Archive for the ‘Scribbles’ Category
Correct Lens Distortion in GIMP with GimpLensfun
While GIMP offers a wide range of tools for working with photos, it lacks one feature that is essential for serious photographers: the ability to automatically fix lens distortion. Fortunately, the GimpLensfun plugin fills the void quite nicely.
Continue to read Correct Lens Distortion in GIMP with GimpLensfun
Sophie in North Korea
The longer I think about what we saw and heard, the less sure I am about what any of it actually meant.
Continue to read Sophie In North Korea
Slow-Photography Movement
[...] while taking photos has become a way to mark almost any moment, there is often an unnoticed tradeoff. Photography is so easy that the camera threatens to replace the eyeball. Our cameras are so advanced that looking at what you are photographing has become strictly optional. To my surprise, no monument I saw in Israel could compete with the back of the camera. What gets lost is the idea that photography might force you to spend time looking at what is in front of you, noticing what you might otherwise ignore.
All this has spawned a rebellion that I consider myself part of: Call it the slow-photography movement.
Continue to read The slow-photography movement asks what is the point of taking pictures?
Calibrate and Profile Monitor for Use with digiKam
To calibrate a monitor and generate a color profile for it on Linux, you need two things: a colorimeter and color profiling software. High-quality professional colorimeters tend to be rather expensive, but you can use the excellent open source ColorHUG device instead. When it comes to calibration and profiling, the displaycalGUI software is the perfect software for the job. It provides a graphical user interface to the display calibration and profiling tools of the Argyll CMS open source color management system. The latter is available in the software repositories of most mainstream Linux distributions, so you can install it using your distro’s package manager. On Debian and Ubuntu-based distributions, this can be done by running the apt-get install argyll command as root. Grab then the packaged version of dispcalGUI from the project’s website and install it on your system. Connect ColorHUG (or any other supported colorimeter) to your machine and launch dispcalGUI.
dispcalGUI
Press the Refresh button to make dispcalGUI detect the connected colorimeter (it should appear in the Instrument/Port section). If you are using a multi-display setup, make sure that the correct monitor is selected in the Display device section. Select then Photo from the Settings drop-down list. Press then the Calibrate & Profile button and follow the instructions to calibrate the monitor and generate its color profile. Once the color profile has been generated, dispcalGUI prompts you to install the profile and enable it during boot.
Launch then digiKam, choose Settings → Configure digiKam, and switch to the Color Management section. Click on the Profiles tab, select the generated profile from the Monitor profile drop-down list, and press OK to save the settings.
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for Scribbles and Snaps.
Here’s an excerpt:
19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard 3.0.7 Released
The Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard ebook has been updated to reflect changes in the latest version of the DSLR Dashboard app. The ebook now covers the Wi-Fi mode functionality in DSLR Dashboard. In addition to that, the new version of the ebook features improved formatting and minor cosmetic tweaks.
Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard
If you’ve already purchased Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard, you can download the new version as described in the guide.
Learn more about Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard, and buy a copy of the ebook via PayPal, Amazon Kindle Store, or Gumroad.
digiKam Recipes on Gumroad
Good news for those of you who consider buying the digiKam Recipes ebook, but for some reason can’t use the PayPal or Amazon options. The ebook is now available for purchase through Gumroad in both EPUB and MOBI formats.
digiKam Recipes on Gumroad
Using Gumroad, you can purchase the book using a regular credit card. So if you don’t have a PayPal account and you don’t use Amazon Kindle devices, this option is for you. Read more about the digiKam Recipes ebook.
Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard 3.0.1 Released
DSLR Dashboard, a remote control app for Nikon DSLR cameras, has undergone a major revision. The core of the app has been rewritten for speed and stability, and DSLR Dashboard is now compatible with Android 4.x.x. The new version of the app sports a redesigned interface that puts all essential features right at your fingertips.
Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard
To reflect these and other changes, the Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard has been thoroughly reworked. If you’ve already purchased Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard, you can download the new version as described in the guide.
Learn more about Instant Guide to DSLR Dashboard, and buy a copy of the ebook via PayPal or Amazon Kindle Store.
Pygmyfoto 1.5.3 Released
Hot on the heels of release 1.3.5 arrives Pygmyfoto 1.5.3. which brings a raft of under-the-hood fixes and improvements along with a tweaked layout.
Pygmyfoto 1.5.3
The source code and a neatly packaged archive containing the latest release of Pygmyfoto are available in the project’s GitHub repository. A demo of Pygmyfoto is available at dmpop.dyndns.org/pygmyfoto
DIY DSLR Wrist Strap
Here is a simple DIY project for a rainy weekend: replace the neck strap that comes with your DSLR with a less obtrusive and more practical wrist strap. This strap is ideal for photo walks and situations where you don’t want your DSLR dangling on your belly.
DIY DSLR wrist strap
For this project you need a piece of 550 Paracord parachute cord which you can buy cheaply at eBay. Attach the cord to the DSLR, make a loop, and make sure that your wrist fits comfortably and you can reach all camera controls. Cut the excess cord off and tie a tight knot. Use then a lighter or matchsticks to melt the cut ends, and your new strap is ready to go.
