Getting images into your documents

As visual artists you will want to show your audience what you do. Text just doesn't capture what an image can in terms of conveying meaning. This is a technology course, and so it is important that you leave this class ready to show the world your great ideas. And judging from the midterms, your ideas are fabulous!

How to insert an image

Inserting an image into a document is easy once you know how. Note: For some strange reason you can't just drag the image from the desktop into the document.
Step 1: With your document open, place the cursor where you want the image to be placed.
Step 2: You have to have the image stored either on your computer (for instructions see below) or a portable flash/thumb drive attached to computer. The image must have an image extension. Usually you will use the smaller file formats jpg, jpeg, gif or bmp. Limit using large files like psd (photo shop), or tiff because your document will be too large to email easily.
Step 3: From the top menu in Word select INSERT (it's between view and format). Then from the drop down, select PICTURES, then FROM FILE. Then you will get a window that pops up which looks like finder. Navigate to the image you want and select it.
Step 4: The image will now be in your document but if the image you will want to resize it. Click on the image. Little black boxes will surround your image. Those boxes are handles. You click and drag on the handles to scale your image. Note however if you enlarge your image the quality will suffer.
Voila, you have inserted an image. You can even insert a video following the same steps!

How to Get an Image into your Computer


You will want to save your images as jpegs or tiffs, and insert them in the way you have been asked - sometimes your professor, client or funding body will ask for attachments, or inserted in your documents. While jpegs are smaller size, tiffs are better quality and you can send them to printing services for professional quality publications. As a habit, I save my work as tiffs for printing, and jpegs for the internet and emailing... Note use jpegs if you are going to insert an image into a word document that you know you will be emailed.
1. Scanning: assuming you have access and artwork is appropriately sized for scanner
2. Cell phones: Many cell phones have a camera, and while the quality isn't always great, you will get the image you need in a pinch.
3. Camera: Best choice for quality - I'd be happy to go over lighting techniques for 3D models. If there is one technological purchase that is vitally important to you from a career standpoint it is a camera you are comfortable using. As an artist you are only as good as the documentation of your work. Sad but true!
4. Webcam on your computer, put the object in front of the camera and shoot.
5. And lastly ask a friend who has mad photography skills.

Hope this helps - and those midterms are stunning!
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