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Importing Other File Formats

  WebPainter only opens, closes, and saves in WebPainter file format (.WPM). However, WebPainter imports a large number of graphic file formats. This means that you can use photographs, animation, clip art, or original graphics that were created in just about any other graphics program in WebPainter.

Importing is different than opening. You can open a new file when there aren’t any other files open. You must already have a file open before you can import anything. The original file that you imported remains untouched, but you now have a copy of the contents of that file open in WebPainter.

WebPainter imports the following formats:

   
  • GIF
  • Animated or still graphic file for the Web
  • BMP or BIB
  • Windows still graphic
  • AVI
  • Windows movie file file
  • JPEG
  • Still graphic file for the Web
  • PNG
  • Still graphic file for the Web
  • PCT or PICT
  • Macintosh still graphic file
  • PSD
  • Adobe Photoshop still graphic file
  • TGA
  • TrueVision TARGA file
  • EPS
  • Encapsulated PostScript file for transferring and printing still graphics
  • RAS
  • Sun Raster format
  • TIFF
  • Cross-platform (but not Web) still graphic file
  In this lesson you will learn:
   
  • how to import a TIF file into an animation

Note: This is the only exercise that is related to another exercise. You will export the file you create in the next exercise, so make sure you save your work.

  You will use the files SCHOOL.WPM and NAME.TIF in the folder Tutorials to make a banner for a Web page.
  1. Open the file SCHOOL.WPM.
  2. Now you’ll import the school logo and some text to accompany this graphic.
  3. On the File menu click Import. 
  4. Locate the WebPainter Tutorials folder and highlight the file NAME.TIF.
  5. Note: If you can’t see the file NAME.TIF, make sure the "Files of Type" pop-up at the bottom of the dialog displays TIF. Only the type of files specified in this pop-up are displayed in this area.
  6. Click Open.
  7. The Import Options dialog appears.
  8. Click "Before First Cel."


  9. That’s all there is to importing, but continue this exercise to make a banner. 
    Now you have a four-cel animation and the first cel is an image that says "Springhill Elementary." To make this into a banner, you’ll paste "Springhill Elementary" into the cels with the school bus.
  10. Go to the first cel. 
  11. Use the Lasso tool to select the entire imported image. 
  12. Click Copy from the Edit menu to copy the selection to the clipboard. 
  13. Go to the next cel. 
  14. Click Paste from the Edit menu and move the text to the position as follows:
    . 
  15. Go to the next cel.
  16. Click the Onion Skin Previous button. 
  17. Paste copies of the text image from the clipboard into the rest of the cels in your animation. Use the onion skin to place the image in exactly the same place in each cel.
  18. If you don’t line it up exactly, the image will move around when the animation is played.
    The first cel of your animation is the image you imported. This isn’t actually part of the animation.
  19. Go to the first cel and click the Delete Cel button in the document window.
  20. Click the Onion Skin Previous button to turn off onion skinning.
  21. Play your animation. 
  22. Save your work as a WebPainter file.
  23. Remember the location. You’ll need to use it again.
  What’s Next
In the next lesson Exporting Animated GIF Files you’ll export the current animation as an animated GIF so it can be used on a Web page.

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