To start, I have found that most digital images need a little adjustment for viewing on monitors. If your program allows it, I recommend increasing both the brightness and contrast just a few notches. Also, if you can, sharpen them slightly. A note about color: colors come in two categories: transparent and opaque. When you prepare images for printing or for viewing on a monitor you must consider how colors interact with each other. Printed colors, when mixed together, go towards black. Projected colors, when mixed together, go towards white. Printed images are usually produced on equipment with a much higher resolution capability than your monitor, so they will appear richer and sharper in print. Most cameras are preset for printing, and that’s why it’s a good idea to sharpen, brighten and increase the contrast on images to be viewed on the pc.

Selecting your images and ordering them are the next important step. It is best to try and tell a story, to have a logical sequence to your images. Don’t show people going in the house before the shot of them getting out of the car. When you are taking pictures, remember that you may make a slide show, and try to take pictures that will present well in that style; for instance, in a room full of people , start at one side and take many pictures as you swing across to the other side of the room. When presented as slides, it will give the effect of creating the complete environment. Vary the duration of the slides; don’t make them all 3 or 5 seconds, make some shorter and some longer. If there’s one person in a picture, shorten it; if there are many people then lengthen it so people have a chance to look at every face.

Once you have assembled the slideshow and applied transitions and effects, you can put the crowning touch on by adding a narration. You can simply choose some favorite or appropriate music, but to really personalize it, a narration is best. Not everyone is a natural speaker, nor does everyone have the most recordable voice for such a purpose. Here’s where you can take advantage of a program like AV Voice Changer Software to create a separate track, or you could use AV Movie Morpher 2.0 to overdub the production. (You can go to http://mp3-player.audio4fun.com/free-audio-software.htm to download the software for free trials). In that case you will have to output the slideshow first and then open it inside theMovie Morpher program. The nice thing about both of these programs is that they can alter the sound of your voice to make it more entertaining. It can deepen or enrich it, or make it faster or slower; it can even change a male voice to a female-sounding voice. It can add special effects for emphasis or dramatic effect. You should work out either a written narrative or an outline of what you will say, practice it, and then record it. The final outcome will be an entertaining, creative, and personal record of part of your life, whether it’s a party, a graduation, or a simple family gathering, you will have created a cherished memory to be shared for all time.

BIO:

Wayne Rice is a freelance journalist, copywriter, photographer and artist. He currently resides in the United States.

Do you have an upcoming wedding? What are you going to give your bridesmaids for gifts? Here are just a few ideas to consider in your search: Jewelry is always appreciated by the ladies. A Sterling Silver Heart Locket with their initial engraved on it looks beautiful or try a personalized sterling silver charm bracelet, both are timeless gifts that can double as your gift or be worn at the wedding. (if it goes with your theme) Maybe get them a personalized jewelry box to go with their beautiful jewelry. Try a practical gift like a personalized manicure ladies travel kit. Every woman needs a nail clipper or file handy at all times. One more idea would be to get them a personalized crystal wine glass.

What about the groomsmen? A personalized glass beer mug or personalized beer stein makes a great gift idea. Or try an engraved shot glass. Gifts they will not only use but they probably don’t already have one like it. A personalized timepiece money clip is a traditional gift, but with the added flare of a built in watch. Last but not least would be a stainless swiss army like pocket knife. All guys like to fix things, so why fight it.

Maybe it’s not your wedding, but you’d like to give a one of a kind gift. If you know the happy couple isn’t going to do a unity candle, get them a personalized wedding unity candle with their names, date, and a special saying just for them. Another wedding idea is a set of engraved wedding toasting flutes. Or a personalized set of drinking glasses will be a great addition enjoyed by any new couple just starting out. Instead of a traditional guest book, get them a guest book that can actually be engraved by all the guests. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the chances of these just being stored away and never seen again is very slim. All these wedding gifts are truly unique and will be proudly displayed for many years to come. Of course ask the bride and groom if they would like to include these ideas in their wedding, but in my humble experience they will love your thoughtfulness.

Maybe you’re celebrating an upcoming anniversary. A personalized photo frame makes a thoughtful gift that will be proudly displayed for all to see. Maybe try an anniversary banner flag with the names and date of the event. Or just a simple ornament engraved with their names adds a personal touch not found in most gifts. Sometimes if the couple you’re buying for got married years ago, you can get them a unity candle, engraved crystal stemware or have the guests sign a guest book when they come to celebrate. They may not have had the opportunity to afford those types of wedding memorabilia at the time, so they’ll enjoy the second chance you’ve provided them.

Are you shopping for a birthday present? Personalized happy birthday banners make a great, never to be forgotten gift. Banners work for a child’s birthday as well as an adult. Personalized wallets are another birthday gift idea. Or, for the guy in your life, get a set of personalized cufflinks or a personalized leather key chain. Photo frames with pictures of loved ones make another cherished birthday gift. If a young adult is going away soon to college, get a personalized leather luggage bag and stick and favorite photo inside.

All of these gift ideas work for more than what I’ve suggested. Leather luggage bags work for housewarming gifts and wedding gifts. Personalized ornaments work for Christmas gift, Bar-Mitzvah, Valentines or to remember a loved one. Guest books also work for retirement, graduation, birthday or any other special occasion you want to remember the guests that came to celebrate. Banners also make great welcome home flags for our brave troops or to show your support for a favorite sports team. Whatever the gift giving occasion, personalized gifts make it more fun and memorable for all. I found all of these gift ideas at www.wealthwood.com.

In writing this I’m merely trying to spark some ideas to life, the true art of gift giving comes from inside each one of us, because only you know what you’re loved ones would use and appreciate. In my opinion, personalized gifts make special occasions more memorable and the gifts always seem to be treasured long after other gifts have faded away and become old.

Happy gift hunting

Not only in England, these attires became famous in other parts of the world. There are different types of graduation gowns available in the market those comes with different types of accessories. First step in planning the party is creating the budget. It is very important to know how much money exactly you may spend prior to you start planning this party so that you may start estimating amount that you may afford to spend on drinks and food, party favors, decorations, as well as other party necessities. When you know about how much money that you need to spend, then you must begin thinking about party date & time. In order to make sure all family & friends will attend, compare the calendars with them and ensure that they do not have the prior engagements at a time of party. When you have decided on the date, it is one very good idea to select the location for party.

Well, if you are looking to buy academic caps and gowns, then there are different places from where you can buy easily. Here below are some important ways to buy graduation wears:

•    Online Stores: Today is the age of the Internet and there are many online stores those are offering great deals. If you are looking for academic wears, then the online is the right medium. For this, you need to spend time doing research and look for some best provider in the Internet. The good thing is that there are some wonderful online stores those are also offering affordable deal.

•    Off Line Stores: Take a trip to different garment stores, during festival and holiday seasons. It is the right time of the year, when many stores provide discount offers and other packages. You need to pick the attire that must match your college rules and regulations.

•    College Stores: Mostly it has been seen that many colleges and universities have their own store from where you can buy graduation wears. You can also rent them in an affordable price and surely it will fit your budget.

All it takes is a little imagination and some old photos and you can use a frame to make a present for any occasion.  Here are just a few ideas to get your mind working.

Student’s graduation

Graduation is always a special time.  It is a celebration of a path taken, and the rewards at the end of it.  As such it is the perfect time to give a digital photo frame as a gift to remind them of what they have gone through and the good times had. 

Get a collection together of photos through the years, of them having fun with friends, studying, and partaking in various activities.  Load them up onto the digital photo frame and set them up as a slide show.

You then have the perfect reminder of what they have been through, the work and the fun they had getting to the point of graduation.  It can make a very moving and thoughtful gift that will stay with them for many years to come.

Weddings

There are two, very personal, ways of giving a digital photo frame as a wedding present. 

The first is to give them a gift on the day, loaded with photos of the happy couple throughout their relationship.  Reminding them of how they got together and the various stages their relationship has been through, a celebration of the relationship so far.

The other is to give the frame to them after the wedding, loading the frame up with a lot of pictures of the wedding day.  Family, friends and of course the shots of the bride and groom on the happiest day of their lives are moments to remember.  It is a frame that will bring back great memories as they look back on it, whenever they want.

Birthday gift

It’s a wonderful gift for people of all ages.  Use it to take a look back on their lives, their developing through the ages and right from baby pictures through to them relaxing with grandchildren around them.  Old pictures can be digitized easily enough by use of a scanner and having the photos saved and presented like this would be a great birthday gift for anyone.

Fun/Joke present

Perfect for almost any occasion.  Simply gather together some of the most fun and embarrassing pictures of the person that you are giving the frame to, load them up into a slide show and watch them cringe at being reminded of some truly horrific, and funny, photos.  It is perfect for a lighthearted gift.

Vacation

Who doesn’t like being reminded of wonder holidays and trips taken, of times of no work and no stress?  A surprise gift like this after a vacation, showing all the best photos from the trip, can really show thoughtfulness and caring in a way that the person receiving it would really appreciate.

Those are just some ideas to get your brain working, I am sure that you can think of many more where having a digital photo frame presenting numerous photos as a slideshow, or even just one special photo, would make a great gift.

It’s a high school graduation party by the way..