How to Edit Photos in Picasa 3

Picasa 3 is a free image processor that you can use to edit your home photographs. Picasa has a simple interface that makes editing photos quick and easy. Picasa has basic tools that can fix your photo's color balance, lighting, cropping and alignment. You can also use Picasa to repair minor damage or problems with photos, such as scratches and dust that appeared during scanning.

To get started, download Picasa 3 from the Google website. Install the program, then open it on your desktop. On the left side of the window, navigate to the folder which contains the photo you'd like to edit. Then double-click a photo within the main window to open the Picasa image editor.

Cropping in Picasa 3

You can use the Picasa "Crop" tool if you'd like to frame the photo differently. Using the drop-down menu, select the dimensions of the crop you'd like to use. To choose your crop dimensions freely, select an aspect ratio such as "Manual" or "Current Ratio." Click and drag the mouse across your photo, then click and drag the window to get the framing you like. You can also click and drag the edges of the crop window to adjust them. Click "Apply."

Straightening in Picasa 3

If your photo looks crooked, the "Straighten" tool can fix the problem. Click the "Straighten" tool in the Picasa toolbar. A grid will appear on your photo. Use it as a guide as you click and drag the slider at the bottom of the photo window. Dragging the slider to the left will cause the photo to turn clockwise. Dragging it to the right will make it turn counter-clockwise. When you're satisfied with how straight the photo is, click "Apply."

Retouching in Picasa 3

The "Retouch" tool in Picasa is a simple tool that you can use to remove scratches and dust from your photos. Make your brush smaller by moving the slider to the left, and make it larger by moving it to the right. Left-click on the photo to select an area to repair. Then move the cursor around the photo to find another area to paste into the area to be repaired. Watch the preview of the repair area as you move the cursor around. Left-click on the photo again to complete the repair.

Using Auto Tools in Picasa 3

If you don't feel comfortable with manually editing your photo, Picasa has several automatic tools that can do the job for you. Clicking "Auto Contrast" will automatically fix the brightness and contrast of your photo without changing the color. "Auto Color" will automatically fix the color balance of your photo without altering the brightness and contrast. "I'm Feeling Lucky" will automatically fix both the lighting and color balance of the photo at the same time.

Tuning in Picasa 3

To access the manual photo editing tools in Picasa, click the "Tuning" tab. Drag the "Fill Light" slider to the right to adjust the brightness of your photo. Drag the "Highlights" slider to increase the contrast between light and dark while enhancing the light areas in your photo. Drag the "Shadows" slider to increase the contrast by darkening the dark areas of the photo. Click and drag the "Color Temperature" slider to fix the color balance of your photo. Drag it to the right to make the color temperature warmer by enhancing the yellows and reds in the photo. Drag it to the left to make the color temperature cooler by increasing the blue in your photo.

Select the "Neutral Color Picker" to remove the color cast from your photo. Click on a white or gray area within the photo, and Picasa will correct the color temperature automatically.

Resizing a Photo in Picasa 3

There is no resize tool in Picasa 3. However, if you want to resize your photo, click "File" and "Export Picture to Folder." Select the export location. By "Image size" select "Resize to." Enter a number in pixels in the field provided. This will become the longest dimension of the photo. Select the image quality. "Maximum" will result in a larger image file size, and "Minimum" will make the file size as small as possible. Click "Export" to resize the photo.

For more ideas on this topic, read How to Make Picture Frames in Paint Shop Pro 8 and How to Make a Digital Photo Mosaic.