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Mac Tip: Hop on Dukeblue network & learn how to “forget”old Duke network to avoid bouncing around

TechTips: Protect your computer when away from your desk

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In an open office/cubicle environment?  Ron Altiery (OIT CDSS) reminds us to screen-lock your computer and devices or log off when you know you’ll be away from your desk. Check out his full comment and other cubicle etiquette tips in this recent Duke Today Story.

 

TechTips: Is your device WebEx ready?

TechTips_web_FDid you know you can go online to this URL https://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html  to test WebEx on your device?

Hosting a WebEx meeting? If there will be particpants that may never have used WebEx before, it’s a good idea for them to test their computer by sending the following link, http://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html, prior to the start of the meeting. This site launches a test meeting that tests the computers connection to WebEx. If there are issues, the attendee can follow the instructions on the webpage to troubleshoot, or contact Cisco for assistance.

For full information about WebEx at Duke, visit: http://webexmeeting.duke.edu

What happens to your Sites@Duke WordPress site when you leave Duke?

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Using Sites@Duke? If you are a graduating student, a faculty or a staff member leaving Duke (and therefore will no longer have an active Duke NetID), you have several options for your site, depending on your desired outcome. Read the full details here: http://sites.duke.edu/blog/2016/04/08/what-happens-to-your-sitesduke-wordpress-site-when-you-leave-duke/

TechTips: Resampling and Changing Pixel Dimensions in Photoshop

TechTips_web_FChanging an image’s dimensions affects its onscreen size and its printed image quality.

How can you change the dimensions of an image? 

Follow the steps below to learn how to properly adjust the size of an image using Adobe Photoshop.

  1. Choose Image > Image Size.
  2. Select “Constrain Proportions” to maintain the ratio of pixel with do pixel height. Selecting this option will automatically update either the width or the height when the other is changed.
  3. Enter values for Width and Height under “Pixel Dimensions” (to enter values as percentages of the current dimensions, choose “Percent” as the unit of measurement. The new file size of the image will be at the top of the “Image Size” dialog box. The old file size will be in parentheses.
  4. Select the “Resample Image” option, and choose an interpolation method (read below). If the image has layers with styles applied to them, select “Scale Styles” to scale the effects in the resized image. You must select “Constrain Proportions” in order to use this option.
  5. Click “OK” when you finish setting the options.

What Resampling method should I use?

Resampling refers to the process of changing the amount of image data when you change either the pixel dimensions or the resolution of an image.

“Downsampling” means decreasing the number of pixels, or deleting information from the image. “Upsampling” means increasing the number of pixels, or adding pixels to the image.

In order to do this using Photoshop, you must first specify an “interpolation”, or method for determining how pixels are added or deleted.

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A. Downsampled B. Original C. Upsampled

Here are the various methods of interpolation:

A. Nearest Neighbor

  • Fast, but not very precise
  • Replicates pixels in an image.
  • Preserves hard edges and produces a smaller file, but can produce jagged effects

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TechTips: Real Time Co-Authoring for Box

TechTips_web_FBox for Office Online allows you to collaborate with others on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files – editing in real time and seeing the changes as they happen.  All edits are automatically saved (avoiding version conflict) – plus, you can pull up a previous version to reference old content whenever needed. Check out this video to see how it works!

For full information about how to access Duke’s Box account, go here: https://box.duke.edu

TechTips: Using the Liquify Filter in Photoshop

TechTips_web_FOne useful feature for editing images in Photoshop is the Liquify Filter, which can be used to move and distort pixels while maintaining original image quality. The liquify feature has many different tools, such as push, pull, rotate, reflect, pucker and bloat.

This post will cover five popular features of the Liquify Filter – Forward Warp, Twirl, Pucker and Bloat, Push, and Mirror.

In order to use the liquify filter on an image:

  1. Upload the desired image in Photoshop
  2. Access the liquify filter by clicking Filter->Liquify
  3. Familiarize yourself with the different aspects of the filter. On the left side of the screen, there will be a toolbar with all the tools, and on the right side of the screen, there will be an options panel, with different settings for each tool. You can specify the settings for the active tool using this panel.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.44.26 AM

Tool 1: Forward Warp

  • The forward warp tool allows you to pull pixels of an image forward as you drag your mouse. The amount of pixels that are dragged can be controlled using the brush size option in the right panel.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.45.51 AM

Tool 2: Twirl

  • The twirl tool allows you to rotate pixels clockwise as you click or drag. If you want to move counterclockwise, press the Option (Alt) key while you are clicking. To control how quickly the twirling occurs, change the brush rate setting in the right panel.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.46.11 AM

Tool 3: Pucker and Bloat

  • The pucker tool allows you to pull pixels towards the center of the brush area when you click. This tool is useful for creating an inflated effect.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.46.32 AM

  • The bloat tool allows you to pull pixels away from the center of the brush area when you click. This tool is useful for creating a deflated effect.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.46.22 AM

Tool 4: Push

  • The push tool allows you to move pixels left or right, when you drag the mouse up or down respectively.

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.46.51 AM

Tool 5: Mirror

  • The mirror tool allows you to add a mirror effect to an image by duplicating pixels perpendicular to the direction of the stroke. To create a vertical mirror reflection, drag the mouse from left to right (or right to left). To create a horizontal mirror reflection, drag the mouse from top to bottom (or bottom to top).

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.47.20 AM

Learn more about Duke’s Enterprise Term License Agreement with Adobe: http://sites.duke.edu/software/2015/11/06/adobe-creative-cloud-and-acrobat-pro-dc-licensing-now-available/

Adobe software can also be accessed in the Multimedia Project Studio (006 Bostock Library).

Protect yourself with a security freeze

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This winter, consider a different kind of freeze. Duke’s IT security offices are encouraging faculty, staff and students to place a security freeze on their credit files to protect against identity theft. Read the full blog post here: https://security.duke.edu/protect-yourself-security-freeze

Tips to protect your new mobile phone

security_handGot a new phone for Christmas? Be sure to keep it safe by following the tips outlined on the IT Security office blog.

As you know you can use your phone for much more than making calls. Follow these tips to keep your phone and information secure.

Tips & Tricks for Apple Watch

Apple Watch (imagine from https://commons.wikimedia.org)
Apple Watch (imagine from https://commons.wikimedia.org)

Get a new Apple Watch for the holidays? Check out this lynda.com course on getting the most from your smart watch including tips and tricks on customization, quickly silencing your Apple Watch, how to use Apple Watch to find your iPhone as well as how to preserve battery life!

Remember, Duke faculty, staff and students have access to the full lynda.com online training library. For full details, visit: training.oit.duke.edu/lynda

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