Graphics For The Internet
Graphics For The Internet
This beginner-level tutorial explains how to work with digital images for the internet, in particular:
How to get the most efficient file size for use with email, websites, etc.
We also assume you know how to save a digital image (such as a photo) on your computer. The two most common ways of doing this
are:
1. Using a scanner.
If you don't know how to save an image, consult the manual or help file which came with your hardware/software.
You'll also need some graphics software. This can be anything from the simple MS Paint which comes with Windows to a serious
application such as Adobe Photoshop. In many cases you will be using the program which came with your scanner or camera.
In this tutorial we use examples from Photoshop 7. Other programs may look and behave a bit differently but you should still get the
idea. Predictably, you will have more options and better control if you have good software.
1. File Format: The type of file you save your image as (e.g. JPG, GIF, etc).
2. File Size: The size of the image file (in bytes, KB, MB, etc).
3. Image Quality: How your picture looks. Generally speaking better image quality requires a larger file size.
As we work through the tutorial we'll use the group photo shown here as a working example. This is an old photo, taken with a film
camera and scanned at a fairly typical resolution.
At the end of the tutorial you will be able to: