Hello All,
I demonstrated vignetting at the May 2021 meeting of the SLO Bytes Photo Group.
My demo created a white frame around an image.  I was asked how to vignette with a black frame.
The answer is to move the Vignette Amount slider toward the left for black and right for white.
I have a video at https://www.fullbean.com/tutorials/luminar-ai-vignetting.mp4
Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
Using the Chrome browser, I recently downloaded a file from my personal web site and decided to update it.  I did the update and then uploaded it.  When I downloaded it again, it hadn't changed.
I refreshed the download page and downloaded the document again.  Same story.  I then switched to Microsoft Edge and again downloaded the file.  This time, I got the revised file.

I suspected that Chrome was retrieving the file from cache.  I decided to purge the cache and see what happened.
Purging the cache solved the problem.  Edge would have behaved as Chrome did in how it handles cache.

I uploaded a Word document explaining the process with screenshots.
View it at http://www.fullbean.com/tutorials/clear-chrome-cache/docx
Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
I use Outlook 365 as my primary e-mail client.  I often save important correspondence in nested folders within Outlook.

Sometimes, when I move a message from the In Box to another folder, I inadvertently misfile it and can’t find it readily.
I locate wayward e-mails by using Outlook’s Search function 

As originally configured, Searchfinds the document(s) and I can then refile it properly but I want to know where I originally misdirected it.
Here is how I get that information.

 I add the In Folder column to my Outlook file system.
To do so, open Outlook and at the file system, click on the View tab.
Select Add Columns
 From Select available columns from, scroll the drop-down menu
 
Choose In Folder and click the Add Button/OK
 
This will add the In Folder column to your Outlook file system

This information, with explanatory screen shots to better illustrate the steps, is viewable as a Word document on my web site at
https://www.fullbean.com/tutorials/in-folder.docx
Ralph Sutter
 

Hello All,
Here are my Notes from the SLO Bytes Photo Group Session of 04/11/2021
Notes from the Meeting of 04/11/2021
TOPIC: Black and White - Architecture The meeting took place via Zoom

In the First Segment, we saw images of architecture on-line from humble to haughty and then rendered in black and white.

Stanford Brown showed sharp images of ancient temples in Cambodia

The Second Session opened with Ralph Sutter showing chicken coops and local buildings first in full color and subsequently reduced to black and white.

Kaye Raul followed suit, sharing houses throughout the San Luis Obispo area.

Alan Raul opened with structures and vessels by the sea; Morro Bay, Port San Luis and Avila, along with driftwood shelters and the iconic Halcyon Temple of the People.
View Alan's pictures at https://www.365.acdsee.com/en/album/alan/2191366/

John Waller, using Photoshop, showed the different results to be achieved by first allowing Photoshop to transform color images to black and white and then manipulating custom color ranges for much different results. John used familiar sites for his transformations; the Santa Barbara Mission, Oceano Train Depot and the Arroyo Grande one room schoolhouse.

Bob Ward carefully edited a chicken coop before moving to the old ranch house beside Costco San Luis Obispo and finally applying several of Luminar AI's portrait tools to change the look of the subject.

Doug Depue introduced the group to iFun Screen Recorder, https://recorder.iobit.com/ using it for a video capture of content from Surfline.

Our next meeting will take place on May 16th pushed back one week by Mothers' Day falling on May 9th.
The topic is Color Please share images in which color stands out; not just color photographs but eye-catching images dominated by one or more colors. The meeting will take place via Zoom.

A Zoom invitation will be e-mailed to Photo Group members shortly before the meeting
The meeting schedule for the remainder of 2021 is as follows
   May 16 (Mothers' Day falls on May 9th)
   June 13
   July 11
   August 8
   September 12
   October 10
   November 14
   December 12

Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
I just uploaded the April 2021 PUSH articles offered by SLO Bytes' parent organization, APCUG
View the Table of Contents at https://www.slobytes.org/push/push-condensed.html and
https://www.slobytes.org/push/0421/index.html
Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
Here are my Notes for the SLO Bytes Photo Group session of 03/14/2021
TOPIC: Perspective  The meeting took place via Zoom

In the First Segment, Alan Raul shared historical photos of San Diego Bay

Doug Depue documented erosion along Highway 1 above Cambria with numerous before and after images showing the changes wrought by water.

Bob Ward offered nostalgic photos of a sawmill near Shaver Lake, Laguna Lake emptied by drought and a young girl riding a turtle at Knotts Berry Farm

The Second Session opened with Ralph Sutter displaying common objects from uncommon angles.

Stanford Brown brought images of falling fences, curving paths and reflections on a wine glass

Alan Raul shared images of railroad tracks, walkways, bridges, staircases and a unknown tunnel in Pismo Beach. He also showed images of the Pismo Beach Pier in both color and black and white. His images were modified using Aurora HDR and Luminar Ai and are available to view at
http://www.365.acdsee.com/folders_public.php?profileid=1618852&folderid=2190592

Kaye Raul took us to Avila Beach for seascapes before moving inland to towers and skies below the Nipomo Mesa

John Waller strolled the Boardwalk from Grand Avenue toward Pismo Beach demonstrating the technique of foreshortening through his choice of lenses

In the final segment, Alan showed modifying an image in Aurora HDR and also converting the image to his preset black and white template.

Ralph closed out the meeting with a demonstration of the Historical Imagery feature of Google Earth Pro

Our next meeting will take place on April 11th.
The topic is Black and White Photography
For that meeting, Ralph uploaded a pair of color images, a .jpg and a raw image, inviting each member to convert them to black and white and share the results with the group at the April meeting.
Download them at https://www.slobytes.org/digital/images/sample-for-bw.jpg and https://www.slobytes.org/digital/images/sample-for-bw.RW2
The remainder of that meeting will be devoted to black and white images of architecture

The meeting will take place via Zoom.

A Zoom invitation will be e-mailed to Photo Group members shortly before the meeting
The meeting schedule for the remainder of 2021 is as follows
   May 16 (Mothers' Day falls on May 9th)
   June 13
   July 11
   August 8
   September 12
   October 10
   November 14
   December 12

Ralph Sutter

Hello All
What follows is a re-post on Wednesday workshops offered this month by SLO Bytes' parent organization, APCUG.
Information regarding registration for these free events is included in the body.
Ralph Sutter

MARCH WORKSHOPS
9 am PT, 10 am MT, 11 am CT, 12 pm ET

March 10 – Macs vs PCs
March 17 – Linux
March 24 – Mailchimp
March 31 -  Backing Up
 
3/10/21
 
Macs vs Windows PCs registration
https://forms.gle/Q2gSX669NhobwX8QA
Registration closes at 11:30 pm (your time) on March 9.
 
MACS VS WINDOWS PCS
Join Larry for a presentation on MAC vs PC where he compares features and shows you the pros and cons of each.
 
Many of you are probably Windows users, but maybe you're a Windows user because that's what you have used all your life and probably have never considered anything else. But, there may come a day when you will be faced with the need to upgrade or get a new computer.
 
Larry will show you why you should consider leaving Microsoft Windows and go with an Apple product such as a MAC Mini, Macbook Pro laptop, or an integrated unit such as the iMac. 
•   Some of you will undoubtedly say that you don't want to learn a new operating system.
•   Some of you will dismiss alternatives as too expensive.
•   Some of you may fear the unknown because of having to learn something new.
•   Some of you will say there are Windows programs you have to have that you can't get on a MAC.
He hopes to dispel some of these myths as he explains the similarities between a MAC and a PC. Larry will show you that you can switch without it costing an arm and a leg as you may have thought.
 
Larry will give you compelling reasons why MAC PC's are easier to use, safer from virus’, and provide applications that are not bloated in size, saving you money on storage costs, not to mention the ease of transferring applications from one MAC to another or even that of transferring your Windows files using the built-in features in the MAC. He will also show you how backup and restoration of your files are made simple and, more importantly, testable so that should the day come that you need them, you can be assured they will work.
 
As a certified Microsoft Engineer with hundreds of Windows applications to his credit, he discovered the ease of using a MAC when he decided to write an iOS application for his iPhone. The only way to compile it was on a MAC PC, so he purchased his first MAC Mini in 2012 and after a short time using it, switched exclusively to using a MAC for all of his computer needs. Larry has never looked back but, as you will learn, there are ways to have your cake and eat it too by running a copy of your favorite Windows OS right on your MAC for those times when nothing but Windows will solve your problem.
 
________________________________________
 
3/17/21

Learning Linux #6 registration
https://forms.gle/CXMdjoGAEdtPzJoC9
This is the same link as the Linux #5 workshop in January; if you registered for that one you do not need to register again.
Registration closes at 11:30 pm (your time) on Tuesday, March 16.
 
SETTINGS AND FILES AND COMMANDS, OH MY
At the March Learning Linux workshop, we will cover a number of topics. First, we'll take a look at the differences between selected Distros and what they offer in terms of settings and preferences. Some distros give you a limited selection and others give you the kitchen sink.  Then we will present a Beginner's Guide to the Linux file structure, which varies a bit from what is found in Windows. Finally, we'll begin a series of presentations on Basic Commands for the Terminal for Beginners. Another session will be offered at the May workshop.
 
________________________________________
 
3/24/21
 
Mailchimp registration
https://forms.gle/p6aVaVy3mWnfjjEq9
Registration closes at 11:30 pm (your time) on March 23.
 
EASILY STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MEMBERS WITH MAILCHIMP
Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing tools used for communicating with your group’s target market – members and prospective members. In this APCUG workshop, we will show how to utilize this free web-based app for sending information to your club or group. We will also show how to create a free account, build a mailing list, and develop an informational email for your members. The app has built-in templates to create compelling and interesting electronic messages, eBulletins, newsletters, and more. Our panel will share their experiences using Mailchimp and how they develop content for their messages. The Mailchimp team members are from the groups that won 1st place in the 2019 and 2020 eBulletin contests.
Bill James, VP, Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Deb Meisels, VP, Westchester PCUG, New York
Pierre Darmon, President, Westchester PCUG
 
________________________________________
 
3/31/21

Backing Up registration
https://forms.gle/5TzUVaPCgyrjK1Fg9
Registration closes at 11:30 pm (your time) on March 30.
 
IT IS WORLD BACK UP DAY ON MARCH 31, WE WILL BE TAKING THE PLEDGE 😉
 
HOW AND WHY TO BACK UP YOUR HARD DRIVE
Don’t lose any or all of your important data: documents, photos, music, or videos.
• Your computer could be hit by a virus.
• Ransomware could hold your files hostage.
• You should be prepared for a natural disaster
• Hard drives sometimes fail.
 
We will look at an overview of backing up your hard drive and your smartphone during this workshop. There will also be demonstrations of various back-up apps: Bob Gostischa will demo Aomei, Bill James will show us how the Windows 10 File History works, plus another (TBD) demos of backup programs. Maybe you will find the one for you!
 
Received from Judy Taylour
 
 




 

Hi Alan,
I know the product.  I have 2 cases of it in my pantry but I still enjoy making things from scratch.
Yesterday, I blended my version of Chinese Five Spices.
For those who are curious, here's the composition
2 tablespoons aniseed
2 tablespoons fennel seed
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons whole cloves
2 tablespoons whole peppercorns
Grind all together, sift and regrind

Ralph Sutter