the.mac.book.vol..10.2014

Volume 10

Suitable for all

Mac users

users

MacWith the release of OS X Mavericks last year, Apple set about to improve its main computer operating

system and produced something that is an improvement on what it already had, whilst keeping the

elements of what already made it so great. In this book you will find in-depth guide that will help you get

more out of your Mac, teaching you lessons about apps that you may never have thought of before. Whether

you’re a casual user or a Mac fanatic, there is something for everyone in this book. You will learn how to

become a power user by upgrading certain home apps, find the hidden depths of Preview that you never

thought it had and create your own green screen without moving away from your desk! In the iLife section

you will learn all about iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand, from creating a trailer for your home movie to

producing a great photo book gift. In the iWork section you’ll use Pages, Numbers and Keynote to produce

professional looking documents in no time; you’ll learn about making interactive charts and which slide

animations come highly recommended. Then there’s the creative projects where you’ll learn to make your

own music video or produce your own gifts. Finally, the helpdesk will answer all your Mac related questions.

Enjoy the book

Welcome to…

bookazine series

Part of the

MacImagine Publishing Ltd

Richmond House33 Richmond Hill

BournemouthDorset BH2 6EZ

+44 (0) 1202 586200Website: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk

Twitter: @Books_ImagineFacebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineBookazines

Head of PublishingAaron Asadi

Head of DesignRoss Andrews

Production EditorJen Neal

Senior Art EditorGreg Whitaker

DesignAlison Innes

PhotographerJames Sheppard

Printed byWilliam Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT

Distributed in the UK & Eire by Imagine Publishing Ltd, www.imagineshop.co.uk. Tel 01202 586200

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DisclaimerThe publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the

post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this bookazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are

recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the bookazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.

This bookazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

Mac is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Mac © 2014 Apple Inc

The Mac Book Volume 10 © 2014 Imagine Publishing Ltd

ISBN 978-1909758704

6

Mac essentials8 The OS X Mavericks Guide

22 Become a Mac Power User

Master your Mac30 Boost security with custom

user accounts

32 Set up a guest account on your Mac

34 Extend your Mac’s desktop

with AirPlay

36 Personalise your desktop Calendar

38 Share Reminders via iCloud

40 Add and manage multiple

Mail accounts

42 Organise your Mac with Tags and Tabs

44 Customise Safari using extensions

46 Manage your Safari Reading List

48 Stay safe online with iCloud Keychain

50 Create green screen movies on

a budget

52 Hide Mac App Store purchases

54 Explore your hidden Library folder

56 Do more with your PDFs in Preview

58 Back up your Contacts

with Automator

60 Stream from your Mac to Apple TV

62 Optimise your Mac backups

64 Clone your harddrive using

Disk Utility

66 Master Preview’s editing tools

iLife72 Make with Mac

iPhoto80 Get perfect portraits

82 Organise your photos using Faces

84 Streamline your iPhoto library

86 Share your Photo Streams

with friends

88 Add location data to your photos

90 Import and edit RAW fi les

92 Make a last-minute gift

iMovie94 View and share videos in

iMovie Theatre

96 Import and organise your

home videos

98 Master iMovie’s editing timeline

100 Stack clips with iMovie’s

multi-track tool

102 Improve audio with markers

104 Improve your archive footage

106 Make a Hollywood-style Trailer

108 Create a TV-style title sequence

6 The Mac Book

ContentsMac

102

8

“Mavericks is packed with improvements”

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GarageBand110 Edit individual notes using Piano Roll

112 Learn guitar with a GarageBand tutor

114 Play your electric guitar

115 Create custom amps

116 Add pro beats with a virtual Drummer

118 Fix vocal tracks using Flex Time

120 Reverse echo and reverb eff ects

122 Top ten GarageBand loops

iWork126 Get creative with iWork

Pages138 Build documents from templates

140 Use tables and graphs

142 Wrap text around photos

144 Approve changes in

shared documents

146 Fix images with Pages’ advanced tools

148 Export Pages

documents for other apps

Numbers150 Create a spreadsheet

152 Create a customise chart

154 Add media and charts

156 Use formulas to make

quick calculations

158 Use bespoke formulas

160 Filter important information

162 Bring your data to life

163 Compare data with linked sheets

164 Track your weight loss

Keynote166 Create stunning presentations

168 Animate slides for

memorable keynotes

170 Play videos inside

Keynote presentations

172 Top ten Keynote animations

Creative projects176 Create OS X and iOS wallpapers

182 3D print your own iPhone stand

188 Create personalised gifts

194 Make your own music video

Helpdesk202 Helpdesk

188

144

48

8 The Mac Book

MacBook ProLike Mountain Lion, OS X Mavericks will support mid/late-2007 or newer MacBook Pros, including all of the newer Retina models

iMacA mid-2007 or newer iMac will run Mavericks, although it’ll need to have at least 2GB of RAM, rather than the standard 1GB

The OS X Mavericks GuideOn the surface, OS X Mavericks might not seem like

anything to shout about as far as updates to the Mac

operating system go. A few new apps coupled with

some minor visual tweaks doesn’t sound all too special,

but it’s not until you drill down into OS X 10.9 that you

realise just how awesome it really is.

Beyond the headline features, Mavericks is packed

with plenty of improvements to core apps and OS X in

general, making for the most amazing Mac experience

yet. If you’re anything like us, you’ll have no doubt

already upgraded, in which case, this special 14-page

guide should prove extremely useful when it comes to

unearthing all those new features.

If you’re unsure whether your machine is capable

of running Mavericks, you’ll want to take a look above,

fi nd your Mac and check it off against our compatibility

guide. From there on, getting hold of Mavericks is pretty

straightforward, with all OS X updates – big and small –

coming in via the Mac App Store. By making Mavericks a

free download, Apple has thrown the pricing rulebook

out of the window. It’s a bold move, but one we couldn’t

be happier with. Be sure to perform a backup, and check

out the features guide on the right to keep you busy

while the update takes place.

Once Mavericks is up and running on your Mac, read

on and we’ll show you how to get the most out of the

new iBooks and Maps apps, store your online credentials

securely with iCloud Keychain, help you get organised

with Finder, master multiple displays and much more.

We’ll also take a quick look at some of the under-the-

hood performance upgrades that have taken place, and

give our judgement on whether you should upgrade or

not, just in case you’re still feeling a little sceptical.

Master Mavericks and make the most of Apple’s new Mac operating system with our all-encompassing guide

The OS X Mavericks guide


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MacBook AirAny MacBook Air from late-2008 onwards is capable of upgrading and running OS X Mavericks, but just be sure you’ve got 8GB of space free on your solid-state storage

Mac Pro and XserveIf you’re one of the lucky ones and own a Mac Pro,

models from early-2008 or later will run OS X Mavericks. Early-2009 or later Xserves will also be fine

Ten amazing improvementsMultiple displaysMake the most of many monitors and move apps effortlessly between multiple displays. You can turn your TV into a display, too.

Notifications Notifications are now more useful in Mavericks with in-line replies, website updates and a handy summary from While You Were Away.

TagsOrganise and easily find almost any document across Finder, iWork and iCloud using Mavericks’ new Tags system.

Advanced technologyMake your Mac faster with the help of Mavericks’ under-the-hood improvements and make your machine more efficient.

Finder TabsImprove your productivity when working across Finder windows by having them grouped together like tabs in Safari.

iBooks Brought across from the iPad to the Mac, Apple’s iBooks app is great for study and entertainment.

Maps Another app ported over from iOS with plenty of useful features, including the option to beam directions to your iPhone or iPad.

Safari Safari gets the Mavericks treatment, with a cleaner interface and plenty of social media integration in the form of a Shared Links sidebar.

iCloud Keychain Apple’s answer to the burden of passwords comes in the form of an iCloud Keychain that syncs those secret phrases across every device.

Calendar A fresh coat of paint along with a brand-new event inspector makes this a really great Mavericks upgrade.

Mac miniMac minis from early-2009 or

later are capable of running OS X Mavericks, so long as

you’re upgrading from OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or later

MacBookAnd if you’re fortunate enough to

own a rare, late-2008 aluminium MacBook or one of the later white unibody models, you’ll be okay to

upgrade to Mavericks

10 The Mac Book


As the headline app in the OS X Mavericks update and after the controversial launch of its iOS counterpart back with iOS 6, Maps has a lot to live up to. If you’ve used Maps on an iOS device, then

there shouldn’t be any huge surprises here. The app is essentially a super-sized version of what you might find on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, albeit with a few extra features.

Navigating around Maps in OS X is surprisingly straightforward, especially if you’re using a Trackpad. Two-finger swipes move you around the map, pinches zoom in and out and twists rotate. There are plenty of views on offer as well, including a Flyover-style 3D view coupled with the standard options.

Where Maps really comes into it’s own, though, is with its integration with other OS X apps and iCloud, giving you the ability to quickly push a set of directions you’ve researched to your iOS device when you’re ready to make a move. Here’s how it all works.

Maps Send directions to iOS devices

1: Summon the menuTo create a new route, start off by hitting the Directions button to bring up the directions sidebar. By default, your start point is your current location.

3: Share and sendClick on the sharing icon along the top bar and select one of your devices from the menu. You’ll see any device that shares an iCloud account with your Mac.

2: Start and endEdit your start point as necessary and then search for your end point. Maps will automatically suggest recent routes you may have searched for. Hit Enter.

4: Almost instantThanks to the power of iCloud, a notification will appear almost instantly on your iOS device informing you that a new set of directions has been sent over.

5: Open them upTap on the notification (or slide to view from your lockscreen) to bring up the directions you’ve been searching for in OS X Mavericks on your iOS device.

Discover the world with MapsGet directions, find local businesses and share your location with others using OS X Mavericks’ built-in mapping app

The Mac Book 11


ContactsWhen you add an address to anyone’s details in Contacts, hovering over it will present you

with the option to view that address on the map. Click Show Map and you’ll be taken straight to that location within Maps, making it easy to get directions or other details fast.

CalendarAny event in Calendar contains the address field and, in OS X Mavericks, when you add

one in, a map will appear with the event’s location pinned to it. Using this information, Calendar can then give you weather information, travel times via car and foot and instant directions, just by clicking on the pin.

MailMail has always given you a few additional options when an address appears in a

message, but Maps helps to take it one step further. Now, you’re presented with a pinned location on a map and options to take you straight to the same places in Maps, as well as an instant set of directions.

Find local businesses fast

Search awayTo start your local search, simply enter the type of restaurant, business or local amenity you want to find into the search bar in the top-right and results from nearby will appear below

Pin the infoClick on any pin that appears on the Map to view a search result in more detail. From here, you’ll find reviews, photos, opening times and more to help you make a new reservation

Real ratingsThe Maps app integrates with Yelp to bring you ratings of your local search results provided by real people, so you’ll always have a heads-up of how good or bad a place is

Share itWant to check that Italian over with your partner? Put that burger joint out for a vote by the gang? Just click on the sharing icon in the top-right corner and choose a sharing method

Use Maps in other OS X apps

Locate all those places you need using Maps

12 The Mac Book


Use iBooks on your MacTurn your Mac into the perfect tool for study and entertainment with a little help from Mavericks

Continuing where Maps left off, iBooks is the second app in Mavericks that takes some cues from its iOS

counterpart. The app itself functions in almost exactly the same way, save for the lack of skeuomorphic wooden bookshelves in the library view. As you’d expect, iBooks syncs up with iCloud, so any books you’ve downloaded on your iOS devices will appear on your Mac as well. It will even go as far as to sync bookmarks and the page you read up to, so you can pick up where you left off on any device.

Reading for pleasure on your Mac might seem a little unusual, but where iBooks in OS X Mavericks really comes into its own is with research and education. Working on your Mac makes it far easier to create and annotate notes and send them to others, and with iBooks giving you the option to read multiple books at the same time, you’ll soon find it the perfect environment to prepare for that big test or simply expand your knowledge.

1: Highlight it upSelect the part of the text that you want to include as part of your notes. Once you’ve finished highlighting the text itself, a small pop-up menu will appear.

2: Pick a styleIn the highlights pop-up that appears, select a style that you want to use. You can colour-code different types of notes for easier reference later on.

3: View ’em allTo view all of the different highlights you’ve made throughout your book, click on the third icon in from the top-left to bring up the Notes sidebar.

Skip through fastClicking on the icon with three lines and bullet points towards the top of iBooks will present you with a Table of Contents, which you can use to quickly skip between pages and chapters in your book

Thumbnail viewWhen you’re reading something particularly visual, like a comic or graphic novel, you can use the thumbnail view to navigate through its pages –bring this up by hitting the rightmost icon in the top-left

Another window

If you’re reading a book and need to open another for reference, click on the book icon in the top-left corner of iBooks to open your library in a new window and pick something out

Built for studying

iBooks’ notes and highlights feature makes it the perfect study tool, especially when textbooks are usually far cheaper to buy digitally. You can even share your notes and highlights with others in your own study group

iBooks Create notes and highlights

The Mac Book 13


4: Add a noteBelow each note, there’s a space to add a note to your highlights. To do so, simply click in that space and start typing – it’s a great way to summarise your learning.

5: Send it onRight-clicking on any highlight or note will give you the option to send it via Mail, Messages, Facebook or Twitter along with a reference and link to the book.

6: Start studyingClicking on the Study button in the top-left of the Notes sidebar will turn your highlights and notes into flash cards – ideal for remembering important quotes.

Importing iBooks from elsewhere

From iBooks AuthorIn your iBooks Author app, head to Share>Export and save your project as an iBooks file. From here you can head to File>Add to Library in iBooks to add your stunning creation.

From elsewhereIf you’ve gradually accumulated ebooks from all manner of sources in iTunes over the years, hit File>Move Books from iTunes in the iBooks app to bring them all into your new library.

Synced up bookmarks

You can bookmark any number of pages in iBooks by simply hitting Cmd+D. When you do, they’ll appear here and be synced across every device you own that’s using the same iCloud details

Search your booksiBooks’ search feature accepts both page numbers and words or phrases, so you’ll have no issues finding exactly what you’re looking for. Be aware, though, that word or phrase searches may be hazy in graphic-based or older books

14 The Mac Book


Get social, stay safe with SafariSafari’s Mavericks upgrades make it easier to access links shared on Twitter and remember those all-important details

Mavericks might only have two brand-new apps, but plenty of the others have been given a subtle overhaul and Safari

is no exception. Apple’s own internet browser has been given a few design tweaks and a new sidebar. The sidebar itself is the star of show here, displaying your Bookmarks, Reading List and the new Shared Links view. If you’ve connected up Twitter and LinkedIn via System Preferences, the Shared Links sidebar will pull together every link posted by your friends and contacts on these social networks into one convenient space. It’s easier than ever to view what people are posting, without having to constantly skip between tabs or a third-party app. Safari is faster, too, and we’ve pulled apart the technologies responsible above.

3: In the sidebar…Back in Safari, click the book icon in the Bookmarks bar to open up the Safari sidebar and click on ‘Shared Links’ to view any tweeted by the people you follow.

1: Get networkingFire up System Preferences and open up the ‘Internet Accounts’ pane. Scroll through the list of options and hit either Twitter or LinkedIn to enter your log-in details.

4: Share the loveWhen you click on a link in the Safari sidebar, you’ll be taken to that website with the original tweet above it. If you want to share that link, simply hit Retweet.

2: Enter your detailsIn order to use Shared Links, you’ll need to give your Mac your Twitter or LinkedIn log-in credentials. Hit OK when you’re told what they’ll be used for.

Performance-boosting technologiesAlthough these technologies may seem pretty confusing on the surface, they’re actually fairly straightforward. Safari Power Saver essentially stops browser plug-ins (Flash, Java etc) from loading content until you click on them, much like the Click To Flash plug-in that’s been around in Safari for years. The plug-ins Safari Power Saver targets tend to be slow to load, so halting them unless you say otherwise should result in a faster browsing experience. Fast Start is even more simple, pre-loading the site it predicts you’ll be heading to as you enter its URL into the address bar. Nitro Tired JIT is perhaps the most complex. Safari has used Nitro (Apple’s JavaScript engine) for years, and the Tired JIT (Just In Time) addition helps the engine decide how best to execute code for the fastest site loading times.

Safari Set up and use Shared Links

“It’s easier than ever to view what people are posting”

The Mac Book 15


New Credit Cards tabiCloud Keychain saves all of your credit card details, with the exception of your security code. This is the three-digit code found on your card’s signature strip. This extra level of security stops anyone without this code from using your details on your Mac, iPhone or iPad. You can add new cards to iCloud Keychain at any time by bringing up Safari’s Preferences from the menu bar (or by hitting Cmd+comma), heading to the Autofill tab and clicking the Edit button next to the Credit Cards option.

According to Apple, iCloud Keychain details (including credit card details) are stored on the device (as opposed to on Apple’s servers, which are only used to transmit the data for syncing purposes) using AES 256-bit encryption, which ensures your data remains nice and secure. On the surface, this seems safe enough, but security is still an area worth considering when saving information on your Mac.

1: iCloud SettingsOpen up System Preferences and find the iCloud icon (on the left on the third row down). Click on it once to bring up iCloud’s preference pane.

4: Accept suggestionsWhen you go to sign up to any online service, Safari will suggest a password for you once your cursor is in the password field. Click it to accept it.

2: Enable KeychainTo enable iCloud Keychain and start the setup process click on the checkbox next to Keychain in the list of features.

5: Logging inWhen you go to log in on a website or service where you’ve used iCloud Keychain, you’ll be prompted by Safari to use the associated username.

3: Set it upThe setup process is relatively simple. You’ll need to create a passcode and add a phone number in case you forget the passcode later on.

6: Entered automaticallyIf you choose to use the username that Safari suggests, the password stored in iCloud Keychain will be automatically entered straight away.

Make the most of Mavericks’ new iCloud Keychain to log in and make payments quickly online

When it comes to staying secure online, your first port of call should always be a secure and unique password for each service you sign in to. Over the years, plenty of third-party Mac apps have offered to help

you with this but, with OS X Mavericks, Apple is wading in and offering this functionality as part of the operating system.

Once you enable iCloud Keychain (see our guide below), Safari becomes supercharged, offering a unique, complex password each time you

sign up to an online service. As the name suggests, these passwords are synced across each of your

devices so remembering them becomes a thing of the past. It’ll even save credit card details…

Save passwords and payment details

Keychain Set up and use iCloud Keychain

16 The Mac Book


Keep your Mac organised with Tags and TabsUse the new tags and tabbed Finder to stay in order on your Mac

One app that has seen the biggest changes in Mavericks is Finder, which has gained new abilities that immediately make it more

functional. Of course, unlike some apps built into the system, Finder is the one app that absolutely everybody who owns a Mac uses to manage their files and store their stuff. It’s the one-stop portal for everything on your Mac, and the new features will make the process of keeping everything in order even easier.

There are two big additions to Finder in Mavericks, and they are tags and tabbed windows. The former enables you to organise files quickly into groups and access all the files tagged with a certain colour or word, while the latter simply means you’ll need fewer windows open on-screen when moving files around on your Mac. Read on to find out how to use the new features, and just how much they will benefit you.

Tab-tasticThere are no limits to the number of tabs you can have open at any one time in Finder, and there’s a neat shortcut in the Window tab that lets you collect all open windows into a single tabbed one

Fast taggingYou can quickly tag a file or folder with multiple tags by clicking this button in Finder’s top bar. You can click tags you want to add, or type out their name and hit Enter

View tagged filesYour tags will appear in a specific section in Finder’s sidebar, so you’ll be able to view all your most regularly used tags and access all the files in that category with a single click

Favourite tagsBy default there are a selection of basic tags set up to be the standard set. Open the Tag section of Finder’s Preferences and you can drag up to seven into the Favourites to make them available quickly

Tags ‘n’ tabsThe new Finder interface featuring tags and tabbed windows

Difficulty: Beginner

Time needed: 10 minutes

When it comes to dragging files between different folders, you can now do it without taking up a huge amount of space on your screen. Open the folder you need to move the file to in one tab, and the folder currently containing the file in another, and you can simply drag and drop the file onto the new tab.

Tab controls

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Three practical uses for tags in OS X

Getting personalIf you share your Mac with your family but only have a single user account, you can create a tag for each family member and they can find all their files with just a single click.

Document managementSorting your documents into sections such as Important, Invoices, Urgent and Home will help you quickly find the specific thing you need, and should also boost your productivity.

Movie shelvesDo you have hundreds of movies on your Mac? No problem – with tags you can label them up with genres, tag them as either watched or unwatched, or even rate them out of five.

1: Create custom tagsYou can customise the tabs that you’re using in a couple of ways. You can either open up Finder’s Preferences and change the titles there, or right-click the name in the sidebar.

4: Multi-taggedYou can add multiple tags to a single file if necessary; this comes in handy when you’re working on documents, as you can tag it with a month, a topic and anything else you need.

2: Tag your filesTo tag your files, you can right-click them and select the tag you want to add to the file, or click the icon in Finder’s toolbar to add more than one tag at a time.

5: Tags in iCloudIf you have iCloud set up on your Mac, and save files like images and documents to your online storage space, the tags you add will be maintained between devices.

3: Tag as you saveWhen you’re saving a document in an app like Pages or Preview, you can now add tags to it right away using the new menu option that appears in the Save menu.

6: Tabs or windows?Tabbed Finder will be enabled by default, but if you want to open folders in new windows instead of new tabs, you can do so in the main section of Finder’s Preferences panel.

Finder Stay organised with tabs and tags

18 The Mac Book


Mission ControlEach display that you’re using now has its own Mission Control area. This means that you can assign a number of spaces to each individual screen, and each monitor will display only those spaces. However, if you want to drag apps between monitors you can do so easily, and, of course, you can place them on any space on either display by dragging them up to the relevant spot at the top of the screen.

New multiple monitor supportMake the most of your extra screen reality with multi-monitor support featuresOne of the big frustrations that users experienced with Mountain Lion was its inability to handle full-screen apps when working on more than one screen. Thankfully, Apple has now solved the issue that left your secondary monitor completely blank when using a full-screen app, and in Mavericks you can use your screens however you want. Whether you need a full-screen app on each screen, or want a combination of full-screen and windowed apps, the option is there. And with new support for Apple TV you can even use your television as a secondary display, rather than simply a mirror of what’s on your Mac’s screen.

Apple TVIn Mountain Lion you could mirror your display through AirPlay, but in Mavericks you’ll be able to use it as a second screen, so you can work with different apps on each one

Full-screen or windowed?You can now run full-screen apps on both displays at the same time in Mavericks, so you can make the most of the screen space you have without having a completely blank screen

The power of the second screenUse Mavericks to take full advantage of multiple monitors

Menu bar and DockEach monitor you use will have its own dedicated menu bar, and the Dock is available whenever you need it. It will appear on whichever screen is active, or when you scroll to the bottom of the screen

The Mac Book 19


Safari notificationsYou can now sign up through Safari to get notifi cations from specifi c websites, so if you

want to be informed when an eBay auction closes or get the latest news, you can do it

even when Safari is closed.

FaceTime notificationWhen you get a FaceTime call, the app will no longer open automatically. Instead, a

notifi cation will appear with all the usual options listed. From here you can tap on the

notifi cation to deal with the request.

Reply within notificationIf you want to send a quick reply to an iMessage or email, you can now scroll your

cursor over the notifi cation, hit the Reply button that appears and type to

reply immediately.

While You Were AwayIn 2012, Mountain Lion added Notification Center to your Mac, and this year, Mavericks is making it smarter. Thanks to Power Nap, your Mac will now get emails, messages and other notifications even when it’s asleep. When you wake up your Mac, everything will already be there waiting for you, and if you wish to, you can have all of the notifications that popped up while your Mac was asleep displayed on the screen immediately. These will only show you how many of each notification you have rather than the content of each, so that nobody else can read your messages, but this can be changed if required.

Events InspectorThe new Inspector offers a lot of extra information. For example, add a location to your event and a map will be included with your event, along with the travel time from your current location, either by car or by foot. If you set an alarm an hour before an event, you can then get a notification earlier, telling you when you need to leave if you want to get there on time. Plus, thanks to the integration with other services, you’ll be able to see the weather at the location you’re heading to so you can be prepared.

Facebook eventsIf you have set up your Mac to sync with your Facebook account, you’ll be able to see all your Facebook events in your Calendar alongside your user-created ones, marked up with an icon at the top-right of each event

New ViewThere’s no longer brown, stitched leather across the top of the interface, and the ripped pages have also gone. Instead, Calendar has returned to a more standard, grey OS X look

The new Calendar app

Notification types

Stay organised with Calendar’s revamped features

You can do new things with notifications in Mavericks

Continuous scrollYou no longer need to click on a specific area of the interface to go through to view different weeks or months; you can now simply scroll continuously for as long as you need

Travel timeAdding a location to your event will add a map to the event Inspector, but it will also add travel time based on your current location, so you can click to see when you need to leave

New Calendar interfaceThere have been some big visual changes to Calendar over the last few versions of OS X, and after a brief foray into the world of stitched leather and ripped paper, in Mavericks it has returned to a more

standardised OS X interface. But that’s not the only improvement – the whole app has been cleaned up and there are new week and month views, along with a brand-new Inspector, which includes more information about the event you have created. Take a look at the full selection of new features below.

20 The Mac Book


8351Mavericks Geekbench 8738

Mountain Lion Geekbench

System specs

Mavericks’ boosted performanceUnder-the-hood improvements will make your Mac faster

Mavericks goes toe-to-toe with Mountain Lion

While many of the changes in Mavericks are visible when you fi rst start using your

Mac after upgrading, there are actually a lot of built-in technologies that you won’t

notice. Many of the biggest changes in Mavericks are under-the-hood performance

boosts that will not only make your Mac faster during day-to-day use, but will also

extend its battery life. The best part is, these things all happen automatically in the

background, and you don’t have to do anything to set them up. However, if you want

to know exactly what each new system does, we’ve explained the new technologies in

plain English below. Plus, we benchmarked a standardised machine on both Mountain

Lion and Mavericks to see how much of a diff erence the new OS makes.

Geekbench

Timer CoalescingYour Mac performs thousands of background tasks every minute, and every time

one needs to be performed, your system’s components must be woken up. Timer

Coalescing defers or shifts these tasks wherever possible, and when the components

are awoken they can perform all the tasks in one go. So, rather than constantly

waking up and dropping into idle hundreds of times every few seconds, the intervals

will be larger, allowing your machine to take full advantage of its power-saving mode.

The ultimate result is a reduction in power consumption, which improves battery life.

In order to test how much of a diff erence these new technologies in Mavericks

actually make, we ran a Geekbench benchmark test on a single, brand-new

machine with Mountain Lion installed, and then ran it again after we updated

to Mavericks. On both OS’s, we ran Geekbench after a fresh restart, in 64-bit

mode, and the results show that while the bump in results is only slight, there

is a noticeable increase in power between the two operating systems.

Safari Power SaverWhen you’re browsing the web, you may fi nd that a lot of animations based in Flash

or other systems which you weren’t looking for will pop up and eat into your Mac’s

power. In Mavericks, you don’t need to worry about it, since Safari will automatically

disable these unless you manually activate them with a click. Content that is the main

focus of the page will play as normal, but those on the edges will be a still image

rather than a power-hungry animation. According to Apple this will use up to 35 per

cent less processing power, and along with other improvements, it should make

Safari faster and more effi cient than both Firefox and Chrome.

App NapThis technology reduces the power consumption of apps that aren’t actively being

used instantly. App Nap tracks which app you’re using, throttling back those that

aren’t needed. If an app is using a large amount of your CPU but is behind your

current window, the power it uses will be reduced and the app that you are using will

get priority. Apps that are playing music or downloading data are the exception, but

the system will still improve performance, and save battery while you work.

iTunes HD EfficiencyApple has focused on the power effi ciency of its video playback for Mavericks, too. If

you’re watching a TV show or a movie in a MPEG H.264 standard (the standard used

by all iTunes media), you’ll fi nd there have been big improvements. Now, your CPU

will use up to 35 per cent less power when watching a video, and because it’s more

effi cient you can unplug your laptop and watch on battery power without worrying

about your Mac running out of juice. It’s great for those that consume a lot of media,

especially as all iTunes media is compatible with the new tech.

Compressed MemoryOne limiting factor to your Mac’s total speed is the amount of memory installed.

When your Mac is using all the memory your machine has to off er, it simply cannot

run any faster, and everything slows down as the tasks that are in progress try to

complete. In Mavericks, this becomes less of a problem – as your machine starts to

reach the limits of what the memory can handle, the operating system shrinks down

the amount allocated to background tasks, freeing up more memory and keeping

the speed up. It all happens instantly, on the fl y, for complete simplicity.

Five technologies explained

MacBook Air 11-inch (mid-2013)

1.7GHz dual-core i5 Haswell

8GB RAM

128GB Flash storage

The Mac Book 21


Should I upgrade? Three typical Mac users

Casual user“I mostly use my Mac for checking email and internet browsing. I tend to do a lot of shopping online, and

keep in touch with my friends through my social networks. I don’t have an iPad, though – just a Mac.”

VerdictThe real draw for you will be the addition of iCloud Keychain; you won’t be using it to sync your

passwords between devices, but it will save credit card information and suggest and remember very

secure passwords to ensure you are always shopping safely. And, with Mavericks’ new notifi cations

system, you’ll be able to see all your Facebook and Twitter notifi cations in real time, or as soon as you

wake your Mac from sleep if you’ve been away. Many of the more advanced features will go unnoticed,

but for security alone it will probably be worth the upgrade.

Creative user“I’m usually out for most of the day with my MacBook,

taking notes in lectures and staying in touch with friends.

When I get home I love recording music and editing

movies that I shoot when travelling at weekends, but I

also have a lot of documents to organise for my course.

I’ve got an iPhone, too.”

VerdictMavericks makes a big diff erence to battery life, so

you’ll immediately see a boost if you’re out and about

with your Mac all day. The advanced technologies like

Timer Coalescing, App Nap and Compressed Memory

will all make your creative time a little slicker and more

responsive, and Finder’s new Tagging feature will make

sorting through your course notes and other

documents a breeze. Plus, with Maps

giving you the opportunity

to send directions

straight to your

iPhone, you’ll never

be lost again.

Power user“I mainly use my Mac for work. At the offi ce I use it with a larger display, but when I get home I

tend to use it for reading articles and viewing videos online, as well as keeping my family and me

organised. I’m trying to read more, and do a bit of writing, too, but I often use my iPad for that.”

VerdictImprovements to how your Mac handles second displays will really benefi t you at the offi ce,

while improvements to the way your Mac manages power will give you a boost in performance

and battery life when viewing videos at home. Safari will pause Flash animations in articles,

which should improve your concentration, and the new iBooks app is perfect for catching

up on some reading. When you are inspired to write on your Mac, you can pick up

where you left off on your iPad using iCloud, and tag your work for better organisation.

iCreate verdictOn the surface, Mavericks might not

be the biggest update to OS X that

we’ve seen, especially compared to

the radical new user interface of iOS

7. However, Apple has once again

honed the experience of using OS X,

bringing a few new apps and features

to the table. For us, the biggest

advances have happened behind

the scenes, with new technologies

that will improve the responsiveness

and battery life of millions of Macs

around the world. When you consider

that you’re getting all the new apps,

features and technologies for free, it’s a

no brainer – Mavericks is phenomenal

value, and a worthwhile update while

we await the big changes that will

hopefully come in OS 11.

Now that you have gotten accustomed to your Mac and it’s many capabilities and features it’s time to ramp things up a notch

and get more technical. By following along with this feature, acquiring a few upgrades and accessories, a fresh set of professional-grade apps and some advanced Apple knowledge, you’ll soon find yourself a bona fide Mac power user. The best part here, is that you don’t even need to have a super-specced-up Mac to enable your new skills – this is all about getting the

Take your Mac skills to the next level with the best tips, tricks, apps

and upgrades for OS X

Become a

Beef up your audio inputsIf you’re looking to turn your Mac into a fully fledged recording studio, a decent audio interface is essential. Not only does it enable you to plug in professional-grade microphones, but it converts analogue signals to digital, too.

Recommended: Apogee One (£174.95/$249.95, apogeedigital.com)

Record almost anythingA decent USB microphone can be used for just about anything, from recording acoustic guitars for your next hit song, capturing voices for a new podcast episode or aiding with voice-overs for a new blockbuster.

Recommended: Blue Yeti (£112.17/$149, bluemic.com)

22 The Mac Book

most out of your current machine with a few choice hardware and software upgrades, as well as some essential knowledge on how to make your Mac work even more efficiently for you.

Whether you’re interested in making a hit record, editing amazing photographs or creating the next big blockbuster hit on your Mac, there’s a set of accessories that can truly enhance your Mac without you having to open it up and risk voiding your warranty. It’s not all about the accessories either, later

on in the feature we’ll look at some pro alternatives to Apple’s iLife and iWork suite that can help take your creative output to the next level. With your upgrades in place, we’ll introduce you to the world of Terminal and Automator – two apps that will make you and your Mac smarter, faster and more creative with very little effort.

Obviously some of the apps that we showcase in this feature are quite expense and so only those who have a professional need for them need apply,

but it showcases the versatility of your machine and demonstrates how it can be used for all of your expert audio/visual need.

It really doesn’t matter if you’ve been using your Mac for years or minutes, whether you’re on your fifth machine or you’ve just left the Apple Store with your first, there’s a lot to learn in this guide and we’re confident that, by the end of it, you’ll be a true Mac power user. Read on for instant enlightenment on how to take your Mac relationship to the next level.

“This is all about getting the most out of your current machine with a few choice hardware and software upgrades“

See your work on another screenWhether you’ve got an 11-inch MacBook Air or a 27-inch iMac, having a secondary display can help you become far more productive and give you more room to multi-task, no matter what you’re working on.

Recommended: Apple Thunderbolt Display (£899/$999, apple.com)

Draw the natural wayThere’s no better way to create amazing art on your Mac than with a graphics tablet – they give you a natural interface that you’ll have used all your life. Your work will be better than ever with one in your armoury.

Recommended: Wacom Intuos5 touch S (£192.61/$191.81, wacom.eu)

Enhance your audioWhether you’re producing music, cutting video or simply like to add a soundtrack to your creativity, a set of external speakers will certainly outperform the ones in your Mac.

Recommended: Audyssey Wireless Speakers ($299.99, audyssey.com).

Become a Mac power user

The Mac Book 23

24 The Mac Book


Upgrade your appsTake your Mac’s built-in apps to a whole new level with these power user upgrades

Aperture £54.99/$79.99

Apple’s professional take on iPhoto is the perfect upgrade for serious photography fans

Aperture is Apple’s professional take on iPhoto and, while it might it have a similar remit and

even share a photo library with it, this organising and editing app is leagues above its iLife equivalent.

With your library successfully shared between iPhoto and Aperture you’ll be able to take advantage of some seriously useful features, including advanced metadata for organising

your images, ratings and keywords, powerful editing tools and more. Since Aperture is made by Apple, the majority of the interface will feel immediately familiar, leaving you with more time to organise and edit your incredible shots.

Aperture is used by professional photographers the world over and, with its price tag, there’s no reason why you can’t join those ranks, too.

Logic Pro X £139.99/$199.99

Turn your Mac into a powerful recording suite with Apple’s studio-quality recording app

A staple of studios worldwide, Logic Pro is Apple’s professional take on a DAW (digital audio

workstation), designed to be the one-stop shop for recording, mixing, mastering and performing your own music.

Like GarageBand, Logic Pro X takes you the whole way through the recording process; from recording live instruments and adding additional

sounds via software synths all the way to mixing down your finished album. If you’re a GarageBand user, you’ll already be familiar with Logic’s setup for software instruments and general controls, but there’s plenty of advanced tools such as automation recording, greater support for musical notation and quick swipe comping.It might be £139.99/$199.99, but it’s worth every penny if you’re serious about music on your Mac.

Final Cut Pro X £199.99/$299.99

Make the move from iMovie and move to making movies that really move people

iMovie is an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to making your own mini blockbusters

and it’s even more impressive when you consider that it comes free on every Mac. It still has its limitations and that’s where Final Cut Pro X (£199.99/$299.99) comes in. Like Aperture, FCPX is designed by Apple to be the ideal step up from iMovie. With support for multiple camera

angles, advanced colour correction, background rendering and clip analysis, 4K support and a whole host of other professional features, FCPX is able to handle even the most demanding of movie projects.While Final Cut Pro in the past was reserved for the true professionals, FCPX has an interface, set of controls and workflow that is incredibly similar to iMovie, albeit with some seriously cool and time-saving upgrades.

The Mac Book 25


Cobook FreeUpgrade your Mac’s address book with easier organisation and better social integration

On your quest to become a Mac power user, upgrading your Contacts app might seem a little trivial, but

there are alternatives out there that can seriously speed up the time it takes to find that all-important number of email address, leaving you with more time to spend on your next great creative project.

Cobook is our Contacts app replacement of choice. The app is now free (with additional features being unlocked through in-app purchases) and it possesses some brilliant organisational features such as tagging and batch editing and deep social integration that helps keep your contacts up to date with very little input from you. What’s more, Cobook syncs up seamlessly with its sister app

on the iPhone (Free, App Store) so you’ll always have the right details for whoever you’re trying to call.

Fantastical £6.99/$10.99Stay organised and add new events to your schedule right from your Mac’s menu bar

While it might be useful, Calendar isn’t exactly the most convenient app and Fantastical (£13.99/

$19.99, Mac App Store) sets out to change that by placing everything you need to work with in the menu bar. With just one click and a few keystrokes, you can quickly and easily add an event to your calendar thanks to Fantastical’s stellar natural language support, which intelligently picks out key details (such

as times, dates and locations) in what you’re typing to create the event itself.

Like Cobook, Fantastical features a companion iPhone app and integrates with your existing calendars in the Calendar app, so there’s no lengthy setup process but plenty to gain from teaming the two of them up.

“It certainly justifies the cost with some fantastic organisational features“

Apple already provides a great backup solution in the form of Time Machine (and a plan B in the form of iCloud for keeping specific documents and certain data safe), but if you’re serious about becoming a Mac power user, an online backup solution is the way forward. Not only do you not have to remember to plug your Mac into a hard drive or purchase an expensive Time Capsule to back up your machine, but your data is stored remotely, protecting you against fire, flooding or theft. Here’s our guide to some of the best online backup options out there.

Back up your Mac Replace Time Machine and iCloud with an all-in-one online backup solution

Service Livedrive Backblaze Crashplan Mozy

Price £3/$6 per month $3.96 per month $4 per month £4.99/$10 per month

Backup coverage All filesAll files with external drives

All files with external drives

All files except system files

Mobile app? Yes No Yes Yes

Recovery option Online Online/USB Flash Drive/USB Hard Drive

Online/DVD/USB Drive

Online

Online access Yes Yes Yes Yes

File versions? 30 previous Four weeks Yes 30 days

Go further with Adobe Creative Cloud Take your creativity beyond

Photoshop CCAdobe’s new Creative Cloud edition of Photoshop takes image editing and creation to new heights. It’s the go-to tool for designers, photographers and artists

and should be on the Docks of every creative Mac power user.

Illustrator CCIf you’re not a fan of photography but love creating incredible illustrations and vector art on your Mac, Illustrator is the industry-standard tool to use. It’s packed with

features and completely integrates with other Creative Cloud apps.

InDesign CCIf you’re using Pages to create flyers, brochures and cards, but feel you’re being held back by a limited set of features, it’s time to upgrade to InDesign – the page

layout tool that will see you create some incredible work.

26 The Mac Book


Hide your desktop iconsTo get rid of all that desktop clutter, type defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false and restart Finder. Switch out false for true to undo.

Enhance iTunesTo add a ‘now playing’ pop-up to your iTunes’ Dock icon, simply use the command defaults write com.apple.dock itunes-notifications -bool TRUE ; killall Dock to enable a somewhat hidden iTunes feature.

Convert Word documentsTo quickly convert a Word document from .docx to .doc for easy sharing, simply type textutil -convert doc /path/to/filename.docx (you can usually find the path to your file name in Finder). It’s a simple fix.

Enable AirDrop over EthernetYou may be connecting to the internet via Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi, stopping AirDrop from working. To fix this, use the command: defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces 1.

Refresh Launchpad For when Launchpad has a tendency to fall out of sync with the apps, type in rm ~/Library/Application\ Support/Dock/*.db ; killall Dock to have it all refresh. Things should fall back into place.

Unhide your Library folderYour Mac’s Library folder is hidden by default, but if you’re a power user who needs to access it regularly from your menu bar, this is easily fixed with the Terminal command: chflags nohidden ~/Library/.

Control your Mac with TerminalGet some seriously powerful control over your Mac with Terminal – here’s how to use it

Part of becoming a Mac power user is

learning how to gain fi ne control over

your Mac and how it works. There are

plenty of third-party tools on the market

that help you do this, but really, most of

them act as a prettier interface for the most powerful tool

of them all – Terminal.

Lurking away in the Utilities folder of your Applications,

Terminal may look a little unassuming, but once you

understand how to construct and input commands, it

becomes the best way to make changes to how your

system works.

Terminal commands have some seriously far-reaching

implications, from hiding system software like Spotlight to

changing the look and feel of Finder, all the way through to

playing a full, ASCII art version of Star Wars Episode IV.

As a word of warning, Terminal is extremely powerful and

certain commands, particular Super User (sudo) commands,

can have a very quick and very permanent eff ect on your

machine, so approach with caution! Don’t shy away from

Terminal, though. Despite the risks, it can still be a hugely

useful tool for any Mac power user.

Application nameGenerally speaking, most Terminal commands will reference the name of the application they’re affecting using the system: com.PUBLISHER.APPNAME – in this case, the Terminal command is affecting Finder and is preceded by the command type defaults write

Kill ‘em allOften, after entering a command, you’ll need to restart the app it affects. To do this, a simple killall [NAME OF APP] is all you need. It’s also useful for relaunching Finder if you’re experiencing issues

Boolean optionsMost defaults write terminal commands end with -bool and either true or false. This enables or disables the option that’s been specified earlier in the command – if you’ve enabled an option and want to disable it, just change true to false

Display optionIn this case, the Terminal command is changing whether anything is displayed on the desktop or not, so it’s telling Finder to change the CreateDesktop tool – this option usually always follows the application

Terminal Six commands to get you started

The Mac Book 27


Setting up an Automator workflow

Extract PDF textThis workflow takes PDF files selected in Finder, combines them and extracts the text to a Rich Text document – it’s perfect for emailing instructions from PDFs which would otherwise be too large to send. This should be saved as a service for access from Finder’s Services menu.

Batch convert movies for your iPhoneIf you’re off on holiday and want to convert some of your movies for playback on your iOS devices, setting up this quick Automator script is the easiest way to do it. Save it as an application and it’ll prompt you to select your films, convert them and save them all automatically.

Quickly crop imagesBy setting up an Automator service to copy and crop images, you can save yourself a lot of time when it comes to creating things like Facebook cover photos or any other image which has to be a specific size – be sure to have Automator copy the files so the process is non-destructive.

Organise your Downloads folderBy setting up this Automator workflow as a Calendar alert, you can set it to activate periodically. This particular workflow checks your downloads for music, imports to iTunes and adds the songs to a ‘to be sorted’ playlist then deletes the original source photos.

Organise your workloadUse Automator to perform everyday tasks automatically

Being a Mac power user is all about

getting the most out of your machine

and leaving yourself with ample time to

really get creative and be more

productive than ever before. While you

might have already upgraded some of your apps to

make your creative projects a little easier and quicker to

work with, there’s still the matter of those dull

housekeeping tasks to deal with.

Whether it’s clearing out your Downloads folder,

resizing those holiday photos ready to upload online

or grabbing some text from a PDF document that

needs editing and reformatting, all of these seemingly

menial tasks can take a chunk of time out of your day.

Fortunately, all of these can be performed by Automator,

reducing your input down to just a couple of clicks.

Automator is incredibly powerful, not only does

it complete all of the tasks we’ve mentioned above

in seconds, but it can also be used to make fully

fl edged apps. If it sounds like your thing, then read on

to fi nd out exactly how to construct your own

Automator workfl ows.

4: Save it outWhen you’re happy with your workflow, hit Command+S to save it. Give it a name and save to your Applications folder.

3: Select your variablesEach action you import will contain options. Select these to customise your workflow and hit the Run button to test.

2: Drag an actionTo construct your workflow, simply drag an action from the browser on the left into the workflow on the right.

1: Choose your workflowHit Command+N to create a new workflow and choose a workflow type. The most common are Application and Service.

28 The Mac Book

From tracking down missing album artwork in iTunes to fixing your network settings, OS X is there to help you manage your Mac

Master your Mac

54

The Mac Book 29

30 Boost security with custom

user accountsCustomise your accounts for start-up

32 Set up a guest account on your MacAllow other people to use your Mac

34 Extend your Mac’s desktop

with AirPlayGet more from the monitor support

36 Personalise your desktop CalendarMake the iCal work for you

38 Share Reminders via iCloudCreate a shared list in Reminders

40 Add and manage multiple

Mail accountsAccess all your email accounts in one place

42 Organise your Mac with Tags and TabsNavigate your folders with ease

44 Customise Safari using extensionsMake your Safari experience more fulfi lling

46 Manage your Safari Reading ListUse Safari’s Reading List to avoid clutter

48 Stay safe online with iCloud KeychainKeep your account details in one place

“With Mavericks, you can customise each user account with its own settings”

66

Master Preview’s editing tools

60

Stream to your Apple TV

48

Stay safe with iCloud Keychain

36

Personalise your Calendar

30

Boost security with accounts

50 Create green screen movies on

a budgetCreate Hollywood eff ects

52 Hide Mac App Store purchasesHide and retrieve your order history

54 Explore your hidden Library folderGet to grips with the Library folder

56 Do more with your PDFs in PreviewAdd passwords and signatures to your PDFs

58 Back up your Contacts

with AutomatorAutomate your Contacts to Dropbox

60 Stream from your Mac to

Apple TVPlay iTunes content on your Apple TV

62 Optimise your Mac backupsSchedule multi-disk OS X backups

64 Clone your harddrive using

Disk UtilityCreate the ultimate backup

66 Master Preview’s editing toolsDiscover more about Preview

30 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

Boost security with custom user accountsCustomise your user accounts in Mavericks for a personalised start-up – and extra security

When you have a Mac that is used by a number of people, it’s always

best to set up individual user accounts for each of them. Not only does

it provide each person with their own workspace to save documents,

music and photos, it also gives them a space that they can customise with their own

personal settings, apps and wallpaper.

No two people work in exactly the same way, and this is refl ected in each user

space. Diff erent users will need diff erent apps, and often they will need them at

diff erent times. With Mavericks, you can customise each individual user account with

its own settings, so whether you want to change the user’s image and name, or pick

which apps open automatically when they fi rst log in to the workspace, you can do

it here.


Difficulty: Intermediate

Fast user switchingIf a lot of people will be using your Mac at once, you can let them switch quickly between their workspaces. A menu in the top-right lets you pick a name, input the password and immediately switch to their workspace

Password hintsPassword hints should be fine as long as they’re suitably cryptic and hard for anyone else to understand, but if you’re worried about the hint giving away the login, you can switch them off completely here

Power controlsBy default, the login screen will display controls for Sleep, Restart and Shut Down. You can choose to clean it up by removing these; there’s no real security advantage, but it’s more pleasing to the eye

Click the cog icon below the Login Options button and you’ll see the Master Password option. This can be set up if you use FileVault encryption on a particular user; the system encrypts every file in that user’s account. If you forget your password and can’t log in to the FileVault-protected account, the Master Password will let you log in. If you choose to use this, make the password complex, and definitely don’t forget it!

Master Password Automatic loginYou can set your Mac to automatically log in to any account. This bypasses any admin passwords, so if you want ultimate security, switch this option off

The Mac Book 31

Boost security with custom accounts

7: Login ItemsClick the ‘Login Items’ tab and you’ll find a section that enables you to select the apps that open automatically on login. Some apps add themselves by default.

8: Add or removeTo add an app you want to open every time you log in, or to remove an app you don’t, use the ‘+’ and ‘–‘ buttons below the list. Simply pick the app you want.

9: Guest UserYou can enable a Guest User if you like, but this is aimed more at those with lots of visitors, and if you’re hugely concerned about security, leave it switched off.

4: Add an Apple IDYou can also associate Apple IDs with specific users, allowing them to access your user account and reset the password on your Mac should anything go wrong.

5: Reset with Apple IDTo allow the associated IDs to reset the password, make sure this box is checked. You can associate as many IDs as you like.

6: Parental ControlsIf you’re using a machine that is shared with younger users, you can also add Parental Controls to their user space, limiting what they can download and install.

1: UnlockBefore you can make changes, you’ll need to click the lock in the bottom-left corner of Users & Groups and input your admin password to unlock the section.

2: Picture perfectClick the image under the Password tab and you can change your user image. There are some default options to pick from, or you can access your photos.

3: Add or improve passwordIf you want to improve security, you’ll want to make sure that every account has a password, and that they’re all secure. Make them as complex as possible.

System Preferences Manage your Mac’s user accounts

32 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

Set up a guest account on your MacAllow other people to access your Mac, but restrict what they can and cannot do

People may want to access your

computer for all sorts of reasons.

Perhaps they need to check

something online or they need to access a

specifi c account. You don’t always want them

to be able to fi re up your Mac and go straight

into your account. Here, they may be tempted

to alter some settings or accidentally delete

fi les. Some may even attempt to access an

email or two.

At the same time, you may already have

numerous user accounts and you may not

want to create fresh user accounts every

time someone wants to pop on to your

beloved machine. In all of these cases,

you can let the user access your Mac via a

Guest Account. You can restrict what they

can do and, when they log out, all trace of

their activity is removed so you don’t have

to worry about them eating away at your

hard drive space. Follow the tutorial to fi nd

out more.



“You can restrict what they can do and, when they log out, all trace of their activity is removed”

PeopleIf you click on this tab at the top, you are able to give permission to users to join Game Center, or you can also limit chat and email exchanges to a specific list of people

Making selectionsOn this screen, we are able to clamp down on misuse of your computer by others. You could limit CD and DVD burning or prevent users from changing printer settings The lock

When you have finished making changes to the parental controls – which are not only aimed at cutting access for children – you simply need to click the lock to prevent further changes

Guest UserThis tells you the account to which the restrictions you set up will apply. You can use the tabs at the top of the window to cycle through the various options on offer

The Mac Book 33

Set up a guest account

1: Open System PreferencesClick on the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Preferences. Navigate to ‘Users & Groups’ and double-click. Click the lock to make changes – input your password when asked.

2: Select guest accountClick on the Guest User tab. Ensure you tick the box which says ‘Allow guests to log in to this computer’. This grants temporary access, which does not require a password.

3: Enable parental controlsTo control what a guest can or cannot use when they access the guest account, tick the box next to Enable parental controls and then click the option called ‘Open Parental Controls’.

4: Control app usageClick the tabs to restrict access to your Mac. Under Apps, you can limit users to specified apps and have a simplified view of the desktop. You can also ban modifications to the Dock.

5: Restrict the webYou can also gauge the level of access to the internet, customising access to adult websites and letting users only view predetermined websites. Tick the boxes and Customise.

6: Time limitsDo you need to restrict the times the Mac can be used? Do you want to prevent access when you’re at work, for example, or set a number of hours per day? Hit the ‘Time Limit’ tab, if so.

Accessing shared folders in OS X

1: System Preferences Your System Preferences app is where you need to go to access the Guest User function, alter the login and sharing details and make any amendments. You can go back and make changes as many times as you want.

2: Shared foldersTo give guest users permission to access shared folders on your computer from another, select the ‘Allow guests to connect to shared folders’ checkbox, which you will find when clicking on the Guest User tab.

If you have shared folders on your machine, you are able to let your Mac know whether or not you would like your guests to access them. Shared folders should only contain items that you would be happy with somebody else accessing. Remember, anyone who can turn on your Mac will be able to access the folders that you allow to be shared.

When a guest user logs in to your computer, a temporary home folder is created and this will contain all of that guest’s files. When the guest user logs out, however, all of those files and the folder itself will be deleted, so try and make that clear to the person using your machine. They may want to send the files to themselves via email or cloud storage.

Deleting files System preferences Creating Guest User accounts

34 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

AirPlay is a simple tool once you have everything set up, but you need specific equipment if you want to use your TV as a second display. First of all, you’ll need an iMac, Mac mini or MacBook Air from mid-2011 or later, or a MacBook from early-2011 or later, as only newer Macs support AirPlay. You’ll also need an Apple TV box connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

AirPlay requirements

Extend your Mac’s desktop with AirPlayMake the most of Mavericks’ brilliant new multiple monitor support

In Mountain Lion, having two displays was actually a disadvantage if

you wanted to make the most of the OS’s new features. With a

new full-screen mode introduced, those that hit the new button

found their second screen was simply greyed out. Thankfully, things have been

changed for Mavericks, and in the new OS there are plenty more options to help

you get the most from having two or more monitors, whatever you require them

to do.

In Mavericks, not only can you have full-screen apps on both screens at once,

you can also organise each screen as a completely independent desktop. Whether

you’re using a laptop plugged into a standalone monitor, an iMac with a second

display, or you’re using AirPlay to get your Mac’s content on your TV, the new OS is

ready and it is easier than ever to get working. In this tutorial we take you through

the simple process. Let’s get it set up…


Difficulty: Beginners

AirPlay pop-upBy default, the AirPlay icon appears in the menu bar whenever your Mac senses a compatible receiver is connected to the Wi-Fi network. You can stop it appearing in the Displays section of System Preferences

Setting the resolutionWhen in mirroring mode, you’ll also have the option to set the resolution. If you’re mirroring, you’re likely to want the second display to be correctly sized, so it’s probably best to use this setting

Mirror or extend?When you choose AirPlay, you have the option to either mirror your display and see the same on both screens, or extend your display and gain some extra screen space. The choice is yours

Drag acrossWhen in Extended mode, you can get stuff onto the second monitor by simply dragging the windows onto the second display. It’s perfect for watching movies, TV shows and media that isn’t in iTunes on your TV

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Extend your Mac’s desktop

1: Display PreferencesPlug in your second display and the screen will flash blue while it adjusts. To access more options, open System Preferences and choose Displays.

2: ArrangementClick the Arrangement tab, you can see how the two screens join. Drag either screen to adjust the location. They must touch, but can be paced anywhere.

5: Whenever requiredIn Mavericks, your Mac’s menu bar will appear on both screens, with the inactive screen greyed out. When you switch between displays, the bar will activate.

3: Go full screenOpen an app, drag it onto the display and click the Full Screen icon. It won’t affect the second display; you can also put a full screen app on that monitor.

6: Dock accessThe Dock appears on the main screen. To move it between monitors, drag your cursor to the bottom of the screen, then drag it further down, the Dock pop up.

4: Creating spacesEach screen has its own version of Mission Control, with its own unique spaces. Use a gesture or hit the relevant key to open it up and add more desktops.

System Preferences Customise your multiple monitor setup

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Master your Mac

Personalise your desktop CalendarMaster the small tweaks and make Calendar work just as you want it to

The Calendar app in Mavericks is one of the most maligned and yet most

useful apps in your Dock. You may not realise it, but you can customise and

automate so much with the Calendar to make it one of the most powerful

apps on your Mac.

In the following tutorial we’ll explain how you can personalise Calendar to work

better with your professional and home life. Whether that’s simply adding a colour

code to an event or tweaking how you view your week, we’ve got you covered. Take

advantage of the power that the Calendar app gives you, and you can make yourself

more organised than ever, and take your schedule with you across devices, having set

everything up at home on your Mac.



Customise your weekEven the days of the week can be bent to your will

The Mavericks update has seen Calendar, among many other apps, be completely stripped back. Gone is the leather look and a very busy window. Instead it has been replaced with a much more neutral and understated view of things - with the current month and day highlighted so you can quickly zoom in on the events on and around the current day. Design wise everything will be familiar to users, just much less busy colour-wise.

Simplified View

StartMonday is the default start day in Calendar, but if you work on weekends or use some other system, then that may not be the ideal way to break down your week. Change that here

Number of daysThink there are seven days in a week by default? Calendar doesn’t believe so. For a working calendar you can switch to five-day weeks and streamline your year considerably

Day startFor the Week and Day breakdowns, Calendar will highlight areas it considers to be the working day. Again, this can be customised to better reflect your hours during the week

Show event timesIf you have set up an event so that it’s happening at a specific time rather than all day, this tickbox adds the time in the Week and Month view so that you can see it at a glance

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Personalise your desktop Calendar

iCal Personalise your Calendar

1: Add time zonesFor the international traveller, or someone who needs to be in communication with colleagues and friends abroad, adding time zone support can make managing meetings much easier.

2: Switch them onHead to your Calendar Preferences, then click Advanced and tick ‘Turn on time zone support’. This creates a drop-down menu in the top-right corner of the app for selecting a zone.

3: Select zoneNow when you’re creating or editing an event with a specific time attached, you can select from a different time zone and Calendar will then remind you at just the right moment.

4: Change event coloursWhen you’re creating a new Calendar event, you don’t need to stick with the default colour selection. You can personalise it much more than that in just a few quick steps.

5: More InfoGo to File>New Calendar and give your new event an appropriate name. Then right-click on the new entry and select Get Info in order to bring up some editing options.

6: Colour wheelFrom the Color drop-down menu you can select the Other option at the bottom to open a colour wheel. From here you can pick any colour theme you like for your Calendar.

7: Open filesFor some events and reminders, you may want to open up an application or file that will be relevant. Perhaps you could iPhoto before an upcoming birthday to make a card, for example.

8: Add fileHaving created a new event, right-click it and select Get Info, then look for the Add Attachments option. Click to select it and then pick Open File.

9: Choose fileThe default file is iCal itself. Select this and then pick an app from your Applications folder or a file from somewhere else. Then all that’s left to do is set a time for that alert to activate.

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Master your Mac



One of the great things about the

evolution of OS X and iOS over the

last few years has been the apps

that have migrated across from one OS to

the other. The result is a suite of Apple-made

apps that are on both devices, and when

Apple introduced iCloud a couple of years ago,

it took advantage of this synergy to ensure

everything synced between devices and was

always up to date whether you switched on

your Mac or iPad.

Now, the Cupertino company has extended

this ability one step further, and you can now

extend invites to certain apps to others that

are also using iOS or OS X. If, for example, you

want to create a calendar of events that will

aff ect a number of people, you can do this in

Calendar on your Mac, then choose to share

this calendar with your friends simply via email.

These people will be notifi ed of the invite, and

will be able to view and edit the calendar, add

dates of their own, and get updates when

things are changed.

Share Reminders via iCloudCreate shared lists in Reminders to ensure everyone stays up to speed

“People will be notified, and will be able to view and edit the calendar”

Multiple listsYou can share as many lists as you like. Shared lists will show this small broadcasting symbol next to their titles, so you’ll know which are shared. Click this icon to see who you’re sharing with

Add or removeIf you no longer want to share your reminder with a certain person, simply open the Reminders app or your online iCloud account, click the broadcast symbol and delete the email address of your contact

On the webAccess your iCloud account online and you can see all your Reminders lists as well. The site behaves just like the app, so you can create lists and then share them from here as well

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Share Reminders via iCloud

Reminders Share Reminders with iCloud contacts

1: New listFirst of all, use the ‘+’ button in the bottom-left of the window to create a new list, and give it a title that your contact will understand. That’s important, so nothing confusing.

2: Add itemsNow you’ve got your list set up, start adding items and tasks to it that need to be completed. You can add deadlines for them if you wish, or just make a list.

3: Roll overTo bring up the option for sharing your list of Reminders, all you need to do is roll your mouse over the list’s name in the bar on the left-hand side of the window.

4: Choose contactsNow you can add email addresses for the friends you want to share with. Reminders will pull addresses from your Contacts as you type to save you time.

5: Checking it offOnce the contact has joined your list, you can start checking off items as you complete them. The list will update within a few seconds once you’ve done this.

6: Being addedIf you are added to a list, you’ll be notified by email and by a notification appearing in your Mac’s Notification Center. Open the Reminders app and you can join the list.

The same goes for Reminders, the app which works

brilliantly when it comes to helping you remember

important things. You can create new lists of reminders

on any device, and with a few taps, share these lists with

your iCloud contacts. They will again be notifi ed of their

inclusion, and all invited parties can then edit the list,

adding new items to remember, or checking off things

when done. It’s ideal for ensuring you have everything

you need before a holiday, picking up much-needed

items and letting others know you’ve got them, or as a

project management tool for busy work teams.

Currently, shared Reminders cannot be created on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 6. However, the devices can use shared Reminders; you’ll need to create the new list on your Mac, before sending it to your contact. They will then need to join this list either on their Mac or at icloud.com, but once they’ve done this, the shared reminder will appear on their iOS device too.

iPhone and iPad

Notification CenterYou will be notified in Notification Center when someone requests that you join a list, but sadly it doesn’t currently support notifications for when a task is complete or a new task is added

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Master your Mac

Add and manage multiple Mail accountsAccess all of your email accounts in one place using the Mail app

Checking multiple email accounts can be time consuming and incredibly

tedious. Who wants to navigate between webpages and keep inputting

passwords when you can get all your messages in one place with a single

click? Mail lets you input all your email account details into one app and have all of your

messages collected in one place so you can read, write, send and delete emails with

complete ease.

The benefi ts are clear; aside from bringing all your email into one place, you can

also use the custom interface to drag and drop fi les into your messages as

attachments, get notifi cations of your new messages to appear in the top corner of

the screen, and customise font sizes and more for easier viewing. Let’s get set up with

multiple accounts.



When you set up an email account you may find you have two options to choose from: POP and IMAP. These are simply two ways for external apps like Gmail to deal with your messages. IMAP is probably the best choice – when you make a change in Mail, like deleting a message, IMAP will mirror the change on the server where your messages are stored, saving you the hassle of deleting it again.

POP or IMAP?

Sent and DraftsYou can quickly view your Sent messages folder and your Drafts folder with a single click in the toolbar. Click on the down arrow to select the sent or draft messages attached to one of your mailboxes

View specific mailboxesIf you want to view a specific mailbox, simply click the Show button in the top-left of the interface, or hit Cmd+Shift+M to open up this sidebar where you can pick different mailboxes and accounts

Customised toolbarThe Mail toolbar is a little sparse by default. You can customise it to your needs by right-clicking it. Choose the size of the icons and how text is displayed, then drag any extra buttons that you want into the bar

Remove unwanted accountsIf you no longer use an email account and want to completely remove it from Mail, open System Preferences. Choose the Internet Accounts tab and find the account, then click the ‘–’ button

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Add a multiple Mail accounts

7: Junk mailMail has a built-in junk mail filter to help limit the amount of unwanted messages you get. In the Junk Mail tab you can customise the settings to your needs.

8: Choosing your addressWhen you create a new message, Mail will send it from the selected mailbox by default. With this handy drop-down box, though, you can send it from any account.

9: Attach and sendAttaching files to your messages is as simple as dragging it into the main body of the email. When you’re ready, hit Send and your message will go.

4: Add another accountClick the Accounts tab. To add a new account, click the ‘+’ button in the bottom-left and input your login information for the other account.

5: Change the descriptionIn the same tab you can also give each account a description. This will alter how each account is referred to in the Mailbox List.

6: BehavioursIn the Accounts tab you can also adjust the way the app treats your messages. You can save space by deleting sent mail after a certain period.

1: First-time setupWhen you first open Mail, you’ll be prompted to add an account to the app. Depending on what kind of email address you have, pick the relevant option.

2: Address and passwordYou’ll need to input a valid email address, along with the password you use for that account. Your Mac will save the password securely to keep everything simple.

3: PreferencesTo add another account, you’ll first need to open Mail’s Preferences. Click on Mail in the menubar and select Preferences from the list, or hold Cmd+comma.

Mail Add and manage multiple accounts

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Master your Mac

Finder Start using Tabs and Tags

Having grown up with computers that rely on hierarchies

of folders, many of us are so used to navigating up and

down folder trees, copying fi les and pasting fi les from one

place to another, that other methods of organisation can seem a

little unintuitive. Fortunately, this is most defi nitely not the case with

OS X Mavericks.

Finder Tabs are inspired by the tabs that you see in Safari. It’s a

simple innovation, but it really helps clear away that desktop clutter

and save you cycling through separate windows. Tags are a little more

interesting – with these, you can apply coloured labels to any of your

fi les and folders. You can then select a tag from Finder to instantly see

everything on your Mac that has been tagged. Here’s how to start

using them.

Organise your Mac with Tags and TabsFinder’s Tabs and Tags make it easy for you to navigate your folders and quickly search for files



4: Move files and foldersTo move something to another tab, drag and drop it onto a tab. To move it to a specific folder, hold it over the tab and Finder will switch to it.

5: Add a tagTo add a coloured tag, right-click one and then choose a coloured tag from the bottom of the dialog to apply it to the selected file.

6: Save with tagsYou can also add tags to files as you create docs – after hitting File>Save, just fill in the Tags field below the Save As field. You can add multiple tags, too.

1: Condense Finder windowsYou can condense many Finder windows to a single, tabbed window by selecting Windows>Merge All Windows. Drag and drop to re-order tabs.

2: Navigate the tabs To move between your tabs, you can use Ctrl+Tab to go forward and Ctrl+Shift+Tab to go backward. Cmd+T for a new tab, while Cmd+W to close one.

3: Pull tabs outTo take the currently selected tab out of the group and give it its own window, select Window>Move Tab to New Window. Or, just drag it out manually.

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Organise with Tags and Tabs

8: Customise tagsHit Return to apply. Go to Finder>Preferences and click Tags. Right-click your new tag to give it a colour, rename or delete it.

7: Add multiple tagsTo apply multiple tags to the same file, click ‘Edit Tags’ above your Tabs and then click to apply the tags you want. Write it into the text field to add.

9: Show tagged itemsOnce you’ve tagged your files, open a new Finder tab and click your tag’s name in the sidebar. You’ll then see everything that’s been given that tag.

Customise sidebarYou can use the checkboxes beside each tag name to either hide or reveal them in Finder’s sidebar. You can also re-order these tags by dragging them around the list

Edit TagsAs well as clicking the tags shown here to add them, you can type their names in. If you type in something that isn’t a tag yet, applying it to the file will create that tag

Favourite TagsThis area holds the tags that are shown when you right-click on a file or folder – it pays to make sure they reflect your most-used tags. Again, you can re-order these by simply dragging them

Sidebar linksAll the tags that you choose to reveal in the sidebar will be listed here. Simply click on one to instantly show all of the tagged files together in your current Finder tab

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Master your Mac

From left to right in the button bar, here’s what our extensions do. AdBlock kills adverts on webpages, Gmail Counter adds the banner for new unread mail, Awesome Screenshot lets you annotate your screengrabs, Pocket is great for synced bookmarking if you also have non-Apple devices, ClickIn is a one-click URL shortener and Turn Off the Lights lets you watch videos in peace

Our extensions

Customise Safari using extensionsGet quick access to the latest news, shortcuts to vital information, avoid ads and much more

Everyone uses the internet for diff erent things, and Safari makes it

really easy for you to customise your experience so that you can get to

the content you want faster. Whether you like to watch a lot of videos,

keep up to date with the latest news or see previews of incoming email, there’s

a Safari extension that can help you. Not only that, there’s a whole load more

innovative tweaks and tools in the Safari Extensions Gallery, covering everything

from quickly saving items to shopping lists to seeing song lyrics when you’re

watching YouTube music videos.

Read on to fi nd out how to access the Safari Extensions Gallery and install your

fi rst extension. They’re really easy to work with, and each can be customised in the

Extensions tab of Safari Preferences.



Managing extensionsThe two options discussed in the tutorial live here. Safari Extensions is a shortcut to the gallery on Apple’s website, while Preferences lets you manage extensions

Full-length bannerSome extensions will also add an interactive strip between your Bookmarks bar and tabs. This one, for example, displays and provides shortcuts to new Gmail messages

The button barExtensions that you install appear here as small buttons. If your omnibar is getting a bit small after installing too many, right-click and hit Customise Toolbar to drag some out

Keyboard shortcutsSome extensions can also be activated with keyboard shortcuts, and you will usually be informed of this during the installation. Here, for example, Ctrl+Shift+L dims the lights

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Customise Safari using extensions

1: Go to Safari ExtensionsChoose Safari Extensions from the Safari menubar option and you’ll be taken to Apple’s extensions. You can browse by featured extensions or category.

2: Install an extensionInstalling an extension is as simple as clicking the Install Now button that appears to the right of it, or just below those featured in the carousel.

5: Customise them, tooIf you enable push notifications, you can manage them in the Notifications panel. You can make adjustments in the System Preferences screen.

3: Customise its settingsExtensions can be customised in Safari’s Preferences. Here we’ve set the type of news and the refresh rate. You can also switch them off or uninstall them.

6: Toggle automatic updatesIf you click Updates at the bottom of the sidebar in the Extensions panel, you can disable automatic updates. Available updates will appear in the white tab.

4: Enable push notificationsSome of the extensions that link with websites will prompt you to enable push notifications. Do this and you’ll be able to see alerts in Notification Centre.

Safari Install and manage Safari Extensions

46 The Mac Book

Master your Mac



The Safari Reading List feature is incredibly useful and

enables you to keep track of everything you want to read

in the future. It is simplistic by nature and there are not many

tweaks you can make to how it works – you can delete items, they

will automatically be marked as read and that is about it. You cannot

change the order of the items and thus you need to be quite rigorous

in ensuring that your list of articles is kept within reasonable limits,

otherwise it could all become quite confusing.

We will show you how to add new items and also how to deal

with them on a mobile device and your desktop machine. This is a

key advantage because all of your Reading List items can be kept

synchronised over multiple devices with no eff ort at all from you.

It all happens automatically and just like the simplistic user interface,

it is designed to get out of the way and to let the content shine

through. Once you start using Reading List, it will be hard to ignore.

Manage your Safari Reading ListDon’t miss out on what you want to read. Use Safari’s Reading List to catch up

Offline Reading is not available on all devices, but works very well on an iPad 2 or later and an iPhone 4 or later, and of course Mac. This means that articles are saved and will be accessible even when you have no internet connection, but there will be a slight delay when you add them to your Reading List while they are stored.

Offline Reading

Chronological OrderThe items in your Reading List appear in chronological order, with the most recently added at the top, so you can go through your entire day of articles finds in reverse

Deleting articlesOnce you have finished with an article, hover over it with your mouse and an ‘x’ will appear in the top-right corner. Click it to see the article removed from your list

BookmarksAlongside the Reading List is a Bookmarks tab. This is where all your saved webpages are stored. A little less specific than entire articles, but still useful to have to hand

At a GlanceEvery single article on your Reading List will be accompanied by an icon. This is used to represent the website the article is from, so you can see at a glance what sort of content you have

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Manage your Safari Reading List

Safari Manage your Safari Reading List

1: Where is it? To get access to the Reading List feature simply click the bookmarks icon and then the glasses icon at the bottom-right of the panel. You will see a blank list to start with.

2: Add some content When you find an article you want to read later, hold Ctrl and click on the title. The select Add to Reading List from the pop-up window to add it to your list for later.

3: Saving the content You will now see the article added to your Reading List after the ‘Saving for offline reading’ message disappears. It is now available even if you are offline.

4: Reading your list As you read items that you have added to the list in Safari, they appear in the order you add them, with the newest at the top so you can keep track of what you have to read.

5: Bookmarks As well as the Reading List specific articles, you can view your bookmarked websites too. Just click the Bookmarks tab at the top of the column to see your list.

6: Deleting items It helps to keeps thing tidy by deleting items as you go along that you no longer need. Simply hover over an item and then click the ‘x’ that appear in the top-right corner.

7: Use iCloud It should be set by default, but go to your Preferences and find the iCloud tab. From here, make sure that the Safari option is set to On. This will sync Reading List with iCloud.

8: Syncing If you have iCloud running on your mobile devices, all of the Reading List articles will be shown there as well, and reflect your mobile device’s list automatically when you make changes.

9: Works both ways Changes made on the desktop will be shown on the iPad and vice versa. You can manage your Reading List on any device and they will all remain in perfect sync.

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Master your Mac

iCloud Set up iCloud Keychain

Putting your passwords in can be a pain at the best of times – and

trying to remember some of them can be, too – but fortunately this all

a thing of the past now.

With the new iCloud Keychain feature, any log-in details or credit and debit cards

that you input while browsing the web are all stored safely in your account. No one

else can see or access your details but you, and you can use them across multiple

devices as long as you’ve set up iCloud Keychain.

Here we’re going to set up iCloud Keychain on a Mac and then enable it on

an iPad – both using the same Apple ID. Once that’s done, all the data stored in

iCloud Keychain can be used on each device.

So get all your passwords ready before we take you through the best way to

safely store your passwords so you never have to remember them ever again.

Stay safe online with iCloud KeychainSave passwords and credit card details to your iCloud account for convenient AutoFilling



4: Input the codeIf you request approval, grab your device. There will be some form of notification on your device. Type the code into your Mac.

5: Set up for iOSTo set up your device, go to its Settings app and choose iCloud. Tap Keychain. Toggle iCloud Keychain on, then enter your passwords again.

6: Tick to AutoFillFire up Safari and choose Preferences from the menubar. Click the AutoFill tab and tick all the things you want iCloud Keychain to remember for you.

1: Log in to iCloudOpen up System Preferences and select iCloud. Put in your Apple ID and then enable the data sync and Find My Mac options as required, then click Next.

2: Set a screen passwordScroll down the list to find Keychain and give it a tick. You’ll be asked to set up a password to unlock your screen, do this to continue.

3: Request approvalInput your Apple ID again. After that, you’ll need to approve iCloud Keychain. If you have an iPhone or iPad, click Request Approval, or else click Use Code.

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Stay safe online

8: Add a cardBack in AutoFill, click Edit beside Credit Cards and then Add in the bottom-left corner. Now enter in all the details of one of your cards.

7: Check your passwordsClick Edit by ‘User Names And Passwords’, or go to the Passwords tab to see those you saved. Tick the bottom-left option to save those you usually can’t.

9: Drop it in Had back to Safari and find something to buy. When you get to the credit/debt card fields, just click once and then select your saved card to add it.

iCloud Keychain isn’t just for saving passwords – you can also use it to generate strong alphanumeric passwords; the kind you wouldn’t normally remember. Simply find a website or service that you want to sign up to and start filling in the details as usual. When you get to the password field, you’ll notice a little pop-up with a suggested password. Click it

Auto-generate passwords

AutoFilledOnce you’ve saved your log-in details for a particular website to iCloud Keychain (you will be prompted to do so each time you log in to a site), they’ll be filled in automatically in future

ContactsIt’s worth giving your Contacts app some TLC after setting up iCloud Keychain, because you can also AutoFill your saved contacts. Fill in all those missing fields to improve the AutoFill function

PasswordsAll your log-in credentials are stored in this tab. Here, you can tick to Show Passwords and remind yourself of a forgotten password, or delete any of these passwords from iCloud Keychain altogether

Other formsThis is where any information that you’ve filled into forms that doesn’t fall under passwords, contacts or cards is kept – things like website URLs, which is handy to save typing them out again with an iPhone keyboard

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Master your Mac

Create green screen movies on a budgetUse Photo Booth’s User Backdrops to recreate one of Hollywood’s favourite effects

When you’re recording video footage for your own custom backdrops, you’ll want to ensure that your camera’s exposure, focus and white balance is locked. This will help to keep your footage consistent and avoid any holes appearing in your footage when Photo Booth removes the original background, and when you enter the frame to record your green screen scene.

Importing footage



When you’re working on your next big movie project, we’re pretty

sure the one thing missing will be the big-budget green screen shots

which have quickly become a staple of sci-fi , action and fantasy movies.

Fortunately, OS X provides a way for you to recreate this big-budget Hollywood eff ect

with a little help from Photo Booth’s Backdrops feature.

On the most basic level, Backdrops let you replace the background in your Photo

Booth with almost anything you want and snap photos or videos in real-time. By

default, these include locations such as in space, underwater, in front of the Eiff el Tower

or even on a roller-coaster, but the best part is you can add your own Backdrops, too.

Here’s how to do it…

Keep backBe sure to leave at least a couple of feet between yourself and Photo Booth, otherwise you may end up looking a little too big compared to your background and any sort of realism will be lost

Light it upEven the slightest shadow on your background can cause issues with your green screen footage, so use a couple of lamps to evenly light the space behind you. One either side of you should be sufficient

Clashing clothesTo stop parts of you disappearing into your background, ensure that you’re not wearing anything that matches the background colour, or that the background colour itself doesn’t match the colour of your skin

Plain and simplePick a plain colour as your background. Busy spaces with lots of furniture or patterned wallpapers won’t work well when Photo Booth tries to remove them and you’ll end up with gaps in your image

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Create green screen movies

Photo Booth Create custom green screen footage

1: Fire it upStart by launching your Photo Booth app, clicking on the Effects button and swiping through to the final set of effects. These should be marked User Backdrop 1-8.

2: Select your sourceFind the photo or video you want to use as your backdrop and drag it onto one of the empty grey frames. You can use still images, movie files or even GIFs if you wish.

3: Get out! Select your custom backdrop and then step out of the frame so you can’t be seen on camera. You’ll then need for Photo Booth to work its green screen magic.

4: Enter the frameOnce Photo Booth is ready, you’ll be prompted to re-enter the frame. Now is a good time to check if there are any issues with the background removal process.

5: Hit recordNow you’re ready, ensure you’ve selected the right recording mode (stills or movie are your choices here) on the left and then hit the red record button to start shooting.

6: Stop and saveWhen you’ve finished recording, hit the stop button and wait for your clip to save to the app’s gallery underneath. Click on it once to view it and watch it back.

7: Cut it upPhoto Booth gives you the option to cut down your video before you share it or save it elsewhere, ideal for cutting the part where you walk into the shot.

8: Share awayWith the clip you’ve recorded selected, click on the share icon towards the bottom-right of the preview window to send it to others via Messages, Mail or upload it online to Vimeo.

9: Drag it outTo use your shoestring-budget green screen clip elsewhere, simply drag it out from Photo Booth and onto your Mac’s Desktop to export it and add to your movie collection.

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Master Your Mac

If you ever want to find out more information about your purchases, such as the exact date of the purchase or the price you paid, open up iTunes and head to Store>View Accout. Scroll down the page and click See All, to the right of the Purchase History section. On the next screen, you’ll see all your recent purchases listed, along with their order information.

Purchase history

Hide Mac App Store purchasesWe show you how to hide and then retrieve your Mac App Store purchase history

With the Mac App Store, Apple has done much to revolutionise the

way users consume software. It all started, of course, with iTunes and

the app model popularised by the iPhone and iPad, introducing modular,

aff ordable download experiences. This convenience, however, can for some be

viewed as both a blessing and a curse, especially if you’ve dotted your Mac with

apps you might rather forget. However, it’s not just about ignoring app indiscretions

when it comes to hiding your purchase history.

The most likely scenario is that you would like to stop pesky update alerts and

omit certain apps from update downloads. You may also prefer to hide your history

for privacy reasons if using a shared Mac with a single iTunes account. Luckily, the

App Store enables this very simply, while crucially enabling you to reinstate them

in the future. Over the next six steps we will show you where to fi nd the purchase

history, remove apps and restore them.



Unhide buttonTo toggle the hidden status of any of the listed apps you must click the grey Unhide button for each. The item will then be ghosted out and returned to the Purchases list

All doneAs with any changes to details listed within the Account Information section, make sure you press the Done button to ensure the App Store saves your actions before logging out

Purchases tabBy clicking this icon you are presented with the master Purchases list for the account currently logged-in. This is the list where visible app purchases can be first rendered hidden

Banished listThe Account Information section holds a backup list of each app you have ever chosen to hide, whether purposefully or by accident. Like your Purchases list, everything is arranged in chronological order

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Hide App Store purchases

1: Log in to beginStart by opening the App Store. Make sure you are signed in, click the Sign In link on the right side, or via the File menu and Store>Sign In.

2: Purchase history Click the Purchases icon at the top or hit Cmd+4. Here you should find a chronological list of every app you have purchased, downloaded or installed.

5: The Manage link From Account Information, click the Manage link under the iTunes in the Cloud, Hidden Purchases section. You will be presented with a list of all hidden apps.

3: X marks the spotScroll through the list and identify those apps you wish to hide. Hover over the chosen app row and click the ‘x’ button that appears next to the Install button.

6: Unhide the hidden The Hidden Purchases section offers your list of hidden apps. This time each app row has a button to Unhide. Click this to restore apps. Click Done.

4: View My Account The app will vanish, enabling the item below to show up. To retrieve, go up and select Store>View My Account from the File menu and enter the log-in details.

App Store Hide Mac App Store purchases

54 The Mac Book

Master Your Mac

Explore your hidden Library folderGet to grips with OS X’s Library folder and find out just how useful it can be



With the release of OS X Lion in 2011, Apple took the decision to hide the

user’s Library folder. It’s likely it did this to stop people accidentally deleting

important fi les and folders from their Mac and potentially causing issues with

apps and other services. However, if you know what you’re doing, the Library can be an

incredibly useful tool, giving you access to useful system fi les and extra information.

That said, it is something that shouldn’t be used lightly – many of the fi les in the

Library folder are important to your Mac, and deleting or moving the wrong thing

can have repercussions. Here, we’ve taken you through a few useful aspects, but

remember to always be cautious and keep a backup of your Mac just in case something

untoward occurs.

System LibraryIf you open the System folder you’ll see that it also contains a Library folder. This is where you will find things like the system apps (including Dock and Software Update) as well as System Preferences panes

In the sidebarYou can add the hidden Library folder to your sidebar. Simply open it by holding Alt in the Go menu, then click and drag the icon next to the word Library in the toolbar before dropping it in the sidebar

User LibrarySettings that have been applied to your own user space will be stored in the User Library. It’s hidden by default but it can be viewed with ease, and contains preferences for things like your personal accounts

Root levelGo right to the root level of your hard drive and you’ll see the main Library, which contains settings that are applied to all the users on your Mac. The system fonts are stored here, too

If you want to be able to see the Library in your Home folder at all times, there is a relatively simple way to do so. Open Terminal and type in the following to make the Library appear in your folder at all times:chflags nohidden ~/LibraryTo remove it again, type:chflags hidden ~/Library

Gain permanent Library access

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Explore your hidden Library folder

Finder Master the Library folder

1: Find the FolderFirstly, you’ll need to open your User Library folder. To find it, click the Go menu and hold the Alt key – you’ll see a new section instantly appears called Library.

2: ApplicationsOne of the options near the top of the list is Application Support. This contains a list of all your applications, so delete unused ones to create more space.

3: Font managementYou can also manage your fonts from the Library. All user-added fonts are in the Fonts folder, so you can add or delete them easily without opening Font Book.

4: PreferencesIf you’re having issues with a problematic app, deleting the corresponding .plist file in the Preferences folder may help, but always check online before you do this.

5: Application supportThe apps that you have installed to your Mac will save your preferences here; you can often find game save data here, and sometimes editing files can help solve app issues.

6: iCloud documentsSelect the Mobile Documents folder to view all the files you’ve saved to your iCloud account. You can back them up to your Mac, but don’t move or delete them here.

Get more hi-res wallpapers

1: Find the imagesFirst up you’ll need to Choose Go>Go to Folder and type: /System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Default Collections/.

2: Copy and pasteCopy the folders, then open your Hard Drive folder and choose Library>Desktop Pictures. Paste the folders here – you’ll need to type your admin password to complete the action.

3: Add themNow open System Preferences and choose Desktop & Screensaver, then hit the ‘+’ button and navigate to the folder you have just added to access the images.

56 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

Do more with your PDFs in PreviewDiscover how to password protect, annotate and add signatures to your PDFs



If there’s one app on your Mac that can be described as an unsung hero,

it’s Preview. Far from being just a simple image and document viewer, this

unassuming app contains a toolkit of editing and annotation features that

make working with PDFs easy.

Whether you’re fi lling out a form and don’t want to print it off and scan it in, making

some changes to a design document or passing on an important fi nancial document,

Preview has you covered. Here we run through some of its best features. You may

already know some of them, but hopefully there’ll be a few new options that you’ll

end up fi nding incredibly useful. Before we go further, it’s worth knowing that the best

feature of Preview is the price. It’s free and installed on all new Macs.

Preview Learn new ways to work with PDF’s

1: Fill in formsPreview in OS X Mountain Lion and above will intelligently recognise any form fields in PDFs and enable you to work with them directly, saving you the pains of printing and scanning.

2: Click and typeTo fill in a text form, simply click on it and type away. You can bring up the Fonts menu and change how the text you’ve inputted looks, increasing the size if it’s too small, for example.

3: Signed, sealed, deliveredPreview also lets you add signatures to a PDF. To start this (relatively short) process, click on the Sig icon in Previews editing tools bar towards the top to show some options.

4: Click on SignatureClick on the Signature icon and choose to either add an existing signature or bring up the window to add a new one using your Mac’s built-in iSight or FaceTime HD camera.

5: Sign and snapFollow the instructions on-screen to add a new signature to Preview’s library – this involves signing a blank sheet of paper and snapping a photo of it with your Mac’s camera.

6: Drag it inOnce your signature has been digitised, you can drag it into any signature box at any size and resize or move it at any time – it really is a true time-saving feature.

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Do more with your PDFs

7: PDF almost anythingIf you find a document online you want to save as a PDF, head to File>Print and, in the dialog box that appears, click on the PDF button and hit Save as PDF to continue.

8: Password protectUnderneath the options to name your file, click on the Security Options button and, in the pop-up that appears, check the first option and enter your password twice.

9: Unlock the docWith your password-protected PDF saved, you’ll now have to enter the password you created earlier to view it every time you open up the file. It’s great for sharing sensitive data.

If you’re still itching to do more in Preview, don’t forget that it can be used as a basic but speedy image editor, too. As well as rotation, flipping and size adjustment options, the Adjust Color HUD can be used to apply iPhoto-like adjustments to images in a matter of seconds. Try it out when you next need to edit one of your images.

Editing images Thicker or thinnerThe lines, arrows and shapes you draw can also be made larger. To adjust these, simply select them, click on the line thickness icon in the Annotations toolbar and select a new option from the drop-down menu

Consider coloursWhen you’re working on annotating colourful documents, be careful to choose annotation and text colours that stand out and don’t blend into the background, otherwise your important feedback may be lost in translation!

Sizing upWhen you add text annotations, you’ll want to ensure these stand out against the original documents. Click on the A icon in the Annotations toolbar and use the Fonts window to resize your annotation text

Flag it upPreview’s annotation tools include a number of different shapes which you can use to highlight visual elements in documents that might require changes – just select them from the Annotations toolbar and drag them into place

58 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

Automator Back up automatically

1: Calendar AlarmOpen your Automator app and you’ll be prompted to select the kind of automation you want. For this action, select Calendar Alarm so you can set it to run regularly.

2: ContactsWe’ll be working exclusively in the Contacts selection of commands for this task, so choose it from the Library drop-down selection in the sidebar on the left.

3: Find ContactsDrag Find Contacts Items into the workflow, and ensure that the selection in the top drop-down box says people. Change the second menu option from All to Any.

4: Find your friendsYou need to add some terms that will select contacts from the list, so for email make sure the address contains an @ symbol. Every address will, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

5: All coveredTo ensure you get every contact possible, add another rule and set it to Any content. Input a zero into the box – anyone with a phone number will be backed up too.

6: Get ‘emYou’ll need to add another step to the workflow before you can add an export command. Drag Get Selected Contacts Items in and ensure people is selected.

Back up your Contacts with AutomatorUse Automator to back up your Contacts automatically to your Dropbox account



We often talk about how important it is to keep a backup of your

Contacts somewhere safe. If they’re only stored on your iPad, or are just

kept on your Mac you could lose a lot more than a piece of hardware if the

worst were ever to happen. Of course, iCloud can back up contacts, but if you don’t

have the cloud service set up on a certain device, want to back up just your work

contacts on an unconnected machine, or simply want peace of mind knowing the

details of your friends and family are secure, there is another option.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to back up your entire Contacts book, or just a

select few, to your Dropbox folder automatically. You can run the backup as often as

you like, and it all happens in the background.

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Back up your Contacts

7: ExportNext, drag the Export vCards option from the left-hand side of Automator and add it to your workflow. This will enable you to save the contacts to a specific folder.

8: Pick a cardEnsure that the option selected is one vCard; if individual vCards is selected here, you will get a huge number of cards in your folder, which will confuse things.

9: DropboxClick the drop-down menu to the right and select Other from the bottom of the list. Navigate to your Dropbox folder and choose it as your export location.

As this Automator script doesn’t include any rules for deleting older backups, the Dropbox folder will need to be emptied manually of old vCards. Alternatively, you can choose to put rules at the start of the workflow to find all the vCard files in your Dropbox and move them to the Trash before exporting a new card – an automatic cleanup!

Automatic clearout Change the dateWhen you save the Automator script, the action will automatically appear on the current day in your Calendar. You can change the date to a more convenient one by hitting Edit and choosing a time your Mac will be on

Save as an appIf you want to export the Automator script to send it to friends and family members, click File and choose Convert To then select Application from the window that appears and save it normally

Set up a repeating alertUse the Repeat section to schedule the backup to happen more than once. You can schedule backups more regularly depending on how often you add new contact information to your Contacts app

Create a folderIf you want to keep your Dropbox folder neat and tidy, why not create a folder inside it labelled Contact Backups and set this as the folder that the Automator script saves to?

60 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

If you’re using the iTunes-to-Apple TV AirPlay service, you can control your iTunes library directly from your iPhone or iPod. Visit the App Store on your iOS device and download Apple’s Remote app. You’ll need to configure iTunes to accept the remote by choosing iTunes>Preferences before you can select what to play from your library.

Remote control

Stream from your Mac to Apple TVAirPlay is the brilliant feature that enables you to play iTunes content on your Apple TV

AirPlay is the Apple technology uses to wirelessly transfer media

content between diff erent devices in your home. The idea is that rather

than having to physically wire up your laptop to your TV, or connect

speakers in the living room to your iMac in the study, AirPlay provides a way to play

that content over the air. Of course, one of the best places to consume your content

is in the living room, on your large-screen TV using Apple TV.

There are two types of AirPlay available on Apple TV. The fi rst is the original

AirPlay system, which enables you to stream your music, photos and video directly

from iTunes. The second, which requires a recent Mac, enables you to use your TV as

a screen for your Mac, mirroring your desktop so that you can eff ectively project the

contents of your desktop screen onto your big-screen TV. In this tutorial we’ll look

at how to set up both of these options so you can fi nally make full use of that tiny

Apple TV box.



Multiple devicesAirPlay is smart enough to enable you to stream to multiple devices simultaneously. While this isn’t normally the way you’d stream to Apple TV, it’s really useful if you have speakers all over your house, as you can output music to different rooms on demand

Share from iTunesiTunes lets you choose one or more different outlets for the content that’s currently playing. Click on the AirPlay icon within the iTunes window and choose the device(s) you’d like to stream to from the pop-up menu

Share your desktopRecent Mac desktops and laptops also support desktop mirroring over AirPlay. Simply choose the AirPlay mirroring option from the system’s menubar. This will only appear when an AirPlay-capable device is available

System settingsThe Display Preferences menu option enables you to control the size and resolution of the mirrored display, ensuring you get the best results either for your Mac, your Apple TV or a hybrid that best works for a specific application

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Stream from your Mac to Apple TV

1: Set up Apple TVBefore you can start using AirPlay on your Apple TV, you need to enable it. Open the System menu on Apple TV and choose AirPlay. Ensure AirPlay is switched on.

2: AirPlay contentYou can play any content from iTunes on a AirPlay device by selecting AirPlay from iTunes. You’ll only be able to share video content to video-capable devices.

5: Screen settingsSelect AirPlay Mirroring from the System menu. Enable mirroring, to access a special preference setting. Choose Display Preferences from the pop-up menu.

3: Select the device Once you’ve lined up your content, select Apple TV from the pop-up menu in iTunes. Your Apple TV will switch over to displaying your content.

6: Set the resolutionHere you can change how your Mac’s screen is shown on your Mac, and on Apple TV. In most cases, simply choosing the Best for AirPlay option will suffice.

4: Mirror your desktopIf you’ve got a recent Mac you can also share your desktop. This is great for displaying content in apps that don’t natively support AirPlay.

AirPlay Enable AirPlay mirroring and streaming

62 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

62 The Mac Book

Optimise your Mac backups Encrypt and schedule multi-disk OS X backups with these advanced Time Machine tips

When it comes to a wireless configuration for Time Machine, Mac users would probably favour the kind of seamless experience only Apple can deliver. The all-new AirPort Time Capsule offers just this with 2-3TB of storage built in to a sleek 802.11ac Wi-Fi base station. Add to this a one-click setup for automated backups and you have the perfect Time Machine companion.

The ultimate backup companion

Despite constant encouragement these days to push our valuable data

into ‘the cloud’, there is still a genuine need for offl ine backups. Apple

continues to support this with OS X’s brilliant Time Machine facility, making

fi le backup and retrieval as intuitive as it gets. The software allows you to make up your

fi les onto an external hard disk as well as run a number of other commands to back-up

your data.

Within Mavericks, Mac users can still enjoy encryption and backup disk rotation

options, but also improved notifi cation support. Time Machine gives you a host of

preferences and methods of benefi t to those who want to streamline performance

and optimise storage.

In this guide we will highlight issues such as selective backups and scheduling. To

make the most of it, you will require a basic awareness of Time Machine and, of course,

access to an external storage drive.

Disk selectionThe Select Disk button is crucially where you choose which of your connected drives will be used for the backup procedure. With multiple drives available, you can select more than one to rotate backups between them

Data snapshotsWhen enabled, Time Machine makes an initial system backup before periodically taking snapshots of changed files and folders. At any time, you can switch to the browser and cycle back to restore old files

Desktop drivesA good tip when working with Time Machine is to first ensure your connected storage drives are visible on the desktop. From the Finder File menu, select Finder>Preferences or use the Cmd+, shortcut and tick the External disks checkbox

Open preferencesAccess Time Machine Preferences via the desktop menu bar icon if enabled, or via the application icon on the Dock. You can also reach it by opening the System Preferences menu and choosing the Time Machine tab



The Mac Book 63

Optimise your Mac backups

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7: App optionsTime Machine functions best on the hourly schedule, but there are apps available such as that automate the previous step with Time Machine off.

8: Excluding itemsFrom Preferences, click Options. Here you will get a prompt listing currently selected items to exclude from backups. Click the ‘+’ and ‘-’ to add or remove items.

9: Making exceptionsTime Machine does omit certain work files, caches and logs by default, be sure to only exclude those you are sure are superfluous for reducing backup sizes.

4: Additional disks With other drives available, you may rotate backups to multiple drives. Highlight the desired drive and click ‘Use Disk’. You can choose to set up a Time Capsule.

5: Rotating backupsTime Machine will then ask you whether you wish to replace the current drive or add to it. Clicking ‘Use Both’, will automatically rotate your backups.

6: Scheduling backupsBackups run every hour and there are no built-in options to change this. You can run them manually by turning Time Machine on and picking ‘Back Up Now’.

1: Time Machine Preferences The Preferences panel provides access to options for turning Time Machine on, selecting backup disks, encryption and making exemptions. Click Select Disk.

2: Select disksHere we see the currently selected Backup Disk, in this case My Book, additional Available Disks listed. Highlight the drive for TM to use. Click ‘Use Disk’.

3: Encrypt backups Now you will be able to encrypt the disk. You will be able to enter a password that will be required to restore files. Enter the desired text and click ‘Encrypt Disk’.

Time Machine Better Time Machine backups

64 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

When it comes to backing up your Mac, OS X’s own Time Machine feature is the perfect starting point.

By hooking up a drive or connecting your Mac to a Time Capsule, you can use Time Machine to create incremental backups of your Mac ready to restore at a moment’s notice. Where Time Machine fails, though, is if your whole hard drive was to be corrupted. Time Machine doesn’t back up your entire drive, so you’d need to install a fresh copy of OS X Mountain Lion onto a new drive before you could restore. Fortunately, there’s a solution in the form of Disk Utility’s Restore option.

This little-known feature lets you create a full clone of your hard drive, including the files that make OS X itself run, so restoring your Mac in the event of a hard drive failure is far quicker. We’d recommend you do this every six months and any time before you perform a major upgrade to the next version of OS X.

Clone your hard drive using Disk Utility

1: Find the featureFire up Disk Utility (you’ll find it in the Utilities folder in Applications). Select your Mac’s main hard drive and then click the Restore tab.

Create the ultimate backup of your Mac with a little help from Disk Utility’s Restore feature

2: Select your sourceFrom the drives listed in the left sidebar, drag the drive you want to clone (usually named Macintosh HD) into the Source field on the right.

Disk Utility Back up automatically



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Clone your hard drive

3: Final destinationRepeat the process in step 2, this time dragging the drive you want to clone your hard drive to into the Destination field underneath.

4: Restore and goWhen you’re ready, hit the Restore button at the bottom to start the cloning process. This could take some time for a large source drive.

If you’re feeling particularly technically proficient and your Mac supports the easy replacement of 2.5-inch SATA hard drives, then there’s no reason why you can’t buy one of those and pop it into a USB enclosure to use as your clone drive. That way, swapping your failed hard drive for your cloned drive will take a matter of minutes.

Choosing a hard drive

Sizing upWhen you’re selecting a drive to clone your Macintosh HD to, make sure its capacity is equal to or greater than your source drive in order to ensure that everything can be copied across

Can’t restore?If you’re having issues restoring, check your destination drive is not the drive your Mac is currently booted from – if you need to restore to this drive, you’ll need to run Disk Utility from your Mac’s Recovery HD

Disk ImagesAs well as being able to restore from drives you’ve previously cloned, you can also select a Disk Image that you’ve made in Disk Utility as the source. Just click on the Image button

Swap the sourceTo restore your Mac from the cloned drive you made, simply swap the destination drive to the Source field. You’ll then leave the Destination field free to add in your new, blank hard drive

66 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

There are a few Mac apps that often get

overlooked by users; some, like Automator

or Image Capture may never be opened in a

Mac’s entire lifespan. However, it’s important

to remember that every application on your

machine is there for a reason, and each can be

extremely useful in its own special way.

The same can be said for Preview. Some

users may only ever open Preview because it’s

the default app for viewing photos and PDFs,

and when they do it might simply be to see

the shot or document before quickly closing

it again. To us, this is a huge shame. Preview

might well be good for viewing various fi le

types, but it’s also a surprisingly powerful app

with hidden features that many OS X users

simply don’t know exist.

With that precise thought in mind, we’ve

put together this feature tutorial. We’ve packed

it to the brim with easy-to-follow guides for

you to try in Preview, along with some useful

tips and techniques that will help you unlock

the true power of the little app. It can do a lot

more than you might think, and if you explore

some of the options on off er you might just

fi nd yourself turning to it instead of iPhoto or

another photo editing app when it comes to

making simple adjustments to your shots.

So dive in – we can almost guarantee that

you’ll fi nd something in here that you didn’t

know before. And next time you open

Preview, consider that it might be the only app

that you need.

Master Preview’s editing toolsUse the secret powers of Preview for great-looking images and documents

Top keyboard shortcutsShortcut 1

+ 0View image actual size

Shortcut 2

+ *Zoom to selection

Shortcut 3

+ IShow the Inspector

Shortcut 4

+ R/LRotate right or left

Shortcut 5

+ KCrop to selection



The Mac Book 67


Have you ever opened an image in Preview, and then dragged it

into iPhoto to change the balance of colours? You didn’t need to!

Preview includes its own suite of colour correction options, enabling you

to tweak everything you need to optimise your photo’s light and vibrancy. You can

also use these controls to create impressive eff ects, like Sepia and Black & White, in just a

few seconds.

Best of all, Preview supports Versions, a feature of OS X Mavericks that lets you travel

back through your previous saves of a document. If you make a change to the original

photo and then want to return to it after saving, you can restore the original back to its

former glory. Next time you come to touch up a photo, give Preview a try – it might

just surprise you. Over the next few pages we shall take you through some of Preview’s

best features.



Touch up photos with minimal fussUse Preview’s powerful editing tools to quickly improve your shots

Preview Touch up photos in Preview

4: Crop and resizeSelect an object with a box or shape and you can crop it through the Cmd+K shortcut. There is also an Adjust Size option, to save you some disk space.

5: Rotate or flipIf your photo orientation is wrong, or if your iPhone has flipped the shot by mistake, you can undo the effects using the options in the Tools menu.

6: View contact sheetIf you’re editing several photos at once, click the View Menu button and choose Contact Sheet. You’ll then be able to see which photo you want to edit.

1: Editing toolsIt’s a good idea to activate the Edit toolbar. You can do this in Preview’s View menu as shown, but it’s easier to click the button next to the Search bar.

2: Colour adjustmentsHit the prism icon and the Adjust Color window appear on your screen. Use the sliders to get the optimum lighting from your shot.

3: EffectsThis is an easy way to create quick, great-looking effects. If drag the Saturation slider all the way to the left to create a striking black and white image.

68 The Mac Book

Master your Mac

Preview has also been integrated with iCloud in Mountain Lion. If you sign into iCloud on multiple machines and start saving your files to the cloud, you’ll be able to download, view and edit them on other Macs quickly and easily. It’s well worth using if you’re working across a laptop and desktop, for example.

iCloud

ScreenshotsYou remember how you can capture a screenshot quickly with Cmd+Shift+3? Sadly, that doesn’t capture the mouse pointer. To capture it, use Preview’s Take Screen Shot option

Text boxesYou can easily annotate images or simply add text to a shot by clicking on the Text button in the Edit toolbar. Fonts and colours are completely customisable, too, so there’s plenty of control to explore

The MagnifierYou can tap the ` key in the bottom left of your keyboard (next to Z) at any time to activate the magnifier. It follows your cursor around, showing an enlarged view of the photo – you can zoom in and out with + and -

ShapesBasic shapes can also be added to images and documents in Preview – this is useful for circling certain things or simply adding a shape onto a photo or other image

1: Crop your shotFind a shot you like. Use the Square selection tool to select a square area for optimum icon visibility and then hit Cmd+K to crop it to that shape.

2: Remove backgroundNow, select the Instant Alpha tool. Click and slowly drag away from the point you clicked. When you’ve selected the area you want to remove, hit Backspace.

Create custom icons from imagesOne thing we do love doing with Preview is using the app to create our own icons. Whether we’re using a series of images found online to create a small icon for a game or film, or doing something more simple like taking a photo and using the face as an icon to illustrate who the folder belongs to, Preview has you covered with a selection of options that make the process a breeze. We’ve detailed how you can design bespoke icons in five simple steps here. Once you know the process though you can use it in many different ways.

The Mac Book 69


3: Add BookmarksYou can bookmark any image or page by choosing the option from the menu bar. Returning to it is simple, too.

4: Open groups of files togetherIn the Preview Preferences panel, you can specify how you want files to open. The option that is most logical is opening groups of files in a single window.

1: Play a slideshowPreview features a built-in Slideshow option that enables you to show photos or PDFs in full-screen. It’s perfect for those impromptu presentations.

2: Use KeywordsWhen viewing a file, hit the Cmd+I shortcut and click the Keyword tab, second from the left. You can add keywords that can be searched for in Spotlight.

Four things you didn’t know Preview could doPreview goes deeper than you think – as we show here…

4: Manual cloningPreview has no Clone tool, but you can select an area you want to clone, hit Cmd+V to paste it, then drag it to the point you need to cover.

5: Save and applyWhen saving, make sure the file format is PNG. Then, select the whole creation, copy it and apply it to the folder in the Get Info panel.

3: Remove leftoversUse the Lasso Selection tool to select any areas that weren’t captured by the Instant Alpha; erase them. You can move these selections around.

1: Crop multiple pagesUse a drawing tool to select an area, then select multiple pages in the sidebar before hitting Cmd+K to resize them all.

2: Rotate images fastSimply select the number of photos you want to rotate and hit either Cmd+R or Cmd+L to rotate them in the given direction.

3: Resize groups of photosYou can also use the Adjust Size tool to resize a number of images to a uniform width – each image will scale accordingly.

Batch change

70 The Mac Book

These apps make up the iLife suite, and they are staples that no creative Mac user should be without

iLife

80

108

72

Make with Mac

86

Organise your photos with Faces

96 118

Import and organise your videos Learn guitar with a Tutor Fix vocal tracks using Flex Time

The Mac Book 71

100 Stack clips with iMovie’s

multi-track tool

Use layering for cool videos

102 Improve audio with markers

Make precise audio adjustments

104 Improve your archive footage

Colour match your old footage

106 Make a Hollywood-style Trailer

Create a great teaser trailer

108 Create a TV-style title sequence

Make a great opening sequence

GarageBand110 Edit individual notes using Piano Roll

Get to grips with the updated editor

112 Learn guitar with a GarageBand tutor

Make the most of the free tutorials

114 Play your electric guitar

Plug in your electric instruments

115 Create custom amps

Personalise your sound with custom apps

116 Add pro beats with a virtual Drummer

Create your own virtual beats

118 Fix vocal tracks using Flex Time

Correct sloppy timing on your tracks

120 Reverse echo and reverb eff ects

Add a distinctive eff ect to your track

122 Top ten GarageBand loops

Our favourite GarageBand loops

72 Make with Mac

Get creative with the iLife apps

iPhoto80 Get perfect portraits

Quick photo editing tips

82 Organise your photos using Faces

Tag your friends on your Mac

84 Streamline your iPhoto library

Make your library easy to work with

86 Share your Photo Streams

with friends

Use iPhoto’s sharing scheme

88 Add location data to your photos

Make your photos easier to search

90 Import and edit RAW fi les

Organise and edit in RAW format

92 Make a last-minute gift

Create a beautiful photo book

iMovie94 View and share videos in

iMovie Theatre

Share your videos with friends instantly

96 Import and organise your

home videos

Organise with events and tags

98 Master iMovie’s editing timeline

Get more from the timeline

112

72 The Mac Book

iLife

With the latest release of Apple’s creative apps,

collectively known as the iLife suite, the California

company not only added more features, it also made

the apps free to anyone buying a new Mac. The apps

have come a long way since their launches between

2000 and 2004, taking advantage of the ever-increasing

power of new Macs and the selection of new tools

available in the areas of photo, movie and music editing.

Now they’re better than ever, and because they’re so

adaptable there are all kinds of things you can do with

them. Whether you want to use your photos as part of a

calendar, a slideshow or a greetings card, you do it with

iPhoto. iMovie enables you to edit your clips together

into a stunning movie with opening titles, smooth

transitions and all the editing and slow-motion eff ects

you can think of. And when it comes to creating an audio

track, learning a new instrument, mixing together sounds

or using built-in loops to add some extra kick to your

music, you’ll fi nd everything you need in GarageBand.

The apps can be purchased from the Mac App Store if

you haven’t recently bought a new Mac, so you can pick

and choose the ones you want, but if you have them all

then the next few pages are sure to interest you. Read

on to fi nd out how to create and share a stunning Photo

Book fi lled with your best shots, how to shoot, edit and

share your fi rst iMovie creation, and how to mix your

fi rst track in GarageBand using built-in loops and

Software Instruments.

Take advantage of your Mac’s powerful editing apps and create some fantastic finished products

“They not only added more features, but made the apps free to anyone

buying a Mac”

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Make with Mac

Make with Mac

ZoomYou can zoom with the slider in the bottom-left of the screen. When zoomed in, this small window will show your position on the image, and you can drag it around to move

NavigationThe left-hand side of the interface is dedicated to navigation. You can quickly switch between your entire library, albums, projects and slideshows, as well as access your shared albums through iCloud

InformationClicking the Info button in the bottom-right will bring in the Information drawer, which shows data about the camera on which the photo was taken, any tags you’ve added and location data if it is available

Create and shareWhen you’ve finished editing your photos you can use the Share menu in the bottom-right to send photos to friends, order photo-based products or print out your snaps

1: Quick FixesYou can quickly rotate, crop and straighten your shots, as well as fix red-eye, quickly enhancing the colours and retouch blemishes.

2: EffectsUse the tools at the top to touch up with different colours, then add specific effects like Black & White or blurred edges to give your photo a unique finish.

3: AdjustTo get more from a photo, head to the Adjust panel. Here is a histogram to show the more prominent colours, and sliders to adjust specific shot characteristics.

iPhoto’s editing

toolsLearn the

tools of the Edit menu’s

three tabs

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iPhoto Create and order a stunning Photo Book with your favourite snaps in iPhoto

7: Layouts and coloursWhen you’re zoomed in, click the page itself and choose the Layout option from the toolbar. Here, you can pick different layouts and colours with a click.

8: Edit the textSome pages will have default text included. Don’t forget to replace this with your own before you finish, as well as any text on pages throughout.

9: Order itWhen you’re finished, hit the Buy Book button at the bottom of the iPhoto window and use your Apple ID and password to pay for the beautiful finished product.

4: Move pagesYour photos are laid out automatically, in taken order. You can click and hold on any page to drag it around and move it, for a less chronological progression.

5: Perfect image placementDouble-click a page to take control of the individual photos. Drag them into other frames, if required, or use the zoom slider to position the shot more neatly.

6: Add more pagesIf you want to add more photos to your event, click the Photos option and use the drop-down menu at the top. Click New Page, drop images onto the new space.

1: Select your shotsFirst, select the shots you want to include in your Photo Book from your library. To select more than one, hold down Cmd and click on the ones you want to pick.

2: Booked upClick the Share button in the bottom-right of the screen and select Book from the menu that appears to get started with your Photo Book.

3: Pick a designYou’ll have a number of options for your Photo Book’s design. Pick a basic design from the top of the screen, then select a size and colour that suits your needs.

iPhoto Make and order a beautiful Photo Book

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Import your video

1: From your devicePlug in your iOS device or insert an SD card and iMovie will automatically open the Import window so you can add your selected clips.

2: Via iCloudShare your videos from your iOS device via iCloud Photo Stream and they will appear in your iPhoto library, accessible in iMovie.

Shoot ‘B-roll’ footageB-roll is footage you can drop in to flesh out your video. Plan ahead, and shoot scenery and static objects that can be dropped in between other scenes to mix things up

LightingAlways think about how your lighting looks. When shooting outside, consider the position of the sun or any other lights. Take a test video to see how the light looks before capturing your final shot

Keep it shortShooting long clips just means you’ll have to cut them down later to pick out the best bits. Shoot a lot of shorter clips, then delete the ones you don’t need and keep the best shots

Take twoAlways record your footage at least twice. Things like a finger over the lens or people in the background are things you may only spot when you go back to your Mac

Multiple anglesIf you have two cameras or iOS devices, set them both up to record the scene you’re recording. It’s often useful to have the same footage from different angles – it will make cuts in your final movie feel more natural

Use a tripodKeeping the camera steady is vitally important for good-looking video. If you don’t have a proper tripod, try resting your hands or device on a solid surface, or at worst, sit down and rest your arms on your knees

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iMovie Shoot, edit and share an amazing hand-made video in iMovie with effects, transitions and more

4: Explore titlesGo to the Titles section to get an awesome opening to your video. Drag a title frame to the start of your video and edit the text to add an introductory animation.

5: Add musicClick either iTunes, Sound Effects or GarageBand in the bottom-left. Choose some music that fits your movie and drag it to the bottom of the Timeline to add it.

6: Optional photosYou can also add photos. Drag and drop them in, then click Adjust to change how they behave. You can set up slow zooms, or have them fill the screen.

1: Select clipsClick Create from the menu and choose Movie. Pick a theme, then give your new project a name and pick the event containing the clips you want.

2: Move to TimelineWhen you find a clip you want to add, double-click to select the whole thing, or click and drag to select a portion, then drag it into the Timeline below.

3: Add transitionsChoose Transitions from the bottom-left and you’ll see a number of options available. Remember, though, that the simplest ones often produce the best results.

iMovie Edit your first project

Sharing your video

Add to TheaterWhen your movie is finished, click the Share button and you can add it to your iMovie Theater. This adds your finished video to iCloud, so you can view it on other devices.

Share onlineiMovie includes upload options to services like Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo. You’ll need to log in to your account, but once you’ve done that your video can be uploaded instantly.

Save and sendAlternatively, you can export your video as a file to send to friends via other means. Save it as a File then add it to your Dropbox account to quickly send it to friends.

The best ways to show off your new project

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GarageBand Create and mix your first track

1: New ProjectWhen you first open GarageBand, you’ll be prompted to open or create a project. For your first track, choose the Empty Project option to give yourself complete flexibility.

2: Software InstrumentYou’ll be immediately asked to add your first track. Choose Software Instrument as your first option, which will let you tap out some notes on your keyboard.

GarageBand is great for music creation, even if you

don’t have a full band to record. Whether you want to

record yourself playing and add a backing track, or just

want to create a song from scratch, the app features a

range of built-in audio loops that can be mixed together

to form any kind of track you like. With a large number

included for free, and more options available via a

one-off purchase in the app, there are plenty of options

for creating your perfect sound. And, with the new

Drummer off ering a quick and fun beat, you’ll have an

amazing track in no time.

Software InstrumentsIf you want to play music live but don’t have an instrument to use, you can activate GarageBand’s built-in Software Instruments to play a track live with just your keyboard or mouse

LibraryOpen the Library on the left of the window and you’ll have access to a range of different instruments that can be used to change the sound of tracks

TimelineThe Timeline is where it all comes together. Recordings and loops can be dropped in here, and you can then edit individual tracks with a double-click, and control their settings on the left

LoopsClick the Apple Loops button in the top toolbar and you can select from a large number of built-in loops that can be dropped into your track wherever you want

DrummerIf you need to add a drum beat to your track, you can get realistic sounding beats using Drummer. It offers different drummers with unique styles and kits, all of which can be customised to suit

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GarageBandUse GarageBand’s built-in loops and instruments to create a brilliant track from scratch

“There are plenty of options for creating your

perfect sound”

9: PitchingIn this panel, click Region and you can use the Transpose slider to change the key of the loop. If your chosen loop doesn’t immediately sound right, play around here.

10: DuplicateIf you want to duplicate a loop so that it repeats in your track, hold down the Alt key on your keyboard, then click and drag the loop across to the right. A copy will be made.

11: DrummerFinally, add a beat to your track with Drummer. Click the ‘+’ button and choose a new Drummer track, then play with the options to create a personalised drum track.

6: Loops libraryClick the Loops library button in the top-right of the window to open it up. Here you’ll find pre-recorded snippets of audio using all kinds of instruments for you to use.

7: Find what you wantClick the genres and sounds to narrow down the selection in the list below, and use the drop-down box to select your key. To preview loops, simply click them in the list below.

8: Drag and dropWhen you find a loop you like, drag and drop it into your Timeline. To view the loop more closely, double-click it to open up the Editors panel at the bottom of the window.

3: Choose a soundBefore you start, use the Library drawer on the left to try out different sounds. Pick one, then play a few notes with your Mac’s keyboard to see if it’s right for your track.

4: Play it loudTo start recording, click the red button in the top toolbar, or simply hit the R key on your keyboard. Then, start playing the on-screen instrument to start recording your track.

5: Track controlsYou can use the controls on the left-hand side of the Timeline to control specifics of each track. Edit each track’s volume with the slider, listen to only one track, or mute it entirely.

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Get perfect portraitsYou’ll be amazed at how easy it is to use iPhoto’s powerful retouching tools and effects

iPhoto makes everything about your photos easier and much more fun. As

well as automatically sorting them all out for you into Events, Faces and Places,

iPhoto gives you some smart tools to help you improve your photos, which are

simple to get to grips with but surprisingly eff ective.

From a quick one-click Enhance button to set a good baseline for editing your image,

right through to sliders that enable you to control very specifi c areas of your image in

great detail, in order to fi ne-tune the look you are trying to achieve, iPhoto has it all. So

dig out all those holiday photos and get ready to give your friends and family the star

treatment – it’s the perfect step to take before sharing them online or bringing them

into another iPhoto project!



To save time when editing lots of photos at once, you can copy all of the adjustments you’ve made and paste them straight onto another image with Cmd+Alt+C/V. If you also want to keep the original versions too, either hit File>Export and save as JPG before you make your edits, or export afterwards and then hit Revert to Original to roll back.

Duplicates and adjustments

RevertiPhoto saves your image automatically at each step, but you can roll back to the unedited version at any time by clicking this button. Be warned – you can’t undo it!

De-noiseThis is a great tool to use with photos containing any grain or noise, such as old family photos you’ve scanned in or those that you’ve taken with a slightly dusty camera lens

Skin tonesiPhoto will protect skin tones from unrealistic manipulations by default, but if you’re going for a more artistic edit then you’ll want to uncheck this box so that skin can be affected too

HistogramUsually the preserve of Photoshop, the Histogram is both powerful and fun to play with, though difficult to master. Often, the best adjustments involve bringing the end sliders in slightly

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Get perfect portraits

7: Add some definitionTo combat the smoothing that’s been introduced by the colour manipulation, increase the Definition slider a little too. Be sparing with it, as it’s quite powerful.

8: Play with coloursDepending on the look you’re going for, move the Temperature and Tint sliders to taste. Try sliding them in the different directions, to compare the effects.

9: Use the eyedropperWith Tint, you can also click the eyedropper tool to the left of the slider to bring up a crosshair. Just click on a neutral grey or white point to remove any colour casts.

4: Improve the coloursNow switch to the Effects panel and click circles at the top to make your portrait lighter, darker, warmer or cooler, and to increase contrast or colour saturation.

5: Add some effectsBelow the circles you’ll see some squares – each is a different effect that you can apply. Here we’ve applied Edge Blur five times to enhance the lights.

6: Bring colour to shadowsNow head to the Adjust panel. Colours in the shadows are a little dark, so drag the Shadows slider up to boost them. You want to restore colour but preserve realism.

1: Enhance to startOpen a photo from your Events library click Edit in the bottom-right. Select the Quick Fixes tab in the right-hand panel and click Enhance for an automatic boost.

2: Straighten it upUse Straighten to either straighten up a tilted image or add a jaunty angle to a vertical one. Tilting will crop the photo, to ensure there are no blank spaces left over.

3: Smooth the skinTo remove blemishes, marks, moles and the like, click Retouch. Use the slider to change the cursor size, then click once to apply.

iPhoto Retouch photos the easy way

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Organise your photos using FacesFind photos of friends fast with the Faces tool in iPhoto

iPhoto has some great editing tools, but what it really excels at is

organisation. Whether you want location data, keyword tags or photo

metadata, iPhoto pulls all the information together and puts it in a package

that’s easy to use and quick to search. However, iPhoto also includes some great facial

recognition technology, which picks out people in your photos and lets you tag faces

with specifi c names. These names are saved, and as you tag more and more photos

with the same face, iPhoto will start to ‘learn’ what that person looks like, and begin

to suggest other photos that may contain them. All of this information is gathered

together in the Faces tab, so when you want to see all the shots with ease.



The more photos that you tag with a face, the more iPhoto will ‘learn’ that particular person’s face. It will start suggesting other shots that it thinks the person features in, and as you confirm or reject its guesses, it will learn even more. Effectively, the more you use Faces, the better it gets at recommending good matches.

Learning Unconfirmed matchesThe number of possible face matches will appear in the sidebar. iPhoto selects them by scanning tagged faces and finding matches elsewhere. This enables you to quickly confirm or reject the images

Add emailFor each face, you’ll have a display name, but you can also add a full name and an email address. When synced with Facebook, adding your friend’s Facebook email will automatically link the two together

SearchOnce you’ve tagged a photo with a particular name, you can quickly find them using the search bar, or find two people by writing both their names in the bar at once

Key PhotosScroll your mouse over a person’s Faces album and you’ll see all the shots. Hit Spacebar to select a Key Photo; iPhoto will use this as the main basis for learning the person’s face, so choose a good shot

“iPhoto also includes some greatfacial recognition technology”

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Organise your photos using Faces

7: Type and selectA number of suggestions will appear as soon as you start typing a name. Select from the options on offer to quickly tag lots of shots and save typing.

8: Add FacebookIf you log in to Facebook, your friend’s details will be added to the library, so when you start typing, their information will appear in the list of options.

9: Contact taggingTagging your Facebook contacts also tags them in the photos when you decide to upload your shots. This means you don’t have to mess around with tags later.

4: Add a faceSometimes faces won’t be detected in the shot. You can add another tag manually by selecting ‘Add a face’ from the Info tab, then clicking to add the tag box.

5: Get recommendationsOnce you’ve tagged a few people, open the Faces tab and select a person. iPhoto will scan other shots and suggest images that it thinks that person is also in.

6: View and edit facesIf you made a mistake when you first typed in a person’s name, you can edit it here. To remove a face, flick through tagged photos and remove all the tags.

1: First-time taggingWhen tagging for the first time, open the Faces tab in the top-right; you’ll see four photos shown, allowing you to tag your friends or cancel unwanted photos.

2: Info tabYou can view the faces that are currently tagged in a photo by opening up the Info tab – all the faces are listed by name here.

3: Tag facesTo tag a face that has already been detected in a photo, open the Info tab and hover over the image to display the tag square. Click it to start tagging.

iPhoto Tag and group photos with Faces

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Streamline your iPhoto libraryGet to grips with iPhoto’s built-in tools to ensure your unwieldy library is easy to work with

iPhoto still doesn’t include any tools to help you find and delete duplicate images, so you’ll need to rely on a third-party option to do this. PhotoSweeper (£6.99/$9.99), available from the Mac App Store, is a particularly good option for this and includes some powerful tools to help weed out those unwanted images at speed.

Deleting duplicates

iPhoto is the cornerstone of everything you do with photos on your

Mac, right out of the box. From organisation to editing, to printing and

creating gifts – there’s very little that iPhoto can’t off er. With use, though,

iPhoto will undoubtedly become bloated, especially when you’re adding in images

from every iOS device you own, your built-in iSight camera and your DSLR or

compact companion.

Fortunately, iPhoto has plenty of ways to help you streamline your library, they’re

just not always obvious. With a little help, you’ll be able to merge events, create Smart

Albums for photos that require editing and ensure that your deleted images don’t

overload your Mac. Before you get started, do a full backup of your library so any

accidents can be recovered.

The following tutorial will take you through the best way to streamline your iPhoto

library and make your photo folders all neat and tidy.

In the sidebarExisting Smart Albums, as well as any new ones that you create, will appear in the sidebar under the Albums heading. They’ll update automatically based on the rules that you create for them Selection criteria

Select the different elements for your Smart Album rule using the drop-down menus and options that appear to choose which photos from your library will appear in your album as it updates over time

Give it a nameIf you’re going to use Smart Albums to make your iPhoto library easier to navigate, it’s essential that you give them a name that’s easy to work with and remember at a later date

Start from scratchTo start a new Smart Album, head over to File>New Smart Album or use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+Alt+N to bring up the Smart Album creation dialog within iPhoto



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7: Hide the dudsIf you’ve got a photo you’re not fond of, but don’t want to lose from your library altogether, you can always right-click on it and hit the Hide icon to do just that.

8: View the dudsIf you need to revisit any of the images you’ve hidden from your iPhoto library, head to the View menu and click Hidden Photos or tap Cmd+Shift+H.

9: Take out the trashiPhoto has its own Trash facility, so you’ll need to empty that after a session of cleaning up your iPhoto library. This clears them for good from your hard drive.

4: Find the keyWhen you merge events, you might one to change the key photo. To change this, scrub through the images and hit the Spacebar to set the correct one.

5: Flag for editingiPhoto’s Flag function may feel a little redundant until you give it a solid purpose beyond flagging up images. The best use is to mark images that need editing.

6: Star ratingsStar ratings are a great way to sort the good, the bad and the ugly images from each other. Combined with Smart Album, they’re perfect organisers.

1: Arrange the eventsEvents group photos by the time and place, so it makes sense to arrange them in chronological order. To do this, head to View>Sort Events and click By Date.

2: Better togetherIt can make sense to combine events, especially when iPhoto’s event splitting isn’t quite on the mark. To merge events, click and drag one on top of the other.

3: Confirm the mergeWhen you merge one or more events for the first time, you’ll be prompted to confirm this by the app. Be sure to tick Don’t Ask Again to avoid repeat annoyances.

iPhoto Tidy up photos and albums

Streamline your iPhoto library


iPhoto Set up a Shared Photo Stream

Although iPhoto is a brilliant way to manage your images for your own

purpose, being able to quickly share collections of photos makes your

picture collection far more dynamic and fun. The Shared Photo Streams

function of iPhoto lets you choose a selection of images. It then enables other

people to view them on any Apple device.

Better than that, subscribers can also add their own photos and video and

make comments on the images that have already been added. They will be

told when you add new images and you can enjoy any albums that others invite

you to view. In this nine-step tutorial, we look at how you can create a shared

album, add photos to it and invite people to share. It’s a great way to show off

your photos.

In this tutorial we take you through the simple steps to creating your fi rst Photo

Stream, how to add people and edit it, take a look.

Share your Photo Streams with friendsMake the most of iPhoto’s great group sharing capability for a more social experience



4: New Photo SteamSelect to start a new Photo Stream by clicking the ‘+’ icon. Your selected photos will be contained in this new folder. You can now start to customise it.

5: Add peopleIn the To field, type the email addresses that are associated with a recipient’s Apple ID. Give the folder a Name and add any comments.

6: Choose optionsUsing the tickbox, allow or disallow subscribers from posting. The Shared folder can also be a public website. Recipients will receive email notifications.

1: Activate StreamsGo to iPhoto>Preferences, select the iCloud tab. Tick the box next to Photo Sharing to active it. You will now be able to create and share Photo Streams.

2: Finding imagesSelect the images you wish to share, either singular click or select many by Cmd+Clicking images. These will be placed into a shared album.

3: Drag imagesNow drag the images that you have selected to the iCloud option in the Source list. Turn iCloud on via Preferences if it doesn’t appear here.

iLife


8: Edit StreamClick the Info option to make amends to your Stream. You can decide the level of access, allowing subscribers to post their photos to the Stream.

7: Recipients agreeWhen the recipient clicks the email link, they can view the photos. You are told who the album is shared with at the top of the screen.

9: Add moreYou can also add even more subscribers via the Info function. Just start typing inside the Subscribers box, iPhoto will search for matches in your Contacts.

If you decide that you do not wish to continue sharing a Photo Stream, you can delete it. If you remove an album from a Shared Photo Stream, it will disappear from the devices of your subscribers. So do consider whether or not they may want to keep the images by warning them before. To delete, just select a Stream, right-click and click Delete Photo Stream.

Stop sharing

InformationBy highlighting any Stream and clicking Info, you are able to see who is subscribing and get general information about the album you are viewing, such as whether subscribers can post their own images

Family and FriendsYou can also accept other people’s Streams, making iPhoto a two-way street. These are placed under the banner of Family and Friends’ Streams, and each one tells you who it is from

My StreamsThe My Streams category shows all of the Streams that you have shared with others, as well as the main Photo Stream that is synced with iCloud

Who is accessing?Inside each Stream’s Info page you can see who it is being shared with. It will say ‘Shared by You’ if you are allowing public access to any particular Stream

Share your Photo Streams


Add location data to your photosUse iPhoto’s Places menu to make your photos easier to search and quicker to show off

The location information you add to your photo will be added to the data in the image file itself, so when you upload your shots to Flickr, or other similar services, the information will be available for others to see, if you wish it to be. It’s a great way to put your memories on the map.

Places everywhere

iPhoto is great because it off ers a range of useful photo information all

in one place, and makes it all searchable. This means that no matter which

photo you’re looking for, you’ll always be able to fi nd it quickly. One of these

pieces of information is location data; when you take a photo, location information is

automatically added to it, and this information is passed to iPhoto.

In the main sidebar, you can click the Places menu and see on a map exactly

where you’ve been and what you’ve photographed in each area. Some photos won’t

include this information, though, and in those situations, adding the location

manually will help you to complete your collection. Thankfully, iPhoto makes the

process really straightforward.

In this tutorial we shall take you through the simpliest way to add locations to

your photos, it can take a little bit of time, but is well worth it once you get into the

swing of it.

Search locationsOnce you’ve added location data to your shots, you’ll be able to find them using that information. To find all the shots from a specific location, simply hit the Search button in the bottom-left and type it in

Picking specificsThe bar that sits at the top-left of the screen enables you to pick from a range of specific options, so you can view all the photos taken in a country, in a city or in one special place

View the shotsClick on a pin and the name of the location will appear. From here, you can click the arrow to see all the shots taken in that particular area. Zoom in to an area and the pins will split into multiple locations

Change the mapNow that Apple is using its own mapping software in iPhoto, you can switch between the three view modes to get a totally different feel to the Places section of the app



iLife


7: Rename locationTo give your location a different name, click the pin and the name will appear; you can edit it to anything you like, then hit the Tick button to apply it.

8: Quicker taggingIf a single event spans a number of different locations, you can select groups of photos that are taken in one place and add a location, then repeat.

9: View your placesTo see all your pinned locations on a larger map, hit the Places button in the sidebar. A full-window map will open and you can view your travels in a different way.

4: Add a locationTo add a location to a single shot, select it, open the Info sidebar and type in the location you want into the search bar and choose the right option from the list.

5: Edit locationYou can edit the location by clicking and holding on the pin until it rises from the map. Drag it around and then let it go to change the location slightly.

6: Be more specificYou can also use the zoom buttons in the bottom-left of the map window to zoom in and out. If you need to be more specific, this is the perfect way to do it.

1: Automatic tagsShots taken on certain cameras with GPS capabilities, will have location data added automatically. It’s incredibly accurate, as you’ll see from the map.

2: Create a Smart AlbumTo find all your untagged shots, create a new Smart Album with the criteria ‘Photo is not tagged with GPS’. This will gather them all into one list for you to look at.

3: Edit an eventIf your shots are all tagged and you add a new event, click the event and open up the Info sidebar, so you can add a general location to all the shots at once.

iPhoto Manually add location data

Add location data to your photos

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Import and edit RAW filesUse iPhoto’s advanced controls to organise and edit photos in RAW format

When taking snaps on a high-end camera, you will often have the option

to save your photos either as a standard JPEG fi le or in a RAW format.

The former is best for most casual users, but shooting in RAW will save the

complete set of data collected by the camera’s sensor. While saving in this format takes

up more space, it will also give you more freedom when it comes to editing the shots.

The extra information stored gives you access to every bit of photographic detail,

meaning you can pull out more from the image you have.

iPhoto helps you to pull out these details using the editing tools built into the

standard interface. With a RAW image open, you can access extra controls in the Edit

menu. To fi nd out how, read on…



Be careful about applying any effect too heavily; make sure you think about what each slider will do and the extent to which each adjustment needs to be applied. Apply one adjustment too much and you’ll find the whole image looks unnatural and over-saturated, so be ready to tweak things.

Gently does it

Zoom for accuracyTo get a close-up view of the image you’re editing, use the Zoom slider in the bottom-left, or hit the 1 or 2 keys to zoom in a set amount, then hit 0 to zoom back out

CompareRemember that you can always press and hold the Shift key to see what the photo looked like before you started editing. It’s good to check after you’ve finished and see the difference you’ve made

Copy settingsWhen you’ve found a set of settings that you like, click Edit and choose Copy Adjustments. You can then quickly apply the same settings to your other RAW images by choosing Edit>Paste Adjustments

RAW or not?The Recovery option is only available when you’re working with RAW files. Thankfully, if you are, this small indicator appears in the top-right of the Histogram

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Import and edit RAW files

7: Increase SaturationYou may also want to try boosting the saturation of the shot, but it’s important to remember that you still want the colours to look natural, so don’t overdo it.

8: Fix White BalanceAs you boost the saturation, you might find that the image goes a little yellow. If this is the case, use the White Balance slider to bring things back to normal.

9: ExportOnce done, you can export the edited shots in another format. Select File>Export and you’ll see that you have all kinds of export options, including file types.

4: Adjust ExposureNow that the highlights have been recovered, you can start playing with the Exposure. Drag it to the left to bring more detail back into the shot.

5: Highlights and ShadowsUse the Highlight slider to darken the light areas more, but don’t go too high with it. Then use the Shadows slider to bring out details in the dark areas of the shot.

6: Contrast controlYou might find the colours are now a little flat, and it looks washed out. To combat this, increase the contrast until the colours look deeper again.

1: Import your imagesAdd your images to your iPhoto library as you normally would. Bear in mind that they’ll probably take longer to import due to the larger file sizes of RAW images.

2: Choose a shotChoose a shot that could do with fixing which is over-exposed to the point of details being lost. Since it’s a RAW file, we can pull a lot of the details back.

3: Recover highlightsOpen the Edit panel and choose the Adjust tab from the top of the screen. Hold down Alt, Exposure will change to Recovery. Drag the slider to the right.

iPhoto Import and edit RAW images

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iPhoto Make a personalised last-minute gift

We’ve all done it at least once in our lives. Your friend’s

birthday is coming up and you’ve completely forgotten

until just a few days before, leaving you only a few rushed

lunch breaks and late night supermarket visits to fi nd a present that

conveys just how much they mean to you. Usually, the result of this is

a gift that clearly says to your friend that you didn’t spend much time

thinking about them.

There is a much simpler and more personal present you could

make, and it can be done without ever having to leave your desk.

Use your photo library and iPhoto’s selection of photo gifts to create

a personalised present that shows your friend that you’ve put some

time and eff ort into the perfect gift for them. It sure beats a selection of

shower gels.

Make a last-minute gift Design and order a personalised gift with your photos even when time is not on your side



4: Select optionsYou’ll see a number of options, but first you should choose the kind of product you want. At the top of the screen you’ll find your options.

5: CustomiseYou can now customise your gift, choosing a design you like, changing the overall colour scheme and even choosing a different size.

6: Photo editingYour photos will be added automatically, you can order them using the sidebar. You can also change the layout, page colours, fonts and photo effects.

1: Find photos with FacesYou’ll need to use the Faces function to find all the photos of the friend who is receiving the present. Create a new album and add the ones you like to it.

2: Fill in the gapsSearch through your other Events to find some more photos of good memories and add them to the album, too.

3: Select and createOpen the new album and select all the shots, then select the Share button and choose the product you want to make. We’re going to create a book.

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Make a last-minute gift

8: OrderIf you’re creating a Calendar, choose shots that relate to each month. You can re-order book pages at any time by dragging them around in overview mode.

7: Make it personalTry to theme each spread of photos so that they make sense being together. Place all the themed photos across two pages and add a little text.

9: Wrapped and deliveredWhen done, hit Buy Book and you can input a delivery address. You can get it delivered to yourself, or send it straight to your friend.

Replace auto-textiPhoto will add in text areas and some filler text automatically. Remember to check through the pages and make sure that you’ve replaced all the text with descriptions, comments and references that your friend will love

Add captionsYou can add a caption to any photo in your book by hitting the Options button in the bottom-right corner and choosing from the Border options at the top of the sidebar

Double-page spreadsIf you have a beautiful landscape shot or just want to make a big impact with a photo, use the layout pop-up to select the Spreads feature, then choose your design. When used well, they look absolutely fantastic

Personal introductionThe opening page of the Photo Book contains a space for a text introduction. This is a gift, so don’t forget to include a personal message to your friend and date it with the particular occasion that the present is marking

There are a few basic editing options built into the book-building section of iPhoto. Remember, though, that you can edit a photo in more detail at any time by right-clicking and choosing Edit. Alternatively, for more powerful and precise editing options, open Aperture, edit the shots, then reopen iPhoto and use the touched-up photos in your book.

Edits and effects


View and share videos in iMovie TheaterUse the new Theater feature to watch your videos and share them with friends instantly

Thanks to the power of iCloud, all the movies and videos you send to the Theater will be added to your own iCloud account. This not only means you can grab them through iMovie on your iPad and iPhone, but it also allows you to hook up your Apple TV and watch your edits on the big screen.

Movies everywhere

The new iMovie had a big redesign as part of its relaunch for

Mavericks, and one of the biggest changes is the introduction of the

Theater. It’s a dedicated area of iMovie that’s specifi cally there to make

your movies look fantastic. While the app is great for editing your footage into a

professional-looking fi nished video, watching it at full resolution without any hitches

often meant you needed to fi nalise the project and export it as a standalone video to

view in another app.

Now, though, it’s diff erent. When you’re fi nished with a video, you can instantly

add it to the Theater and watch it straight away. Meanwhile, iMovie will be creating a

fi nished, full-resolution video, and will then upload it to iCloud so that you can pick it

up on all of your devices which is great for when you want to watch your movies on

the move. You can even share your movies with your friends with the handy options

in iMovie.

Movie optionsClick the small arrow next to the title of the movie you’ve created and you’ll see a list of options associated with it, similar to that in iTunes

Quick editIf you watch a video you’ve created in the Theater and realise that you’ve missed something, or made a mistake, you can click the arrow next to its title, and choose Reveal in Event

iOS friendlyAll the trailers and movies that you add to your Theater will also be uploaded to your iCloud account. This is perfect when you edit a movie on your Mac and then want to take it to your friends to show it off



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Save as a fileIf you want to export your movie as a standard movie file that you can view elsewhere on your Mac, click the Share button and choose File from the menu that appears


7: iCloud setupIf you haven’t set up iCloud, or just don’t have it set up for iMovie, you can click the cloud icon. Check ‘Documents & Data’ to ensure your movies upload.

8: Grab from iCloudIf you have iMovie on other devices, you may see this icon over some of the video posters. It denotes a video that is saved to iCloud; click it to download and watch.

9: Share itAll the sharing options you’re used to are still included, so once your video has finished saving, click the Share button and choose a social network or website.

4: Instantly watchYou don’t have to wait if you want to watch your finished movie; click the Play button at the centre of the movie’s tile and the video will play in full screen.

5: Waiting gameYou can play the movie, but while you’re doing so, iMovie is working hard to create a finished movie for you to share with friends online or save to your Mac.

6: UploadIf you have set up iCloud on your Mac, you’ll see a white bar appears to denote the fact that the finished movie is being uploaded to iCloud.

1: All done?Before uploading, check you’re all finished. You can still edit it afterwards, but it’s best to be sure before adding it to the Theater.

2: Share to TheaterWhen done, hit the Share button in the toolbar and choose Theater from the pop-up menu. The movie will be added immediately, so click Theater to see it.

3: Pre-made posteriMovie automatically creates a beautiful movie poster for your videos. They’re different depending on the trailer template, but they look great.

iMovie Viewing and sharing in iMovie Theater

View and share videos

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When you select your hard drive from the bar on the left of the Import window, you’ll have to navigate through your files to find the videos you need. Use the arrows next to folder names to view files within them, and when you find the folder containing your videos, select the ones you want by holding down the Command key and clicking them, then choose Import Selected.

Navigating files

Import and organise your home videosAdd videos to your iMovie library and keep it organised with events and tags

When it comes to editing your videos into a fi nished movie with music

and transitions, it’s hard to fi nd a better choice than iMovie. The app

makes every step of the editing process simple, but while the basics are all

straightforward, the app actually has a great deal of power.

Before you can start editing your movie, however, you need to gather together

all the shorter clips you’ve taken and import them into iMovie. Whether you’re

importing directly from a camera or iOS device, or you are adding video fi les that

are already on your Mac, the process is quick and easy. And, once your clips are in

the app, you can get them organised into one place and rate them out of fi ve, so

you can see which are your best clips and which you may not want to use. Getting

organised is vital.

In this tutorial we will show you how to import and organise your home videos

whilst you are using iMovie by setting events and giving your videos tags.



Multiple clips

You can select a group of clips by clicking and dragging a box over them to grab them all, or by holding down the Command key and clicking on the clips you want to select multiple shots

View controls

Up in the top-right of the window is a button to access your view options. The slider will increase or decrease the size of the thumbnails below, while the checkboxes add even more options to your view

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Rollover

You can quickly get a preview of what your clip shows by rolling the cursor over the thumbnail. It will give you freeze frames of different portions of the video so you can see what you’ve recorded without hitting play on the preview

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1: Import buttonTo start importing video into iMovie, click the Import button on the left-hand side. This will bring up the import window where you can choose your videos.

2: Devices or disksOn the left-hand side is your list of locations. Connected cameras, iPhones and iPads appear at the top, above your Mac’s hard drive and favourite locations.

5: Create an eventAt the top of the Import window is a drop-down menu. Click it, choose New Event at the top of the list and name your event to keep clips together.

3: View your clipsChoose a connected camera and you’ll see all the clips on it. Alternatively, use the controls to find videos that are saved to folders on your hard drive.

6: ImportOnce you have selected your videos, click the Import button in the bottom-right corner of the window and the clips will be added to your library right away.

4: PreviewWhen you click a video, the image at the top of the window changes. This is the preview area – hit the play button that appears to preview your clip.

iMovie Add videos to iMovie

Import and organise your home videos

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Master iMovie’s editing timelineTake control of your movies with these tips and tricks for getting more from the timeline

Many of the features of the timeline changed with the latest release of

iMovie. For a start, by default the timeline moved from the top-left of the

interface to the bottom of the screen, making it similar to the design of Final

Cut Pro X. However, there have been other changes and some new features that can

help you edit movies more easily.

Support for the iPhone 5s’ slow-motion video is now built directly into the timeline,

and with personalisation tools you’ll have an interface that’s perfect for your workfl ow.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the app or you have some experience of creating great

home movies, we’ve got the tips and tricks you need to get started with iMovie. You’ll

be editing and sharing some amazing creations in no time.



The track at the bottom of the timeline is for audio that flows throughout the clip, like music. Each clip has its own audio, but remember that you can adjust the audio levels of both, so you can hear speech from a clip over the music, or mute the clip audio to make sure the music is prominent.

Clip or movie audio?

Clip sizeYou can adjust the vertical size of a clip using the menu in the top-right corner of the timeline. Click it and use the slider to increase or decrease the size of the thumbnails in the timeline

Quick trimTo quickly trim a clip, you don’t need to double-click it to open the Clip Trimmer every time. Simply grab the start or end of the clip and drag it left or right to adjust the length of the clip while maintaining its position

Multi-track timelineYou can drop clips over others in the timeline, and then view the two clips side-by-side, use one as a cutaway clip or with a picture-in-picture setting. This is perfect when you want to drop a clip in but continue the main clip’s audio in the background

Wrapping TimelineTo fit more movie into your timeline at once, you can use the Wrapping Timeline. To activate it, simply click View>Wrapping Timeline. Clips no longer scroll off the right of the screen, but show over multiple lines

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Master iMovie’s editing timeline

7: Editing transitionsWith Precision Editor open, you can drag the two clips around to set the exact start and end point of each; drag the middle control adjust the transition length.

8: Flip the timelineIf you want to revert to a more classic look to iMovie, you can swap the clip viewer with the timeline by selecting Window>Swap Project and Event.

9: Close the timelineWhen finished with a project, you can simply click on the cross in the top-left of the timeline to close it. This is also perfect for viewing your events in a wider space.

4: Slow clips downClips recorded in slow-mo using the iPhone 5s offer controls for adjusting the speed inside the timeline, and you can access these by right-clicking.

5: Clip TrimmerDouble-click on any clip and the Trimmer will open. This enables you to more closely control the length of your clips; just drag the sliders or the clip to adjust.

6: Precision EditorThere’s also the Precision Editor. Double-click on the space between two clips or right-click on a transition and select Show Precision Editor to open the interface.

1: Add clipsOpen or a create a project and the timeline will appear at the bottom of the screen. Drag and drop video clips into it from the Events Browser in the top-left.

2: Expand your viewUse the slider in the top-right of the timeline area to adjust the length. You can also use a trackpad like those found on MacBooks to adjust this with a pinch.

3: View audio waveformsClick the icon next to the zoom slider and you’ll be able to show the audio waveforms for each clip, allowing you to pick out speech or reduce the volume.

iMovie Take control of the timeline

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Stack clips with iMovie’s multi-track toolLayer your video clips, audio, music and sound effects and make it easier to edit projects

iMovie is a core part of your Mac’s creative software. The most up-to-date

version of iMovie has so many diff erent functions and tools available to you

that you’d be hard pressed to fi nd any limitations to what you can achieve.

A huge benefi t to iMovie is the ability to add multiple tracks to your timelines. Doing

this enables you to stack your clips above one another, and by assigning your primary

video track for your main clips, you can use the secondary track for your cutaways,

which also makes editing a much faster process. iMovie also off ers a series of tools

when using multiple tracks, including Green/Blue Screen, Side by Side and Picture in

Picture. You can also set up multiple audio tracks. Follow along with these six simple

steps to multi-tracking.



SoftnessOnce you’ve placed a clip, use the Softness bar to better remove blue or green areas. The slider can also help to soften the edges of artefacts within the layered clip

Apply effectClick here to apply all of the changes that you have made using the Green/Blue screen tool. You can then edit the clip using other tools such as Enhance and colour correction

CroppingYou can crop a clip to remove parts of the image by clicking and dragging on the corners of the clip. Use this to remove elements of a clip or image that Green/Blue Screen can’t remove

EraserSelect this tool and then click on parts of a clip where green or blue are still showing. The eraser will remove this colour tone from all parts of the clip for you, tidying up the shot

Green/Blue Screen is an approach to superimposing video on video. An actor or object is placed in front of a green or blue screen. In post-production, software is then used to identify the blue or green in an image and then remove it entirely from the shot, creating a transparent backdrop so the clip can be superimposed onto another.

How Green/Blue Screen works

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Stack clips with iMovie’s multi-track tool

4: Picture in PictureIn the Overlay settings drop-down menu, select Picture in Picture. You can resize, reposition, add a border and an opening transition to the clip.

5: Green/Blue screenImport a clip or image that has green or blue in it. Place it above a clip. Select Green/Blue screen in the Overlay settings. Use Softness to remove the green.

6: Audio layersApply multiple audio tracks as you would video. Use the bottom audio track as the primary one, on which you might want to place the soundtrack.

1: Side-by-sideSelect a clip and drag it onto the timeline. Place other clips after the first one. iMovie will automatically link both clips, so one will follow onto another.

2: Add another track Drag another clip anywhere on the timeline above the first clip. It will automatically be set as a cutaway, cutting to it where it appears on the timeline.

3: Video OverlaySelect this clip. Above the viewer window, select Video Overlay settings. Click on Cutaway and select Side by Side. Use the slide dial to create a sliding transition.

iMovie Add multiple tracks in iMovie

Editing audio tracks When it comes to editing, if you’re working with multiple audio tracks then it’s important that you take the time to balance out the levels between them, so that your end movie has a nice, even mix. Audio can be edited in a number of ways in iMovie – in these two short steps, you’ll see how easy it is to gain control of multiple audio tracks when you’re working in iMovie.

1: Detach audioRight-click on any clips in your timeline that contain audio. Select Detach Audio. The clip’s audio track will now be separated from the video and automatically placed in an audio layer above the other audio tracks in your timeline.

2: Master audio trackOnce all your audio is in the timeline, select the audio track that you want to be most audibly present. Open the Adjust panel above the viewer window, click on the sound icon and select the ‘Lower Volume of Other clips’ option.

“You’ll see how easy it is to gain control of multiple audio tracks”

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iMovie Use markers to edit audio

The new Mavericks-compatible version of iMovie represents quite a

departure from the previous incarnation, with a number of its more

advanced features either removed or hidden away. This isn’t as much

of a cause for concern as it appers at fi rst glance though, as there’s still plenty of

functionality to be found within the confi nes of the software, if you know where

to look. It’s not as threatening as it might fi rst seem, and here we’ll take you through

just how simple it can be.

So in this tutorial, join us as we demonstrate how to polish up a project

containing audio from various sources. We’ll look at how to add a soundtrack,

use markers to help control the level of your original audio using volume curves

and fades, and how to line up your video clips with audio cues and

soundtrack regions.

Improve audio with markers Quickly make precise adjustments to your soundtrack with the help of iMovie’s markers



4: Add markersThen press the M key on your keyboard to place a marker. Markers appear as blue blobs on top of the clips. Do the same again for the end of the section.

5: Define regionClick and hold on the clip at a marker. When the cursor changes, drag to the other marker to define the desired region. It should snap to the markers.

6: Adjust region volumeWhen you drag upwards or downwards on the volume control line within the highlighted region, only the volume for the highlighted region changes.

1: Add soundtrackHere we have an iMovie project containing a title and clips. We want to add a music soundtrack, so we drag in a prepared audio file from Finder.

2: Balance clip volumeEach video clip has its own audio, captured during filming. The volume of each clip can be balanced against the music by adjusting the control line.

3: Get specificTo change the volume level of just one individual section of a clip, first position the playhead at the start point of the section you want to adjust.

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Improve audio with markers

8: On the flyYou can also add markers by pressing the ‘M’ key on the fly as your movie plays. Here we’ve marked out the downbeats for every bar of the music.

7: Adjust fadesYou can now adjust the fades in and out using the handles provided. Drag the small dots horizontally to adjust the duration, for smoother transitions.

9: Line upIf we do the same with the clips of the girl dancing, the markers make it easy to line up the video in time with the music. Once done, we can mute the audio.

Add voiceoversHit the V key on your keyboard to reveal the voiceover recording controls. The volume level of the soundtrack will be reduced automatically for the duration of your recorded voiceover

If you want to replace the original soundtrack from your video with new audio, you can separate (or detach) the embedded audio that was captured with the video, so that you can either turn it down or delete it entirely. This is easily done by selecting the clip and choosing the Detach Audio command from the Modify menu.

Detach audio

Delete markersTo delete any marker, from either the video or audio timeline, just drag it off the clip and release it in the grey background, where it will disappear in a theatrical puff of smoke

Show waveformsIf you can’t see any audio waveforms below your clips at first, click the little film strip icon (Thumbnail Appearance button) over on the right and check the Show Waveforms checkbox

Click boxingFor even more control over the volume of your clips, you can place extra control points on the volume control line by Alt-clicking on it

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iMovie Modernise archive footage

Nowadays, video cameras are all over the place, and

you need only reach into your pocket for your iPhone

to start recording immediately. It wasn’t always this way,

though – there is still a lot of old footage around that was recorded

on standalone cameras, many of which used old fi lm systems to

get things on record. Many of these older pieces of footage are now

available online for free as stock footage, and are a great choice if you

need to fi ll out a fi lm with extra clips.

These tapes do tend to result in low-quality recordings, though,

and in some cases you might want to tweak the image to make it

more suitable. Thankfully, there are a few tools in iMovie that you

can use to improve the quality and bring a little more life to your old

archive footage…

Improve your archive footageUse iMovie’s tools to improve old film and colour match newer footage to match



4: Exposure controlOlder videos are probably a little washed out and miss some colours. Lower the Exposure to bring out a few more details; don’t make the video too dark!

5: Colour correctLower the Contrast by around 15-20%, and push the Saturation slider up slightly to bring a little more life into subjects without washing everything out.

6: White PointIf necessary, use the White Balance control to set the White Point. In footage shot indoors, click a yellow area to make everything look more natural.

1: Find footageLook online for stock footage that is free to use as part of your movie. Sites like archive.org are a great place to start.

2: ImportDownload the clips you want to use at the highest possible quality, in a compatible format, then create a new event and drag the clips in.

3: Adjust levelsDrag a clip or portion of a clip to the Timeline. Open the Adjustments panel and drag the Levels sliders across to improve the colour range of the footage.

http://archive.org

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Improve your archive footage

Three apps for reducing noise

Innobits Video PurifierThere are plenty of options in this app for reducing noise without smearing the video and cropping for better results. Try the free demo of this software to see if it’s for you.

Neat Video plug-inThis plug-in will work with most higher-end apps, but also functions perfectly with Adobe’s Premiere Elements, making the noise reduction process very affordable.

JES Video CleanerThis standalone app is free and will enable you to fix most basic noise problems, as well as let you remove basic on-screen logos and text in your videos.

Contrast and BrightnessTo match our other clip, we’ve lowered the Brightness to look similar, and also lowered the Contrast by 40% and Saturation by around 20% to wash out the colours and make the film look more aged

White PointThe White Point adjustment here will depend on your other clips. Here, our older clip is tinged blue, so we’ve dragged the White Point slider into the blue section of the wheel to match it

Levelled offOn modern clips, it’s likely that the colours reproduced are really quite accurate. Adjusting the levels will make shadows too dark or highlights too bright – for this method it’s best to leave the Levels sliders where they are

In most cases, adding one of the built-in Video Effects to your modern footage won’t produce great results for colour matching. Depending on which one you choose, the effects will add a beige filter over the entire shot or simply blur things to make them hard to see. You’ll have much more control if you use the Video Adjustments panel.

Not effective

Compare itIt’s important to keep switching back and forth between your old footage and the new clip to check that the two are looking similar. In the Video Adjustments panel, simply click the clip on the Timeline


If you know which trailer style you’d like to make, open it up and then take a look at the Shot List. Jot down the types of shots you need – two person, action, wide etc – and how many of each, and then head out with your iPhone or your camera to shoot the clips. The prep will pay off!

Trailer technique

Make a Hollywood-style TrailerBuilding your next blockbuster? Why not make a trailer to tease your fans

Whether you fancy yourself as the next Hitchcock or Spielberg, you’ll

fi nd that iMovie’s built-in trailers have something great to off er you. The

Trailer feature is an incredibly powerful little tool that’s surprisingly easy to

use, enabling you to create a Hollywood-esque teaser in minutes. The trailers span

spy fi lms, romances, adventures, horrors and supernatural thrillers, comedies, action

fi lms and more, ensuring that there’s a genre you can use no matter what kind of

fi lm you have in mind.

What’s more, each trailer comes with a ready-made storyboard. You simply follow

the instructions, matching your videos to the automatically generated list of shots

required, and then everything is dropped into place on the storyboard for you.

You’ll be able to create fantastic trailers really quickly and be able to share them with

your friends before your fi lm is ready, giving them a taste of what is to come. Here’s

how it’s done.



ClipsYour video clips will be displayed here. Adding them to your trailer is just a case of either dragging and dropping them into the Shot List, or selecting an empty shot and then clicking on a clip

AdjustClick this to reveal the colour correction and cropping tools – as well as an audio mixer, a shot stabiliser and more besides – as a row of icons above the main preview window below

EnhanceThis brilliant little button is a one-click affair that will scan the currently selected clip and then improve its colours. It’s great for cleaning up recent uploads inside iMovie

TabsThese three tabs are the foundation of the Trailer feature in iMovie. Shot List tells you what you need, Storyboard puts it together for you and Outline lets you change the title and credits

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1: Pick a styleOpen iMovie and click the ‘+’, then choose Trailer. Pick a trailer style and click Create. You can preview trailers using each thumbnail’s play button.

2: Write the creditsName your project then change the details in the bottom pane, like the credits. As you mouse-over things like Movie Name, you’ll see a preview of it in action.

5: Fine-tune clipsWith clips longer than the slot, adjust their start and end points. Select one, click the button in the lower-left, then reposition the yellow box in the Trimmer.

3: Grab the shotsNow click on the Shot List tab. This is a list of all the ingredients your trailer needs. Select a space then click a clip from the imported events above to add it.

6: Send to TheaterOnce finished, just click the Share button in the top bar and choose Theater. iMovie will then save your trailer to it, so you can watch and share from there.

4: Check the storyboardClick on the Storyboard tab, you’ll see the videos you added have been added into the narrative for you. Edit the text, and mouse-over to preview it.

iMovie Create a trailer

Make a Hollywood-style Trailer


Create a TV-style title sequenceUse iMovie’s new titles and themes to create a character-led title sequence like any TV series

When you’ve finished your title sequence, you can mark it as finished by sending it to the Theater. This is similar to the Finalize option that used to be a part of iMovie 11, but by clicking the Share button in the top toolbar and choosing the Theater option, your video will be added to the Theater tab and you’ll be able to view and share it quickly, in a dedicated environment.

Exporting

When you’re watching TV shows and movies, they almost all have title

sequences that will either help introduce the subject the programme will

be dealing with, the characters involved, or both. It works so well because

it gives viewers all the information they need to know without having to pick it up in

the show itself, and this is just the same for your own videos. Introducing your creations

with personalised title sequences is a great way of putting together an accomplished

and professional-looking fi nished product.

And with the new title eff ects and themes on off er, things just got much easier.

Whether you want to quickly touch up a clip, view your clips full-size or add eff ects to

your videos, you can in just a few clicks.

In this tutorial we will take you through the quick and simple process for

creating your own title sequence, complete with labelling your cast (or even just

your friends).

TransitionsDepending on the theme or sequence you’re going for, there are plenty of options for your transitions, but try to pick one or two and stick with them throughout rather than using every option available to you

New titlesIf you don’t choose a theme, you’ll have a selection of Titles to choose from when it comes to creating your opening sequence. The new version of iMovie includes some brilliant new options, too

Fade to blackAt the end of your sequence, add a title tile to the timeline and the final clip will fade to this black screen, enabling you to put the director’s name at the end of the sequence, just like in shows on TV

Music makingIf you really want to create everything in your project from scratch, you could even consider mixing your own theme tune in GarageBand (using the brilliant new Drummer) and then add it in iMovie



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7: Speed optionsFor a great, if slightly cheesy, effect, right-click a clip and choose Show Speed Editor from the menu. This will let you slow down or speed up the clip.

8: Slow it downIn this case, we’ll stretch out the clip by dragging it to the right and give it a nostalgic feel. When you’re done, right-click and choose Hide Speed Editor.

9: MusicBefore exporting, choose one of the music options on the left (iTunes, Sound Effects or GarageBand); choose a track that suits the theme to finish it off.

4: Add your clipsNow you can start adding clips. You can still drag and drop or select a portion of the clip you want and click the ‘+’ to drop it down to the timeline.

5: Automatic transitionsAs you’ve picked a theme, transitions and opening titles are added automatically, but they can all be customised. For example you can edit the timings.

6: Add and customiseYou’ll need to add extra text to introduce the stars of your show. Click Titles on the left and drag the Middle option down, then double-click to edit it.

1: Create new movieHit the new Create button that is located up in the top bar of the interface. You can choose either a Trailer or Movie; choose the Movie option.

2: Pick a themePreview the themes with a click until you find one you like, then click Create and give your project a name like Opening Titles.

3: StoryboardingBefore you start dropping in clips, take a moment to see what kind of shots you have. Plan which shots will work best to introduce characters, for example.

iMovie Create a title sequence

Create a TV-style title sequence

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GarageBand Change notes in your tracks

The latest version of GarageBand much more closely resembles the more

powerful Logic Pro X, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Piano

Roll editor, used for editing the note data contained within MIDI regions. The

Piano Roll editor is so named because MIDI notes are displayed like the notches in the rolls

of paper used in old-fashioned player pianos. The pitch of each note is represented by the

vertical position of the notches, timing is represented by the position of each notch along

a horizontal grid and the duration of each note is represented by the length of each notch.

So, whether you’re a GarageBand newbie or a veteran of previous versions, here’s our

step-by-step guide to one of GarageBand’s most important editing features.

Edit individual notes using Piano RollWe get up close with GarageBand’s updated Piano Roll editor



4: Add extra notesTo add extra notes, hold down the Cmd key to turn the pointer into a pencil, then click where you want to add the note. Hit backspace to delete.

5: Change durationYou can easily change the length of a note by clicking and dragging its right-hand edge. Drag to the right to extend a note, and left to shorten it.

6: QuantizeTo fix the timing to the quantize grid, select a gridvalue from the menu. If you have notes selected, they will snap to the nearest grid position.

1: Open editorTo open the Piano Roll editor either double-click the MIDI region you wish to edit, tap the E key or clicking the scissors button in the upper toolbar.

2: Shift note pitchTo shift the pitch of wrong notes, hold down the Alt key, and you can use the up/down arrows on your keyboard to nudge notes up or down in pitch.

3: Shift multiple notesTo shift the pitch of multiple notes at the same time, draw a rubber band around them to highlight the notes, then repeat the previous step.

“It resembles the more powerful Logic Pro X”

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Edit individual notes using Piano Roll

8: VelocityThe Velocity slider is used to alter the velocity value of selected notes. Select the required note and slide right to increase velocity, or left to decrease it.

7: Form a QIf the correct grid resolution is already selected, just press Q to quantize selected notes. Alternatively, you can drag notes to snap them to new positions.

9: MIDI DrawClick here to open the MIDI Draw editor. Select the type of parameter you want to edit from the pop-up menu, then use the tabs to adjust values.

The term velocity refers to how hard you strike each note on the keyboard when you play a MIDI part. Generally, the higher the velocity, the louder the note, but the exact result of changing velocity values depends on how the MIDI instrument you’re playing has been programmed to respond to them. Velocity can be mapped to many other different parameters, such as filter cutoff.

A note about velocity

Catch PlayheadClick this play button to make the contents of the Piano Roll window scroll along with the project playback

Vertical keyboardThe notes on the vertical keyboard correspond to the pitches of the notes represented on the horizontal lanes of the Piano Roll editor window. Selected notes are shown in blue

Zoom with a viewUse this slider to zoom the Piano Roll in and out horizontally for more finely detailed edits

Timing GridThe vertical lines of the timing grid correspond to the setting currently selected in the Time Quantize pop-up menu. Here, a 1/16th note value is selected, so each sub-beat is divided into four


GarageBand Take your first guitar lesson

Whether you’re playing an acoustic into your Mac’s mic, plugging in an

electric or learning to play the piano, GarageBand makes a great tutor.

Free with your app are a couple of introductory lessons for piano and

guitar, which you can try out right now.

They come in two parts – Learn and Play – so you can watch an instructor show

you how it’s done in a video, with the help of fret and key maps, tablature and chord

diagrams. Then you have a go yourself, and afterwards you’ll receive feedback on

how well you did.

Once you’re up and strumming, you’ll fi nd that the Lesson Store is packed with

everything you need, from chord and scale trainers through to blues masterclasses

and even lessons from Sting. Read on to fi nd out more about how this great app

can teach you so much more!

Learn guitar with a GarageBand tutorMake full use of GarageBand’s free tutorials and take the first steps to learning to strum



4: Get ready to start Once you’ve downloaded a lesson, head back over to Learn to Play. Choose your type of lesson, then select a lesson and hit Choose to proceed.

5: Meet the instructorThe lesson will then open up in full screen, and the video will begin. You can skip to any section using the markers above the play/pause button.

6: See from every angle When the instructor plays something, you will see musical diagrams appear in the space below as well as fret or key maps at the bottom.

1: Head to the storeSelect Learn to Play from the sidebar. You’ll see a first free lesson in both the Guitar and Piano categories. For more, click on Lesson Store and choose Guitar.

2: Look for lessonsYou’ll see Rock, Blues and Basic categories. If you’ve made the in-app purchase for GarageBand’s loops and sounds bundle, all the Basic lessons will be free.

3: Learn from the bestClick the Artist tab to switch to the Artist Lessons. They’re a little pricer but packed full of extra content that you wouldn’t normally get, like the song’s story.

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8: Show what you’ve learnedAt the end of the Learn part of the lesson, or if you pause the video, you’ll see a Play option appear. Click it and you can play along in time.

7: Customise the diagrams Whatever is shown alongside the video is usually automatic. You can change that by clicking the very top-right button and changing the setting.

9: Changing the input deviceGarageBand should recognise whatever you plug in, but if not then click Setup at the top-right. Here you can make all kinds of settings.

Once you’ve finished both the Learn and the Play sections of a lesson, you’ll then be able to access the Progress and High Scores areas. Here, you can track how you’re doing over time, and you’ll see an Open in GarageBand button in many of the lessons. You can then edit, remix and master as a new project.

Carry on in GarageBand

Cycle regionThis button lets you put either the whole lesson on repeat or just one section, so you can stick with it until you’re ready for the Play part of the lesson

Playback controlThis lets you pull the playback speed down to half, so you can watch a tricky bit of picking without missing a thing. The instructor’s voice will be temporarily muted

Section markersThe best way to make sure a lesson sticks is to keep practising it, so make use of this scrub bar to skip straight to the part you’re working on

Learn guitar with a GarageBand tutor

Volume mixerThis menu enables you to set the volume levels for Teacher’s Voice, Teacher’s Guitar, The Band and My Instrument, and comes in handy if you need to hear the video over yourself playing

114 The Mac Book

With almost a total rebuild, the new GarageBand is a whole new beast.

We’re going back to basics and in this tutorial we’ll show you how to

capture sound, before you record a performance or begin editing. This is

a little more complex when using external instruments or microphones, and most

commonly an electric guitar or MIDI keyboard.

With guitars, it starts with hardware and a USB or Firewire interface that your

guitar lead can plug in to. This converts the signal and enables GarageBand

to select it as an input source. Available in a variety of forms, this is a

prerequisite. MIDI keyboards connect via USB and are typically

auto-detected when turned on, making the process easier.

Here we examine the key steps within the app for

selecting an input.

Play your electric guitar



Back to the basics of plugging electric instruments

2: Preferences dialogClick either link to view Preferences. Now set the Input Device to your guitar’s device. Also set it as the Output Device if you’re using it for monitoring.

1: Add new trackAdd a new audio track and choose the guitar. Click the Details link below and tick the ‘I want to’ box. You’ll also see options for connection and output.

4: Smart ControlsOpen the Smart Controls using the top-left button. Click Show Inspector to change Input, set the recording level and ensure the Noise Gate isn’t high.

3: Track togglesOn the track, make sure the mute button is off and the Input Monitoring button is on. You should now hear sound from your guitar.

GarageBand Set up electric instruments Sound Preferences

2 GarageBand soundHit Cmd+comma to access GarageBand’s

Preferences. The Audio/MIDI tab has menus for Output and Input Device, with a MIDI status control showing available devices.

Inputting and monitoring audio is controlled by your GarageBand and OS X preferences. Here we take a closer look at the options.

1 System soundOpen System Preferences and click Sound.

You have two tabs for Output and Input, for setting the master source and destination for sound. GarageBand typically defaults to these.

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One of GarageBand’s biggest strengths is its ability to use live recordings and change their sound depending on the kind of music you want to create. With the new Amp Designer tools in

the latest version of GarageBand, you can record your guitar track live, then create a number of custom amps and stompboxes to change the sound of your recording. Since you can combine a large number of different amps, cabinets and mics, the range of sounds you can create is enormous and, with a selection of pedals also at your disposal, your setup can change multiple times before you’re finished. Testing out different amp builds, and a variety of pedal and amp combinations is one of the biggest joys of recording live with your Mac, so it’s well worth a try.

Create custom amps



Use the new amp creation features to personalise your sound

2: ComboChoose a cabinet. Older models provide a smoother but duller sound, while different sizes can also affect the final sound. Have a play around with the options.

1: Amp DesignerOpen the Amp Designer window by clicking its button on the right of the interface. Then choose your main amp, remembering each one offers a different feel.

4: Tweak itSave your new custom setup, use the on-amp controls to change the levels, add effects and alter the reverb to your needs. Be as creative as you wish.

3: Mic it upTo complete your amp setup, select the microphone you need, then hover over the amp to change its position near the mic. Experiment to get it right.

GarageBand Customise amps and pedals in GarageBand Designing pedals

2 Drag and dropTo create your setup, grab the ones you

need and drop them into the Pedalboard. You can play with the settings before saving your setup and using it in a track.

It’s not just amps that get the custom treatment in your favourite music-creation suite. Create your own pedals to mix the perfect track.

1 DescriptionsYou can hover the cursor over any of the

pedals to get a description of the type of effects they produce, as well as suggestions for the kind of tracks they work best with.

Create custom amps


GarageBand Create a custom Drummer track

With the new releases of its creative apps, Apple has expanded its

line-up to make them more user-friendly, more accessible and much

more fun. In GarageBand, Apple brought over a feature that it recently

introduced in Logic Pro X. The feature is called Drummer, and it enables you to

create custom drum beats for your tracks, with diff erent settings giving you full

control over the sound, the pace and the beat’s energy.

The system works simply; you’ll have a drummer with a particular style available

when you fi rst open up GarageBand, and you can customise the speed, volume

and energy of his work (they’re all male), as well as the number of fi lls and the drums

he uses. Read on to fi nd out how to create incredible beats with just a few clicks.

In this tutorial we will take you through the basics of making you own virutal

beats, to add a great Drummer track to your recording and add an all-round better

sound to your track.

Add pro beats with a virtual DrummerCreate your own virtual beats with GarageBand’s exciting new Drummer feature



4: DefaultsYou’ll have a Rock drummer called Kyle selected. You can view different drummers but you’ll need to buy them in-app to add them to your library.

5: PresetsEach drummer has a selection of Presets, which offer a different sound. Click through them until you find one that’s right, you can edit it later.

6: Suits you, sirDrag the yellow dot around the grid to change the type of beat until it suits your track. You can make it loud or soft, and simple or complex.

1: Which project?Whether you want to add a drum track to one of your existing projects, or create a brand-new project to include the new feature, it will sound great.

2: New trackWhen you’ve been working on your project for a little while and added a few instruments, loops and sounds, add a new track by clicking the ‘+’.

3: DrummerChoose the track type that you want to add; on the far-right is the Drummer option, so select it and click Create to immediately add a beat to your track.

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8: Choose the drumsThe drum kit under the percussion options lets you choose two main areas that the drummer will play on. Click different drums to change the sound.

7: Add percussionNot all the presets include percussion, but you can add it to any track by clicking one of the buttons (tambourine, shaker, clap) above the drum kit.

9: ComplexityUse the sliders next to each drum to increase or decrease its intensity and complexity, and use the knobs on the right to set the Fills and Swing.

The drummers shown in the photographs in GarageBand are just made-up characters, but the beats they produce were actually recorded by professional drummers from a range of music genres. The tracks they recorded have been mixed together expertly so that you can literally change any part of it and it will still fit perfectly.

Professional drummers

Fills and SwingThe knobs on the right of the Drummer section enable you to adjust the specifics of your track. Turn up the Fills control for more regular solos and turn up the Blues knob for a smoother sound

Adding varietyEach drummer that is available offers a different kind of drumming style. Once you’ve got access to them via the in-app purchase, click them to find out the specialist style

Smart controlsClick the Smart Controls button in the top-left of the screen and the Drummer controls at the bottom of the screen will be replaced with controls to turn individual drums up and down, and add effects

Add pro beats with a virtual Drummer

In-app purchasesGarageBand offers it as a one-off, and it unlocks a huge amount of content, including extra loops and sounds, as well as the 14 drummers, for just £2.99/$4.99

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Fix vocal tracks using Flex TimeCorrect sloppy timing using the revised timing tools within GarageBand

A fundamental element of musical composition is timing. Often associated

with tempo, timing exists within this and has a profound eff ect on why a

track works. If an element is ‘out of time’ then it can feel wrong – purposefully

or not – while intervals at the front or back of the beat add expression. Thankfully,

GarageBand facilitates the freedom musicians need to tweak track timing. Aside from

Tempo and Groove options, Flex Time adds Flex Markers for reshaping soundwaves

into new positions.

Here we explain how all these tools can be used to tighten up an example track

before using Flex Time to edit a vocal loop. You will be linked to the appropriate

tutorial fi les to compare the initial and edited compositions, while experimenting with

the tools yourself!


Difficulty: Intermediate/Expert

Show/Hide Flex button This control turns off the Flex overlay so you can view the audio track more clearly. This is purely a visual toggle and does not actually remove the Flex markers and your edits

Editing audio at such a low level can require pretty intricate work, especially when you are fine-tuning milliseconds of audio. This is where the Horizontal Zoom sliders in the top-right of both the Track window and the Editors panel are essential. To get more control you’ll want these maximised, while catching the playhead so you can coordinate your position.

Zooming marvellous

Horizontal zoomThese sliders enable you to magnify the selected track horizontally, which will spread the soundwave out and expand the time intervals. You can also drag up the Editor panel if you wish to zoom vertically

Enable Flex checkboxThis toggles any applied Flex Markers, and you can’t use the Flex tools unless it is selected. By switching it off, you can quickly undo any changes and revert to your original track

Flex region This is the area of the sound wave within the Flex track that is currently being edited. You will observe the audio peaks moving apart or closer together as you adjust the timing

Flex Marker With Flex enabled, the cursor switches within the Editor panel to let you insert Flex Markers. These generally work in pairs or threes to form handles you use to expand or compress audio regions

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Fix vocal tracks using Flex Time

7: Flex Timing Select the last vocal track and tick Enable Flex in the Editor panel’s Track tab. With this turned on and the Show Flex toggle enabled, Flex Markers will appear.

8: Manipulating timing Hover over a Flex Marker and drag it sideways. You will see the audio ‘transients’ expand or condense. Regions between markers can then be resized to adjust timing.

9: Add/remove Markers Add Markers by clicking a position on the track. Remove by clicking the cross or revert to original with the Enable Flex box.

4: Show Groove TrackThe Groove Track is a quick way to sync track timing with one selected track. Go to Track Header>Show Groove Track from the Track menu to turn it on.

5: Select Groove Track Hover over the left edge of the track header you want as the Groove Track. Click the star icon to turn on or off. For this, we’ll choose either of the two drum tracks.

6: Follow Groove Track You can force subsequent tracks to follow the Groove Track by turning on or off the checkbox icon. Notice the waveforms adjusting to match the new timing.

1: Snap To GridOpen the ‘FlexTime_Start’ file (bit.ly/1eSugq4) and select Edit>Snap To Grid. This and the alignment guides are helpful when making intricate edits.

2: Follow Tempo & Pitch Select a track, in the Editor panel; click the Region tab. The Follow Tempo & Pitch box toggles whether the track follows the overall project tempo when changed.

3: Tempo trackOverall tempo can be set with the bpm slider or using the tempo track. To show go Track>Show Tempo Track; click on the blue line to add points.

GarageBand Fix your timing with Flex Time

120 The Mac Book

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Reverse echo and reverb effectsAdd this distinctive special effect to your tracks via the Audacity sound editor

We all know by now that GarageBand is superb, especially when it

comes to keeping things simple and accessible. However, this simplicity

can eventually reveal limitations. One of the most irksome omissions is the

ability to reverse sections of audio, despite it being a popular trick. This not only means

you can’t play back tracks backwards but also prevents you from applying more

experimental techniques. Specifi cally we’re talking about reverse echo and reverb,

whereby the ‘wet’ signal now precedes the ‘dry’ source sound. The result is an odd

eff ect synonymous with early psychedelic rock recordings. We can recreate that sound

by augmenting GarageBand with the free open-source sound editor Audacity, which

will easily handle track reversal.


Difficulty: Intermediate /Expert

In our example we use the uncompressed .AIF and .AIFF file types between the two apps. This is purely to maintain audio quality between each pass, and thankfully both suites share these formats more than happily. MP3 is an option via Audacity’s optional encoder installation, however, in both cases the loop sadly becomes the less editable orange waveform within GarageBand.

Import and export

Track Reverb and Echo Adding effects to the track happens within the Real Instrument’s Edit panel and is applied to the first reversed version of the original clean or ‘dry’ loop. Setting the effect to Manual enables you to customise it more freely

Back to frontApplying echo or reverb to a reversed section of audio means the effect signal will precede the original source sound when it is reversed to play forwards with the whole track – a neat trick!

Saving and sharing

Moving the loop between apps relies on the Export method of each, which we need to perform twice. Using an uncompressed file type prevents the quality being compromised between exports

Backwards logic The Reverse feature of Audacity is really all we require it for here. A similar addition to future GarageBand iterations would facilitate a more native and preferable approach to flipping loops, regions and whole tracks

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Reverse echo and reverb effects

7: Or some echo? The same principle applies to adding echo. Add a Track Echo effect at this point. Reverse echo does tend to work best on sparser, distinct loops however.

8: Last reversalExport this track as before and open once again in Audacity. Choose the Reverse effect again to flip it back to its original ‘forwards’ form and export as .AIFF.

9: Flipping out You can close Audacity now and drag your final .AIFF loop into GarageBand. Preview the region, the effect signal should now pre-empt the audio.

4: Export to AudacitySave out the initial loop via the Share Menu and Export Song to Disk. Deselect the Compress checkbox to save as .AIF, name the file and open it up within Audacity.

5: First reversal Within Audacity pick Reverse from the Effect menu; the waveform flip. Choose Export to resave the file as an uncompressed .AIFF from the Format menu.

6: Some reverb? Import the reversed loop into GarageBand; add a Manual Reverb effect via the Real Instrument Edit pane. Make the settings fairly ‘wet’ to maximise the impact.

1: Download Audacity If you don’t already have an audio editor capable of reversing tracks you can get Audacity from audacity.sourceforge.net. Download the latest Mac version.

2: Choosing a loopStart a default new loop-based project. In to this we’ll add our example loop region, in this case the ‘Middle Eastern Oud 01’ Strings Real Instrument.

3: Prepare project In the Master Track panel, reduce the project BPM to 110 to give the loop more negative space for the reverb; remove default Echo and Reverb Track Effects.

GarageBand Reverse echo and reverb effects

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

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GarageBand Top ten loops

One of the many beauties of GarageBand is the ease of

producing great music immediately. Long before you

complicate things with real instruments, the app arrives with a

pre-loaded library of audio loops that you can rapidly build up to create

respectable backing tracks. Preview them instantly in the library browser

and then simply drag them into a project, adjust the tempo and you’re

pretty much set. What can be slightly bewildering here, however, is the

sheer amount of choice GarageBand off ers you.

With the latest version including a substantial loop library by default,

most will purchase the full in-app collection amounting to over 2,000.

Spanning genre, instrument and tempo in diversity, here we’ll uncover

ten of the more useful loops. Selected mainly on the basis of versatility, we

hope these fantastic samples can be relied upon to form a sonic bedrock.

Top ten GarageBand loopsWith hundreds to choose from, we’ve picked our favourite cross-section of GarageBand loops

Time needed:10 minutes


5: Shine Bright PianoPiano loops may well be better off being MIDI-based, but this 32-beat series of chordal stabs is great. Located within the Modern R&B category, it transcends the genre and will suit an airy, stripped-back track offering plenty of gaps for weaving melodies.

6: Malibu Chill Layers 02Indicative of the Chillwave selection of loops, this laid-back two-chord toggle will add stylish texture instantly. The ambiguous and abstract synth sounds work at fast or slow tempos for adding colour and depth. Perfect for those Ibiza chill-out numbers.

7: Impending Doom BassFor more intensity, this 8-beat swirl of bass is among the more obviously recognisable loops within the Dubstep collection. More suited as a brash lead motif, it will provide a quick route into emulating the trademark sounds of popular acts like Chase and Status.

1: Shaker 16Found within the basic GarageBand loop index, this Shaker is one of 19 at varying tempos. Being MIDI-based, this one is the most versatile and can be used almost like a metronome. Shakers in general can also add a finishing touch to layered rhythm sections.

2: Live Edgy Drums 04With a fanning hi-hat evoking Aerosmith’s Walk This Way, this steady beat has a solid pattern ideal for most tracks. In fact, all those in the Live Edgy Drums series along with Modern Rock Drums are worth exploring for quickly adding honest, realistic rock backbeats.

3: Tick Tock BeatFound specifically within the Deep House selection, this is a classic bass kick drum thud for underpinning electronic dance grooves. If you want that pounding heartbeat to hang everything off from start to finish then this is one of the few that it has.

4: Left Coast Muted GuitarThis rapid-fire, percussive guitar loop is synonymous with getting a Stevie Nicks and latterly Destiny’s Child feel. Perfect as a staccato intro or break for ramping up musical anticipation, it remains stylistically simple enough to copy or rework where required.

8: Woody Latin Bass 05This 16-beat rolling bass groove has a Latin feel but the phrasing would equally suit any upbeat, strutting tune. The pattern is so uniform and symmetrical it can loop infinitely, while being MIDI-based you could add notes to vary it up and create fills.

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Top ten GarageBand loops

10: Middle Eastern Oud 1This 8-beat real instrument loop may be too distinctive to add as it is, but the exotic hook is highly inspirational. Arabic in flavour, the haunting string-based lick has its own hypnotic rhythm that works fast or slow, instantly adding an atmospheric world music theme.

9: Orchestra Strings 12The longest of the Orchestra Strings loops found in the basic GarageBand library is almost a mini symphony. Great for dropping a classical texture, the ensemble instrumentation and undulating melody can be spliced up to simplify and cut out the signature.

Loop indexesGarageBand indexes your loops in your library by certain types along with additional Jam Packs. These will include loops you have from previous versions, and selecting the first ‘Loops’ item shows all those available on your system

Adding loops to your projects

2: Green and blue loopsThe loops you’ve fi ltered out of the library will be listed below it. Green ones are MIDIs and can be set to any software instrument. Blue ones can’t be changed.

1: Filter your categoriesOpen the Loops library. Click the musical note icon to see the categories, then pick just the categories that you want to use.

3: Drag them aroundTo add loops to your project, simply drag and drop them in. To build chains of loops, you can select a few in a row and then Alt-drag to duplicate them.

Loop BrowserA grid of filtering buttons enables you to toggle which types of loop are listed below. This lets you quickly narrow down the library by mood, genre and instrument, along with your own chosen favourites

Loop listSelected loops can be ordered here by name, beats or tempo, and a favourites flag. As you scroll through this list and click, the loops will preview at the volume level set by the slider below. Drag one into a project to add it

124 The Mac Book

It’s easy to create stylish documents, spreadsheets and slideshows with a Mac

iWork140

166

126

Use tables and graphs

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126 Get creative with iWork

Use Pages, Numbers and Keynote

Pages138 Build documents from templates

Create a CV, report or newsletter in Pages

140 Use tables and graphs

Add statistics to your documents

142 Wrap text around photos

Add pixel-perfect imagery to your Pages

144 Approve changes in

shared documents

Keep an eye on amendments

146 Fix images with Pages’ advanced tools

Enhance your images from within Pages

148 Export Pages documents for other apps

Save your documents for Microsoft Offi ce

Numbers150 Create a spreadsheet

Make your fi rst spreadsheet

152 Create a customise chart

Use functions for 3D charts

154 Add media and charts

Make your spreadsheets more eye-catching

156 Use formulas to make

quick calculations

Make Numbers do the hard work for you

158 Use bespoke formulas

Manage fi nances with individual formulas

“They provide a formidable working solution”

162

Bring your data to life

150

Create a spreadsheet

160 Filter important information

Display your data more clearly with fi lters

162 Bring your data to life

Animate your Numbers contents

163 Compare data with linked sheets

Organise large amounts of data

164 Track your weight loss

Get in shape and track your progress

Keynote166 Create stunning presentations

Make your presentations in style

168 Animate slides for

memorable keynotes

Bring your slides to life with animations

170 Play videos inside Keynote presentations

Include videos in your Keynotes

172 Top ten Keynote animations

Our guide to the best animations on off er

170

Play videos inside presentations

168

Animate slides in Keynote

146

Fix images with Pages

iWork

126 The Mac Book

Get creative with iWork

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Our special guide to getting creative with Apple’s brilliantly revamped iWork suite. Lots has changed,

and it’s all for the better, as we show you…


Last year, Apple announced a much-anticipated

update to what has traditionally been known as

the iWork suite. This specialised trio of software

apps transcends OS X to bring productivity

solutions across desktop and iOS. The new 2013 line-up of

Pages, Keynote and Numbers all arrive with new features

for mastering the ‘business’ end of your workfl ow.

More specifi cally, these premium apps represent

powerful toolsets for crafting professional presentations,

documents and spreadsheets. Inevitably compared with

equivalents such as Microsoft Offi ce, Apple naturally off ers

improved integration within a native platform. Ease of

use and sharp presentation layers are matched only by

the ability to seamlessly share and collaborate. Moving

from Mac to iPad or iPhone couldn’t be simpler thanks to

revamped apps and built-in iCloud features.

Together these apps provide a formidable working

solution, but in isolation they off er more than enough for

Mac users of all levels. Pages goes beyond word processing

to represent a much broader desktop publishing

experience. From articles, stationary, fl yers, greetings

cards and newsletters, the possibilities for creative writing

are endless. Keynote then combines many of the same

principles, providing a canvas for crafting dazzling dynamic

presentations. Text, imagery, video and interactive charts

are wrapped in the kind of cinema-quality transition eff ects

guaranteed to capture attention. Speaking of charts,

Numbers eff ortlessly handles the kind of spreadsheet and

data reporting capabilities invaluable to professionals. There

really has never been a better time to explore the new

features of iWork. We’ve given you a head-start in

this feature.

iWork

128 The Mac Book

Where do you turn when you want to create a

document, a poster or a fl yer on your Mac or iOS

device? If your fi rst answer was anything other than

‘Pages’ then you’re missing out. Apple’s document

creation tool is not only built specifi cally to take

advantage of your device’s strengths, it’s also designed

to slot beautifully into your workfl ow, integrating iPhoto,

iMovie and iTunes content, and sync instantly via iCloud

to all your devices.

Since its original launch back in 2005, Pages has been

a lot more than just Apple’s answer to Microsoft Word,

and for many of those that use a Mac, iPhone or iPad, it’s

the fi rst port of call for all kinds of tasks. With the latest

version, your content is even easier to create and manage

thanks to a selection of neat upgrades and a new

interface. Learn the new interface here, then fl ick over the

page to fi nd out how to take advantage of the amazing

new features and create some fantastic content.

PagesUse the new power of Pages to create amazing documents on your Mac, iPad or iPhone

“With the this version, your content is even easier to create”

Complete controlThe right-hand side of the top toolbar holds all the controls you need to change elements of your document. The paintbrush lets you change the appearance of items, while the wrench enables you to change your document layout. Meanwhile, the ‘+’ button gives you the option to add all kinds of objects and media

Sharing optionsSharing options have been simplified slightly for the new Pages. You have the option to share with another user using iCloud, open your document in another app, or send a copy of the document using more conventional means, including iMessage, Mail or AirDrop

User interfaceLike Apple’s other first-party apps, Pages has been given a makeover to fit in more naturally with the new look and feel of iOS 7. The new, cleaner design uses transparency and a simplified layout in the top bar to make the controls you need easier to find

Instant access formattingIn Pages for iPad, all of your most-used formatting options are available right above the keyboard. It might seem like a small change, but it saves a lot of time that would otherwise be taken with you reaching to the top of the screen

ePub exportIf you want to save your Pages documents and view them in full-screen outside of the app, you can now export them as ePub files and open them up in iBooks.

Coaching tipsIf you get confused at any time, or just want to know what a button does, you can hit the question mark icon and get a range of tips on how to use the app.

Brand-new templatesYou’ll find more than 60 templates in the iOS version, with a range of document types on offer. Whether you’re writing a CV or creating a poster, you’ll find what you need.

Top three iOS features


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Media integrationPages has always worked perfectly alongside Apple’s other creative apps, and you can now click the media button in the top toolbar to access all your iPhoto images, iTunes music and iMovie projects

Preset stylesPages has had preset styles for a while, but they are now even easier to access and play with, thanks to the intuitive Format panel. Whether you’re working with text, creating a table or adding images, there are plenty of ready-made options to try out

Add more contentAlong the top of the interface you’ll find buttons that let you quickly add content to your document. Clicking each icon will open up a pop-up menu offering a range of options for each different selection

Format panelThe new Formatting panel sits on the right of the window, and is content-sensitive, meaning it adapts to offer the correct controls for the item you have currently selected. You’ll only see what you need, making it easier to work

Enhanced trackingOn Mac, there have been big enhancements to change tracking and comments, giving you options to record your changes and then show the alterations on mouse-over.

Simple setupA new Setup panel that replaces the Format panel on the right when selected, offers an easier system for organising your page, with dedicated controls for the whole document.

Top three OS X features

Conditional highlightingThis new feature makes it simple to automatically highlight specific cells in a table based on numbers, text, dates and durations, so you can pick out vital information instantly.

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When you’re working on a document over a long period time, or proof-reading a document that someone has sent to you for some help with, the change tracking and commenting tools are really useful. In Pages, you can record the changes you make and add comments to any part of the interface, and these will appear unobtrusively on the document your friend receives.

1: Add a commentTo add a comment, simply highlight any text or select an object on the page and click this button in the toolbar, then write your comment.

2: Start trackingThis bar will appear below the main toolbar, and you can hit the Track Changes button over on the right to start following everything you do.

4: View changesWhen you send the document back, they will be able to track the changes you’ve made, and tap the highlighted areas to see comments.

3: Tracking optionsThere are several options for tracking; firstly you can pause it, but hit the cog and you can accept or reject changes, as well as change the markup colour.

3: Tools of the tradeThe Tools section gives you more document-wide options, including settings like word counts, document setups and rulers. The Print button also resides here.

1: FormatTap anything to select it and then tap the paintbrush icon to change its format. The menu will adapt depending on the item you have selected, so you’ll always have what you need.

2: Add elementThe ‘+’ button, as you might expect, adds items to your document. You’ll be able to add media like music and photos, as well as charts and tables, shapes and pre-styled text boxes.

Master the new Pages

Now that you’ve got to grips with the basics of the new Pages, you can start to use the fantastic

new features to create some brilliant work. Whether you’re a newcomer to the power of Pages

and want to learn a little more about what it can do, or if you’ve used Pages for years, we’ve got

something for you. One of the big bonuses of the app is that it syncs so eff ortlessly between OS X and iOS, so

whether you’re using your Mac or your iPad, many of these tutorials still apply. And don’t forget, even those

using a PC can enjoy many of the features we’ve explored below using the iWork for iCloud beta that

is accessible online. When you’ve mastered the new app, fl ick over to page 26 to fi nd out more

about iCloud integration in the new iWork.

Pages’ new features go under the creative spotlight

Pages Using the Pages toolbar

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When you’re working on a document, it’s always best when all the features look uniform across the board, and utilise the same styles throughout. And because doing this manually can take a long time, it’s much quicker to create a number of custom styles that can be applied with a click. That way, you know when you’re writing a title or subheading, you’ll be able to style it up correctly in seconds.

2: Add styleWith the text still selected, choose the Text section of the Format panel, click the down arrow next to the Paragraph Style and click the ‘+’ icon to add it.

1: Edit your styleStart by creating a style for your text. Edit the font, size and colour, and add any Character styles you want.

Edit images in PagesCustomise images to get more from your photos

StylesThe first port of call when you edit a shape is the Styles tab. You can use it to add borders, shadows or reflection to your shots, and alter the opacity.

Instant AlphaGo to Image>Instant Alpha feature. Click it, then click and drag on a colour to remove the colour completely and create a transparent background.

Quick enhanceYou can boost the Exposure and Saturation using the respective sliders in the Image tab, or click the Enhance button to quickly improve the shot.

Shape and sizeThe Arrange tab holds all the options for altering the behaviour of the image in question, from how it reacts to text, to the size and rotation of the photo.

iOS export and sharing options

Choose the formatChoose an export option and you’ll be prompted to select a format. The options include Pages, ePub, PDF and Microsoft Word.

DocumentsBack out of any document you’re currently editing and see all your files by hitting the Documents button.

Share itTo export, tap the Share button, and choose Send a Copy. Select the document you want to export; do that with a single tap.

Pages Create personalised presets

“Create a number of custom styles”

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Numbers has long been the tool of choice for Mac

and iPad owners looking to keep track of their

monthly budgets or plan a party, and it has just had

a major refresh to make it even better. The key

attraction Numbers has over spreadsheet apps like Excel

is that it has a canvas-based approach, and

doesn’t restrict you to a grid when you want to use it.

By dragging images, text objects and your charts

around the space, just like you can in Pages, Numbers

makes it easy for you to create beautiful documents

that you’d be proud to share with anyone – even

your accountant. The new Numbers gives you even

more control over style and design, and now that

the formulas have been simplifi ed they’re even easier

to use.

With the new Numbers, Apple proves that spreadsheets don’t need to be boring

Sharing workClick here and you can choose to send a copy of your document via Mail, Messages or AirDrop, or you can opt to send a link via iCloud to social networks Facebook and Twitter

Coaching TipsIf you’re finding the new interface a little disorienting, don’t worry. Just click this button and small pop-overs will appear on the screen, explaining everything that’s being displayed

New templatesThere are now 31 templates, broken down into the Basic, Personal Finance, Personal, Business and Education categories. Hit File>New and you’ll be taken to the Choose a Template screen

Simple toolbarAs with Pages and Keynote, Numbers has a toolbar along the top that lets you quickly add elements to your document. Here, it’s functions, tables, charts, text, shapes, media and comments

Chart StylesIt’s easy to change the look of your charts. Select one, hit the Format panel and you’ll see the available presets at the top. Click to select a style, then tweak it further below

Chart TypeYou can use this drop-down to change the type of the chart you’ve got selected at any stage. The new 2D Bubble chart lets you compare three different axis at once

Conditional FormattingSimply select a cell, click Conditional Formatting at the bottom of the Format panel’s Cell tab, then choose some rules. Here, we add a green fill if the number is above a certain value

Format panelThe new Format panel intelligently updates to give you all the options related to whatever you’ve selected. Here, we’ve got a chart selected, so we can customise it in the Format panel

Numbers


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The update really smartened up Numbers, and made

it easier than ever before to navigate through your

documents, add data and then create charts to help

visualise it. Here we’re going to take a look at some of the new

things that you can do, like browse through a tabbed interface

rather than the clumsy sidebar we used to have, as well as show

you where all the features that you’re used to are living these

days. It doesn’t take long to get up to speed, and once

you do you’ll never look back.

1: Create a tableClick the Table button in the top bar and then one of the table styles. Once it appears in your document, use the four corner handles to drag and resize it before adding your data.

2: Do some sumsType ‘=’ into an empty cell to add formulas. When you click a cell, as we’ve done here, Numbers names it in plain English. Here we have Actual Kitchen minus Budget Kitchen.

3: Hit the libraryAs you type functions like SUM, the auto-fill will help you find what you’re after. Alternatively, use the Functions panel to search for functions to insert, then click Value to select the data to use.

4: Filter it outIf you want a quick way to drill through your data, use the Filter panel to set rules that will hide all the data not meeting the criteria you set, then switch them off again afterwards.

2: Move the sliderYou’ll notice a new slider beneath your chart – use this to look at a particular value that would have been on the x axis before.

1: Make a chart interactiveIn the Format panel, click on the Chart Type drop-down. Select Interactive Column and watch your chart transform.

Animate your data as you click

Use interactive charts

Working with NumbersNumber-crunching has never been easier

Faster formulas

Numbers makes it simple to get important

information. 1) First create a new tab in

your document by using the ‘+’ in the

new top bar. After that, fill it with all your

data. 2) Now click the Function button to

quickly apply one of the common formulas,

like SUM, to your selected data. 3) When

you’ve got data selected, you’ll also see

some formulas appear in the bottom

Quick Calculations bar. 4) You can add your

favourites to this via the settings button.

4

3

1 2

Numbers Make sense of data

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134 The Mac Book

1: Basic objectsBy combining the common Text, Shape and Media objects you can quickly build up your slides. Each can be manipulated or have styles edited using the Format and Arrange panels.

3: Edit chart dataAs with each style of chart, click the Edit Chart Data button. A table will appear with rows of default data. You can then edit the column headers, data values and add rows as desired.

2: Chart objectsSelect a style from the Chart button and position or resize. The Format Inspector shows controls for custom styling, while 3D charts can be rotated around a centre point.

4: Interactive chartsNew to Keynote, these work in much the same way and can be styled just like other objects. Interactive charts add a scrollbar below, animating based on the supplied data.

Where Pages handles word processing and Numbers does the spreadsheet stuff ,

Keynote is all about the presentations. This latest version streamlines the process while

integrating powerful share options. A clean, clutter-free interface with intuitive tool-tip

support features a centred canvas for composing visually compelling slides. Text,

images, tables and charts can be dropped in and styled rapidly, alongside an all-new

selection of inspirational themes. Improved animation options for objects, cinematic

slide and Magic Move transitions all add to a professional experience. Projects can also

be edited across the Mac OS X and iOS 7 apps with consistency, sharing instantly via

iCloud and AirDrop. So if you’re sitting comfortably, let’s kick off the Keynote…

Learn how to deliver great presentations with Apple’s new Keynote app

1: Share formatsFrom the Share button you can send a link to the most up-to-date version of your presentation on iCloud. You may also send a copy in Keynote, PDF, PowerPoint and QuickTime movie formats using the available export options.

2: Share methodsiCloud links can be shared via email, iMessage, Twitter, Facebook or simply to your device’s clipboard. Copies may also be sent to Vimeo and YouTube as well as AirDrop for wireless file sharing among nearby devices.

iCloud support ensures seamless sharing across multiple devices

Sharing optionsKeynote Objects and charts

Keynote


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Keynote Animations and transitions

1: Slide transitionsApply basic transitions by selecting a slide and clicking Add an Effect in the Animate Inspector. Choose an effect to see a preview before tweaking Duration and Start Transition.

2: Magic MoveDuplicate a slide containing objects you wish to animate (Cmd+D). Edit the objects on the duplicate slide before clicking Add an Effect and choosing the Magic Move effect on slide one.

3: More optionsSet the Duration as desired and use the Match selector buttons to define how text objects animate. Preview the effect at any time using the button at the top of the Inspector.

InspectorThe context for this panel changes based on the options selected. With Format selected, the Inspector provides styling options for the whole slide or the selected object

Slides panelShown here are the slides currently added, allowing you to reorder them by simply dragging. Add extra default slide designs based on the chosen theme by clicking the ‘+’ button below

Coaching tipsLike each new iWork app you can toggle tool-tip annotations to ‘coach’ new users. By intuitively labelling new features and workspace areas you can master Keynote’s workflow

Share optionsWith a presentation saved to iCloud, you can instantly send a link via email, iMessage, Twitter and Facebook. You can also send a copy to AirDrop in various file formats

ArrangeAdditional tool panels can float around the interface, like the Arrange tools here. With an object selected, you can use the controls to position it more accurately, stack and apply rotation

Add objectsThese five buttons let you add the object types. By adding a combination of Table, Chart, Text, Shape, Media and Comment objects you can quickly produce rich slide designs

The canvasThis is the main area of the user interface and where selected slides are edited. A zoom control sets the preview size and the ratio can be switched to standard or wide

Play buttonInstantly start and preview the current presentation full screen by clicking the Play button. Any applied animations and transition effects between slides will render as you navigate throughout

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136 The Mac Book

2: Email the linkYou’ll be sharing a URL that links to the document in iCloud, and can opt to do so via the usual suspects. For now, tap Mail and email the link out.

1: Share via iCloudOpen up the document that you want to invite people to collaborate on and tap the Share button. Tap Share Link via iCloud then tap Continue.

Apple has been developing iWork for iCloud for

some time now, and with the most recent update

it has become a genuine solution for people who

are working on the same thing over long distances.

Whether it’s making a poster with your band, sharing a

bills spreadsheet with your housemates or designing a

killer Keynote with your colleagues, it’s now really easy

for everyone to work on the same document, at the

same time.

Moreover, with the new unifi ed fi le formats,

documents that you create in Pages, Numbers and

Keynote for OS X now work perfectly with their iOS

counterparts. And since iWork for iCloud all works

from your browser, you can access it from Windows

PCs as well as Macs. Basically, you can create an iWork

document on any of your Apple devices and then

collaborate with people working on diff erent types of

computer. It’s a phenomenal step forward.

Working in the cloud just became a practical, attractive option for people collaborating on documents

We’ve been able to share copies of our documents

for a while now by AirDrop, Mail and Messages, but

with the powerful iWork for iCloud you can now store

the original document in iCloud and invite people to

collaborate on that same version. Even if you don’t have

an iCloud account, or you’re using a PC, you can still use

the browser-based Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps

in iWork for iCloud to access documents that have been

shared with you.

Invite desktop users to collaborate on iPad creations

“Invite people to collaborate on that same version”

Your toolsYou won’t have all the options that you do in the regular Pages, Numbers and Keynote, but the main ones are there. The top toolbar and right-hand panel hold everything you need

iCloud Share your documents through iCloud

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3: Open it upWhen your fellow collaborator clicks on the link in the email you’ve sent, they’ll be taken to the relevant app and the document you’ve shared.

4: See who’s liveBack in the document you sent out, you’ll notice a new Share Settings option under Share. Tap it and you’ll see exactly who’s working on the document.

Collaborate in real time

1: Show yourselfClick the Share button at the top-right to see who else is working on your shared document. Be sure to change your name and tick the Show Activity box so others can see what you’re doing.

2: Jump to cursorsNo matter what your fellow collaborators are doing, you can jump straight to the place they’re working by clicking on their name in the Share button. An indicator will show you where their cursor is.

3: See the changesWhenever someone has selected something, you’ll see it selected on your screen too. Also, if they drag objects around, write or format text, you’ll see it animate on your screen as they do so.

Work with multiple people at the same time

PC friendlyAs long as you’re using an updated, modern browser like Safari 6.0.3+, Internet Explorer 9.0.8+ or Chrome 27.0.1+, you can access iWork for iCloud from a Windows PC. Older browsers aren’t fully supported

138 The Mac Book

iWork

Pages Create publications from templates

At fi rst sight, Pages looks just like a word processor and it’s true that it

can create simple letters and documents. However, there is a lot more

to this application, as it can create visually exciting publications such as

fl yers, posters, newsletters, brochures and much more. The app has been designed

to make the task as easy as possible and this Mavericks edition has some great new

features. For example, there are some fantastic templates to get you started, as very

often creating a publication is just a matter of selecting a template and replacing

the text and images with your own. It’s brilliantly simple. Other new features in this

version include interactive charts, sharing facilities on iCloud and a whole lot more.

Build documents from templatesWhether you need to create a letter, CV, work report or newsletter, Pages is perfect for the job

Time needed:10 minutes


4: Format the textWhen text is selected, the panel on the right provides all the formatting options you need, such as font selection, alignment and so on.

5: Layout optionsSelect the Layout tab in the panel on the right to access features such as multiple columns to give the text a newspaper or magazine look.

6: Expand sectionsMany options are hidden, so click the triangle next to each section heading to expand it. Expand Spacing, for example, for line spacing options.

1: Select a templateWhen Pages is started, click the New Document button to open the template browser. When Pages is open, just select File>New, then pick a template.

2: Edit the textThe template contains text and images, but it’s easily replaced. Double-click on the heading, for example, and type in a new one.

3: Replace the imagesClick the picture icon in the corner or Ctrl-click a photo to replace it with one from your iPhoto library, iCloud or photo stream.

“It can create visually exciting publications; flyers, posters etc”

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Build documents from templates

8: Shapes and textAdd a shape, such as a speech bubble, drag it into position on the page, click inside it and you can easily enter some text.

7: Add shapesClick the Shapes icon in the toolbar to add lines, arrows, curves and predefined shapes. Click the dots at the bottom to view the items.

9: Share itClick the Share button in the toolbar to access the sharing options. The document can be put on iCloud and links shared on Facebook and Twitter.

These document files can be created on your Mac’s disk drive, but there are advantages to storing them in iCloud. For instance, this makes your files available on all your Macs and iOS devices, so you can begin a document on the Mac and continue on the iPad and vice versa. Pages documents shared on iCloud can be accessed by anyone you give the URL to, which means you can get instant feedback.

iCloud sharing

Interactive chartsInteractive data charts can also be placed in your documents. The buttons that are displayed next to them enable you to step through different data values and instantly see the changes in action

Sharing optionsYou can share links to the file on iCloud where it can be accessed with a web browser. Alternatively the file can be sent via Mail, Messages or AirDrop. This makes accessing it far simpler

The toolbarThe toolbar lists all the items you can insert into a document, such as shapes, photos, music and movies, charts and tables. Hidden comments can be added too, for help during the design process

Style and layoutThe Style and Layout tabs automatically change depending on the text or object that’s currently selected. This whole panel is replaced with new options when working with charts and photos

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Pages Deal with numbers in Pages

Pages is not an obvious app to use when it comes to numbers and

statistical data, but you may be surprised to learn that it is in actual

fact highly adept at such tasks. There is a simple, but useful, table facility

built in, which will let you present data in the cleanest of ways with a host of visual

options that let you fi t it to the style of the document you are creating. Despite

there being no specifi c calculation functions, you will fi nd that for many tasks it

does the job well and is quicker than using the complementary Numbers app.

Here’s our quick guide.

Use tables and graphsPages can be used for many statistical purposes without the need to open up Numbers…



4: The numbers You can now input all of the data you require just as you would in a Numbers spreadsheet. You will need to do calculations manually.

5: A finished table The table will now be shown within the document and can be edited by simply tapping it. All of these changes are done by clicking and dragging.

6: Choose a chart Click on the Charts icon at the top of the screen and scroll through the pages to choose the design that you want to use to present your data.

1: Not just words When you first open up Pages, there is little indication that it can deal with more than text. A look deeper, however, reveals much more.

2: A new table Click on the Tables icon on the top bar and then scroll through the screens to choose a table layout. Clicking on it will place it in your Pages document.

3: Rows and columns Click on the list icon below the columns and click the arrows to select how many rows and columns you require. These can be changed at any time.

“The built in table facility will let you present data”

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Use tables and graphs

Charts You can choose from many different 2D and 3D chart styles and present them in any way you like. Make them large, small, colourful or monochrome. It’s totally up to you…

7: A new chart The chart will now be placed in the document, but will have no valid data attached to it. Tap it and then select Edit Data to start entering your numbers to it.

8: Make it work You can now enter your data in a new table or copy and paste from data you have. The process is very quick, but can be a little fiddly. Patience is needed!

9: The final table The completed chart will be inserted into the document where you can edit it to fit in with your style. Just click and drag it to move position.

Use the words Pages is a word processor and you can use words and formatting to complement everything that is shown in the your document. Used wisely, these are very powerful features

The iconsThe icons at the top are home to all of the charting and table features you need. You choose the styles you want to use and to then get on with the serious business of adding data

Tables Tables are created manually and there are no built-in calculations, but the end result is often easier to read than line after line of bland statistics and numbers

The chart and table features in Pages are very useful for presenting data logically, but you can also utilise Numbers and copy columns and rows for inclusion in documents. Sometimes, particularly with data that needs complex calculations, this method can work best. For basic presentation, the features within Pages will work just fine for most day-to-day tasks.

Numbers and Pages

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iWork

Wrap text around photos Add personality, professionalism and pixel-perfect imagery to your documents

You will have more text alignment options available to you if the image you are using has an alpha channel embedded into it. This transparency setting will let you insert text over transparent areas to make the presentation stand out even more. Be careful not to overdo the text over an image because it can easily become too cluttered.

Text over images

The ability to pick up any image from Finder or the web and drop it into

a Pages document is what makes the app unique. Your text will fl ow

around the image automatically, and the temptation to spend a few seconds

positioning it and then leave it is great. However, the margins between a good

document and a great piece of work are small, and if you spend time exploring the

formatting features available for images, you will be rewarded with an end result that

will look far more professional. From arranging a mask to editing the spacing, all small

things to give your document a better visual feel.

We will guide you through each formatting tool on off er and also give advice

on how best to utilise them. With some care and common sense, you will have

everything you need to create documents that stand out both visually and

textually. Read on to fi nd out the easiest ways to achieve a professional fi nish on

your documents.



Inspector tabsThe tabs at the top of the Format inspector let you manage image properties, text alignment and even the angle of each image you add to a document. You really do have full control over your project

To the pointYou can manage borders and every part of the text alignment in tiny detail, down to single points. This lets you create pixel-perfect documents if you take the time to do so

Visual inspectionPages lets you visually move images and will automatically adjust the text accordingly, but the tools in the Format inspector will let you ensure consistency over the entire document

Tweak imagesThe mask facility lets you crop photos and remove specific areas without actually changing the original image. It merely changes the way it looks within the final document

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Wrap text around photos

Surrounding shapesThe right-hand Text Fit icon surrounds non-rectangular images with text on every side, you need to manage the spacing carefully. Adjustments will be required.

Instant AlphaIf you insert an image with a subject in white space, click Instant Alpha. Click the white background when prompted and text will automatically fill the space.

Protect your workWhen you are happy with the image placement, click the lock icon in the Format inspector. No image changes can then be made until ‘unlock’ is clicked.

Use the mask Click the left icon to zoom in using the slider. The image will not overflow the mask, but the text will adjust if you increase the image size to fill the new size.

Text arrangement To change how the text surrounds the image, click the Arrange tab in the Format inspector and select Text Wrap. Experiment to see which looks best.

Spacing is importantThe Spacing option under Arrange lets you define the exact spacing around images. Use the smallest spacing possible for a professional effect.

Manipulating imagesImport an image then drag one of the corner handles on the image to resize and position it. Carefully monitor how the text automatically adjusts around it.

Move with text If you plan to add text, select Move with Text in the Format inspector’s Arrange tab to keep the text surrounding the image aligned with it.

The mask sizeDouble-click the image to display the masking bar. Click the right icon and drag a handle to adjust the mask to the dimensions that you want the image to fill.

Pages Mix text and photos

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iWork

Pages Track changes and comments

One of the main issues when collaborating on a project is making changes

and then losing track of them. This can lead to confusion and a waste of

vital productivity time, but thanks to the ability to track changes and leave

comments, you and your collaborators will always be on top of the changes made.

The feature enables you each to make changes and add comments in diff erent

colours in order to log who has done what. Each change has to be accepted or rejected

by the author, so that there is some order to the process, and the total number of

changes and comments is displayed in the toolbar at the top of the screen, keeping you

aware of how much editing has been done. Here’s the inside track on how it all works.

Approve changes in shared documentsKeeping an eye on edits and comments lets you follow all the amendments being made



4: iCloudFor the best results use iWork for iCloud, where you can share a file for anyone with the access link. Click Share>Share Link via iCloud and then Email.

5: Accept changes Now your pages will begin to fill with edits. As the author, you have the power to overrule them thanks to the Accept and Reject buttons in the toolbar.

6: Comments There are also comment bubbles that can be put in, in order to emphasise a change or suggest one to another collaborator on the document.

1: DocumentOpen or create the file you need in Pages using one of the templates that the app supplies when you open it.

2: EditOnce your first draft is complete, you need to enable the Track Changes functionality. To do this, click on Edit, then Track Changes to get started.

3: Track changes This introduces a new toolbar and this is where you can accept and reject changes as well as keep a tally of what has changed.

“Your collaborators will always be on top of changes made”

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Approve changes in shared documents

Accept or reject?As the author of the document, you have the power to accept or reject alterations that are made to the file in question. Doing so changes how the tweak appears in the document; reverting back to before the now-rejected edit, or if accepted, removing any colour associated with an edit so that it becomes part of the final text. Here’s a closer look at the Accept/Reject feature. 1: Change

Any time you make a change to the shared document, or click on one that has previously been made, the Accept and Reject options will appear in the Track Changes toolbar at the top of the Pages screen.

2: Decision time Click the Accept option and the edit in question will change colour to match that of the rest of the body text, and is no longer an edit. Click Reject and the text or image will revert straight back to the previous version.

The Track Changes setup is the ideal place to utilise the brilliant iWork for iCloud feature, with multiple users able to edit a single document at the same time. It works by enabling the author to send a link via an email or otherwise, to others who can then access the file via a web browser. All editing then takes place ‘live’ with the author having final approval.

iCloud

Edit The Edit option in the desktop menubar is where you need to go in order to find the Track Changes option that will enable you to turn on this feature

Tracking

When you enable Track Changes, a new bar appears within your document that gives you all the key information about how many changes have been made, as well as shortcuts for comments

Share Under the Share icon you will find the option to share your work via iCloud. This enables others to seamlessly access and collaborate on the document with you – an ideal setup for utilising Track Changes

Comments Click this option to insert speech bubble-like boxes into the document where you can discuss edits and potential changes that need to be made. These can also be used to suggest and justify alterations

“You have the power to accept”

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iWork

Pages Get more from your photos

Pages is more than just a text editor – it is perfect for editing your

images too. You don’t need to use specifi c image editing software to make

extensive changes to photos because, within the Pages app itself, you have

an array of editing tools at your fi ngertips. There is a selection of basic editing options

but this tutorial focuses on how you can use the more advanced editing tools to really

manipulate your images to suit your document’s needs.

We will explore how to easily remove unwanted colours and objects using Instant

Alpha, use a layer mask to crop your photos, and improve colour, tone and saturation.

Finally, we will show you how to adjust your image in fi ner detail using a histogram.

Fix images with Pages’ advanced toolsTransform, improve and enhance your photos with Pages’ little-used image editing tab



4: Crop your imageThe left-hand icon will adjust the image within the mask, the right will adjust the mask. You can also change the size by dragging the image’s edges.

5: Instant AlphaSelect Instant Alpha to remove unwanted colours. Drag your cursor slowly over what you want to remove; hold down Alt as you drag to remove.

6: ExposureUse the Exposure slider control in the Format panel to make the overall image lighter or darker. If you are unhappy with your changes, click Reset.

1: Import an imageClick on the Media icon and select Photos. Select an image. You can also drag and drop any image from Finder. Position the image inside your document.

2: Use the Format panelSelect the image and the Format panel on the right-hand side will change to an image editor. There are three tabs: Style, Image and Arrange. Select image.

3: Edit MaskClick Edit Mask, the Mask toolbar will appear. Use the Mask slider to remove unwanted parts of an image, while keeping the image intact in the background.

“You don’t need to use specific image editing software”

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Fix images with Pages’ advanced tools

8: Auto-enhanceIf you don’t initially feel comfortable using these controls, click Enhance in the Adjustments section. It will automatically enhance your image.

7: SaturationUse the slider control in the Saturation section to change the richness of colour in your image. Drag to the right to make the colours more vibrant.

9: Advanced optionsSelect the Adjust Image icon it will show you more advanced controls and an image histogram. The histogram shows the tonal range in your image.

The new intelligent Format Inspector appears in the right-hand side of your document. This panel will change its selection of tools depending on what you have selected in your document. When you click on an image, you are instantly offered the tools for image editing; select some text and your text formatting controls will appear. It makes swapping between text and image editing a breeze.

Format Inspector ContrastUse the Contrast slider to adjust the contrast of light and dark tones in your image. You can also adjust exposure and saturation in this section. The levels on the histogram will change as you adjust the sliders

LevelsUse the Levels slider to adjust the levels of light and dark tones. Your histogram will ideally rise gently from the left, peak in the middle and drop down again on the right, reflecting a full range of tones, and no loss of detail

De-noiseUse the De-noise slider to smooth out the grainy quality of the image. In this section you can also adjust highlights and shadows to increase detail, and increase the sharpness of the focus

Colour temperatureIncrease or decrease the yellow and blue in your image by adjusting the Temperature slider, and use Tint to adjust the amount of red and green

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Export Pages documents for other appsSave your Pages documents in different formats so they play nicely with Microsoft Office

The latest version of Pages is brilliant for creating beautiful

documents and sharing them with your iPad and iPhone, or your other

Macs, via iCloud. However, it doesn’t play quite as nicely with other apps,

as the documents it saves are stored in a unique fi le format that cannot be easily

opened elsewhere.

Thankfully, there are some tricks you can use to make your document more

compatible, and give others a chance to view your work even if they don’t own an

Apple device and the Pages app. Whether you need to export to a Microsoft Offi ce

fi le (.doc), send your document to users who haven’t upgraded to the latest version of

Pages, or want others to be able to view your fi le as a PDF or as an eBook, it’s a quick

and easy process.



When you’ve clicked the Save as PDF option, you’ll have a little extra information to fill into the Save dialog that pops up. Along with a title, you can also choose to add an author (which will automatically be the name of your user account), a subject and keywords to make finding your PDF easier later. These settings are optional, so don’t feel you have to fill each one in.

Author, subject and keywords

Customise settingsThe Print settings that you choose from the various menus will decide the final look of your PDF. Make sure everything is how you want it, including borders and alignment, before you hit Save

PreviewThe Print menu also doubles as a handy preview window for the PDF you’re about to save. You can flick through the pages to see what each will look like, then save when you’re happy with the results

Share PDFYou have a number of sharing options for your PDF without even needing to save. If you immediately want to send it to your friends, you can choose to via iMessage or email

Open or SaveIf you want to immediately check your PDF, you can choose to open it immediately in Preview to see how it looks. Alternatively, you can just hit Save to add it as a file on your Mac or in iCloud

Export documents for other apps

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7: Old-schoolApple changed the file system of documents in the latest version of Pages, to make your file accessible to those yet to upgraded, pick the Pages ’09 option.

8: Name and placeNow you’ll need to give your file a name and select a location for it to be saved. You can still add your file to iCloud even with Word documents.

9: TagsIn Mavericks you can tag all your documents, and these will carry across if you share your files with others using a Mac, even if they’re working in Word.

4: PDF optionsThe PDF section is actually quite simple, with only a Quality drop-down and a checkbox if you want to protect it with a password.

5: Word formatFor the most part, you’ll be using the Word section. Click Advanced options to choose between .doc or .docx, to be sure of optimum compatibility.

6: ePubIf you’re writing a novel or short story, the ePub format will be perfect for you. It will work instantly with iBooks and is compatible with most ebook platforms too.

1: Create your documentCreate a document that you need to share. Some fonts and effects are exclusive to Pages, so don’t add too many strange formatting options to your file.

2: File>Export ToWhen you’ve saved your document, click File in the menubar and hover your cursor over the Export To option so you can view the available Export options.

3: Pick anythingYou’ll see that you have five choices from the menu – they all take you to a menu where you can select the others, too.

Pages Create useful Pages exports


Numbers Get to grips with spreadsheets

Spreadsheets may scare you and with good reason – they are not

always easy to use. Microsoft Excel is a very powerful spreadsheet

program, but it’s complex. So is Numbers, but it delivers all of the functions

you need in the simplest way possible and it even off ers up explanations to help

you out.

With a range of templates and the ability to add tables, resize them, calculate and

choose from a range of maths options, you will soon be populating your tables with

reams of data.

You aren’t confi ned to one sheet either, as you can edit multiple ones at once by

selecting the Sheet button in the toolbar. Numbers makes it easy to work with each

one, providing you with a tabbed options pane. In this tutorial we take you through

the bet way to create a new spreadsheets and to present your information to those

who may need to view it.

Create a spreadsheetEnsure your data is well presented and calculates perfectly with Numbers spreadsheet features



4: Resize tablesBy using the arrow icon in the bottom-right-hand corner of a table, you can resize it. Refer to the row and column numbers for guidance.

5: Alter the coloursNow choose cells to colour. Click the Cell tab, click Fill and select Alternative. To change alternate row colours, click Alternating Row Colour under Table.

6: Add formulasClick a cell where you want a total to be displayed. For a simple sum, type ‘=SUM’. You’ll need to define cells to work with.

1: Choose a templateFirst choose from a selection of useful, presentable templates. They are sorted by categories including Business, Personal Finance and Education.

2: Input dataWe’ve selected the Basic template. Spreadsheets have rows, columns and cells, so click each cell to add data. You can use words and numbers.

3: Add new tablesAs well as using the table in front of you, try adding more via the Insert>Table navigation. Table types are shown in the right-hand box.

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8: Calculate rowsYou can also calculate rows. Available functions appear in the right-hand panel and each of them is categorised and explained in full.

7: Produce the sumTo multiply the final two boxes by our first, type =SUM(B2x(B3+B4). Copying and pasting this cell speeds the task for the remaining calculations.

9: Change textOf course, spreadsheets aren’t just about numbers. You can control the size, font, wrapping and style of text under the Text tab in the right-hand panel.

When creating a formula for your spreadsheet, you don’t have to type in the table co-ordinate (such as B2, C9 and so on). You can simply start off the formula (ie =SUM) and then click on the cell that you want to form part of the formula, similar to Microsoft Excel. This is very helpful for speeding up the process of calculations and eliminates any potential errors.

Highlight cells

Add functionsIf you want to add a particular function, a table, a chart and more, then just use the toolbar icons at the top of the screen for easy access. This makes creating and adjusting your tables much simpler

TitleTap the word Untitled-Edited at the top of the screen and input a new name that best describes the project or spread you’ll be working on. You can save this to the iCloud and to your Mac

TabsThis window lets you view the options available for the overall table, cells, text and the arrangement of the spreadsheet. Try clicking on each one to discover what editing options it offers

Create a spreadsheet

The tableA table is made up of rows and columns and can be a combination of words and text. You can change the table make-up in the Options window to suit whatever kind of table you’re looking to create

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Numbers Create amazing customised charts

Let’s face it, spreadsheets usually aren’t really all that much fun. They’re

associated with business and when you think of them it’s often in terms

of large sheets of black and white lines fi lled with numbers. Numbers is

Apple’s answer to boring spreadsheets, and it off ers a range of templates and some

truly brilliant graph tools to stop things ever becoming stale. In the updates, the

chart controls have taken another step forward, and alongside 2D and 3D designs,

you can now create interactive charts and graphs that you can click through to see

progressions. Best of all, the simple new interface makes creating these fantastic

charts and customising them with your own designs and colours incredibly easy.

Create a customised chartUse Numbers’ new chart functions to create incredible 3D and interactive charts



4: 2D, 3D or Interactive?Use the three tabs along the top of the menu to switch between 2D, 3D and Interactive charts. Pick the one that suits your data best.

5: 3D manipulationIf you choose a 3D design, use the icon in the centre of the graph to manipulate it. Click and drag it to change the angle of the graph in the 3D space.

6: Axis lines and titlesYou can add titles to each axis in the Axis tab of the Format panel, and in 2D and Interactive charts you can also select whether there are lines on each axis.

1: Data typesThink about the kind of data you’re charting; if it’s percentages or non-sequential numbers, a pie chart is your best choice. Otherwise, use a bar graph.

2: Create a chartSelect the data that you want to use in your chart. Don’t forget to include the axis values, like the months in the leftmost column here.

3: DesignsClick the Chart button in the toolbar with the data selected and swipe left and right to see different colour options. You can change this at any point.

“It offers templates and some truly brilliant graph tools”

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Create a customised chart

8: Change typeTo change to a different design or type, click the chart and use the Chart Type menu in the Format bar to create an interactive over a static 3D design.

7: Edit Data References To change the data used, or add more information to it, click it and select Edit Data References, then drag the corner of the box to add or remove data.

9: Test interactivityWith your interactive chart, adjust your data, and use the bar along the bottom of the graph to test each entry and make sure the data is correct.

Font controlUse the controls in the Format bar to change the fonts across your graph. Axes are all labelled in a default font, but you can change them to anything you want using the drop-down box over here

StylesUse the Styles palette at the top of the Format bar on the right to quickly switch to different preset designs for your chart. If you select a style and change any of the colours or settings, you can save the update, too

Chart OptionsThere are plenty of smaller options to play with, too; whether you want to increase or decrease the gap between bars, change the background or alter the way an interactive chart looks, it’s all here Colours and textures

Click Chart Colors and you’ll see that there are a range of colour settings to choose from, as well as the ability to add textures and images as the backgrounds for your graph’s bars or sections

Apple’s other apps in the iWork suite also include the charting abilities on offer in Numbers. Add a table to your Pages document or Keynote presentation, for example, and you can use the data within it to create any kind of graph, be it 2D, 3D or Interactive. It’s great to see the functionality outside of a standard spreadsheet application.

Other apps


Numbers Make your data pop

Just seeing reams and reams of numerical data on a spreadsheet can

have you grasping for some aspirin. Data, however, can be much better

presented when using a chart. Numbers lets you use the data within a

spreadsheet to produce 2D, 3D and even interactive charts. It also lets you bring in

images, video and music if you want to go the whole hog and make the data

stand out.

There are lots of diff erent charts to choose from, including the favourites bar

and pie. You are able to create one type of chart and then, if you change your

mind, alter it to another without having to reconfi gure the data. You can also

add shadows, alter colours and do so much more to really tailor a chart to

your needs. This tutorial will take you through the best ways to make your

charts more visually stunning and more interesting ways to present

your information.

Add media and chartsDiscover how to add charts, photos and other media to your spreadsheets to help them shine



4: Interactive chartsIt’s also possible to have interactive charts. These take the data and create a slider that presents it bit by bit, which is great for seeing gradual changes.

5: Add a titleIn the right-hand panel tick the box for Title. It will appear within the chart area, so double-click to make alterations to it. Titles can be moved also.

6: Add 3D depthAs well as altering fonts, with 3D charts you can change the depth. Click 3D Scene in the right panel and use the slider next to Chart Depth.

1: Select dataSelect your data from the spreadsheet by highlighting the information you would like to use, then tap on Chart at the top of the screen.

2: Pick 2D or 3DAs well as 2D charts – including bar, line and pie – you can also have them displayed in 3D. Options will appear in the right-hand pane.

3: Change the coloursYou can change the colours or textures of the chart by selecting the coloured box next to Chart Colours. Images can also be used.

iWork


8: Access chart optionsRight-click on a chart to bring up options such as editing chart data, sending it forward and back, duplicating or hiding elements such as the title.

7: Use wedgesSelect a wedge of a pie chart, click the Wedges tab and use the position slider to bring a chunk out. You can alter the data formats too.

9: Add photos/mediaFinally, you can also add photos, music and movies to your spreadsheet. Just click Media and make your choice before positioning it on screen.

You can incorporate a drop shadow into your chart to make it really pop and stand out. This function can be accessed via the right-hand panel and it is possible to select a shadow for the whole chart or for each wedge. The charts can also be rotated by clicking on them and moving the mouse around (or your fingers if you’re using a trackpad). Position the shadow in the way that you want it, then check it works well and confirm.

Add a shadow

DescriptionIf you want to describe a photo or image, then you can do so in this box. This area is also useful for adding copyright information, which is useful for when distributing your spread, or sharing it online

OpacityThis image was more bold and prominent when we introduced it, but here we have used the Opacity function to fade it out for a classier look. Keep playing with the opacity until you get the best result

ExposureYou can alter the exposure and saturation of an image by using the sliders in the right-hand panel under Image. Playing with these two sliders can get a good balance that will best suit your spread

Add media and charts

MaskHere you can edit the mask of the image so that you only view the part that you want to see. Gradually adjust the slider and use the Crop tool to modify, so that only what you want to be seen is visible

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Numbers Add functions to formulas

Once you’ve got a table full of data and created a gorgeous chart to

show you the highlights in an instant, you might be wondering how

you can go one step further and really start to tease the facts from

your fi gures. This is where formulas and functions come in. They might sound

intimidating to the uninitiated, but that shouldn’t put you off .

A formula is essentially a calculation that you are telling Numbers to perform,

and it always begins with an ‘=’ sign. An example might be ‘=A1+A2’, which

tells Numbers to add together the fi gures in the two cells specifi ed. Grab the

spreadsheet here: bit.ly/1gz5SGW.

Use formulas to make quick calculationsNumbers takes the hard work out of formulas, making it easy to run data calculations



4: Start an If statementTap to edit ‘Order More?’. Tap ‘=’, then If from the Logical and Information functions.You can then set each of the fields from the formula template.

5: Set for true and falseSelect ‘if-expression’ and tap the In Stock cell, then add ‘<20’ after. Set ‘if-true’ to ‘true’ from the Logical & Info function, and set ‘if-false’ to ‘false’.

6: Check if trueWe want to know how much our order costs. Add an IF to Order Cost, setting ‘if-expression’ to the ‘Order More?’ cell and adding ‘=true’.

1: Start with simple sumsDouble-tap the first RRP column cell, then tap the ‘=’ key. Now tap the Unit Cost cell beside it and then type in ‘x3’.

2: Add the first functionHit Enter and Unit Cost is multiplied by 3, giving the RRP. Put brackets around your formula. Look in Functions and choose Roundup from Numeric.

3: Get a proper RRPRoundup needs to know what to round to; put a comma after the ‘x3’ and then a 0, which gives a whole number. Now add ‘-0.01’ to the end.

“A formula is a calculation that you are telling it to perform”

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Use formulas to make quick calculations

8: Add the final formulaWe want to work out how much the estimated profit is. Use the same If as before to check whether ‘Order more?’ is true or false.

7: Set true and false againFor ‘if-true’, add a calculation multiplying Unit Cost by 50 to get the total cost. For ‘if-false’, simply enter a blanl space using the space bar.

9: Calculate the profitMake ‘if-true’ the RRP times by minimum order, then put that part of the formula in brackets and subtract Order Cost. Make ‘if-false’ another blank space.

ErrorsIf there is something wrong with your formula then it will be flagged up with the big red ‘!’. If this occurs, click on the cell and then re-evaluate your formula to make sure it is correct

Colour codingWhenever you select a cell containing a formula, any of the other cells that are mentioned in that formula will be colour coded to help you identify them, as shown here

FunctionsAll of the functions you can add to formulas are found in this fly-out menu. You can navigate the categories, as shown here, or access your recently used formulas using the top tab

CommasWith more complex formulas, like If statements, you need to pay attention to the commas. These separate the different fields in your formula, such as ‘if-expression’, ‘if-true’ and ‘if-false’

Once you’ve got the hang of the If statement, you might try using nested Ifs. What this means is that you put one If statement inside another one; for example, in our Order Cost formula we check to see if ‘Order More?’ is true. If you wanted, you could then select ‘if-true’ and tap Functions>If to drop another If statement in place of that ‘if-true’ field.

Nesting Ifs


iWork

Use bespoke formulasManage your finances with simple formulas that work just for you

If you’re new to Numbers, formulas can seem very confusing. However, once you get the hang of them, they really are easy and very effective to use. When you see data such as C1 or E6, all it is referring to is the cell reference. For example, C1 will be the first cell in the third column.

Formulas

Unless you’re lucky enough to be a mathematical genius, anything

regarding the word formula can initially be intimidating and confusing.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a genius to use Numbers as it does all the hard

work for you and even if you have no prior experience of using spreadsheets, the

intuitive toolset available takes all of the stress out of the procedure as you can create

fully-functioning sheets in a matter of minutes.

A formula in a spreadsheet basically refers to how the value of a cell is calculated. So

if C represents a column and 1, 2 and 3 refer to rows, C3 = C1 + C2 would be a basic

formula. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how anyone can use this simple function to

make organising your fi nances simple and eff ective. In this case, we’ll show you how

to plan your budget for a birthday party so you don’t end up overspending. You can

apply the same rules seen here for plenty of other sheets too so start getting to grips

with the tools and you’ll be recording data eff ortlessly in no time.

FormulaThe formula will appear here as you create it or whenever you click in a cell that contains one. Clicking the Formula list option above will open a box at the bottom of the page with a list of all formulas contained within the document

Budget pie chartUse a pie chart in order to break down your budget in a more visually engaging way. To make this chart, just select the Total Cost cells in the budget table (excluding the overall total) and select a chart from the Format bar

FunctionsThis drop-down menu will enable you to add functions such as sums of averages to your formulas. You can also open the Formula editor from here



Table inspectorUse the Table inspector to format your table and make it more visually interesting. Try adding colours to alternative rows to make the data more digestible


Use bespoke formulas

7: Doing the mathClick in the first Total Cost cell and tap ‘=’ to open the Formula editor. Click inside the cell to the immediate left (Per Person Cost) – this will add it to the formula.

8: MultiplicationAdd an asterisk (*) to indicate a multiplication and then click in the Total in party cell. It will automatically multiply 5 x 31. Hit the tick to accept.

9: TotalsThe formula will now have calculated the Total Cost for that item. Repeat this for each item then repeat Step five to get an overall Total Cost of your event.

4: Adding textAdd text to your table by clicking in each cell and typing. This table is going to be your guest list. Include names, contact details and the total number per family.

5: SumThe first calculation is to add up the number of guests. Select the last cell and select Sum from the Function menu. The value will appear in the cell below.

6: BudgetAdd a three-columned table below for the budget. Include a description in the first column and the Per Person Cost in the next. The last is for the Total Cost.

1: Add a tableOpen a template and add a title, images or both. When you’re ready to start adding data, go to the Tables menu and select the Headers option.

2: ResizeResize the table by dragging the handle bars. Delete the rows and columns you don’t need by right-clicking while holding down the Control key.

3: Adding colourAdding colour will make your chart more visually appealing. Highlight headers by selecting the top row and tapping the Fill option on the Format sidebar.

Numbers Create a formula in Numbers

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Filter important informationIf it’s hard to see the numbers that count then your table desperately need filters

Filters are fantastic. They enable you to drill down through your data to fi nd

exactly what you’re looking for in seconds, but without having to manually

search every row. Best of all, they’re non-destructive – once you’ve seen what

you need to see, simply switch off the fi lters you’ve applied and your original table will

be restored.

The way they work is by following rules, identifying which cells match the rules and

which ones don’t. If a cell matches the rule, its row stays in your table; if it doesn’t, the

row is hidden. You might, for example, want to show only rows where the dates are

in the last two weeks, or where a name begins with ‘Chris’. Once you get the hang of

them, you’ll be the master of your tables.



Any or allIf this is set to ‘any filter’, then a row in your table will be shown if it meets the criteria for any of your filters. Note that this means filters, and not the rules they contain

Filters switchIf you want to go back to your original table but don’t want to delete your filters altogether – in case you need them again later – just switch them all off by unchecking this box

You can also make use of empty spaces. Add a new filter, choosing your column header, then pick the Blank category. There are only two rules – ‘is blank’ and ‘is not blank’ – but they’re really useful if you have incomplete tables. You might, for example, be filling in dates as things are completed (like orders) – filter ‘is blank’ to see incomplete items.

Blank filters

Rule typesThe rules can be very specific indeed, and they cover numbers, text, dates and times. It pays to familiarise yourself with the options before you start adding filters

Multiple rulesYou can add multiple rules to each filter by using this ‘or’ button. Bear in mind that if any one of the rules in the filter is met by a row, that row will be displayed

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Filter important information

7: Add a second filterSince you added it with ‘Or’, the two rules are grouped into the same filter. This means either can be true for the row to be displayed. Click the Add a Filter button.

8: Give it a ruleNow add a Numbers rule to your second filter, to identify any entries in the Discount column that are different to ‘1’, which is the full price.

9: Set ‘all’ or ‘any’Your new filter is separated from the other one with dividers in the panel. Currently, either filter can be met to show rows, but you can set this to ‘all filters’.

4: Edit a ruleTo edit a rule, click on of the buttons to change its option. We’ve set it to look for first names using ‘text starts with’, so we get every customer named ‘Chris’.

5: Replace the filterNow for a figure filter – delete your first one. Add a filter for Profit and pick ‘in the top’ from the bottom of the Numbers rules list. Set it to 25 percent and hit Enter.

6: Add another ruleYou’ll now see just the rows that have a Profit figure that’s in the top 25%. If you want to narrow that down, click the Or button and add another field.

1: Open the Filter panelSelect your table, open the Filter panel and then click the Add a Filter button. Select one of your column headers from the drop-down.

2: Add a ruleSince Customer is a text field, select the Text rules heading. To find an exact match for the name, choose ‘is’ and type a name into the space provided.

3: Apply the ruleHit Enter. The table will update to show just the rows containing the Customer name you typed in. You can delete the rule using the Trash icon beside its name.

Numbers Set rules in the Filter panel

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Numbers Make an interactive chart

Numbers makes it easy for you to compare data in your tables by

using an interactive chart. Even better, you can change the data your

chart is using at any time, as well as customise its look. If you’re looking

at how much you’ve spent in a month across diff erent categories, for example, or

trying to visualise the relationship between how far you run each day and your

average pace, interactive charts can help.

In our example, we have created a running log, and the fi rst column lists the

date of each run. By making an interactive chart with, say, the distance and pace

columns, the slider will take you through each run, one at a time, and the data

for each run (ie row) will be displayed. Here are four simple steps to creating an

interactive chart.

Bring your data to lifeBring dull-looking tables to life by animating its contents



3: Slide to seeThe two columns of data that you picked are represented by, in this case, columns. All you need to do is drag the slider and they will animate through each date (ie each row).

4: Drag to changeTo compare different columns, select the chart and click the Edit Data References option. Click to select a column then drag its selection over a different column.

1: Choose the dataWith some data already inputted, select two columns of data to compare. Here we have two charts for distance and pace, so we’re going to make a single one instead.

2: Make the chartClick the Chart button in Numbers’ top bar, select the Interactive option and then browse to find a column chart style that you like the look of. Drag and drop the chart into your canvas.

Flip the seriesThis handy trick lets you see your two selected columns of data on their own again

1: Plot Rows as SeriesAt the moment, our slider takes us up and down the dates of our runs. Click on the Edit Data References option and then change the drop-down menu in the lower-left corner to Plot Rows as Series.

2: Trend watchNow you’ll find that the slider only has two stops, one for each selected column of data, while the dates are given a column each in the chart. It’s a great way to see trends at a glance, and so quick to implement.

Compare data with linked sheets

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Numbers Organise multiple sheets

In the Numbers app, you can have multiple sheets within one

spreadsheet to organise your tables, charts and other data, and the

amount of sheets you can have is endless. Click on the ‘+’ icon in the top-left

corner to add sheets as tabs across the top, so that you can easily switch between them.

Rename your sheets by double-clicking them, and reorder them by dragging a tab to

the left or right. Move your cursor over the end of a tab to duplicate or delete the sheet.

Once you have your sheets set up, you can link them together. This can be useful for

monitoring budgets, transactions, or collating information into one summary or master

sheet – great for comparing your data. In this tutorial we will show you how easily you

can do this.

In this tutorial we shall show you how to organise your multiple

sheets, inserting your formulas and linking between the sheets.

Let’s begin!

Compare data with linked sheetsNumbers is perfect for organising large amounts of data



3: Add multiple sheetsClick the ‘+’ to add more sheets. Name your sheets, enter your data, setting up formulas if you need, and then name the table and column and row headers.

4: Link between sheetsOn your Summary sheet, create a function; this time select the cells in the other sheets that you want to include. You will then see your formula in the bar.

1: Set up a sheetEnter your data into a blank table. Rename your sheet and table, and your column and row headers. Use formulas to link up cells within your sheet.

2: Insert formulasClick the Function button and select an option to insert a formula, or select ‘Create Formula’ to manually create your formula. Hit the green tick.

Name a table, row and columnWhen linking between sheets ensure your tables, rows and columns are named appropriately for clarity in the Formula bar

1: Unnamed Give your table a name and tick the ‘Table Name’ box in the ‘Headers & Footer’ section of the Format panel. Then name your row and column headers. Repeat for all your sheets.

2: Link your sheetsSelect a cell that is linked. The Formula bar will show the name of the table, rows and column headers. If you do not name your table, the sheet name will appear instead.

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Track your weight lossWant to get in shape this summer? Motivate yourself by watching your progress in Numbers

There are two things you need in order to achieve in life: goals and the

motivation to reach them. One goal that many of us share is to improve

our health and fi tness, and this usually involves losing a few of those

surplus pounds and exercising a little more. Numbers can’t help you in the muscle

department, but it can help you stay focused.

In this tutorial, we’re going to take a blank canvas and then build our very own

weight loss tracker. We’ll be using BMI calculations to fi gure out what range your target

weight should be in, creating a simple table that you can drop your dates and weights

into on a regular basis, and displaying all this info in a smart chart. Follow the steps to

make your own trackers.



164164

Table stylesThe built-in table styles are a good place to start, but you’ll want to use the Format tab to tweak things to taste. We’ve changed the font colour here and also changed the transparent cell fills to white BMI calculations

If you know what your ideal weight is, consider removing this table altogether. Otherwise, you might try linking the target cell in the goals table to the Ideal cell here to get a BMI-perfect target

Hidden columnsOnce you’ve created your chart, you don’t need to see the target weight column any more (it’s only used to create that blue rectangle). Simply right-click on it and choose the Hide Column option

Motivational imageAdd a sporty photo of yourself to motivate you in the weeks ahead. Also decide your layout, using the top-left handles to drag objects around and paying attention to the yellow alignment guides that appear

We’ve added highlighting rules to our Progress column so that each 25% of the weight-loss journey is given a different colour, with a fifth colour applied to the finishing line and beyond. To do the same, select the column and click the button at the bottom of the Format panel’s Cell tab. Now click Add a Rule at the top and re-create the rules shown in this annotation.

Conditional formatting

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Track your weight loss

7: See how far you’ve comeSet the Progress column’s cell format to %. You should now be at 0% on day one and 100% when you reach your target. To see how we added the colours.

8: Make your chartSelect your weight and target columns and then make a filled line chart (2D). If the weight line is covering up the target line, swap the columns over in the table.

9: Tidy it upGo to Format>Axis>Value (Y) and set the Min value to 60. For Category (X), delete the Label References then select your data cells. Set a Right Diagonal Label Angle.

4: Set up your recordPut Date, Weight, Target and Progress for your headers. Fill in the first two on a regular basis. Link the cells under Target to your target weight in the 2x2 table.

5: Calculate your progress 1 For Progress, we’re going to work out how far from your target weight you are as a fraction of the total weight lose. Type in weight B2 minus target C2.

6: Calculate your progress 2 Put it in brackets. Divide it by (in brackets) start weight A2 minus target B2 (in the 2x2 table). Put it in brackets and then subtract it from 1. Repeat the formula.

1: Set your targetTo help work out what your target weight should be, we’re going to work backwards from the healthy BMI range. Make a 2x4 table then input your height.

2: Calculate ideal weightsBMI is weight divided by height squared, so rearrange to calculate weight. In the next cell, type: =18.5*(A2*A2). For Ideal/Max, replace 18.5 with 21.7 and 24.9.

3: Show your goalNow make a 2x2 table and type in your start and target weights. After that, make a third table with four columns and lots of rows.

Numbers Make a weight loss tracker


Keynote Make a presentation

Getting the chance to showcase your best ideas to those senior

to you at work is not an opportunity you ever want to miss, and

getting it right is crucial. Keynote has been designed to make

that possible by placing eye-catching and powerful presentations within

your grasp.

Keynote is now also a very good place for collaborative work thanks to iCloud

settings that enable you and colleagues to work on the same project together, with

updates appearing in real time as you work on Mac or PC. Furthering the seamless

collaborative eff ort is also the ability to save documents as PowerPoint fi les,

meaning you can access them anywhere. All this, combined with Apple’s templates

and themes means that creating something memorable has never been more

accessible, letting you really make an impact on that big presentation that you have

to make. Read on to fi nd out how.

Create stunning presentationsUse Keynote and its central tools to put your ideas across in dazzling style



4: Charts and Tables Add charts to display information. You can add 3D and interactive charts, the latter allowing different layers of information to be gradually unveiled.

5: AnimateTo animate, select text or an image, then click Animate. The column below gives you various actions, and you can set an order for each item.

6: FormatThe Format panel options let you tweak finer details. Use them to edit image saturation and exposure, and to change text the style and add effects.

1: ThemeThe first step is deciding on a theme. Select one of the options and click Choose, but it’s worth noting you can change theme at any point.

2: TextThe theme will come with its own text style, but you can alter this by using the Format panel on the right.

3: MediaTo add media to your slide, click the Media icon and choose from Photos, Music and Movies. Use the snapping features to centralise images.

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8: SetupClick Setup then Audio to record narration. You can also use this section to edit the slide size to widescreen and change the overall theme.

7: Slide orderBe sure to take advantage of the Slide viewer in the far-left column of the screen. Here you can click on any slide and drag it to a new position.

9: ShareClick Share and then ‘Share Link via iCloud’ to create a URL that enables others to edit your presentation. You can also share via social networks and AirDrop.

Explaining data is a vital part of any presentation, and the interactive charts within Keynote are an ideal platform for doing this. There is a great selection of interactive charts that enable you to plot a series of data in a single chart and see it seamlessly evolve with the results.

Topping the charts

SharingOne of Keynote’s best features is the level of accessibility it offers, and this is highlighted through the sharing options. Use iCloud to collaborate with others or send a single copy over email or even via social networks

FormattingUse these tools to change how different objects within your presentation look, as well as choose to animate entire slides or just particular aspects of each one

ContentWhen it comes to making your presentation stand out and grab the viewer’s attention, the icons in the centre of the header are of vital importance. You can create your own shapes and text boxes as well as use templated tables and charts

Create stunning presentations

Blank canvasAlthough there are different templates to choose from for each individual slide, you can select a blank slide and fill it out with content as you see fit. Keynote has snapping features that help to line up image and text placement so each slide looks the part

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Keynote Animating your Keynote slides

Every time you step up to deliver a presentation you want it to dazzle

– that’s why you turn to Keynote in the fi rst place. The templates and

design mean that your slides grab attention instantly, but there is so much

more you can do.

Using animations, you can add a sequence to each of your slides, creating an

order in which your text and images appear, allowing you to speak around them,

adding structure to your presentation. This tutorial will take you through the key

aspects of bringing your slides to life, including how to put an in-an-out sequence

on single text boxes or images so that they appear and disappear on command.

Animate slides for memorable keynotesBring the information on your slides to life using the animation tools available in Keynote



4: Build Out Follows the same process, except this animation is to make your subject leave the screen, should you want to smoothly transition each slide.

5: Build OrderKeynote automatically creates the order of your animations, based on the order you add them. Click Build Order to adjust this manually.

6: SetupNext to the animate icon is a Setup option. For example, within this menu you can enable your show to self-play.

1: SelectHaving created all the content, it’s time to begin adding animations to each aspect on a slide. The order you do this is the order that they will happen.

2: AnimateClick on the item you want to animate, and then select the Animate panel. You will be presented with the animation and sequence options.

3: Build InThis is the name given to the first type of animation – how it appears on-screen. Click ‘Add an Effect’ and then select from the drop-down list.

“You can add a sequence to each of your slides”

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Animate slides for memorable keynotes

Play A pretty self-explanatory option, however we recommend watching your entire show through yourself before heading out to present it properly for the first time. A click of this button will start the show

AnimateAn area you will get to know very well, the Animate icon holds all the effects that will bring your slides to life, as well as the customisation settings to make your presentation specific to you

As well as the Build In and Build Out animations that we’ve covered, you will notice that there is also an Action animation that you can drop in between the two. This animation is designed to bring a little extra attention to a particular aspect onscreen while you’re talking about it. An extra click to make it dance before it flies off screen, for example.

Action animation

Setup This area of Keynote contains your Slideshow Settings, where you can set up your presentation to play automatically as well as loop, and edit the slide size between standard and widescreen depending on your needs

Build Order If you want to get down to the real picky areas of your presentation then you need to click Build Order. This section enables you to tweak the order in which your animations trigger, and appear onscreen

Effect settings Whenyou add an effect, its own personalised menu appears under Animate. Depending on the effect, the options will vary; in most cases you can tweak duration and direction.

DeliveryFor effects like Typewriter that animate letters and words individually, you will notice an edit option labelled Delivery. This enables you to tweak exactly how it unveils your text.

Effect settingsMaybe simply adding effects to your slides isn’t enough, and you want to fully customise how each object on your page comes to life. Keynote offers this opportunity through the effect settings that appear beneath each effect you select in the Animate column. You can change the duration and in some cases whether the effect occurs letter-by-letter. You can utilise this feature to really make your presentation come to life. Let’s take a closer look at how it works.


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Play videos inside Keynote presentationsIn conjunction with iMovie, learn how to add eye-catching visuals to your keynotes

With the images you’ve created successfully saved, you can always import them back into iPhoto and turn them into a stunning card, calendar or photo book using iPhoto’s great range of print products. Just select the images to use, click the Create button and select your print product. Apple takes care of the printing and delivery process for you.

Displaying your art

Apple’s Keynote software is the ultimate companion for anyone giving

a sleek and professional presentation. Best of all, it’s fully integrated with

a series of other Apple products, meaning that you can easily incorporate

diff erent types of media into your presentation seamlessly.

Keynote syncs itself with your iMovie projects, so when you run the app you can

quickly and easily insert any edited movie from iMovie. Keynote will even optimise the

video for you, to ensure that it is compatible with all Apple devices. It’s Keynote’s ability

to integrate media so easily that makes it stand out above other presentation-based

software such as Microsoft PowerPoint.

You’ll have professional looking, media-fi lled presentations in no time, ready to

impress your audience with your creativity. Follow along with these nine steps and

learn how to incorporate your videos into your presentations. Say goodbye to the days

of dull presentations!

Show timersThere are two timers and one shows the elapsed time, so you know how long you have been talking, and the other shows the time remaining. Switch timers here

Edit modeTrim means that you don’t have to re-edit and re-export a video file. This option is great when you just want to throw a clip into Keynote and then play only a few seconds of it

RepeatUsing the looping options you can have your video play through once, repeat itself or play back and forth, where the video will play normally then play itself in reverse



ControlsThese basic playback and volume controls are perfect for testing your video. When you are giving your presentation you can simply click on the video to start and stop its playback

File infoHere is where you can locate and a replace your video. If you ever open Keynote and the video is not linked in the project you may need to relocate the file using the Replace option


Play videos inside presentations

7: Movie settingsClick on the Movie tab in the Format window. Under Edit Movie you can adjust the start and end points of a video in Trim. The settings won’t affect the original file.

8: Customise movieYou can use the Poster Frame slider to select a starting image for your video. Under the Repeat sub-heading you can decide on the looping settings for the video.

9: Insert linkIf you’d like to link to another part of your presentation or a website, right-click the video and select Add Link. Select the destination of your link and set parameters.

4: Video resolutionOnce your video has been imported, click and drag on the corners of your video to resize it. Width and height information will be displayed in the corner of the video.

5: Positioning your videoYou can move your video frame around to position it. Yellow guidelines will appear indicating where the video’s borders are in line with other items on the slide.

6: Format videoClick Format. In the Style tab you can select a border type and add reflective or shadow effects to the edges. Here you can also adjust the video’s opacity.

1: Format your pageCreate a new page, to contain your video. Consider keeping as much space available for the video clip as possible, adding just a title and subheading.

2: Media BrowserTo open the Media Browser, click Media in the toolbar. It syncs itself with iPhoto, iTunes and iMovie, displaying all compatible media. Click on the Movies tab.

3: Insert your videoDrag a video clip onto the slide. You can also drag files from a folder into Keynote. If you want to optimise the video, click Optimize when prompted.

Keynote Insert your video into Keynote

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Keynote Top ten animations

One of the things that Apple does brilliantly is presentations. Its product

keynotes are eagerly awaited by fans around the world, and as almost

every presentation slide is created on Keynote for Mac, it’s clear that the

presentation app is one of the best on the market.

If you want to add a little fl ourish to your Keynote presentation, Apple gives you

all the tools you need to do it. The animations included within the application give

your images and text a little extra zip, and with so many on off er it’s hard to pick the

ones you need.

But you’re in luck; we’ve gone through all the animations on off er and

picked out the top ten for you to try at home. Take a look at the coolest

options below, and learn how to apply and control your animations in the

tutorial on the right of the page. You’ll be bringing your presentations to life in no

time at all!

Top ten Keynote animationsCreate a dynamic presentation with brilliant animations in Keynote

Time needed: 10 Minutes


1: Move InA basic animation is perfect for images or titles that slide in to the edge of a slide. This works especially well when combined with Keynote’s Instant Alpha image tool, which can cut out images to make them sit perfectly on the background.

3: Fade and ScaleIf you just want your image to appear without any tacky effects, Fade and Scale is perfect. The zooming effect is very gentle, and lengthening the duration of the animation creates a smooth, classy look for both images and text. Simple, but very effective.

7: CubeUsing the Cube effect with multiple images at once can really create a dynamic effect. Add three images across the slide and animate each one using Cube, so they slide in from different directions. The effect gives photos a whole new feel.

5: AnvilThis animation is great when used in conjunction with a Build Out animation. For example, set up this to trigger almost immediately after another item has been removed with a Confetti animation and it will look like an Apple presentation.

2: Fall ApartOne of the animations Apple has used when giving product announcements, this great animation is perfect for showing out of date information falling away, replaced with the latest figures. The automatic animation makes it look striking.

4: DropThis adaptable animation is dependant on your personal settings. Lengthen the duration to make your image or text bounce for a prolonged period of time before settling, or shorten it to make it bounce just once or twice before coming to rest.

8: DissolveThis simple animation works both for a Build In and a Build Out animation. Add the animation to every item of the slide and set the order to activate them all at the same time to give the impression that the slide is fading out, and the new one is taking its place.

6: JiggleThis animation is great for drawing your audience’s attention to specific information. A shaking motion occurs when you click, enabling you to pick out one thing on a slide that you want people to focus on without making it look unprofessional.

Top ten Keynote animations

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10: ConfettiIf you want a little more bang, you can use the Confetti animation. The animation literally makes your image or text explode into little pieces that slowly fade, so if you want a photo to disappear and be replaced, this is an explosive way to do it.

9: CompressAnother animation that just screams Apple Keynote, this one adds a fading, classy look to your text. Use it for titles and standalone numbers, and set the direction of the justification depending on where the text is going to appear on your slide.

Re-orderThe image and text animations will appear in this window in the order that they are set to take place in your presentation. You can drag them around within this list to re-order them, or set them to all go off together

Take controlClick the Build Order button in the Animate panel to access the controls you need for setting up your animation order. It offers more control than the individual Order control in the sidebar

On click or timedFor each animation, you can choose whether to activate the change when you click your mouse button, or alternatively you can set up timed animations that will trigger automatically after the first one begins

Animate your presentations

1: AnimateClick on an image or a text box and click the Animate button in the top-right corner of the screen to open up the animation control sidebar.

2: Build or action?You can add builds or actions. Builds are animations that make items appear or disappear, while actions animate it on the slide.

3: Animation settingsWhen you’ve chosen an animation, you can use the slider to adjust the duration, and change other available settings below.

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182

3D print your own iPhone stand

188

Create your own cards

176

Create your own wallpapers

“Your options are almost limitless”

Creative Projects

Here we show you some of the creative potential of your Mac, and how you can use it to great effect with your iPhone or iPad

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176 Create OS X and iOS wallpapers

Make Mavericks look exactly how you want

it by producing your own wallpaper and

match it with your iOS device

182 3D print your own iPhone stand

Make your iPhone its own little home with

123D Design

188 Create personalised gifts

From making your friends and families

cards, to personalised wrapping paper to

home movie DVDs

194 Make your own music video

Got a song you want to show the world?

We give you the best music video tips

194

Make your own music video

192

Edit a flashback video

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Creative projects

Whether you own a range of Apple devices and

want them all to look the same, or just want to take

full advantage of the new parallax eff ect in iOS 7,

custom wallpapers are a perfect choice. You can use

all kinds of techniques to create a range of designs, and

they’ll all be completely unique, so you won’t need to

worry about seeing your design on anyone else’s

device. Whether you want to use a photo on every

device and make them all look completely natural, or

create a design from scratch in a range of sizes, the

tools you need are all readily available. Are you the

proud owner of an iPhone 5c? If so, you may be

interested in fi nding out how to create a design and then

change its colour to fi t perfectly on whichever device

you’re using.

Over the next few pages, we’ve created a number of

custom designs in one of our favourite apps, Pixelmator,

and shown you the techniques you need to do the

same. Plus, we’ve got some really useful tips for taking

full advantage of the brilliant new parallax eff ect, a guide

on how to pick the best image for your background, and

a few other helpful tips and tricks for both Mac and iOS.

You’ll be able to match your Mac with your iPhone, use

fantastic shots you’ve take with your device’s camera and

create brilliant multi=coloured and geometric wallpaper

designs for your Mac products.

“You can use all kinds of techniques to create a range of designs”

Create OS X and iOS wallpapers Design customised wallpapers for your

iPhone, iPad and Mac

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Create OS X and iOS wallpapers

Before you do anything else, you need to set up

your templates to ensure they are all the correct

dimensions. If you wish to use the same wallpaper on

multiple devices, you also need to create a template to work with

them all at once. Depending on the Mac you use, you may need

diff erent image resolutions. However, Apple uses a standard for all

its built-in wallpapers, and that’s what we’ve recommended you

use here. It’s large, to accommodate the MacBook Pro with Retina

display, but it will adapt for all screen types. For iOS wallpapers,

you’ll now need to create templates that are larger than the

screen itself to ensure they work with the parallax eff ect. The

tutorial below gives you all the sizes you need for a perfect fi t on

whichever device you own.



Create templates and set up layer masksGet the basics sorted for the easiest way to create wallpapers for multiple devices

Pixelmator Make a multi-platform template

4: Check the dimensionsYou can check the dimensions by creating a rectangle of 2048 x 1536, the size of an iPad. You can see how it will look in portrait and landscape.

5: iPhone screenFor an iPhone screen template create a rectangle that is 1536 pixels tall and 1040 pixels across to account for the parallax effect.

6: Clipping masksDrop these shapes below the main wallpaper, right-click on the wallpaper layer and choose Create Clipping Mask to see how each screen will look.

1: Mac friendlyOpen up Pixelmator. In order to match the default backgrounds that are included in Mavericks, create a canvas that’s 5120 x 2880 at 300 pixels per inch.

2: Making it smallerThis size will work even on a Retina display Mac, but if you are working with a smaller Mac, a better choice would be 2560 x 1440 at 120 pixels per inch.

3: Square for iPadTo create an iPad template on the original file, create a square of 2448 x 2448. To account for the parallax effect, this is 400 pixels larger than an iPad screen.

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Creative projectsCreative projects

Dock locationWhen creating for Mac, think about where your Dock will sit on-screen. There’s no point putting text at the bottom or top of the screen if it will be obscured by your Dock or menu bar

Rotatable You need to check your iPad design in both portrait and landscape modes because your wallpaper will rotate as you move your iPad. Make sure everything is visible in both views

Picking the focusIf you’re using the same wallpaper on Mac, iPad and iPhone, you’ll need to pick a specific area of the Mac wallpaper to focus on for the smaller iOS screens, so choose carefully

Colour it inRemember that using block colours for iOS 7 wallpapers will affect the whole interface, with the transparent elements like the unlock screen and Control Center showing the colour through their menus

Get perfect photowallpapers on iOS3: Test the parallaxTip your phone or tablet in any direction when choosing an image to use in the Wallpaper section of Settings to preview how the parallax will look. Then set it as your wallpaper and you’ll be able to see it move all of the time. Hoorah!

2: CroppingAvoid cropping any photos you want to use as a wallpaper – when you apply the photo, iOS 7 will automatically zoom in slightly to create the parallax effect. You want it to remain as big as possible, to keep the quality and let it move.

1: All about depthPick photos that feature a lot of depth, with an obvious distinction between objects close to and far away from the camera for great parallax results. For instance we have chosen a close up of a flower with lots in the background.

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3: Layer blendingYou can get some interesting results for your wallpaper by experimenting with blending modes for your shapes and background layers in the flexible Layers palette.

4: OpacityIf you prefer to simply set a colour that you like, you can instead play with the Opacity slider, once again, in the Layers palette for some slightly less intense results.

1: Double-layeredFor the best results, you should have two layers: one will be the outlines of the shapes you’ve made, and the other is the background. Change both for top results.

2: Gradients and coloursUse a combination of gradients for the background and block colours for the shapes to get the best results, mixing both light and dark shades of similar colours.

Tips for making fantastic multicolour wallpapersChange the colours of your geometric wallpapers

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Creative projects

Photos might look great in some situations, but they can be distracting. So if you want something that looks great

and off ers lots of colour, why not create a geometric design using gradients and layers?

Creating geometric designsMake a simple, but effective, shapely design

3: Tile effectOpen the Effects panel and scroll down to the Tile section. Here we’re using the Hexagon tool to create a grid of hexagons, but there are plenty to try.

4: Drag and rotateDrag the centre of the effect so that it is near the square, then fine-tune for the correct shape. Change the rotation to create different shapes.

5: Resize and recolourBefore you hit OK, first change the width of the tile until the shapes are the right size. Then open the Styles palette and change the Fill colour as needed.

2: Make it pixelsNote that effects can only be applied to pixel layers, not to vector shapes, so right-click the shape layer in the Layers menu and choose Convert into Pixels.

1: Create a shapeFirstly, you’ll need to create a vector shape of a square on your Pixelmator document and edit its style so that it has no fill, but a stroke of around 5-10 pixels.

Pixelator Make it geometric

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Add wallpapers on your OS X MacWhen you change your Mac wallpaper on a regular basis, or want to cycle through a number of creations you’ve made, it’s useful to make a folder and add it to the right section inside System Preferences.

1: Create a folderCreate a folder in Finder that contains all of the wallpapers you want to swap between. Remember its location – you’ll need to find it in a moment.

3: Cycle and moreNow that you’ve added your folder, you can click to preview and select the wallpaper you want, or choose to cycle through all those in the folder.

2: Add itOpen System Preferences>Desktop & Screensaver. Hit the ‘+’ button in the bottom-left and locate the folder you just created from the pop-up.

On iOS, you’ll need texture to fully take advantage of the

parallax eff ect. Choosing a gentle gradient with no lines

or shapes of any kind will render the eff ect pointless.

Icons work nicely, as you’ll see them moving under the

icons, but the most important thing is to make sure there

is something on-screen.

Picking the right photo is important on any device,

whether it’s iPhone or Mac. Any image that is too busy

is going to make app names and folder titles diffi cult to

read, and they’ll get very distracting. Choose something

with even lighting, without too many mixes of extreme

blacks and whites to ensure everything can be read.

For perfect results, you should pick either a design with

shapes or lines visible under a gradient, or a photo with

plenty of depth to it so that the parallax movement

is clear. This image works nicely, as the items in the

foreground noticeably move as the device is tipped,

there are enough dark tones to make text readable.

Picking the perfect iOS wallpaperNow you’ve created a Mac wallpaper, give your iPhone the same treatment

182 The Mac Book

123D Design Design an iPhone stand

1: Size up the jobFind your iPhone’s dimensions from the Apple website and make a note of them. We’re making a stand for the 5s here, which is 7.6 x 58.6 x 123.8mm.

2: Make an iPhone cuboidSelect Box from the Primitives menu at the top and you’ll see a cuboid appear. Enter the dimensions of the 5s (think of length as depth), to make an iPhone.

3: Duplicate for the standClick to select the 5s cuboid and duplicate it via copy/paste. Select the duplicate. Start by selecting Scale from the pop-up menu.

Creative projects

“To get a good look at your object, hold down the right mouse button to rotate the viewpoint”

Here we’ve decided to show you how to do something a little bit different, and take

advantage of a trend that is sweeping the world – 3D printing. That’s right, it’s not just for 3D artists who are prototyping their models, or NASA and its plans for an orbiting factory; desktop 3D printers like MakerBot’s Replicator 2 are now increasingly common on the high street, and even in the home. This means that if you spend a little bit of time getting to know how to design objects in 3D, you can pop into your local printing shop (once you’ve found one with a 3D printer, that is) and have your digital creation produced for the real world.

We’re going to be using Autodesk’s 123D Design app to make an iPhone stand, so head over to www.123dapp.com/design and grab yourself a copy first. It’s a free download, and there’s also a web app if you’d rather use that.

3D print your own iPhone standDesign a personalised desktop stand for your iPhone that’s ready for 3D printing


Difficulty: Advanced

http://www.123dapp.com/design

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4: Scale up the sidesChoose ‘Non Uniform’ from the next menu and you’ll see some handles appear. Click and drag these to make the stand deeper and wider.

5: Raise the iPhoneSelect the 5s and click Move; rotation handles and drag arrows will appear. Click the vertical arrow and enter 30mm to make space for the Lightning cable.

6: Tilt it backwardsSelect the 5s. Click the Left view cube face for a side-on look; hit Move. The horizontal handle will look like a perfect circle. Click it; enter -8.5° to tilt it backwards.

WorkspaceThis is where you’ll build your model. The floor of the workspace is marked with a grid indicating size in millimetres, and any objects or faces that you have selected will be highlighted in blue

View optionsOne essential tool here is Pan, which is right at the top; you use this to reposition your viewpoint in the workspace. You can also use these tools to fly straight to your cursor or zoom in on objects

View cubeRather than rotate the view by holding the right mouse button in the workspace, you can click and drag this instead. Alternatively, click on one of the cube’s faces, edges or corners in order to look at it square-on

Main toolbarThese are the construction tools. Primitives, housing simple 3D objects, is the icon indicated. Beside it is Sketch, which is for drawing 2D outlines, and the icon to the left of the magnet (Snap) holds the Grouping options

One thing to bear in mind is that, once you have finalised any changes you want to make to objects (like scaling) inside the relevant dialog or by using the handles, you’ll need to click inside the workspace to apply them. Also, if you Snap objects together, they will automatically be grouped, so use Grouping>Ungroup to separate them.

Two essential tips

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Creative projects

11: Drag it right outUse the handle to drag that front face right the way out, so it comes through the stand. We’re going to cut this out of the main block next, so make sure you’re happy with its position.

12: Cut it outClick Combine in the top menu, then click the stand first to set it as the Target and the 5s cuboid next for the Source. Select Subtract from the drop-down and click away to action it.

9: Make room for a caseDuplicate the 5s cuboid and work from the copy for this part. If you want to make a bit of room for an iPhone case in your stand, widen the duplicate 5s slightly using Non Uniform Scale.

7: Push the iPhone backUse Move to drag the 5s cuboid backwards (deeper in) so that its bottom-most edge is roughly halfway into the stand, and the front face of the 5s isn’t coming through the stand.

10: Pull a faceClick the duplicate once to select it, then move your cursor over its front face until it’s highlighted, then click again to select that face. Choose Press/Pull from the new pop-up menu.

8: Deepen the standYou may need to use Non Uniform Scale to make your stand cuboid a little deeper, so that the 5s cuboid emerges through the top rather than out the back of the stand.

Your toolboxThese are the 10 tools you’ll need

Box Part of the Primitives collection, this lets you drop simple shapes like boxes, spheres, cylinders, cones and even a torus (ie doughnut) into your workspace.

Move Also in the pop-up menu is Move, which lets you input values or use drag handles to change the x, y and z position of objects, as well as rotate them.

Combine Living in the top toolbar, Combine lets you merge objects together (the Join setting) or cut the shape of one object out of another (Subtract).

Snap This tool from the top bar enables you to quickly align two objects by selecting a face on each one. You may need to Ungroup them later to select individually.

Polyline Essentially a Pen tool, Polyline is under the Sketch category and lets you draw 2D shapes point by point. The other Sketch tools are used to refine outlines.

Scale This appears in the pop-up menu once you’ve selected an object, and lets you alter its size. You can scale it in all directions or along just one axis at a time.

Press/pull Appearing in the pop-up menu once you have selected a face of an object, you use this to pull that face out further or push it back into the object.

Fillet Once you’ve selected an edge of an object, you can use Fillet (available from the pop-up menu) to replace the sharp line with a curve instead.

Smart Edit You’ll see this option in the pop-up tools for any selected Smart Primitives, like 3D text objects (see page 55 for more details), and it lets you tweak their settings.

Extrude Extrude is one of the pop-up tool options for selected 2D shapes (made with Polyline), and you use it to extend your shape into the third dimension.

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13: Select the back edgeYou’ll be left with a hollowed-out stand and the original 5s cuboid sat in place. Select the edge between the stand’s back and top faces, then choose Fillet from the pop-up menu.

14: Give it some curveDrag the arrow into the stand until you get a nice curve. You can tweak the corners and edges further, if you want, but bear in mind that more regular shapes will print out better.

3: Snap it to the standSelect the Snap tool, then click on the back face of the middle letter (the object to move) followed by the back face of the stand (the target); they’ll align together perfectly.

4: Adjust the positionRotate your text if it’s upside-down, then use Move to bring it a little higher up on the stand. You can adjust the size with Uniform Scale, but may need to re-snap the faces again.

1: Open the Online KitsClick the tab at the centre-right of the screen to open the Online Kits sidebar. You’ll see the Smart Primitives from the Primitives category listed first, with 3D text at the top.

5: Make it stand outWith your text in place, use Smart Edit to set the Height (ie depth of the letters) to 2mm. Use Combine to select the text and stand, and this time choose Join to merge the objects.

2: Drop your text inDrag the 3D text into your workspace, type your name into the field in the toolbar and click away to apply the change. The text will be flat on the workspace, facing up.

Make your moniker stand out on the backIf you really want to personalise your iPhone stand then you can write your name on the back of it in no time at all. It’s a simple process, and a great idea if you’re planning on giving your stand as a gift.

“Drag the 5s cuboid out of the way to

check what you’re doing, then simply

hit Cmd+Z to put it back in position”

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15: Scale up a duplicateNow for the Lightning cable’s notch. Duplicate the 5s cuboid again and scale it up, until the bottom comes out past the stand. Choose Uniform for this, to preserve the angle.

16: Bring in the widthSwitch to Non Uniform and bring the Width in so the cuboid is wide enough for a Lightning cable – about a third the size of the 5s cuboid. After that, switch to the Move tool.

17: Position the notchMove the cuboid forward until its front face is coming through the front of the stand, then use Press/Pull to bring its back face closer to the 8.5° face in the hollowed-out area.

3: Get it in positionUse Scale, Move and Rotate to get your lightning bolt just how you want it. Bear in mind that you’ll need to re-snap if you end up changing the angle. Delete the original outline.

4: Push in and cut outMake sure your lightning bolt is still flush with the stand, then use Move to push it back into the stand by 1mm. Use Combine>Subtract to cut out a 1mm-deep icon.

1: Plot the pointsUse the View Cube to get a Top view, then click Sketch and grab the Polyline tool. Draw a lightning bolt by clicking to place points, and finish by clicking on your first point.

2: Make it 3DSelect your shape and choose Extrude. Enter 4mm and then click away to turn it into a 3D object. Snap it to the small face in the notch on the front of the stand.

Add your own engraved design to personalise thingsHere we’re going to show you how to draw and add a lightning bolt detail using the Polyline tool. This will then be turned into a 3D object that we can cut out of the front face of the Lightning cable’s notch.

Creative projects

“If your lines cross over each other

when you’re drawing with the Polyline tool, use

Trim to remove individual lines

inside the outline”

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18: Duplicate and rotateDuplicate the cuboid and rotate it back by -81.5° – plus the original -8.5°, it should now be lying flat and perfectly aligned with original cuboid. Click the Front cube face to see it square-on.

21: Check your standYou’ll be left with a notch at the front for the connector and one underneath for the cable. If you’ve dragged your 5s cuboid out of the way, move it back so you can check you’re happy.

19: Make room for LightningMove it down so the bottom face comes through the stand’s base. Use Non Uniform Scale so it’s tall enough for the cable and long enough to extend through both ends of the stand.

22: Make final adjustmentsTo make more room, duplicate the 5s cuboid. Scale to preserve the angle and position, then Press/Pull to adjust faces and Combine>Subtract to widen notches.

20: Cut out the cuboidsNow use Combine to remove both of the Lightning cable cuboids, one at a time. Do this by making the stand the Target, a cuboid the Source and then selecting Subtract.


3D printing your standOnce you’ve made a stand that fits your iPhone and you’ve finished customising it, the next thing to do is find yourself a 3D printer – try searching your local area and asking around in printing shops.

You will need to export your design into the correct format, too. We used the MakerBot Replicator 2, which requires either an .STL or .OBJ file. All you need to do is make sure you’ve deleted any 2D outlines and unnecessary objects from your workspace (like the placeholder iPhone cuboid), leaving just the stand behind, and then go to the File menu at the top-left. In there you’ll see an Export

option, which lets you save your stand as a print-ready .STL file. After that, simply save it to a flash drive to take with you or email it straight to your chosen printing shop.

The cost will vary, as it depends on the total volume of space that the object occupies. Our stand is quite large – bigger than the iPhone – and cost £25 (roughly $40) to print in a shop. However, if you want to save some money then you can simply reduce its height – and cost – by half, though you may need to affix a small weight to the base if you do this. Have fun!

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When it comes to buying the perfect gift, it can be

really hard to fi nd something that portrays exactly

how you feel about someone. You need to ensure that

the present you buy is personal enough that it shows

you know the receiver well, while getting something that

they will genuinely enjoy. It’s a hard balance to strike, and

it’s easy to spend hours and hours walking around shops

or browsing for gifts online to fi nd the perfect present.

But is that all really necessary? When it comes to gifts,

making a personalised present on your Mac is not only

easier than searching for an age to fi nd the right thing, it

also makes the gift itself feel so much more special. Plus,

spending the time creating a gift is easily more rewarding

than buying one in a store.

If you take hundreds of photos and record clip after

clip of video each month on your iPhone, giving you

plenty of material to use for your gifts. Whether you’re

pulling together a year’s worth of shots for a calendar,

editing holiday videos to create a fi nished movie, or

simply making your own cards to send to friends and

family, there are all kinds of options for you to choose

from on your Mac – your options are almost limitless.

Create personalised giftsMake your own cards, wrapping, gift tags, photo book, home movie and DVD

When it comes to making cards

there are two main options. The fi rst

is perhaps the most obvious – iPhoto.

This app already contains all of your photos, and has an

entire section dedicated to creating beautiful cards. If

you want to have these cards professionally printed you

can order them from Apple, but if not you can simply

print them at home. Alternatively, you can turn to Pages.

The app includes a number of preset designs and lets

you drop in your own photos, write your own messages

and customise absolutely everything however you like.

Try both options and see which suits your style best –

here are a few tips for getting started with iPhoto.

Design your own greetings cardCreate beautiful cards and get them printed and delivered, or print them off at home

1: Creating cardsSelect the photos that you want to use; click Create> Card to start the creation process. You can edit text, move photos and more to make your card your own.

2: Ordering onlineWhen you’re finished, hit the Buy Card option and you can choose how many versions of the card you want to order, to be printed and delivered.

3: Design with PagesOr open Pages and choose File>New from Template Chooser. Choose ‘Cards & Invitations’, pick a design, and add your own photos, text and graphics.



iPhoto & Pages Create your own customised cards

“Spending the time creating a gift is easily more rewarding than buying one in a store”

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Create personalised gifts

1 Design optionsYou can choose from a number of different options, including whether your photo book is hardback, paperback or ring-bound, as well as the size, and the actual design and colour.

3 Titles and captionsDon’t forget to go through each page of your book and update the captions and titles throughout. You can also add a personal introduction at the front of the book to date it.

2 Adding pagesThe photos you’ve selected will automatically be added to your book in order, but you can drag the pages or individual shots to move them, or add more pages for extra space.

4 Layout choicesEach page can be customised with a unique design. Click the page and choose Edit from the sidebar to change everything from the page colour to the number of photos.

iPhoto Customise your beautiful photo book

Design a book of photo memoriesCreate a professionally printed photo book for a personal present

Whatever event you’re celebrating with a gift, one of the most

touching presents you can give is a photo book. Whether you’re

celebrating the relationship of a couple who are just getting married,

reminding friends about a great holiday you went on together, or giving a new

family a book of their new arrival, the results are fantastic.

And, thanks to the great options built into iPhoto, you can create a premium

book with just a few clicks, and get it delivered in no time. There are a range

of sizes, designs and cover choices on off er, so whether you want a hardcover

design based around world travel or a plain design with ring bindings, the

options are available to you. Plus, as with cards, you can save the fi nished book as

a PDF and print it yourself, if you prefer.



Save and share books via PDF

1: PrintTo print your book at home using your own printing setup, make sure your book is finished and choose File>Print to see your next set of options.

2: PDFAlternatively, you can save the whole book as a PDF, which can be sent to friends. In the Print menu, choose the PDF menu and click Save.

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Pixelmator Create custom gift-wrap and tags

Creating these gifts is great, of course, but the fi rst thing people

see when you hand over your fi nished present to them is the

paper you’ve wrapped it in. And if you’ve spent such a long time

creating amazing personalised gifts, why not go the extra mile and also make

some fantastic paper and a personalised gift tag that will make a fantastic

impression as soon as you hand it to your friend? It’s the perfect way to

surprise the recipient, and it’s incredibly simple using tessellation techniques

and a little creative eff ort.

Create wrapping paper and gift tagsMaster tessellation and custom graphics in Pixelmator

Difficulty : Intermediate


4: Tag layoutTo create a gift tag, create a shape then right-click it and choose ‘Make Editable’. Customise the shape to make your own template. Add a punch hole.

5: Personal designThis tag can be anything you want, from a photo to a simple message or a design that matches that of the wrapping paper you have made.

6: Printing tipsPrint the wrapping paper on A3 and the gift tag on card. Make sure the resolution is high enough for each one.

1: Shaping upStart by adding some basic shapes, and consider whether you want them to be simple outlines for a multi-use design, or frames for photos.

2: TextWrapping paper often includes well wishes, so why not go slightly further and add a name so the recipient knows that the gift is definitely for them.

3: TessellateYou only need to design a small part of the overall paper design, then tessellate it across the whole sheet in a repeating pattern.

“Why not go the extra mile and also make some paper?”

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Creating a photo calendarLook forward to the year ahead with a calendar featuring some of your favourite images

Three best canvas printing options

2: Snapfish.comPersonalised stickers, jigsaws and notebooks are on offer from Snapfish, along with a selection of canvases, posters and photo panels at affordable prices.

1: Photobox.comWith a range of photo gifts on offer, from canvases to iPhone cases, you’ll find plenty of ideas to try. Prices are quite reasonable, too, so you won’t be paying big bucks.

3: Zazzle.comWith a huge selection of customisable gifts to choose from, Zazzle offers everything from ties to messenger bags and a great interface for perfecting your design.

You can add more photos to your Calendar if you run out of shots half way through the year, too. Navigate back to Events in the sidebar and find the photos you want to add. Select them, then drag them into the Calendar that you were just working on at the bottom of the sidebar.

Adding photos

Customise the start monthOpen the Options tab and click the Calendar Settings button at the bottom. You can then choose the start date for the calendar – perfect for academic year calendars that start in September for example

Custom textOn any given day, you can also double-click to add custom text. This is perfect for little memories like ‘the day we met’ that wouldn’t normally be in your Mac’s Calendar app

Include birthdaysIn the Calendar Settings area you can also choose to add the daily information from your Mac’s Calendar app, as well as your friends’ birthdays as seen in your Contacts app

ThemedIf you change your mind about the theme you’ve picked, you can easily go back and choose a different option any time you want. Just click Change Theme in the top-right (you’ll see it here on the All Pages screen)

http://Snapfish.com

http://Photobox.com

http://Zazzle.com

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Optimise your video for DVD

With Apple no longer supporting iDVD, we’ll use a free, third-party app called Burn to make your

finished DVD for your recipient to enjoy.

1: Finalise and exportWhen you’ve finished editing in iMovie, select File>Finalise Project to render the movie, then choose Share>Export Movie and select HD.

2: Set up the burnOpen Burn and choose the Video tab. Insert a blank disc and then click the ‘+’ button to select your newly exported video.

3: Customise your DVDOnce you’ve got the video loaded, you can give your disc a name, then click Burn and adjust the options to create your disc.

iMovie Create nostalgic flashback effects

One of the beauties of giving home-made gifts is that not only are

the results much more personal, but the creation process is so

rewarding. This feeling is only increased when you use materials that

you wouldn’t have otherwise touched to remind a friend or family member of a

brilliant memory.

For example, how often do you record videos at events, while on holiday, or just

of day-to-day life, and then never use them? In this tutorial, we’re going to take a

selection of clips from a single event and turn them into an emotional fl ashback

video for you to give to a friend.

Edit a flashback videoFilm a movie that means something special with flashback effects, powerful music and more



3: MusicMusic is a vital part of the movie. Choose a song that means something to the person you’re making the gift for, and try to mix particularly memorable clips as the music swells.

4: Copy and pasteWhen you’re happy with the adjustment, select File>Copy. Then, choose File>Paste Adjustments and select which changes you want to apply to the other clips in your video.

1: Filter and blurTo create the idea of a flashback, you can add a filter. Click on a clip and choose Clip Adjustments, then Video Effect. Choose Romantic for a blurred edge and colour fade.

2: Slow-moAdd a portion of slow motion, too. Select a short clip with nobody speaking, choose Clip Adjustments and lower the speed to 50%. Then, drop the audio from the clip to zero.

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Design the spineTo fi nish off your design, you can add text

and images on the spine of your DVD so

it will be easily visible when sitting on the

shelf. Spend time and experiment with

this area to make your DVD look really

professional.

Add text and imagesNow you’ll need to add text, images and

shapes. Choose your font carefully, and

make sure your photos look naturally

placed and blend in properly for that

professional fi nish that we’re craving.

Fit a CD caseIf you’d prefer to put your DVD in a

smaller CD case, you’ll need to alter the

dimensions of the template you make,

and think about the insert of the DVD.

There’s also the cover itself. Don’t worry,

though – it’s still very simple to master.

Prepare your DVD caseBefore anything else, you’ll need to

create a template that will fi t a DVD

case, with the correct dimensions and

a resolution that will look great. It also

needs to be the right size to slide into a

standard DVD case.

1: Add a titleNow add your title. This can be anything from a full-on movie-style blockbuster to a simple, personal wish to the recipient.

2: Mix shapes and photosYou can now start to mix shapes and photos. Don’t oversize the images to avoid pixelation, so they blend in as much as possible.

3: Laying it outWhen you’re happy with all the elements on your design, start to play around with it, and mix up the size and placement of text.

1: Laying linesFirst, create some guidelines. Hit Cmd+R to activate the Rulers, then drag in from the left to add a guideline at 134mm and 146mm.

2: TextAdd the title of your DVD to the spine in a similar font to the main cover. Hold Cmd and drag it to rotate it by 90 degrees.

3: ExtrasYou can also add an icon or memorable photo to the top or bottom of the spine to give it an even more personal touch.

1: Front coverTo create a cover that will fit into the front of a standard plastic CD case, create a template that’s 122mm square.

2: Foldable?Or, if you want to create a foldout cover that has information on both sides, just double the width but keep the height the same.

3: Inner trayTo add a design to the back of the CD case, you’ll need to make an inner tray. The dimensions are 150mm wide and 118mm high.

1: New documentTo make things easier, we’ll be using Pixelmator for the DVD case. Open the app and create a new blank document to get started.

2: Size it upTo create a perfect fit for a DVD case, set the dimensions of the cover to be 275mm wide and 183mm in height.

3: Pixels per inchFinally you need to make sure that the resolution is high enough for print quality. Set it at 300 pixels per inch to make sure.

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Make a music video

3: The storytellerPatrick Watson’s video for Lighthouse is a performance piece. It goes further by showing the band setting up, the audience arriving and the evening descending.

4: The half and halfSometimes, you’ll want to mix and match styles. 30 Seconds To Mars shot a performance 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the stylised A Beautiful Lie.

1: The live performanceZoom in close on the notes so that you can clearly see which ones are not in time with the track - their left edges will be off the vertical grid lines.

2: The heavily stylised videoArtists like Lady Gaga make their music videos into sensational experiences, creating heavily stylised footage that focuses on the themes of the track.

iMovie Choosing a video style

So, you’ve recorded the perfect track in

GarageBand and now you want to show it

to the world. But, the best songs always have

a great video to go with them. With the ever-booming

popularity of YouTube, it’s as easy as ever for anyone to

create a music video and release it online to showcase

their latest single, in high resolution. In recent years, music

videos have become an entire subculture of their own,

giving artists a whole new way to express themselves to

their audience.

Heavily stylised videos can help tell the story of a song,

or create a whole new one, that adds another dimension

to the track. With not much more than the iPhone 5’s

brilliant camera and iMovie you can direct, shoot and

produce your very own music video. With just a little

help from iPhoto, over the next few pages you will learn

how to craft a great looking video that suits the style and

genre of your song perfectly.

We’ll look at the whole process from storyboarding,

location scouting, recording footage and syncing audio,

right through to post-production. You’ll learn how to

use iMovie’s built-in transitions, how to colour grade

footage and incorporate song titles. Before we get

started, you’ll need a fi nished track to start making a

video for. Preferably something you’ve put together in

GarageBand, which you own all the rights too.

We’ll be showing you how to shoot a video for a

modern, alternative-style track. Don’t worry though;

these practices can be used to shoot any style of video

you like.

Make a music videoGot a smash hit sitting in your GarageBand projects library? Bring it into iMovie and make a video to it show off

It’s always important to have the right tools for the job

To shoot the video you’ll be using the iPhone 5’s very powerful video camera. Shooting on the iPhone is a fantastic way to make a great-looking video without spending a fortune on new hardware. The camera shoots high-resolution footage in an easy-to-use format, and you can be discreet and mobile when you’re out on a shoot. If you’re looking for something a little more professional, it’s worth investing in a mid-level DSLR and at least one prime or fi xed lens. This will give you higher quality footage and more options to shoot in diff erent lighting. It will also let you shoot video with a beautiful depth of fi eld. We’ll try and recreate this eff ect using the iPhone’s Auto Focus Lock. A tripod like a Gorillapod will really come in handy when you want to avoid shaky shots.

Shooting gear

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For this video, we’ll be shooting a smart live performance of the track

we’re using as well as outdoor city shots of a model walking through the

streets. You’re going to be fi lming the song’s performer playing the track

from multiple angles as if they were playing it live. You want the live performance to

feel realistic and the city shots to build up a sort of storyline for the track, to keep the

audience interested. You want to get enough variation in angles to stop the video

getting boring. You’ll also want to capture establishing shots of the city for an intro

and outro.

What to shoot…All the shots you’ll need to make a great music video

3: Shooting from multiple anglesShooting multiple angles of the same shot is a great way to add variety to your video. For our live performance, this technique is essential to keep the video exciting and interesting.

4: Shooting more than onceIt’s important to remember, when you’re out on location, to shoot each shot a number of times. This helps to get the perfect shot and means you have plenty of choice in the editing stages.

1: Storyboards and shot lists Before you shoot any video, you should think about what shots you’ll need by storyboarding your video and then making a shot list. Bring both with you when you go out to shoot.

2: Location scoutingIf you have an idea where you want to shoot your video, it’s worth going out before your shoot to check out the locations and make sure they suit the style of your music video.

Camera Shooting techniques

1: Pick your shotIf you’ve taken a shot using an iPhone in slow-motion mode, a small symbol will appear in the top-left of the clip’s thumbnail in the clip browser.

3: Editing to fitWhen you slow a clip, iMovie actually makes it last longer in the timeline so remember to re-edit your clip so it cuts to the next shot in the right place.

2: Choosing the speedDrop the clip into your project and a tortoise icon will appear over it. Click this to bring up the slow-mo menu and select Preset, then choose 25% speed.

Creating slow-motion shots with iPhone 5s & iMovie

Shooting strategiesSome simple planning can give you a helping hand later on

Don’t be afraid to be open minded when you’re fi lming. If you have a shot list, it doesn’t have to be defi nitive. You might fi nd that you get really inspired when you’re on location, or discover a scene that would fl ow well with the song. Think about the pace of the track and what kind of images would fi t well with the genre and the story you want to tell. When you’re shooting the live performance, the best method is to have your performer play along live with the prerecorded track for the video. Just blast it out

in your fi lming location. This way, you can be certain that your video will match up, and syncing in the editing stage becomes simple. Film the performer singing the whole song, multiple times from diff erent angles so you have multiple shots to jump to. If you want a more authentic feel, you can try setting up a mic or two and recording directly into your Mac or iPhone. If you try this, remember to clap before fi lming starts so you can sync the audio and video tracks later.

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Make a music video

Before you can do any editing, you need to

get your footage into iMovie. First, import

your footage onto your Mac, using iPhoto,

as normal. Locate your media in Finder, look through

your footage using Preview and decide what to use. You

can mark your footage with colour tags. This saves you

bringing any unneeded shots into iMovie. It’s a good

idea to name your fi les here for clarity once you’re

editing. Then, using Import media, add the footage to

your browser in iMovie. When you’re importing your

footage, select ‘Analyze for stabilization after import’ in

the dialog box. This will help out later.

Getting ready to editBefore you get your hands dirty there’s work to be done

Tools of the trade Here’s a few of the tools you’ll want to know inside out

Audio adjustmentEssential for managing your music clips, allowing

you to control the volume of any clip as well as change the equaliser settings.

Colour correctionYou’ll use this tool to grade your footage. You can

even use it to stylise your music video, with high saturation, exposure or a colour tone.

RetimeThe Retime tool enables you to achieve a whole

bunch of eff ects. You can slow down or speed up clips, reverse them or even add freeze frames.

TransitionsTransitions are a great way of making your music

video a bit more interesting. iMovie provides a great range, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

ZoomWhen you’re lining up clips you want to be able

to get right in there and get the timings right, especially when syncing audio.

4: Shake it up babyIf you shot your music video handheld, you’ll probably have a few shaky shots in your library. This isn’t a huge problem as iMovie has the tools for the job.

5: Stabilising shotsSelect the clip you want to stabilise. Click Adjus>Stabilize. Turn on Stabilize shaky video – the light will turn blue. iMovie will analyse your clip.

1: Selecting the clipMedia browser lets you import straight from iPhoto. Hover over a clip to play it back and you can use the range selection to select a clip to drag to the timeline.

2: Trimming it downOnce your clip is in the timeline you can use the Trim tool to drag it in or out from either side, to shorten or lengthen the clip based on exactly what you need.

iMovie Stabilising and trimming your footage

6: Play with the settingsThe Stabilize option has a percentage slider to select how much stabilization you want. Play with this until the clip is smooth, but avoid over stabilising.

3: Cutting edgeYou can use the Blade tool by pressing Cmd+B to make a cut in a clip into two clips. This way you can create gaps to splice in other shots.

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Volume controlsMake sure you turn down the volume of all the video clips. Just one stray bit of this low-quality audio leaking through could totally ruin your award-winning musical masterpiece

Video fileCheck that all the action in your footage syncs up to the music correctly. There’s nothing worse than a bad lip-sync for ruining an otherwise great music video

Audio fileThe music track should be the first thing in the timeline and should start right at the very beginning to avoid any dead air in the opening of your video

Trim and Blade toolsUse the Blade and Trim tools to cut the track and then drag it out along the timeline to move the footage along without going out of sync

The most important part of your music video process is syncing the

audio from your prerecorded track and your live performance shots. If

these aren’t synced, the video won’t look right and it won’t feel like a proper

live performance. Drop the audio track into the timeline fi rst, then drop in the fi rst of the

full live performance clips you shot. Now you have a full, albeit pretty boring video. Then

you can start dropping in clips from the other live performance angles, using the Blade

and Trim tools to cut and place the shots where you need them, to make the video look

good.. Next you can go through and stabilise shaky clips, using the Blade tool to isolate

problem areas so you’re not doing more work than is necessary. Then it’s on to colour

grading for consistency, adding transitions, intro and outro shots and titles.

Putting it all togetherUse iMovie to edit together your music video

1: Analyse your clipsSelect a clip to edit. Corrections affect entire clips, so if you want to edit a small section make sure to separate it from the whole scene.

2: Get the right balance Before doing any manual colour correcting, it’s worth trying iMovie’s auto setting. This should automatically balance your clip.

iMovie Colour grading clips

3: Manual colour gradingTo add manual colour settings, hit the colour correction button. This will open up colour, saturation and exposure settings.

Make sure your performer is comfortable with the track they’re playing. Just like shooting the rest of the video, do multiple takes and let them get to know the track’s dynamics and pace. This way they’ll really look like they’re playing it live in the final cut!

Avoiding the lame lip sync

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Make a music video

1: Putting it togetherPlace your final music track on the timeline first, and then drop in your live performance clip. You’ll be able to hear the clip’s live audio because of default settings.

2: The sound of musicWith the audio turned up, trim and move the live performance clip until it matches up with the music track underneath. Zoom in to be more precise.

iMovie Syncing your song

3: Pump up the volumeYou can increase the volume of the final recorded track in order to better hear it over the top of your newly recorded live performance and sync them up correctly.

4: Rinse and repeatDrop in the rest of the live performance angles and, using the Trim and Blade tools, you can cut, place and sync the rest of the footage to the track.

5: Double-checkOnce the audio is synced up, have a look over the footage and make sure that the performer’s match the words and music and don’t look out of time.

6: Remove the live audioOnce the video is placed, open the audio panel and turn the volume right down. It’s worth checking you’ve done this so you don’t get any low-quality audio.

Tasteful transitionsLess can be more when it comes to transition effects

iMovie has a ton of great features, one of which is the transitions library, a collection of ready-to-use, drag-and-drop video transitions, including blurs, fades and lights. While some of these are tacky and you’d be

advised not to use them, sometimes transitions can really help lift a music video. This isn’t a documentary or a movie, so you can be a bit more artistic. Slow fades between shots can look great and even some of the ‘lights’ transitions are useful. It’s always worth remembering, though, that less is more. You don’t want to do it between every shot, as the video will get messy. For this, video transitions are useful for diff erentiating between the live performance sections and the city shots, as they are essentially two separate entities. To use transitions, simply open the Transitions browser and drag one onto your chosen clip. You can play with duration in the Settings menu.

HelpdeskWelcome to the helpdesk. Here we address some of the main Mac usability issues

200 The Mac Book

The Mac Book 201

“You can build it yourself with a little help from Automator”202 Upgrading life

Do you get iLife with Mavericks?

202 A partitioning problem

Are you having issues cloning your HD?

203 Keep it down!

Turn those noisy notifi cations down

203 Set up App Store updates

Organise your Store account options

204 Four ways to customise Finder

Make Finder your own

204 Mavericks mess-ups

Why won’t Skype work on Mavericks?

204 Superfast shutdown

Is your Mac taking forever to shut down?

205 What’s my number?

Confi gure your numbers between devices

205 Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Is your system heating up too much?

205 Automatically clear your chat logs

Set up Automator for those useful tasks

206 Control Flash in Safari

Sort out where and when Safari uses Flash

206 Wi-Fi or wired?

Tell your Mac with internet to use

207 Links and signatures

Sort out how Mail sends URL in emails

207 Chat on your Mac

Use Bonjour to keep your messages in order

207 Create Finder items folders

Create shortcuts and change options

206

Wi-FI or wired?

202

Upgrading life

203

Change your notifications

204

Superfast shutdown

205

What’s my number?

207

Create Finder items folders

Helpdesk

202 The Mac Book

Upgrading iLifeI heard that now I’ve upgraded to Mavericks, I can obtain a free upgrade to the iLife apps as

well (iPhoto, GarageBand, iMovie). I checked the Mac App Store app for updates but nothing seems to be coming through apart from third-party apps. Is this because I didn’t buy them from the Mac App Store? What can I do? I really like the look of them, but I don’t want to have to pay again.

Apple seems to be having a few teething problems with iLife upgrades right now,

especially with those who didn’t buy the apps on the Mac App Store in the first place. If you have already associated your Apple ID with the iLife suite on your Mac this should help, but if you haven’t, there are a couple of things you can try. First of all, fire up the Mac App Store and head to Store>Check for Unfinished Downloads and see if that brings up the updates you’ve been looking for. Otherwise, you may have to head into each individual application, click on the app’s name in the menu bar and manually hit the Check for Updates option. If you can’t see this, they’re already updated!

A partitioning problemI’m having a problem trying to clone my 500GB external hard drive for Time Machine and iTunes storage, while

awaiting a new iTunes drive. Partitioning the 500GB seems to come to a halt when I get to the destination window. Also, can I undo the partition later to restore the unit for Time Machine?

When it comes to partitioning your drive for two uses, you’ll ideally want to start with a blank hard drive. If your drive already contains any backups, you may find yourself having to delete those to perform the partition. With your drive plugged in, open up Disk Utility and select the correct disk (your external drive) on the left. Click the Partition tab and choose the amount of partitions you require (in this case, two) from the Partition Layout drop-down menu. After that, select each individual partition, give it a name in the field on the right and ensure the correct format is selected (usually Mac OS Extended Journaled). When that’s all done, hit Apply and Disk Utility will erase your drive and partition it. Follow that process and you shouldn’t run into any issues. You can definitely erase the iTunes partition and restore it to one for Time Machine later on, too.

Partitioning a hard drive will erase it, so back up before you start

“When that’s all done, hit Apply and Disk Utility will erase your

drive and partition it”

“Click on the app’s name and manually hit the Check for Updates”

Your questions answered

The Mac Book 203

Keep it down!I’ve managed to successfully disable the startup sound that my Mac chimes out with every time I switch it on, but the one thing I

can’t seem to sort out is the annoying ‘blips’ that play when I adjust its volume! Have you any suggestions to help me out?

Silencing the audible updates when you adjust your Mac’s volume might not be obvious, but it’s actually far easier to do than silencing the start-up chime! For a temporary fix, you can hit and hold the Shift key as you tap the volume controls, which should keep things quiet. However, for a more permanent fix, open up your Mac’s System Preferences. From here, click on the Sound pane and then on the Sound Effects tab. About halfway down you should see the option to play feedback when volume is changed. Uncheck this and the audible updates will be silenced by default. If you find yourself needing them, you can undo this change or hold the Shift key to play them Keeping those volume blips silent is a simple case of holding Shift

temporarily – the exact opposite of what happens if the option is checked. Now you’ll be able to get on with your work in peace and without disturbing anyone else around you!

Repeat offenderAnother way to ensure emergency calls make it through is by checking Allow repeated calls to provide a solid rule for bypassing DND

Mirror imagesThis is your best bet to stop notifications appearing when you’re hooked up to a projector. It’s automatic and completely effortless on your own part

On the clockAs with Mountain Lion, Do Not Disturb can be scheduled by the clock, which might work for you, but only if movie night is every night

FaceTime FavoritesIf you’re reliant on FaceTime, adding your loved ones and business partners to Favorites and enabling this option is useful

Identity parade Change your notifications Set up App Store updates

1: What a paneFire up System Preferences, head down to the fourth row of options and hit the App Store icon to bring up its preference pane.

3: Apps and securityThe next set of options set which types of updates can be installed automatically – we’ve checked both for the most convenience.

2: Old optionsThe first two options exist from Mountain Lion and should remain checked and enabled to get updates automatically downloaded.

4: iCloud purchasesLike purchases made on the iOS App Store, apps downloaded via the Mac App Store can now be reflected across every Mac with the same Apple ID.

Helpdesk

204 The Mac Book

Superfast shutdownI work with a lot of apps throughout the day (Adobe CS5, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Safari, Chrome, Messages,

to name but a few) and when it comes to shutting down my machine when I’m finished for the evening, it takes forever! Is there any way I can set up a keyboard shortcut to get rid of them all at once?

We heard you like apps, so we’ve made you an app to shut down your apps! It’s totally free and you can build it yourself on your Mac with a little help from our trusty friend, Automator. To make that one app to rule them all, open up Automator and create a new Application. From here you’ll need to find the Quit All Applications action on the left-hand side and drop that into your workflow. If you want to speed things up further, you can uncheck the Ask to save changes option, although we wouldn’t recommend that if you’re particularly forgetful when it comes to saving documents. When set up, save your app out of Automator (with a name you’re likely to remember) to your Applications folder or Desktop. Now, whenever you need to perform a super-fast shutdown, you’re only seconds away from a clean screen.

“If you want to speed things up further, you can uncheck

the Ask to save changes”

Creating a Quit Everything app in Automator will save you a lot of time

Mavericks mess-upsI have just updated to OS X Mavericks on my MacBook and iMac, but since I’ve done this I have totally lost the use of

Skype and am unable to save images scanned from my HP Photosmart 309 Printer. Have you any suggestions for how I can fix these issues?

Starting with Skype, fire up the app and click on its name in the menu bar, then hit Check for Updates. If you are unable to do this, head over to skype.com and download the latest version from there. Drivers for your printer will generally update automatically, but if this doesn’t work, you have a few more options for scanning. By far the easiest is to access your printer’s scanner function via Preview. Fire up the app then head to File>Import from Scanner and follow the on-screen instructions. This method works with almost any scanner or multi-function printer.

Downloading the latest version of Skype should

fix any Mavericks-related issues

Four ways to customise Finder

1: Disable tabsOpen Finder’s Preferences and uncheck ‘Open folders in tabs instead of new windows’ to disable this Mavericks-only feature.

3: Slimline sidebarsUnder the Sidebar tab you can control exactly what shows up along the left. Uncheck any option to hide it and be ruthless!

2: New beginningsAgain in Preferences, click on the drop-down under ‘New Finder windows shows’ to change where Finder starts from.

4: Speed up searchesSetting Finder’s search to only ‘Search the Current Folder’ will speed things up – you can perform system searches in Spotlight.


The Mac Book 205

Automatically clear your chat logs

1: In Automator…Fire up Automator and select Calendar Alarm to automatically trigger the clear-up workflow every week from Calendar.

3: Trash ‘em allDrag in the Get Folder Contents and Move Finder Items to Trash actions into the workflow to complete the process, then save it.

2: Find the folderDrag the ‘Get Specified Finder Items’ action into the workflow and add the iChats folder to it to grab chat logs.

4: In Calendar…Once saved and named, Calendar will open with a new event and you’ll be able to specify how often this process runs.

What’s my number? I’ve recently set up iCloud on my iPhone and Mac after resisting

it for some time (not sure why I did that – it’s really useful!) however, now that iMessage is activated, some people receive messages from my iCloud email address and others from my iPhone’s number. How can I keep this consistent?

The issue you’re experiencing may be due to the Caller ID for iMessage on your Mac being set differently to that of the one on your iPhone. By default, messages sent from your iPhone should come through from your mobile number. To keep things consistent, we want that to also be the case on your Mac. Before you go any further, ensure that your Mac and iPhone are both set up for iMessage with the same Apple ID. Fire up Messages and hit Cmd+ then, follow our guide to the right…

Feeling hot, hot, hot!I bought a 17-inch MacBook Pro three years ago. For the last year the rear bottom gets extremely hot especially

when playing video, no matter for how long. Recently the battery got inflated and I had to change it. It is a worrying matter because it is so hot I cannot touch it. Is there a solution?

It’s fairly normal for MacBook Pro’s to run a little hot, especially around that area where the GPU/CPU resides. If your Mac is running so hot that you’re unable to touch it, though, take that as a cue to switch it off, stop charging it and run it down to your nearest Genius Bar. It could be something as simple as a fan blocked with dust, or something more sinister – in this case, we’d advise letting the experts take a close look.

It’s normal for your Mac to run slightly warm when

performing graphics-intensive tasks

Got your number?To ensure your can receive messages from others to your mobile number on your Mac, ensure it appears in this list and is checked

Check your details

If you’re not seeing your mobile number appear in the list, ensure you’re signed in to Messages using the correct Apple ID at the top

Caller IDTo have messages you send always appear to come from your mobile number, ensure it’s selected from the drop-down menu at the bottom

Add an emailIf you have any older email addresses that you’re receiving messages to, add them to the list using the Add Email button on the right

Helpdesk

206 The Mac Book

Wi-Fi or wired?I have my Mac mini hooked up to my home Wi-Fi router for a faster connection. However, every now and then I’ll look and

notice that my Mac appears to be connected by Wi-Fi as well. How do I know which connection my Mac mini is using, and is there any way to ensure my Mac is using one but not the other?

One of the best networking features of OS X is the ability to connect to the internet in a number of different ways and manage those different connections on the fly. In fact, if you head to the Network section of System Preferences, you’ll notice there are more than a few connectivity options down in the sidebar. This also happens to be the easiest way to see which connectivity options are in use by your Mac (a green light beside them means they’re in use, a red light means they’re turned off and a yellow light means there’s an issue preventing the connection). You can also turn each service off individually here for peace of mind.If you want to ensure that one connectivity method is favoured over another at any time, click on the cog icon and click Set Service Order. From here you can drag the different connectivity options into the order that you want your Mac to use them.

In Set Service Order, drag your preferred connectivity method

straight to the top of the list

Control Flash in Safari

1: Security settingsOpen up Safari’s Preferences (Cmd+comma) and hit the Security tab, depicted by the padlock, at the top. Then, hit the Manage Website Settings button.

3: Ignore the othersIn order to stop Flash being enabled on all websites, select Block from the ‘When visiting other websites’ drop-down menu.

2: Site by siteYou’ll come across sites on a regular basis that need Flash. For those you trust, find them in the list and set them to Always Allow.

4: Delete any dudsOccasionally, a site you trust to run Flash may start causing you issues. In this case, select it in the list and hit the minus button.


The Mac Book 207

Links and signaturesI’ve been using Safari’s sharing menu in OS X Mountain Lion to send links

that I like to my friends. Annoyingly, if I send a link via Mail, it will place the link behind my signature, which most people tend to miss. How can I fix this weird bug?

It is a strange one, isn’t it? Fortunately, we think we’ve found the solution. The problem you’re seeing is down to a cryptic setting in Mail’s Preferences. To find it, head into Preferences in Mail by hitting Cmd+comma and click on Signatures. From there, ensure that the ‘Place signatures above quoted text’ option is unchecked. Now you should find those links appearing above your signature. Forwarded emails and replies will follow suit – it’s a small price to pay.

Chat on your MacI work in an office with a few of my colleagues and we all use iMacs. We’ve previously

been using iMessage to communicate with each other. We prefer it over any online service as apparently it’s more private. The only issue is that iMessage is buggy and messes up the chat order. Are there any other solutions for chatting locally?

Stay within the Messages app but enable Bonjour in its Preferences. Bonjour is a local messaging protocol

that will let you see other Macs on the same Local Area Network (LAN) and chat with them via an instant messaging app (eg Messages). There are a couple of great advantages to using Bonjour.

For a start, everything is kept locally, not stored on a remote server. This

means there’s less chance of sensitive data falling into the wrong hands. Secondly, because everything is local and not synced by another server, your messages and chat logs should stay in order. Of course, there’s always the chance that things will occasionally slip out of place, but it’s far less likely.

1: Enable the accountBizarrely, Bonjour settings are now

stored under the Accounts tab of

Messages’ Preferences, so you’ll

need to enable it from there.

2: Find a friendHit Cmd+1 or head to Window>

Buddies to bring up your Bonjour

List – this will display everyone who

is online on your LAN.

3: Start chattingTo start chatting, simply double-

click on a name and type away as if

you were sending an iMessage with

the Messages app.

1: Select and clickHighlight the files you want to add to a new folder, then right-click and select New Folder with Selection from the contextual menu that appears.

3: Use a shortcutTo speed up the process, highlight your chosen files and hit Ctrl+Cmd+N – this keyboard shortcut performs the same function.

2: Menu barOr you can find the same command from the File menu in Finder. There’s no huge difference between the two methods, really.

4: On Lion?For non-Mountain Lion users, a different way is to compress files into a zip and double-click to decompress it as its own folder.

Create Finder items folders

Bonjour Message local Macs

A small settings tweak can make sharing links far more painless

“Bonjour is a local messaging protocol that will let you see other Macs on the same LAN”

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Become a power userReplace your Mac’s apps to enhance your machine’s functionality

Master your MacExplore hidden library folders, customise user accounts and manage your Safari reading list

Top OS X Mavericks tipsDiscover what Mavericks has to off er and why it is an essential OS update

Design your own productsMake your own 3D stand, make personalised gifts and shoot your own music video

Be productive with PagesAdd charts to your Pages documents, plus in-depth guides to Numbers and Keynote

Get creative with iMovieImprove audio with beat markers in iMovie and get to grips with the other iLife apps

VOLUME 10