Category: Tools

How to Remove the Background from an Image

After we wrote our post on using the browser tool remove.bg, we got some feedback about another great tool, as well as questions about how to remove image backgrounds using Canva and Word.

Another Browser-Based Tool

First, I’d like to talk about a suggestion we received for a background remover at Experte.com. This tool is simple and elegant while having fewer restrictions than other free browser-based background removers. If you are a webmaster, you may be interested in some of their other tools. I plan to write another post featuring the full suite of tools in the near future.

Microsoft Word/PowerPoint

Given how often we use images in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, it would be great if there was a way to remove an image background without leaving that platform. Great news – there is! It’s not always very accurate, but Microsoft has built this functionality into their Office software. Tech-Talk wrote a great article about removing backgrounds using Office software to guide you through the process. Note that instructions for Office 2007 are different than later versions. Unfortunately, Google Docs does not have an equivalent tool onboard.

Canva

Canva is another popular image editing tool that we were asked about. While Canva does have a background remover available, it is a paid feature. If you have access, here is how to remove an image background:

  • Click on the image you want to edit.
  • In the toolbar above the editor, click Edit image.
  • From the side panel, click BG Remover.
  • Wait for the background to be processed.
  • To apply the changes, click Apply on the bottom of the side panel.

Even on a paid plan, you are limited to using this feature on 500 images every 24 hours.

Conclusion

Thanks to those readers who reached out with questions and suggestions about removing backgrounds from images. If you have any other feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Excel/G-Sheets Tips For All Users – From Novice To Expert

Getting Started

Learning new software can be intimidating. It’s hard to know where to start if you don’t have guidance from a tutorial or class. When you have a basic understanding of that software, you naturally start to wonder about what shortcuts or features may be available that you haven’t used yet. In that case, it is impossible to search for information on things you don’t know exist. How do you take it to the next level without skipping steps in between?

Another thing to consider when looking for instruction is how you prefer to learn. Some folks will check out a “for dummies” book from the library and read it cover to cover. Others prefer to stop by the library and get instruction in person or connect to a web training so they can ask questions. Yet another subset of folks would rather watch videos or read articles online to get their information without involving another person.

The Library Has You Covered

The library offers drop-in tech help and virtual classes, books, e-books, and DVDs about Excel and Google Sheets, and a fantastic resource full of articles, videos, and interactive learning opportunities called Tech-Talk. Let’s take a closer look at the kinds of Excel/Google Sheets help Tech-Talk offers. These links should log you in automatically. If not, or if you are signing up for a webinar, use the username eglibrary and password eglibrary.

This quick reference guide is handy for users of all levels. Here is a collection that includes all of their Excel content, with the most recent articles and videos first. When possible, their information about Excel also includes a section for achieving comparable results on Google Sheets.

For Beginners

For Intermediate and Advanced Users

Major Cool Factor

I have always found Excel useful for organizing and sorting basic information, but I never got fancy with it. Recently, I attended a Tech-Talk webinar about creating dashboards using Excel and I was really impressed. If you want a quick peek at what dashboards are and how they can enhance your data, check out this short video and article.

We Can All Use a Little Help

Whether you enjoy playing around in spreadsheets, use spreadsheets because you have to, or are forced to use spreadsheets under duress at work, everyone can benefit from the tips and tricks offered at Tech-Talk. Which sort of Excel user are you? Let us know in the comments.

Looking for Your Next Read? Check out NoveList!

It’s happened to all readers at some point. You’ve finished a book you loved, but you aren’t sure what to read next. NoveList can help. NoveList is a unique database that allows you to search or browse various criteria to find your next read.

NoveList can be accessed at home by East Greenbush and Schodack residents, and it can be accessed by anyone at the library by connecting to our network.

If you like a particular title, NoveList allows you to search for that title. You’ll get information about the book, including its genre, tone, and writing style. To the column on right, you can see similar titles.

Screenshot of a book's summary page in NoveList

From the NoveList homepage, you can access their appeal mixer if you’re in the mood for reading books written in a particular style.

Screenshot of appeal mixer, which states "I'm in the mood for books that are..." with suggested combinations of factors books that align to the combination.

You can mix and match, and limit by age. If the pre-made appeal factors aren’t your style, you can make your own combo with the appeal mixer.

For an overview of all the neat ways you can use NoveList to find your next read, check out our YouTube video:

Have you used NoveList? Let us know in the comments!

Autofill and Flash Fill: The Best Excel Features You Didn’t Know About

I have long been a fan of using autofill shortcuts to save time in Excel. I recently learned about a smart feature in Excel that takes autofill to the next level. The Flash Fill feature appears to be able to read the mind of the user, allowing them to make bulk changes in an instant.

Auto-filling Cells

Flash fill is part of a larger set of autofill features that allow a user to click and drag a “fill handle” across a number of cells and choose how the selected cells fill. To find the fill handle on a cell, click the cell once so it is outlined, but make sure the cursor does not appear in the cell. Then look at the lower-right corner of the cell. There is a tiny box there that is your target to click and drag.

Screenshot of a selected cell with a small green box in the lower-right corner

If I click and drag down on the fill handle, cells in the column below will highlight. When I release the mouse, the highlighted cells will fill with copies of the first cell.

Cells selected with fill handle dragged over them. The first cell contains "Dave"
Formerly selected cells now all show the word Dave. A menu icon shows below the fill handle.

If you just drag and let go, it copies the first cell by default, but you can see in the second image above that an icon has appeared just below the fill handle. This icon leads to the fill menu, which will allow you to select a different way to autofill the cells besides copying.

Fill menu activated

For the text example “Dave” we are given the option to copy only the formatting without the text, fill the text without formatting, or flash fill. If you are performing the same option on a cell with a number, you are presented with an option to fill series, which allows you to fill with consecutive numbers.

Fill menu showing added option to fill series
Screenshot showing the selected cells displaying consecutive numbers.

Both of these menus include the flash fill option, but we will need a new example to show how flash fill can shine.

Flash Fill

Flash fill is like autofill on steroids, and it is most helpful if you are working with a batch of raw data that needs to be reformatted. Some examples would include turning 10-digit numbers into phone numbers or splitting a full name column into first name and last name columns. Just show Excel the pattern you are looking for, and it will learn how to fill in the area the way you want.

For an in-depth look at flash fill, check out this Tech-Talk article. Tech-Talk is a technology training service provided to patrons by the library. Learn more about Tech-Talk in our Tech Tips article about finding answers to common tech questions. If you would prefer to watch a video demonstrating flash fill, this video from My Online Training Hub is quick and easy to follow.

Summary

Autofill and flash fill are two features that save Excel users valuable time in creating and formatting spreadsheets. Do you use autofill or flash fill? Do you have a different time-saving Excel feature that you’d like to share? Tell us about it in the comments.

Descript Has Everything You Need to Edit Audio and Video Easily

Descript is an online service with several tools to help you edit audio and video files painlessly. There is a free version that is limited, but if you need more transcription time or a larger vocabulary for your voice clone, there are three different paid tiers.

Overview Video

If you would prefer to watch an intro video created by Descript, you can view it here:

Key Features

  • Use Descript to capture your screen and record your microphone or computer audio.
  • Transcribe your audio or video at the press of a button.
  • Record remotely
  • For podcasting: edit audio, remove silence, add crossfaces and effects.
  • Edit video, add titles, shapes, lines, arrows, and images.
  • Remove uh, um, and other filler words instantly.
  • Overdub: create a digital clone of your own voice to generate and edit audio tracks.

Overdub

The feature that really made me stand up and take notice of Descript is Overdub. It allows you to create a clone of your voice (free version limited to 1000 words). You can then create an audio track of your voice by just typing the words! It can also be used to make changes to an existing audio recording and blend the tone on each side to make it sound natural. You can also create voices in different tones and performance styles in order to apply Overdub in a variety of situations.

While this technology has been around for some time, consumer tools have left a lot to be desired. Overdub marks a giant step forward in quality, with its AI doing the heavy lifting.

To hear samples of Overdub voices, check out this page: https://www.descript.com/overdub. Even better – if you’d like to take it for a live test drive, there is a widget at the bottom of the page that invites you to choose a voice profile and type in any text you want. Click the “speak it” button to hear your text “read” by the AI voice profile. Just below the widget, there is an option to test it against other popular text-to-speech services.

Conclusion

Descript is a free, easy-to-use tool that is full of features and can help you create and edit audio and video tracks easily. Have you used Descript or Overdub? Do you have another AI tool you find indispensable? Let us know in the comments.