Friends around me often ask me, “How to be creative?” or “Are there any tips on being creative?” and this got me thinking, is there a solution where I can help my friends and family members be creative?
I love arts and crafts since young and I am pretty tuned to the creativity channel when it comes to making simple things pretty and colourful. I always thought everyone have these same skills as me so I am rather surprised that there are people out there who genuinely have problems in doing just that.
So when my friends ask me those questions, I sat down and gave some serious thoughts to it.
And YES, there is a solution to it. I have come up with an easy 2-step solution that can just help kick start the creativity in you.
Step 1. Leverage on Technology
Yup! Technology has progressed in leaps and bounds in the recent decade and it has improved our lives in tremendous ways. The computer and the internet has been the greatest innovation to date (in my opinion) and I have used it to the fullest to boost my creative juices.
How? You may ask; well, it’s simple.
One of the common question my friends ask me is on the topic on photography.
Questions like, ‘how to achieve such an effect?’ or ‘How did you do it?’
And when my answers involves ‘DSLR’ and /or ‘photoshop’, my friends would be slightly disappointed. Many of my friends aren’t armed with the latest DSLR or familiar with photoshop and becomes too big an obstacle for them to cross really.
And yes, you can refute that we now have smart phones that does all that interesting effects for you. I have tried many of those apps that do make your photo all pretty with frames and colour changes, but when I tried to print it, somehow, it just turns out rather iffy.
Well, NOW everyone can get excited.
Because I have found an awesome and effortless way for everyone to be creative, like a pro!
My Image Garden
My Image Garden is a new image management software from Canon that gives you the power to organize your photos efficiently and the tools to create artistic photos like a pro.
Photos by Calendar View
Organisation:
Using the date stamp in the EXIF data of your photographs, (if you don’t know what EXIF means: it’s the data tagged to your pictures when it was captured in the camera), My Image Garden helps you to organize your photos based on the captured date and arranged them in a calendar view.
You can further organize them by event title, or face recognition, just like Facebook.
Easy eh?
Creative Photos:
Want a fish-eye effect? No problem!
There is a function in the software called Fun Filter Effect.
This fun filter effect function adds artistic effects to your photos, all with one click.
Now you can definitely create a picture of that big-nose dog you wanted without the hassle of dealing with a fish eye lens.
Image Correction:
My Image Garden also has a one-click Auto Photo Fix for a professional photo finish. Besides the usual red-eye correction, it also has a function for face smoothing. Say goodbye to those blemishes and Hello Beautiful! How much more awesomeness can this pack in? Well, there’s more.
Full HD Movie Print:
Now, this is one function I’m lovin’ it and I’m totally kissing goodbye to ‘print screen’.
I’m not sure about you but when I help my relatives to capture memories of birthdays; I always have problems deciding on: (cue dramatic effect) PHOTOs VS. VIDEOs!!!! (cue echoes: videos videos videos~).
You can capture the singing of Happy Birthday on videos and definitely will not miss that crucial moment when the birthday girl/boy blows the candles; but with photos, there’s a HUGE definite possibility of missing that one moment.
However, now with My Image Garden, you can (and get this) select stills from HD movies AND improve image quality with just 1 click. (Click!~) That’s not all, the same function also allows you to be creative and merge several stills into one single action-pack image.
One more jewel Canon have released is the ‘Print Your Days’ app.
It is an app that is available inside Facebook itself that allow Facebook users to print Facebook photos of friends and family. The app also allow users to choose from 17 photo effects, 24 background themes and text to add to their photos before printing.
Well, with oh-so-much easy-peazy options now available at your fingertips, it’s pretty easy to be creative now right? So what’s next?
How about printing your masterpiece for everyone to admire?
*takes a quick look at my printer*
Hmm, that may be a tricky question huh? Printing photos on that printer?
You probably have the same idea as me that those precious photos wouldn’t look as gorgeous as it looked on the screen, yeah?
Don’t fret, I have found the perfect solution.
I was invited to a Canon PIXMA event with omy.sg over the last weekend with several other bloggers and many kids to experience how easy it is to be creative with the latest addition to the Canon PIXMA family of printers.
Game of Rock Paper and Scissors with Joanne-Marie Sim
We were treated to a fun-filled creative afternoon learning how to make 3D photo frames, a photo clock and party hats with materials all printed from the PIXMA printers. Hosted by bloggers Ai Sakura and Joanne-Marie Sim, the event also showcased 3 new AWESOMELICIOUS printers — MG4270, MG2270 & MP237.
The sauve~ Canon PIXMA MG4270
Here’s a rundown for the techies:
– Dimensions (WxDxH): approx. 449 x 304 x 152mm
– Print Resolution: up to 4800 x 1200dpi, FINE cartridge
Well, firstly this spanking new printer gives you exceptionally accurate colour copies and vivid colour 4R print in 44 seconds flat. I am very impressed with the colour management on this printer!
Besides the usual direct print from USB thumb drives or SD cards, this printer also allow wifi printing via IEEE802.11b/g/n network. This means you can print from your computer/ tablet/ mobile phones anywhere in your home (yes, including the toilet) without the hassle of the cables.
The PIXMA MG4270 is also capable of printing photos and documents straight from your smart phones wirelessly via the Canon mobile printing app called ‘Canon Easy Photo Print’ or Canon iEPP for short. iOS device users can also print via AirPrint.
This black beauty also supports Google Cloud Print!
Woo-hoo! With the PIXMA cloud link, all google users can now print photos and documents to this printer from anywhere in the WORLD!
I can imagine printing from New York during my vacation and arrive home in Singapore with my photos already printed, waiting for me on the tray! Nice~
Yes, yes, you can argue that it sounds like a waste of electricity. Not eco-friendly, eh??
Well, Canon already has it in spades.
The PIXMA MG4270 comes with an ECO-MODE.
The printer will Auto Power OFF after a specific interval of inactivity and AUTO Power ON when a print job arrives, so that it will never miss a print. This is very useful especially when we are dealing with wifi or cloud printing. Awesome, right?And for the eco-green friends:
One more feature to note is the auto duplex printing. The printer has the ability to flip and print on the other side of the paper, thus helps save more paper.
Recycled materials and less packaging materials are used for these printers and quick start and eco mode saves electricity.
So now, with all the power tools you have, are you ready for step 2?
All ready to PAR-TY!
Step 2. Dare to be creative, because you can!
Our lives are usually being bound by rules and regulations, rights and wrongs; and we are totally used to it that it becomes an innate habit; and had forgotten about creativity.
But get this:
Creativity HAVE NO RULES.
Creativity HAVE NO RIGHT OR WRONG.
And the most important thing:
Creativity LIVES WITHIN US.
We all are born with creative cells but we sort of have forgotten that they exists after years of living with rules and regulations. And often, the only difficulty we all adults experience is how to call Creativity out of ourselves and put them to use.
Take a look at little children, just give them the materials and pretty much, they will figure out what they want to do with it and creativity will just flow.
In my opinion, children, unlike adults, have not fully learnt and understood the laws of the rule book and they pretty much did whatever they deem suitable and–
VIOLA! A masterpiece.
A little girl proudly shows her masterpiece
Think: alternatively.
Your brain is hard-wired to tell you the most direct solution/route; and so often, those solutions are within the pages of the rule book. When that happens, think of a alternative solution.
When you have gotten the second route, you have successfully exercise creativity.
It is really that easy!
Well, it’s easier said than done?
Take for example, this photo frame below.
The directives at the workshop was to tape the sides of the photo onto the backing.
Well, there’s nothing wrong about taping photo, but I want it not to be taped on. So, naturally, I had to think of another route.
What about a pocket for the photo to slide in then?
There~ Creativity is now in session.
And this frame is lying flat. We can simply hang it on the wall right?
How about making a stand for it?
There~ Creativity is now in session.
It’s easy right?
I bet by now you have already a few more suggestions you think could make the frame better.
That’s creativity in the works!
I hope I have already tickled some of those creative cells in your body enough for you to put that rule book aside and just let loose and be creative. Simply because, you can!
Let me help you scratch that itch further.
Besides the awesome hardware and software Canon has created, Canon also has 2 fantabulous websites to ignite your creative fire!
Canon PIXMA has created a world where creativity lives in every corner. In PIXMA Town, everyone is an artist. Be inspired by famous artists as they fall in at PIXMA Town and join in with you as you create your own masterpiece. Download interesting craft templates and projects and learn fun new techniques to increase your creativity power!
Canon Creative park is a library chock full of creative print projects, templates and goodies. From Christmas cards to amazing 3D paper sculptures, you can spend many fun-filled hours creating these beautiful print projects. The best part about Canon Creative Park is that it is free access to everyone!
On top of that, if you are a PIXMA printer owner, you will be able to enjoy free direct access to Creative Park Premium downloads from My Image Garden software. Creative Park Premium is an exclusive database filled with more template designs, artwork and images from famous artists like Eric Carle; famous cartoons like Paddington Bear, Maisy, and including stock photos from NASA and National Geographic.
It was a pretty long craft session but hey, all the kids and parents had fun creating and sharing creativity! And so did we bloggers!
Credit: Ka Man of kamanbaby.blogspot.sg
Remember: Creativity is easy.
So go ahead, Be Creative. Because you can! *Ps* Also, check out this DIY project I had made with a goodie bag gift from Canon PIXMA workshop!
Disclaimer: Event invitation by Canon Pixma OMY.SG. No monetary compensation was received. Opinions stated are genuine and honest. Also note that all sources, information, content, links are accurate at the time of posting.Cheers~
You can further organize them by event title, or face recognition, just like Facebook.
