One
thing many genealogists have a lot of are images. Picture that were handed down. Photos we have taken. Images saved from various websites. The list goes on and on. Many find that they would love to share these
images with others but figuring out a great way to do so can be
challenging. Especially if you are
trying to get your family excited about family history, or tell your own family
story in a new and unique way.
When
I stumbled on a product from Adobe called Spark I knew it was a genealogist’s
dream come true. Here was a way you
could easily and quickly share a single image or bunch of images with friends,
families or colleagues. Best part…it is
free.
This
session will focus on the how-to aspect of creating images and short videos
using Adobe Spark. We will learn about
the web version you can use with your favorite browser as well as how to use
the phone app to create annotated images or videos while out and about. Included in the workshop is a more detailed
handout which we will use as a step by step guide through the session. Below is a taste of what you can expect to
learn from the workshop.
Creating an annotated image:
Labeling
digital images can be a great way to annotate a heirloom without damaging
it. It is also a great way to label a
map with where the family lived or turn a family photo into a great
keepsake. No matter your reasons, Spark
make it very easy to do.
Simply
select “post” to create an edited image.
From there you can select the size you would like the final image to
be. Once you upload your image you can
then start adding words, shapes, and adjust the color settings to make it look
the way you want it to.
This image
is of my grandfather taken in 1934 when he was in Chicago fighting
in the Golden Glove Tournament that year. I took the image, enlarged it,
sharpened the color, and then added the decorative tag to it.
Creating a video:
Slideshows
are old school, why not create a fun and fast paced video with words and a
soundtrack! It is simple to do with
Spark. Plus, so much fun even the younger
generations will want to try their hand at it.
My kids have a wonderful time creating videos from the images they take
while on vacation.
To create a
video, you select the “video” option from the mail menu. The hardest part is selecting a theme. I tend to pick “make my own” so I can have
the freedom to create it from scratch.
However, the various themes available are great to get started with
since they come with a template which suggests what types of images you
place. Even better, there is a tutorial
video.
I do love
that in the creation of the video you can also record your own narration. This is wonderful if you can have a family
member telling the story. I did this
with my father where I put together a video of images and places from his childhood
and then had him explain each one in the video.
To be honest, the sky is the limit.
Pros and Cons of Spark:
If you are a
pro at video and image editing this will seem very basic to you. However, if you are just getting started and
want to do some neat things easily, then this is the right software for
you. Just remember that you will have to
work within the limitations of the application.
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Pros
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Cons
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Easy and
quick to pick up
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Cannot do
detail editing
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Set themes
make choices easier
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Sometimes difficult
to manipulate to get refinements
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Ability to
change fonts
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Must log
in with Facebook, Google, or have an adobe account
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Links to
the internet to use creative common images and music
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There is
an Adobe Spark ad at the end of all videos
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Can share easily
through email or straight to social media
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Resources: