01 [Windows 10] Deactivate the Touch function and related components
If the Touchscreen function of Windows 10 is not important to you, then you can disable it in a few steps. For this, use the shortcut [Windows] + [R] to open the "Run" window, type "services.msc" and confirm with OK. In the window "Services", search for the "Tablet PC Input", then select it and open the "Properties" by right-clicking on it. You can set the Touchscreen function to "Off" or set the Start type to "Deactivate", either one works. Save the change by clicking on OK.
For the Touch operation, Windows has a few extra functions. However, after deactivating the Touch function, these extras become unnecessary. To disable them, open the Control Panel and click on "Uninstall program" under the category "Programs". In the left column, you will now see the option "Activate or deactivate Windows Features". Click on it and remove the check mark for the option "Tablet PC components" in the window that opens, then confirm the action by clicking on the OK button. After restarting Windows, functions like the "Mathematics input area" or "Handwriting recognition" will disappear. If you wish to use the Touch function of Windows 10 then you can reactivate the disabled Tablet PC features by following the same procedure.
02 [Windows 10] Reveal truncated Taskbar clock
A bug in Windows 10 is causing the clock on the Taskbar to appear truncated. There are a lot of solutions in this case.
First, try clicking on an icon on the Taskbar. For example, clicking on the loudspeaker icon should be enough to get the clock to return to its correct position.
Under certain conditions, an incorrect scaling setting may be responsible for the problem. If that's the case, right-click on the Desktop and click on "Display settings". Move the slider for "Change size of text, apps and other elements" to 100 percent. If the slider is already at 100 percent, then change the scaling and switch it back to 100 percent in a few seconds.
It could also be the function "Fix Taskbar" that's causing the error. In that case, right-click on an empty area on the Taskbar and deactivate the function. You can now manually set the height of the Taskbar, which mostly resolves the problem.
03 [Outlook] Avoid marking selected Emails as read
Sometimes, you just want to select an Email in your Outlook inbox to have a quick look at it in the preview window, without opening it. However, Outlook's default setting will mark this message as "read", as soon as a new mail is selected. But if it's a work account with high incoming mail traffic, you might miss out on the overview of the read and unread mails rather quickly. To make Outlook get rid of this habit of prematurely marking a message as read, open the "File" menu and click on "Options" in the left column. Then in the "Outlook" options, go to the entry "Email" and press the button "Read Pane…" under "Outlook panes". In the following window, remove the check mark for "Mark item as read when selection changes". Click on OK to confirm the change and exit "Outlook Options" by clicking it again.
Now, messages marked as read will no longer be removed from the list and the file preview can be used without restrictions.
04 [Windows] Change file and folder names faster using the [F2] Key
Files and folders can be renamed in a jiffy in Windows using a key combination. Instead of right-clicking on the file to be changed and going to the command "Rename" in the context menu, you can quickly achieve your goal faster using the [F2] key. Simply select the file or the folder, press the [F2] key and the file or folder name will already be in the Edit mode, which allows you to rename it. Press the [Enter] key after typing the new name – done.
05 [MS Visio] Create and save drawings in Microsoft Visio
With the visualisation program Visio from Microsoft, you can easily create your own diagrams. Open "Categories" after starting the program. Here, you will find a huge selection of flowcharts, organisation charts, calendars or even circuit diagrams. Select a drawing and click "Create" to open the drawing plane. On the left margin, you will see the some 'Shapes', which are readymade templates that you can use for your drawing. You also have the option to create your own Shape. The tools to edit the drawing are located on the upper margin as seen in all other Office programs, while the actual drawing sheet is situated in the middle of the screen where you can arrange the shapes.
Select the suitable shape and drag it on to the drawing sheet using the mouse by keeping the left button clicked. As soon as you have dragged several shapes on the drawing sheet, you can group the individual shapes together using the "Connector". By pressing the combination [Ctrl] + [3], you can select the "Connector". Now click on the shape that you wish to group and keep the mouse key pressed, then go to the second shape and release the mouse key. After you have completed the drawing, save it using the key combination [Ctrl] + [S]. In the next window, you can determine the storage location and choose the Visio drawing's format under "File type". Here, you should use the ".VSD" Visio format so that you can modify the drawing in future. Other formats include ".JPEG" or ".PNG"; You can also export the Visio drawings in AUTOCAD.
06 [Windows] Optimally sharpen of fonts
The larger the screen, the more important it is to adjust the sharpness of the fonts. There's an easy way to do this in Windows, but you should first check the screen resolution. The higher the resolution, the sharper the fonts will look. Right-click on a free area on the desktop and then go to "Display Settings" in the context menu, then click on "Advanced display settings". Here, you will be able to see the recommended value. Select that value and click on 'Apply' to change the resolution, the click on "Keep Changes" to confirm. You will see then a distorted image on the screen. Wait for 15 seconds and Windows will use the new settings. If the font still appears blurred then the first thing you should do is to the check the monitor settings. Windows configures the screen by itself, but manual configuration can yield better results, particularly in case of dark backgrounds. Go back to "Advanced display settings" and click on "Colour calibration". The "Screen colour calibration" will open in the following window. Here, Windows will adjust, among other things, the brightness, the contrast and the Gamma values of the monitor.
In addition, the Anti-aliasing ClearType can be used to sharpen the fonts and with some manual effort, you can get a lot more from this function. Once again, right-click on the desktop and select "Display Settings", click on "Advanced display settings" then select "ClearType text". Now, follow the Settings Assistant, which will keep showing you different sample texts from. You have to pick the sharpest one from each instant to calibrate the font anti-aliasing. Once you're done, Windows will constantly readjust itself to match the finalised type face.
07 [Word] Insert phone icon in Word document
Word lets you choose between two phone icons that you can insert into a document when needed. Activate the tab "Insert" in the menu bar and click on the button "Symbol" in the option "Symbol" on the right in the menu group. A selection field of frequently used icons will now open in the collapsible menu. If the icon you are searching for isn't there to be found, then go to an overview of all the available icons via the link "More symbols". Here, if you set the font to "Wingdings" or "Wingdings 2", then you will see two phone icons in the first line of the overview. Now select the icon which appeals to you and press the button "Insert", or double-click on it to place the phone icon at the cursor position in the Word document.
08 [Windows] Hide folder using built-in resources and a special tool
Folders with sensitive data can be hidden under Windows in order to avoid curious eyes of those who might want to hack into your password or encryption. Using built-in tools for Windows, you can quickly make these confidential folders disappear. To do this, right-click on the folder and go to its "Properties", then go to the tab "General" where you have to activate the option "Hidden" in the "Attributes:" area. Tick the check box, then confirm the change by clicking on OK, which would make the folder hidden in Windows Explorer. To make this directory visible again, open the "Folder options" in the Control Panel and activate the option "Show hidden files, folders and drives" under "Advanced settings" and "Hidden files and folders". For an easier and more secured method, use the Wise Folder Hider tool, which ensures that folders can be seen only after entering a password. When it restarts, you can define a master password which will protect all folders. To hide a directory, simply drag it in the program window or select it via the button "Hide folder". The folder will then disappear immediately.
09 [PowerPoint] Improve concentration through specific display of headings
In PowerPoint, you can display the key points of your presentation with a mouse click at any time of your choice. This has the benefit of directing the audience to concentrate only on the current point, not the ones that you want to discuss later. After you have written your headings on a PowerPoint slide as always, mark the first point and search for a suitable effect for revealing the key point under "Animations". In the same manner, gradually mark all the headings and add an effect to every point. As soon as you start the presentation after pressing the [F5] key, the key points will be revealed at the appropriate time, accompanied by the effect of your choice.
10 [Windows 10] System time from an Atomic clock
Windows automatically Windows automatically synchronises the system time with a time server. This synchronisation is done by default, once every week. Here, Windows carries out the synchronisation with the Internet time server time.Windows.com. But the operating system can also fetch time information from the atomic clock from various sources.
In order to switch over to the atomic clock as your PC clock, open the applet "Date and Time" in the Control Panel and go to the "Internet Time" tab. Next, click on "Change settings" to open the "Internet time settings" window. Here, for example, type "ptbtime1.ptb.de" behind "Server:", then click on the button "Update now" and confirm this action by clicking on OK. Windows will immediately fetch the time from the time server of the relevant source, which in this case is the Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig. The advantage of atomic clocks is that they have the most precise time of all clocks. Where the popular consumer wristwatches deviate one second from the actual time, which only happens in atomic clocks after a million years.
11 [Excel] Generate random numbers using an Excel formula
In Excel, there is a formula that you can use to generate a random number. This can be useful in some cases, like if you need to create some lottery draw numbers. The general formula for generating random numbers is: "=RAND()". Here, Excel gives any number between 0 and 1. If you want other random numbers, then you have to edit the formula accordingly. In order to get a random number equal to 0 and less than X, type "=RAND()*X". Simply replace the "X" by any number. If you prefer the random number to range from 1 to X then enter "=RAND()*(X-1)+1". The "X" can be replaced by the highest random number of your number range, for example, 49, while 1 represents the lower limit.
12 [Windows 7] Change default program for a file type
You have linked a file type, for example JPG files, with a program like Adobe Photoshop for the command "Open with…" and now wish to change this configured default? Select a JPG file and after right-clicking it, select "Open with…" in the context menu. In the next Window, there will be a message stating that the file cannot be opened. Now click on the radio button for "Select program from a list of installed programs". In the following window "Open with", select the option "Windows Photo Viewer" in the "Recommended Programs" section, set a check mark for "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" and press the OK button. In future, you can quickly open every JPG file in Windows Photo Viewer by double-clicking on it, instead of booting up Photoshop and losing valuable time in waiting for it to open the file.
You can also change the default program in the Control Panel. To do this, click on "Standard Programs" in the start menu of Windows 7 and go to "Set your default programs". Scroll down in the "Programs" list to search for "Windows Photo Viewer", then click on the "Set this program as default" check box and apply the change by clicking on OK.
13 [Outlook] Make missing Outlook folders visible again
If you cannot find an Outlook folder, you should first open the tab "View" and navigate to the group "Layout" in the menu group. Here, click on "Folder area" and select the option "Normal". The missing folder Temporary deactivation of the virus scanner can rescue a jerky installation should now be visible again. If not, then the wrong filter settings may be the cause of the folders becoming invisible. Stay on the tab "View" and go to the group "Current View", then open the "View Settings" and check whether the option "Off" is selected next to the button "Filters". Otherwise, click on the button and search for the settings in the "Filters" window.
14 [Office] Resolve problems during installation of Office packages
Occasionally, the installation of Microsoft Office could get stuck at 90 percent. This is the case when the Windows Installer is completing other tasks at the same time, which causes Office to remain in the queue. Often times, the Windows Installer is overburdened with the installation of a large number of Windows updates. If that’s the case, it’s better to just to wait for a few minutes. If there’s still no progress after some time or the installation has clearly hanged, then open the Task Manager and look for the process "Windows Update Standalone Installer" (wusa.exe). Terminate this process by clicking on "End process", then restart the installation process. If problems occur again, then your virus scanner could be the culprit. If so, open your anti-virus program and disable it. Should the installation still hang, then restart Windows and try installing it again.
15 [Word] Create a reader-friendly Word document with columns
Text are more readable when divided to multiple columns, rather than rows that over the entire page width. In order to divide your text walls into columns, go to the tab "Layout" and click on the button "Columns" in the group "Page Setup". In the drop-down menu, select either one of the preset column layouts or configure your individual pages under "More columns". The dialog field "Columns" offers all parameters that you need to design the layout according to your own settings. Choose one of the presets or set the number of columns manually under "More columns". You have the option to determine the width of the individual columns and their distance to each other via the input fields, as well as disabling the "Equal column width" for variable ones. If you want Word to visually demarcate the columns using the intermediate line, then set a check mark for "Intermediate line". In the drop-down menu "Apply to", you can define for what document area should the settings be applicable. You can choose between the entire document or the section behind the cursor position.
16 [Word] Make a checklist with checkboxes
A checklist with boxes to cross can be quickly made in Word. Before you start, it makes sense to create a table so that the checkboxes are not connected to the following text. Open the "Insert" menu and create a table with two columns in the group "Tables"; the number of rows depends on the number of boxes. Now place the box icon in the left column. In the "Insert" menu, click on "Symbols" on the extreme right and open the "More symbols" via "Symbol". If the font "Wingdings" is set, then you will find many box icons in the middle of the fifth row from top. Click on the box of your choice and then press the button "Insert" to place it at the start of the table column. In this manner, you can provide every table row with a box. To customise the table to your contents, select the table and after right-clicking on it, go to the context command "Auto-adjust | Autoadjust contents". Lastly, remove the border of the table. To do this, open the "Layout" menu and click on "Properties" in the "Table" group. After clicking on the button "Borders and Shadows", select the option "Without" for "Borders" and confirm your selection by clicking on OK. For a better overview of the checklist, you can have the "Grid lines" displayed under "Layout".
17 [Windows 10] Get access to the BIOS or UEFI
Important computer settings and parameters, like changing the boot sequence, can be done in the BIOS (basic input/output system). There are reasons why it's not readily accessible, but you can access it quite easily. In order to access the BIOS (or the graphical interface UEFI found in newer PCs), go to the "Settings", select "Update & Security" and go to "Restore". Here, click on the button "Restart now" under "Advanced Start" to get access to UEFI.
Once your computer boots up again, go to the login screen. Instead of typing your password now, press the Power button on the bottom right with the Shift key held and click on the option "Restart". The UEFI will now open.
If Windows 10 is running on a somewhat older PC, then the BIOS can be accessed via a key during the boot up process. The key for BIOS access depends on the manufacturer. Simply try the keys [F1], [F2], [F8], [F10], [Del] or [Esc] after switching on your PC; one of it will be the key you need to press.
18 [Hard disk] Determine the model name and technical data of a hard disk
To find out the type of hard disk that is running on your computer, open the "Run" window using the key combination [Windows] + [R], then type the command "devmgmt.msc" and confirm by pressing OK. In the Device Manager, click on the category "Drives" below and Windows will show you all the installed hard disks. If you are also interested in more information, such as the drive’s performance or features, then the tool Speccy can help you retrieve that information. After booting up the tool, open the category "Storage" and you will find all the information regarding your hard disk there, right up to its temperature. For even more information, check out CrystalDiskInfo instead.
19 [RAM] Optimise computer performance with RAM disk
You can gain a significant performance boost with the help of a RAM disk, because RAM memory works 10 to 26 times faster than even flash-based SSDs. A special software and a driver will lead Windows to believe that it deals with an SSD when it comes to RAM. The RAM disk is best suited not only for installing programs that need a lot of computing Power, but also for the automatic disposal of Cache and temporary files. The tool SoftPerfect RAM disk can help you create one. Boot up the tool and click on the Plus icon on the top left. Then select size, drive letter and the file system "NTFS". After clicking on OK, the RAM disk will appear as a drive in Explorer.
In order to permanently use a program that you have installed on the RAM disk, you will need a map of the disk since its contents get deleted at every restart. This map can also be created using the SoftPerfect RAM Disk tool. To do this, click on "Map" and select "Create map". After double-clicking on the RAM disk, you can select the recently created map under "Map file name". If it updates itself after every use of the installed program, then go ahead and enable the "Save content in map" option as well. The tool will save the content of the RAM disk on your hard disk after restarting the computer and will transfer the map automatically to the RAM disk from Windows after the restart.
20 [PlayStation] Transfer data from a PlayStation 4 to a PlayStation 4 Pro
With the PlayStation 4 Pro, Sony now has a more powerful version of the PlayStation 4. Considering that all PS4 games also run on the Pro model, Sony has made it so that data transfer from PS4 to PS4 Pro and vice versa is possible. To do this, the PS4 will need the latest firmware version and you will need a LAN cable for data transfer. Connect the PlayStation 4 Pro to a TV and boot up the console. After logging into your PlayStation Network account, the operating system will ask you whether you wish to transfer the data from your old PS4. Hold the Power button on your PS4 – while it’s switched on –till it beeps. Now connect both the consoles with the LAN cable and follow the instructions given on the PS4 Pro. The transfer process is flexible, allowing you to select what gets transferred. To end the process, indicate your wish to use the PS4 Pro as the primary system, then the data transfer will begin after that.
21 [Laptop] What to do when the Power button on the laptop has stopped working?
If the Power button on your Notebook stops working, then it is possible to repair it or replace it with a trick. However, we recommend backing up your data to an external hard disk before you start with the repairs.
First, switch off your laptop and unscrew the device. In some models, you can simply remove the cover above the keyboard. Check whether the area around the Power button is dirty and clean it if required. Under certain conditions, you may notice a defect. Leave such repairs to a professional instead of trying to solve it yourself. In many cases, it’s a loose contact causing a problem, so you’ll have to pay a small cost for some re-soldering work.
The other alternative is a trick that can be used when the computer is running. First, boot to the BIOS and look for a function that lets you start the laptop via a defined key on the keyboard. If you cannot find it then look for “Power State after power loss”. A desktop computer can be booted up using this option if the power is switched on. This can also work for the Notebook under certain conditions.
22 [Graphics Card] Disable the onboard graphics card installed on the motherboard
If Windows is using the wrong graphics card, then you can disable the on-board graphics card without any problems and use a dedicated GPU instead. In most of the cases, Windows activates the dedicated hardware automatically as soon as the on-board graphics card is not power enough, like when playing games. If you wish to always use the installed card, then you have to manually disable the on-board card. To do this, press [Windows] and [R] simultaneously to open the “Run” command window. Then, type the command "devmgmt.msc" here and click on “OK” – this starts the device manager. In the new window, open the category “Graphics Card” and right-click on your on-board graphics card. Now, select the option “Disable” and confirm your choice with “OK”.
23 [Keyboard] The reliable way to calculate your typing speed
How many characters can you type? Calculate your typing speed and find out how fast you are with ten fingers, or via the "hunt and peck" system. You can run a speed test on the website 10fastfingers.com, which lasts for about a minute. Type as many words as possible in that duration of time and the site will show you your typing speed in words per minute (WPM), along with the number of key strokes you’ve made while typing. You can share your results online on Facebook, or create a screenshot that you can use elsewhere.
24 [DVD Drive] You can do this if Windows does not recognise the inserted DVD
If Windows refuses to read your DVDs, then a few solutions could help. First, go to “Computer” and see if the drive is shown here. If it is, insert the DVD, otherwise go to the “Device Manager” via the Start menu. In the list, double-click on the DVD drive and check whether the device is enabled. You can then check for a new driver via the tab “Driver” and the button “Update driver”.
It is possible that the DVD is damaged or has scratches. In this case, you should wipe the disk with a fine cloth so that it’s clean. If there is a second drive, then you can test whether the DVD or its drive is damaged. If these tips do not help then the only option is to get the DVD drive checked by an expert.
25 [Internet Explorer] Activate and configure pop-up blocker
Like every browser, Internet Explorer also has a pop-up blocker to go with it. To install it, click on the small gearwheel icon on the top right and select the option "Internet options". In the next window, open the tab "Data protection"; the pop-up blocker can be enabled or disabled here. On the right, you will find the "Settings" button. This menu gives you the option to specify individual websites like chip.com.my under "Exceptions", which means you’ll allow the site to show pop-ups. Set a check mark for "Display notifications bar if a pop-up is blocked" and the browser will inform you whenever it does so. The "Block level" can also be set from "Low (Allow popups from safe websites)" to "Medium (Block most of the automatic popups)", or "High (Block all popups)".
26 [VLC Media Player] Create playback list for songs or videos
The Open Source player, VLC, not only processes every media format well, but also gives you the option to create your own audio and video playlist with a little bit of effort. Right-click on any audio or video file and click on the "Add playlist to VLC Media Player" command in the context menu. If this option is missing, then start the VLC Player and simply drag the file to it. Once that’s done, you can then add more songs or videos via the context command, or Drag & Drop. If you wish to add several files at once in the playlist, hold the [Ctrl] key while selecting the files. You can arrange the files as you want in the playlist, by simply moving them up or down the list using a mouse. In addition, you can also start or stop playback of media files using the buttons on the lower window margin. One more feature is the ability to pack individual titles into a permanent loop, skip or random start. You can save the resulting playlist using the shortcut [Ctrl] + [Y].
27 [Smartphone] Remotely control your PC using your cell phone via Bluetooth or WLAN
With the support from some apps, you can use your smartphone as a control centre for your PC. This is very convenient when you want to access the PC from your couch to stream videos or photos to the TV. An Android app called the "Mouse & Keyboard Remote" can do this. After downloading and installing the app on the smartphone, download the Remote-Control Server to your PC and install it. Ensure that the cell phone and PC, that you are using for this, are in the same network. Note that the Remote-Control Server will show the IP address of the PC that you wish to control. If the program is blocked by Windows firewall, click on "Allow access". Next, start the "Mouse & Keyboard Remote" app on your smartphone. With this app, you can automatically search for the server or add it manually and enter the IP address.
Finally, select "Connect" and set your preferred mode of control. Once that’s all done, your smartphone will function as a remote control for your PC, thus allowing you to type text, scroll, zoom, playback songs and control presentations.
28 [Photoshop] Optimise portraits using blur
An important element of the portrait retouching Photoshop is the elimination of annoying details like skin blemishes. To do this, select the "Area repair brush" in the toolbar and simply "paint over" the ugly spots using this tool. An absolute classic in portrait retouching is the use of blurs. Duplicate the layer that contains your image, then right-click on the duplicated layer and go the context command "Convert to smart object". Next, add a filter via "Filter | Blur filter | Gaussian Blur". The amount of radius for the blur depends on the motif and your imagination, so just experiment with it to see what works for you. Once that’s done, you will see a smart filter under the layer. After right-clicking on it, select the button "Back" in the properties and you can now paint over the image using a soft white brush. Last but not least, you also have the option to reduce the opacity of the duplicate layer. This allows you to mix both the layers, causing the blur to appear more natural.
29 [Photo management] Integrate shooting time in the file names of digital photos
Reading the time of capture in the file name would be of help while sorting photos, something that is made possible with Namexif. Download the tool and then doubleclick on the .exe file to start it; you have to do this every time you need to use it. After that, you are able to check individual photos with "Add files" or rename an entire folder with "Add Dir", as well as delete all entries from the list with "Clear List". However, do note that you cannot delete individual files. Finally, click on "Next" and set the format of the new file name on the next page. "YYYY" stands for the year, "MM" for the month, "DD" for the day, "hh" for the hour, "mm" for the minutes and "ss" for seconds; you can have the date and time follow the original name of the file or a random name. If the original name also appears in the new file name, then set a check mark for the option "Add original name at the end". If you wish to specify a specific ending, enable the option to "Add name (suffix)" and enter the desired name in the input field. However, make sure that you only use one or the other at any given time, or else Namexif will not generate any logical name.
30 [Photography] Capture selfies skillfully and distribute them cautiously
Self-portraits using the smartphone are so popular these days that most users feel the need to post them everywhere. However, not every selfie will evoke positive reactions. Here are some important rules before you take those frontal shots.
Look up: It often helps to hold the camera somewhat higher so that you are not in the shadow. Incidentally, your face will appear slimmer as a result.
Hold your breath: This helps you to take up a stable position and prevents shaky pictures. Pay attention to the environment: Never take a photo against a bad background or in front of a mirror.
Do not get tensed: You should have a natural smile. Think of something funny. Use the front camera: Despite the higher resolution of the main camera, the front camera is sufficient for a selfie. You can also see the image section.
Avoid awkwardness: There are places that are not suitable backgrounds for a selfie. Places like Holocaust memorials, disaster or accident venues come to mind. Also, ignore that trend of adhesive tape selfies!
Think before you post: Restrict the number of people who are allowed to view your selfies, because you don’t know when your employer is stalking your social media profiles with keen interest.
31 [Image Editing] Resize batches of JPEG images with just a few clicks
JPEG images can be resized by image editing software, but it's tedious to do so one by one. A free tool, such as Batch Image Resizer or FastStone Photo Resizer, makes things easier. Install the tool you need or use an online, then create a folder with the pictures that you wish to reduce. Start the tool of your choice - for example, Batch Image Resizer - and select the folder with pictures, then choose the output format for the pictures and the size you need. Finally, click “Start” to begin. This should resize all the images you’ve selected in an output folder of your choice.
32 [GIMP] Select pale lips with the Quick Mask and add colour to them
The image editing program GIMP provides a few functions that you can use to add more colour to the lips of your photo models. Open the image to be edited in GIMP and enable the Quick Mask by pressing the key combination [Shift] + [Q]. There will be a reddish area over the image. Select “White” as the foreground colour and click on the Brush tool. Adjust the brush size such that you can paint the lips well. If you go beyond the edge, then change the foreground colour to “Black”. You can also paint the smallest of errors, if you want. When you are happy with the result, press [Shift] + [Q] again. The mask will be converted to a selection.
After selecting, you can start colouring the lips. To do this, go to the “New Layer” under “Layer”, give the new layer a name of your choice, then set “Transparency” as the layer fill type. Next, select a strong shade of red as the foreground colour, then click on the Fill tool and highlight the selection with the foreground colour. In the Layers window, set the mode to “Hue”. If you set the mode to “Colour” you should reduce the opacity a bit in order to slightly emphasize the lips.
33 [Camera] Find out how often the camera trigger was pressed
If you wish to buy a used camera from eBay then the frequently asked question by the interested party is: How often has the camera been used? To answer that question, go to the site robo47.net and upload your last photo as a JPEG image; note that the file size must not exceed 128MB. Click on “Read” and you should then see the web service’s analysis of the EXIF data stored in the picture, which includes the number of times the trigger was pressed. You should be able to see the result after a few seconds.
Tip: Do not trust the service fully. Use it only for an image for testing purposes. Sharpness, composition and similar elements do not play any role here.
34 [Photography] Avoid colour casts in photos by using the correct colour value
In order to avoid colour casts in photos, you have to note a few important things: a setting in digital cameras called “white balance”. The camera needs this setting to display white colours correctly in the finished photo.
The value of the white balance is specified as a number measured in Kelvin. In closed spaces and in artificial light, you will need a value from approximately 3000K onwards, while a value higher than 6000K is required on a sunny day. If the current Kelvin value is too low then white surfaces will get a blue colour cast. If it is too high then these surfaces will appear reddish. Many cameras have an “Automatic white balance” or presets for various environments. The former can be rather accurate, but can be inaccurate under artificial light. In that case, using the presets might be more accurate.