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Blogging Tips

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Hello, everyone. Just wanted to share a couple of tips with you today.

Tip Number 1:

I was shocked on Friday evening when I went to edit some photos in Picnik (which I use daily) and a message on the home page informed me that Picnik would be no more as of April 2012.

What??? My head started spinning.

Google bought Picnik a while back and they’re getting rid of it. The message from Picnik is rather vague, but it looks as if Google+ will have some of Picnik’s features available. Of course, in my obsessive way I searched all over the web for alternatives. I messed around with Google+ and edited a photo but, for the life of me, didn’t know how to get the edited photo back on my desktop. And I don’t especially want to get too involved with Google+. Facebook is quite enough, thank you.

Then I downloaded a free 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements. After about an hour I was ready to slit my wrists. I’d love to figure it out and haven’t given up hope, but the learning curve is rather steep.

But here’s the thing: Picnik was easy, fast, accessible and great for those of us who aren’t quite ready to handle the Photoshop learning curve. And it had the collage feature, which is how I made my banner and my sister’s banner.

Why does Google have to mess with something that has so many fans? There are already petitions on the web asking Google to keep Picnik going. I somehow doubt Google is going to pay much attention to them.

Today I found a site called BeFunky, via a list on Diane’s blog, that works in much the same way as Picnik. And like Picnik, it’s free. You can pay a bit of money for the premium package and get more features – also like Picnik. The one thing I didn’t see there was the Collage feature. Here’s the photo I used to test the site:

A barely okay photo – there’s a lot of light and shadow and some light orbs, as well. Here’s the edited version:

I resized it, did a bit with color saturation and contrast, used the drop shadow frame, watermarked it with the name of the blog and used my favorite feature on this site, Vintage Colors. Pretty cool, wouldn’t you say?
I usually don’t use effects on my photos. I edit and sharpen and clarify. But I do like this little feature – it made an okay photo rather artsy and cool. Still have the problem with the orbs but somehow it works this way.
I’ll keep trying other sites and will let you know what I find. But for now, you might consider using BeFunky when Picnik ends its run in April.
Tip Number 2:
I know many people have been having problems leaving comments, viewing blogs, and having blogs disappear in the middle of a visit. Every time I research one of these problems, I find that many of the people having the problem use Internet Explorer. Remember when I was going to start using Threaded Commenting earlier in the week? I ended up reverting back to the Pop-up Box because I read that those readers who used Internet Explorer couldn’t leave comments when a blogger had implemented Threaded Comments.
Internet Explorer seems to have a lot of problems. I personally don’t use it and haven’t used it in many years. My suggestion is this: If you use Internet Explorer, consider downloading another browser. It’s pretty easy to do and takes very little time. If you’re nervous about downloading, have someone more computer-savvy do it for you. At the very least, it will give you more options for viewing blogs. You won’t run into these problems nearly as much and you’ll have the option of having another browser to try if one acts up. And they do. I have 3 different browsers on my computer for that very reason.
Every browser can have its little quirks, but I’ve found that Chrome and Firefox work very well for me.
Google Chrome – the browser that Blogger favors because it’s Google, of course. There are versions for Macs and Windows/PC.
Firefox – this link may show Firefox for Mac, as I have a Mac and that’s what keeps coming up when I search, but you can easily change that to Windows/PC.
If you have a Mac, you already have Safari, which is Apple’s browser.
There may be more out there, but these are the browsers I know and feel comfortable recommending.
Any questions? Feel free to email me.

Comments

  2. Hello Claudia,

    I just discovered Picnik earlier in the week. I had heard about it before but just began using it. I was all ready to pay for the premium version on Friday when I saw the announcement that they are closing. I was so disappointed but I’ll continue using it until they close. I love Piknic! I agree Photoshop has a very stiff learning curve but Photoshop Elements is supposed to be a bit easier. I have VERY limited Photoshop skills and love the simplicity of Picnik. If there is a petition I’ll sign it. Thanks for all the tips. I do like the artsy look of your photo. Keep us posted on what you find.

    Hugs, Sandy

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  3. Hi claudia,
    This is all way to complicated for me.I’m just after all this time feeling a little more comfortable with my blog.Now everything is going to change.My computer skills are very limited.I don’t know what i’ll will do when they change google.I wish things could stay the same.

    Kathy

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  4. I was stunned the other day, when I logged onto Picnik and saw the announcement. I not only loved it’s editing features, but also it’s whimsey. Even when the computer or internet was slow, visiting Picnik was delightful because of its cute sayings and play with words. Thanks for the suggestion of a replacement. You and I may both be nursing slit wrists if photoshop becomes our only option! I have never done well with it.

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  5. Claudia, There’s an old saying”if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, that’s how I feel about somethings google has done. I load g.chrome this week and worked around it to find my favorites list. So I know it’s internet Ex. You are right about computer savvy, which I am not. Smiles to you today,Susie(She Junks)

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  7. PCs/Windows machines can also use Safari if they want. Being on a Mac I can’t use IE anymore, but why would anyone want to? It’s the worst browser around. I use Firefox for Mac almost exclusively and love it. However, I’ve noticed lately that Safari works faster than it has in the past and that’s what it is all about for me—speed.

    I love Photobucket and have used it for years. I pay the $25 a year to be able to have as many photos as I want and not exceed the bandwidth. Picnik? I used it once and didn’t especially like it so never used it again. I want my photos safe above all. They do the job for me. I don’t use the features for funky photos simply because I love seeing them as they are; well, at least on my blog.

    Also, I have an old PhotoShop Elements 6 if you’d like it. Very cheap price also. Just let me know. I have a PSE 8 for editing my photos and just love it.

    xoxo,
    Connie

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  8. Ah Claudia, it’s awful when your fav editing program disappears. Or in this case is about to disappear.

    I have Photoshop 7, LightRoom 3, and what I use for my blog is simply Picassa. It doesn’t have that wonderful vintage aged filter, but I make do.

    By the time I get a moment to write my blog post, and pick the photos, I need something simple, and easy to use. A program that doesn’t make my brain ache at night while I am editing. So that’s why for the blog I use Picassa.

    And I love the way I can upload photos onto a web album for FREE! The albums are connected to my website, and I can change the photos up anytime I want, without having to change the website pages. That reminds me, I need to update a few of my images.

    As for IE, I think I got rid of it the very first week we got a computer…and have never looked back. It’s much easier to use Chrome, or Firefox.

    Thanks for the great hints.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  9. Good morning Claudia, Oh geez I got that same message from Picnic and nearly cried. I just had some work done on my blog recently and had the header set up so I could change my photo’s when ever I want to. The thing is I have to make them a certain size and picnic was PERFECT for that…easy for someone like me who’s a bit computer illiterate. I have Photoshop Elements but I’m still learning it so Picnic was my ‘go to’ site for doing a collage. Thanks for mentioning that other web site but I’ll be watching to see what you find for doing collages. Great Post!!! I hope you and hubby are enjoying your Sunday.
    Maura :)

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  10. Thanks for the tips Claudia. Losing Picnik which is easy to use, makes great collages and made thousands of bloggers blogs look great is rough. Its the collage for the header that is the worst to lose. A great header takes the blog from simple to sophisticated.

    Nice example using BeFunky. I’ll try it today too.

    I worry about all my blog pictures disappearing even if I get the download zip from Picnik.

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  11. I was pretty perturbed by the whole thing. I kind of feel like Google is forcing people to enroll in G+. I’m likely to sign up so I hope they change their mind about Picnik. The collage feature was nice.

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  12. Thanks for the tip on the Get Funky site Claudia. I got a notification in my e-mail yesterday and was upset. Like you I use picnik daily. I do like the Get Funky site and they accept paypal if you want to upgrade. I will miss picnik but I really don’t think that Google will save them. I have had problems with google for blogger as many of us have. I really do not know what the alternative is though.

    Have a nice Sunday with Don & the furry babies,
    Sue

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  13. We have not used Internet Explorer in better than 10 years. It is the worst performing browser out there. I think some people are just scared to try something new, but given time on a new browser I think they would see a huge difference and be much happier.

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  14. GREAT TIPS CLAUDIA……I AM NOT THAT GREAT WITH COMPUTERS……BUT THANKS FOR THE INFO……I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW YOU DID THE COLLAGE HEADERS….
    THEY ARE REALLY NICE……RIZZI

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  15. Dammit! I have Photoshop Elements that came with my computer, but I am very, very limited. I have had people explain how to make a collage on Picasa several times, I’ve printed out all the info, and still CANNOT DO IT. I’m going to be one upset slit-her-wrist-er right along with you. And I had the premium as well. Dammit!
    Brenda

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  16. Claudia, this is all about what I experience just now! I have been a long time user of Internet Explorer, BUT they don`t support Blogger anymore!!! They even write it when I go on my Dashboard and into : in draft…so not much to do about that !!! I have also Firefox downloaded, and uses it for blogging, but still I think it is easyer posting via I.E. and sometimes Firefox won`t let me Follow a certain blog??? So I feel it is not the easyest way, when choosing Firefox. About photo editing, I use Picasa, and I can make a collage there, but I have not tryed every possible thing , and I am not that experiensed ,as to say it is as good as Picnik!
    I feel all is “trembling” and just hope we could be sure to stay in “piece” and use what is good and easy for us.
    Hugs, Dorthe

    Reply

  17. I use photobucket and like it. It is easy and I do pay a couple bucks a month for the storage. I do find that Int. Explorer seems to be the issue whenever someone e-mails me a problem with my blog. I have had a couple mention the problem commenting since I put on the threaded comments so now I will revert back. Oh change how I loath thee at times.

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  18. I could never get comfortable with PS Elements so I purchased Lightroom a few months ago, after trying their program for 30 days. I only do editing so I don’t know about making collages. I hope you can all find something that works for you. As for me, well Di is my sister so I can always ask her nicely to make a new header for me:-)

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  19. I too have been a Firefox user for many years. My computer guys told me not to use IE. I don’t have a blog, so I don’t have the problems you ladies do that do blog. I don’t think I’m using Blogger right though as after I subscribe I never see it, it doesn’t come into my RSS feeds right. On the other hand, I don’t have trouble reading any blogs or them going away while reading them. Annette T

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  20. Yo también estoy desolada por el cierre de Picnik, y gracias a ti acabo de conocer BeFunky,lo probaré a ver como funciona.
    En cuanto a los navegadores, yo utilizo Mac, asi que por supuesto jamás utilizo Explorer, que horror!
    Un abrazo. Teresa.

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  22. I am about to get funky and Befunky dear friend. I just had an email that someone could not comment on my site and I imagine she has Internet Explorer. Brenda cannot see my font either. Really I am just about sensory over loaded with blog items to tidy up. How did you change your font? The person whose font I now use no longer has fonts to down load.

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  23. Inasmuch as 99% of my blog photos are edited with Picnik, I am just plain sick to hear the site is shutting down. I’m not very tech savvy and Picnik was so user-friendly. I’ve been on an extended blog break and have toyed with the idea of no longer blogging at all. The demise of Picnik just may have just made my decision easier. :(

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  24. I didn’t ever use picnik but hear it will be missed. I too use Chrome or Firefox. Chrome is just faster. But I like using both. When I had problems with my blog I didn’t know because Chrome didn’t bring it up. Had to look at it in Firefox to find it. I have all three on my computer. I have tried Safari, as there is a PC version, but just didn’t like the look. Thanks for offer any info you have on this. It is very helpful!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  25. Hi Claudia! When I got the msg Saturday re: Picnik, I hoped you would write about it–thanks! BeFunky looks OK, so I’ll use it if I must, but I love Picnik. :-( You mentioned in a previous post about resizing photos with Picnik. I just started doing that. I see that I can do that with BeFunky, but do you know if it is possible to resize using Picasa? Thanks a bunch for keeping us updated on this stuff! :-) Jennifer

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  26. I don’t know what we will do without Picnik. I use it every single day!! I love it’s ease of use. I have Photoshop Elements, but never use it because of Picnik. Picnik follows the maxim of KISS. Photoshop does not. Here’s hoping Google+ comes to their senses. I use Mozilla Firefox as my browser and I LOVE it.

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  28. I just about fell off my chair when I got the notice from Picnik. I do all my photo editing there. And you’re right, Google+ does not offer as much as Picnik.

    And this isn’t even the last of the changes that Google is making! They want us all using Google+, so everything will be pointing there soon.

    Reply
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