OFF on updating until the next version, if you do use presets and keep them organized. Here’s their message, and hopefully, we’ve caught you in time (my recommendation – never do run updates as soon as they come out – watch forums, and wait to let OTHERS “beta test” the update). In fact, there’re a lot of threads on this on the Adobe Lightroom forum at https://forums.adobe.com/community/lightroom/lightroom-classic-cc/content

Here’s the content of that email:

Hey,

How have you been? Hope you are doing great 🙂

This week…Adobe Lightroom had a major update & I just wanted to write to you guys about my thoughts on the same.

The general consensus about the update is very promising & exciting.

But…if you haven’t updated Adobe Lightroom Classic CC to the latest version i.e. 7.3…I would highly recommend you to wait until the next update even though this update has been an exciting one!

Here’s why:

1. The new update has made Adobe Lightroom a little bit slower for quite a lot of users & most importantly

2. This update has completely messed up the order of Lightroom Presets inside a Preset Folder / Group!

Q. What does this mean to you?

A. Simply put…if you have downloaded or purchased any presets either from us or any other Preset Vendor, you will observe that the order of the presets is completely messed up.

Ever since the new update…a lot of adobe forum threads have been opened up to report the preset order bug & the speed & performance issues.

The amazing engineers at adobe have already made a note of the same & have ensured that they are working towards fixing the above issues in the upcoming updates.

So we highly recommend you to wait until the above issues get sorted via the next few updates.

We are keeping a close watch on the updates & once everything looks good…we will inform you guys to go ahead with the update.

Until then…please hold on to updating Adobe Lightroom to the latest version.

In case you have already updated to Adobe Lightroom 7.3…there is not much you can do to correct the order of your presets in Lightroom at the moment.

Your best bet is to wait for adobe to release new updates which will fix the issue that a lot of people are facing with the latest version.

That’s it for now.

We hope that this gets sorted out real soon 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend & talk soon!

Best Regards,

Amit Desai.

CEO & Founder

? Lightroom Preset Shoppe

 

IMPORTANT Vulnerability for ALL Computers, and how to (partially) remediate the problem!

Two vulnerabilities have been found that attack the Central Processing Units of almost all computers – Windows AND Mac. 

If this vulnerability is exploited, your computer may be subject to ALL of your information being visible to whoever is attacking the machine.

While most individual users are less likely to be targeted, we’re all still open to this problem – and it may never be completely fixable. However, this article from PC World will educate your further, and teach you what you may do to try to partially protect yourself.

On Macs, I’ve been advocating removal of most antiviral software – however now, I’m going to suggest that users on both platforms take advantage of the protection that may be enabled by a good Antivirus/ID Protection package.

In the meantime, please read this article for more information.