Google Apps: An Introduction to Picasa

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Google Apps: An Introduction to Picasa
This document provides an introduction to using Picasa, a free application provided by Google.
With Picasa, users are able to add, organize, edit, and share their personal photos, utilizing 1 GB
of free space. In order to use Picasa, users need to create a Google Account.
Creating a Google Account
To create a Google Account,
1. Go to http://www.google.com/.
2. At the top of the screen, select “Gmail”.
3. On the Gmail homepage, click on the right of the screen on the button that is labeled
“Create an account”.
4. In order to create an account, you will be asked to fill out information, including
choosing a Login name which will serve as your email@gmail.com, as well as a
password. After completing all the information, click “I accept. Create my account.” at
the bottom of the page.
5. After you successfully fill out all required information, your account will be created.
Click on the “Show me my account” button which will direct you to your Gmail
homepage.
Downloading Picasa
To download Picasa, go http://picasa.google.com.
1. Select Download Picasa.
2. Select Save File.
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3. Click on the downloaded file, and select Run.
4. Follow the installation procedures to complete the installation of Picasa on your
computer. When finished, you will be directed to a new screen. Click Get Started with
Picasa Web Albums.
Importing Pictures
Photos can be uploaded into Picasa a variety of ways, all of them very simple to use.
1. Pictures from Folders in My Documents
a. Picasa synchronizes itself with pictures on your computer, so organizing your
photos into folders in your documents will automatically upload to Picasa.
2. Importing Pictures
a. Picasa also offers you the option to directly import media through a camera,
scanner, media card, or CD.
i. Click Import at the top left of the screen.
ii. Click the dropdown menu to view the sources available from which to
import pictures. If you keep the Exclude Duplicates box checked, then
only one copy of each picture will be uploaded.
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iii. When you are finished importing and have selected the photos you wish
to upload, click the Finish button. You will be able to name your folder
the photos will be designated to.
Organizing Pictures
1. Moving Photos
a. Moving photos from one folder to another is very easy. Simply click the photo
on the right screen, and drag it to the desired folder.
b. To copy a picture into another folder instead of moving it from the original
folder, click and hold the photo, press down the Ctrl key and drag the photo to
the desired folder. Select Copy Files to confirm the copy.
2. Albums
a. When Picasa syncs with the documents uploaded onto your hard drive, it creates
folders, not albums. To organize your photos further within Picasa, you have the
option of organizing your photos into albums.
i. Click the Create a new album icon at the top left of the screen.
ii. You will then enter a name for your album and a description. Select OK
when finished.
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iii. Click and drag pictures from the right screen into your new album.
3. Naming your pictures
a. Picasa allows you to tag the people who appear in your photos, so you can view
all the pictures a particular person is in. On the toolbar to the left, select People.
Select Unnamed
to view the
pictures that
need to be tagged
Type the name of the
person in the photo
b. In the People tab, click the person you wish to view, and their photos will
appear to the right.
c. Sometimes Picasa does not recognize all the people in a photo. To add a person,
Select the original photo from the folder. At the bottom right of the screen, select
Add a person manually.
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i.
Click and drag to select the person’s face. Click in the text box to add
their name.
Editing Pictures
1. To edit a photo, double click on the selected picture, or right click and select View and
Edit.
2. On the left of the screen will appear the toolbar with editing options. Preview the image
to the right of the screen.
a. Basic Fixes
Under Basic Fixes, you are able to crop, fix red
eye, use auto contrast and color, retouch
images, add text, and make simple fixes.
Click Undo or Redo if you change your mind about any edits
you made to your photo and get back to the original
i. The I’m Feeling Lucky selection will make instant changes to your photo
to improve the quality and make common repairs.
ii. Editing in Picnik
1. Under the Basic Fixes tab, click Edit in Picnik. Your photo will be
transferred to Picnik.
2. Some features in Picnik are fee-based; however, many are free.
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b. Tuning
Tuning primarily focuses on the coloring of the picture.
Change the light and shadows, or color hues.
c. Effects
Under the Effects tab, make changes to the
picture, and preview how it will look.
Cool Extras
1. Create a collage
a. To create a simple collage with all the pictures in your folder, open the desired
folder, then click the Create Photo Collage icon.
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b. You have many options to edit the type of collage you choose and its specific
characteristics. Under the Settings tab, select the type of collage you choose, and
preview how it will look to the right. Customize the format of the page,
background colors, and spacing throughout the collage.
Use the dropdown arrow to choose from
picture piles, mosaics, grids, or other patterns
Customize characteristics
of the pattern you select
Click and drag pictures to
switch positions
c. The Picture Pile collage template allows users to edit the location and size of
each scattered picture. Select the picture you wish to modify. A circle with a little
target will appear. Click the target, and the movement of your mouse will
change the size and angle of your picture. Right click to select forward or
backward placement.
d. Click Create Collage when you are satisfied with the final product.
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After saving your collages, they will now appear on the left hand of the screen
under the Projects tab. Your original pictures remain unedited.
2. Create a Movie
a. To create a movie, click the Create Movie Presentation icon under the folder or
album of pictures you wish to incorporate into your movie.
i. Use the tools at the left of the screen to make edits to your movie, and
preview how they look to the right. When finished, click Create Movie.
Add audio to the video
Click the Slide tab to add text to pictures and
change background colors of the slides
Edit the transitions and durations of the photos
With a You Tube account, you are able to
upload your movie directly to You Tube
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b. Face Movie
i. Face Movie is one of the newer options of Picasa, and requires that you
tag your photos with specific people, as previously explained.
1. Select a person from the People tab along the left of the screen.
2. Click the Create Face Movie icon.
3. Make edits to your video using the toolbox on the left of the
screen, exactly as you would creating a Movie as explained above.
Preview the Face Movie to the right of the screen. When finished,
select Create Movie.
3. Create a CD
a. To burn a CD with your photos, select the album or folder you wish to include.
b. On the top toolbar, select Create, and then Create a Gift CD…
c. Along the bottom of the screen, you will see options for creating your CD. After
making changes, select Burn Disc.
Name the CD
Add more photos
4. If Google Earth is installed on your computer, you will be able to utilize Geo-Tag, a
feature that allows you to map the location of your pictures.
Sharing Pictures
1. Sharing Pictures directly from Picasa
a. To email photos directly from Picasa,
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i. Click the Email icon at the bottom of the page.
ii. Choose from Microsoft Outlook or Gmail.
iii. Type in the addresses of the recipients and select Send.
2. Web Albums
Web Albums is a place to store all photos, create projects, and share your photos with as
many people as you wish. It provides each user with 1GB of free space (about 4,000
pictures).
a. To sign into Web Albums, go to http://picasaweb.google.com and sign in with
your Google Account information.
b. Uploading Photos to Web Albums
i. Uploading specific photos from Picasa
1. To upload photos to Web Albums, click the photo you wish to
upload, then click the Upload icon at the bottom of the screen.
2. If not already logged into Web Albums, you will be prompted to
sign in with your Google Account information.
3. Change the settings for others to view your album. When finished,
click Upload.
Choose who to share
your photos with from
your Google Account
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Select Privacy settings
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4. Click View Online to be directed to your Web Album.
ii. Uploading an entire album from Picasa
1. Click the Sync to Web option to the right of the screen when
viewing your album. Select Sync.
2. Anytime you add or delete photos from your album in Picasa, the
changes will automatically be reflected in Web Albums.
iii. Uploading photos through Web Albums
1. Under the My Photos tab, select Upload.
2. Select create a new album.
3. Add a title and description to your album, change the visibility
and privacy settings, and select groups of people you would like
to share it with through your Google Contacts. Select Continue.
4. Click Browse to select photos you want to upload to your album.
Click Start Upload.
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5. Your album is now created.
Add captions,
maps, change
order of
photos, or
delete album
c. Mapping photos in Web Albums
i. In Web Albums, users can map either entire albums, or individual
pictures within an album.
1. To map the central location of an album, select the album under
My Photos, then click Create album map on the right of the
screen.
2. Type the location to search the map. When you have found your
location, select the thumbnail of a picture in your album. Drag
and drop the picture to the correct location. Click Done.
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ii. To map the location of just one picture within an album, select the
picture, and select Add location under the Photo location option. Find
your location on the map and select Save location. The map will now
appear with your picture with the specific location you have selected.
d. Sharing photos in Web Albums
i. Sharing albums in Web Albums is one of the easiest ways to email
pictures to others.
1. Under the My Photos tab, click the album you wish to share.
Select the Share icon.
2. Enter email addresses with whom you wish to share the album
with, and include a message. Click Send Email.
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ii. Web Albums offers the option to create a slideshow of your photos in an
album and embed it into a website, a blog, or MySpace.
1. Under the My Photos tab, click Embed Slideshow to the right of
the screen.
2. Highlight and copy the code inside the box, and paste it to your
website. When finished, click Done.
Choose the size and
settings of your slideshow
e. Exploring photos in Web Albums is a feature that allows you to view the albums
of users all over the world who have selected to make their photos public.
i. Select the Explore tab at the top of the screen.
ii. Browse by subject or location to view your particular interests.
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iii. When you find an image you like, click on it. You have the option to
share the image, download the image to your files, or even order prints of
the photo.
Click View All to
return to all albums
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Click through other albums
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