Google's Picture Perfect Picasa, Part 2 - How to use Google Picasa & Basics, e.g. Removing Red Eyes, Correcting Colors, etc.

To "get the red out," click on the Redeye button on the Basic Fixes tab. Being as precise as possible, click and drag a rectangle around the first eye you want to fix. (Don't make the rectangle any bigger than it needs to be because the red tones will be removed from the entire area within the rectangle.) Repeat for the other eye and then click the Apply button. By the way, the Redeye feature only works with JPEGs.

Correcting Color

To correct color problems in a photograph, click on the Auto Color button on the Basic Fixes tab. Picasa will do its best to correct any color issues for you. If you still want to monkey around with the results, click on the Tuning tab and use the Color Temperature slide to further adjust color.

Improving Contrast

To improve contrast, click on the Auto Contrast button on the Basic Fixes tab. Picasa will do its best to correct any contrast issues for you. If you still want to try improving the photo further, click on the Tuning tab and use the Fill Light, Highlight, and Shadows sliders to further adjust the picture.

Setting Things Straight

Often, a picture could benefit from being straightened out a bit (especially if the picture contains strong horizontal or vertical lines). To straighten out a picture, click on the Straighten button on the Basic Fixes tab. A grid will be superimposed over the picture. Use the slider at the bottom of the photograph to align the photograph with the grid. Click Apply when you are happy with the result. Most pictures that have been straightened will also need to be cropped.

Cropping

To crop a picture, click on the Crop button on the Basic Fixes tab. Leave Manual selected if you want to crop the picture manually. Click in one of the other three standard sizes (4 x 6, 5 x 7, or 8 x 10) to constrain the crop tool specifically for that size frame. (The Rotate button toggles between landscape and portrait orientations.) Click and drag on the picture to create the cropping rectangle. Click Preview to see what the cropped image would look like before applying the change. Click Apply to apply the change.

That Lucky Feeling

In true Google fashion, Picasa has an I'm Feeling Lucky button on the Basic Fixes tab. Click this single button to have Picasa adjust the picture's color and contrast. If you aren't happy with the

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