Google Apps: An Introduction to Picasa · Google Apps: An Introduction to Picasa This document provides an introduction to using Picasa, a free application provided by Google. With

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Google Apps: An Introduction to Picasa

This document provides an introduction to using Picasa, a free application provided by Google.

With Picasa, users are able to add, organize, edit, and share their personal photos, utilizing 1 GB

of free space. In order to use Picasa, users need to create a Google Account.

Creating a Google Account

To create a Google Account,

1. Go to http://www.google.com/.

2. At the top of the screen, select “Gmail”.

3. On the Gmail homepage, click on the right of the screen on the button that is labeled

“Create an account”.

4. In order to create an account, you will be asked to fill out information, including

choosing a Login name which will serve as your [email protected], as well as a

password. After completing all the information, click “I accept. Create my account.” at

the bottom of the page.

5. After you successfully fill out all required information, your account will be created.

Click on the “Show me my account” button which will direct you to your Gmail

homepage.

Downloading Picasa

To download Picasa, go http://picasa.google.com.

1. Select Download Picasa.

2. Select Save File.

http://www.google.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://picasa.google.com/



3. Click on the downloaded file, and select Run.

4. Follow the installation procedures to complete the installation of Picasa on your

computer. When finished, you will be directed to a new screen. Click Get Started with

Picasa Web Albums.

Importing Pictures

Photos can be uploaded into Picasa a variety of ways, all of them very simple to use.

1. Pictures from Folders in My Documents

a. Picasa synchronizes itself with pictures on your computer, so organizing your

photos into folders in your documents will automatically upload to Picasa.

2. Importing Pictures

a. Picasa also offers you the option to directly import media through a camera,

scanner, media card, or CD.

i. Click Import at the top left of the screen.

ii. Click the dropdown menu to view the sources available from which to

import pictures. If you keep the Exclude Duplicates box checked, then

only one copy of each picture will be uploaded.



iii. When you are finished importing and have selected the photos you wish

to upload, click the Finish button. You will be able to name your folder

the photos will be designated to.

Organizing Pictures

1. Moving Photos

a. Moving photos from one folder to another is very easy. Simply click the photo

on the right screen, and drag it to the desired folder.

b. To copy a picture into another folder instead of moving it from the original

folder, click and hold the photo, press down the Ctrl key and drag the photo to

the desired folder. Select Copy Files to confirm the copy.

2. Albums

a. When Picasa syncs with the documents uploaded onto your hard drive, it creates

folders, not albums. To organize your photos further within Picasa, you have the

option of organizing your photos into albums.

i. Click the Create a new album icon at the top left of the screen.

ii. You will then enter a name for your album and a description. Select OK

when finished.



iii. Click and drag pictures from the right screen into your new album.

3. Naming your pictures

a. Picasa allows you to tag the people who appear in your photos, so you can view

all the pictures a particular person is in. On the toolbar to the left, select People.

b. In the People tab, click the person you wish to view, and their photos will

appear to the right.

c. Sometimes Picasa does not recognize all the people in a photo. To add a person,

Select the original photo from the folder. At the bottom right of the screen, select

Add a person manually.

Select Unnamed

to view the

pictures that

need to be tagged

Type the name of the

person in the photo



i. Click and drag to select the person’s face. Click in the text box to add

their name.

Editing Pictures

1. To edit a photo, double click on the selected picture, or right click and select View and

Edit.

2. On the left of the screen will appear the toolbar with editing options. Preview the image

to the right of the screen.

a. Basic Fixes

i. The I’m Feeling Lucky selection will make instant changes to your photo

to improve the quality and make common repairs.

ii. Editing in Picnik

1. Under the Basic Fixes tab, click Edit in Picnik. Your photo will be

transferred to Picnik.

2. Some features in Picnik are fee-based; however, many are free.

Under Basic Fixes, you are able to crop, fix red

eye, use auto contrast and color, retouch

images, add text, and make simple fixes.

Click Undo or Redo if you change your mind about any edits

you made to your photo and get back to the original



b. Tuning

c. Effects

Cool Extras

1. Create a collage

a. To create a simple collage with all the pictures in your folder, open the desired

folder, then click the Create Photo Collage icon.

Tuning primarily focuses on the coloring of the picture.

Change the light and shadows, or color hues.

Under the Effects tab, make changes to the

picture, and preview how it will look.



b. You have many options to edit the type of collage you choose and its specific

characteristics. Under the Settings tab, select the type of collage you choose, and

preview how it will look to the right. Customize the format of the page,

background colors, and spacing throughout the collage.

c. The Picture Pile collage template allows users to edit the location and size of

each scattered picture. Select the picture you wish to modify. A circle with a little

target will appear. Click the target, and the movement of your mouse will

change the size and angle of your picture. Right click to select forward or

backward placement.

d. Click Create Collage when you are satisfied with the final product.

Use the dropdown arrow to choose from

picture piles, mosaics, grids, or other patterns

Customize characteristics

of the pattern you select

Click and drag pictures to

switch positions



After saving your collages, they will now appear on the left hand of the screen

under the Projects tab. Your original pictures remain unedited.

2. Create a Movie

a. To create a movie, click the Create Movie Presentation icon under the folder or

album of pictures you wish to incorporate into your movie.

i. Use the tools at the left of the screen to make edits to your movie, and

preview how they look to the right. When finished, click Create Movie.

Add audio to the video

Edit the transitions and durations of the photos

With a You Tube account, you are able to

upload your movie directly to You Tube

Click the Slide tab to add text to pictures and

change background colors of the slides



b. Face Movie

i. Face Movie is one of the newer options of Picasa, and requires that you

tag your photos with specific people, as previously explained.

1. Select a person from the People tab along the left of the screen.

2. Click the Create Face Movie icon.

3. Make edits to your video using the toolbox on the left of the

screen, exactly as you would creating a Movie as explained above.

Preview the Face Movie to the right of the screen. When finished,

select Create Movie.

3. Create a CD

a. To burn a CD with your photos, select the album or folder you wish to include.

b. On the top toolbar, select Create, and then Create a Gift CD…

c. Along the bottom of the screen, you will see options for creating your CD. After

making changes, select Burn Disc.

4. If Google Earth is installed on your computer, you will be able to utilize Geo-Tag, a

feature that allows you to map the location of your pictures.

Sharing Pictures

1. Sharing Pictures directly from Picasa

a. To email photos directly from Picasa,

Add more photos

Name the CD



i. Click the Email icon at the bottom of the page.

ii. Choose from Microsoft Outlook or Gmail.

iii. Type in the addresses of the recipients and select Send.

2. Web Albums

Web Albums is a place to store all photos, create projects, and share your photos with as

many people as you wish. It provides each user with 1GB of free space (about 4,000

pictures).

a. To sign into Web Albums, go to http://picasaweb.google.com and sign in with

your Google Account information.

b. Uploading Photos to Web Albums

i. Uploading specific photos from Picasa

1. To upload photos to Web Albums, click the photo you wish to

upload, then click the Upload icon at the bottom of the screen.

2. If not already logged into Web Albums, you will be prompted to

sign in with your Google Account information.

3. Change the settings for others to view your album. When finished,

click Upload.

Your account holds 1GB of photos

Choose who to share

your photos with from

your Google Account

Select Privacy settings

http://picasaweb.google.com/



4. Click View Online to be directed to your Web Album.

ii. Uploading an entire album from Picasa

1. Click the Sync to Web option to the right of the screen when

viewing your album. Select Sync.

2. Anytime you add or delete photos from your album in Picasa, the

changes will automatically be reflected in Web Albums.

iii. Uploading photos through Web Albums

1. Under the My Photos tab, select Upload.

2. Select create a new album.

3. Add a title and description to your album, change the visibility

and privacy settings, and select groups of people you would like

to share it with through your Google Contacts. Select Continue.

4. Click Browse to select photos you want to upload to your album.

Click Start Upload.



5. Your album is now created.

c. Mapping photos in Web Albums

i. In Web Albums, users can map either entire albums, or individual

pictures within an album.

1. To map the central location of an album, select the album under

My Photos, then click Create album map on the right of the

screen.

2. Type the location to search the map. When you have found your

location, select the thumbnail of a picture in your album. Drag

and drop the picture to the correct location. Click Done.

Add captions,

maps, change

order of

photos, or

delete album



ii. To map the location of just one picture within an album, select the

picture, and select Add location under the Photo location option. Find

your location on the map and select Save location. The map will now

appear with your picture with the specific location you have selected.

d. Sharing photos in Web Albums

i. Sharing albums in Web Albums is one of the easiest ways to email

pictures to others.

1. Under the My Photos tab, click the album you wish to share.

Select the Share icon.

2. Enter email addresses with whom you wish to share the album

with, and include a message. Click Send Email.



ii. Web Albums offers the option to create a slideshow of your photos in an

album and embed it into a website, a blog, or MySpace.

1. Under the My Photos tab, click Embed Slideshow to the right of

the screen.

2. Highlight and copy the code inside the box, and paste it to your

website. When finished, click Done.

e. Exploring photos in Web Albums is a feature that allows you to view the albums

of users all over the world who have selected to make their photos public.

i. Select the Explore tab at the top of the screen.

ii. Browse by subject or location to view your particular interests.

Choose the size and

settings of your slideshow



iii. When you find an image you like, click on it. You have the option to

share the image, download the image to your files, or even order prints of

the photo.

Click through other albums Click View All to

return to all albums