Tips and Tools to Help You do More with Graphics
By Sue Chastain, About.com Guide
Explore these tips and tools for more advanced graphics software users and hobbyists. Whether you work with graphics in your career or just for fun, these resources will help you find ways to do more with your graphics.
- Common Requests and Practical Advice
- Exploring Graphics
- Fun with Graphics
- Tips and Tools for Digital Photography
- Tips and Tools for Digital Art & Design
- Tips and Tools for Digital Scrapbooking
- Tips and Tools for Web Graphics
- Free Images to Enhance Your Graphics Projects
- Free Tools and Content for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
- Free Tools and Content for Other Graphics Software
- Assorted Graphics Software Techniques and Projects
- Adobe Illustrator Techniques and Projects
- Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Techniques and Projects
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Techniques and Projects
- Corel Paint Shop Pro Techniques and Projects
- Corel Painter Techniques and Projects
- Plug-ins and Filters
- Hardware and Gear
- Free Graphics Software
Common Requests and Practical Advice
Even if you know a lot, you probably don't know everything. Here are some answers to common questions about working with graphics and solutions to everyday problems you might encouter.
- Converting Images
- How Do I Convert Oddball Graphic Files into a More Common File Format?
- Which Graphics File Format Is Best To Use When?
- Removing Backgrounds and Maintaining Transparency in Graphics Software
- Myths & Facts About JPEG
- The Pitfalls of JPEG Compression and How to Deal with It
- How To Copy Images or Text From a PDF File
- How to Print a Selected Portion of a PDF File
- Font Management in Windows
- Windows Fonts That Should Not Be Deleted
- How Can I Remove a Watermark from a Picture?
- How to Extract Images Embedded in Word Documents
- How to Take a Picture of Your Computer Screen
Exploring Graphics
Graphics are more than just pictures and clip art. Learn more about graphics and the many interesting ways that graphics software can be used.
- 3D Graphics and 3D Modeling
- About Photo Mosaics and How to Create Your Own Photo-Tapestry
- All About Nodes
- Blending Modes in Photoshop and other Graphics Software
- Computer Graphics File Formats
- Computer Graphics Lessons for Kids
- Creating Textures, Patterns, Seamless Tiles, and Backgrounds
- Fractal Art Generators
- Gliftic Random Image Generator for Windows
- Graphics Explorations Gallery
- Graphics Glossary
- Morphing Software and Information
- Random Image Effects Software
- Two Types of Graphics: Bitmap & Vector Images
- Understanding Image Size and Resolution
- What are Photo Objects?
- What are Picture Tubes?
Fun with Graphics
Here are some projects and tools to help you have fun with graphics.
- 3D Anaglyphs
- About Fractals and Fractal Art Generators
- About Photo Mosaics and How to Create Your Own Photo-Tapestry
- Crafting Designs for CorelDRAW by Teapot Designs
- Create Photo Art and Fun Effects
- Frame & Edge Effects Software for Digital Photos
- Frame a Photo Like a Polaroid
- Gifts for Photo Fun-atics
- How To Create 3D Stereo Images
- Morphing Software and Information
- Turn Color Clip Art into Line Art with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
- Turning Digital Photos into Cartoons
Tips and Tools for Digital Photography
Explore these tips and tools to manage your digital photos and make your pictures look their best.
- 10 Step Picture Prep Guide
- Add Your Identifying Mark for Image Copy Protection
- Aspect Ratio
- Back Up Your Digital Photos
- Digital Photo Rescue and Recovery Software
- Fixing Pet Eye in Your Photos
- Photo Composites Gallery - Montages, Collages and Photo Composites
- Photo Retouching and Restoration Before and After Gallery
- Photoshop Restoration & Retouching Book review
- Quick Photo Fixes - Solutions to Many Common Photo Problems
- Removing Red Eye from Digital Photos
- Sepia Tint - Give an Old-Fashioned Look to Your Photos
- Should You Capture Digital Photos In Raw or JPEG Format?
- Top Digital Camera Newbie Mistakes to Avoid
- Use the Rule of Thirds for Cropping Photos
- Vignette - Faded Edge Photo
- What is HDR? High Dynamic Range Imaging Explained
- What is Metadata? EXIF, IPTC and XMP Metadata Used in Graphics Software
- What is Tagging? Using Keyword Tags for Digital Photo Organization
- More on Working with Digital Photos and Scanned Images
Tips and Tools for Digital Art & Design
If you're a designer or artist, or you use graphics software beyond photo editing, this section is for you.
- Art-Oriented Software
- ArtRage Free Version Mini-Review
- ArtRage Full Version Review
- Artweaver - Free art software
- Bezier Curves
- Corel Painter Art Gallery
- Digital Drawings Gallery
- Digital Paintings Gallery
- Editable Maps for Designers
- Photo Art Gallery - Turning Photos into Art
- Pixel Art and Pixel Paintings
- The Language of Curves
- Using Transparent Images on the Web and in Print
- Vector Drawing Basics
- More Digital Art Techniques and Tutorials
Tips and Tools for Digital Scrapbooking
Digital Scrapbooking, also referred to as digi-scrapping or computer scrapbooking, is a fairly new form of scrapbooking which involves the use of a computer and graphics software to create visual layouts for the purpose of preserving a memory.
- What is Digital Scrapbooking? What software do I need for digital scrapbooking?
- A Beginners Reference to Digital Scrapbooking
- Digital Scrapbooking Layouts Gallery
- Easy Digital Scrapbooking with Quick Pages
- Quick Pages Gallery for Digital Scrapbooking
- Digital Scrapbook Software
- Digital Scrapbooking Everyday Occurrences
- Digital Scrapbooking Fun with Extractions
- Double to Single Page Layout Photoshop Action for Digital Scrapbooking
- Checkerboard and Gingham Pattern Paint Shop Pro Tutorial
- Easy A to Z Yearbook with Paint Shop Pro
- Creative Lettering in Paint Shop Pro
- Kits Aren't Only for Digital Scrapbooking
- Prim and Purple Digital Scrapbooking Kit
- Pick Your Own Cherries Digital Scrapbooking Kit
- Paesaggio Digital Scrapbooking Kit
- Memory Keeper Digital Scrapbooking Kit
- It's the Manly Thing To Do Digital Scrapbooking Kit
- A Comfy Spring Day Digital Scrapbooking Kit
- San Francisco Marigolds Digital Scrapbooking Kit
Tips and Tools for Web Graphics
Web graphics have their own special requirements. Learn how to maximze your Web graphics with these tips and tools.
- What Software do I Need to Create Web Graphics?
- Add a Watermark before Posting Your Images on the Web
- Easy Thumbnails Tutorial - Prepare Photos for the Web
- How Do I Reduce The Size of Photos for online Use?
- How To Convert an Image to GIF Format
- Saving Images as GIFs in GIMP
- Animated GIF Web Banner in GIMP
- How to Produce Glossy Text in GIMP
- How To Export a GIF From CorelDRAW
- How To Make Smaller GIFs
- How to Make a Seamless Tile
- How to Save a Transparent PNG File from Paint Shop Pro
- Image Slicing - How and Why to Slice Web Images
- Optimizing Animated GIFs
- Optimizing Web Graphics
- About PNG (Portable Network Graphic)
- Prepare Your Photos for the Web
- Software for Creating Textures, Patterns, Seamless Tiles, and Backgrounds
- Web Copyright Protection - Securing Your Photos and Graphics on the Web
- More Web Graphics Tips and Issues
Free Images to Enhance Your Graphics Projects
Download some free graphics and transparent photo objects to enhance your graphics projects. These images and art work are compatible with any graphics software.
- 125 Free Seamless Patterns in PNG Format
- Assorted Transparent Objects
- Backgrounds and Borders
- Circle Design Seamless Patterns
- Creature Transparent Objects
- Floral Transparent Objects
- Flower Photos
- Grayscale Masks for Decorative Photo Frames and Edges
- Lil Bits of Bold Seamless Patterns in PNG Format
- Painted Floral Images
- Plaid Seamless Patterns in PNG Format
- Polaroid Frame Template Download and Instructions
- Snowflake Transparent Objects
- Square Design Seamless Patterns
- Star Transparent Objects
- Sweetie Pie Alphabet Set
- Transparent Christmas Graphics
- Transparent Objects for Valentine's Day
- Transparent Frames to Decorate Your Photos
- Transparent Valentine's Day Graphics
Free Tools and Content for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
Download extra content for Photoshop including brushes, layer style effects, patterns, actions, and more. Most Photoshop content will also work with Photoshop Elements.
- How to Install Photoshop Brushes, Styles, Shapes and Other Content
- Use Photoshop Styles, Shapes and Patterns in Elements
- Free Brushes for Photoshop and Elements
- Line Segment Brushes
- Christian Brushes and Shapes
- Highlight Glint or Star Sparkle Brush Set
- Layer Mask Tool for Photoshop Elements
- Layer Style 6-Packs for Photoshop and Elements
- Free Layer Styles
- Free Action Set for Scaling Layer Effects
- Pattern Sets for Photoshop and Elements
- Photoshop Action for Red Eye Removal
- Photoshop Portrait Touch-Up Action
- Shapes for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
- Sue's Action Assortment for Photoshop
- Sue's Cartoon Effects Actions
- Sue's Photo Effects Actions
- Sue's Symmetry Action for Photoshop
- More Downloads for Adobe Photoshop and Elements
Free Tools and Content for Other Graphics Software
Download extra content for a variety of graphics software programs. These downloads include brushes, presets, shapes, frames, and so on.
- CorelDRAW Artistic Media Object Sprays
- Corel PhotoPAINT Brush Nibs
- Expression Skeletal Strokes, Brushes and other Free Downloads
- Frames for Alien Skin Splat!
- Free Corel Painter Downloads
- Free Downloads for Adobe Illustrator
- Free Downloads for CorelDRAW and PhotoPAINT
- Free Downloads for Fireworks
- Free Vignette Script for the GIMP
- Free Downloads for PhotoImpact
- Paint Shop Pro Brushes
- Paint Shop Pro Downloads
- BladePro and SuperBladePro Downloads
- More Free Graphics Software Downloads
Assorted Graphics Software Techniques and Projects
Here are some techniques and projects you can do even if you don't use the mainstream software. Many of these activities are built into your operating system or only require free software.
- The GIMP Tutorials
- Correcting Perspective Distortion with The GIMP
- Creating 3D Anaglyphs with The GIMP
- How to Remove Red Eye Using Paint.NET
- Enhance a Portrait with a Soft Focus Glamour Effect in Paint.NET
- Post Pictures on Facebook from Picasa
- How to Produce a Free Calendar in Pixia
- Fix Red Eye with Picasa
- Remove Red Eye with XnView
- Compare Multiple Images with XnView
- Resize a Batch of Images with XnView
- Smooth Out Jagged Lines in a Bitmap Image with Paint.NET
- Whiten Teeth in a Photo with Paint.NET
- Interlocking Rings in Xara Xtreme
- Partial Color Photo Effect GIMP Tutorial
- Resize Multiple Picture Files with Picasa
- Sepia Tint - Give an Old-Fashioned Look to Your Photos
- Straighten a Crooked Photo with The GIMP
- View an Index Sheet of Pictures with Mac OS X
- Vignette - Faded Edge Photo
Adobe Illustrator Techniques and Projects
Here is a sampling of techniques and tutorials for working with Adobe Illustrator.
- Create a Holly Wreath with Illustrator
- Creating a Popup Gift Box in Illustrator
- Creating Brushes in Illustrator
- Drawing a Wineglass in Adobe Illustrator
- Graphic Styles in Illustrator
- Interlocking Rings with Adobe Illustrator
- Make Place Cards in Adobe Illustrator
- Making a Clock Face in Illustrator
- Making Party Invitations in Adobe Illustrator
- Save for Web in Illustrator
- Text Effects with Gradients, Patterns and Brush Strokes
- Type on a Path - How to Put Text Around a Circle with Illustrator
- Using Live Trace in Illustrator
- Using Patterns in Illustrator
- Using the Transform Each Command in Adobe Illustrator
- More Adobe Illustrator User Resources
Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Techniques and Projects
Here is a sampling of techniques and tutorials for working with Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Because they share many tools and features, most Photoshop tutorials can be adapted for Photoshop Elements and vice-versa.
- Create a Greeting Card with Photoshop
- Create a Snow Globe in Photoshop
- Create See-Thru Text in Photoshop
- How to Create a Magnified Cutaway Detail View in Photoshop
- Make a Photo Suitable for Faxing - Photo to B&W Dot Pattern
- Cut a Picture into a Shape with Photoshop or Elements
- Reflection Effect with Photoshop - Reflected Text Tutorial
- Scaling Layer Effects for Any Resolution
- Stitching a Two-Part Scan
- More Adobe Photoshop User Resources
- Create See-Through Text with Photoshop Elements
- Create a Dreamy Photo Effect with Photoshop Elements
- Creating and Using Custom Brushes in Photoshop Elements
- Simulate Photoshop's Layer Mask Function in Photoshop Elements
- Making a Baby Announcement Card in Photoshop Elements
- Replace a Dull Sky with Photoshop Elements
- Summer Splash Frame with Photoshop Elements
- Turn a Photo Into a Polaroid with Photoshop Elements
- Turn a Photo into a Color Sketch with Photoshop Elements
- More Photoshop Elements User Resources
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Techniques and Projects
Techniques and tutorials for working with CorelDRAW, Photo-PAINT and the other applications of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.
- Add a Watermark to a Photo in PhotoPAINT
- Crafting Designs for CorelDRAW by Teapot Designs
- Create 3D Hearts in CorelDRAW
- Create a Rope and Leather Picture Frame in PhotoPAINT
- Create a Soap Suds Logo in CorelDRAW
- Create Cut Out Text with PhotoPAINT
- Create Dotted Lines With CorelDRAW's Artistic Media Tool
- Create Dotted Lines With CorelDRAW's Blend Tool
- Create Text on a Curve in CorelDRAW
- Create Text That Fills a Shape in CorelDRAW
- Fill Text With a Pattern in CorelDRAW
- Interlocking Rings with CorelDraw
- Printing Multiples in CorelDRAW
- Remove the Background in a Bitmap Using Bitmap Color Mask in CorelDraw
- Trace a Logo with Bezier Curves in CorelDRAW
- Using CorelDraw's PowerClip Feature
- Whiten Teeth in Corel PhotoPAINT
- More CorelDRAW Suite Tutorials and User Resources
Corel Paint Shop Pro Techniques and Projects
Here is a sampling of techniques and tutorials for working with Corel Paint Shop Pro.
- Animated Golfer Tutorial for Paint Shop Pro and Animation Shop
- Layer Blend Modes in Paint Shop Pro
- Back to School Animated Sig Tag using Paint Shop Pro and Animation Shop
- Creating Greeting Cards with Paint Shop Pro Photo and Snapfire
- Customizing Your Workspace in Paint Shop Pro
- Gel Text with Layer Styles in Paint Shop Pro
- How to Cut a Picture into a Shape with Paint Shop Pro
- Hearts All A-Glitter - Animated Interlocking Hearts Tutorial
- How to Save a Transparent PNG File from Paint Shop Pro
- Loading Third-Party Tubes into Paint Shop Pro
- Paint Shop Pro Vector Basics and Path Anatomy Tutorial
- Pretty Kitty Vector Drawing Tutorial for Paint Shop Pro
- Rose Covered Cottage Pixel Painting with Paint Shop Pro
- Summer Cottage Tube Painting Paint Shop Pro Tutorial
- Time Travel with Paint Shop Pro Photo
- Using Picture Tubes from a Previous Version of PSP in PSPX
- More Paint Shop Pro User Resources
Corel Painter Techniques and Projects
Here is a sampling of techniques and tutorials for creating art and enhancing photos with Corel Painter and Painter Essentials.
- Creating a Custom Workspace Palette in Corel Painter
- Creative Cloning Techniques with Corel Painter
- Creative Painting with Corel Painter Essentials
- Enchanting Vignettes with Corel Painter
- Growth Effect: A Fascinating Fractal
- Painterly Portraits - Blending To Create a Watercolor Effect
- Painting With Impasto Corel Painter Tutorial
- Pump Up The Color In Painter
- Quick Creative Frames in Corel Painter
- Tinting a Pencil Sketch with Corel Painter
- Understanding the New RealBristle Painting System in Corel Painter X
- More Corel Painter and Painter Essentials User Resources
Plug-ins and Filters
Learn about plug-ins, filters, and extensions that can expand and enhance the features of your graphics software. Most plugins and filters work in Photoshop and other Photoshop-compatible image editors such as Paint Shop Pro, The GIMP, PhotoPAINT, Fireworks, and others.
- About Plugins, Filters, & Extensions
- Using and Installing Graphics Software Plug-Ins
- Managing Plug-ins in Photoshop
- Alien Skin Blow Up Photo Enlargement Plugin
- Alien Skin Exposure Photography Plug-In
- Alien Skin Eye Candy
- Alien Skin Image Doctor
- Alien Skin Snap Art Artistic Effects Plug-In
- Alien Skin Splat!
- Alien Skin Xenofex 2
- AV Bros. Page Curl 2.0 Review
- AV Bros. Puzzle Pro 2.0 Review
- virtualPhotographer Free Photo Effects Plug-in
- Plugin Manager 2.0 from I.C. Net Software
- Special Effects Plugin Collections for Windows and Macintosh
- Multi-Purpose Photo Enhancement Software and Plugin Collections
- Free Filters and Plugins for Windows and Macintosh
- More Plugins, Filters, and Tools to Expand and Enhance Graphics Software
Hardware and Gear
Graphics software users have some special requirements when it comes to hardware. Whether it be a pen and tablet, monitor, video card, scanner, or other hardware peripherals, here's where you can learn more about the hardware that graphics software users need.
- Sue's Favorite Graphics Gear
- Graphics Workspaces - Show Off Your Graphics Workspace
- Before You Buy a Graphics Tablet
- Hamrick VueScan Scanner Software Replacement
- Scanning Software - Twain Replacements
- MaxiVista Multi-Monitor Software Review
- Oscar's Free Multi-Monitor Taskbar
- Why Don't Printed Colors Match the Monitor?
- In-Camera Digital Zoom vs. Software Cropping and Resizing
- Dual Monitors... with a Twist!
- Wacom Intuos4 Professional Graphics Tablet
- Draw on Your Screen with the Wacom Cintiq Pen Display
- Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet Review
- Bamboo Pen & Touch Graphics Tablets
- DigiPro Drawing Tablet Review
- Adesso CyberTablet Graphics Tablet Review
- Inexpensive Graphics Tablets from Monoprice
- More About Hardware and Peripherals
Free Graphics Software
There are a lot of good, free graphics software tools available. Here are some of the ones I have used and recommend.
- Cropper - Free Screen Capture Tool for Windows
- Easy Thumbnails from Fookes Software (Windows)
- FastStone Image Viewer for Windows
- The GIMP Resources and Tutorials
- Google SketchUp 6 for Windows and Macintosh
- Inkscape Vector-Based Graphics Software (Multi-Platform)
- IrfanView for Windows
- JAlbum - The Free Web Photo Album Generator (Multi-Platform)
- Paint.NET Free Photo Editor for Windows
- Picasa Digital Photo Software for Windows and Linux
- Serif PhotoPlus SE for Windows
- Serif Drawplus SE for Windows
- Xee Image Viewer for Macintosh
- Wink Tutorial and Presentation Creator for Windows
- XnView Multi-Platform Image Viewer
- Top Free Photo Editors for Windows
- Top Free Photo Editors for Macintosh
- Gallery of Free Graphics Software
- More Free Graphics Software