Touch Every Button

Yes, “touch every button” is the mantra for this class and it always hits me when I rediscover this approach. Just now, after so many years, I’ve changed the VIEW in Safari from the tab view of this page to the multi-page of current tabs. There are familiar buttons here that I’ve ignored. Now, time for a second cup of coffee because I want to touch every button and explore how the many websites I want to reference are here and can be copied at one time or shared through Messages app.  

Megapixels vs Sensor Size and Indigo

Dan Mold writes in Amateur Photographer, July 2025 available through Apple News, that sensor size is more important than megapixels. Bigger sensors improve low light capture and depth of field, and we use the “Portrait” mode with depth controls on iPhone. He also reports that software now includes AI to upscale resolution (megapixels) for larger prints in a time where most images are viewed on small smartphone screens. 

Have you looked at Adobe’s new Project Indigo camera app yet? On installation, the splash screens note: 

• Photo mode captures multiple frames and merges them automatically for higher dynamic range
• AI Denoise for low light capture
• Improved Night mode with Optical Image Stabilization 
• Digital Scaling for 2X and 10X zoom implementing SR, Super Resolution using AI
• Macro mode with multi-image Super Resolution 
• Histogram for current scene 
• Pro controls for manual shooting options 
• Capture is JPEG+DNG; edit JPEG in Photos or edit DNG in Lightroom or Nitro  

Working too hard

I want to make a collage image from an AI source with a screenshot and text. This will require erasing, masking (maybe), scale, watercolor effect and words on a curve. There will be rotation and warping of the screenshot involved. What are the apps to use and what is my workflow on iPad? Anticipate using multiple apps in this image processing.

The erasing part was the first step and no tool seemed to do the job as envisioned. Pixelmator (layers and erase), Graphic (layers and rotation), PicCollage (stylize and words on curve), Leonardo (layers and masking - no easy erase tool), and finally Procreate (layers, erase, rotate, scale) did the job. 

Every project begins and ends with Photos. Final workflow details: ChatGPT (image creation) > Safari (screenshot) > PicCollage (watercolor effect, export image) > Snapseed (Drama effect, export image) > Procreate (assemble pieces, erase, scale, rotate, export image) > PicCollage (import portrait image to landscape shape, add text on curve @ top, add text on curve @ bottom, export image) > Photos (crop) > Mail > (send article text and attach image). 

You might run into a project like this where your designer insists on using copyright-free images. You have to have permission to use art or a meme found on the Internet. Option to use or create your own original art. AI tools can assist and you want to explore your options. If you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud you will have FireFly AI built-in and ready for anything anytime. Or sign up for an Adobe Account to use FireFly on the web under monthly limitations. Other AI tools will also create images. Apple’s Image Playground is a beginning but style choices are limited. 

I’ve just confirmed “erase” has been used in this blog before but not in the same context as this workflow. It is finally time to update the Cheatsheet and add these details so it will be my go-to-starting-point for the next image creation project. 

Many of the apps we’ve used in this seminar have an AI stylizing feature before AI was hyped everywhere. It is a journey. I’m glad you all are on this path. Show us what you’ve got … Tell us your workflow story about any image creation workflow. The Cheatsheet awaits your insights.

Procreate app hints

Procreate is one of the apps that Today at Apple sessions introduce to iPad owners. It is digital art on steroids, especially when paired with the Apple Pencil. 

Leaving myself a note here about Art With Flo YouTube Channel or her website. where you will find tutorials building skills from beginner to intermediate to advanced. Some tutorials are free; come with brushes, color palettes and notebook. 

External SSD Video Recording

Ok, just went shopping at Costco and instead of buying a 55-gallon drum of ... anything ... I bought a 1TB Lexar SSD because the packaging said: Supports Apple ProRes Recording. This kit came with MagSafe connection, lanyard USB-C 3 data cable and USB-A adapter. This SSD seems to be formatted at exFAT and therefore ready to rock and roll. 

So much to learn. Now to YouTube for some ideas: 

Do These 4 Things to Record to an External SSD with your iPhone 16 Pro Max! Richard Taylor TV - Did you know that the Files app on iPhone can format an external SSD (or thumb drive)? Wow. 

How to record iPhone video directly to an external hard drive Backlight by Tara Schatz - iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models can shoot Apple ProRes video. 

Apple ProRes is little like shooting RAW photo format. ProRes records 4K 60fps video in a lossless format that results in large files. Big files. Huge files. External capture and storage are essential. 

Easy and fast to transfer from Photos app to Files > SSD > New Folder ... 

Use this as a backup. Take caution on deleting files from Photos while will delete them from iCloud and all synced devices. 

Stumbling around with iPad and resorted to the Online User Guide to find more frustration. Under the Shutter button are only three options for shooting modes. The text of the guide were not helpful either. As a reminder-to-self the visible options are in a longer list and swiping up or down on the mode labels will reveal the other options! Time-Lapse Video, Slo-Mo, Video, Photo, Portrait,Square and Pano. 

Photo Walk with Newbies

I have invited people on our Studio Waitlist to attend a Photo Walk on week two. I asked for details about their goals ... 

What thoughts do you have about coaching iPhone Photographers? 

Refresh Your Viewpoint

Forget that you've used an iPhone for years! Now that we have iOS 18.2 and Apple Intelligence, it is time to erase our past experience with the Camera app and the Photos app. Especially the Photos app! 

Our muscle memory is not helpful now. How we interacted with our devices is ancient history. Put those visual clues out of your mind. Look at the app as if 1) this is your first time seeing it ... touch every button; 2) you are a 7 year old child exploring this screen for the first time -- swipe up, down, left and right. 

You know, "touch every button" is not a complete thought. There are gestures that have become more useful and the "when and where" to use gestures is not ... intuitive. Yet. We will build new habits this semester. 

The Apple Tips app refreshes in many ways. The brief content is updated with an iPad/iOS update and the tip categories switch out content. Two important features are here: 1) easy access to the User Guide for devices you own, 2) Setup Checklist to review features to take full advantage of your device. There is an item covering Gestures, but it is missing an important skill. Look for yourself.