Software: Ulead PhotoImpact 12
Author: MaryLou White
Home Page: Wishing Well Tutorials

Title: Playing With Components
Skill Level: Beginner

Description: Explore the Component Designer and learn how to make fancy buttons, fabulous banners for your web pages, and how to dig out those little extras that are hiding within.

WORK MODE
PhotoImpact 12 has several preset work modes. For this tutorial, we will be using the Full Edit mode so all of the tools in PhotoImpact will be available to you.

As you work, use your mouse to drag this along with you to mark your place.

LET'S GET STARTED

We'll start our exploration of the Component Designer by making a quick and easy banner. This can be used on your own web page or in some of the various banner exchange programs.

  1. Open PhotoImpact. On the menu, click Web\Component Designer.

    This will bring up the Component Designer Menu. On the left, you can see all of the various categories such as Banner, Button, etc.

  2. Click on the + in any category and you'll find many sub categories. Take a few moments to explore. Click on the different categories and and browse through the sub categories to get an idea of the different types of things in each one.

  3. When you're ready, click on Banner\Rectangle_8 and click on the first banner (shown below).

  4. Click on the Next button. This will bring up the Designer Screen where you can customize the banner to make it look the way you want it.

  5. Click on the Title. This will activate yet another window. It will show the title in the small window. Type in a new title of your choice. You may change the font, the style, etc. Click on the Color Tab to change the color. Your changes will show instantly in the window above.

    Work your way through the banner until you have all the colors just the way you want them. Take your time and experiment. There is no "right or wrong" here. Some screens will allow you to use fill patterns and gradients as well. When you're happy with your results, click the Export button on the bottom of the menu and select "As Individual Objects (in PhotoImpact).

    Your banner will be exported into PhotoImpact and each element will be a separate object that you can edit in PI. You can change any of the individual colors, etc. When you're happy with your banner, right-click, select all objects and Merge All. Buttons are made in the same way.

EXPORTING AS COMPONENT OBJECT

You can also export your banners and buttons as Component objects. When using this method, all of the various objects will be merged as a single image and ready to use.

If you are unhappy with the results, Right-click on the image and select Edit Component Designer Object. This will allow you to make changes.

Even though the items appear to be merged as one, they can still be broken apart and edited as normal objects. Right-click on the object, select Web Attributes\Split Component.

As you can see, each object that makes up the component can now be edited.

THE LITTLE GOODIES!

There are many little objects hiding in the Component designer that we can use for things other than buttons and banners. This bonus section will show you how to get them out.
  1. Open the Component Designer (if not open). Click on Button\Mother's Day and select the second button in row 4. This has some nice little tulips. Move the size adjustment lever and increase the size to about 270%. Make your tulips any color you wish. When finished, export As Individual Objects. Your image should look like this:

  2. Delete the Ulead name and the "ground". Select all objects in the purple flower and combine as a single image. Do the same with the pink flower. You may wish to add these to your Easy Palette for later use. You now have two new flowers!

  3. Go back to the Component Designer and see how many little goodies you can pull out and make into objects. You'll find them in the banners, buttons and in all of the other categories. These are great for small sig tags too. Here are some of the ones I found:

    Don't forget to save them in your Easy Palette - they make excellent stamps and decorations for your other graphics.

    Enjoy!


You're invited to join the PIRC Fourm! This is an active PhotoImpact Forum where you'll find a wonderful group of warm, friendly, talented, and knowledgeable people who are ready and willing to share their expertise with you. There are creative activities for all levels of PhotoImpact users. This forum is 100% free and everyone is welcome.

Copyright© MaryLou White.
This document may not be translated, duplicated, redistributed or otherwise appropriated without permission.