How to Use Seashore Image Editing Software

Seashore is a free basic image-editing program that is easy to use and understand. It is really for novices that don’t want to spend money on software when they are not sure what exactly they require. You will be able to use basic tools, add text to images and edit color, contrast and brightness. There are a few special effects, but it does not contain any sort of image-management options. And did I mention it is free? This is an excellent product for those who may feel intimidated by GIMP and just want to learn the basics. Read on to learn how to use it.

* This software is only available for Mac users.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Macintosh computer running OS-
• Seashore application

1. 
   Open Image

   After you install the software, open any picture so you can experiment with the tools. The software supports TIFF, JPEG and GIMP formats. It does not include any RAW formats. Many cameras support multiple formats. The RAW format is an uncompressed image format. Most higher-end cameras allow you to save in their native RAW format and a standard format like TIFF or JPEG.

2. 
   Familiar Tools

   Notice the basic tool set. It has most of the basic tools including the text, lasso, eraser and clone. The eyedropper works similar to other image-editing programs. Some of the new smudge, smear and fuzzy select tools are not available. If you find the tool set light, you should just download GIMP and learn how to use it. For most novices, this tool set will be challenging enough.

3. 
   Options

   The options pallets float to the right of the image screen. Here you can select from a nice variety of brushes and textures allowing you to add art to your image. You can also adjust opacity, change modes and add layers to specific channels. These are tools and options that you find on most image-editing applications.

4. 
   Basic Color Edits

   Color editing tools are more limited in function. You do have basic color controls including controls over hue, saturation and value. It also has controls for sharpness and brightness. It permits interaction with ColorSync allowing the user to apply specific profiles to specific images. This is a fairly significant tool for an entry level-editing program.

5. 
   Save and Export

   When you are finished with your images you can export them to a location or save them locally on your computer. The file formats are limited to GIF, JPEG, TIFF, XCF and PNG. This should suffice for most novice users; however, keep in mind it will not work with the uncompressed RAW formats supported by your camera. If you just got your camera, this is an easy program to start with. After a while you will want more in your editing program, but by using Seashore you will better understand your needs.

Tips & Warnings

• Try the different tools and click undo to start over.
• Experiment with adding text and art to your images.
• Use all of the editing tools to get an understanding of how they work. Remember, your image is not changed until you save it.

Resources

• Download Seashore