Finding Your Way Around in Picasa

What We'll Learn

1. How Picasa is organized
2. How to move between the different views in Picasa

Picasa Views

Picasa is a powerful program with many functions. Thankfully, if you become familiar with the main views or sections of Picasa, you can easily navigate your way around. The diagram below summarizes these screens and how to move between them:

1. The Library View

When Picasa starts it will place you in the Library view. Here are the main activities available in this view:

- Organize collections of pictures in folders and albums.
- Find pictures using search and filters
- Share pictures
- Create projects and perform tasks on multiple pictures
- View contextual information about your folders and albums

2. The Edit View

To work on a single picture, double-click on it to go into the Edit View. Here are the main activities available in this view:

- View large images of your photos
- Edit or change your pictures
- View technical information about your picture, including a histogram
- Share pictures
- Create projects and perform tasks on multiple pictures

3. The Slideshow View

Clicking on the Play button will launch you into a Slideshow View. You can show your pictures in full screen and add music and effects in this mode. Press the <ESC> key to exit this view.

4. The Import View

The Import View is used to transfer photos from your camera to your computer. From this view you can:

- Preview pictures on your camera
- Transfer and delete pictures from your camera
- Identify which pictures are already on your computer
- Specify where and how to import the pictures

Exercise

Become comfortable with navigating the various views in Picasa:

1. Start Picasa
2. Using the diagram above, navigate to the various views
3. Be able to identify where you are by familiarizing yourself with how each view looks.

Finding Your Way Around in Picasa