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In the last activity, you saw how easy it is to add graphics from clipart
collections and other websites to your webpages.
In this next
activity, you will create your own web graphics. It is suggested that
Windows 95/98/2000/NT users use the Microsoft Paint application
for this activity.
Mac users
can use the ClarisWorks / AppleWorks Paint Application. You
will also want to check your computer applications for other graphics
tools or photo editors which may also work.
If you are
unable to locate a suitable graphics tools installed on your computer,
you can use these online graphics tools to create your own web graphics.
Instructions for using the tools are found on the website.
GIFWorks.com
- GIFWorks is a full-featured online graphics editing tool. You can open
images from your computer, apply special effects and save the modified
image back to your computer.
3D
Text Maker - Create personalized 3-D Banners for your webpages.
Creating
Web Graphics Using Paint
- Click
on the Start button located in the lower left corner of the Windows
98 screen.
- Move the
cursor up to Programs, over to Accessories and then down
to Paint.
- Click
on Paint and the application will open on the screen.
- First
you will want to set size of the image you will create.
- Click
on the Image menu and select Attributes.
- A dialog
box will appear allowing you to set the heighth and widt of the image.
- Remember
that the larger the image is, the longer it will take to appear on the
screen. You might want to start with a 300 pixel by 200 pixel
size. As reference point, remember that the normal size of a webpage
is 640 pixels by 480 pixels so you will want to create
images that are smaller than those dimensions to allow room for the
webpage text.
- The Tool
Buttons on the left side of the screen will allow you to select
the Paint tool you want to use.
- Begin
by experimenting with the Pencil, Brush and Airbrush
Tools which will allow you to draw lines and shapes on the palette.
- Clicking
on the Color Chips at the bottom of the screen will allow you
to change the color displayed on the screen.
- The Line
and Curve tools allow you to draw straight lines and string-like
curves on the screen.
- The Shape
Tools on the lower left side of the Tools bar allow you to create
geometric objects.
- You can
change the thickness of the line by selecting from the Line Size
buttons.
- The Eraser
Tool allows you to correct mistakes.
- The Fill
Tool will fill closed shapes with a selected color.
- Clicking
on the Text Tool will allow you to add text to the image.
- Hold down
the left mouse button while you draw a text box on the
screen.
- When you
release the mouse button, a box will appear allowing you to type the
text, select the Font and Font Size.
- Spend
some time creating your personal web graphic.
- You will
find the Help files useful if you need more information on how to use
the tools.
- If you
want to begin again, just select New from the File menu.
- When you
are satisfied with your digital image you will want to save it so you
can insert it into your webpage.
- You will
want to be very careful in this next step since web browsers can not
display the .bmp (bitmap) images that Paint uses as the
default save as option.
- Follow
these steps to save your graphic in a format that can be displayed.
- Select
Save As from the File menu.
- When the
dialog box appears, select the Desktop or the 3 1/2 Floppy
(A:)
- Now, click
the down arrow to the right of Save as type: and click
on .gif or .jpg (Note: GIF and JPG files can be displayed
by all web browsers and are the best choice for your personal web graphics).
- Click
on Save.
- Open your
graphics webpage with Netscape Composer and insert your image
following the steps you used earlier.
Mac Users:
ClarisWorks/AppleWorks Paint is very similar to Microsoft Paint. Consult
the Help files for specifics. Be sure to save your graphics in either
the .gif or .jpg graphics format rather than the default
Mac .pict format which will not work on webpages.
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