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