Exercise 3 - A Collage with Borders

Using the MS Paint Application

In this exercise we will again work with pictures in the jpg format.  We will review the usage of multiple copies of Paint to create a collage of children.  We will then add borders and save the completed composite image.  

Learning Objectives:

a.  Creation of a Collage (Review of Exercise 2)
b.  Resizing Photographs
c.  Adding Borders
d.  Using the Color Selection Tool
e.  Changing Format Types
f.  File Size verses Format Type

Review

a.  Creation of a Collage

1.  This step involves the opening of two jpg files from the folder titled "slide" on the CD.  Notice that when you go to this folder using Paint to open a file, it shows that no images exists.  This is because the default file type for Paint is bmp.  You must change this type to jpg in order to select an image. 

2.  Try it now; start a paint application, go to file and open, select look-in the CD, and select the folder titled "slide".  You must now change the file type to jpg.  Now you have the ability to select from 2 images.  Select the image named slide1.jpg this will be our background for our collage or composition. 

3.  Open or start another copy of the Paint Application.  Open the slide2jpg file from the slide folder.  In this photograph the two children are on the top of the slide.  Use your rectangle selection tool to select the children and the top part of the slide only.  Notice that both pictures were taken without moving the camera.  Use the task bar and switch back to "slide1.jpg" and paste the children onto the picture.  Move or position this selection into the proper position.  Your composition should resemble the one shown below, without the border.

Clones ?

b.  Resizing Photographs

1.  You will notice that our composition is too large to view without scrolling.  Now use the image command on the menu bar and select Stretch/Skew from the pull down menu.

2.  On the Stretch/Skew dialog window which appears change both the horizontal and vertical stretch selections to 50%.  Click the OK button to reduce the picture to 50% of it's original size.  Notice that you have now changed the physical size of the drawing.  This same procedure can be used to increase drawing sizes.  However when drawing size is increased stair-stepping edges may appear, they are called "jaggies".  Content, i.e. increased resolution, cannot come about by increasing the area of a photograph without the use of special interpolating software.

c.  Adding Borders

1.  Now we will add a white border around the composition.  We will make it 0.1 inches wide.  Be sure that the background color swatch is set to the color "white".

2.  Use the image command on the menu bar and select the "Attributes" command to get a pull down menu.  Be sure that the units selected is inches.

3.  Increase both the Width and Height settings by .2 inches. (i.e. add .2 inches to the current settings.  Then select the OK command.  A .2 inch white border should appear on the bottom and right hand side of the composition.

4.  Use the rectangular selection tool and select the entire original composition excluding the added white space.  Now click on the image and center it such that the white border is symmetrical about the picture.

d.  Using the Color Selection Tool

1.  Now you can repeat the procedure used to add the white border.  But first we will pick a color from the photo to use for the outside edge.  Select the "Pick Color" tool and then right click on a blue area on the slide.  Notice that the background color swatch changes to the color selected.

2.  Use the image command on the menu bar and select the "Attributes" command to get a pull down menu.  Be sure that the units selected is inches.

3.  Increase both the Width and Height settings by .2 inches. (i.e. add .2 inches to the current settings.  Then select the OK command.  A .2 inch blue border should appear on the bottom and right hand side of the composition.

4.  Use the rectangular selection tool and select the entire original composition including the added white space.  Now click on the image and center it such that the blue border is symmetrical about the picture.  Your composition should now closely resemble the graphic shown above.

e.  Changing Format Types

1.  Our completed composition with it's borders is in jpg format.  You can now save it by using the file, save as command.  Set the save in folder to the following: 
"c:\My Documents\Graphics\Exercise 3\slide.jpg"  
Notice that you must change the name to "slide".  You change the "Save in" box by moving up and down the path using the black triangle located on the right side of this box.  When you get to the folder named "Graphics", you can use the create new folder button to make a folder named "Exercise 3".

2.  Now you can change the file type by using the "Save as" command again.  This time change the "Save as type:" box to bmp by clicking on the black triangle next to this box and then scrolling down to locate and select "24-bit Bitmap (*.bmp, *.dib)".  This will now allow you to click on the "Save" and activate your choices.  Notice that you can have two files with the same name in the same folder as long as they have different extensions or file type indicators.

3.  For experience and knowledge on changing file types lets look at some more.  This time save it to the same folder as a .gif file.  Notice the slight changes in the colors as you save it this time.  Look at the sky.  This format does not allow for as many shades of blue as did the 24-bit Bitmap.  This is similar to the 256 Color Botmap.

4.  This time lets experiment with the "Monochrome Bitmap".  Notice the extension is still ".bmp".  Therefore we must change the file name to keep from overwriting our "slide.bmp" file.  Let us change the name to "slidemono.bmp".  Save this file.  Notice that you now have created a truly "black & white" image, hence the term monochrome.  In future exercises we will work with Grayscale Images, these have various shades of gray and are capable of being colorized. 

f.  File Size verses Format Type

By now you have a good understanding of file management techniques.  There are many other ways to accomplish these steps.  It is the steps and the reasons for them that are important.  Why change file types?  To save file space by having smaller files, smaller files can be transmitted faster electronically.  Let us check and see the size comparisons of our saved slide images.  One way to do this is to use the "My Computer" icon on the desk top.  Work your way down through the file path of folders to reach the  "c:\My Documents\Graphics\Exercise 3\"  folder where all are saved items are.  Which file is the smallest.  Which file contains the most graphical information, which one the least.

Did we achieve our earning objectives? They were . . .

a.  Creation of a Collage (Review of Exercise 2)
b.  Resizing Photographs
c.  Adding Borders
d.  Using the Color Selection Tool
e.  Changing Format Types
f.  File Size verses Format Type

As you perform these exercises list any questions you may have.  These questions will be discussed during class.  Remember practice is the best way to retain learning, the next best is discussion.  Can you perform the above tasks on your personal photographs?  You may be familiar with some commercial applications which you possess.  Any tool or approach you can use to accomplish you desired task is the best one for you.  We have put a lot of emphasis on the "Paint" application so far.  This is because it is universally available and also it is the foundation of all other applications.  We will now leave Paint and move on to other applications.

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Course Contents    Imaging or Graphics    Exercise 2

Prepared 12/22/01
Revised 12/31/02
For Class Members use.
By: Dean Christensen