On 10.06.11, In Clipart can be useful when building websites or when making posters, worksheets or other self-made publications. Here is how to make your own clipart.
Over the last few years I have made my own clipart, using my home computer. The following are tips on how to make clipart.
Step 1: Get yourself the latest copy of Macromedia Flash. This is an excellent and fairly easy-to-use computer program which makes artwork easy with excellent results.
Step 2: Find a digital copy of a photograph that you would like to use to base a peice of clipart on. Essentially we are going to trace it! If this is your first time, choose something simple, something with a fairly plain background.
Step 3: Open Macromedia Flash and in the top menu find “IMPORT”; use this to import your photo to a new blank document. This photo will now appear on layer 1 of your document. Your photo may need resizing to make it a size that you can work with – you can do this using “MODIFY” and “TRANSFORM” in the menu bar.
Step 4: Create a new layer, layer 2. Do this using “INSERT” and “LAYER” in the menu bar.
Step 5: Now you will trace your photo, working in layer 2, whilst the photo remains untouched in layer 1. To trace it use the pencil tool ensuring that you have selected “Smooth” in the “Options” section of the toolbar.
Step 6: When you have traced the outline, trace the main sections of colour within the outline, ensuring that all lines connect to another creating sealed blocks within the outline.
Step 7: Go to layer 1 and delete the photo. Return to layer 2 and use the paint bucket tool to colour in your artwork.
Step 8: When your art is complete go to “FILE” and select “PUBLISH SETTINGS”. Tick “FLASH” and “GIF” and then press “PUBLISH”. Your art will be saved as a gif file and a Flash file.
I have used this method successfully to create lots of my own clipart. It will take some practice to get to grips with how to use the few aspects of Macromedia Flash that are required for this process, but it really is not that difficult and I worked it all out without any instruction. Some of my clipart is available here – Royalty Free Bird Clipart.
