To change the opacity of an image you can use this CSS 3 Code:

<img src="http://mikebite.com/testimage_01" alt="TestImage" style="opacity:0.5;filter: alpha(opacity=50) ;" />

Change more than one image with an anchor tag or create an hover effect:

#imghover a:hover img { filter: alpha(opacity=50);filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=50);-moz-opacity: .5;opacity:0.5; }

affects this HTML

<div id="imghover">
<a href="#"><img src="http://mikebite.com/testimage_01" alt="TestImaget" style="width:50px;height:50px" /></a>
</div>

Same idea with a separate class (makes hover effect even simpler)

.imageopacity {
opacity:0.25;
-ms-filter:"progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=25)";
filter:alpha(opacity=25);
zoom:1
}

.imageopacity:hover {
opacity:1;
-ms-filter:"progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=100)";
filter:alpha(opacity=100)
}

affects this HTML

<img src="testimage_01.jpg" class="imageopacity" alt="TestImageHover" />

Contrast

Another way to make your subject stand-out, can be achieved by a massive contrast. Your subject needs to be different from the rest of the image. Find a light, dark or solid color background and a strong color subject. Or convert your file into black and white.

Image by Jono Renton

Here are some rules that have made my software experience much nicer:

1. Use as little software as possible. One browser, one text editor, one media player, ...

2. Use the best software available! Use Photoshop for photo editing, use Firefox for browsing, use VLC to play your media, ...

3. Use a plain text editor for most of your stuff. Not a word processor, a plain text editor like Notepad.

4. Use a calendar, address book and to-do list you can sync with your mobile phone.

5. Use web applications for corporate work. In cases you have to work together.

6. Do not use web applications for working on high-sensitive data.

7. Do not run software which is still in beta state.

8. Update your software regularly.

9. Delete Software you no longer use.

These are my rules and they make me happy. Hopefully they make you happy too. 

Image by Hmmlargeart

To be productive we have to write our ideas down as soon as the they show up, for that we need a notebook or something similar.

I checked lots of different kinds of notebooks but at the END it was definitely the MOLESKINE who won my sympathy. The Moleskine brand offers a rage of high-quality books in a smooth fake leather cover. Rounded corners, an elastic strap, a hidden pocket at the back, and a bound-in fabric bookmark all add to the experience.

In addition to the notebooks range, Moleskin offers a selection of City notebooks, diaries and other specific books.

Check out the Moleskin Homepage
and The ultimate guide to Moleskin!

Image by Moleskine

Get in close / Blurred background

Less is often more. Even before the rule of thirds, I personally think that simplicity should be the first thing to think about when composing a photo. Try to keep your image ‘clutter free'. Remember that you want to draw your viewer to the main subject of the photo. To simplify your composition you should:

1. Get in close

Remove the distractions around your subject by zooming in. Once you think your close enough, zoom in even more! This is a very simple, yet very effective, way to simplify your image.

Click to read more ...

PC:
Windows Key + E

Mac:
alt + Apfelkey (cmd) + Space Key