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Customize your collage with Shape Collage
I'm a big fan of Zykloid Software's Posterino, a Mac app that allows you to create elegant collages. Similarly, you can use Shape Collage to create a collage. However, as implied in the app's namesake, you can also customize the shape of your collage to one of the many included preset options, as well as your own customized shape. One example would be pictures of hundreds of shoes in the shape of the Nike swoosh logo -- you get the picture. While the app is billed as "free," the free version stamps a watermark that, while small and light, is nonetheless noticeable. US$25 removes this watermark, and adds the ability to export to an Adobe Photoshop PSD (where you can manipulate photos). Shape Collage was created by developer Vincent Cheung, and is available for download here.
Creating a picturesque gift on your Mac with Posterino
Zykloid Software's Posterino serves as an elegant and easy-to-use way to create photo-based giftables for those looking for third party alternatives to iPhoto's offerings (postcards, photo books, and calendars), which are great in their own right. As in iPhoto, you can use Posterino to create elegant postcards, customizable with backgrounds and fonts to your liking. And because your iPhoto library is integrated within the app, you can easily drag and drop photos from your iPhoto folders, events, and albums. Posterino also features the ability to create posters, and this is what distinguishes it from iPhoto. These posters, dubbed "Life Posters," can be created based on 12 preset templates within the app. Unlike iPhoto, which serves as a one-stop shop for creating and printing calendars, postcards, and photo books, Posterino requires users to export (as a TIFF or JPG) and ready their image to print at a third party service -- such as Internet-based Kodak Gallery and Snapfish, or at a local print shop. Given their personalized nature, these photo-based products from Posterino can serve as nice holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Posterino is available for purchase for USD $24.99, but we've got two copies of Posterino to give away to TUAW readers. All you need to do to enter is tell us (in the comments below) about your most embarrassing baby picture -- you know, the one your parents insisted on showing to all your dates in high school. The rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, leave a comment below. The comment must be left by Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: One free license of Posterino (retail value US$24.99). Click here for complete Official Rules.
Beta Beat: Posterino
We have blogged about life posters before, but now it is even easier to make one yourself. Posterino takes the process of creating posters from your photos and makes it dead easy. It also allows you to create, and email, 'postcards' form your photos. The app ships with a number of templates, but you can create your own. Check out the Posterino gallery to see what this app can do.
