|
Departments Info  Home Page Articles Software GoodiesExplanations How do they do that? The Web in FocusResources Web Site Stuff Tech Books E-Books Tech Toys Web Hosting LinksWomen Opinion Tech Women Women's StudiesTech News Computer Security Databases Java Linux MP3 PC Software Robotics Site Owner Tech Latest Web Development XMLSpread the Word Newsletter
Recommend this Page
Site Info Legal Disclaimer
Privacy
Contact
Lighter Side Crazy for Life crazy for romance Crazy for Kitties Crazy for Dogs Crazy for CowsCopyright 2000-2001, hertechnology.com |
Building a Banner After clicking on Add, I got an Edit Window. In the Component Palette, there is a little spray can that sets the background. There are a number of choices, but I like the one called Philadelphia best. The background type is selected, like everything else you can modify about an object, through its Object Inspector Window. After some experimentation, I found out that whatever size the Edit Window is, is the size you will get for your banner. So, I used the mouse to drag the edges of the Edit Window to make a size of 468X60 pixels. The height and width were also displayed in the Object Inspector for the background object. I selected the component for shapes and dropped a shape onto the left side of my banner. Components can be resized with the mouse by dragging the little handles on the edges of the component. I used the Object Inspector Window to change the default shape (rectangle) to a circle. I also used the pen field in the Inspector to change the color and thickness of the line. Text is added with another component. Again I placed it where I wanted. Text objects are modified with the Caption field in their Object Inspector (that is the text you see). In addition, the Font field is used to change font size, face, and color. Now for the interesting part. To get an animation, you need more than one frame. To build the next frame off the first, click on the Duplicate button. The next figure shows part of the main BannerCrafter window. You can see the Add, Duplicate, Play buttons and the five frames in my GIF file.
All I had to do to make the next three frames was duplicate the first frame, then edit the shape and the text, and and move the text where I wanted it. The last frame (which was also duplicated from the others) required that I delete the text and add a button component. I also modified the time each frame stays up, then clicked Play to see the animation. That allows you to tweak timing and position of the objects until you are satisfied. Next you save to BannerCrafter's special banner format. Then you need to Create your banner. Creating a banner just requires that you go to the Banner tab on the main window and click Create. (Make sure the size is what you want before you create the banner). Give your banner a name, and that's it!
Of course you can make much more sophisticated banners than my simple banner. To get BannerCrafter and to see a demo of what it can do, go to Bannermation. The program is free, which is always nice. There are plenty of banner creation programs out there, and I'll have more to say about banner programs at a later time. 'Till then, you may want to download this program just to tinker with it. Go through their Tutorial first. Some patience is required as there are a few little odd behaviors with the program (nothing terrible). With some practice, you could create some nice banners.
|
|
