Acorn: tutorials

Video Tutorials

Basics

Opening, Creating, & the Canvas	Basics of how to open your image, create a new image, and Acorn’s canvas.
Saving an Image	A basic review of how to save an image you have opened and modified.
Layers Basics Part 1	An introduction to the layers list, opacity slider, and blending modes.
Layers Basics Part 2	How to add multiple images to your layers, then rotate and move them around.
Using Acorn with Photos	Learn to edit your images from Photos in Acorn.
Filters Basics	Learn the basics of how to use Acorn's powerful stackable filter interface.
Shape Processor Basics	Discover the ease of Acorn's shape processor for creating vector designs.

Tools

Paint Tool	How to use Acorn's paint tool and a few nifty brush tricks.
Text Tool	New to text? Learn how to get started with this tutorial.
Shape Tools	Get acquainted with the basics of the shape tools.
Selections	An introduction to the various selection tools.
Quick Mask	Discover how to use quick mask mode to remove a background.
Clone Tool	Learn to use Acorn’s clone tool across layers, across images, and to “stamp”.
Bezier Curve Tool Part 1	A quick introduction on how to use the Bézier tool, with a link to a sample image.
Bezier Curve Tool Part 2	Draw a Bezier Curve then modify its anchor points and add more anchor points.
Circle Text Tool	Learn how easy it is to place your text on a circle to create a logo.
Path Text Tool	Create text on a path like the pros to take your designs to the next level.

Image Editing

Remove a Background	Use instant alpha and the eraser tool to remove an image background.
Introduction to Curves	Use curves to adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights in your image.
Straighten a Crooked Image	How to quickly straighten your crooked photos using the crop tool.
Adjust the Color of the Sky	Use the magic wand and gradient tools to adjust the sky color.
Watermarking	How to use Acorn to watermark your images with text or with another image.
Make a Vector Cog	Learn how to use shape tools and boolean operations to create a cog shape.
Fade Out Techniques	Learn how to use layer masks and gradients to fade out your image.

Making a Specific Selection Size	How to set a selection with specific dimensions.
Background Blur Filter	Use the background blur filter to quickly blur a specific area of your image.
Locking Layer Transparency	Use a layer mask to preserve layer transparency.
Clipping to a Shape Layer	Discover how to use blending modes to clip to a shape layer.

Photo Touchup Tutorials

Beginner

Straighten a Crooked Photo	Straighten up images that turned out a bit crooked.
Black & White	A few different ways of converting a color photo into black & white.
Sepia Tone	How to give your photo a classic look.
Clone Tool	Learn how to efficiently use the clone tool.

Intermediate

Red Eye Removal	Get the demons out.
Changing Colors	How to change eye and hair colors.
Restoring and Coloring Old Photos	Learn how to make an old black and white photo a color photo.
Soft Lighting	How to create soft lighting using filters and gradients.
Color Correction	Too dark? Too blue? Learn how to fix it using levels and filters.
HDR Effect	Give your photos a high dynamic range appearance.
Lighten or Darken	How to lighten and darken specific areas of your image.
Color Correcting Part 2	Fix poor contrast and washed out images with blend modes.
Retouching a Portrait	Learn how to whiten teeth, add lipstick, and brush on some eyeliner.

General Acorn Tutorials

Beginner

Applying Texture	How to apply texture to your image using blending modes.
Cropping a Photo for Printing	How to crop a photo to prepare it for printing.
Filter Examples	Single filters applied to an image of the Space Needle and a plain rectangle.
Fade Out Your Image	Fade out your image using layer masks, gradients, and selections.
Remove a Background	Learn a few different ways to get rid of that pesky background.
Adding Images	How to insert and resize images.
Quick Mask	Introduction to Quick Mask mode (see also the companion video).
Custom Brushes	Create your own shape brush.

Intermediate

Automating Watermarking	Use Automator to add a custom watermark to multiple images.
Drop Shadow Variations	Ways to create a custom drop shadow.
Layer Mask Examples	Different ways to use layer masks.
Making Seamless Tiles	How to make a tile that can be repeated seamlessly.
Shapes in Layer Masks	Do you want to use a shape layer as a mask? Here's how.
Watermarking a Single Image	How to watermark an image.

Photo and Design Tutorials

Beginner

Add a Border	How to give your image a simple border.
Color Highlight Tutorial	Turn an image to black and white then bring back areas of color.
Coloring a Sketch	Color in a sketch just like the kids do!
Making Your Own Texture	Make brushed metal and leather textures.

Intermediate

Animate an Image	Use Acorn and Keynote to animate an image, our most ridiculous tutorial yet!
Aurora Borealis	How to create a starry night with an aurora borealis effect.
Bokeh Effect	Create a Bokeh effect that you can use as your desktop picture.
Create a Box	Make a custom gift box that you can print out and fold.
Create a Sphere	Create a sphere using the shape tool, gradients, and filters.
Creating Creases	How to create the appearance of creases in your image.
Create Invitations	How to create your own invitation.
Custom Clouds	Create your very own unique custom clouds.
Depth of Field	Create depth of field to focus on a subject.
Digital Postcard	How to create your own digital postcards.
Frame Your Image	How to create a digital frame.
Give Yourself a Tattoo	How to freak out your parents.
Holiday Card	Make your own greeting card!
Image to Illustration	Turning a photograph into an outline illustration.
Jagged Image Edge	Give your image edges a rough irregular look.
Light Designs	Creating neato light effects.
Lifted Image Edges	How to create the effect of lifted image edges.
Mounting Corners	Add mounting corners to your image.
Panorama	How to combine image to create a panorama.
Photo Booth Layout	Create the layout of a photo booth strip.
Photo Collage	Give multiple photos a border and drop shadow to create a digital collage.
Photo Cutout	Use this technique to create depth in an image.
Photo Inside a Photo	Take a photo and embed another photo inside of it with a nice border.
Photo Manipulation	Making bizarre images in Acorn.
Scrapbooking	How to create digital scrapbook pages.
Vignette Effect	Add interest to your image with this soft effect.
Vintage Photo Effect	How to give your photographs an older look.

Advanced

Aging a Face	Use layer masks to add wrinkles and texture to a face.
City Skyline Outline	Outline a city skyline using the bézier shape tool to use in artwork and designs.
Create a Book	How to create the appearance of a 3 dimensional book.
Lightning and Electricity	Customize and create lightning or electricity.
Make a Puzzle	Give your image the appearance of a puzzle
Making a Custom Web Button	How to make a custom web button using gradients, shapes, and text.
Pop Art Effect	How to create the look of pop art with your image.

Text & Shape Tutorials

Beginner

Drop Shadows	How to apply a drop shadow to text and shapes.
Gradient Text	Learn how to apply a gradient to your text.

Intermediate

Create a Cogwheel	Easily make a cogwheel or gear using the star shape tool and Boolean operations.
Creating Pressed Text	How to create the look of pressed text.
Cutout Type	How to create type that looks cut out from the background.
Filling Text	How to fill text with an image or pattern using 'paste into' and 'fill'.
Giving Text Shadows and Reflection	Give text a shadow and reflection to create depth.
Gold Text	Creating text that looks like gold.
Leaves on Text	Making it appear as if leaves are covering text.
Outer and Inner Glow	How to give your text a glow effect.
Placing a Photo Into Text	How to make it appear as if a photo is inside text using selections and rasterization.
Retro Star	How to use shapes, gradients, and filters to create a shooting star.
Rock Text	Learn how to chisel your text from rock.
Text to Bezier Shape	Modify your text in neat ways by converting it to a Bezier shape.
Vector Clouds	Create vector clouds easily by using shape operations.
Vector Flowers	Learn how to use the star shape tool to make easy and beautiful flowers.
Weathered Text	Create the appearance of weathered or scratched text.
Wood Text	Making text that appears to be cut from wood.

Advanced

Batman Logo	Create the batman logo from scratch using shape operations.
Cartoon Character	Learn how to use vector shapes to make a fun cartoon character.
Comic Text	Create the look of action text seen in comics.
Vector Pig	How to make a cute pig and landscape using vector shapes and gradients.