More icon spam

[dame_grise]

Hmm... maybe I have figured out how to beat the stupid way LJ wants to post pictures from the Scrapbook without giving myself a headache. Why show the options for more than 2 columns if they are not available to even paid account users?

Anyway, I'm spamming my friendslist with separate posts (but with cuts), so I can make only one post to
demmed_elusive . If you

Comments

[dame_grise]

But the teeny tiny quote... I know it's not readable exactly but it's not blurred. I have PSP but an older versions... I'll keep playing. At least I was able to make these with the text clear, pretty much a first for me.

[dame_grise]

That one is probably my favorite of the set you made for Armand, which is odd, since it's with my least favorite of the available pictures. *laughs* I did switch sweariwontdie over to all Malcolm Jamieson pics, but I'm still using yours on another Armand journal. :)

[ladyelleth]

Yes, I can see that - the image quality has definitely improved, though the text could be better still. Especially the first and last of the second row could do without the anti-aliasing. Like I said, it's been a long while since I worked with Paint Shop, but there should be a little checkbox to turn that off. That way, the font will look less harsh and (for lack of a better word) choppy.

The text effect in the icon by and_i is done by using the 'Drop Shadow' option, and the tiny text is just that - tiny text (I think the icon I'm using right now has some as well). I know that some icon makers use a special font for that purpose, but I found that almost every will do, when put to 2pt and an increased spacing. You can also try rasterizing that tiny text layer and then sharpening it. Not too much, mind you, or it will look crappy again.

Hope that helps!

[dame_grise]

I'd have to switch computers to be absolutely sure, but my version of Paintshop Pro will not let me make text smaller than 8 pts.

[ladyelleth]

Not in the normal font options, as far as I can remember. Perhaps you can enter it manually, I'm not sure. I know that that works for Photoshop. Or, if that doesn't work, use the bounding box and minimize it that way... there's always some loophole. ;)

[dame_grise]

I'll look around for other options and play with it more. Some program I used to have had a special font for really tiny writing that didn't blur easily.

But it's the trying to fiddle with the size that keeps getting me blurry things.

Still, I am proud that these are an improvement.

[madeleinestjust]

I start with the base image at icon size (100 x 100), blow it up with the magnifier in Paintshop (only Elements, for shame, but it's enough for me!), write in the text so that it's all pixelated as I'm working - and then (hopefully) the text should be legible when the image is reduced to its normal dimensions. And save at 150 ppi and a high-quality jpeg.

[dame_grise]

I'll look into it. Filesize is an issue.