Warbird Information Exchange

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

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.

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

I've been using FireFox for over a year now and I'm much happier with it than with I.E.

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

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

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Thanks, Ryan. I'll just chuck my year old 19" flat screen and go buy one in the classifieds

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

Be careful of such friends. Next he'll be replacing your regular coffee with Folgers Crystals

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)