The Internet: Hooked on Graphics
By: Jennifer Wu, SNN Reporter
Roncalli Central High
Port Saunders, NF
"Graphics... create a visual
environment (on the web)." This statement by David Stokes,
webmaster for Schoolnet News Network (www.stemnet.nf.ca/snn),
rings true when we look at the ever-growing world of the Internet.
On June 27th, 2000, webmasters
David Stokes and Kelly Wilkins(webmaster for Communities @ CA,
www.communities.ca) held an informative, well-organized three
and a half hour long in-service during the Hook, Line & Net
Conference.
To kick off the in-service, the
two webmasters introduced three types of image files: BMP (bitmaps),
GIFS (text or art), and JPG (photographs). They also offered
advice regarding quality print files, quality on-screen photos,
and file sizes.
Using the application Adobe Photoshop,
David Stokes and Kelly Wilkins manipulated and created various
images to produce useful graphics.
Despite the few technical difficulties
(such as slow computers and troublesome files which refuse to
open), together, the duo presented to the registered participants
simple Adobe basics by showing what each Adobe's many tools are
used for. Gradually, as the participants learned more and more,
they moved into another part of the presentation focusing on
layers, retouching and yet more tools.
As the participants began to
get a feel' for Adobe and how it operated, the group experimented
with Special Effects Exercises' on a more independent level
of working. With each person seated at their own individual
computers, they worked through directions in order to create
web buttons and more.
Why go through all the trouble
to create graphics? As David Stokes and Kelly Wilkins agreed,
graphics on the web present a visual feel, is much easier to
see rather than read, and is much more convenient for keeping
your attention. That's understandable, but it also arises yet
another question: why make your own graphics when you can just
copy someone else's? In Kelly and David's opinion, copyright
issues get in the way and it is much more original to incorporate
your own photos. How else would a webmaster be able to claim
rightful ownership of a graphic?
Most people would be bored to
have to endure text-only webpages, therefore web graphics make
sense. The internet, and people are hooked on graphics, and
being hooked on graphics works for us.
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