Week of January 4, 2004<\/p>\n
Q: Is there any product that will effectively remove ‘red eye’ from pictures on my computer?
\n-Donald Wallick<\/p>\n
A: Most image editing programs have a function to remove redeye from your pictures. \u00a0 When you use the redeye removal tools, use the image zoom feature to make the eyes as large as possible. \u00a0 \u00a0 With the eyes filling up your monitor, you will be able to make precise placement of redeye removal and only correct the parts that are actually red.<\/p>\n
Q: \u00a0 I am NOT a computer-geek, but do have an Apple iBook that I like very much. \u00a0 My wife and I have a digital camera which we use to send pictures to our three-year-old grandson in New Mexico. \u00a0 We’ve been thinking it might be good to get a “digital motion picture” camera that we could use when we’re there (usually 3+ times a year) and other occasions as well. \u00a0 I believe there’s software on this machine to edit such video and keep it on CDs or something. \u00a0 Is this possible without great “tech skills”? \u00a0 If so, is there a camera you’d recommend for a couple retirees?<\/p>\n
-Wesley Boots, Uniontown, PA<\/p>\n
A: \u00a0 Apple computers all include Apple’s iMovie program. \u00a0 iMovie is great for editing video and is very easy to use, even for non-technical retirees such as yourself. \u00a0 To save your videos on CDs, you will need Roxio’s Toast software, $99.00. \u00a0 Toast will allow you to save your videos as a special VideoCD format, which will play on most consumer DVD players.<\/p>\n
The “digital motion picture” camera, as you refer to it is called a digital camcorder. \u00a0 To work with iMovie you will need a Digital 8 or MiniDV model. \u00a0 There are many good digital camcorders available from many manufacturers. \u00a0 My person preference are the Canon MiniDV models. They available for $500 or lessand will work perfectly with \u00a0 your iBook.<\/p>\n
Q: I received the “Family Guy” Vol. 1 4-DVD set for Christmas, but there appear to be picture quality issues when I play them on my DVD player.<\/p>\n
The picture seems to fade slowly from a perfectly sharp image to one inwhich the color hues are way out of whack, as though someone is fiddling with the settings (e.g. skin becomes orange, picture becomes darker,etc.), then back to a normal picture, and so on. \u00a0 This occurs on allepisodes throughout the whole episode.<\/p>\n
My first thought is that this is some sort of copy protection scheme. \u00a0 I am routing the video signal through my VCR, which then goes to the TV, so I wondered if something could “sense” this. From what I know about the technology, that seems far-fetched, but I certainly don’t claim to know all the possible tricks<\/p>\n
-Kevin Fuhrman, Jacksonville, IL<\/p>\n
A: \u00a0 You are correct- it is a copy protection scheme called Macrovision that is causing your picture quality problems. \u00a0 Macrovision is placed on DVDs so people cannot copy them with their VCRs. \u00a0 Even when you are not copying, the Macrovision is picked up by the VCR and the picture is affected.<\/p>\n
You can buy a device called an RF modulator for $30 or less to play your DVD player through your TV’s channel 3 or 4, bypassing the VCR.<\/p>\n