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The creative tutorial home of image wrangler, Lesa Snider.

Step by step tutorials

Welcome to the home of the step by step creative online tutorial. Here you will find detailed, easy-to-understand steps accompanied by screen shots. These tutorials are liable to be about anything from my current project to something that drove me nuts trying to figure out. It is my hope that the things I can convey here will save you time and frustration.

If there's something that you'd like to see written up, please feel free to let me know

Wrangling Web Graphics, Pt. 1

Tips for creating small web graphics

To JPEG, to GIF, to PNG... that is the question. Each time we create a web graphic, we engage in the "quality vs. file size" dance. To make nice and tidy, quick-loading web graphics, they need to be small in file size; however, making them small in file size reduces quality.

The trick lies in knowing which file format to use when to give you the best quality, and knowing a few tricks about each format to squeeze them down to size.

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Using another photo to create texture for your type Gettin' Grungy With It Fabulous Fades
The Beginner's Guide to Image Editing, Pt. 3 How to recreate the effect of a popular new lens Blurry Background a la Lensbabies
Joys of Optimizing JPEGs Photo Spotlight
The Beginner's Guide to Image Editing, Part 1 Fade to White
Shallow depth of field Shallow depth of field Using the Color Replacement brush to zap stubborn red-eye Serious Red-Eye Fixer Upper
How to fix an out-of-focus photo Filters To the Rescue! How to make your text see-through Hollow Text
Placing an image within an image Simulating Pictures, Part 1: Flat Screens Picking the Perfect Palette
How to design business cards in Photoshop How to change the color of drop shadows Shadow Dancing
Place a photo inside text Easy Clipping Groups Fall Leaf Photo Frame
Finding Photoshop's hidden cropping grid Cropping to the Rule of Thirds Filtering away edge haloes or fringe Fixing Fringe
Creating a Circuit Board Face How to Create a Layer Mask in Elements
Portrait Popper How to Fix Animal White-Eye, Part 2
Creating Favicons Managing Photos with Bridge CS4, Part 2
Lines of All Kinds Creative Photo Frames, Pt. 1
Correcting shadows and highlights Channel your way to a perfect silhouette Super Silhouettes
The Beginner's Guide to Image Editing, Part 2 Lesa's Top 10 Search Engine Optimization Tips
Super Funky Edges Say hello to advanced red-eye and retouching tools
Removing antennas and power lines Spot Healing Brush to the Rescue! Tips for creating small web graphics Wrangling Web Graphics, Pt. 1
Digital Plastic Surgery Cookie Cutter tool + Custom Shapes = fun photo frames Swirls of Summer
Demystifying Blending Modes A Stroll Down Blend Mode Lane, Pt. 1 Use your local library
How to add Lab Pop Intensifying Color Filter your way to a flurry of snowflakes Let It Snow!
How to create a grayscale image with just a touch of color Selective Color The secret to losing 5 pounds--digitally! The Basics of Retouching People, Part 1
Frame your photo with a Smart Object Ornamental Vector Grunge Frame How to add vector art to photos Easy Embellishments
Using the Crop tool to make a 10-second frame Quick Polaroid Frame Using the Crop tool to increase canvas size
Creating Coloring Book Art Livin' La Vida Levels

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