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Photo Imaging Frames - How To Create Them?

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Agent Solutions

Hey there!

I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I am trying to find a program that I can create frames and drop shadows to the images I use in blogs to give them a little more "umph". Jeff Turner has shared how he adds a little pizazz to his images using MAC's iWork '08 program. I've also been told that MS Word 2007 has some create photo editing features. I am seriously considering making the switch to MAC, but in the meantime I would like to find a similar product for use with my PC.

I know effects like what Jeff has used on his images can be achieved using Photoshop or other photo editing software, but I am not that comfortable with Photoshop yet. Do any of you have any suggestions?

 

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Show All Comments
Jacqulyn Richey
Prominent Realty Group - Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Real Estate
Try Paintshop Pro. Its a lot easier to use than Photoshop and you can create some nice effects. There are some other programs as well, Ulead cool 3d, Logo Creator, etc. Most are affordable and will let you add some pizazz to pics. -Charles
Oct 01, 2007 07:35 AM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Jennifer... :)  I found you a solution. I am going to do a tutorial on it and post it. 
Oct 01, 2007 07:59 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions

Charles - Thanks for the information. I will have to check a couple of those programs out. Thanks! ;-)

Oct 01, 2007 08:11 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions

Jeff - I am sooooo excited. Thank you so much. I look forward to reading it.

 

Oct 01, 2007 08:14 AM
Mehmet Met Dilsiz
FND Photography / M2 Real Estate Solutions - Midvale, UT

Jennifer...

once you open the image in Photoshop...

Double click on the picture layer (labeled Background) and click OK on the confirming window that will pop up.

Then press the letter "D", the colors will revert to Black for foreground and White for background

Go to Image > Canvas Size and select it

Add about 10-15 pixels to both width and height...

Create a new layer and drag it to the bottom of the Layer window (bottom right)

Press CTRL+DEL which will fill it with white

Double click on your picutre Layer, and it will pop open a window where you will be able to make use the Shadow effect...

Oct 01, 2007 08:24 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions

Mehmet - Thank you. I will give that a try and let you know if it worked out for me. Thanks again. ;-)

Oct 01, 2007 08:39 AM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA

Jennifer... here you go. It's way easier than working in Photoshop and it's free.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/222352/How-To-Add-Some 

Oct 01, 2007 08:46 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions

Jeff -  You are a dream. Thank you so much.

Oct 01, 2007 08:59 AM
Kasey Kase
API Network - Mequon, WI
I'm not really a pirate

You must try Picasa from Google.  It's very powerful to keep track of all your images and does lightweight image enhancement which includes some ability to add things like drop shadow.   Here's a snap I took a few days ago and pulled it out of Picasa to demo the feathered edges.  (oh, and it's a free download)

Ultimate diversitey in Ann Arbor

If you're doing lots of images at once (to add drop shadow/water marks) take a look at ThumbNailer from SmallerAnimals.   I've used it years and recommend it highly.  (Funny domain name, great software)   More info about Masks For Photo Edge Effects.

Oct 07, 2007 02:12 PM
Jackie Peraza
Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC - Framingham, MA
Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts

Jennifer - E.Kasey is SO right about Picasa.  I cannot figure out for the LIFE of me why more folks aren't using Picasa - I've been using it for over 2 years and see absolutely NO reason to switch.  It does everything and then some!  I didn't know about the Masks for Photo Edge Effects and so am looking forward to reading that myself.

Jackie

Oct 07, 2007 06:21 PM
Kate Bourland
Marketing with Kate - Redding, CA
Onlilne Marketing Mobile Marketing
I used to use Picassa but it took over my computer.  I don't like software that take over - it bugs me.  Have they fixed that feature now that Google has purchased it?
Oct 07, 2007 06:51 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor

www.picnik.com.  My daughter found it and has done some cool stuff with it.  I am going to try it too.  And it is FREE!

Oct 10, 2007 04:50 PM
Cheryl Johnson
Highland Park, CA
Kate -- When you say "took over"  do you mean the part about scanning for new image files whenever you start Picassa?  That can be turned off.  Go to Tools -> Folder Manager -- Mark "Scan Once" instead of "Watch for Changes".  That should do the trick.  It will scan once to find all images then, but never again. 
Oct 11, 2007 01:45 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions
E. Kasey -  You're right, Picasa is a very powerful tool. I love it and use it alot. Thank you for those other resources. I will have to take a look at them over the weekend.
Oct 11, 2007 04:17 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions
Jackie - I tell eveyone I know about Picasa. I even blogged about it on my outside blog. It is extremely user friendly and it has a ton of great features.
Oct 11, 2007 04:22 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions

Joanne - I was introduced to picnik by Jeff Turner. This is also a wonderful FREE program and it does a ton of different things. The best thing for me is that it integrates with Picasa, Facebook, Flickr and Photobucket.

I love all these new programs that help me get more organized. ;-)

Oct 11, 2007 04:27 AM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions
Kate - I would try Cheryl's tip. I think that may resolve your "take-over" issue. ;-)
Oct 11, 2007 04:28 AM
Sam Miller
RE/MAX Stars Realty - Howard, OH
Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
Jennifer - Buy the MacBook Pro and don't look back...you will never look at a PC the same.  I switched at the beginning of the year and I could not be happier.  Jeff's videos and blogs will be far more useful once you are using a MAC.
Oct 19, 2007 02:54 PM
Jennifer Wilson
Agent Solutions - Calgary, AB
Agent Solutions

Sam- I am researching this option but I have some concerns (i.e. converting and transferring my existing PC files). I am loving everything I have found out about the MAC so far, unfortunately I am a creature of habit and I am a little leery about making such a big change.

I will continue to research this possibility and seeing that you have recently been through the same change I may call on you with questions. I hope that's OK.

Ciao!

Oct 19, 2007 05:06 PM
Miranda Moser
Century 21 Bamber Realty - Calgary, AB
Calgary Real Estate Agent

Photoshop is not the most user friendly program, at first. But, once you have a handle on it, you can pretty much do anything with any type of digital photo. Good luck.

Oct 02, 2009 09:34 AM
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