There are several available options if you want to make a
photo collage. Whichever one you choose depends on your level of expertise
using various photo organizing and editing programs. If you just want to make a
collage, you can get a program that just creates collages. Or, you can get a
program that will create a collage and a whole lot more. You can find both in
several price ranges, including free software.
An easy way to make a collage without having to deal with a
lot of other options is to find a program that just makes collages. These types
of programs are not that popular since they exist in a relatively narrow niche.
They can be handy, however, especially if you want to create a lot of collages.
Examples of dedicated photo collage software include Life Poster Maker from
Lincoln Beach Software, AKVIS Chameleon, PhotoMix and Picture Collage Maker.
Many online photo printing sites offer a collage option.
They give you templates that you can plug your photos into for creating
attractive layouts. You can add decorations and text, and the software ensures
that your photos have a high enough resolution to print at the size you have
chosen. Examples of photo sites that offer collages include Shutterfly, Kodak
Gallery, Snapfish and
Digital scrapbooking software offers lots of options for
creating many items using your digital photos. You can create cards, photo
albums and calendars as well as collages, which makes it a viable option if you
want to do more than just create a collage. Picasa, free software you can
download from Google, FotoFusion, Hallmark Scrapbook Studio, Smilebox, Digital
Scrapbook Artist and Memory Mixer are available examples.
If you have some experience with image editing, you may
prefer the control and full feature set offered by professional photo and image
editing software. These programs let you perform lots of photo editing tasks,
add many special effects and actually create your own images. The learning
curve for these programs is steeper than those above, but the reward is
complete control with a plethora of options. Examples of this type of software include
Adobe Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP and Adobe Photoshop.
Collages can be used to collect a group of photos that have a similar or
single meaning or to break one photo up into several parts for aesthetic
reasons. Many graphics programs and photo editing programs, such as Photoshop
and Microsoft Picture Editor, include collage effects that enable you to
arrange photos several ways.
Collection Collage
One popular type of collage is the collection collage, an effect used to
collect and arrange a group of photos that are linked by theme, experience or
principal subject. Several free programs, including GIMP for Windows,
Paint.net, Photo Plus and Google's Picasa Photo Editor, are capable of creating
collages. Picasa 3 builds a collage by first profiling all of the pictures on
your PC automatically and presenting them in a thumbnail menu. Once the photos
appear, simply select all the photos you wish to appear in the collage and
select the "Collage" button at the bottom tool bar. You can customize
the look of the collage in the "Settings" tab to appear as a pile of
photos, a mosaic with a large center image, a grid or even as a photo contact
sheet.
Single Photo Collage
Presenting a single photo in the form of a collage can be an interesting
and different way to look at otherwise conventional objects. Programs such as
Photo Collage and Photoshop can be used to break up a photo into separate
parts, giving it the illusion of a collage. Although the process of breaking up
photos in Photoshop is complicated, the result is a professional-looking effect
that can mimic the appearance of several Polaroid-style photos, create the
illusion of a mosaic or even simulate the texture of silk, with one photo
blending into another over a texture. Tutorials for creating collages in
Photoshop are available on the Photoshop website.
Movie Poster
Especially useful for recording memorable events or making a collage of
vacation photos, the movie poster-style collage collects photos centered on a
strong theme. This style of collage is offered by more complicated programs
such as Photoshop and can combine pictures using 3D effects, coloring and
filters to enhance the effect. Although this is also a complicated process,
tutorials on how to produce this effect are available at several third-party
sites as well as Photoshop's website.
A collage is a collection of images or image elements that have been
combined into a single image. These collages are often assembled from photos
using a graphics application like Photoshop or GIMP. There are a number of
approaches you take when creating a collage, depending on the effect you want
to produce.
Tiled
One way to make a photo collage is to simply tile them next to each other
in the document. This technique was often used in the 1960s and '70s to produce
"pop art." If you want to produce an array like this, you will probably
want to crop or resize your images so they are all the same size. While you can
create a tiled photo collage using photos of different proportions, it is
complex, and you will probably end up having to crop the edges of the overall
work.
Overlapped
An approach to collages that you often see in advertising is to create a
seemingly jumbled array of photos that overlap each other. These photos are
almost always randomly rotated so that each appears natural, although, of
course, the artist will actually spend a great deal of time deciding which
picture goes where and which overlaps which.
Faded
Another interesting effect you can create with a collage is to assemble
your images with the overlapped approach but to give it a faded edge. To do
this in most programs, you will first want to collapse all the photo layers
into a single one. While not strictly necessary, it keeps things organized.
Then you can use a large brush with a soft faded edge to paint the color of
your choice around the edges of the image. The result is a collage with a faded
border.
Transparent
If you want to do something really artsy, you can create a collage with
transparent elements. In this case, you would create the overlapping array,
keeping each element on separate layers. Then use the "Opacity"
function -- usually found in your layers panel -- to reduce the opacity of some
or all of the photos in higher layers. The result here will be that parts of
photos below will show through those above.
By creating collages and blending pictures together in Photoshop, you can
produce beautiful, creative visual effects in your digital imagery. Although
Photoshop has perfect tools for cutting pieces of pictures and pasting them
together, there are also blending-mode tools that will push your collage skills
even further with visually stunning effects. The blending options are a more
advanced feature of Photoshop, but when used correctly they will allow your
images to truly shine.
Basics of Collage in Photoshop
Photoshop collage eliminates the need for scissors and glue. Martin
Poole/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Collage is quite easily accomplished in Photoshop. Simply choose the
various photos you would like to incorporate into your collage and you are
ready to get to work. First you will want to make image selections (using the
"magic wand" or more advanced selection tools) to isolate the pieces
of your photos that you want to use. Simply copy the selected photos, paste
into your new collage art and arrange the pieces as desired.
Blending Modes: What They Are
Creating a realisic rainbow onto a landscape photo is easily accomplished
using a layer blending mode set to "screen." Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty
Images
Blending modes are a special part of the layers palette in Photoshop. You
must have at least one layer of colors or photos beneath your photo layer for
effects to be visible. The appearance layer of the photo can be altered by
using the blending modes. The blending modes will change the appearance of your
photo layer based on the images underneath and on top. The colors and lighting
will interact with the existing photos in your picture in the form of
transparencies and color shifts related to images directly above or below your
photos.
What Blending Modes Are Available
The layers-palette blending mode has a list of effects you can apply to
your photo layer. It is important to scroll through the list to view each
visual effect and understand what each mode does. The blending modes available
are: normal, dissolve, darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn, darker color,
lighten, screen, color dodge, linear dodge, lighter color, overlay, soft light,
hard light, vivid light, linear light, pin light, hard mix, difference,
exclusion, hue, saturation, color and luminosity. Each mode will have a
dramatically different effect.
How to Use Layer Blending Modes
Using blending modes is quite easy. In order to view results, you must
have at least one layer beneath the photo layer to which you apply a blending
mode. The blending-mode menu is located at the top of the layer palette
directly underneath the word "Layers." It will be set to a default of
"
Photoshop is a professional picture editing software manufactured by
Adobe. The program is a pixel based image editor. Blend modes alter the way
Photoshop editing tools affect pixels. You can use blend modes to transform
images and add layers. When blending multiple layers, the bottom layer is the
base layer.
Darken Modes
Darken mode takes each pixel in the image and makes it the color of the
darkest layer. In this mode, each pixel in a channel layered with a darker
pixel will be replaced. Multiply takes each pixel and multiplies the base layer
and the blend layer. This will darken any pixels in the blended area. Color
burn takes the base color and darkens it so it reflects the blend layer. This
happens by increasing the contrast of the pixels selected. Linear burn works
like color burn, but reflects the layers by decreasing the brightness of the
selected pixels.
Lighten Modes
The lighten, screen, color dodge and linear dodge all brighten the image.
Lighten mode analyzes each pixel and changes the color to match the lightest
pixel. Screen multiplies the inverses of the blend and base layer in order to
lighten the overall image. Color dodge decreases the contrast between the base
layer and the blend layer. Linear dodge takes the base layer and reflects the
blend layer by brightening the pixels by the difference between the layers.
Contrast Modes
Modes that affect the contrast of the overall image, include overlay, soft
light, hard light, linear light, pin light and hard mix. Overlay preserves
highlights in a picture, but multiplies the remainder of the pixels against the
other layers. The layers are mixed to reflect each layer's colors. Soft light
diffuses the layers and may result in either a darker or brighter image
depending on the original color of each pixel. Hard light will either multiply
or screen the layers depending on the color of the blend layer. Vivid light
will alter the contrast by using the dodge blend or burn blend, depending on
the base layer. Linear light will alter the brightness using the dodge blend or
burn blend, also depending on the base layer. Pin light actually replaces the
colors in each pixel. This is a special effect blend. Hard mix changes all
pixels to their closest primary color.
Comparative Modes
Comparative modes in Photoshop include difference and exclusion.
Difference looks at the color values of the base layer and the blend layer,
then subtracts the higher value from the lower value to create a new value for
the pixel. Exclusion works like difference, but the resulting pixel will have a
lower contrast.
Composite Modes
Compression of JPEG images was more of an issue for websites in the days before broadband. Dial-up connections meant that anyone trying to view a large image file would often suffer a tortuous experience as they waited for the image to slowly appear. Even now, however, some websites will appear slow to load on a broadband connection if they are packed with high quality images that are large files. Compressing a JPEG image means that the file is smaller, but that the image remains the same size. Reducing the size of an image, even without compression, will also make the file smaller. Most modern computers now have so much space that compressing or reducing the size of images rarely seems necessary.
Saving Space
For website owners with a site that uses a lot of imagery, compression will become important if they are limited regarding the amount of web space that they have available. Compression can free up a lot of space and, used judiciously, the images compressed will not be noticeably inferior to the originals. Deciding on whether to actually reduce the size of the image is an alternative for those who want to keep the integrity of the image's quality intact.
The Power of a Single, Clear, Strong Image
When wishing to use a really good image, sometimes there can be no compromise regarding compression. When the image is a strong one, and is the only image on a web page, risking diminishing the quality of the image shouldn't be entertained. It will be the focal point of the page and will need to be of the highest quality possible. The better the quality of the image, then the more powerful that image will appear to be to anyone viewing the page.
Impact on Quality
No photograph or image should be used on a website without thoroughly examining the quality of the image that has been compressed beforehand. If the image can't be reduced in a satisfactory way, and the image looks obviously inferior, then the image shouldn't be reduced. This also applies to reducing the image in size, as it may only have an impact as a large image. Saving some images in the GIF format will also compress them more than as a JPEG.
When Size Counts
Big images are not that common on websites, as computer users don't all have the same size settings regarding how images appear. But a big image will be arresting and should be used in certain circumstances. This can vary from a powerful image for a charity appeal to something of spectacular beauty. Not using compression will mean that the image will be a huge file, but when an image is really striking, then little other content will be required on a web page.
Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP
Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP was released by Microsoft on October 25, 2001. It contains screen savers and themes for Windows XP, including Space, Aquarium and da Vinci. The expansion also contains Voice Command, Skins and 3D Visualizations for Windows Media Player. Games included on Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP are Plus! Hyperbowl, Plus! Russian Square and Plus! Labyrinth.
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition was marketed with Windows XP Media Center Edition and was released January 7, 2003. It was built to enhance Windows Media Player and Windows Movie Maker and included software for photos, movies and music. This version included some features also included in Microsoft Plus! For Windows XP. A unique skin is available in Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition named Darkling.
Microsoft Plus! SuperPack for Windows XP
SuperPack for Windows XP is Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP and Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition combined into one software package. Microsoft Plus! Superpack for Windows XP did not add any additional features and was the last Microsoft Plus! Product to be released.
Uses
The main use of Digital Monitor is to give you a tool to make printing, scanning and photo transferring easier. It is also used to monitor device status and diagnostics. This program runs as a background system process while your computer is on.
Confusion
A file is created by HP Digital Monitor named hpqtra08.exe which is often mistaken for malware or a virus. While this isn't the case here, if you have any doubts about other files on your computer you should use anti-virus software to run a scan of your files.
Problems
One of the main problems with HP Digital Monitor is that it consumes volume system resources which can slow down your computer's speed and performance. The best solution to this is to disable the program so that it doesn't load when your computers starts, but is still able to be launched any time you wish to use it.
Adobe's Photoshop
Photoshop is considered the industry standard for professional photographers and digital artists and provides many options for implementing digital photo effects. The program provides many tools and methods to approach digital manipulation and is available for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. There is a learning curve for working with Photoshop and investing in several manuals and a tutorial program is a good idea. The actual layout and functions within the program are similar to many of Adobe's graphic design programs, so if you are familiar with these programs, you should have no problem adjusting to the workflow in Photoshop. A simpler and more affordable version of the program is available with the Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Corel's PaintShop Photo Pro
Corel provides a powerful photo editing program at a fraction of the price of Photoshop and with a much simpler user-interface. The program can read RAW file formats, a file extension used mostly by professional photographers and experienced amateurs and also handles high-definition videos. The program also has a vast array of photo editing options, photo sharing, printing and organizational options. PaintShop Photo Pro is a good alternative to those wishing to bypass the cost and learning curve of Photoshop.
Google's Picasa
Google provides a free photo editing option with its Picasa program. Simply download and install the desktop application, and you can begin editing your photos. The options are limited for creating digital photo effects, but there are some creative editing capabilities. Picasa uses Picnik, an online web editor, to add special effects, such as creative text, frames and fun effects.
Lightroom and Aperture
Both Adobe and Apple provide a software program that combines photo-editing options with cataloging features. Both Lightroom and Aperture are high-powered editing programs that keep your images organized and archived while editing. Both programs edit only referenced files, so your edits do not actually affect the original files. Once exported, the revisions are applied in a new photo file. These are affordable options to Photoshop, but they will not allow you to do the complex digital manipulations that Photoshop will permit.
The word avatar has many meanings depending on context. It comes originally from the Sanskrit word "avatara," which means "descent (of a god to earth)." It entered the English language in the late 18th century.
Origin
Originally, avatar referred to an incarnation of a Hindu deity as either a human or an animal.
Embodiment
The term can also be used to refer to a person who particularly embodies an idea or concept.
Computer Game Persona
The term can be used to refer to a graphical representation of the player in a computer game.
On the Internet
On the Internet, the term can be used to refer to an image used to represent that person online, either as a 3D model in a virtual environment, or a 2D image in a chat or message board.
Origin in Computer Use
The modern computer use of the term can be traced to a similar usage in the science fiction novel "Snowcrash" by Neal Stephenson.
GIF
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a format that displays a maximum of 256 colors. If an image is converted from a higher-color format to GIF, the colors will be approximated by GIF using the available 256 colors. These limitations cause GIF files to be generally smaller in size than other image formats. Because of this, GIFs are widely used on the Internet. They are commonly used in website backgrounds as well as in the context of animation, where multiple images can be used to create animated GIFs.
JPG
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG or JPG) files are images with variable levels of compression. At maximum, JPG files can display 16 million colors. With variable compression, some information in the JPG can be discarded, resulting in a smaller file size but lower-quality image. Because of this versatility, JPGs are widely used on the Internet, for both high- and low-quality images.
PNG
Portable Network Graphics (PNG) files are by default lossless, which means that the original data can be reconstructed from the compressed file. They are capable of displaying up to 16 million colors, and they also support transparent regions. The PNG format is considered by many as a higher-quality alternative to GIF files. For this reason, many people have stopped using GIF files in favor of PNG.
Making the Choice
If you wish to display an image with relatively high quality, but do not care about the loss of some information, JPG is a good format to use. Given the possibility of variable compression, you can change the image to achieve the right balance of quality and economy. If you wish to display a lossless image, use PNG. PNG is also good for images that need some region of transparency, or need to blend in with some background element. There are many people who suggest never to use GIFs. However, if size is the ultimate concern, GIFs can be a good choice. In addition, GIFs are extremely in demand for use in small-scale animations.
Digital Image Pro
For editing images, the Microsoft Digital Image Suite 10 offers Digital Image Pro. With this feature, you can enhance your digital photos by using special tools, such as automatic red-eye fixing and image or panoramic stitching for combining multiple photos. Digital Image Pro also includes color management and exposure tools, card-design templates, and the ability to share image creations online.
Photo Story 2.0
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 10's Photo Story 2.0 functions as a basic video creator. With this feature, you can create videos using your pictures. You can add title pages, background music and even narration. Personal computers running the Microsoft Windows XP operating system have the added advantage of being able to burn these projects to a DVD so that you can play the videos on your television.
Microsoft Digital Image Library
The Microsoft Digital Image Library acts as the organizer of Microsoft Digital Image Suite 10. You can catalog your photos by using markers such as date, size and ratings, which can help in retrieving specific ones when appropriate. Also, the Microsoft Digital Image Library offers 3,000 templates and 5,000 existing images for editing purposes or to add to existing design projects.
System Requirements
For installation, the PC must run the Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, Millennium Edition or XP operating system, with at least a CD-ROM drive to insert the installation CD. The PC must also have at least 400 MB of hard drive space, 256 MB of system memory, Super Video Graphics Array-connected monitor and Intel Pentium processor with a processing speed of 700 MHz.
An Internet avatar is an image used, typically by forumites or bloggers, to display themselves to other forum or blog users. You may want to store your avatar online for use on multiple forums, blogs, or possibly consumer review sites. Luckily, online image storage is free and has never been easier.
Checking your avatar for compatibility
Most forums have size constraints for avatars, whether it is file size or pixel size. Many sites require that your image not be more than 300 pixels high or wide, some are much smaller. Many sites require that it be under a certain number of kilobytes. Check the avatar requirements for the websites before creating a permanent avatar to store online.
Find an image hosting service
There are several free image hosting sites to be found on the Internet. ImageShack.us has a free-to-register, easy-to-use interface, and you can use it to automatically format your images to an appropriate size for your avatar.
You will need to go to www.imageshack.us and click on the yellow "Sign Up" button on the upper right side of the page. You will need to provide a valid email address to register. Click on the registration link in your email to sign up. If you cannot find the registration email, it may have been filtered into your spam folder.
Uploading your avatar
Once you've registered with imageshack.us, return to the website to upload your avatar. Log in, and on the main screen you should notice the upload widget (a box with options for uploading your avatar). Click on browse to locate the image file you wish to use for your avatar. If you don't think your picture is the correct size for an avatar, click the "Resize Image" check box and select "100x75 (Avatar)" from the dropdown box. However, if the resized image doesn't have the same dimensions as your original image, it will look a little stretched. It is best to get the image the correct size in whatever image editing software you are using, before uploading it to ImageShack.
Once everything is in order, click on the "start upload!" button.
Using your avatar
After you click the "start upload!" button, the following page will provide you with a link to use for your avatar. If you need to use your avatar again later, return to the website and click on the "My Images" link in the top navigation bar. You will again be able to obtain the avatar's address link.
With games popping up every day across the globe, new genres are also showing up, making gaming entertaining for all types of people. Online avatar games are growing and offer social networking features in a live setting. Users set up and create their very own custom "avatars" or representations of themselves as in-game characters. Objectives are generally not a part of Animated Avatar Games as the idea of many of these games is to connect users with other players from around the world. Most online animated avatar games are free for all users with the option to extend the game further with in-game purchases.
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world with animated avatars. Second Life is free to join and download, but users also have the option to purchase "Linden Dollars," the game's original form of currency. The Linden Dollars can purchase custom content or other special effects the game has to offer. Users have no limits on clothing and avatar design options, as Second Life also allows the creation of custom content by users themselves. Build a dream home or your future office building, as Second Life is complete with in-game challenge opportunities and online jobs. Join guilds or sell your own line of virtual clothing, as there are no limits in Second Life.
Meez
Meez is a virtual animated avatar maker that hosts plenty of activities and features for all users. Like many virtual playgrounds online, Meez is free for everyone to use and requires no software to download. Once you sign up with Meez, create a custom character from thousands of choices of clothing, accessories and makeup. Meez has an online shopping mall for your avatar's needs, offering different "boutiques" for different style types, occasions and even certain popular brands. Meez allows users to purchase "Coinz" to spend on upgrading your own custom rooms or purchasing premium items from the shop for your avatar. Other features Meez showcases are games and personalized homepages. Each user is able to join in on the 80 or so games Meez has available to play, some of them even incorporating your custom avatar, making the gaming experience even more personal. Members are also given their very own personalized "homepage," where they can receive messages, make friends and show off their avatars.
IMVU
IMVU came into play on the Internet in 2004. This animated avatar game requires a software download and installation on your computer to play. The game IMVU itself requires registration but is free to all users. In IMVU, players are immersed in an online virtual world where they can create their own avatars and meet others in their very own customized virtual "rooms." As of 2010, over four million items are available in the downloadable goods catalog IMVU offers for customization of avatars and rooms. IMVU offers players ways to earn "credits" and also buy them for in-game purchases, but they are not necessary to play the game.