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Friday, January 21, 2011

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Fancy Photos: Filling text with an image

Fill text with image.  All elements created by Saving Stories  
In the example above, the word "HOME" had been filled with an image.  This is a very simple layering process that you can  do quickly in Photoshop Elements.

1.  Create a white background.  File>New>Blank File.
Create background

 
 
Text Tool

 2.  Click the Text Tool and select a bold font.  See the toolbar below.   


         
3.  Chose a large font size.  I used 60 pt here.  Type the word "HOME."  Notice you now have two layers open, the background and the text.
Type "HOME"
4.  Choose a photo to fill the text.  Open it.

Photo to fill text

5.  Click on the text to put it back onto the palette.

Click on text in bottom tray

6.  Drag the photo from the tray below onto the text.  Make sure the photo completely covers the text.

Drag photo over text



7.  Choose "Layer" and then "Group with Previous" from the Menu bar.

Group with Previous



8.  Click on the "eye" in the layers palette to deselect the  background layer.
Deselect background

9.  Select Layer>Merge Visible Layers from the Menu.
Merge Visible Layers



10.  Save the text as a .PSD file.  You are now ready to lay the text on any background.  We will create a background next time.
PSD File

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

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Tuesday Tip: How to add a border to a photo

Cleveland Talley (1885-1923)






For Today's Tuesday Tip, we will demonstrate how to add a white edge to this photo using Photoshop Elements.













1.  With the photo open in Elements, I will select the Rectangle Marquee Tool. When you hover over the tools in Elements, the name of the tool pops up.




2. Drag a rectangle over the edge of the photo. The rectangle you draw will appear as though ants are marching along the edge of the photograph.




3.  Select Edit then Stroke (Outline) Selection.  The Stroke Box will appear.

Stroke box


4.  Be sure you select the desired color for your border by clicking on the color box.  I will use white.  I will select 30px for my border width.  I will also leave the location set to inside.



4. Click Ok.  I put another layer under the photo with a drop shadow so the border shows up better.  We will  show you how to add a drop shadow in another lesson.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Personal reflections about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

A photo of a photo, from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo: By Matt Lemmon (mattlemmon on Flickr) 
This is my favorite photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is very similar to my father's smile. I am so grateful to Dr. King for all that he did to make this world a better place.  His life's mission is so important to me because it caused me to grow up in a very different world than my forebears.


I have only seen photographs of separate water fountains for "white" and "colored."  The closest I have ever come to witnessing police brutality was in the movie "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman."  I grew up witnessing the silence and restraint that comes over African Americans in my family without understanding why.

When I was older, my parents explained to me how things used to be even in Illinois.  I never heard them speak of issues with white people.  They allowed me the freedom to see the world in a different light.  They instilled in me the knowledge that I could become or do anything I could imagine.  My father instructed me, "We never use the word can't in this house."

As I grew older, I realized my dad had to face a lot in order for him to be successful.  He shared with me one day that he had done it all so that life would be better for us one day.  I believe that is why Dr. King did what he did.  The desires of a father for his children are strong enough to change the world.  I am happy he brought peace and rest into the lives of my parents and grandparents in the golden years.  Life became much easier for them.

I think it is also a parent's instinct to know that you must creatively teach some principles to children without destroying their vision of the world and of the future.  My parents never had to stand over me to do chores or homework.  I think it was because they simply expected me to do my best without grilling me.  I remember that when I was very young I used to love to clean the floors.  I recognized that I could get the floors much cleaner if I would get down on my hands and knees with a bucket and sponge.

My dad sat and watched me one day, reflecting.  When I was finished, he said, "Promise me that when you grow up, you will not do that for anyone else."  I promised him I would not without asking why, but I did wonder.  I wondered why he would make that kind of request.  I know now that he was not asking me not to serve but not to be subservient.  In a large measure, because of Dr. King, I do not have to.

With regard to the silence, it stopped with my generation.  I am the first in my ancestral line to be able to fully and without reservation exercise the right to freedom of speech. I am careful with my words only to the extent that they do not hurt others.

Just because I was not old enough to experience the great struggles of the Civil Rights Era, it does not mean I am not aware of them or do not have a great appreciation for those who have paved the road for me.  I too have great cause to celebrate today!


More Tributes:

Why Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is still remembered

Lessons about freedom from the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

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Saving Photos: Healing spots on photographs

I 
Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library 
Repository: Beinecke Rare Book; Manuscript Library, Yale University


If you recall, corrected the lighting in the above photo in the last article: Saving Photos: Amateur Photo Restoration.  Now we will show you how to repair spots on photographs with the healing tool in Photoshop Elements.  I will open the photo below and zoomed in so I can see the spots up close.
Zoom Tool
This does not change the physical size of the image.  I put a red mark around each spot that I am going to heal.
Healing Tool

  
Spots to heal

When you click the Healing Tool icon, you may find the size of the tool needs adjusting.  The slider below is set at 36px.  The diameter of the Healing Tool is too big.  I will move the slider slightly to the left so the circle is closer to the diameter of the spot.
Adjust Healing Tool side.
You will notice that the slide is set at 11px now and the size of the Healing Tool  is smaller.
You have  two options to choose on from on the toolbar:  Proximity Match and Create Texture.  Proximity match picks up the colors around the spot and replaces the spot with those pixels.  Use Texture if you do not want the section to appear smooth.  The pixels will match the texture around the spot.
Proximity and Texture





Next, I will heal the first spot by dragging the mouse over it while holding down the left mouse button.  Notice the spot furthest to the right has been healed:


Spot healed.

Now I will fix all the spots within the red marks:

Before                                                                                                                     After







If you look closely, you can see that I took the liberty to fix other spots and scratches in the photo.

I truly believe that we need to preserve the integrity of our ancestors by restoring old photographs.  I am excited to share the techniques that I have used to make our heritage more appealing to my daughter.  Visuals really do make a big difference, and we have only just begun!

Now you can try this on any photo that is in need of repair.  Let me know if you are ready to go on or if you would like for me to use another photo.  If you have a photo you would like me to correct in the next sample, let me know!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Saving Photos: Amateur Photo Restoration

I have found saving photos has been just as thrilling as saving stories.  Unfortunately, I did not start out with a wealth of photos, so I am grateful for those family members who have shared along the way.  For this reason, I travel with my camera.

I have pretty much mastered taking photos of photos.  They most often look better than the original.  Well, since photographs are part of the story too, I thought I would begin to share the tricks I have learned.  We will start with basic photo restoration tips and move to enhancing and embellishing photos.

The following photo came from Creative Commons.

Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library 
Repository: Beinecke Rare Book; Manuscript Library, Yale University
If you have a photo that you would like to restore, scan it in at 600 dpi or take a high resolution photo with a digital camera.  I use Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  For our purposes here, I will try to stick to Elements since it is easier to use.

 1.  First open the photo in Elements.



The photo is 400 dpi.  The frame is rather distracting, and the photo looks uneven.  I will first crop the photo.










2.  The photo has been cropped, and I am less distracted.


3.  Next, we will adjust the lighting of this photo in Elements. 
Select Enhance>Adjust lighting>Levels.
4.  The Levels Histogram will appear.  The black region of the histogram should be more centered in the viewing area.  This will improve the lighting of the photograph.  You adjust the sliders beneath the Input Levels to correct the lighting.
 
5. I moved the slider on the right toward the center.  Notice the difference:

6.  I slid the slider on the left and the one in the center toward the middle to create a little more contrast.

Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library 
Repository: Beinecke Rare Book; Manuscript Library, Yale University
Adjusted by Robin Foster


In the next article, I will demonstrate how to remove the spots in the photo with the Healing Tool.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

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Pride in Family Memoir Prompt: Stairway to Heaven

Some rights reserved by TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ Stairway to Heaven

 When I saw this prompt to write about someone in my childhood that made me very proud, I thought immediately of an aunt whose name I cannot mention because she is still alive. 

This aunt has never been married our had children. I am very impressed to be able to provide this example because I want those who have not had the opportunity to marry or have children to know that they have a powerful influence on the children around them. 

My paternal grandmother had come for a visit.  As I look back, I can tell she probably knew she did not have long to live.  As I mentioned in yesterday's post, she insisted I memorize the 23rd Psalm on this visit in one sitting. I was able to do it, and she was very pleased. She died soon after. 

 Everyone was so preoccupied, and rightfully so. The only problem is that I remember feeling very sad when my father returned from the hospital to tell us she had died.  I could see sadness on everyone's faces, but I did not know what it meant to die.  The family was busy with arrangements. 

I just had to ask my aunt where my grandma had gone to.  She patiently explained that I would not see her anymore.  She had gone to Heaven.  I asked her about Heaven and was more comfortable when she explained that it was a good place and that I would see her again someday. 

This was my Aunt's mother.  It must have been very hard for her to do this, but she did it very compassionately and convincingly.  On the day of the funeral, I can remember that after she had gone up to view my grandmother, she noticed I had not. 

My dad was very sad, and my mom was with him.   My aunt said, "Would you like to go up to say goodbye?"  I respectfully answered, "Yes."  She did not say anymore, but rather lovingly took me by the hand and walked me to the casket.  As soon as I saw my grandmother lying there, I remembered the story about her going to Heaven. This gave me much comfort, and I knew my grandmother really was not there because she did not look it. 

What could have been a very traumatic experience for a little girl who really loved her grandma, was eased by this Aunt who took out the time to explain.  She did not have to do it with a book, she believed in what she taught me.  I know she must have learned too from her mother.  I would hope that every young child who experiences the passing of a loved one has an angel like my aunt to take his or her hand.

41. Ten things that surprised, humbled, and enlightened me...


You guessed it!  I received the Ancestor Approved Award from Leslie Ann.

The requirements are that I need to...

1.  List ten things that surprised, humbled, or enlightened me about my ancestors.
2.  Pass the award on to ten other genealogy bloggers.

My Ten:
1. I am quite humbled by my grandfather Emory Wallace Vance.  He was born in South Carolina in 1901 in Carlisle, Union County and later migrated to Ohio in the 1950's.  He never spoke of life in South Carolina, but after my family moved here so that I could continue my research, I began meeting people that knew of him.  The children of friends, friends, and distant cousins absolutely revere him.  I am so surprised that 60 years later, people can tell me stories that were passed down to them.

I was invited to a homecoming last year by a cousin.  When I went, I was surprised to be asked to stand on his behalf.  As it turns out, my grandfather lived across the street from the church and had donated the land where the church is built.  A church historian told me that there is a document in the archives where my grandfather is said to have made the contribution "on a handshake."

2. At one time, I used to be surprised to run into people who think they are related to me.  When I run down my family line with them, they always seem to find some connection.  This is surprising to me because my ancestors come from all over the state.  This happens everywhere I go.

The last time it happened, my husband and I were attending the Heritage Days Symposium on St. Helena's Island last November.  We were crossing a parking lot and some gentlemen yelled out from a van, "Hey, hold up, where are you from?'  He was mostly speaking to my husband.  A lot of people think at first he is the one they are related to because he looks like my relatives more than I do.

He looked exactly like my grandmother Otis' people from Union County.  I smirked as he tried to find a connection to mu husband.  After they were finished, I told home he looked like the Tuckers.  He was shocked when I also told him he looked like my Chicks.  He has known these families all his life.

The next day after I had given a presentation, a lady came up to me and asked me if I was related to people in Columbia.  They happen to be my cousins on the Vance line.  She was so elated to me me.  I am just so thankful my ancestors lived such good lives.  I feel like I have an instant bond with people that knew them. I hope my posterity can experience this same thing.

3.  One person who I never met, but have spent a great deal of time learning about is my great grandfather, Lafayette Franklin Vance (1861-1952).  I used to have a hard time fitting in with people because I find fun what other people call work.  I love to follow true principles because the end result for me has always been happiness.  I was surprised to discover a biography about Lafayette that was written in the early 1900's.

In the biography it described him as being someone who lived during the week what he preached on Sunday.   I saw myself in an ancestor for the very first time.  It did not really matter anymore whether or not how anyone else felt at that point.  I began to feel free to be me because it linked me to him.

4.  When I discovered the Senate testimony of my great great grandfather, Beverly Vance who was from Cokesbury, South Carolina, I wept.  I was reading his actual words.  He was a constable just after the war, and he used to help people understand that they needed to vote Republican so the Democrats would not be able to take away the freedoms that they had been given.

His home was riddled with bullets while his wife and children were home.  One of the children was Lafayette.  He said they withheld work from the family because of his political activities.  His life was threatened by many even D. Wyatt Aiken (1828-1887), a Democratic Congressman who was a good friend and neighbor of his former slave master, J. K. Vance, a US Representative of South Carolina.

Members of the Vance family warned and tried to protect Beverly behind the scenes.  He was in the area when Senator B. F. Randolph was murdered at Hodges Depot in Cokesbury.  Beverly never backed down even when his life was in danger.

5.  I am humbled and think quite a bit about stories my grandmother told me about how life was during the Great Depression.  She told of my grandfather raising rabbits that they would cook and eat.  They never wasted or threw things away.  My grandmother lived there for a long time. I am sure it was because they always ate plenty of vegetables from the garden and apples from the trees.  I even learned that she loved dried orange peels.  There is never a meal that I do not remember them.

6.  One concept that I came to appreciate when I moved South is how close everyone was back then.  They did not go far to pick a spouse.  They appeared next door to each other on the Census.  When I visited my first church cemetery and walked among the graves, I could see the censuses I have poured over time and time again.  They were even buried together in the churchyard, family, and friends.

7.  Some of the talents and skills that my ancestors practiced for years lasted to my generation.  They were great writers and loved education, art, horticulture, carpentry, and much more.  I have been enlightened to the fact that I picked similar things in my life not because they were some whims I was having at the time.  I truly have been moving to the sound of a familiar drum beat so to speak.

8.  I know I have been enlightened by the old adages that were instilled in me.  The sayings like "What goes around, comes around" and "Use your head for more than a hat rack" we used to laugh at as children. Now I have lived long enough to see the truth in them.

9.  My ancestors lived by faith.  I always heard them express their dependence upon God when time were tough. They would rehearse stories about how they knew that if it were not for Him, they would not make it.  My grandmother Ora made me memorize the 23rd Psalm just before she died.  I was about 5 or 6 years old.  She made me read it over and over in just one sitting.

I did not know at the time she probably knew she was going to die.  That made such an impression upon me that has lasted my entire life.  Every time I think of her, I remember how important those words must have been to her.  She knew she would not be with me throughout my life as she had been with her children, so that makes the words mean that much more to me.  Of all the things that she could do or leave her granddaughter, she instilled in me the words of the scriptures.

10.  My ancestors have helped me understand the importance of loving all people no matter who they are or what they do to us.  "Two wrongs do not make a right".... I can still hear them say.  I have been taught by example the importance of service.  I marveled to witness my grandmother provide service her entire life.  She would push around a chair to do her work when she was sick.  She would get up from labor to go out to perform duties on their farm.

She suffered from arthritis later in life, but when she could have used an excuse, she would walk to the home of an invalid woman to care for her.  She never grumbled or boasted.  She never spoke of it to me.
Her face was always cheery, and her countenance was always a glow.

Ten Genealogists:
1.  @footnoteMaven footnoteMaven
2.  Felicia Mathis  Echoes of My Nola Past
3.  Renate Sanders  Into The LIGHT
4.  Carol Wilkerson iPentimento | Genealogy and History
5.  Mavis Jones Georgia Black Crackers
6.  Michelle Goodrum Turning of Generations
7.  Diana Ritchie  Random Relatives
8. Jenna aka @SeekingSurnames Desperately Seeking Surnames
9.  Sherry Kline Family Tree Writer
10.  Sandra Taliaferro  I never Knew My Father

Thanks for the opportunity to reflect, Leslie Ann!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

40. My Top Followers Feature: @richgoade

  1. I will be selecting my top followers to feature at random.  I only became acquainted with @richgoade on Dec. 14, 2010 on the day the beta version of familysearch.org went live.  I am selecting him because his efforts and those of his comrades have been felt across the globe.

    He is one of the developers at FamilySearch.  They are are pretty much unsung heroes, working behind the scenes improving our experience and receiving feedback.

    I know some of them have been working for years on that rollout, so when I noticed the jubilation in their announcements, I could not resist the opportunity to say thanks for the labor of love.

    I have nary a mumbling word for FamilySearch products.  They have helped me identify my ancestors and their families.  If I have ever run into a glitch, I have always found help at my local Family History Center.

    1. I first saw tweets from @richgoade and @amazingcube.

      richgoade‎ Congrats to my old team... the past two years of our work rolled out this morning!
      FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records‎ - familysearch.org
      Twitter - Dec 14, 2010
    2. richgoade‎ @savingstories @amazingcube your very welcome! it was awesome to be a part of something we feel so passionate about. How you enjoy it!
      Twitter - Dec 14, 2010

    I have come a long way technologically because when @richgoade tweeted:
    richgoade‎ Be sure to check out the parallax scrolling on ... - one of the nice touches we got to put into the experience. Enjoy.
    Twitter - Dec 14, 2010



    I actually asked him what parallax scrolling was.  He actually answered me back in a tweet, and I scooted over to the site to check it out.  Did you know that the mountains move behind the little family on the bottom of the page at familysearch.org when you drag the right corner of the browser window?
    Drag page from bottom at familysearch.org and
    watch mountains move. (See below)




    Can you tell the landscape has moved?  Try it out!  Thanks @richgoade!






39. My Top Followers Features to include: 151 Twitter followers

  • According to My Top Followers in 2010 at mytopfollowersin2010.com, my top followers are below, and I will be blogging about each one.  I wonder how long that will take?  Well they are all great people, and they deserve my thanks.  Hopefully you will find someone you do not currently follow. I plan to share a little bit about how each one has been an inspiration to me, touched my life, or helped me save a story!
  • @southwestarkie
  •  
  •  @geneasue
  •  
  • @ginabegin
  •  
  • @ww2tribute
  •   
  • @kgreendenver
  • @genealogyupdate
  •  
  • @scotsinamerica
  •  
  • @kinfolknews
  •   
  • @artofdog
  •  
  • @rodrigohenrique
  •  
  • @wikitreeonline
  •  
  • @scrapgirls
  •  
  • @dionneford
  •  
  • @ddaruth
  •  
  •  @ncchemist
  •  
  • @pocketsteve
  •  @mrgenealogy
  •  
  • @myservesa
  •  
  • @geneabloggers
  •  
  • @lynda514
  •  
  •  @birdsnests
  •  
  • @sjtaliaferro
  •  @photosreunited
  •  
  • @geneagirl
  •  
  • @aywalton
  •  
  • @davissmitchell
  •  
  •  @a3genealogy
  •  
  • @irl_cork_city
  •  @ungaro
  •  
  • @sjer152
  •  
  • @jkennerly
  •  
  • @lifetimestories
  •  
  • @auldmags
  •   
  • @taneya
  •  
  • @dyah0201
  •  @marianpl
  •  
  • @familytreegirl
  •  
  • @savingstories
  •  
  • @dragonladyusmc
  •  @mynolaheritage
  •  
  • @dj6ual
  •  
  • @rosemarymorgan
  •  
  • @gratitudepoint
  •  
  •  @familystories
  • @lorinems
  •  
  • @recordswiki
  •  
  • @genfreelancers
  •  
  •  @familyarchivist
  •  
  • @franka2009
  • @jillian6475
  •  
  • @footnotemaven
  •  
  •  @nyhuman
  •  
  • @bcmuseums
  •  
  • @judyqld
  •   
  • @fhcdebs
  • @wheresatticus
  •  
  • @kevinlevin
  •  
  • @rootnl2k
  •  
  •  @patijean
  •  
  • @dearmyrtle
  •  
  • @luxegen
  •   
  • @ryanra
  • @topix_cinco
  •  
  • @museumculpeper
  •  
  • @lfmccauley
  •  
  •  @aishadtaylor
  •  
  • @heatherhdoherty
  •  @davetabler
  •  
  • @jovanzjones
  •  
  • @webduck
  •  
  • @baysideresearch
  •  
  •  @origingenealogy
  •  
  • @drgoddess
  •  @detriceisabel
  •  
  • @richgoade
  •  
  • @seekingsurnames
  •  
  • @genebrarian
  •  
  •  @megansmolenyak
  • @tkpromotions
  •  
  • @tmilleria
  •  
  • @kymwald
  •  
  • @gen_freak
  •   
  • @franellsworth
  •  
  • @mariasmovers
  • @judigatson
  •  
  • @canyourecommend
  •   
  • @gravestonedpug
  •  
  • @screencaster7
  •   
  • @familytreed
  • @cerealcitymama
  •  
  • @mkeithharris
  •  
  • @website_shop
  •   
  • @albaman2
  •  
  • @mikeauger
  •  @hicksshauna
  •  
  • @bbpetura
  •  
  • @michaelhait
  •  
  • @fhexpos
  •  
  • @vahistorical
  •   
  • @juliawb
  •  
  • @sallyonthego
  •  
  • @famrootstravel
  •  
  • @mystumble
  •  
  • @heritagesalon
  •  
  • @barbaramaddux
  •   
  • @moc1896
  •  
  • @a_cain
  •  @lineagekeeper
  •  
  • @findagrave
  •  
  • @toniasroots
  •  
  • @familytreehuntr
  •  
  •  @asoutherngirl
  • @guildonename
  •  
  •  @nadasue
  •  
  • @familytreewritr
  •  
  • @irfan_struggle
  •  
  • @emmajolly
  •  
  •  @terrybelbin
  • @kaappiah
  •  
  • @familytreefolk
  •  
  • @susanannblakley
  •  
  • @sooznebr
  •   
  • @henrymantell
  • @lcafricana
  •  
  • @gouldgenealogy
  •  
  • @rootstelevision
  •   
  • @ipadnewsdigest
  • @awareofyourcare
  •  
  • @afamilymystery
  •  
  • @lisajlogsdon
  •   
  • @jackrobinson181
  •  
  • @ginisology
  •  
  • @mpaaghs
  •  
  • @acoffin
  •  
  • @meljcollier
  •  
  • @krisstaxx_promo
  •  
  •  @harrythehaggis

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Search The Guild of One-Name Studies on FamilySearch.org I received the press release included below about collections of The Guild of...

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