Objectives: In this module the student will

1. insert and edit graphics
2. investigate image properties
3. align graphics and text
4. investigate color tools and uses
5. control images in backgrounds and tables
6. create an image map

When the Internet was new to the world of communication, its specialty was sending text quickly and conveniently. How times have changed! A web site without pictures or illustrations would seem primitive and boring to us now. In this module we'll explore the ways that Dw handles images.

Module Three Glossary

gif

An acronym for Graphics Interchange Format; pronounced "jiff" or "giff" (like "gift"). This format is used primarily for line drawings and clip art (or graphics with large areas of solid color). It is a smaller file than a jpeg because it uses fewer colors. Gif's may also be animated or transparent.

jpeg or jpg

An acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group; pronounced "JAY-peg." Photographs are usually saved as jpeg's because there is a wider range of colors available. This wider range causes a jpg file to be larger when compared to the gif.

png

An acronym for Portable Network Graphic; pronounced "ping." This is the preferred format of Macromedia software. It is more versatile than the gif or jpg, but it is also a much larger file.

bitmap or bmp

This is the standard image format in Windows documents. It is not compatible with the Internet.

pict

This is the standard image format for Apple or Macintosh computers. It is not compatible with the Internet.

text wrap

After aligning a graphic, text wrap allows the text to "flow into" the available space, thus "wrapping" around the image.

thumbnail

A small image, often used as a link (like an icon), that shows the reader a reduced version of a larger image. It's user-friendly in that it makes the download time a choice for the viewer rather than a requirement.

tile

A background pattern designed to repeat as often as needed to create a seamless background. Can be used as a noun or a verb. Also called wallpaper.

vector

Unlike jpeg's and gif's, vector graphics are based on a set of coordinates. This allows them to be resized easily and without loss of image quality. Flash images are all vector graphics.

Websafe color

Because Windows and Mac operating systems use different color palates for their monitors, only 216 colors are shared by the two. For this reason, only these 216 colors are going to be reproduced exactly as designed, regardless of the system. These are considered to be websafe colors.

hexadecimal code

Web colors are based on the RGB (red, green, and blue) monitor's colors. Did you know that there are only three colors on your screen? The rest are created through the blending that occurs in the human eye. The hexadecimal code for red is #FF0000. FF is 100% in hexadecimal (base 16); green is #00FF00, and blue is #0000FF. Yellow is made by mixing red and green (light, not pigment), so the hex code for yellow is #FFFF00. White is #FFFFFF and black (the absence of all color) is #000000.

The readings for this module go into these terms in greater depth.

When you have finished your work on this page, continue to Readings.