Getting Free Photoshop Tutorials

The Photoshop software is truly a big deal for most people. It pays to have this program in your computer in order to manipulate your pictures as your desire. With this at hand, you can be sure that you get to improve those digital images you have taken even before they get printed. This is more reason for you to give away beautiful pictures to friends and relatives.

However, it is not enough that you have the Photoshop program installed in your computer. It is a must that you have a basic knowledge in Photoshop so you can do the things that you want. As such it is very important to get a Photoshop tutorial.

There are options such as to hire a tutor or enrol in program where you can learn Photoshop skills. You can also choose to buy books that will teach you the aspects of the program. These are options that are open to you. However, it may even be a better choice for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Here, you get to learn a new skill without having to spend the extra money in your pocket.

The Free Photoshop Tutorial

There are many ways for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Be sure that you get to use these options because it sure is a good thing to save your extra money instead. If you can have something for free, then just grab it and make the most out of it.

Ask a Friend for Help in the Photoshop

Some people are fortunate enough to have friends and relatives who are skilled in the Photoshop application. If you happen to have a friend of your own, then ask him or her to teach you basic Photoshop. This is a good way to get the free Photoshop tutorial. You can even use that extra time of learning as a bonding activity.

Explore the Photoshop Program

If it happens that you cannot access any friend to give the tutorials, you can explore the Photoshop program. The manufacturers do provide basic tutorials with the installation. You can easily check the options for the basic tutorials. This can explain to you how certain commands work and when to use them. You can read on the instructions and the step-by-step processes. There are also editions in the Photoshop software that can actually give tutorial using visuals. You will definitely enjoy viewing how a project is developed.

Download Files Online

You can also get free Photoshop tutorials online. There are numerous web sites that will give help for free. You can access the tutorial in PDF format and see the instructions. You can also browse through the sites to find the discussion on a particular topic. You may even love the options of seeing the tutorial in video format.

Ask for Assistance Online

The manufacturer can provide an option for you to get help online. However, you may find it even amazing to explore the different discussion boards and forums where other Photoshop users converge. This can be an opportunity to get free Photoshop tutorials from them. You can post your question and you can expect the other users to give you the advice you need.

Conclusion

Get your free Photoshop tutorials and learn the basic skills needed to operate the program. This way, you can turn out your nice images into fabulous pictures.

by: Mario Churchill

Read More

Troubleshooting Hardware Boot-Up Problems (Part-1)

This guide deals with troubleshooting a PC that won't boot to the point where it at least starts loading an operating system (hardware related problem). This article is intended for a person who has a little knowledge of PC's and is comfortable opening up and working inside a PC. If this isn't you, then I recommend taking your PC to a qualified PC repair shop. This is meant as a general troubleshooting guide and by no means covers every scenario that can occur, any omissions or mistakes were not intentional and will be updated as necessary.

Now let's get started..

Keep it Simple

First and foremost, I cannot stress enough that when it comes to troubleshooting PC's, KEEP IT SIMPLE! You will save yourself a lot of time and effort if you start looking for the simplest and most obvious solutions first.

With that being said here is a list of a few things you should start checking first..

1. Check the Power Cable

(reason: ensure the PC is getting power and that the problem isn't simply a bad power cable)

1. Is it plugged into the back of the PC tightly?
2. Is it plugged into a power source?
3. If it is connected to a power bar --- is the power bar plugged in and turned on?
4. If possible try a different power cord and/or power bar
5. Is a breaker blown in the building? Try a different wall plug

2. Check the monitor

(reason: make sure the monitor is still working. When you boot a PC you expect to see something on the monitor, if you don't, one may think their PC isn't working when in fact there is something wrong with the monitor)

1. Is the power cable plugged in tight to the back of the monitor?
2. Is the power cable plugged into a power source?
3. If it is connected to a power bar --- is the power bar plugged in and turned on?
4. Is the monitor turned on?
5. Is the monitor's video cable plugged tightly into the video card on the PC?
6. Are the contract and brightness settings of the monitor adjusted correctly?
7. If possible try a different monitor.

3. Visually check the power supply

(reason: a PC may boot to a point with a failing power supply but can quickly overheat causing it to the PC to stop functioning)

1. Does the fan turn when the PC is turned on?
2. Does it feel hot to the touch?
3. Do any lights come on when the PC power button is pressed?

4. Check the keyboard

(reason: a PC needs a keyboard to boot, most times if there is a keyboard problem a message will be displayed on the screen, however this may not always be the case and the computer may just stop booting)

1. Is the keyboard connected to the PC?
2. If possible try a different keyboard.

5. Check the floppy and CD drive

(reason: when a PC boots, by default it will try and boot from the floppy or CD drive first. If there is a disk in either of these drives even if it is not a bootable disk, the PC may try to boot from the disk. Most times an error is displayed when it can't boot from the disk but this isn't always the case)

1. Is there a disk in the floppy drive?
2. Is there a disk in the CD drive?

A person may think that it is a waste of time to check such simple things and want to skip the above checklist. I cannot count how many times I have been called to troubleshoot a PC only to find that a power bar was turned off or there was a disk in the floppy or CD drive. Take the time now to check the easy things--- I guarantee you it will save a lot of headaches and frustrations.

by: Keith Park

< Advance Troubleshoot >

Read More

Troubleshooting Hardware Boot-Up Problems (Part-2)

Advanced Troubleshooting

When a computer is first turned on, the hardware runs a Power-On Self Test (POST). If errors are encountered during this POST test, they are usually indicated by a beep or in the form of a code displayed on the screen. With this error code you can determine what part of the system is having problems and find a solution. You have probably heard a beep code in the past and just not realized it. You know the one or two short beeps your computer makes when you first turn it on, that is a beep code indicating everything checks out OK. With some PC's it may seem like there isn't any beep code, what is probably happening here is there is a problem with the internal speaker inside the PC, it is either not present, not functioning any longer or not connected properly to the motherboard. If this is the case in your instance, check to see a visual code is being displayed on the monitor, if nothing then skip ahead to the next section.

To check for an error code on your PC, turn the computer on and listen for any beeps or look on the monitor screen for a code. As I mentioned, one or two short beeps indicates everything is OK, if you experience any different sequence or length of beeps, write down what you heard, (e.g. 1 long beep followed by two short beeps) or write down the error code on the screen. Error codes vary from PC to PC depending on the manufacturer of the motherboard inside the PC. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every manufacturer error codes as some may be missed and some may change as new technology is introduced. Performing a search on the Internet using your favorite search engine will find many sites specific to your PC. They will have a list of codes, what they mean and potentially how to fix them, look for the code you wrote down previously. The hardware generally checked by the POST test is the motherboard, CPU, power supply, memory and video card. If the error c!

ode indicates a problem in one of these areas, make sure all cards in the PC are seated correctly in the motherboard slots and that the power supply cables are connected snuggly to the motherboard. If all of this has been done and you still receive an error code then chances are the device has failed and will need to be replaced.

If the POST test doesn't reveal the source of the problem the next step is to open up the PC.

Staying with the theme of keeping it simple we will want to try and start the PC with the minimum hardware required to boot a computer. All you need to boot a PC is the motherboard, memory, some sort of media (floppy disk, hard disk, CD, etc.) and a video card. What we will want to do is remove or disconnect any unnecessary hardware.

1. Leave one form of media drive connected to boot with, preferably the floppy drive if available, and disconnect all other drives.
2. Remove all cards except for the video card.
3. Remove all memory except for one stick
4. Insert bootable media (floppy disk, CD, etc.) and power on the PC

If the PC doesn't boot with the minimum hardware then the problem may lie with the video card, memory or the motherboard. Try using a different stick of memory if you have one as well try using a different video card. Friends and family can be great sources for this, ask to borrow their video card or memory from their PC, just make sure to return it when you are done. If swapping the memory and video card don't work then you more than likely have a problem with the motherboard and it will need to be replaced.

If it does boot.

1. Turn it off
2. Insert or connect one hardware device that was previously removed
3. Try booting again.
4. Repeat these steps until the computer no longer boots.

Once the PC doesn't boot again the last hardware device that was connected is the problem and should be replaced or permanently removed.

If you get to this point and your PC still doesn't want to load an operating system then it is time to have a qualified computer technician look at the problem or purchase a new PC. You gave it your best shot but sometimes a fresh set of eyes can see something that may have been missed.

by: Keith Park

Read More

Types of Printer Cartridges

Printer cartridges can be divided into two main groups: inkjet cartridges / ink cartridges for inkjet printers and laser toner cartridges for laser printers. However, these printer cartridges can be further categorized into 3 types, namely OEM cartridges, compatible cartridges and remanufactured cartridges.

OEM cartridges have been in the market since the very beginning. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. They are also known as Genuine OEM cartridges and are produced by the printer manufacturers or their licensed partners. These printer cartridges carry the names of the printer manufacturers, such as Canon, Epson, Lexmark, etc. Although these ink or toner cartridges are generally of high quality, they are also very expensive. Several copies of OEM replacement cartridges can actually cost more than a low-price printer these days.

Compatible cartridges are specially manufactured to meet or exceed OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specifications, offering the same quality and reliability of OEM cartridges. However, they are manufactured by third-party manufacturers and do not carry the printer brand names on the cartridges.

Compatible cartridges are only sold at 1/2 or 1/3 of the price of OEM cartridges. Therefore, they are cost-effective alternatives to expensive OEM cartridges. 100% compatible cartridges mean that these cartridges include all the components (e.g. replacement chips) so that they are fully compatible with the specific printer models. Replacement cartridges that are not 100% compatible are available at a lower price but they may cause problems in printing. For example, compatible cartridge without a new replacement chip may have problem communicating with the printer as the printer software would think that the ink / toner is always low.

Most compatible inkjet cartridges are manufactured 100% brand new, containing only new components. Compatible toner cartridges may include both new and used components unless otherwise stated.

Remanufactured cartridges are also called refurbished cartridges. They are OEM or third party manufacturer's inkjet and toner cartridges which have been through one cycle of service and have been recharged. Every remanufactured cartridge has to be thoroughly cleaned, worn out parts replaced, filled with the same ink formulation, and gone through vigorous testing.

Remanufactured cartridges are cheaper than OEM cartridges but more expensive than compatible cartridges. They are very popular among environmentally concerned customers. Considering that it takes 3 quarts of oil to produce a new toner cartridge and hundreds of year to decompose an old one in landfill, remanufactured ink / toner cartridges are both environmentally friendly and cost effective.

source: http://inkjets.4reviews.net

Read More

Types of Printer

What is a printer?

A printer is an output device that produces text and graphics on paper.

Major types of printer

Printers can be divided into two main groups, impact printer and non-impact printer. Impact printer produces text and images when tiny wire pins on print head strike the ink ribbon by physically contacting the paper. Non-impact printer produces text and graphics on paper without actually striking the paper.

Printers can also be categorized based on the print method or print technology. The most popular ones are inkjet printer, laser printer, dot-matrix printer and thermal printer. Among these, only dot-matrix printer is impact printer and the others are non-impact printers.

Some printers are named because they are designed for specific functions, such as photo printers, portable printers and all-in-one / multifunction printers. Photo printers and portable printers usually use inkjet print method whereas multifunction printers may use inkjet or laser print method.

Inkjet printers and laser printers are the most popular printer types for home and business use. Dot matrix printer was popular in 70’s and 80’s but has been gradually replaced by inkjet printers for home use. However, they are still being used to print multi-part forms and carbon copies for some businesses. The use of thermal printers is limited to ATM, cash registers and point-of-sales terminals. Some label printers and portable printers also use thermal printing.

Due to the popularity of digital camera, laptop and SoHo office (small office / home office), the demand for photo printers, portable printers and multifunction printers has also increased substantially in recent years.

source: http://inkjets.4reviews.net

Read More

Inkjet Cartridges: An Overview

Inkjet cartridges came into light in about 1980, to print images on blank paper. These cartridges can be slightly more expensive when compared to other types of ink cartridges, because they have the capability to be refilled.

Inkjet cartridges are used to visualize images or any print transaction, and other activities related to printers. These inkjet cartridges work along with inkjet printers. By using these cartridges, the inkjet printer places small droplets onto blank paper via nozzles to develop any image or text. The amount of the droplet depends on the printer driver software that is systematized to place the droplets. The cartridge has various colors as in liquid form to develop a colorful/black and white image on printable paper.

Inkjet printers are capable of printing stickers, labels, posters, and documents, etc by using inkjet cartridges. Nowadays, these printers are also being used to develop attractive images on shoes, T-shirts, etc.

The drops of ink that come out from the inkjet cartridge to create images are generally between 50 to 60 microns. These cartridges come in different varieties, in various brands along with different options. The cost of these cartridges depends on their qualities and brands.

Since there are so many works which can be performed by inkjet printers, it is necessary to have complete information before purchasing the right inkjet cartridges.

The inkjet cartridge should be made by appropriate materials that not only increase the productivity level, but also offer better and quality prints. Therefore, never purchase local or average inkjet cartridges, because such cartridges may create problems for the nozzles of the printer. A well-suited and branded inkjet cartridge, especially ISO standard, can be more efficient and better than other cartridges that are available in the market.

Mostly, inkjet cartridges come in their individual sizes, which are designed to fit with a particular printer only. Any typical size of cartridge may cause damage to the printer's nozzles. Always purchase an inkjet cartridge with its warranty (minimum one year). Most printers come with a warranty period, but in some cases the warranty can be canceled if the cartridges that are used in it are made by a different manufacturer. So, for the continuity of the warranty, it is essential that both the printer and the cartridges are designed by the same manufacturer.

Although online shopping is the easiest way to buy any product without going to the shops, always be careful when you are buying inkjet cartridges online. If you choose to buy online, be sure about the credibility of the site that you are buying from, so that you don't purchase low quality cartridges.

It is best to compare the prices of various inkjet cartridges at different shops, as there may be a high difference between the prices of the same product in two different stores.

The importance of printers cannot be denied, but this does not mean that you should compromise on the quality. You may take a little bit more time in comparing and then purchasing an inkjet cartridge, but make sure that you are opting for the best one in the market.

Author: Stefan Rockhaus

Read More