If you missed Rob Griffiths great presentation at the June General Meeting you can view the QuickTime version and Keynote slides by following the links below.

http://manytricks.com/download/pmug/pmugQT.mov

http://manytricks.com/download/pmug/mtpmug.zip

Also Rob left us a discount code to use for 25 % off all purchases from “Many Tricks” software web site. http://manytricks.com

Just check out the members only page for the discount code.

This week you have TWO choices for PMUG’s Question Clinic.  Join PMUG volunteers between 600pm and 730pm:

At   The Mac Store at  Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton   (3205 SW Cedar Hills Blvd) or   The Mac Store at  Clackamas Town Center  (12000 SE 82nd Ave).

We are planning to hold Tuesday Clinic at The Mac Store at Cedar Hills Crossing tonight, 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  Please note that the store is having some construction, and if we find it is taking over our normal meeting space, then we will move to the WiFi area inside the Mall.

Here is the group photo from MacCamp 50.  Thank you to everyone who attended and who worked to make the Camp such great fun.

Photo by Joshin Yamada

Everyone, please take note that PMUG has changed to a new Post Office Box.  It is still at the same Post Office, but is just a bit smaller.   The new box number is  8948, just one number changed.  So if you have any cards or Mouse Tracks that you hand out, please change PO Box 8949 to PO Box 8948.  That also changes the ZIP+4, if you use it, to 97207-8948.

Most people log on to The Electric Sheep by using the FirstClass software. However if you want to check your Sheep email from a public computer, you can access the Sheep server through a web link.

From your web browser go to this link http://cafe.pmug.org/Login/

Enter your Electric Sheep login and password in the dropdown window. Please note, this access can be much slower than directly through FirstClass.

“Man in harmony with Nature” vs. “man and what he has done to Nature”

by Gary Pool

I used an original blue & white G3 Macintosh running Photoshop 5.0 to create these digital compositions. This work, which ultimately became two individual images by printing at various stages of creation, began as many images scanned into Photoshop at 300 ppi and then inserted into individual layers. Then the images were cleaned up and strategically placed for best visual effect. Next, I used Photoshop Layer Blending Options to compose the “Man in harmony with Nature” image.

Using the “Man in harmony with Nature” image I added a black color over-lay, once again using Layer Blending Options. Next I applied the Twirl and Spherize filters (both resident in Photoshop) to specific layers, creating “man and what he has done to Nature.”

This is a good illustration how one idea can become two entirely different compositions.

Making a QTVR Object

by Jon Sanbo

QuickTime Virtual Reality (QTVR) allows pictures to be interactive. There are two different styles. One style is where it seems you are pivoting around for a 360° panorama. You can look from side to side, up and down, and zoom in or out of the picture. The other style lets you rotate or “walk around” the object. You can view it from all angles and zoom in and out.

Drag your mouse horizontally on the QTVR movie at left to see that it gives much more information than a still picture from one viewpoint. You can turn the object around and see all of the sides; this adds depth to the item.

One digital camera website provides a virtual tour of many cameras they review using QTVR. You can see where all the buttons, doors, ports, and knobs are located.

[singlepic id=1 w=320 h=240 float=right]

The four basic steps to creating a QTVR are: (1) plan what you are going to do; (2) take pictures; (3) make your still pictures into a movie; (4) convert the movie to QTVR. I use iPhoto, iMovie, and QTVR Edit Object.

Editor’s Note: For current information on creating your own QTVRs, start by reviewing the information at the Apple website. Continue by googling “How to create QTVR Panorana Mac OS X”.

Picture Taking Hints

Use light, neutral colored backgrounds to reduce the harshness of the shadows. The background will also get rid of distractions behind the object. Mount the camera on a tripod.