domingo, 17 de octubre de 2010

Como cambiar un color específico en una foto

Siguiendo con los artículos relacionados con la fotografía y sus colores, traigo nuevamente desde Lifehacker, éste tutorial para la post-producción. Incluye video y desarrolla brevemente una forma sencilla o un modo más avanzado para lograr los resultados deseados.

How to Change a Specific Color in a Photo

We've talked a lot about getting great color our of your photos, but if you don't like the color you have you're not necessarily stuck with it. Here are two ways to change the color of anything in your photo.
The video above describes two techniques for changing color in your photos with Photoshop. The first involves using the color replacement tool/brush to effectively paint on a new color, and the second involves the more complicated method of manually selecting the object and manipulating its light and color values.
 
 

 Using the Color Replacement Tool

How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoThe color replacement tool hides underneath the traditional brush in Photoshop. It's the easiest way to replace a color in a photo, so when it works it's definitely the best way to go. All you have to do is select the color you want and paint over the color you want to replace.
 

How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoOne of the neat features of the color replacement tool is edge detection, so you can paint more freely without worrying about coloring outside the lines. However, if your brush is too big you're going to find that Photoshop gets pretty strict about the edges. Using a big brush to fill in the large areas is fine, but then reduce the size of your brush to finish off the edges.
That's all there is to it. When it works, it's that easy.
 

Doing It the Hard Way

How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoWhen it doesn't work you end up with extremely unrealistic color like the blue eye you see to the left. Yikes. To avoid this sort of thing and get a more realistic look I like to take a much more manual approach.
 

How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoI love the polygonal lasso—it's awesome. I use it for most of my selection needs. For selecting a rough shape like an eye, it works very well. You can find it hiding beneath the regular lasso in the toolbar.
 

How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoUse it to select both eyes and then copy and paste that selection into a new layer. Now we've got the original eye color in its own layer. Desaturate the layer (Mac: Command+Shift+U / Windows: Control+Shift+U) and, if you want, auto tone it (Mac: Command+Shift+L / Windows: Command+Shift+L) to brighten things up a bit (we'll be more precise later).

How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoMake a new (empty) layer and select the eyes again (command/control + click the layer). Use the paint can tool to fill in a mild blue and then set the blending mode of the layer to Color. It'll be a little intense so reduce the opacity significantly. Anywhere between 10-20% should be pretty good.
How to Change a Specific Color in a PhotoNow go back to the eye layer (not the color layer we were just working with—the one below it) and open Curves. If you just pull the curve up a bit you should be able to brighten things up nicely. You'll see the blue color pop more—but realistically so—now that the dark eye isn't so dark. When you get it to a place you want it, you're all done. Just make sure you zoom out so you know the effect actually works from a distance as well.


That's it! Got any good color changing tips? Share 'em in the comments.
Send an email to Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at adachis@lifehacker.com.
Fuente: http://lifehacker.com/5630880/how-to-change-color-in-a-photo

Como limpiar y desinfectar tus gadgets de forma segura

Ayer, publicaba la nota que hablaba sobre la poca higiene de los dispositivos móviles con pantalla táctil, y de cómo la mugre se acumula en ellos, haciéndolos “más sucios que el botón del inodoro”. Si bien es algo técnicamente correcto, personalmente lo publiqué desde un punto de vista cómico, no con la intención de generar ninguna especie de paranoia colectiva… Pero, para el que le queden dudas, o mejor aún, simplemente, para los que quieran cuidar sus gadgets y no sepan exactamente como, va éste artículo:

How to Safely Disinfect and Clean Your Gadgets

How to Safely Disinfect and Clean Your GadgetsFlu season is creeping its way toward us once again, and your gadgets are among the mostgerm-ridden objects in your house. Here's how to safely disinfect them.

Photo by benjgibbs.

First, if you're the only one using your gadgets, you're probably pretty safe from the spread of germs. But as soon as you start handing off your iPhone, iPad, laptop, video game controllers, cameras, and other tech to your ogling friends, germs (and illness) can start spreading quickly.

 

Use alcohol or disinfectant (sparingly!)...

Most of your oft-touched tech, like your keyboard, mouse, laptop, and headphones, can usually be cleaned safely with simple alcohol or disinfecting spray. You probably don't want to go with pre-soaked wipes, here—instead, get a bottle of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol and put it on a soft cloth before wiping down your gear. The less moisture you expose your gear to, the better.

...but not necessarily on touchscreens...

The trickier matter is cleaning touchscreen devices like your tablet or smartphone. Appledoesn't recommend using anything with alcohol, ammonia, and other popular cleaners in it, though some quick googling reveals substantial anecdotal evidence that it won't noticeably harm your screen in small doses. However, if you don't feel comfortable taking that route, you have other choices.

 

...unless you've got a screen protector...

Your first option is to get a screen protector, like the popular Power Support anti-glare film or, my personal favorite, the ZAGG InvisibleSHIELD, and use the above alcohol/disinfectant method. Screen protectors cover up the supposedly delicate oleophobic screen coating on many devices, freeing you up to use pretty much any cleaning products you want. Again, just be very careful about getting your phone too wet—even if you don't damage anything, you could trip your gadget's moisture sensor and void your warranty.

 

...or use a gentler alternative...

If you're anti-screen protector, a few products on the market can disinfect your gadgets without eating away at the screen, like the recommended-by-Apple iKlenz spray or Monster CleanTouch. You'll have to shell out 20 bucks at an Apple Store or online (as opposed to stopping at the local Walgreen's for a bottle of alcohol), but it's probably the best way to go if you're particularly paranoid about adverse effects on your phone's screen.

 

...but don't forget to use a little common sense.

Lastly, and most importantly, is a little common sense: The best way to avoid illness is to wash your hands regularly, especially when you go around touching other people's stuff. It won't stop them from spreading germs to your iPad, necessarily, but the more we keep our germs to ourselves, the less we spread them to others.

Send an email to Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com.

Fuente: http://lifehacker.com/5665119/how-to-safely-disinfect-and-clean-your-gadgets

Convertí tu viejo Hardware en… Cualquier otra cosa!

Hoy en Nouslandia, un espacio de bricollage, donde veremos 19 simpáticos proyectos que cambiarán el destino de esa vieja chatarra informática, acumulada en tu taller con el pretexto de “Para algo va a servir”.
One good way to prevent computer components from filling up landfills over the next few thousand years is to use them in artistic ways. Steven Rodrig did this in 2009, creating electronic sculptures using old printedcircuit boards (PCBs). His portfolio, seen here, showcases a variety of designs, including insects, flowers, reptiles, cityscapes, and more. Granted, these sculptures will still end up in landfills one day anyway. His heart was in the right place, at least.
   
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Why not use those old, scratched-up CDs and DVDs to create unique ornaments for your tree this holiday season? As shown above, almost anything could work--motherboards, graphics cards, old modems, or hard drive platters--you name it. The disc-based versions would probably be a better choice, reflecting the strands of lights draped nearby. Heck, for an even geekier tree, you could paint unused Ethernet cables to replace the garland. Old CPUs and fans, sporting festive colors, could serve as unique makeshift decorations, too.
 
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David Maloney hoarded old PC components over the years and boxed them up in his garage so that one day they would be recycled into "some sort of project." The idea of a coffee table came to mind after spotting a pile of black walnut from a tree he cut down years ago. "It's basically two tables," he said. "One internal table to screw the boards to and another set of wood frames with glass that slide on top of the board table. It's basically a wood diorama. It will be very easy to swap out thecomputer boards with something else once we get tired of the look of the boards."
 
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The Blazer Pentium 1.0" shoes are part of Gabriel Dishaw's "Junk Art" collection, using what appears to be mutilated motherboards and other PCBs. Completed in just three weeks, the shoes are a men's size 9.5 and they weigh approximately 15 pounds. "This sculpture is part of a shoe series I'm currently working on where I revisit some of my favorite classic sneaker silhouettes," Dishaw said. "With this piece, I again tried to create a complete piece with both box and shoe. Notice some of the details--shoes lock down inside of the box for easy portability. I also tied this piece around a theme, Pentium, which is the name of Intel's chips. You will notice this is repeated throughout the shoes and box."
   
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Finding the source behind the Mouse Robot was difficult. However, Nihat Ustundag apparently created it, which is one of many designs incorporating unused mice, peripheral components, and various objects. A few other examples of his designs include a porcupine, an alligator, a potted plant, some kind of four-legged beast comprised of keyboard keys, an airplane, and more. Honestly, this mouse robot resembles Jar Jar Binks from the Star Warsprequels--must be the reptilian-like face.






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Enter "PC hamster cage" in the Google search field and you'll pull up multiple versions of monitors turned hamster cages. Unlike the variation shown above, one model incorporates a white and pink Hello Kitty design and a hinged top for easy access. Another hamster cage employs what appears to be a transparent iMac chassis mounted on a clear stand. In this instance, a hole was drilled into the side for an entrance to access the interior without moving the front grille.  The version seen above doesn't seem to involve anything special, and it simply uses an old PC monitor husk to provide a unique rodent resort. If anything, the designer should have included some kind of lighting using LEDs or a miniature disco ball.


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What better way to recycle old hard drives than to rip them apart and use the pieces to construct a miniature motorcycle? Created by Alex Andromeda, the model shown above is called Champion and features a DC motor for an engine and a belt-driven rear wheel. "The idea came from finding the symmetric metal pieces, which are used as the motorcycle frame," the bike's description reads. "The fender, gasoline tank, seat, and wheels are chosen according to the model size." Champion is 11" x 6" x 4" and is also comprised of VCR parts. A second motorcycle, the Unlimited Drive, is more hard drive-specific, and its magnetic platters serve as wheels. According to its description, this version represents "the spirit of independence, and Unlimited Drive means thousands of [gigabytes] of hard drives [are] driven on the Internet data highway." Ultimate Drive is a little larger than Champion, measuring 18" x 7" x 7".

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Here's a good example of making good use of a stockpile of computer monitors--provided that they still work, of course. This particular wall--called Mauritian Sunset--was one of six designs created by Sandy Smith over in the UK.
"I started this body of work in January 2005 using a pile of broken and obsolete computer equipment I had salvaged from skips and offices," Smith said. "I set about making these work again, then used them as building blocks to create various architectural structures." Another one of Smith's structures consisted of a wall of 26 monitors supported by empty PC shells, forming a towering, multi-colored cross called Crucifix. Smith ended his particular series of artwork in January 2006.
 
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Need a way to cool that hot cup of coffee or tea? Why not connect a small chassis fan or--better yet--an old GPU fan to the power supply? The rigged fan seen above looks just right for a small cup. For those wanting to take the cooling fan concept a step further, it may be possible to assemble a device with five or six fans positioned directly in front of the display that can cool your face or fingertips. Throw in a few LED cooling fans and you might have an annoying display of lights along with a light breeze.

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Obviously, the PC chassis pictured above doesn't really brew coffee. While at first glace it looks like it is the real deal, what gives it away is the illuminated strips lining the burners. Still, the idea is amusing--converting a coffee maker into a PC-like device that would match the rest of your desktop. The drawback here should be obvious: the risk of spilling a pot of hot coffee all over the desk. Electrical-shock risks and burn issues aside, a matching brewer sitting next to your PC could spark heating problems. With that said, perhaps a coffee-brewing PC machine should remain in the kitchen. The idea was neat for a moment, at least.  

 

 
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Admit it: you've tried to create music by using a group of glasses filled with various levels of water, or you picked up a marker and started beating it on the desk, PC chassis, monitor, and keyboard trying to create some kind of makeshift tune. James Houston took that idea to the next level by grouping obsolete hardware and peripherals together to mimic Radiohead's Nude. The mechanical ensemble included a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 8-bit PC (guitars), an HP Scanjet 3c scanner (bass), an Epson LX-81 dot matrix printer (percussion), and a group of hard drivesto distort vocals. To see this band of old fogies in action, check out the YouTube video here.
 

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Turning a chassis into a mailbox is both a nifty and dangerous idea. On one hand, it would certainly be original when compared to the other dull and unimaginative mailboxes lining the street. Heck, it might even put a smile on the mail carrier's face. But on the other hand, this physical inbox could alert would-be thieves to a tech-savvy geek who probably has a stockpile of electronics at the designated address. There's also a question of whether a chassis would be able to resist the elements and keep the mail dry. It would certainly give the neighbors something to gossip about.
 
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Who needs to drive down to Walmart and purchase a new grill when a handy substitute is hanging out in a pile of old hardware? As seen above, someone took an empty chassis, dumped in a pile of coal, and decided to cook several sticks of meat. Based on the image, it seems that the backyard cook didn't bother to close the PCI slots or drive bays--sealing those holes would be ideal, keeping the fiery coals and heat intact. Then again, it might be even better to shove the chassis in the ground, leaving the opening exposed for a PC-themed barbecue pit.
 
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It's not hard to find jewelry made from computer components on the Internet. The earrings seen above came from GeekGirl Jewelry, which offers many circuit-based designs. Other creative individuals have used memory chips,keyboard keys, CPUs, power buttons, USB drives, and even miniature circuitboards. Wearing hardware-based jewelry will likely prevent anyone from landing a hot date unless they're attending CES, Computex, or a Tom's Hardware office party.




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Looking for a way to spice up a party? Why not create a working beer dispenser with a computer chassis. The style doesn't really matter--you can use an old PC case with a rear pull-off shell, an Apple G3 case, or even a Sun Microsystems server box. Taking a different direction, some PC modders have even created unique, beer-themed PCs (which don't involve actual beer) like the Bubbacomp, which is a working rig in the shape of a large beer can, and the Heineken Beer PC, which mimics a case of Heineken. Want to take the simple route? Just installa beer bottle opener on the side of the chassis.

 
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This option may be a bit tacky, but using a PC chassis as a bird feeder is definitely an interesting way to repay Mother Nature. As seen above, this person merely secured a chassis to a tree using lots of rope--keyboard included. Can't get the birds to land? Chances are they don't want to be seen coasting anywhere near the geeky resort.






 

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Last year, this tribute to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was seen in the lobby of motherboard manufacturer Asus' headquarters in Taiwan. As you've probably guessed, this "painting" is actually a collage of old motherboards and computer chips, comprised as a tribute to the famous artist as well as the technology that has propelled the company to the forefront of the industry. The collage was reportedlycreated by actual Asus designers--CEO Jonney Shih said the company encourages its designers to foster "any kind of crazy ideas." This Mona Lisa tribute isn't anything close to crazy--it's downright spectacular.
 
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What better way to make a statement about your PC roots than to sport a ride caked with circuit boards? Granted the image shown above is possibly fake, but there could be a way to demonstrate your dedication through a real crafty paint job or a full-body printed wrap with components cemented onto the surface. Instead of fuzzy dice, throw on a pair of 5.25" floppy disks around the rear-view mirror. On the hood, engrave an Intel Inside logo.

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If all else fails, take all the unused hardware out to the back yard and go to town with a handy bat, golf club, machete, or axe. There's no denying it--we've all been there, wanting to rip the rig to shreds because a PCI card isn't behaving with the rest of the hardware, or the installed graphics card just isn't as vigorous as it was in its younger days. Some of the more hateful components thus far have included modems, CD-ROM drives, and printers--all of which eventually need a little "me time," Jason Vorhees-style. Honestly, the bigger the better. Bonus points if you play a little Geto Boys as you abuse your hardware, a la Office Space.

Fuente: http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/553-recycle-unused-hardware.html


17/10: Actualización: Desde Google Buzz, Leandro Laporta recuerda éste video, relacionado con éste post :)

Convertí a PDF cualquier artículo de tu Google Reader

Para los usuarios de Google Reader, ésta herramienta que les permitirá pasar el contenido del mismo a PDF, para poder compartirlo, imprimirlo o archivarlo. Tan simple como añadir un bookmark o favorito a nuestro browser habitual, y si bien los PDFs quedan “pisados” sobre el márgen izquierdo, ésto no resulta para nada molesto ni invasivo sobre el contenido del Reader, que por otro lado, queda perfectamente organizado en columnas, como si de un diario se tratase. Muy recomendable!


Fuente: http://joliprint.com/2010/10/07/print-to-pdf-google-reader/