Good Mac iPhoto help is needed no matter how easy the program is to use.
For those that aren’t familiar, this photo editing program comes packaged as part of the iLife suite of software. This suite is included on every iMac and Apple laptop but as newer versions come out, the upgrade must be purchased. Basically, this program is very user friendly and is used by beginners and experts alike.
Picture Organizing
At it’s simplest, iPhoto 09 is a powerful database in which people can store their digital photographs. Picture organizing is made easy with a variety of tools. They can be organized into events, tagged with keywords, assigned faces and locations, manually placed into albums, or automatically arranged into smart albums. The level of detail is only limited by the time that the user has to give.
Picture Editing
Each picture can be edited using the built in photo editor. Or for a more full featured editing experience, the photo can be automatically set to open in a completely separate program like Adobe Photoshop Elements for Mac. Once the changes are complete the updated picture is then saved back into iPhoto.
Photo Projects
iPhoto also has the capability to create many projects. From slideshows, to calendars, cards, and photobooks that can be ordered directly from Apple or printed at home. Every element of the slideshow can be customized (music, transitions, zoom) and the finished product can be exported to a variety of other devices like AppleTV, iPhone, and iPod.
Mac Photo Help
With all of these features it is no wonder that good instructions and tutorials are key. Even if you know the program inside out there is always some shortcut to learn. Obviously the first place to find assistance is by clicking the “Help” option in the menubar. This will open the oline manual that is maintained by the company. While this works great in a pinch, I find it to be somewhat inadequate. Apple.com also has a variety of iPhoto tutorials and videos in the support section of their website. There is good info there but I find the site surprisingly difficult to navigate. Ironically, in this electronic day and age I find that the best advice comes from a good old fashioned book. There are many to choose from. Some of my favorites are:
- The Missing Manual Series
- The Visual Quickstart Guide
I will often explore a book by borrowing it from the library first. If it is truly useful – I will start racking up fines because I can’t bear to part with it. At this point I usually end up purchasing the manual. It is this desk reference that I find myself pulling off the shelf again and again.
What is your favorite source of Mac iPhoto help?
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