Web page layouts with the GIMP
PAINTING YOUR SITE
Good homepage design is a question of the layout. Sometimes the best option is to use a graphics program to design the page, then translate the result into HTML code. The versatile image manipulation program GIMP can help.
Some purists believe they must compose HTML code line by line in a text editor to achieve clean results, but other developers are occasionally willing to consider alternatives. One little known alternative is the option of creating a graphics file in GIMP and then converting the file directly to HTML. GIMP version 2 (www.gimp.org) or newer includes the Py-Slice plug-in, which converts the image into a collection of tiles, and then creates an HTML table that organizes the tiles into an image that looks like the original. The results can easily be used for homepages with attractive graphics, like the example shown in Figure 1. Most current distributions give you GIMP version 2.2; we will be using this version for the remainder of this article. Suse users will need to add the Python extension and the Py-Slice plug-in manually [2]. After doing so, launch GIMP and create a new image (File | New). Then select the 800x600 entry in the Templates drop down. This is the resolution we will be using for the homepage. Then enter a name for the file; you will be storing the file under this name later. Make sure you use GIMP’s native .xcf format to have access to all of GIMP’s features.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Tag Cloud
News
-
Heartbleed Bleeds On
According to a report, many potential victims of the Heartbleed attack have patched their systems, but few have cleaned up the crime scene to protect themselves from the effects of a previous intrusion.
-
Drone Brain Goes Open Source
DARPA and NICTA release the code for the ultra-secure microkernel system used in aerial drones.
-
Password Management Services Vulnerable to Attack
Should you trust an online service to store your online passwords?
-
New Raspberry Pi Adds Two USB Ports
New B+ board lets you build cool things without the complication of a powered USB hub.
-
Microsoft Grabs No-IP.com Domains
Redmond rushes in to root out alleged malware haven.
-
Firefox Steps into 3D
New initiative will bring futuristic virtual reality effects to the web surfing experience.
-
New Trojan Targets Online Banking
Dyreza malware launches a man-in-the-middle attack that compromises SSL.
-
HP Rolls Out Massive Cloud Network
New cloud combines worldwide access with local attention to data security.
-
New Attack Targets Wireless Logins
A first cousin of the recent Heartbleed attack affects EAP-based wireless and peer-to-peer authentication.
-
Geeks Petition for Free Lenovo BIOS
FOSS community acts to protect freedom of choice for laptop devices.