Avoiding 'ragged text' in graphics

[Glasgow]

I'm no expert in creating neat textual graphics - e.g. for appearing in a a banner at the top of each page in a site and I have limited tools available - (MS Paint, MS Image Composer, MS Word). However, I'd be reasonably happy if I could take text created in WordArt under MS Word and retain the sharpness of the image but whenever I try to get it into an image I seem to lose some definition and end up with visibly ragged borders to each letter.

Any suggestions as to how I can improve these graphics?

 

[Vragabond]

Is there an html/css question in there? Unfortunately, there are no tools in html or css to help with image quality.

 

[Glasgow]

OK you caught me out - just thought it was the sort of problem that many in this forum would have had to address. There may be a 'ragged text in graphics forum' but I bet it has 3 members and they're all on holiday.

Any suggestions for another forum?

 

[Vragabond]

One of the graphics manipulation programs forum would be more appropriate. Now, I don't want to force you to use MS Paint because you could not improve the quality of picture there no matter what you do. However, if you are an administrator on your computer, you could install GIMP (google for it) which is a free graphics program and will be able to cope with that.

As a note of advice, I am yet to see a wordart that looks worthy to be put on the website. From what I've seen in wordart, I'd rather stick with regular text.

 

[BabyJeffy]

What are you saving these graphics as? What file format? GIF, JPG or PNG? If it is neither then you need to switch to using one of those formats.

If the image has a photo in it... use JPG
If the image is mostly "cartoon - like" with lots of solid "colouring-in" sections and plain text... use GIF
I don't use PNG because none of my clients have required it, and I have no need to use a "royalty free" format at this stage.

If you are still struggling, then you will need to learn how to use the tools better. You may be better off trying a tool like "Fireworks" from Macromedia (soon to be Adobe). You can download this for a 30 day free trial. The manual that comes with it is great... and it's all included inthe free download.

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

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[Glasgow]

OK thanks for your advice Vragabond - I will investigate GIMP and/or other forums (or should that be fori or fora - my Latin's a tad rusty).

 

[Glasgow]

Thanks Jeff - I have been sticking to GIF & JPG, mostly GIF. Agreed I could know the tools better. MS Image Composer has lots buried in it but hardly intuitive to use.

 

[kelly5518]

Also, one of the things you want to remember is to make sure that the text is set to anti-alias. This should be an option in any decent graphics program.

 

[tsdragon]

FYI, there is a GIMP forum on TT: Forum451

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[Glasgow]

Thanks everyone - I've downloaded GIMP and will have a play.

 

[tsdragon]

Another FYI pertaining to antialiasing (mention above): either make sure the backgound is transparent or the exact same color as the background where the text is going to go. Otherwise the program can't interpolate the colors corrects to antialias the text.


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.