Trick to help view dark images posted on WIX
Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:13 am
Hope this isn't too off-topic...
Don't you get annoyed when someone posts neat photos that are dark, or have dark portions, and it's really hard to see details? Especially some WW2-era photo where you can tell there's some nose art or something, but it's buried in the shadows?
I've found a way to easily "fix" it without having to do much at all. And it's free.
If you use Firefox (and you should!) you can get a very simple little extension called "MeasureIt", which is actually intended for web developers. When you click on the little icon at the bottom of the browser window, it turns your cursor into a crosshairs and lets you create a box on the screen and tells you it's dimensions. But even if you don't care about measuring the graphic, it can be VERY helpful while browsing the WIX. When you go into "measuring mode" it greatly lightens up the entire page... including the images on the page you're looking at! It's amazing the details this often reveals in photos that can't be seen otherwise, and it just takes one click to turn it on and off.
It's a godsend when looking at those really dark scanned photos that folks like to post (and we like to read!) Otherwise, you'd have to save them, open them in Photoshop or similar, then play with the contrast and brightness... not worth the time or effort, most of the time.
You can get this tool here:
http://www.kevinfreitas.net/extensions/measureit/
I have no connections to this tool or the developer, other than using it occasionally for web development but more often for seeing details in the many great photos that get posted here (or elsewhere). BTW, it's freeware, ad-free, and has no noticeable impact on Firefox, even on my slow, old computer. It's all good!
Anyway, hope this is of some use to you guys. It's nice to find a really simple, free solution to an annoying, ongoing problem for a change!
-Mike
Don't you get annoyed when someone posts neat photos that are dark, or have dark portions, and it's really hard to see details? Especially some WW2-era photo where you can tell there's some nose art or something, but it's buried in the shadows?
I've found a way to easily "fix" it without having to do much at all. And it's free.
If you use Firefox (and you should!) you can get a very simple little extension called "MeasureIt", which is actually intended for web developers. When you click on the little icon at the bottom of the browser window, it turns your cursor into a crosshairs and lets you create a box on the screen and tells you it's dimensions. But even if you don't care about measuring the graphic, it can be VERY helpful while browsing the WIX. When you go into "measuring mode" it greatly lightens up the entire page... including the images on the page you're looking at! It's amazing the details this often reveals in photos that can't be seen otherwise, and it just takes one click to turn it on and off.
It's a godsend when looking at those really dark scanned photos that folks like to post (and we like to read!) Otherwise, you'd have to save them, open them in Photoshop or similar, then play with the contrast and brightness... not worth the time or effort, most of the time.
You can get this tool here:
http://www.kevinfreitas.net/extensions/measureit/
I have no connections to this tool or the developer, other than using it occasionally for web development but more often for seeing details in the many great photos that get posted here (or elsewhere). BTW, it's freeware, ad-free, and has no noticeable impact on Firefox, even on my slow, old computer. It's all good!
Anyway, hope this is of some use to you guys. It's nice to find a really simple, free solution to an annoying, ongoing problem for a change!
-Mike
Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:04 am
Thanks Mike! Good find 
He's right about firefox, btw. In almost every way I can measure it is better than Explorer. I argued for years until a friend snuck onto my computer one weekend and replaced it, and switched the icon with the old Explorer one. By the time I figured out what the heck happened, I was sold.
He's right about firefox, btw. In almost every way I can measure it is better than Explorer. I argued for years until a friend snuck onto my computer one weekend and replaced it, and switched the icon with the old Explorer one. By the time I figured out what the heck happened, I was sold.
Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:47 am
I've been using FireFox for over a year now and I'm much happier with it than with I.E.
Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:12 am
Or get a new monitor! That's what really helps and if you look in the classifieds nowdays you can often pick up one very cheap and decent quality.
Ryan
Ryan
Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:41 pm
Thanks, Ryan. I'll just chuck my year old 19" flat screen and go buy one in the classifieds 
Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:48 pm
I argued for years until a friend snuck onto my computer one weekend and replaced it, and switched the icon with the old Explorer one. By the time I figured out what the heck happened, I was sold.
Be careful of such friends. Next he'll be replacing your regular coffee with Folgers Crystals
