How to Get Picasa on Chrome OS

Chrome OS is a lightweight, Linux-based operating system developed and released by Google. Because there are no programs installed on a Chrome OS netbook computer, that means common photo-editing software like Google's Picasa is not available in its full glory. However, Google has released a few apps and extensions that let you get most of the same functionality with your Chrome OS computer and still edit photos directly in the browser window.

Instructions

Picasa Uploader

1. Start up your Chrome OS netbook, sign in to your account and click the "Chrome Web Store" icon from the "Apps" section.

2. Type "Picasa Uploader" in the search box, then press the "Enter" key. Click the icon for "Picasa Uploader" from the "Extensions" section.

3. Click the "Add to Chrome" button to install the extension in the browser. This extension only works with Chrome OS and Chromebook computers.

4. Click the "Install" button on the pop-up window to accept and finalize the installation. Once installed, you will have the ability to upload photos from a USB drive or SD card directly to your Picasa Web Albums account.

5. Click the "Picasa Uploader" icon from the browser's "App" section to access the application.

Picasa App

1. Boot up the Chrome OS computer, log in to your account and go to the browser window.

2. Click the "Chrome Web Store" icon from the "Apps" section.

3. Type "Picasa" in the "Search" box at the top and click the "Picasa" app icon on the search results page.

4. Click the "Add to Chrome" button on the application's description page. Confirm the installation by clicking the "Install" button on the pop-up window. The "Picasa" app should install immediately.

5. Go to the "Apps" section in the browser and click the "Picasa" icon. The "Picasa Web Albums" should open.

Editing with Picasa

1. Click the "Picasa" icon from the "Apps" section of the Chrome OS browser. On the next page, you will see all the photo albums you've uploaded pictures to.

2. Click on a photo album to see all the pictures in that collection. Then double-click on an individual photo that you want to edit. The chosen image will load on the next page.

3. Click the "Picture Frame" icon above the image to edit it. The "Picnik" editor will automatically load your picture giving you different options. Some of those editing options include "Auto-Fix," "Crop," "Resize," "Exposure," "Colors" and a few more.

4. Click the "Save to My Album" button at the upper right corner of the screen when done editing. A small pop-up box appears.

5. Click the "Replace" or "Save a New Copy" buttons, depending if you want to save a new copy or replace the existing photo. Once clicked, the photo will save in the same photo album that it originally appeared in.

References

• ReadWriteWeb: Google's Picasa Uploader Addresses Camera-to-Cloud Problem on Chrome OS
• Chrome Web Store: Picasa Uploader
• Chrome Web Store: Picasa
• HuffPost Tech: Picasa Web Integration Takes Shape in Chrome OS