Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: IconArt

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Compact Program for Creating Icons and Cursors

Great Find: IconArt

Permalink: http://www.conware-pro.com/products/ia/

Target Audience: All Computer Users

Content: This Windows-based utility allows you to create your own icon or cursor from scratch or by uploading a graphic. You can create static or animated versions. It’s an easy-to-use, paint style tool that supports text, rotation, color palette options, and gradient fills.

IconArt

Here’s three things I like about IconArt:

  • It’s free (only $9.95 for commercial use)
  • It’s easy to use
  • You can design from scratch or import art to convert

Let me know how you use it!

–Sandy, Purple Wren Communications

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Sandy’s Great Graphic Tips: Selecting File Types

Filed Under Design, Successful Blog, Tips | 4 Comments

Which graphic file type is best? It depends . . .

A lot of people wonder what the difference is between file types. Here’s a quick description of three common types. To learn more, follow the links for examples and detailed explanations.

.jpg or .jpeg = Joint Photographers Experts Group

  • Superior for photographs, computer game screenshots, blends or gradients (including metallics)
  • Allows compression options (removes information to make the file smaller)
  • Can be used as an image map (single image with clickable areas)
  • Does not support transparency
  • Supports millions of colors

.gif = Graphics Interchange Format

  • Superior for simple shapes, line art, diagrams, or flat colors (think cartoons, icons, logos, buttons)
  • Supports animation
  • Supported by most browsers
  • Allows transparent backgrounds (for round or irregular shapes)
  • Can be used as an image map
  • Supports 256 colors maximum

.png = Portable Network Graphics

  • Designed to improve/replace .gif file but does not support animation
  • Supports transparency
  • Preserves sharp edges
  • Not all browsers support it but it’s gaining in popularity
  • Supports RGB or greyscale (does not support CMYK for print)

How do you know if you have the right file format?

If it’s too grainy, too fuzzy, or the file size is too large, you might want to review the descriptions above or check out Pat Kalbaugh’s GIF vs JPG page at The Sirius Web. Experiment a little - save it as a different file type and see what happens.

See you next time!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

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Sandy’s Great Graphic Tips: Why Use Graphics?

Filed Under Design, Successful Blog, Tips | 8 Comments

What Does Learning Style Have To Do With Graphics?

We each have a different learning style. The three basic styles are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (VAK). Approximately 60-70% (depending on the source) of the general population are predominantly visual learners. They need visual aids to fully grasp a concept or idea.

Graphics are a huge reason people flock to the web. Humans are generally more receptive to things we see compared to things we hear. That means a well-placed graphic on your post can make a world of difference to their experience.

The term ‘graphic’ describes visual elements like photographs, drawings, illustrations, diagrams, charts, maps, symbols, fonts, etc. Graphics can be a very effective method to express a concept. Remember the proverb, “a picture is worth a thousand words”? Sometimes you can use a graphic to express an idea that may otherwise take pages.

Graphics:

  • add color and depth
  • tell a story
  • catch the eye
  • retain reader interest
  • express a concept

What’s Your Learning Style?

What type of learning style do you have? Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic? Find out with the Learning Style Survey.

Here’s my results. The graphic says it all…

Learning Style

Stay tuned… in upcoming weeks we’ll talk more about graphics. Let me know what you think. If there are specific things you want to discuss, feel free to leave a comment and we’ll start there.

Here’s some ideas I thought of:

  • Using graphics effectively
  • Selecting graphic file types (.gif, .jpg)
  • Sizing and optimizing graphics
  • Editing image tags in html
  • Using white space
  • Cropping photos
  • File naming conventions
  • Placing images in text
  • Using a scanner to create graphics
  • Finding graphics
  • Using special effects
  • Locating books and resources
  • Using color, grayscale, or duotone

See you next time!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

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Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: PicMaster

Filed Under Design, Great Finds, Successful Blog, Tools | 3 Comments

How Do They Create Those Mosaics?

Great Find: PicMaster

Permalink: http://www.graphics-tools.com/

Target Audience: All Windows users

Content: This week we’re taking a look at a program called PicMaster. There are a number of features this program is known for, but the one I like the best is the mosaic function. I’ve seen those mosaics made with a lot of little photos and wanted to try it. This software makes it easy. Make sure you have a large selection of photos that can be made into thumbnails for the finished piece. Then it’s just a matter of telling the software what you want and waiting a few minutes.

Voilá! A mosaic for your viewing pleasure.

Jim
Jim as Mosaic

PicMaster is offered as Shareware so you can try it before paying the $29.90 U.S. fee. There are restrictions though, so if you like what this tool offers, you will want to purchase it to eliminate the watermark and realize the full potential of the software.


Here are seven things I like about PicMaster :

  • Create mosaics.
  • Remove red-eye with the image editor.
  • Manage your pictures with the image browser.
  • Print individual pages to make a huge poster.
  • Morph images (e.g., a cat into a dog).
  • Use the filters (preview first) to create neat effects.
  • Add sound comments to your pictures.

I had fun with this program. Let me know what you think.

Stay tuned… next week we’ll have a graphics tip!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

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Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: Pixel Ruler

Filed Under Design, Great Finds, Successful Blog, Tools | 14 Comments

Need to measure graphics? Here’s a great tool . . .

Great Find: Pixel Ruler v3.1

Permalink: http://www.mioplanet.com/products/pixelruler/index.htm

Target Audience: All Windows users

Content: This week I want to tell you about a tool I use a lot. It’s a virtual ruler for your desktop that you can use to measure pixels. What are pixels? They are the tiny colored squares that make up a web page. It helps to communicate with others if you speak the same language.

I also worked in the print world, and it’s an adjustment to switch from thinking about inches to measuring in pixels. So I looked for help. There’s plenty of tools out there, but this one works great, the price is right, and it’s simple. Click the screen shot to take you there.

Here are three things I like about Pixel Ruler:

  • It’s handy for reading large tables and spreadsheets.
  • You can change the color of the skin.
  • It’s free.

The next time someone asks you the size of a banner or graphic, use a ruler that floats on your screen. Keep a shortcut to Pixel Ruler handy so you can open it quickly. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Stay tuned… next week is another tool that’s free!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

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