CREATING GRAPHIC FILES

Creating Graphic Files

This document discusses the process of creating graphic files so that someone else could
follow my steps to create a similar graphics. I utilize Adobe Photoshop for graphic editing.
The graphics used are part of my career portfolio website as an about me image and a portfolio
image. The target audience is for anyone to view who I am and display my talent in graphic
editing.

Original Image
• Select an image of yourself. This can be a selfie or a close up image some else had taken of
you.
o I chose a selfie I took the day after I got my new glasses. I was sitting in my car a
few minutes before work started and thought it was a selfie kind of morning. I
think this picture also shows a little flare of my personality with the small smirk.
• Open the image with Adobe Photoshop.
o I right clicked on the image from my Mac.
o I selected Open With.
o I chose Open With Adobe Photoshop.
• Adobe opens to the workspace for editing.
• From the top tabs, Select File drop down menu.
• Select Save As.
• Save the file with course initial, task number, your name or initials then add “_original” to
the end of the naming extension.
• Navigate to where you want the file saved.
o I saved the file to my desktop for quick uploading to WGU when I am completed.
o Then I go back and move the pictures into my WGU folder later.
• Ensure the format is set as JPEG.
• Select “Save” button
• The JPEG Options menu opens. Under Image options, select 8 as default and Baseline
standard format.
• Check the file size. Per WGUs assignment requirements, ensure the file is not larger than 20
MB. Currently the image file size I selected is at 513.4K.
• Select “OK” button.
• Part One is complete!

Resized Image
• On the tool bar, select Image drop down menu.
• Select “Image Size” button.
• The image size window opens.
• Ensure the Width and Height are set to Pixels and not Inches. If not, pixels then select the
drop-down menu and choose pixels.
• Resize the image per WGU requirement dimensions 640 X 480 or smaller.
o My image is current sized at 2576 (H) by 1932 (w).
• Enter 480 into the width field. The height filed will automatically fill in with 640. If not, then
enter 640 into the Height field.
• Select “OK” button.

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• Adobe will automatically resize the workspace. If you need to, zoom in workspace to
enlarge.
• From the top tabs, Select File drop down menu.
• Select Save As.
• Remove the “_original” from the end of the naming extension and add “_resized”
• Navigate to where you want the file saved.
o I saved the file to my desktop.
• Ensure the format is set as JPEG.
• Select “Save” button
• The JPEG Options menu opens. Image option is defaulted to 8.
• Check the file size. After resizing, the file is now 101.5K.
• Select “OK” button.
• Move to Cropped Image.

Cropped Image
• If you have not done so already, zoom the workspace in to view the areas you want to crop.
• From the left Tool Panel, select the rectangular marquee tool.
• Drag the marquee tool across the area you want to crop.
o I wanted to create a square.
o I dragged the marquee tool from the upper left corner to the upper right corner.
o Then I dragged the marquee tool down to about a half an inch below my chin to
crop out as much of the blue fuzzy seat belt holder as possible about 6 x 9 in
inches
• From the Image menu, select Crop. Adobe will automatically crop the image in the
workspace.
• If you are satisfied with the crop, save the file. If not go back a touch up the crop.
o I went back to touch up the crop.
o I wanted the crop to be more squared and remove more of the bottom blue fuzzy
seat belt.
o I repeated the process above, but this time cropped the bottom to about 6 x 7 in
inches.
• From the top tabs, Select File drop down menu.
• Select Save As.
• Remove the previous file extension from the end of the name and add “_cropped”
• Navigate to where you want the file saved.
o I saved the file to my desktop.
• Ensure the format is set as JPEG.
• Select “Save” button
• The JPEG Options menu opens. Image option is defaulted to 8.
• Check the file size. After cropping, the file is now 85.9K.
• Select “OK” button.
• Move to Adapted Image.

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Adapted Image
• For adapting the image, I want to turn the image purple. In order to replace the image created
on the About page of the career e-portfolio.
• From the right Layer Panel, select the New Layer folder icon. A new layer will appear.
• Select the layer from the payer panel.
• In the Color panel choose the color you want to use.
o I want bright purple. I dragged the slider to the purple I wanted.
o If you do not see the Color Panel, the select Color from the Window top tab.
• From the top tabs, select Edit.
• Choose Fill to open the fill dialog box.
• In the Contents drop down menu, select if you want the color to be in the Foreground or
Background.
o I selected Foreground.
o Under Blending, select Overlay mode and 50% Opacity.
• Select “OK” button.
• Select the image from the layer panel. You may now notice on the left Tool Panel the color is
square matches the color you selected.
• Select Fill from the Edit tab to open the Fill dialog box.
• Select “Foreground”
• Select “OK” button.
• The workspace now has the color overlay on your image.
• If you are not satisfied with the color, repeat the process above by selecting the layer to
change the color. Be sure to select “Step Backward” from the Edit top tabs before making
your changing. This allows you to begin from the insert layer. If you select the overlay after
each time Adobe will overlay on top of the current overlay.
o The purple I had was too dark.
o I used the process above and dragged the color slider to the top middle of purple.
o This time I selected 30% Opacity instead of 50%.
• When satisfied, save the image.
• From the top tabs, Select File drop down menu.
• This time you are not able to save the file the standard way. You will have to export it.
• From File, select Export.
• The Export As window opens.
• From the right menu, select .gif from the File Settings drop down.
• Select “Export All” button.
• The file Export window opens.
• Remove the previous file extension from the end of the name and add “_adapted”
• Navigate to where you want the file saved.
o I saved the file to my desktop.
• Select “OK” button.
• Move to Scanned Image.

Scanned Image
• I made a quick storyboard drawing on a blank piece of paper.
• Since I do not have a scanner, I took a picture of the storyboard with my cell phone.

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• On my Mac, I selected Photos, and navigated to the storyboard image.

• I right clicked on the image and selected Open With Adobe Photoshop.
• Adobe opened the storyboard to the workspace.
• From the top tabs, Select File drop down menu.
• Select Save As.
• Enter the same file name extension used previously and add “_scanned” on the end.
• Navigate to where you want the file saved.
o I saved the file to my desktop.
• Ensure the format is set as JPEG.
• Select “Save” button
• The JPEG Options menu opens. Image option is defaulted to 8.
• Check the file size. The file is now 309.9K.
• Select “OK” button.
• Move to Scanned Adapted Image.

Scanned Adapted Image

• On the tool bar, select Image drop down menu.
• Select “Image Size” button.
• The image size window opens.
• Ensure the Width and Height are set to Pixels.
• Resize the image per WGU requirement dimensions 640 X 480 or smaller.
o My image is current sized at 1512 (H) by 2016 (w).
• Enter 640 into the Width field. The height filed will automatically fill in with 480. If not,
then enter 480 into the Height field.
• Select “OK” button.
• Adobe will automatically resize the workspace. If you need to, zoom in workspace to
enlarge.
• From the top tabs, Select File drop down menu.
• Select Save As.
• Use the file name from previous and add “_scanned_adapted”
• Navigate to where you want the file saved.
o I saved the file to my desktop.
• Ensure the format is set as JPEG.
• Select “Save” button
• The JPEG Options menu opens. Image option is defaulted to 8.
• Check the file size. After resizing, the file is now 91.4K.
• Select “OK” button.
• Move to Print Image.

Paint Image
• This example is a digital storyboard. The purpose is to display an example of what the
content would look like on a slide to provide a visual representation for the SME or the client
requesting the eLearning. This process can take about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the
amount of detail incorporated. This task took 14 minutes all together. This does not have to
be perfect graphic, only a representation.

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• Open Adobe Illustrator.

• Select “Create New” button
• From the New Document window, select Print.
• Under Blank Document Presets, select Letter.
• On the right, under Preset Details, enter the file name and include “_paint” at the end.
• Select Landscape icon under Orientation.
• Leave the Width and Height as standard until the next section in Print Adapted.
• Select “Create” button.
• The Illustrator workspace opens. If you receive a pop up add or help add from Adobe, select
the red X at the top left of the window to close it.
• Using the scanned storyboard, you want to create a digital copy to send to the subject matter
experts for approval before beginning work.
• Create six rectangles to represent the six scenes in the storyboard.
o From the Tool Panel, select the Rectangle tool
o Beginning on the upper left side of the workspace, draw a rectangle.
o Drag the tool diagonally until the rectangle is in the desired height and width
(about 2 x 2)
o Select the Select tool from the Tools Panel.
o Copy and paste two more squares evenly on the first row.
o Start a new row. Leave enough room between the two rows to add text.
o Copy and paste three squares evenly across the bottom row, creating a three by
six grid.
• Build six smaller rectangles below each square for text. Follow the steps above using the
Rectangle Tool.
o I held the shift key on my key board and selected the top three squares.
o I copied and pasted the three squares.
o Align each square to the top squares.
o With the three squares still selected, drag the bottom blue circle on one of the
squares and drag up to decrease the squares, creating small rectangles.
• From the Tool Panel select the “T” to activate the text tool.
• With the text tool active, select inside each small rectangle.
• Select in the middle of each small rectangle and click. This places the filler text into the
center of the rectangles.
• In the first small rectangle, double click inside the text field and enter the text description
from the storyboard.
o I entered “Topic introduction.” Then added a bit more detail of the scene for the
slide. “Character pointing to a board with text and next and previous arrows
allowing for additional information.”
o Number each of the text fields, 1 to 6.
• You will notice the text does not wrap. You will have to use the Enter key on your keyboard
to keep the text inside the rectangle.
• You may also have to reposition the text field.
o On the Tool Panel, select the “Select” tool.
o Select the text field and drag and drop into the position you want.
o I placed the text box center into the small rectangle.

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o Illustrator will help you align the text box with the previous text field.
• Move to the next rectangle and repeat the process for the remaining five scenes.
• Beginning with the first square (left to right) to draw in the storyboard.
o From the Tool Panel, select the Rectangle tool
o Draw a rectangle inside the first scene in same position as the storyboard drawing.
o Drag the tool diagonally until the rectangle is in the desired height and width (130
width x 188 height)
§ You can enter the exact width and height from the right-side Properties
panel under Transform.
o Select the Select tool from the Tools Panel.
o Copy and paste the rectangle to the second scene.
o Copy and paste the rectangle to the third scene.
§ Reposition the rectangle horizontally from left the right.
§ Resize the length to be in the middle of the scene.
o Copy and paste the rectangle to the next row forth scene.
§ Position the rectangle on the right side of the scene.
o Copy and paste the rectangle to the right side of the fifth and sixth scene.
• Now that the chalkboard has been applied, you can add the previous and next buttons to the
first and second scene.
o Paste a rectangle on to the workspace.
o Resize the rectangle into a small square similar to the storyboard sketch (24x24)
o Place the small square on the bottom right corner of the scene one’s chalkboard
rectangle.
o Copy the small square.
o Past the small square and place it in the bottom left corner of the second scene
storyboard rectangle.
• Create the “Start” button on the second scene storyboard.
o Paste the small square.
o Drag the small square to the second storyboard rectangle.
o Drop it up and to the right of the small square left corner.
o Resize the small square into a small long rectangle leaving enough space from
each side of the chalkboard rectangle (88x24)
o Copy the small rectangle button.
• Create “Continue,” and “Try Again,” buttons for the fourth, fifth, and sixth scenes.
o Paste the small rectangle button.
o Drag to the fourth scene’s chalkboard rectangle and drop it.
o Reposition it centered at the bottom of the chalkboard.
o Repeat this process for scenes five and six.
• Create the scenario options and buttons for scene three.
o Paste the small square to the workspace.
o Drag the square to the third scene.
o Drag it up slightly to be just above the small square.
o Drop it below the top rectangle leaving a small gap.
o Resize the shape to be a long thin rectangle. The size should be aligned with the
top rectangle (218x19).
o Paste the small rectangle into the workspace.

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o Drag to the third scene and drop below the long thin rectangle and left aligned
with the previous objects.
o Resize the shape into a slightly larger square (69x49).
o Copy the shape.
o Paste the shape and drag parallel with the previous square allowing a small gap
between.
o Paste the shape again and drag into the right position aligned with the previous.
squares and the right align objects and allowing a space gap.
o Select each of the three squares, by holding the shift key on your key board and
selecting each object.
o Copy and paste the three squares.
o Drag the three squares to the third scene and place below the previous three
squares.
o Align the squares evenly with the previous squares allowing a tiny gap between
the objects.
o Decrease the length of the squares by selecting the blue circle at the bottom of the
objects and drag up (69x18).
• Create the play button feature in scene three.
o Illustrator does not have a standard Triangle tool, but you can build your own.
o Select the Rectangle tool.
o Draw a square in the middle of the rectangle in scene three.
o From the tool panel select the “Direct Selection Tool” it is the second icon. It is a
filled in arrow.
o Double click the top right corner of the square you just drew.
o Drag the corner to the middle of the object creating a triangle (the angle is 130.7).
o Select the “Selection Tool” from the Tools Panel.
o Resize the triangle to make a smaller triangle (25x48).
o Hover over the corner of the triangle form until you see the rotate double arrow.
o Rotate the triangle where the center point is facing right, and the long end is
facing left. To represent the common play button.
o Select the arrow and copy it. You will use it shortly to create the previous and
next buttons.
o On the Tools Panel, right click the rectangle tool.
o Select the Eclipse tool.
o Draw a circle of the triangle.
o The circle automatically filled in black covering up the triangle.
§ In the right Properties panel, select the fill tool.
§ Select none.
§ Select the Stroke tool up arrow three times to .75. This creates a border
around the circle.
§ Select the Selection tool to resize and reposition the circle until it is
centered in the rectangle and around the triangle. You may have to
reposition the triangle to center into the circle.
• Create the previous and next arrows.
o Paste the triangle you copied previously on to the workspace.
o Drag it to the first scene.

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o Resize the triangle to fit into the small bottom right corner box (9x19).
o Copy the small triangle.
o Paste the small triangle.
o Drag and drop the small triangle to scene two small box.
o Using the rotate arrows, rotate the arrow all the way around to face opposite side.
o Position the small triangle into the small bottom left corner box.
• Add text to all objects requiring text.
o From the Tool Panel select the “T” to activate the text tool.
o With the text tool active, select inside the first scene’s chalkboard rectangle
placing the filler text into the center of the rectangle.
o Repeat this process for al objects with text
§ Scene two chalkboard and button
§ Scene three question long thin rectangle, three option boxes, and three
answer buttons.
§ Scene four chalkboard and button
§ Scene five chalkboard and button
§ Scene six chalkboard and button.
o Double click inside the text fields and enter the text descriptions for each object. I
mainly kept the automatic filler text for the objects except for the buttons.
o You may have to reposition the text boxes after typing.
• Insert a stock character to the storyboards.
o From the File menu, select Place.
o Navigate to the save stock image on your computer.
§ I selected a sketch of a female teacher type character I use for storyboards.
o Click on the image.
o Select “Place” button.
o Click on the workspace to place the image.
o Resize the image to fit in the scenes (92 x 232).
o Position the image into the first scene.
o Copy the image.
o Paste the image and position it in the remaining scenes.
o Select the image for scene four.
o From the right Properties panel, select the “Flip along horizontal axis.” This will
rotate and flip the character to face right to direct to the right chalkboard.
o Repeat this process for the character on scenes five and six.
• From the File menu, select Export and select Export As.
• You already named the file when you first began but ensure nothing changed and the
“_paint” is at the end of the file name.
• Choose the save location on your computer (I choose desktop).
• In the format box, select JPEG.
• The JPEG Options window opens.
• Verify the information is correct. The quality defaults to 5. Leave the default settings.
• Select “OK” button.
• Move to Paint Adapted.

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Paint Adapted Image

• With the Saved Illustrator storyboard file opened, select File menu.
• Select Document Setup.
• In the Document Setup window, select “Edit Artboards” button.
• On the right Properties panel, type in 640 for the height and 480 in the width field.
• Since the project was built with a larger art board, you will have to resize the content.
• With the selection tool, begin dragging from the top left corner outside the artboard to the
bottom right corner of the artboard. This highlights all contents.
• With all objects selected, decrease the size by dragging the blue corner circle inward until the
corner is inside the resized artboard corner.
• Select the top left corner blue circle and drag downward until the blue corner is just inside
the artboard corner.
• Resave the file and export it to JPEG with the new file extension “_paint_adapted”

Outside Image
• Select Chrome or a search engine to use to access the internet.
• My homepage is set to Google. If you have an alternate homepage, navigate to Google by
type www.google.com into the address bar and searching.
• In the search engine, type in “how to create storyboards for eLearning examples” and press
enter on your keyboard.
• Select the third search result, eLearning Storyboard Examples Archives by eLearning
Industry.
• Select the article “3 Steps to spice up your storyboard”
• From my Mac I selected the Launchpad.
• Right click on the image and select Save Image As
• The save as dialog box opens.
• Type in the file name with “_outside” at the end.
• Choose the save file location (I selected desktop).
• Select “Save” button
• Create a reference to the image. (eLearning Industry, 2018)

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Reference
eLearning Industry (2018) 3 steps to spice up your storyboard. Retrieved from:
https://elearningindustry.com/spice-up-your-storyboard-3-steps

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