Computer Problems and\or Advice 2008 to 2011

[Paddy Tobin]

Certainly worth a try.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

secure memory stick with finger print recognition
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[mark smyth]

I cant find my copy of Microsoft Front Page. Does anyone own  copy?

[mark smyth]

digital SLR for £210 get in quick. Argos on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360285107982

[Maren]

I cant find my copy of Microsoft Front Page. Does anyone own  copy?

I do.

[Anthony Darby]

How does one select an object in a picture and make the background disappear so it can be placed over a different background without having a white square round the object? E.g. say I found a picture of Nemo with a white backgound, I would like to make the background clear so I can insert it into another picture. So far, I can do it but he remains in a white square. I can crudely draw round in Paint so the background is lost in Paint but copy and paste into PowerPoint and the white square reappears.

[Peter Maguire]

Anthony,
It would depend upon which computer porgramme you have available - do you have a copy of Photoshop (an old one would do), or perhaps Photoshop Elements? If so, then import into the programme, use the magic wand tool to select the background, invert the selection and create a new layer with the image. This could then be imported into a new file with a transparent background. It takes longer to describe than to do if you have a plain background as you describe.
That's one way (there's generally several in Photoshop). If you have that programme and need more detailed instructions, let me know and I could go thorough the process step-by-step for you.

Peter

[Diane Clement]

How does one select an object in a picture and make the background disappear so it can be placed over a different background without having a white square round the object? E.g. say I found a picture of Nemo with a white backgound, I would like to make the background clear so I can insert it into another picture. So far, I can do it but he remains in a white square. I can crudely draw round in Paint so the background is lost in Paint but copy and paste into PowerPoint and the white square reappears.   

Peter is of course correct that the best way to do it is in Picture editing software such as Photoshop. 
There is a way of doing it in Powerpoint, depending on the type of image.  It won't work well for a photo which has lots of colours but it will work for a cartoon style picture which has the background in one colour. 
Import the image into Powerpoint.  Click on the image to highlight it, and the Picture toolbar will then appear floating if it is not already available on your toolbars.  On the right side of the Picture toolbar is something that looks like a pen in a corner.  Hover your mouse over it and it says "Set transparent colour".  If the icon is "greyed out" then the picture is in the wrong format and it will not work.  If the icon is available, click on it and your cursor will turn into that same pen shape.  Click on your background and it will be rendered transparent.  It will only work for one colour in your image. 

Here I've done it with this fuchsia image

[Anthony Darby]

Thanks Peter & Diane. I don't have Photoshop, but tried Diane's method. Wow! Instant result. Thanks.

[Diane Clement]

Thanks Peter & Diane. I don't have Photoshop, but tried Diane's method. Wow! Instant result. Thanks.

Glad you sorted it, Anthony.  The Powerpoint method is quicker and neater than doing it in Photoshop but it doesn't always work depending on the file type of your image. 

[angie]

Could someone give me advice...I am having problems attaching pictures using my iPad. When I press additional options nothing shows.  As I have said before not very good with computers it's probally something I am doing wrong but any help would be appreciated.

Angie

[Ragged Robin]

Angie, one way to send a photo from iPad is to open the photo in your photo Album (double click on it in an album ) and then use the arrow in the top left corner that offers you the option to send an email with the photo attached -not sure if you can do multiples - I do find that it is often difficult to do the simplest of things in iPad but one has to remember it is not a computer!  Good luck Robin 

[mark smyth]

I'm giving a talk tonight, and Monday, but my laptop will not turn on

Will my powerpoint talk work on any laptop?

[ArnoldT]

As long as the version of PPT is not old.

I traditionally use a Mac prodcued PPT on PC's

[TheOnionMan]

I'm giving a talk tonight, and Monday, but my laptop will not turn on

Will my powerpoint talk work on any laptop?

Mark, depending on whether your images are embedded or linked, be sure to package up your presentation to ensure you have no missing photos when the PPT is displayed on another computer.  Of course your target computer will also new Powerpoint installed or a Powerpoint Viewer utility.