icon help request

[thrihyrne]

Hokay… I now have Photoshop 7 for Dummies here at my attic desk. I can crop to 100px X 100px like nobody's business. But my font size is too big! Even 6 point isn't working, and whatever magic I did to make that one blasted icon has left me.

Help, o amazingly talented ones? I'm so excited, though- I'm making possible page banners for my mom's website pages at her office, and having a grand time. I just wish I could figure out why when I have an identical column width in two colums that they aren't the same blasted width. I know just enough HTML to get really frustrated with stuff like that, especially when I'm inheriting someone's project made in Dreamweaver or the like, and I just want to mess with it in BBEdit and get down to the basic code part of it, as little as I know.

But if one of you guys could tell me the secret of adding text to the microscopic 100X100 world of iconage, I'd be thrilled.

Thank'ee!

Comments

[euclase.livejournal.com]

Change your image resolution, maybe? That works for me. I run a Mac, but it shouldn't be that different. I usually use 300 or 400 dpi with a 100x100 image.

*hopes that's what you mean*

:-)

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Well... I can change the resolution, but when I go to my type tool and try put any text on it, it's way too big for the picture.

I'm such a dork. Why this is baffling, I don't know.

:facepalm:

Thanks, though!!

[euclase.livejournal.com]

Can you switch between pixels and points in the font size? Or did you already try that? Pixels can be a lot smaller than points with higher resolution. Maybe. Hopefully. I don't know otherwise. :-X

Lmao, oh but you're so cute. *hugs*

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

Oh dear... I don't think I can help much since I don't have Photoshop and have no clue how it works. I use a truly antiquated imaging program that came with a scanner I got, um, seven years ago or so now.

The only suggestion I have is to try starting with a larger icon - eg 200x200 - and put the text on that, then shrink it. Sometimes the text gets fuzzy that way, but fiddle with the resolution at both ends to see if that helps.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Thanks Cel! There do seem to be two lines of thought, the shrinkage and the pixel. I'll try both. ;)

[sailingwest.livejournal.com]

Your already loads more techy than I am.I can't even make things 100x100px as it is.***bows head in shame**** I have to ask a co-worker to do it for me.I'm soooooo pathetic.But I'm proud of you for your new found cropping like wildfire abilties.whoohoooo.
Hugs,
Rebecca Neume

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Awww... you're not pathetic. Learning this stuff takes time, and like you said- in some ways it makes just as much sense simply to borrow other people's icons or ask them to make them- especially if they *like* making them!! I think I would once I figure out how, though I can't do screen caps and the like, so my repertoire is pretty limited.

((hugs))

kristi

[sailingwest.livejournal.com]

Yes,a lot of folks really do a great job on them and like making them.I'm a little pressed for time to be learning a new skill like that for now.Been staying busy busy busy....lol....
I love the thistle one you are using right now btw.It suits you well.I can't wait to actually get to vistit Scottland someday soon.My honey is a good bit Scottish so I hope we can visit his ancestors hometown in the future.

[cim-halfling.livejournal.com]

See my icons? Someone else made em for me! My attempts at creating my own pics resulted in a picture no larger than a period.

.

Yep. Really weird! :facepalm:

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yeah, I usually let other people make mine, too. Now you know why. ;)

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

What font are you using? I've just tried Arial (regular) in my copy of Photoshop (6.0) and on one line at 100 pixels width, I can put:
15 characters @ 18 pt
18 characters @ 14 pt
21 characters @ 12 pt
23 characters @ 11 pt
25 characters @ 10 pt
27 characters @ 9 pt -- which is just about readable, but not very clear.

Garamond & Times New Roman both come out even smaller than that. Verdana is a bit bigger.

I wouldn't suggest shrinking text if you don't have to, it tends to come out blurry or pixellated.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Wow... I guess I need to figure out how to make it so I'm getting the font in pixels as well. Another project for tomorrow. Thank you so much for your help!!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i always make my icons bigger and then reduce them to 100x100 if i can. that way i can work with my old eyes and still get the right size of everything. reducing works better if the image is flattened. helps with the text clarity.

check out stef's icon tutorials (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=ignited&keyword=Icon+Tutorials&filter=all) you'll be glad you did.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Excellent- thanks for the tutorial link. What would I ever do without you and my other talented friends??

((hugs))

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

with fonts, I always work in pixels so, as licia said, check that this is what you're working with.

and some fonts take to smaller sizing better than others (sorry, stating obvious there) but it might be worthwhile, if you're going to be playing a bit, to go to a font depot and find some nice clean cursives and non-serif'ed ones (great listing from icon_tutorial is this one (http://www.livejournal.com/community/icon_tutorial/1026013.html)).

AND, if you're wanting to turn into a super-geek about it (you'd be in fine company, lemme say... :P ) you should sign up to icon_tutorial - I've learned heaps from this comm and the archives.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Hey- I'm always up for more geekdom. In fact, I was just about to post on that very topic. Now that I'm not so scared of Photoshop, I should sign up to icon_tutorial. Between that and the stuff for mom, maybe I'll get a handle on things!!

Thanks heaps for the advice.

XOX