BSBLIB303 - Session 2

There are many, many, many different Multimedia software packages, applications and/or tools. In this class, we will concentrate on those that are readily available that are free or have a reasonably functional free option. Today we will look at some photo editing tools.

Pixlr

Pixlr would have to be one of my favourite multimedia applications. It is essentially a photo editing application and has some similarities with Photoshop when you use the Pixlr editor, but also has the easier application called Pixlr Express (recently upgraded to Pixlr X). The reason I like it so much is that it has an extremely functional free option, but is still very powerful. Its only downfall is the advertisements that appear on the right hand side of the screen, but I think that is only a small inconvenience.

It has been around since 2008 and has been through much ongoing development during that time

https://pixlr.com/about-us/

https://pixlr.com/

Pixlr X

We will start by exploring Pixlr X, which is the updated version of Pixlr Express. The addition of Layers down the right hand side make this a very powerful and flexible photo editing tool.

Last week I asked you to make sure that you had some images that you could use in class. Hopefully you all remembered and some photos that you can play with. If not, you can use the ones on Moodle or the Stock photos, but I think you will have more fun using your own.

The landing page gives you the choices of Pixlr X and Pixlr E. Pixlr X is Pixlr Express - an easy way to edit and/or create images. From the Pixlr X opening screen, you can click on any of the images that you have previously used in Pixlr or you can drag an image from one of your folders across and have it load in Pixlr X.

From here you can click on the blue button for OPEN IMAGE or you can drag an image from a folder onto this page and it will open up that image.

The menu choices are down the left hand side of the screen and the Layers are on the right hand side. If anyone has used imaging software such as Photoshop, they will understand what layers do and why they are important. 

Here are the descriptions of what each of the buttons on the left does.

Layout and Template

This allows you to resize your image or resize your canvas. When you resize your canvas, you have a selection of how you want to place the image on the new canvas

Resizing the image is useful if you want to create a thumbprint or a smaller image for use on the web. Resizing the canvas allows you to increase the canvas size and then place your image on the canvas. A good example could be if you wanted to add some text to the bottom of the image, but not on top of the image. In this example, I have added 200 pixels to the bottom of the image.

The end result is that I added 200px to the bottom of my image. You can then change the colour and add text for a caption or meme.

Crop

Crop allows you to crop and straighten your image. Crop is used to select the part of your image that you want to keep. You can crop it to whatever size you want using the handles. Straightening actual performs a crop, so you do lose some of your image. Straightening can help you get those straight horizons or focus in on lines on your image.

Cutout

Cutout can be used to remove backgrounds or areas of your image using a variety of tools.

Adjust, Filter, effect and Liquify

These tools can be used to apply a variety of different effects to your image. Adjust can be used to enhance the colour or turn your image black and white. Filter, effect and liquify allow you to apply a variety of different effects to your image.

Here are a few examples:

Retouch and Drawing

Retouch includes tools such as heal and clone - these can be used to get rid of small blemishes or objects from an image. Drawing allows you to paint over the top of your image.

Class Activity 1

Using a variety of images, try out a variety of these tools. Share the before and after results in our Facebook group.

You should try:

• Layout and Theme
• Crop and Rotate
• Cutout
• Adjust and Filter
• Effect
• Retouch

Text, elements and images

Use the text tool to add text to your image. You can change the font, size, colour, styling plus line and letter spacing.

Add an element such as an overlay, shape, border or sticker

You can even add other images to your current image!

Save

Use the Save button at the bottom of the image to download your image to your computer and save it. There are a variety of different settings depending on the purpose for the image.

Class Activity 2

Try using some of the element tools and share your results with the class. Make sure you provide a brief description of the tools that you used.

Class Activity 3

Use the photo editing tools to apply some of the photo composition examples we looked at last week:

Examples could include:

• Use Cropping to apply a "Fill the Frame" composition using an image of your choice
• Use Cropping to apply a "Rule of Thirds" composition using an image of your choice
• Use Rotate to apply a "Straight Horizons" composition using an image of your choice

Try some of your own.

Post a "Before" and "After" image into the Facebook group (single post) to share with the class.

Other online Photo editing tools

Fotor

http://www.fotor.com/

Collage

Editor

Class Activity 4

Try creating a Collage with Fotor

Class Activity 5

These are just a few of the photo editing/imaging tools that are available online. Have a look on the internet and see whether you can find any others. Share with the class:

• Name of application
• Website URL
• What you get for free
• Cost of upgrade/pro edition
• What you thought of it - ease of use/features etc.

In our second session we researched cameras, but there are lots of "Multimedia" devices that can be added to a standard computer setup. A multimedia computer would have higher specifications on pretty much every item that sits inside the case, starting with the Motherboard and processor down to the Monitor or output device.

Other Multimedia Hardware

Projectors and Monitors

I have classified these together because as monitors get larger and the resolution gets better, the need for a projector decreases.

Projectors range in price from a couple of hundred dollars up to $5000+

Read the following Projector buying guide

https://www.officeworks.com.au/information/buying-guides/projectors-buying-guide

https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/c/technology/projectors/digital-projectors

https://www.justprojectors.com.au/benq.htm

Officeworks

Just Projectors

The above images show a sample of some of the projectors available from Officeworks and Just Projectors. Note the very large price range!

Activity 1

What is the difference in the specifications of a lower end projector compared to a high end one? Find 2 projectors at different price levels and compare what you get in regards to features and specifications.

Monitors

There is also a large price and specification variation in monitors. This is where size definitely matters.

Read the How To Buy a monitor from Tom's Hardware 

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html


https://www.pccasegear.com/category/558/monitors

4k UHD Monitors from PC Case Gear

Activity 2.1

What is the difference in the specifications of a lower end priced monitor compared to a high end one? 

Find 2 monitors at different price levels and compare what you get in regards to features and specifications. Note the differences in resolution, refresh rates and physical size.

VR

Virtual Reality devices also come under this category. They are a way of viewing what is happening on your computer (and interacting with it).

Here are a couple of links with some articles about VR headsets

https://www.gamingscan.com/best-vr-headset/

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/the-best-vr-headset

Activity 2.2

What VR headset would I buy if I was looking for something for a Samsung Phone? What about my iPhone? Can I add a headset to my Windows Desktop?

Audio

There are a couple of choices when it comes to audio and computers. You also have two different decisions to make - which audio card and then which speaker system.

Audio - Speakers

With audio (and video) streaming, computers are now commonly being used as entertainment systems and every entertainment system needs a great set of speakers.

Read the following articles on computer speakers

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/best-computer-speakers

https://au.pcmag.com/speakers/4110/the-best-computer-speakers

Here are some speakers from PC Case Gear

https://www.pccasegear.com/category/567_571/speakers/all-models

Audio - Headphones

For personal sound, a decent set of headphones is a great addition to your computer entertainment system.

Here are a couple of articles/buying guides for headphones

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/audio/portable-audio/best-headphones-1280340

https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/article/headphones-earphones-buying-guide/

Here is a sample of headphones available from Officeworks

https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/c/technology/headphones-earphones/pc-headsets

Activity 3.1

You are now having to work from home and would like a set of speakers for your laptop/computer that are easy to use, don't take up too much room, but would be a great alternative for if you can't or don't want to wear headphones.

Activity 3.2

The library has a couple of PCs that have been set aside for patrons to watch videos or listen to streaming music. Choose 2 headphones that will provide great sound, but also be good value. Justify your selections.

Optical Drives

Optical drives are now no longer a necessity, but can be used to play music, watch movies, gaming, and for installing software.

With most software now available online for download, it is probably not a priority. I personally have a portable BluRay multi reader/writer that I can connect via USB when needed. They are also a good option for backing up and storing photos and videos. My husband asked me where mine was only yesterday because he wanted to watch a DVD series and it wasn't on Netflix.

https://www.pccasegear.com/category/658/optical-drives-media

Activity 4

Do you have an optical drive for your PC/Laptop? Do you use it (or miss having one). What would you buy if you just wanted one that you could connect occasionally? Justify your selection. 

Graphics Tablets

The main purpose of a graphics tablet is for digital drawing or art. It comprises of a tablet surface and a pen/pointing device.

Read these buyers guide for graphics tablets:
https://tabletunderbudget.com/best-drawing-tablets/


Here is a sample from JB HiFi
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/collections/computers-tablets/graphics-tablets

Activity 5

Do you have a use for a graphics tablet? What could it be used for?

Multimedia keyboards and Mice

Multimedia Keyboards and Mice can be used as a replacement for a standard keyboard. The main differences are the type of mechanism, sensitivity, lights and programmable buttons.

https://www.pccasegear.com/category/113/keyboards

Here is a sample of some of the Logitech Keyboards available

https://www.pccasegear.com/category/258/mice-mouse-pads

And some Logitech mice to go with the keyboard, although there are no rules about matching brands.

Activity 6.1

What is the difference in the specifications of a lower end keyboard compared to a high end one? Find 2 keyboards at different price levels and compare what you get in regards to features and specifications.

Activity 6.2

What is the difference in the specifications of a lower end mouse compared to a high end one? Find 2 mice at different price levels and compare what you get in regards to features and specifications.

Activity 6.3

Is there a decent deal to be had on a Keyboard/Mouse combination? 

Video Conferencing Tools

Activity 7

Research task: What hardware do you think you would need for a decent home video conferencing setup? Is comfort an issue? Ergonomics? 

Recommend a basic setup - something affordable but functional for a home office. Justify your response

Recommend a more advanced setup. It can just be the next level from your basic setup or it could be your "dream setup".

How do we choose?

How do we decide what we want when it comes to Multimedia devices? Often it is just a personal choice, but we do have to take into account what we may want to use the devices for. What software will we use? What other hardware do we have? Budget? Personal experiences with a particular brand?

Another important question is what software. Some high end multimedia software may have an optimal specification for hardware and so you do need to make sure that what you get, meets those standards.

Here are some specification recommendations for some standard multimedia software.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html

https://products.office.com/en-au/office-system-requirements

Printers

When buying a printer, you will need to consider some or all of the following points:

• Budget - always start with this!
• Laser or Inkjet
• Colour or monochrome
• Single cartridge or multiple (ink jet printers)
• Printer only or multi function device
• Network capability/connectivity
• Devices that will be connected
• Card reader or USB reader
• Speed 
• Quality of output
• Paper size
• Paper trays
• Paper types
• Duplex ability

So many decisions! If you go back a few years, most people had an inkjet style of printer. They were reasonably cheap to buy, could produce photo quality colour prints, and were generally easy to buy and maintain. Colour Laser printers were beyond most household and even organisational budgets. Today, the gap has reduced and colour laser printers are as affordable as many inkjet printers.

Inkjet versus Laser Printers

Laser printers work by creating static electricity, which essentially magnetises the paper. Laser printer "ink" is a very fine powder that "sticks" to the charged paper. An inkjet printer uses liquid ink that is pushed out through a nozzle to spray a tiny dots on the paper. 

Watch this video that explains the technologies. While this video is a couple of years old, and some of the facts may be slightly outdated, it does a pretty good job of explaining the differences.

Ink-jet vs Laser Printer - printershowcase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAlbvv6q2rc

Alternatively:

Printers Explained - Laser, Inkjet, Thermal, & Dot Matrix - PowerCert Animated Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEVurb1uVFA

 

Class Activity 8.1

What type of printer do you have?

Does it cover ALL of your printing needs?

Ink and Toner

When you buy a new printer, it will come with ink or toner - not full cartridges, but enough to last you for a little while. Eventually, though, you will need to refill or replace the cartridges.

Things to consider when deciding between brands of printers:

Number of cartridges

Depending on the printer, this can vary from 1 and up to 6 or more (some even have 10 tanks). Early inkjet printers had only one cartridge that could produce all of the colours. The main disadvantage is that you have to replace the whole cartridge if one colour ran out. If there was no separate black ink, the black produced was a bit brownish.

Generally, printers will use four separate cartridges - one for each Colour of CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). Those that use more may also have light Cyan and light Magenta.

Cost of Cartridges

Before you buy a printer, check out the cost and availability of replacement cartridges as well as any other consumables, for example, with laser printers you may need to change the drum after a certain number of prints. 

Also check whether the company has a recycling program and whether the cartridges can be refilled. Some manufacturers may have a clause in their warranty that does not cover faults if you use non-genuine cartridges or have refilled them.

Check to see if the particular printers you are looking at quote an average cost per page figure. While they are based on a certain percentage of page coverage, it can be used to compare running costs when your decision has come down to just a couple of options.

Class Activity 8.2

Do you refill and/or recycle your ink or toner cartridges?

Find 2 places that provide either refilling or recycling of cartridges. What are the advantages? What is the process? Do you think it saves money? 

Printer or Multi-function device

Do you need a copier/scanner/printer in one device? If space is at a premium and you have a need for the other functions, then a multi-function device might be a good option. When choosing a multi-function device, make sure that the functions work independently i.e. that the scanner will work even if there is no ink/toner.

Network capability and Device options

Do you need to be able to print from multiple devices? Phone? Computers? Do you need Wifi, Bluetooth or other connectivity? Does it need to be able to read from or write to USB memory or SD Card? Is being able to print straight from a camera or camera SD card something that is required?

Class Activity 8.3

Can you find an inkjet printer and a laser printer that has WiFi and Bluetooth?

Can you find an inkjet printer and a laser printer that has the ability to read SD cards to print photos from a camera?

Speed and Quality of output

Print speed is usually measured in pages per minute (PPM or ISO ppm) with monochrome usually faster than colour printing. Higher resolution photo printers may be slower, but will print at an exceptional quality. 

Quality is measured in DPI or Dots Per Inch. The bigger the numbers, the higher quality print output. 

For more information on DPI requirements and photo printing:

http://resources.printhandbook.com/pages/dpi-for-printing.php

Class Activity 8.4

What is the highest resolution photo printer that you can find? Provide the make, model, resolution and cost. What resolution (DPI) seems to be the best value for money for a photo printer? Is there a direct correlation between DPI and cost? What other factors seem to affect cost with photo printers? 

Paper Handling

How large will you be printing? If you print 90% of your work on A4, do you need your printer to be able to handle larger paper? If you very occasionally need larger print formats, places like Officeworks can do that on the spot at a very reasonable price. This might be inconvenient if you have to do it often, but for occasional print jobs, it might be more economical than paying a lot extra for a larger capacity printer. Inkjet printers are generally much cheaper to buy if you are looking for a large format printer than a laser printer. 

Do you do lots of bulk printing? If you regularly print large quantities, then you will need to consider paper trays that have a large capacity so that you are not constantly having to hold up printing while you refill the paper. 

Duplex printing is where the printer is capable of printing on both sides of the paper. Duplex can be automatic or manual, but if you are regularly printing on both sides, then you will want it to be automatic. Be careful with inkjet printers when printing duplex as some paper can be quite porous and you will end up with a smudgy mess.

Will you be printing on special paper such as parchment or other textured surface? Card or thicker paper, envelopes or sticky labels? Will you be printing on smaller paper such as business cards? Check whether the printer is capable of printing on a variety of paper sizes, gsm, and types.

Maintenance

Both types of printers have some maintenance that may be required as well as consumables. 

Class Activity 8.5

Research some basic maintenance tasks for an inkjet or laser printer. How often should you perform these tasks?

More information on Printers

https://au.pcmag.com/printers/44862/the-best-printers

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/best-home-printer

https://www.officeworks.com.au/information/buying-guides/printers-buying-guide

https://www.officenational.com.au/shop/en/obb2cstore/Top-7-Things-to-Consider-When-Choosing-a-Printer

https://www.ldproducts.com/blog/pros-cons-of-inkjet-and-laser-printers/

Class Activity 8.6

You have a budget of $500. You need a printer that meets the following requirements:

• Colour printing
• Capable of duplex printing (printing on both sides of the paper)
• Economical
• Available now (Currently in stock)
• 600dpi
• WiFi

Nice to have:

• Ability to print from phone/tablet would be nice
• Scanning ability would be nice but not essential

What printer would you recommend and why?

3D Printers

Many libraries now have 3D printers as part of their Makerspaces. 3D printers can be priced from a couple of hundred dollars to tens of thousands. Things to consider when purchasing a 3D printer include the maximum size of the print Length, Width and Height, the types of material (filament) that it uses, and Budget.

3D printer purchasing Guide at Toms Hardware https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/3d-printer-buying-guide,6335.html

PC Mag https://au.pcmag.com/3d-printers/25115/the-best-3d-printers