One of the trickiest things about graphics is understanding and working around the numerous file formats available. Almost every graphics program has its own type of file which retains information about any changes you may have made to an initial image. For example, in Paint Shop Pro, the file extension .psp (this is the default when you go to save) not only contains the information for the image, but it also supports layers, alpha channels, and other features you might use to create images. Thise file is not compressed, nor can it be viewed in a web browser. It however is a very useful file format if you ever want to go back and change your work. If you are on a school system, make sure you always have plenty of floppy disks or else know how to save files on the school's server (I will go over this now). This part of the lesson will not be displayed on the web page for security reasons.
As you become more familiar with graphics you may find yourself wanting to explore some other graphic programs (I recommend Adobe's Photoshop). For this reason we want to save files in a format that is available in all graphic programs. On the PC platform the only universal format it the Bitmap (.bmp). This format holds most all of the files integrity. Bitmaps can be opened in all graphic programs except programs specifically designed for .gif files which primarily function to create animated gifs. On the MAC platform the standard is the .pict file. If you want a format which can be used on both platforms I recommend you use the TIFF format, it as well maintains file integrity. Creating graphics for your website requires that you have converted these high quality graphics into the .gif, or .jpg format. In order to do this, and do it correctly, there are several things you should remember about converting files from one format to another:
Tutorial/Tips Regarding File Conversion
- Once you have a file you want to save, make sure you keep a high quality copy of it somewhere. To save, simply select -file- from the program menu bar and select -Save As- (Shortcut=Alt,F,A). Pick the file location to save to, and pick the format you want. For now, while we are using Paint Shop Pro, let's use the .psp file type. Let's do that now. Go to the taskbar and open up your browser now. Find a file on the internet and save it to a disk. In Paint Shop Pro open the file and save it as a .psp file. We will use this file for rendering in a later lesson. Please note that when you are promted to save, there appears a box that has an options button, this is where for example you would select how much to compress a .jpg file.
- Once you have an image saved as .psp, play around with Paint Shop Pro for a few minutes, go nuts, see just how bad you can screw that picture up. May I offer a fun area to play with? Go to the file menu and select -image- and the -filter browser-. Many of these options may be disabled if you originally grabbed a .gif from the internet. This is because these filters render color quite a bit and require a lot of colors to do there job. To fix this, bring that original gif (now a .psp) up to par by selecting -colors- in the program menu bar, then -increase color depth- and -16 million colors-. Now you can apply filters. We will go into color depth and filters later in detail. If you do something to the image that doesn't please you try the undo button
, it keeps track of every change you make to a file. If you click it enough times you'll be back to your original image. Have fun. Here is an example of what I did to one picture. Kind of strange, but it's a great example of the power of filters. This picture started out as a photo of a real bobcat on a royalty free CD-ROM. No drawing or painting was used, i.e., you don't need to be an art major to do this. A few good filters and your work looks professional.
- Once you have your picture altered save it as a uncompressed .psp. Then save it as a .jpg with 30% compression (also found in the -file save as- options button). Repeat again but save as a .gif file. You will notice that when you save as a gif it will ask you to reduce the image to 256 colors. Go ahead and do so. At this point you should have 3 files saved, all with the same name, just different file extensions (we may have to change your system properties to view file extensions at this point). Now close all files and Paint Shop Pro.
- Now open your browser and go look at the files. This is reinforcement of Lesson 1. Can you tell the difference between gif and jpg files. Compare file sizes as well. When finished open Paint Shop Pro again and select -file- then -browse-, this will allow you to view thumbnails and open multiple files at one time. Open your three files by holding down the control button and clicking on each image. Paint Shop Pro's browser is a great image file organizer. By now, you're beginning to understand graphics, it's as much about learning software as it is actually being artistic, if not even more so. :)
- Essentially, what we did was create 3 files: the gif lost color in the conversion; the jpg lost actual file information (starts to look fuzzy); and the psp file still looks brand new. When you create an image yourself in Paint Shop Pro and you save it first as a jpg or gif, that becomes the name and file type you are viewing. While PSP is running it is smart enough to keep the original file in the computer's memory, so you may not see just how bad the copy you saved is. So check it out in your browser. Otherwise, if you save it first as a 30% compressed jpg, and close (or crash) the program or computer, the only file you have is the compressed one and you may have to start again if you don't like it.
- The key idea is, if you save a file as a compressed jpg and then pull that file up and save it as a gif. The file information and colors are cumulatively lost. You'll end up with a 256 fuzzy color file. I refer to these as 256 CFC's. While they are not bad for the ozone, they are painful to look at. Pardon my dry sense of humor :) So what are the keys to File Conversion?
.......SAVE SAVE SAVE.......
......KEEP AN ORIGINAL......
..HAVE A LOT OF DISK SPACE..
VIEW FILES TO SEE WHAT CONVERSION WORKED BEST FOR:
Maintaining File Quality
Keeping Files Small