I won't really call it love at first sight. In fact, I was committed to another when I first met this great new love of mine. I know it sounds lame but I swear I didn't plan it. It just happened overnight. Really! It was totally unexpected, but I fell head over heels in love. I'm not talking about some guy. It's this cool digital photo editing software called Photo Filtre.

I already had a serious "relationship" with another photo editing software and I was quite happy with it. It was my partner in creating great photos for the past two years and while I wouldn't say that it's the perfect tool, it delivered all my expectations. When I attended the digital photo editing session at the Scrapmeet2, Photo Filtre caught my attention. Could it be better than my current "beau?" Still, not really wanting to let go of my first love, the Photo Filtre take home CD stayed in my craft box for two weeks. One night, when I was cleaning up my scrapping mess, I saw the CD again. I decided to check it out before I retire for the night. Before I knew it, the clock already struck midnight , and thus began my love affair with Photo Filtre (I told you it was "overnight!").

I can think of a hundred and one reasons to fall in love with Photo Filtre but let me sum it up to three. First, it's easily accessible. I got mine as a souvenir at the Scrapmeet 2 but I believe anyone can download it from the internet for FREE! Second, it is very easy to use. I'm nowhere near tech-savvy but I learned the basics in one sitting. For a busy working woman like me, ease of use is number one in my priority ladder. Lastly, it gives great results. You can improve so-so photos, and transform your already good photos into great works of art in just a few clicks.

Perhaps you are thinking why you should even bother with photo editing. In my case, it was my love of photography that got me into scrapbooking. I needed a way to creatively display some of my photos. Great pictures inspire me to scrap better. But sometimes, picture taking can be so spontaneous (especially when rushing to capture everyday moments – like your baby's first smile) that you end up with not so great shots. Photo Filtre can be your partner in transforming those pictures of everyday moments into great shots you'd be proud to show off. And since it's so easy to use, you'll be clicking your way to beautiful photos in no time at all.

Don't believe me? Check out some of the cool things I did with my photos and try them out on your own.

Crop the photo and add color effect

1a.jpg – Original photo. I love this picture. My hubby captured me at the perfect angle (read: cheeks not so chubby!). However, the framing wasn't that good since there was a huge space to the right side of the photo, and I was facing left.

1b.jpg – The solution – cropping!
Click CANVAS SIZE - Select INCHES (This works best if you are like me who think in terms of inches and not in pixels) - SIZE: width 4” and height 6” – or basically to 4R portrait - POSITION: lower left corner box

1c.jpg – Add effects. Since the background is not that spectacular, I just wanted to focus on the main subject – me! I thought it would be best accomplished by turning the background into black and white or grayscale while keeping the subject in full color. This will result to better contrast, automatically drawing the eyes to the subject. Note also the two white posts at the upper left side of the subject. I removed them to “clean up” the photo.

Step 1: POLYGON - Carefully trace the outline of the subject - INVERT - GRAYSCALE
Step 2: CLONE - OPACITY: 75 - RADIUS: 10 - Hold CONTROL key and click near the area of the post - release CONTROL key and move pointer to the two posts to remove them

*****
Visual Effects and Photomasque

2a.jpg – Original photo. This was taken in Camiguin, April 2005

2b.jpg – Adding a dream-like effect, photomasque and text

Step 1 – Filter - Visual Effect - Artistic blur

Step 2 – Filter à Photomasque - Brush - OPACITY: 100 - COLOR: Light Blue - MODE: Color - Select STRETCH MASK

Step 3 – Text - FONT: Monotype Corsiva - SIZE: 18 - Select BOLD - COLOR: Blue - ALIGNMENT: Center - Effects - OPACITY: 80% - Check DROP SHADOW - X: 1 - Y:1 - COLOR: Grey - OK - Drag text box to desired position

*****
Create an old photo look

3a.jpg – Original photo. This was the San Carlos Church in Batanes. The picture is already nice, so I thought I'd just add some effects.

3b.jpg – Create an old photo look in 3 simple clicks!!!

Filter - Aged effect - Sepia

*****

Emphasize the subject by adjusting the color of the background

4a.jpg – Original photo. Me and my best friends at a wedding.

4b.jpg – Emphasize the subject – the three beauties!!!

Polygon - trace the outline of the subject - Invert - Hue Variation - Select color of choice - OK

*****

Photomasque

5a.jpg – I love the ocean, and marine life fascinates me. This was taken while snorkeling in Bora.

5b.jpg – Add more fun to your photo with Photomasque.

Filter - Photomasque - MASK: Bubbles - OPACITY: 50 - COLOR: White - MODE: Color - Select TILE MASK - OK

Have I convinced you enough? Go ahead and grab that souvenir CD from Scrapmeet 2. Install the Photo Filtre today and check it out. Who knows, just like me, you might just end up head over heels in love!

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10-11-2006. Due to the number of inquiries received by Alby, we have uploaded a copy of the PhotoFiltre software right here in our own servers for you to download - Anj. Click the links below:

• To download the zipped PhotoFiltre software, click here.
• To download the English Help File of PhotoFiltre (Acrobat format), click here.