I would like to know what people are using to create graphics. Example, the top of template in the "zine" template is a nice one. Also, what programs can you use to overlay other graphics on an existing image?

Check out www.photofiltre.com - its free, it works brilliantly and it can do anything you'd want from a web graphics program.

Gimp is free (originally for Linux but it does a ton and is great).

Personally, I use Micrografx Picture Publisher 10 professional (which was bought out by Corel back in 2000 I think and has since been unsupported) as well as Fireworks 2004mx. I use these two in combination to make my graphics how I want them.
For just touch ups and things of that sort- I use Picasa from Google- free and super easy to use. Micrografx PP10pro can be found on ebay for cheap and Macromedia Fireworks can be had for under 200USD.

j razz
www.jrazzcreations.com

I grabbed the Photofiltre. It really seems like it can do a lot. And the price is right too.

To Jrazz:

On your main page, what you did looks great. What is the effect that you used called? That I think is the next thing I need to learn is the terminology. I guess I am not sure what I need to do if I don't know what the term is. Is there any graphics dictionaries out there that I can use to learn the names of some of these effects?

At this point, I am just trying to build my own header for my site. I have programs that can do some neat things, but can not do any of the design and artistic effects.

The art for the zine template is rather cool. I like the fade and whatever was done to get the intensity of the colors so bright. Plus, just the ability to draw a few lines and play with the effects is neat.

Maybe it is time to take a graphics design class or three.

"What is that effect you used called?"

The only thing that I can think of that you are referring to is the mouseover picture swap, or text swap. That is under "Special FX" on the Sitespinner toolbar, specifically under "Mouse Effects".

I would recommend hanging out on a photoshop forum and just read some of the posts to get a handle on general terms etc. The way I learned the programs was by playing around on them. I graduated with a minor in Graphic Design, but honestly, I did not really benefit much from the classes. I was already doing design work before I went into that subject area and when I came out, I was still using a PC with the programs I wanted to use and not what I had to use for the classes.

j razz
www.jrazzcreations.com

No, not the mouseover effect. I know how to do that. The picture of the bride looking out the window. It seems like it is blurred a bit and softened on the right side of the picture.

I went into Picture Publisher 10 pro and cut the bride and window area out. From there, I overlayed a black rectangle and changed the opacity to where the bride and window could be seen. The opacity was greater on the left hand side than it was on the right. Also, I did not use true black, but a variance of it. Then I added my logo to the bottom right and optimized it for the web via Fireworks.

j razz
www.jrazzcreations.com

Ok, so you changed the opacity of an overlay rather than the opacity of the original picture. It does make for a different effect. Thank you.

Since I am new with this and can't seem to get a new thread posted, Please bear with me! I have a simple question: I have "Print Shop Design Suite". I have my home page built, but when I add a graphic to the center of the page (And it is shown on the center of the page), when I go to upload or preview, it sends the graphic to the bottom right hand side everytime!! I have tried everything!! What am I missing?? PLEASE HELP!!

The bottom toolbar contains several buttons that can effect how objects are placed on a page when previewed or published. These are the relative positioning and relative sizing buttons (for both horizontal and vertical). Make sure these are turned off.

If this does not help, please post a link to a published test page. Seeing the problem and the generated HTML code could indicate what the problem may be.

Hi Kennepp,
You can find instructions on how to post a new thread here, but are you sure that you are in the right forums? We usually deal with WebDwarf SiteSpinner and SiteSpinner Pro here.

(Sorry Larry, obviously we posted at the same time and I didn't know that Print Shop Design Suite was yet another VM product).

Probably not....I noticed that this program was created by Virtual Mechanics, so I figured I would start there...
I tried the buttons and they were all tuned off. It's really wierd. All of sudden started doing this. Always defaults to the bottom right hand corner. Text, graphics, etc...

I think the Paint Shop Design Suite is using an older version of SiteSpinner. If you want to get the latest version, contact Tech Support and ask if they have any upgrade offers. You can also download the trial version and get 15 days of non-consecutive use.

It looks like you will need to publish a test page for us to see what the problem is.

Like Roma, I’m not familiar with the workings of Print Shop Design Suite, but just as a thought, you haven’t happened to add any external code?

Another forum member recently had a similar problem. They had copied and pasted some code for a menu. Mistakenly, they had also copied an opening BODY tag. Also, the <DIV> that contained the code did bot have a closing </DIV>.

Check your source code and make sure that all of the HTML code has matching opening and closing tags, in particular any DIV tags.

It was in the code. Unfreakenbeleivable..... Thanks to all for your help!!