Month: January 2016

Photo Grid – The Best Photo Collage Maker Review

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The Photo Grid app is a fun and useful tool for anyone in the content creation business. This free app offers photo editing as well as digital design tools. It allows the user to create posters, videos, slideshows, and memes to share across social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. The Photo Grid Facebook page claims over 60 million users, while their Instagram page has almost 300,000 likes.

How is the Photo Editing Mode?

The photo-editing mode uses images from the IPod’s gallery or images captured in the moment. I had no trouble accessing photos from my iCloud account. Once you have selected an image, there are several categories of filters including black and white, vintage, and holidays. Each category offers a range of filters and the ability to fade the effect. Retouch provides tools for smoothing and whitening any unwanted spots.

Can it Embellish Photos?

The Photo editing section of Photo Grid has several frame designs for borders. Each frame can be adjusted for size and filled with colors, gradients, patterns, and even images. The text comes equipped with more than 50 fonts and 25 categories of other fonts free to download as needed. The font color can be easily changed. With text advanced settings drop shadows and outlines can be applied, spacing can be adjusted, and paragraphs can be justified. Designers can choose from 500 stickers. Some of these must be purchased but they are under a dollar and most are free to download.

What can Grid Mode do?

Once the pictures are edited, it’s time to design. Photo Grid has five different project choices.

  • Grid creates a collage out of 1 – 15 images.
  • Pin Board takes more of a scrapbooking approach, including a curled edge effect to apply to any chosen corner.
  • Video slide option uses 1 – 50 images, transitions, and music to create a slide show.
  • Stitch pieces together up to 9 pictures into a long strip to tell a story.
  • Poster takes 1 – 5 pictures to create a poster with many templates to choose from.

Is it User Friendly?

The Photo Grid app was easy and quick to install on my IPod Touch. It has a very intuitive interface. It took me 15 minutes to make my first creation, from taking the photo and editing to finished project. Resizing and turning a picture just takes two fingers. The same movements work to resize and place the stickers. Giving the device a good shake can change layouts. A child would have no trouble using Photo Grid. The hardest part of this app is setting it aside to get anything else done. The projects are easily shared to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, or email from within the app.

First PhotoGrid project with KJ Brustad

First PhotoGrid project with KJ Brustad(2016, DeeDee Brustad)

Is There Room for Improvement?

This app does not interrupt with advertisements. Instead, they have an ad across the top of the screen. This can make it hard to click some buttons. It would be nice to have more photo editing tools but not everything can be Photoshop. It is a great choice for creating audience enticing images. Content with captivating images gets shared more than posts with no images. This is an awesome addition to any PR Professional’s toolbox.

What is my Dream App?

 My dream app would be called Across all Apps. This app would allow me to take a blog post and choose other platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter. Across all Apps would create posts for chosen platforms from my post, based on my preferences. It would store templates with post size, keywords, images, and any other brand specific material specified. This would save time for anyone creating content across platforms.

Photo Grid App SETSCO Collage #1(2016, DeeDee Brustad)

Photo Grid App SETSCO Collage #1 (2016, DeeDee Brustad)

 

Photo Grid App SETSCO Pin Board Collage

Photo Grid App SETSCO Pin Board Collage (2016, DeeDee Brustad)

 

How Tech Savvy Teen Volunteers are Helping the Neighborhood

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Computers are found in our daily activities, from shopping and banking to business and entertainment. Many of our oldest community members cannot perform the simplest of computer tasks. For them, social media meant to connect is a source of isolation. These people need basic computer skills to participate in society. They still have a lot to contribute and should be given the opportunity to be included in the global community.

Teens are looking for a way to be included in our society. Many schools now require community service for high school graduation. It can be hard for teens to find volunteer opportunities outside of church settings. Many of these teens have amazing computer skills or social media know-how.computers_adults

The Connect IT App seeks to bring together tech savvy teens with those that could benefit from their wisdom. Student volunteers are paired with elderly patrons based on desired skills ranging from basic computer abilities, ecommerce and web design, or social platforms. Volunteers can teach on the patron’s computer or on the Connect IT supplied laptop each volunteer is equipped with.

The connect IT App is visually simple with large icons and easy navigation. Our website will link to community centers and the AARP. We will also place traditional flyers in public libraries, senior centers, and retirement homes. Teen volunteers will also be reached through high schools and the volunteer network website.

The Connect IT App will give seniors the skills they need to bridge the digital divide while allowing teens an opportunity to get their volunteer hours. This is adopt a grandparent 2.0.

Do You Know a Teen that Likes to Talk?

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The Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company hosts its fifth annual Speak the Speech contest Saturday February 6, 2016. SETSCO has been providing teens a safe place to develop their acting and language skills since 2006. Michelle Hancock, company director says “Our mission is to provide teens in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with instruction and performance opportunities that lead to their significant growth as artists, as community leaders, and as human beings.” SETSCO celebrated their tenth anniversary last season when past members joined the current company in a full length production of Hamlet. The company members range in age from 12 to 19. They perform at local festivals and stage a full length production every year.

Gulf Breeze, Fla (Sept. 14, 2014) Daisy Brustad performs Phoebe's monologue from Shakespeare's As You Like it at the Gulf Breeze Arts Festival. (Photo by SETSCO company coordinator DeeDee Brustad.)


Gulf Breeze, Fla (Sept. 14, 2014) Daisy Brustad performs Phoebe’s monologue from Shakespeare’s As You Like it at the Gulf Breeze Arts Festival. (Photo by SETSCO company coordinator DeeDee Brustad.)

The Speak the Speech contest will be held at the Old Sacred Heart Hospital building in the east tower at 2:00. Interested teens should fill out the application and pick a scene or monologue from any of Shakespeare’s plays. The selection must be at least 20 lines and no more than 5 minutes long. No experience, costumes or props required. All pieces must be memorized. First prize is a major supporting role in SETSCO’s full length production.

Come out and play!

Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company Speak the Speech Contest

Who – 13 to 19 year olds interested in acting

When – Saturday, February 6,2016 from 2:00 – 4:00

Where – 1010 North 12 Avenue, Suite 211