Obtaining Images for your Web Site

Creating Computer-Generated Graphics
Computer-generated graphics can be made using a wide range of software or utilities provided they can be converted or exported to GIF or JPG format. These graphics are often line art or graphic text, and can be relatively easy to create from scratch. Graphic Text is very useful in web content development. It can add interest to a web page or highlight important information.

Capturing Images with a Digital Camera
Digital cameras have become more sophisticated and less expensive. These cameras allow you to take photographs and download them directly into your computer, eliminating the time and expense of developing film, then converting your photographs into computer formats.

Scanning Images
Scanning existing photographs into your computer is a long established method for obtaining images. Many flat-bed scanners today are reasonably priced. Most consumer scanners are well documented and not overly difficult to install. There are also many walk-in commercial services that will let you pay a fee for using their equipment to scan images. Remember that if your output is to be strictly for the web scan your images at 72 dpi.

Taking Screen Shots
There may be occasions when you want to capture images or windows on your computer screen to create an image file.

Window Screen Shots - There are two options in a Windows environment. Use the Print Screen key on your keyboard to copy the entire screen to the clipboard. Or use Alt Print Screen (that is hold down the Alt key while your press Print Screen) to capture only the active window. Then open your graphics program or image editor, create a new file, and select Paste from the Edit menu.

Macintosh Screen Shots - Press Command-Shift-3 to capture the entire screen or, to capture only part of the screen, press Command-Shift-4 (your cursor will change to a cross) and drag across the section of the screen you want with your mouse. The resulting image will be called Picture 1, and you'll find it in your startup disk (usually your hard drive). You can open and view the picture by double-clicking it (it will open in SimpleText) or open it in your graphics software for editing.

Screen images can be very large, you will probably need to reduce or crop your image in a graphics program before including it in your web content.

Stock Photography and Clip Art
If your photos aren't giving you the professional quality you want you may try Stock Photography. These are companies that resell images taken by professional photographers. The photographs (artwork is also available) are copyright protected and should not be used unless you purchase the right to use them. Royalty-free stock photography is fairly inexpensive for screen resolution images. Almost all Stock Photography companies offer online services. Buy your images online and download it to your computer for immediate use. Here are a few popular online dealers in Stock Photography:

www.photodisc.com
www.dgusa.com (Digital Graphics)
www.comstock.com
www.stockbyte.com

Clip Art can be purchased in bulk. There are retail packages that include thousands and thousands of images (both artwork and photographs) at very reasonable prices. Try your local computer store or electronics department store for retail Clip Art.

Finally, a number of resources are available that specifically offer graphics that are free for use in personal web pages. Use your favorite search engine and search on "free photographs" or "free clip art".