Free Art creation software - Livebrush

I have a lot of respect for artists. Art is hard. Really hard. To most people, a blank canvas is pure intimidation. But what if you could create art with a simple gesture?
That’s exactly what this program does. It takes your natural gestures and converts it into graphic art. It’s like having a talented artist living in your mouse. Sure, it might feel like cheating. But it’s fun.
I also don't want to have to take a lot of time to learn a new program. Here is an example of what I was able to do in a matter of a few minutes after downloading the FREE version of Livebrush.
I used 3 different brush styles to create the "art" above. I'm no Picasso, but I see the potential already!
Want to give it a try? Make sure you select the free version at livebrush.com
Want to see it in action first? Check the demo below.

Photoshop - Amazing Effects with Duotone

This week we're going to take a simple photograph and turn it into a KEWL work of art using duotone.The above photo looks nice. But lets turn it into something special like this!

In my example I threw out almost all of the color information, added a filter and got this amazing photo in just a few clicks of the mouse. Let's see how easy this is.
Open any image and go to Image - Mode - Grayscale. Next go to Image - Mode - Duotone. You'll see a screen like the following.Select Duotone then select two colors to represent your image. You can get amazing results depending on your color choices. Click the colored boxes to change colors and select the curve to change the intensity of your colors. I choice black and cyan in my example.
Don't know which colors to pick? Try the Custom Preset drop-down menu for a huge selection of preset duotones.
After you've gotten the color you want try one of Photoshop's artistic filters. In my example I used Filter - Artistic - Dry brush to get the results shown above.
The next time you want to create a special effect on an otherwise average photograph try duotone. Sometimes less really is MORE!

Create your own nature sound files!

Sounds from nature are so relaxing. Perhaps it's ocean waves, birds singing or whatever.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could create and customize your own?
Well now you can. Use this free online tool to customize your own relaxing nature sounds.
Nature sounds will let you do this. You can find this at http://naturesoundsfor.me.

There are several nature sounds to pick from. You can combine up to 4 different sounds and adjust the volume for each nature sound as you desire.
Here is an unusual yet relaxing combination that I came up with.
I have "Cat Purr" volume way up with some background water and birds singing.
I adjusted the bird singing to come and go so it wouldn't be constant at the bottom of the "Forest Birds" (shown with segmented green line)
You can then save your file to your computer to take where ever you go to help relax you. You can also choose to save it as a link.
Here is my relaxing version of nature sounds.
http://naturesoundsfor.me/leonasbliss
Enjoy (and relax)

FREE Photoshop for your Smart Phone!

I like to take photos with my phone. However, these photos usually need a lot of help. My Droid was never meant to be a camera but I don't always have my camera on me.
I was thrilled when I found the Free Photoshop application for my Droid!
The thrill didn't last too long when I found out that I could only do the VERY BASICS of editing.
The Photoshop.com Mobile App (free) is available for both the iPhone and Android phones. It provides basic editing tools for your photos. The app lets you crop, rotate, edit color and and few other basic editing tools are available. Do a search for Photoshop on your phone applications menu and download it.
Being so limited I shouldn't complain. Hey it's free, and of course it has to make me smile because it's Photoshop!
http://mobile.photoshop.com/
Enjoy!

FREE Cleaning Tool for your new computer

One of my favorite things to do is to unbox a new computer. How nice to have a fresh Windows installation and a fast roomy hard drive!

However, now there are more than a dozen shortcuts on the desktop for trial programs and services that you may not have any interest in. These "extras" are sometimes called bloatware or craplets.

PC Decrapifier is a free program removes many of these common trial programs and offers and lets you decide what additional software should be on your computer.

Here's one way to get rid of the commercials on my computer that I didn't ask for. Oh, and of course the best part again is that it's FREE.

Want to read more about it? Here is what PCWorld says about it.

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/download

Now Just For Fun!

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.
4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.
5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For Marijuana.
6. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.
7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.
8. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.
9. Sing Along At The Opera.
10. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.
11. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'
12. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'

Make it a GREAT week! :-)