1. Make sure you have a recent backup
Make sure you have a recent Time Machine backup on the machine you wish to transfer your information from. To check, go to System Preferences (Apple menu) > Time Machine. If you see a recent backup, then you’re set; if not, click “show Time Machine status in the menu bar.” In the resulting menu bar item, click “Back up now.” Time Machine will make a new backup.

2. Make sure you’re not leaving anything behind
In the Time Machine System Preference pane, click the Options button. In the dialog box, you can see all the folders you have chosen not to backup — check these to make sure you really don’t want them. If you do, click the folder and chose the “-” (minus button) at the bottom. Click OK and backtrack to step 1 to create a current backup.

3. Getting the new machine ready
From this point, you can deviate into two directions:

* If your Mac is new: Boot up the new Mac and go through the setup screens. When the setup assistant asks if you want to migrate information from your old Mac, choose “From Time Machine backup or other disk.”
* If your Mac has an existing account, don’t fret. Just open “Migration Assistant” located in /Applications/Utilities.

4. Connecting your Time Machine drive to the new machine
Once you have completed the above step, click continue. Migration Assistant will ask you to specify the backup you would like to transfer to the new machine.

5. Select the account you wish to transfer
You will now be presented with a dialog showing all the accounts that were on the old machine. Select one, two, or all of them, and click continue. If you want more options (such as what to transfer), click the gray disclosure triangle next to the account name. The resulting view will allow you to opt-out of transferring certain folders (i.e. Pictures, Documents, etc.).

6. And you’re done … almost
In the next few dialog boxes, you can opt to transfer Applications or Network Settings. Once you click transfer, your account will be copied in its entirety to your new Mac.

An important note: If you already have an account on the Mac you’re transferring to, the account name cannot be the same as the one you’re transferring. In other words, you can’t copy an account if one exists on the new computer with the same name.

The convenience and quality of Photofiltre’s software is comparable to other popular choices, but it has the advantage of its free program offered for download. Like basic levels of Photoshop, the program allows users to crop and edit images, as well as remove or add elements from photos and graphic images.

Basic Editing
Basic editing features with Photofiltre are virtually the same as the basic features for Paintbrush, Photoshop, and other image software programs. Cropping and resizing functions include whole and partial images and canvas or frame size. These features allow users to shrink photos or images by pixel size or crop the edges from photographs.

Basic sepia and black and white functions allow users to alter images with an antiqued appearance with a single click. Functions for adjusting photo light levels and image contrast are on par with other programs, with an easy-to-use toolbar located just above the editing field.

Editing PhotosPhotofiltre’s software includes easy steps for removing “red eye” from photographs, a welcome improvement over many digital camera software programs whose automatic correction features leave something to be desired.

The “sharpen” and “soften” features allow users to correct some focus mistakes in photos or draw out artistic details in others. The user can sharpen colors or reduce harsh lighting in some photos using features like “gamma correct”, “contrast”, and “saturation” to modify the photo’s basic appearance.

Additional Features
Photofiltre’s free software program includes additional features that enhance artistic projects. Users can frame images with beveled or layered dimensional frames, or alter the color spectrum of an image, tinting the overall aspect in shades of green or pink. Photofiltre users can also layer text directly over an image without blocking out the underlying design, choosing from a variety of fonts and shadowing effects.
Editing details within images is also possible with Photofiltre. Graphic artists can cut items directly from an image or paste others in, using the image softening function to help blur the paste effect. Users can splice pieces of the background together to fill in the gap where an item has been removed.

Although the features are less impressive than advanced software like Photofiltre, the quality is advanced from Paintbrush or basic digital camera software programs, with a simple or user-friendly format that may appeal to less experienced artists.

Advanced Possibilities
Additional features provided allow users to alter an image to resemble charcoal or pen-and-ink sketches. Users can also employ the stamp function to add pre-chosen designs to an existing image, from snowflake lines to bird-like flock of miniatures.
Professional Photofiltre software includes functions on par with advanced Photoshop techniques, including advanced features for editing and improving photographs. The free program, however, will benefit most artistic users as well or better than many basic digital software program.