GIVE US YOUR SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK ABOUT THE SITE
We will send you an E-mail every time there is a new article in your favorite section. Sign-Up For ALERTS.

Scrapbooking

AutoMatting from Image Trends AutoMatting, a new product from Image Trends, solves this problem by automatically creating a unique, attractive matt-style background for every one of the images in your slideshow file. Article rating: 5.26

AutoMatting from Image Trends

by

Jon Sienkiewicz

One of the most popular ways to enjoy digital images is watching them as they automatically glide by in a slideshow. Many people use the My Pictures Slideshow that’s built into Windows to create a personalized screen saver (see sidebar at the end of this article for directions) and there are many inexpensive software applications on the market that produce slideshows and photo screen savers.

© 2007 Jon Sienkiewicz

The problem is that the images often tend to be surrounded by a stark, black background. Add this to the fact that the images are often different sizes. When you watch a slideshow or photo screen saver on a widescreen monitor it looks like something is missing. Even some professional productions created by wedding and event photographers are plagued by the ugly, worthless border.

© 2007 Jon Sienkiewicz

AutoMatting, a new product from Image Trends, solves this problem by automatically creating a unique, attractive matt-style background for every one of the images in your slideshow file. Furthermore, it resizes the image to match the aspect ratio of virtually any display device.

© 2007 Jon Sienkiewicz

The mats are constructed using the colors and patterns from the image. A special technique is used to create an attractive beveled edge for the matt. The program provides visually consistent sizing between horizontal and vertical images with no black bars on the screen. And the resized image files are smaller and display faster.

© 2007 Jon Sienkiewicz

Automatting is very easy to use. The user interface is simple and intuitive, and can be mastered after just a few minutes. The software operates in a “batch mode,” which means it will process a folder full of images sequentially without further attention. Once you’ve made your initial settings you do not have to make adjustments for each image. It does everything except create the slideshow—that part’s still up to you. AutoMatting is available for less than $50 as a stand-alone application for computers running Windows.

© 2007 Jon Sienkiewicz

Other products from Image Trends include these Adobe Photoshop compatible plug-in filters: PearlyWhites (automatically whitens and brightens teeth in digital images) and ShineOff (removes shine from faces and skin).

My Pictures Slideshow (part of Windows)

1. Create a folder and name it. For example, call it Best Shots. Copy at least two digital images to the Best Shots folder.

2. Right click any open spot on your Windows desktop and select Properties from the menu that appears.

3. On the Screen Saver tab, select My Pictures Slideshow from the list of available screen savers.

4. Click the Settings tab and specify Best Shots as the folder containing your pictures. You can also control transitions, frequency and make other adjustments. Click Apply when finished.

That’s all there is to it. Next time your Screen Saver kicks in you’ll be looking at your photos instead of a blank screen.

© 2007 Jon Sienkiewicz

^ Back to top

	Very good thanks Posted by: simon sherwood Nov 23, 2007 @ 12:24 PM EST
	it was looking very real. Posted by: raza Jan 7, 2008 @ 7:4 AM EST
	Your article gave me a new look on photography. I am a amateur that is fasinated with taking pictures. Your article makes me want to go out and shoot all types of pictures just to see them come out like yours. I just brought an expensive cramera with a really nice lens and can't wait to put it to use. Your article gave me the courage I needed to stop reading the instructions for the 100th time and go take pictures. I truly love the background in your pictures and will be purchasing this software soon. Posted by: Velma Price Jan 25, 2008 @ 10:37 AM EST
	Very enjoyable - only thing I didn't see (and I just could have missed it), was a link for Image Trends. Posted by: Bob Booth Feb 13, 2008 @ 12:1 PM EST
	I would love to have more information and a website to read about this process. I take thousands of pictures every year (sports events, vacations, Holidays, etc.), and would love to have better photos when printed out. Posted by: Cathy Robinson Mar 27, 2008 @ 4:56 PM EST
	I Image Trends compatable with MAC? Posted by: Bev Mascara Jul 9, 2008 @ 2:1 PM EST

* Your Name:
* Email address:
	(Enter the code shown)
	(Your e-mail address will not show on the site and is used so that we can contact you back if needed)
* Your Comment about this article::
	Include me in the TGP Monthly Newsletter