Internet
Marketing Tools
Part Four Graphics Basics
Graphic design is an intimidating subject for many Internet
entrepreneurs. However, most of us must learn some basic design
techniques in order to avoid the high costs of hiring a professional
designer.
In order to create or edit your graphics, you'll need to invest
in a good graphics-editing program. The most popular program
used by Internet marketers is Paint Shop Pro. This powerful
program is the only program you'll need to design professional
looking graphics. You can download a free 30-day trial and
register the software for only $99. http://www.jasc.com/
Image Formats
The most popular image formats used on the Internet are GIF
and JPEG.
Graphic Interchange Format, better known as GIF, uses a maximum
of 256 colors and is best suited for images such as logos,
buttons and bullets.
GIF images can be saved in two different formats:
- 87
- 89a
The 89a format is the preferred GIF format, as it has the
following benefits:
Transparency
Images saved in the 89a GIF format can have a transparent
background. This will enable the canvas of an image to be
transparent and enable the background to show through.
Interlacing
Images saved in the 89a GIF format can be saved as interlaced.
This will enable your image to display as it is being loaded
into a web page. The image will gradually become clearer as
the page loads.
Animation
Images saved in the 89a GIF format can be used to create animated
images. Animated images are simply several GIF images compiled
into one GIF image file that loops. In order to create an
animated image, you'll need a special editing program.
Joint Photographic Expert Group, better known as JPEG, is
the best format for photographs. JPEG images can contain millions
of colors and allow you to specify the degree of compression.
Although there are many graphics programs available on the
Internet, this tutorial will focus on using Paint Shop Pro
7.01. If you are using a different version of Paint Shop Pro
or another graphics program, the graphic tools mentioned below
will not be located in the same places.
Editing Images
When working with images in Paint Shop Pro, you will have
the ability to save your image in PSP format. This format
will enable you to begin working on an image, save it in PSP
format and finish the image at a later time. It will preserve
all of your work without any changes.
If you would like to edit an image that has been previously
saved in the GIF format, you must first increase the image's
colors to 16 million. If you don't, your colors will be limited.
Go to "Colors" - "Increase Color Depth"- "16 million colors
(24 bit)" to increase your image's colors.
Resizing Images
If you'd like to resize an image in JPEG format, you can do
so in one of two ways -- through your graphics program or
within your HTML. You can resize your image within your HTML
by changing the HEIGHT and WIDTH values. To retain your images
original characteristics, make sure you adjust the height
and the width equally. In other words, if your original image
dimensions are 50x100 (width 50 and height 100), to reduce
your image to one half the size, change the width to 25 and
the height to 50.
If you'd like to resize an image in JPEG or GIF format, go
to "Image" - "Resize" and select "Percentage of original."
Type in your selection in the first box and click on "OK."
There's no need to fill in the second box, as it will be filled
in automatically. For example. If you would like to reduce
your image to half the size it is now, type in 50. This number
is telling the program that you'd like to reduce the image's
size by 50%.
If you would like to increase your image's size, type in a
number over 100. Your original image is considered to be 100%.
If you would like to increase your image's size by 50%, type
150 in the first box.
Rotating Images
If you'd like to rotate an image, go to "Image" - "Rotate"
and select your preferences.
When rotating an image, it may lose some of its clarity (become
blurry). You can correct this problem by sharpening your image.
Go to "Effects" - "Sharpen" - "Sharpen". If after sharpening
your image it still appears a little blurry, simply sharpen
it again.
Working With Text
If you would like to use text within your image, your first
step will be to select your text color. The "Styles" boxes
are located on the right hand side of your screen. The top
box should be set to Null (off) and the bottom box should
be set to Solid, which will look like a paintbrush. To change
the style of each box, click on the black arrow and make your
selection.
To change the text color, click in the center of the bottom
box and select your preferred color. Your text will be displayed
in the color within the bottom box.
If you would like to outline your text in a different color,
click on the black arrow of the top box and select the paintbrush.
Your text will be displayed in the color your bottom box contains
and outlined in the color your top box contains.
Text Tool
Once you've selected your text color, click on the text tool
on the left-hand side of your screen. This will launch your
text window. Select your font and text size from the drop
down menu and type in your text. Make sure you select Antialias
and Floating then click "OK."
Antialias will smooth out all of the rough edges of your text
and blend it in with your background color. You will use the
Antialias setting with various graphic tools when designing
your graphics, so it is important to remember its function.
You will now see your text with, what looks like, marching
ants around it. If you'd like to move your text, click and
hold your left mouse button directly over your text to drag
it to your desired position. Try to center it as well as possible,
but don't deselect it.
If you would like to rotate your text, now is the time to
do it. Simply follow the same instructions (above) used to
rotate an image.
If you make a change to your image and you're not satisfied
with the outcome, you can undo your last change by going to
"Edit" - "Undo." It will only undo the last thing you did.
Adding a Drop Shadow
Your next step will be to add a drop shadow effect. With your
text still selected, go to "Effects" - "3D Effects" - "Drop
Shadow." Your selected text will be displayed in the window.
Try different settings until you achieve the effect you'd
like. Click on OK. When you're satisfied with your text, right
click on your mouse to set it.
Now that you have a basic understanding of graphics, take
some time to learn some additional techniques. There are many
free tutorials available on the Internet. Not only will it
assist you in creating professional looking images, but it
will also save you a great deal of money.
Copyright © Shelley Lowery
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