3 Free Ways To Create Web 2.0 Graphics

While it’s true that graphics and images on your website won’t make people perform your desired action, it’s also true that people often judge how professional your site looks by it’s pictures.

So today lets look at a few ways to create some of those 2.0 web page graphic effects.

Now 2 of the most common web 2.0 graphic styles are:

• Reflection also known as the mirror effect
• Shadow effect makes text and images appear 3 dimensional

How to Mirror Image Text

One way to create a reflective image is through the use of MS Paint©. And although it’s not the easiest way, it can be used to create a crude reflection effect like the one below.

To create this type of mirror effect in Paint:

1. 1.  Create your text in the color of your choice.
2. 2.  Create your reflective text in the color of your choice.
3. 3.  Using the selection tool select your reflective text.
4. 4.  Right click inside the selection box and click on Flip/Rotate. Choose Vertical Flip.
5. 5.  Move your reflection box under your text
6. 6.  Click outside the box and then select the part of the reflective text you don’t want.
7. 7.  Right click inside the selection box and select Cut.
8. 8.  Save the image.
9. 9.  You can crop the image using your html editor or some simple image editing free software like Irfanview.

An easier way to create a better looking mirror effect is by using the reflection plugin for Gimp. (By the way, both Gimp and the plugin are free.)

Here’s a quick video that shows you where to get the plugin and how to use it.

To make your text appear 3 dimensional you simply use the shadow effect.

How to Shadow Text Images

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to do this is to use a web 2.0 graphics generator like this one.

Of course if you don’t want the border you can crop it off with your html editor or some free image editing software as mentioned in step 10 of the Paint instructions.

Another way to get the shadow effect, the mirror effect and even some color blending is to use Gimp. Gimp is a fantastic image editor and it’s totally free. In fact, it’s what I used to create my header graphic for this site.

Here’s a short video that shows you how to do all 3 of these web 2.0 text effects:

I do know 1 more way to create some super web 2.0 text effects and while it’s not free it’s also not expensive.

This image was created in less than 10 minutes by making a few selections.

So start the new year right by bringing your web page images into the 21st century. Creating web 2.0 graphics isn’t that hard and it can be done for little or no cost.

To Your Success,
Susan

Tags: 2.0 page graphics, creating web 2.0 graphics, gimp image editing, gimp mirror effect, gimp mirror image, gimp mirror text, gimp reflection, graphics for 2.0, how to mirror image text, image editing free software, web 2.0 graphic generator, web 2.0 graphics tutorial

Posted in Web 2.0 Text Graphics,Webmaster Resources,Website Design 3 Comments