Web Design and Graphics Resources

A new web design video tutorial demonstrates masking photographs to clip the background, and then combining two photos for a web graphic illustration. This client purchased a stock photo of a boxer being punched and wanted to convey a message about new internet users being abused in an upcoming web design. The second photo overlay in this web design graphic adds a business shirt and tie to the boxer's bare chest to look more like an internet user.

Next, a new custom business card artwork gallery #2 features 50 more full color business card examples. Most include the business card front and back to show how card backs may be used for small ads, or a call to action. The gallery uses an advanced web design technique in CSS to display 50 cards larger than actual size in half an open browser window. Enlarged business card views display instantly as you mouse over the thumbnails, and do not use javascript or flash. In addition, each card has a caption describing the company business product or service in plain text for added SEO value.

Finally, both card galleries have a new comment for clients who want to order fewer than 5000 new business cards. The printer I recommend now offers 1000 2-sided full color UV coated cards for $30 plus tax and freight.

Watch the advanced photo edit video for web graphics on my main site, or view 100 examples of business card artwork in the original 50 card gallery or new Gallery 2 with 50 more designs, and then email me from any page with questions about custom graphic art for web design or print.



TAGS: advice business cards small business advice video tutorial web design

CMS Web Design Video Tutorial Released

A new page of our main site provides web design advice for small business owners including a CMS web design video tutorial just released today. The video demonstrates how the Small Business Resource Center website was converted from static pages to CMS or Content Management System generated pages using plain text.

The video includes a tour of the backend admin section of this site, and a demonstration of how new pages may be added to a CMS based design in plain text without having to learn or know HTML code. An important aspect featured in the web design tutorial is how my custom designed CMS system provides simple methods of adding META information for search engine optimization, or SEO, also.

At the same time, a new episode on the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast provides advice and information about web design using CSS styles, or cascading style sheets. The podcast show notes link to the video, also. The new and easy-to-use technique for creating a new small business web design with CMS relates to CSS for separating content and presentation and is a big part of this latest web design service.

Existing customers with static web design pages created by me are welcome to inquire about converting their website to an owner managed content management system. A $500 discount off my published price is good for existing customers and valid through June, 30, 2008. Watch the CMS web design video tour and podcast episode about web design and css styling to learn more, and then don't delay as the end of the month approaches.



TAGS: advice cms content management system seo video tutorial web design

New Large Screen Video Design Services

I began using a new production technique for large screen web video for small business websites, and the following example was recently launched for a tutorial on the RBO Vacation Ads website. The lesson demonstrates how to edit or resize photographs to 500 pixel wide using free photo edit software from Irfanview, yet this same advice can help blog owners adjust photos to any width.



Advantages of my technique for video production include larger display size and clarity, plus zero ads like some free hosted video websites. The custom video design includes mixed tracks with background music in the intro and outro, and the narration which was recorded separately.

You may want to view another video tutorial at Rent by Owner Vacation Ads. For small business owners who want a similar custom design large display video online ad to feature or introduce their products or services, contact me for a prompt quote.



TAGS: advice custom video small business advice small business services video tutorial website design

Prompt! Teleprompter Software Review

Quite often professional voice talent creating video or audio production use a teleprompter. For small business website multimedia production, there's a low cost alternative to expensive dedicated teleprompter solutions when adding video or audio to your web design or podcast.

After considerable research of teleprompter software reviews, the Prompt! software from DataWay Multimedia Canada, Inc for $44 USD is my recommended choice. A free lite version may be downloaded, also. Here's the list of features from their website, MovieClip.biz:

• Text can be imported and exported
• Simple text editing is available
• Native files can be saved
• User customizable controls
• Macintosh or Windows playback
• Control over font size
• Mirrors text display on screen
• Mouse or keyboard control
• Lite version available
• Multiple resolutions
• Works with most remotes (not included)
• Cheap!

Prompt! version7.0 is a standalone application that allows keeping multiple windows open during recording. My advice is preparing your audio script in NotePad and then load it into Prompt! with copy and paste. The scrolling text may be adjusted by size, color and background, and scroll speed. The Lite version is limited to 2500 characters, so you may want to do a test drive with Lite before making a purchase.

Using a teleprompter for short clips or full presentations allows readers to focus on content to eliminate gasps, oohs, or aahs during recording. Speaking extemporaneously is very difficult for most small business owners, and a prepared message is more likely to enhance the multimedia production. Reading from an audio script will be faster and more professional when adding audio or video to your website, blog, or podcast. Download Prompt! here.



TAGS: advice audio small business services software review video

Website Design PayPal Payment Options

My commercial site now has the option for new small business clients for custom website design to pay for services online. The PayPal verified logo is included in the top banner on each page of the main website. Unlike some online shopping websites that have products at fixed pricing, customers for my services need an agreement for projects before proceeding.

A single payment button on the price list page is set in increments of $50 USD, and payments may be made through PayPal or using major credit cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. You do not need a PayPal account when using your credit card even though PayPal is the secure payment processor. No additional fees are incurred by the client for this method, so the amount for design services is all that is charged.

Besides custom small business website design, you may now pay for other design services including custom blogger design, custom graphic artwork, plus custom video and audio production, also.



TAGS: advice payment options PayPal Verified small business services website design

New Custom Website Video Production

Here's another example custom video production to demo combining still photos, narration, and background music for small business website designs. This uses a set of original photographs that I took in 1989 when my wife and I had the pleasure of a ride on the Goodyear blimp Columbia that I won in a drawing.

The video may be viewed as entitled Goodyear Blimp Photo Slideshow on YouTube also.



The background music is my theme for videos as well as audio productions used on my small business advice podcast. Note the transition between slides and the effect used for the sequential appearance of titles in the intro and exit credits. If you are interested in a custom audio or video for your small business website, contact me with what you have in mind.



TAGS: audio small business services video video production website design

Website Video Production Services

Custom website video production services for small business owners are now offered as part of custom website design from the Small Business Resource Center. These dynamic and affordable videos and screencasts are perfect for product demos, site introductions, new product or service intros, company training, or even real estate virtual tours.

Watch this latest video tutorial about free methods to produce voice narration for your custom website video, and then consider the value of a permanent advertisement on your small business website.

Title: Video Narration Using Audacity
Play Time: 3 minutes, 14 seconds



Imagine the positive first impression made with a custom video on your website. Combine voice, music, and video to enhance the visitor experience and memory retention of your message. Compare the price of custom videos that I produce to made for television ads, and the cost of adding a quality video on your website becomes very affordable.

Unlike print ad costs that are paid every month or week, your video ad reaches your audience forever without a recurring advertising budget.

Learn more about custom website video production services on my main site including custom video content tips for small business owners. Contact me for more details.



TAGS: advice small business services video video production website video advertising

Custom Web Video Production Steps

Here are steps used for creating custom videos for clients from an excerpt of my main site:

To maintain competitive pricing, the client will participate in steps 1 through 4 below, and the balance of the production steps 5 through 10 will be provided by the Small Business Resource Center, as follows:

1. Plan Production: Agree on video message and overall content presentation
2. Create Script: Write script for narration based on intro, main content, outro
3. Video Content: Collect graphic elements, photographs, and movie clips for video
4. Voice Content: Record the background voice narration as MP3 from the written script
5. Music Content: Choose background music from stereo music selections in my library
6. Arrangement: Assemble video elements to match the production plan and script
7. Edit Tracks: Edit the video, voice, and music tracks for quality and synchronization
8. Mix Tracks: Combine tracks with the video, voice, and music to create the final video
9. Production: Create and compress the video for maximum quality and smallest file size
10. Distribution: Present the video for online website display for your website or blog

Special Note on Copyright: All content contained in your video must be original material that does not violate any copyright laws. Client supplied material listed under video content above must be your exclusive copyright owned material only. The stereo music tracks for your video are selected by the Small Business Resource Center from my library of royalty free music that was purchased with full rights to use in the production of your video.

Read the video content guide on the main website, or view custom website video examples.



TAGS: advice small business services video video production website video

Video Intro with a Surprise

After experimenting with video recently, I decided visitors deserved a more personal introduction and a closer look behind the scenes. The bonus surprise is a series of rare photos of George Bush taken in 1988 when my wife and I met him in San Diego, California.

While watching, consider the value of a website video for your small business. Screencast and video production have been added to my list of services. Show people details of your small business products or services and provide a permanent ad or demo on your website.



Thanks for watching. Please contact me to discuss your small business needs for custom website design, custom blogs, matching artwork for print, or video production.



TAGS: photographs small business services video video introduction bush

Video Version of Photo Tutorial

By popular demand, yesterday's text tutorial for masking photographs in Xara Xtreme has been recorded as a video, so now visitors can watch and listen to me present the lesson. Play time is 5 minutes and 25 seconds. In that time I mask and clip a photo of my dog to remove the background, and then pull in a sample new background. Yes! Just 5 minutes!

The technique shown in my video tutorial is a fast method for cropping part of a photograph using Xara Xtreme. The amazing part is the effect starts with a rough outline using straight lines. This simple method should be easy for all skill levels including novice graphic designers.

You may view the photo masking tutorial on YouTube, or watch and listen here.



Practical ways to use a cropped photo include business cards and other printed materials, or for website graphics. My previous lesson for techniques using error diffusion to create clean transparent gif graphics may become a video tutorial soon.



TAGS: advice video photographs tutorials photo edits xara xtreme graphic artwork video tutorial

Deleting Photo Backgrounds with Xara Xtreme

After an inquiry from another Xara Xtreme user who needed help cropping the background of a photo, I decided the reply would make a good tutorial. Here's a lesson for masking and deleting photo backgrounds with Xara Xtreme to use for creating custom graphics for online or in print.

Update: Hate to read? This tutorial is a featured video lesson on YouTube or watch this lesson in masking a photo with Xara Xtreme on my blog.

To summarize the technique, I begin with the Freehand Pen Tool to remove backgrounds and have become quite proficient at tracing complex shapes to create the mask. Next, I use the Shape Editor Tool to drag the straight lines into precise curves going point by point around the border of the mask area. Finally, once traced you select the mask and photo (hold shift+click on each), and then crop what you outlined with the shortcut command CTRL-3. Here are the detailed steps for this tutorial.

For a small photo enlarge it 400% to make it easier to trace. Use the Freehand Pen Tool and hold the ALT key to make a perfectly straight line from two points on a curved shape on the photo. Continue with connected straight lines for each curve to the next point before it begins to curve in another direction. You'll end up with a lot of straight lines. I usually set a contrasting line color depending on whether I have a dark or light photo.

I don't use the handles to pull the straight line into the shape of the curve except for minor adjustments. Instead, once all the straight lines are done going around the object I use another tool, the Shape Editor Tool. Here's more about drawing the straight lines.

Basically you trace the object you want to keep completely with straight lines until you return to your starting point and connect the ends. This fills the traced object with your default fill color to create the mask. The filled shape confirms you have a continuous line without any breaks. Next, and with the filled outline active (selected), find the small white square with diagonal cross lines in the lower left of the work area of the Xara screen. Right click on it and select "Clear Fill Color" so you're back to just the outline of straight lines that you just drew around the object.

Next, select the Shape Editor Tool which is the next one below the Freehand Pen Tool and use it to form curves out of the straight lines you've drawn. With the Shape Editor Tool your cursor turns into a plus symbol until you actually move it over a line, then it turns into the standard pointer cursor. If you left click on a line and release the mouse, it adds a new point. You don't want that. Instead, press the left mouse button down and hold it onto the first line you want to change to a curve without releasing the mouse button. This allows you to drag the line into a curved shape. Depending on the shape you need to outline, you learn over time the best spot for "connecting" on the line before you drag. If you make a mistake just press CTRL+Z to undo the error.

Once a curve is added to one straight line segment in the outline, continue dragging each straight line segment to fit the shape you want to keep as you move around the object. With experience you can do this quite quickly. Experiment with the point of contact on the straight line where you want to drag. Connect on the straight line close to the curve you just created, try the middle of the straight line, and connect away from the last curve to the opposite end before the next point. In time you will be familiar with the best point to drag for a given curve, and in what direction. Once the outline has been dragged to precisely trace the object, select the line and photo (hold shift+click on each) then use the CTRL-3 key combo to cut the traced object.

Once the object you want to keep is cropped, I usually hold the CTRL button and drag a dark color (usually black) onto a blank place in the work area. The default white background becomes all black and any errors in the tracing jump out at you. You can easily pull and push the outline of the cropped object using the Shape Editor Tool, also. If you see a piece of background that didn't get cropped properly, you can use the cursor to "push" the offending line in towards the object you intend to keep. With the dark background you can see immediately when you've pushed the line just right to remove the unwanted segment.

This may seem complicated at first. The person who inquired about how to mask and delete photo backgrounds in Xara Xtreme initially had problems, but eventually solved it and contacted me again within 24 hours. They successfully created their custom graphic, and it didn't take weeks to learn. It was done in a day.



TAGS: advice photographs tutorials photo edits xara xtreme graphic artwork