4 Easy Steps To Create Web Graphics
When you first start to use a new software product the hardest part is knowing where to start. You get someone to show you and they go Click, click, click, and you are no wiser than before. If anything you feel more frustrated and stupid. The fact is that once you understand something it is easy, but it takes real effort to get to that stage. That’s the purpose of this article. To give you a kick-start in 4 easy steps.
Step 1. Begin
After opening up Photoshop click on “File” and then “New”. Now choose the size of the new graphic. Usually this is determined by what you plan to do, what is the purpose of the graphic. In this case we are going to create a web page header. Header sizes are determined by the size of the page they are to be applied to. In this case we are creating a header for a sales page. These are usually about 700 pixels by 120 pixels.
Second Step: Decide On A Background.
In choosing a background we have 3 options. We can choose a solid color, a gradient, or a picture as the background.
If we decided on a solid color, here’s how to go about it. On the left hand side of the page there is a floating tool box. Towards the bottom of this box are two color boxes, one on top of the other. Click on the top box and a new window will appear. Choose the color you want by clicking the mouse on the color and click OK. Then choose the Bucket tool. If you cannot find a bucket tool, move your mouse over each of the tools till you find the gradient tool. Right click and it will reveal 2 tools, choose the bucket tool.
Having chosen the color, move your mouse over the new graphic. Your mouse pointer turns into a bucket and click. The color you chose in the tool box is now your background color.
If you want to use a gradient as your background, you will need to turn the bucket tool into the gradient tool. From the floating toolbox on the left choose the color. This time you will need to choose a color for both the top and bottom color boxes. The top color is what your gradient will start with and the bottom is the finish color.
Having chosen the gradient tool you will notice on the top of the work area new choices have appeared. This will allow you to choose the style of the gradient.
The third choice of a background is to import a picture. To do this just open a picture file that you wish to use. Make sure this picture is equal or larger in size to the new graphic you are making. With the mouse just drag and drop the picture into the new graphic. Move it around to where you want it and you’re done.
This works with JPEG Files but does not work with Gif files.
Step 3: Import more images.
In Photoshop you work with layers. Each time you add something new you create a new layer. On the right-hand side of your work area you will see “Layers”. When you open this you will see all the layers. You can click on any of these layers and make them the active layer and the edit that layer.
An image can be imported in the same way the background was imported. Just drag and drop it into the new graphic. When you do this you will notice that there is also some unwanted background with the image. This can be removed with the eraser tool.
If your background is all one color, let’s say white, you can use the magic eraser. Right click on the eraser. Three options will appear. Choose “Magic Eraser”. Move your mouse to the part of the picture you want to get rid of and click. In one click it will remove the unwanted background of the picture you dragged in. While you are in that layer you can move this picture to where you want it by picking it up with your mouse.
Step 4: Add Text
In Photoshop your text is also a layer. Each time you insert new text you create a new layer. You are able to move the text around as you can any other layer.
In the left hand tool box there is the text tool “T”. as in any word processor program fonts, styles and size can be chosen in the bar above the work area.
Once you have set your text you have a lot of things you can do to make them stand out. On the top bar of the work area you will find “Layers” Click on it. In the drop down box that appears choose “Layer Style”. This opens up a lot of thing you can play with. Drop shadow, inner shadow, outer glow, inner glow, and bevel & emboss satin, color overlay, pattern overlay and stroke. You will need to play with these to see what they do. As you play with them you will see instant results before you commit them.
You have now created a simple but professional looking graphic you can use on a web page.
Just save it in Photoshop PSD format. This will allow you to come back and change anything you like. To save it as a smaller file suitable for the web, go to “File” and choose “Save For Web & Devices”. This will produce an image that will load faster.
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