The series, created and hosted by artist/photographer Sid Webb, is designed to entertain viewers while showing them how to use their home computers to create art and manipulate photographs. It is targeted toward general audiences who have average computer know-how. The series of 13 half hours does not attempt to delve into the intricacies of computer programming. It does not recommend use of any particular software, but assumes viewers will select from a variety of programs on the market today. Visit the Official Sid Webb's Digital Studio website Program 101 Orientation to the Digital Canvas Sid introduces the paints, brushes and other tools available. He shows the vast array of paper textures available in addition to the canvas. In this program he converts one of his own photographs to a watercolor painting and paints a still life in oil “from scratch” directly onto the screen. Program 102 Introduction to the Digital Darkroom Sid discusses the advantages of using the computer as a darkroom (no messy chemicals; no one opens the door and ruins your work.) The he scans in some photographs and show how to crop the picture, change levels, add contrast, remove unwanted details, and correct color. Program 103 The Digital Darkroom – Using Digital Cameras Sid discusses the pros and cons of using a digital camera and demonstrates how to correct a photograph taken by a digital camera under poor lighting conditions. By using the digital darkroom in combination with the digital canvas, he converts the inferior photograph into a beautiful portrait. . Program 104 Computer Animation Sid explains the basics of animating cartoons on the computer. He creates on camera a simple cartoon figure and takes the viewer through the steps of animating the figure. He shows other cartoons he has drawn and animated using computer software. Program 105 Creating Great Photographic Portraits in the Digital Darkroom Sid shows how to combine two photographs into a dramatic photographic portrait. He “fuses” one photo of the person in an ordinary setting with another dramatic shot of the person’s workplace. The resulting photographic portrait captures the essence of the subject. Program 106 Turning a Photograph into a Painted Portrait Sid takes viewers step by step through the process of selecting a favorite photograph of a special person, scanning that photo into the computer, and then using the tools of the digital canvas--the graphics tablet, the paint brush(es), the paint medium (oils, pastel, watercolor) of choice –to transform the photo into a striking “painted” portrait. . Program 107 Advanced Techniques-Creating an Illustration in the Digital Studio Sid uses self-made photos of himself in various poses and attitudes to create a scene of a group of men playing cards. After copying and pasting his image several times into the scene, he “drops out” the color, and using the digital canvas, “paints” a variety of characters--young and old--using his own black-and-white image outline as a guide. Program 108 Painting Character Studies on the Digital Canvas Sid chooses photographic portraits from his own collection to demonstrate how he uses the digital canvas to emphasize the subjects’ personalities. He leads viewers through the process of transforming photographs into paintings that emphasize the subjects’ dominant character traits. Program 109 Rescuing Old Photographs in the Digital Darkroom Sid shows how to reclaim damaged or ineffective old photos by removing spots and stains, repairing torn images, and correcting faded color. He demonstrates how to create “the picture that never was taken” by combining single portraits of each of his parents, who never had their picture taken together. Program 110 Creating a Scene in the Digital Darkroom Sid teaches viewers how to turn a “pretty good’ photographic scene into a dramatic image by making changes in the digital darkroom. For example, he copies a fishing boat from one picture and pastes it into a scene of a lighthouse. Suddenly the scene tells a story. Program 111 Turning a Photographic Scene into a Painting Sid invites the viewers to look through their photographs and find a scene suitable for turning into a painting. Then he demonstrates how to use the digital canvas to transform photos into paintings featuring a number of artistic styles—from block print to watercolor. Program 112 Improving Photographs in the Digital Darkroom Sid walks his audience through the process of turning a problem photograph into “the picture you meant to take” using a shot he took of the Greek Parthenon. The picture had been spoiled by the presence of a huge construction crane, which Sid deftly “erases” from the scene. Program 113 Making a Vacation Montage Sid encourages viewers to select from vacation photographs images that are symbolic of the vacation place and then juxtapose them to create an artistic montage suitable for framing.