Add text to the Chapter Logos or any other image:
The best free image editing program that I found is IrfanView. It’s totally free and there’s no registration required so there will be no emails trying to sell updates, etc. You might want to print this page so you’ll know what to click on as the program downloads and installs on your computer, and how to use the program after the download.
Go to THIS PAGE to get the program.
Click on “Download Now” and wait for about 5 to 10 minutes as it downloads (1129 kb). Click on “Run” after the little window pops up. If using AOL, another window will pop up asking if you're sure you want to run the program - click on “Run”.
AFTER THE DOWNLOAD IS COMPLETE, the setup will start and these windows will pop up:
“Welcome to IrfanView setup” - Leave everything as is and click on “Next”
“What’s new in this version?” - Click on “Next”
“Do you want to associate extensions with IrfanView (optional)?” - Leave as is and click “Next”
“Free Google toolbar & Google desktop search” - Uncheck 2 boxes on the left and click “Next”
“Ready to install” - Click “Next”
“Installation Successful” - Uncheck “Start IrfanView” and click “Done”
You should now see IrfanView on your desktop and start menu.
HOW TO USE THE PROGRAM YOU JUST DOWNLOADED:
Click on your “Start” button and then click on “IrfanView” to open the program. It will pop up a little black window in the upper left of your screen.
Click on “File” (upper top left), then click on “Open”.
The top line will say “Look in” and there will be a selection box with a little arrow. Click on the arrow and scroll to “My Documents” (or wherever you saved the images). Click on the image you want to use and then click “Open”. This will put the image into the program.
Put your cursor arrow in the upper left corner of where you want the text to begin - left click your mouse and drag it to the lower right corner of where you want the text to stop - release the mouse clicker. This should leave you with a rectangle or square across the image.
Click on “Edit” (upper left) and then click on “Insert text into selection”. A window will pop up and your cursor should be automatically placed into a text box. Type the text you want and then go down to the lower right where it says “Choose font“. This lets you choose the font style, size and color you want. After you make your selections, click “Ok”. The next option is text alignment - choose “Center” and click “Ok”.
Take a look at your text and the placement. If it’s not the way you want it, click on the undo button (second row - looks like a U turn arrow). Then click on “Edit” and “Insert text into selection” again. Do this as many times as you like or until the finished product is what you want.
→This next step is very important - click on “File” (upper left) and then click on “Save As” and change the name of the image (i.e. YourChapterName1, etc.). Where is says “Save as type:” choose “GIF”. If you click on “Save” instead of “Save As”, it will change the blank logo to what you’ve just added - if you click on “Save As”, it will make a new file and leave the original blank. You’ll want to keep the original blank in case you want to use a different font, etc. later on.
That’s it - you did it! Best of luck with your Red Hatter projects!
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