photos

media type="custom" key="171167" toc =Photo Tools Overview=

There is a wide variety of photo tools available online and as desktop applications. The range of tools includes software that allows you to edit and manipulate photos such as [|Photoshop] or the free alternative [|Gimp], which only runs on Windows. Also available on the desktop is [|Photo Story], a free download from Microsoft or [|iPhoto], which comes pre-installed on all new Macs. Both of these tools allow you to store and categorize your photos into albums as well as do basic editing. Google has a free tool that does much of the same things called [|Picasa] but it only runs on Windows. There is also a large selection of online photo editing tools that are listed below. In addition to editing tools there is a wide range of photo sharing tools such as [|Flickr] and [|Google's Picasa Web] that allow you to post your pictures to the web, create albums and share your photos with others among other things.

**Uses of Photo Tools in Education**
A very basic use of these photo editing tools is to compress your photos in preparation for use on a class homepage. Saving your images to a smaller file size through compression makes it easier for your webpages to download. Having the ability to do basic editing such as cropping, removing red-eye and general image enhancement can allow a teacher to create higher quality images for use on a webpage or for instructional purposes as well. Teachers can also create online photo albums around a particular concept or set of images that they want their students to observe and study. Making these images available online is more cost-effective than printing copies to share with students and it makes the photos available beyond just the classroom.

Educational Benefits of Photo Tools
As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words so providing students with images to help teach a concept can be very powerful. Capturing photos during fieldtrips, experiments, presentations and other learning activities can also be a great way to create an archive of that particular event. This allows you and your students to revisit the learning experience again for reflection or reinforcement as needed.

Specific Ideas for using Photo Tools in a k-12 Setting
Click here to add or view a lesson plan or idea for using this technology in the classroom.

**Desktop Photo Editors**

 * [|Photoshop] is a desktop editing tool from Adobe. It has a large array of tools and capabilities but is not free.
 * [|Gimp] is a free Windows based software that allows you to do many of the same things as [|Photoshop].
 * [|Photo Story] is a Microsoft product that can be downloaded for free. In addition to basic editing tools you can store and arrange your photos, create slideshows and much more.
 * [|iPhoto] is included on all new Apple computers and is similar to [|Photo Story] in that you can store, organize and edit your photos as well as create slideshows, books, greeting cards or simply order prints.

**Online Photo Editing Tools**
Many of these editing tools could potentially be used by either teachers or students. You will find that some of the sites feature user generated images that may not be totally appropriate for k-12 students to see so you will want to pick carefully what tools you have students use.
 * [|FotoFlexer] has a wide range of tools and interfaces easily with many of the leading photo sites and social network sites making it easy to upload and share your edited photos.
 * [|Picnik] has many of the same capabilities as [|Photo Story] and [|iPhoto]. It also has a [|FireFox] browser extension that allows you to import pictures directly from any website to your [|Picnik] account.
 * [|Splashup] has many of the features of [|Photoshop] and is quite extensive for a free online editor.
 * [|PicResize] is similar to [|Splashup] in the tools it offers and the simplicity of use. Neither of these tools requires an account or login in order to edit and save images.
 * [|flauntR] is a very comprehensive editing tool that has a wide-range of features that allow you to add filters, text, borders, frames and much more to your pictures.
 * [|Picture2Life] allows you to edit your photos as well as create collages and even simple animations from your photos.
 * [|Preloadr] allows you to optimize your photos and is designed to work directly with [|Flickr].
 * [|Pixenate] also imports directly to [|Flickr] and has a very simple interface to use.
 * [|Snipshot] has a limited but useful set of tools to do basic editing and optimization of images.
 * [|Hugin] is a panoramic photo stitching tool that allows you to stitch together a series of images to create a larger image.

Online Photo Tools for Fun (and possible learning)
Similar to the photo editing tools listed above, the tools shared below provide access to many user generated "creations" that may not be suitable for k-12 students to see or experience. As with any website or tool of this nature, you will want to take necessary precautions to insure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content or you may decide that these types of tools are best used only by yourself or other adults to create images and artifiacts for use by students.
 * [|FACEinHole] lets you take your own picture and place your face in different situations or on the body of different celebrities, sports stars, politicians and many other things.
 * [|Comiqs] is a cartoon creation tool that allows you to create your own comic strips using your photos.
 * [|ImageChef] lets you add customized text to their stock photos or to your own uploaded images.
 * [|BeFunky] allows you to take your own photos and "cartoonize" them, turn them into an avatar, make animations with them and apply a host of other effects.

**Photo Sharing/Storage Tools**

 * [|Photobucket]
 * [|Flickr]
 * [|Picasa Web]
 * [|SmugMug]
 * [|Shutterfly]
 * [|Snapfish]
 * [|MyPhotoAlbum]

**Relevant Articles or other Readings and** **Relevant Sources of Information (Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, Discussion Forums etc.)**
top
 * add link
 * add link