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July 1, 2022

Magnet App

Revisiting a popular Productivity tool

Back in 2018, I wrote about Magnet - an awesome productivity tool for multi window management. Since it's been a few year, I thought I do a quick follow up Post.

Magnet App

Four Things I Learned

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June 24, 2022

Scanning Dialog Box

A look at some Scan Options

When you scan items into your computer, using the Apple scanning api, there are several options in the dialog box. This blog post takes a look at those options.

Basic Operations

I would recommend using the ???Auto Selection??? and the Detect Separate items. Then make the adjustments as needed. This is an easy way to scan an image into your Mac.

Acquire Image

Scan Configurations

Here???s is a breakdown of the various configurations that Apple provides.

Scan Mode - Choose Flatbed or Document Feeder from the pop-up menu. Most cases it will be flatbed - where you scan and remove items.

Kind - What type of image are you scanning; Text, Black & White, or Color.

Resolution - What quality scan should you use. I would recommend using

Size - This is the size of the area being scanned. This is important if you know the size of the document you???re scanning. This will tell you if you???re getting the entire document size.

Rotation Angle - If you didn???t place the object straight on the scanner, you will need to adjust the angle. When you adjust the

Image Correction - Adjust the color or exposure of the scanned image. Choose Manual, then adjust the controls. In most cases, you are better off doing this post scan in photo editing software.

Unsharp Mask - Makes the edges of certain image areas clearer. Turn off this option to leave softer edges.

Descreening - Removes the ripple pattern that might appear in subtly shaded image areas, such as skin tones. This option improves results when scanning magazines or newspapers. (The results of descreening do not appear in the preview image, only in your scanned image.)

Backlight Correction - Removes shadows from photos that have too much background light.

Dust Removal - Removes dust marks from your originals automatically.

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June 17, 2022

Roxio Akrilic

Convert Your Images To Art

Are you looking for a way to take your photos to the next level? Roxio Akrilic can help. With this amazing software, you can transform your photos into stunning photo art. Whether you want to create a work of art for your home or give the perfect gift, Roxio Akrilic can help you achieve your goals. Best of all, it's easy to use! So why wait? Give Roxio Akrilic a try today and see what you can create!

Roxio Akrilic

Four Things I Learned

To get to the Art effects, you need to go through several steps, first the focus area, then Crop and Rotate, then set the color mood, then some adjustments (such as focus, emphasized, creative), then you can apply the art style.

There are 13 Art Styles and 6 photo styles.

Art Styles options: Abstract, Colorful Glass, Composition, Impressionist, Night Road, Red Fox, Spring, Soft Light, Rolling Fields, Fall Colors, Ink and Wash, Somber, Swirly Sky.

Photo Styles: Cool, Modern B&W, Modern Fade, Retro B&W, Retro Fade, Warm.

Custom Import - You can even import an image to use that image style - which is great when you want to maintain colors on a blog post.

To get an idea of the application capabilities, download the Akrillic Uer Guide.

Sample Image

Composition-250
Composition Example

Colorful Glass-250
ColorfulGlass Example

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June 10, 2022

Corel AfterShot 3

Quick Review of the features of Corel After Shot 3

When you purchase Toast 19 Pro, you also get various other apps included including Corel AfterShot 3. I didn't need this as I have Affinity Photo and Photoscape X.

I decided to see what filters and features Corel has that other graphic programs don't have - and is it worth the space on my computer.

Corel After Shot 3

AfterShot 3

AfterShot Pro 3 is the latest version of Corel???s RAW photo editor. It offers a comprehensive set of features for adjusting, managing, and outputting your photos. AfterShot Pro 3 can handle RAW files from most popular cameras, as well as JPEGs and TIFFs.

One of the program???s strong suits is its non-destructive editing environment. You can make adjustments to your photos without harming the original file. This also makes it easy to revert back to an earlier version if you don???t like the changes you made.

AfterShot Pro 3 has a number of built-in presets that let you quickly improve your photos with just a few clicks. There are also tools for correcting lens distortion and chromatic aberration, removing noise, and improving detail in shadow areas. You can even create custom presets based on your own preferences or specific shooting conditions

Review and Thoughts

Luminar Neo has more powerful image adjustments. While the "Basic Adjustments" in Corel Aftershot are fine, you do have a lot more power in Luminar Neo and in Photoscape X.

The thumbnail view lets you see previews of images in a particular folder, and the thumbnails appear below the editor which is nice.

This is an application that would work well if I took a bunch of pictures at an event and there was some color correction that needed to be done before I sent it to a client.

There are a ton of camera profiles available to help fix images.

There's no filters or effects in Corel AfterShot 3.

The standard tools let you adjust the Temp, Brightness, Exposure, Highlights, Fill Light, Blacks, Contrast, Saturation, Vibrance, Hue, and Sharpening.

Final Thoughts

This isn't an application that I am likely to use that much. PhotoScape and Affinity Photo has a lot of similar functions. They also offer a lot more features that AfterShot is missing - such as advanced touch-ups and the ability to use masks and layers.

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June 3, 2022

Style App

Cool App is no longer usable

Style App is a pretty cool app that converts an image into an art piece. It's pretty cool because you could have a boring image and with a simple click of a button - you have a prize-winning art piece that would sure to pick up some $$$ in an NFT auction.

Product Description

Utilizing artificial intelligence and neural networks, Style App will take an image or video that you supply it and apply a style to your media.

The only problem is that since 2020, the application has failed to work. When you try to convert an image you get a dialog box that says, "Python cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified."

Style App Python

Here's the technical error in the macOS console log:

ASP: Library load (/private/var/folders/yj/rkhkt9915kv1c5py9jpzspdr0000gn/T/io.macdaddy.Style/_MEIZFeMx5/Python) rejected: library load disallowed by system policy

There's nothing you can do to get this working. It would be risky to try to run the application as the "root" user, as you don't know what other changes are also broken.

The folks at MacDaddy have to fix this application so that it will work again - not sure if the application has been abandoned as the website hasn't been updated in a while.

These are some of the designs that you can create:

Style Examples
Some Examples of Style that I did back in 2017

Stlye Effect Names

It appears that some styles have been removed from preview versions of the app. Here is the list of style names:

Finger Painting, ASCII Full, Mandelbrot, Starry Night, Colorful World, ASCII Empty, Kandinsky, Psychedelic, Stone Art, Pencil Drawing, Drip Painting, Acrylic Paint, Jagged, Cubist, Outline, Seurat, John Constable, Acrylic, Colored Pencil Lines, Edtaonisl, Kanagawa, Moving Castle, Oil Painting, The Scream, Ballpoint, Composition, Dot Drawing, Candy, Colored Shrapnel, Wavy Lines, Psychedelic Blobs

Alternatives

There are a few alternative applications:

Image Tricks by Belight Software - They have many of the similar styles that are found in Style App.

Graphic Converter - The Filter and Effect menu have a ton of effects that you can apply to images.

Photoscape X - Has about 40 different effects that you can apply. You can't "apply all" as separate images as you do in Style App, but spend about 5-mins and you'll certainly find something creative.

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May 27, 2022

iMac Boxes

Save that iMac Box!

If you're like most people, when you get a new iMac, the first thing you do is toss the box. After all, who needs it? You've got the computer and that's all you need, right? Wrong! If you're ever planning on moving your iMac, or even just transporting it from one room to another, keeping the box is a must.

iMac Box 2022
iMac on a Desk - Don't you love the new iMac Smell?

Here are four reasons why:

  • The box provides great protection for your computer. If something happens during transport and your computer gets damaged, having the original box will make filing a claim much easier.
  • The box can serve as extra storage for your cords and other accessories. Once everything is packed up inside of it, there's no need to worry about losing any of your cables or adapters - they'll be safe and sound until you need them again.
  • The box can help keep your desktop clean and organized. When everything has its own designated space in the packaging container, there's less chance of things getting jumbled around or misplaced during transport.
  • Finally - and this may be the most important reason of all - if something goes wrong with your computer after purchase but still within Apple's one-year warranty period, having the original packaging could mean that Apple will consider repairing or replacing your device under their warranty policy."

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May 20, 2022

CameraBag Pro

Great Tool for Videographers

CameraBag Pro is a professional photo editing software for macOS that can help you to improve your photos with just a few clicks. The app offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, as well as a wide range of features and filters that will let you edit your photos to perfection. CameraBag Pro also includes support for RAW files, so you can get the most out of your images. If you're looking for an easy way to improve your photography skills, then CameraBag Pro is definitely worth checking out.

Product Description

CameraBag lets you instantly apply one of the hundreds of beautiful presets to your photos (and videos with CameraBag Pro), and then dive deeper with ultra-intuitive professional adjustments. It's no wonder Apple awarded it the #2 Mac App of the Year and Professional Photographer Magazine called it "a revolution for photo editing."

Camera Bag Pro

Five Things I Like About CameraBag Pro

Here are the five things that I like about CameraBag Pro - and why you should get it if you are a videographer.

Color Correct Videos - The Pro version has the ability to correct videos and images. Now you don't have to play around with Final Cut Pro color settings. You can touch up videos right in CameraBag Pro and save the changes. This feature is really worth the $50 by itself. Basically, you save a lot of time second-guessing how to make a video clip better.

Export Filter LUT - When you have found the color style you like for a particular situation, you can save it as a LUT. You can then easily apply it to similar shots in Final Cut Pro. So for example, you can take a short video before a major production shoot, and use CameraBag Pro to create a LUT that will work for that scene and lighting.

20+ Classic Motion Film Stock Filters - CameraBag Pro 20+ Classic Motion Film Stock Filters is a professional photo editing app that allows you to add beautiful and realistic film stock filters to your photos. With this app, you can give your photos an old-school film look with just a few taps. The filters are adjustable, so you can customize the effect to suit your own style.

Quick Look / Presets - You have the ability to preview at all the settings. This gives you a good visual of what setting works for your particular image. Maybe you need Grain, Dynamics, or a slight Tone Curve adjustment? No more second-guessing - that's what the Presets are there for. Check to see how your image/video will look - you can still make adjustments to make the image stand out.

Not a Subscription Service - No monthly/yearly software subscription fees. Instead, a one-time payment for lifetime use of the software. Just pay for it now and use it whenever you need it. A nice change from other MacOS apps.

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May 13, 2022

Macintosh ExFAT Format

Best Format for USB Drives

Macintosh ExFat Format is the best way to format your USB drive for use with a Macintosh computer. This format provides compatibility with both Mac and Windows operating systems, making it the perfect choice for cross-platform users.

If you're having problems copying large files to a USB, chances are it's because the USB is using an outdated file system. Unfortunately, the only way to convert to ExFAT is to reformat the USB.

Enfain Ex F A T

Use ExFat Format

USB thumb drives are a convenient way to move files between computers, but their size can be limiting. A USB thumb drive formatted with the Macintosh ExFat file system can store large files without running into the size limitations of other file systems.

The ExFat file system was designed for flash drives and other portable media. It supports files up to 16 terabytes in size, making it ideal for storing large video or image files. The ExFat format is also compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, making it a versatile choice for transferring files between different platforms.

Microsoft Patents

Microsoft owns the patents on several elements of the ExFAT technical design. This means that any company that wants to use this technology must license it from Microsoft. While this may seem like a burden, it is actually a good thing for companies. Microsoft has a strong track record of protecting its patents and ensuring that its technology is used in a responsible way. This means that companies can be confident that they will not face legal challenges from Microsoft if they use ExFAT in their products.

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May 6, 2022

AppleScript Script Menu

Make AppleScript Accessible in Any app

Adding a script menu to the menu bar is an incredibly useful feature that I recently discovered. This allows you to easily run AppleScript whenever you would like, without having to search for it in your Applications folder. This can be really helpful if you need to run a script regularly, or if you just want easy access to your scripts.

Apple Script Menu

Five Things I Learned

Each application can have a specific set of AppleScript files. This helps declutter the menu and have only the essential scripts shown. Every application can have its own script folder - even if the Applicationdoesn't have built-in support for AppleScript.

In the example above, I have two AppleScripts where I generate an anchor tag for HTML or Markdown. The script output is saved to the clipboard - ready to be pasted in any application.

Do you code in PHP, Python, or BASH? No problem, you can always have AppleScript run your code! Here's a sample line:

do shell script "Python3 ~/scripts/something.py"

That one line of code will execute a Python Script. It can be modified to run any Shell command. Now you can run your code anyplace.

There isn't a way to assign shortcut keys to any AppleScript command.

This is the AppleScript that I wrote to generate the HTML tag of the active Chrome Browser:

tell application "Google Chrome"
	set broswerurl to get URL of active tab of first window
	set browsertitle to get title of active tab of first window
	set the clipboard to "<a href="" & broswerurl & "" >" & browsertitle & "</a >"
end tell

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April 29, 2022

Year On A Page

Posterino is the Best Option

There are several Macintosh applications that make it really easy to create a Year on a Page calendar. These calendars can be used as quick reference tools to help you plan your year.

You can't create Year on a Page printout using Apple Calendar or Google Calendar. The best application that I found to create Year On a Page is Posterino. It's really easy to use and you can produce a simple customize calendar in a matter of seconds.

Posterino

Here are the steps to create a custom Year on A Page:

  • Launch Posterino
  • In the Template Wizard select Calendars and then double click on the "One Year - plain" Template
  • Select whatever Page size you want. 8x10 is a good standard size to use.
  • To make changes to the calendar, mouse over the months and you should see a cog wheel in the top right corner.
  • Noe you can change the start year and month - making it easy to create a calendar whenever you need it. You can even create a layout for the next three months (quarters).
  • Once your done - just print or save it as a PDF.

YOAP- Posterino

Some Notes

You can add references to Apple Calendars in your "Year on a Page Calendar." The only problem is there is no guide, on the page, to what color goes with the calendar.

There are all sorts of additional configurations in the Adjust panel. You can change the color of the Month, have Weekday have longer names, and more. You can even have adjacent days show up on the months too - in a lighter color. There's also a setting to draw the month frame and grid lines.

There are 11 different Calendar templates to select from in Posterino

Posterino cost $19.99 for a single user or $29.99 for the household. Obviously, there's a lot you can do with this application. The Year on a Page functionality is just one way to use the application.

Online Options

There are some online services that are available that you can use. These are free and don't offer the same customization that Posterino does.

TimeandDate - Create your own PDF Printable Calendar. You can create a login so you don't have to type in events every time you create a calendar. Very popular solution and they have good templates.

CalendarLabs - Quick and easy calendars. Just download the PDF and your on your way. There are some customization available.

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About

As someone who has worked on Macs since 1989, I will use my experience to share tips and tricks with you on Fridays. As a Mac user since 1989, I have seen the evolution of Mac software and hardware, and I know how Mac computers work. I also know how to troubleshoot and fix Mac problems that can arise.

Check out all the blog posts.

Schedule

ThursdayGluten Free
FridayMacintosh
SaturdayInternet Tools
SundayOpen Topic
MondayMedia Monday
TuesdayQA
WednesdayNew England