Splash of Style...Macs, Photography, Design, and other Passions

Photoshop Elements 6 Mac - Save For Web Not Working

September 22, 2008 by debbie T | Digital Photography • Mac Software • Photoshop

I don’t normally use the “save for web” option in Photoshop Elements, but tonight I wanted to. Click, click, click, I was choosing “File>Save for Web” and nothing would happen.

Google to the rescue. Found this helpful post on Adobe’s forum

I run as a standard, non-admin user so it appears that the Save for Web option is a little buggy for non-admin users.

The thing to do is launch Photoshop Elements in your Admin user account and run the Save for Web option at least once. Then log back into your standard, non-admin account and it should work from then on.

Worked for me! whoo-hooo!

Aperture 2 Tip: Selecting Multiple Photo Files

September 19, 2008 by debbie T | Aperture 2 • Digital Photography • Mac Software

Most Mac users know that they can select multiple files either by using the Shift key or the Command (Apple) key, but did you know in Aperture 2, you can select both consecutive and non-consecutive files by using both keys.

For example, I have 50 files. I can choose the first file, then hold down the shift key to select any sequential files following that file. I can also hold down the Command key to select a non-consecutive file….and the cool part is that I can then again hold down the shift key to select more consecutive files.

It sounds confusing, but try it.

I love Aperture 2. Oh and my “official” copy arrived today from Amazon.

Ordered Apple Aperture 2

September 13, 2008 by debbie T | Aperture 2 • Art and Graphics • Digital Photography • Mac Software

UPDATE 2008-09-19: My official Aperture 2 software arrived from Amazon tonight. I haven’t opened the box yet though.

Yay, I ordered Aperture 2 from Amazon.com tonight

I have been messing around with the trial for a few days (again) and I am really enjoying it. I thought about Adobe Lightroom, and I read some articles & watched a few tutorials, but I just don’t think I would be happy with the interface and workflow.

I know it’s kind of silly to judge Lightroom without even actually using it, but I just don’t have the time to learn two apps when all I need is one. So, I picked Aperture 2. I think it will pair well with Photoshop Elements 6.

Plus, all of my files are organized in iPhoto. Originals, modified, keywords, descriptions, etc. It will be much easier to import into Aperture, while keeping my meta data and modified versions intact. With Lightroom, I would have to create new keywords and descriptions, and import each of my modified photos; that would be very time consuming since iPhoto creates a new jpg for every RAW file whether its actually modified or not. Oh and that is the reason I am switching from iPhoto in the first place. I am drowning in files. I calculated that iPhoto grabs approximately 4gb of file space for every 3gb in original files. It’s just getting to be too consuming, so a change was needed.

Since I ordered Aperture 2 with free shipping at Amazon, it will take its sweet time getting here. It’s supposed to ship next week on the 17th, so probably the week after, I will receive it. I am looking forward to learning more about Aperture. I will probably sign up for a months subscription over at Lynda.com. They have what looks to be a good series of video tutorials for Aperture 2.

Adobe Installation Error

September 4, 2008 by debbie T | Mac Software • Photoshop

Whoo-hoo! I purchased the download version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (Mac) and after downloading, I tried to install the app.

I had previously installed then uninstalled the trial, and now the full version would not install. An error message appeared and shut down the installation.

“critical errors were found in setup incompatible payloads already installed” - see screen shot below.

adobe install error

I googled the error, and found an answer on the adobe.com web site http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb403796

I followed the steps for Solution 2, and whoosh, Photoshop Elements started to install. I am a happy camper!

Photoshop Elements Download or Box?

September 4, 2008 by debbie T | Art and Graphics • Digital Photography • Mac Software • Photoshop

I have been wanting to purchase Adobe Photoshop Elements (Mac) for awhile now. I downloaded the trial, and I really enjoyed using it.

So, today I went to Adobe.com again to check out prices, and surprise! PSE 7 is coming out for Windows. But that is another story for another day. The versions are so “off” that I don’t anticipate the Mac version coming out until early next year.

So, it’s $70 for the upgrade version, and there is a choice of box or download. Amazon is selling the full boxed version for $70, but I would have to wait for shipping. So, I google to find what the differences are between download and boxed. Hmm, not much help anywhere online.

The Adobe Help Chat link was staring at me, so I clicked on it to start my Help Chat. According to the Help Chat person, everything is virtually the same, except that the box version has a paper manual. There is a pdf version for Mac users.

I asked again if there were any missing brushes or art files? Nope, according to chat.

So, it sounded good, but I wanted to be extra sure so I called the Adobe 800 Sales phone, and spoke with a sales rep. I got a different story from him. He said that I wasn’t able to download a full pdf of the help manual. When I mentioned that the Chat rep said that there was one, he claimed that he never heard of it, but he did a search and did indeed find a downloadable pdf file of the Help Manual. For those interested, the manual can be found on their PSE Resources/Documents page.

I questioned him about any missing brushes or files, he said no, the software was exactly the same, except the download version didn’t have extensive help.

He then said something very troubling. He said that once I upgraded to version 7, I wouldn’t have access to the version 6 file anymore. Huh? If I had the DVD boxed version, I would have a physical disk, but with the download, I would be losing out. Again, huh?

I told him that I could burn my own DVD disk. He tried to tell me that home burned disks don’t have the longevity that commercial disks have. Yeah, but duh, I can burn more than one copy, and even copy it over to an external hard drive for backup. And by the time the disk was bad, years later, I probably wouldn’t care about that old version anyway. I was pretty shocked that he was so misinformed.

And the real kicker is after I hung up, I was browsing over at Adobe.com again, and found this quote on their Download Info & Instructions popup page:

I quote:

How to re-download software: Sign in to Your Account at the Adobe Store at any time to re-download your purchased software. Just follow the instructions given above for downloading your software.

So, he pretty much didn’t know what he was talking about!! sigh. I just love customer service. There is an option to download the file at any time later!

Well, dinner is probably ready in a minute, and I still have to make my purchase! whoo-hooo!

Firefox 3 - Edit the Personal Dictionary

August 25, 2008 by debbie T | Firefox Browser • Mac Software

Have you ever mistakenly added a misspelled word to the Firefox custom dictionary. It has happened to me a few times, and I always google to find the answer for editing the dictionary entries.

Found this forum post and I wanted to blog it so I remember it for next time!

http://www.trap17.com/forums/firefox-dictionary-word-edit-t48009.html

Hmm, now if I can just remember that I blogged it, we will be all set!

Automountd Trying to Connect to Backups.backupdb

August 9, 2008 by debbie T | Computers • Internet • Mac Corner • Mac Software

I just bought a new 1TB external hard drive yesterday, and my Chronosync backups were still working last night to sync all my files from various hard drives to backups on the new drive.

This morning I noticed a Little Snitch (gotta love this app!) requesting to allow “Automountd” to connect to “Backups.backupdb”

I recognized Backups.backupdb as the location of Leopard’s Time Machine backup, but I was unsure why automountd wanted to connect to the Internet; besides Time Machine is not configured to auto backup. I always click the Time Machine icon in my menu bar for manual backups AND the drive I do use for backups was definitely attached to my Mac overnight.

So I googled “automountd” and found this article. http://installingcats.com/2008/06/01/automountd-backups-backupd/

He received the very same message from Little Snitch. In the article he explains in plain English what is going on. Even though the first time I read it, I was a bit muddled, but when I read it again, I think I understand the answer to the problem, but I still don’t know why automountd was trying to connect in the first place, especially since Time Machine is not set to auto backup.

In the article, another article was referenced. That might contain the answers to automountd, but seriously, I don’t have the time right now to read it. So, I will list the article for future reading reference: http://rajeev.name/blog/2007/11/22/autofs-goodness-in-apples-leopard-105-part-i/

I ended up denying access (until quit) in Little Snitch, and there appears to be no impact on Time Machine’s backup ability. I manually started the backup and it did take a very long time to start the tiny backup (a few mb) but when it was finished, the files looked okay.

I will keep an eye on it.

Macbook Pro LCD Calibration

July 2, 2008 by debbie T | Computers • Digital Photography • Mac Software

whoo-hoo. I calibrated my Macbook Pro display for the first time! I was nervous (not sure why, it wasn’t like it was going to blow it up if I made an error).

The colors look very nice. My eyes feel like they need adjusting, and I have a tiny slight headache, so I turned my brightness down for now. I hope I get used to it.

UPDATE: no, the colors were not very nice. In fact, the calibration led to a head ache for a couple of days until I took a look at my original calibration settings. Wow, there was a strong pink hue to the calibration from Eye-One. Read about it in my updated article.

Anyway, I purchased an “Eye-One Display LT” calibrator from x-rite. You can find them on Amazon as sold by Adorama. I have purchased from Adorama twice now, and they are very good.

The instructions that came w/ the product are a bit scarce, but if you take your time, it isn’t very difficult to accomplish the process. I guess the deal is you need to calibrate regularly, like once a week. The software will supposedly remind me.

The reason I chose the Eye-One LT is because the price was inexpensive @ $140. Yes, there were other calibrators that were less expensive, like the Spyder 2 Express, but for a little more money, I could get a “semi-pro” level tool.

Plus, the reviews for the Eye-One Display LT were very good.

The x-rite website is packed with lots of information; I am going to have to sit down and read over all their tutorials and articles soon.

Untrained Applestore Salespeople

June 29, 2008 by debbie T | Mac Corner • Mac Software • iPhoto • iTunes

We went into the Applestore in Salem, NH this afternoon to possibly purchase a new iPod Touch for my husband.

When we walked in the store, I asked the greeter if someone could help us with iPod Touch questions. She sent us over to what she thought was the iPod area, and I found a Touch. My husband had been previously been playing around with one, but I thought it might be nice to have someone officially show us around before we purchased.

The first salesperson (male) came over and he seemed knowledgeable enough, until I asked him about syncing photos, bookmarks, address book, etc. He didn’t know the answers, so he brought over another salesperson (female), and she started to push the new Mobile Me (dot Mac) service, telling me that I needed to use that to sync anything. I told her I have never been a fan of dot Mac, and that I was surprised that it couldn’t be done through iTunes.

She wasn’t too sure of the answer, so she went off to find someone that might know.

Another older gentleman came over. I assumed (wrongly) that he would perhaps have an answer about syncing. nope, more Mobile Me sales pitches. In fact, he took me over to a nearby iMac, and started to browse the apple.com website so he could show me more about Mobile Me. Again, I told the that I didn’t want to use dot mac or Mobile Me.

I spoke to no less than 4 sales people, and no one could tell me answers to simple questions, like syncing photos, address book, and iCal. Would you believe that no one actually knew the sales return policy either!!! That had to be figured out by asking another sales person as well.

I should have just went over to a Mac myself, and searched for the syncing answers on google (which is what I did when I got home). Truth is, you do NOT need Mobile Me or Dot Mac to sync your iPod. You can do it all through iTunes, which is what I originally thought, but no one in the store could confirm it.

Seems the Applestores have a lot of new sales staff, probably in anticipation of the iPhone release on July 11). But you would think they would go through a little bit of training. It’s almost like they were told if anyone asks about the iPhone or iPod Touch, just play stupid and push the Mobile Me sales crap.

I was really discouraged and disappointed. I expected more knowledge from the sales staff. The Applestores have always seemed to be a step above the Best Buys and Walmarts, in that they know their products. If we were an uninformed customer, we might have possibly been talked into purchasing a Mobile Me account, when it wasn’t even necessary! Very disheartening!

We left the store w/out an iTouch. My husband isn’t sure he wants one anymore. I told him that he should wait until July 11, just in case something (like a price drop) happens. Who knows, I have been eyeing an iPod Touch for awhile. I might get one after July 11!

Creating an Encrypted Backup to External Drive

April 26, 2008 by debbie T | Digital Photography • Mac Software

Note: This tutorial is for Mac OS X - I am using Leopard, but older versions of OS X would still work fine.

My photo files were getting out of hand. I had no problem backing up to my external hard drives, but I needed a better off site backup solution. I was using Amazon S3 for my original files, but there was so much meta data in iPhoto that I didn’t want to lose, like keywords, plus all the modified versions as well.

I regularly burned my photo files onto DVDs for storage at my parents’ home, but that was becoming time consuming and inefficient.

So, what to do? I decided to purchase another external hard drive to store at my husband’s office. But security was an issue. What if the drive was stolen? I needed to add a level of security to the drive in case it ended up in the wrong hands.

I searched online, and figured out that I could create an encrypted disk image (.dmg) file that could be saved on the external hard drive. I could use my syncing software Chronosync to regularly back up all my files.

First, set up the disk image on the external hard drive using Disk Utility

Choose File>New>Blank Disk Image

New-disk-img

  1. Type a “save as” name. This will be the name of the file.
  2. Browse to the location of your external hard drive. Don’t worry, because this is just like any other file, it can be copied or moved to a new location later.
  3. Volume name: is the name of the mounted volume. I just left the default, but you can choose a more appropriate name.
  4. Volume size: choose “custom” and type a slightly lower size quantity of your external hard drive. Make sure you choose “gb” from the pull down menu. For example, if your drive is 500gb, you might want to set a volume size of 460gb. If you don’t want all your files to be encrypted, then choose a smaller size. It is very flexible.
  5. Volume format: I chose Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
  6. Choose either 128 or 256 for encryption. I chose 256
  7. The partition is where I got a bit confused. I chose Single Partition, but there could be other choices that are more appropriate. This is a new setting in Leopard, and all the Disk Image tutorials I found were older.
  8. Lastly, choose “Sparse Disk Image” - this is something very cool that I just learned. It allows your disk image to be more flexible in size. For example, if you set your volume size for 30gb, and the files saved to the volume are only 10gb, the size of the disk image will be 10gb. It grows as you add files.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It has come to my attention that there could be problems using such a large sized file if a hard drive sector becomes corrupt. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I did find another program that might be a better solution.

TrueCrypt is an open source app for Mac, Linux, and Windows. It looks very intriguing. But for now, I will use my solution, and hope for the best.

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