A picture is worth a thousand We move within kaleidoscopes of images. Digital photos, logos, web screens, posters, announcement and information flyers, brochures, covers, calendars, banners, presentations, journals, t shirts and even cereal boxes to name a few.
Images communicate our messages. Today with Image Generators we have new methods for expressing ourselves and the ability to add a further creative edge to traditional communication formats. At the basic level image generators are simply easy to use freely available internet software programs that make new software. With an Image Generator you can:
- Add text to a picture (spotlight shot.)
- Design text into a picture (word graphic above.)
- Create a new image using the image you already own (the Got Books guy.)
- Illustrate a joke or story
- Download pictures and change colors tones to blend into professional looking brochures (post-it note.)
- specialized calendars that include an image of what you might be promoting for the season/month
- comic style captions
- slide shows or mosaics of multiple images related to a book club selection or program
- logos, buttons (think Summer Reading Programs)
- trading cards
- puzzle creation
- customized images for web pages, Facebook, blogs
So let's get creative! Visit some of the popular image sites listed below. As a starting point, discover what each site titles their key maneuvering tabs. For example, on Image Chef the Create tab is a good start to lead you to a pull down menu of possibilities. Within other image generators look for the Browse or Menu Option. These starting points will give you an overall view before choosing your favorite image modification.
For an added challenge, if you have never done so, learn how to download a picture and add a frame or create your own image and add it to your blog.
This looks like fun! Can't wait to get started.
ReplyDeleteThis was so much fun! I love the stickies - I am a post it person.
ReplyDeleteWas just reading a few comments back on our Patty and Kelley Blog where we're managing our little portion of the 21 Things Participants and someone had a comment about ImageChef and copyright. Apparently in the teeny-tiny print (I usually avoid reading those! HA!) it says it's for personal use vs. business. Now, the correct response to that of course, is to do just that. Use it for fun and post on your FB page etc. But I'll just throw out my very irresponsible and cantankerous 2 cents: who would even know you were using it for your library and where you got it? Not that I would really encourage anyone to break any laws (even if they are REALLY stupid ones!) I think it'd be very difficult (and unlikely!) that you'd be 'discovered' and furthermore, is the library really a business? It's a non-profit which is close to personal-use in my book! : ) but again, and I stress, this is just my law-breaking-mentality so do be sure to go with what's best for you and your library.
ReplyDelete-with respect for most laws
Kelley
Image generators was fun. Will this blog be around after the 21 things is over. I sure would need to refresh my memory on how to do somethings.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we'll be removing it so you can bookmark it and come back to it as often as you'd like!
ReplyDeleteThis was fun!
ReplyDelete