[starchild]

I have found little or not info about making screensavers so have to experiment with it myself.

One brickwall I come to is, I only have a 14" monitor. I've been told (on another board) I am now in the minority, and hardly anyone now has UNDER a 17", and a lot have 21". The person telling me this has a 28". He also has a much higher screen resolution (mine is 800X600 which I thought, at one time, was "average") I tried setting mine higher and it squashed everything and made words so small I could barely see them. The reason I tried this, the person with the 28" monitor and higher resolution has a discussion board that is too big for my screen. I have to scroll back and forth to see it all. This was how the topic of screen size came up. I've never had this happen on discussion boards, only that one. He said it's because I have a small monitor and low resolution. And I could get a bigger monitor now for around $200- they are now more "affordable"

I think a 17" would be nice (espeically a flat one) but over that, seems like it would be TOO big- I have everything on a diningroom table (with a leaf in the middle) as it is now

I still have the monitor that came with my first computer in 1998, a DAEWOO. I do the best I can with what I have and can get.

Anyway... I have been making screensavers. Trying to figure out the best size (so they won't be huge- I aim at under 1 MB. I mean to upload for download, send as a zip file, etc) Also, been putting text on them, like the url of the site the pictures are on, along the bottom, or lower right side. I can either put this on in PS (and batch process them all to have it in the same place) or, in the screensaver program there's an add text (and position it) option. Though it only adds it in one line, so is limited. It is good for putting a URL or link on, though.

My screensaver builder has an option to check to "stretch the picture to fit the screen resolution". If I don't check this, I think the background color fills it in, or comes up around a large picture- that might look full screen on my size/settings. I haven't been checking it, because I think on a large screen it might stretch the picture too much and not look good. Also, some pictures don't look good BIG so I make them smaller and let there be a background around it. The background can be set solid, as a gradient, or imported from another file (so another project is making good, light backgrounds for the screensaver pictures).

Since I'm putting a url on the bottom of the screen (or picture) I'm wondering how/where this is going to show up on a big, higher resolution screen? Putting it on the actual picture (small, lower right corner) would make sure it stayed in the viewing area and didn't get lost in the border on larger screens. But, sometimes it doesn't show up or look good on the picture, even done small and lightly. And not all pictures look good with borders around them I could put it on. For example, last night I was practicing with bright, splashy oil paintings from one website. Various sizes and shapes. No good way to put the url on the painting, which is original art with the artists signature on it, already.

So far, I haven't found anyone with a big/higher screen to send them to, to test, and this seems complicated. Sort of like that wireless phone service commercial where the guy keeps saying "can you hear me now?"

"Can you SEE it now? What are you seeing on it?" etc...

There are programs for everything anyone can think of (I just downloaded one that brings up FLASH I might look at, to save, that I read about on this board) Is there anything I can do to see how a picture (in this case screensaver) would look like on various size/resolution settings screen?

I should make a test one (I have a lot of flower pictures I've taken) and put a test url on it, and upload it to one of my Angelfire sites and post the link here. To get feedback from people with different size/resolution monitors.

I really don't think my pictures (I save 800X600 pixels) are big and good enough to look good stetched to fill a 21-28" monitor. Which is where having a background/border around them would come in. But, where would the text (url) GO on this go, on a large screen?

This screensaver program has the option of RUN along with INSTALL after it's downloaded and opened. So, can be saved on the desktop, clicked and RUN without actually putting it in.

~ Carrie

[acraftylady]

I would search on google and see if there are any forums for the program you are using. I tried to search some info for you and it just comes up with the various programs for making one but I bet if you are using a popular program there is a forum somewhere with help.

[starchild]

That's a really good idea, I never thought of.

I put it in google (it's ACME screensaver & presentation maker) and didn't find any forums (so far) but found the home page. There is a free download (but must be a trial) And buying it is $39.99 I got it from someone on ebay for $8.99 (plus I think it was $5 for shipping) It's in a case with label, etc. (not like a homemade copy).

Before that (1 1/2 years ago) I bought one online, a download for $25 from ACEZ. It didn't do a lot of what this one does and after awhile stopped working. Sometimes it would and sometimes not. I tried redownloading it (I had paid for the serial number) and the same. When it didn't work (no pictures on it) when I closed a box would come up saying "you have been using the trial version, if you want to purchase (etc)"

I kept writing to the maker and sometimes got an email back with vague suggestions about using pictures that were too big, or my screen resolution not set high enough or something. Even though I was doing it the same have the same monitor and settings I had at the start.

He finally didn't answer.

I have searched the web for info about maknig screensavers, and like you, got websites with programs to buy. I found one that had a book "Making Money with your Digital Camera" (or some such). Making and selling screensavers was one of them. I finally bought it for $20 (the download) because it said "money back guarantee". It had bascially nothing for details in it, and nothing really usuable. Like getting customers and going to their house taking pictures of them (or their products) for their websites (and charging $35 an hour or something). Or, going to people's homes and taking pictures of the items they wanted to put on ebay. Which might work in a big city.

The screensaver parts had no tech info about it and just making them and putting them up for sale (he gave a program to use for collecting money online- which you had to pay $1-2 TO (the program) in order to have this) and having it set up as a download. Before that, he had made screensavers and put them on cds to mail, which meant buying blank cds, cases, labels, padded envelopes and mailing.

One of the ideas was to offer something (cheap and easy to mail) in order to GET THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON BUYING IT and adding it to a mailing list, you could then sell.

I felt bad I had paid $20 for this (I don't have any money to spare) and wrote and told him all the reasons I didn't like it- and said he was probably selling it (the ebook) in order to get people email addresses to sell! (I found this idea distasteful, myself)

He wrote back and said he would refund my money (to PayPal) which he did.

Anyway, there is little or no information about making screensavers and how they show up on different size screens, etc.

I haven't been devoting much time to this in a detailed way, like writing down exactly what I'm doing and finding out the results. I'm sure some here with bigger monitors would test them for me. With this program you can download it, open and when clicked it says INSTAL and RUN so you can just click it to run it without actually installing it.

I've also checked it and it doesn't put any ads or spyware on (that I can find). Only when I have one on my angelfire website as a download, angelfire puts on a cookie, but they do that anyway.

The main question I want to find out is putting the url or text on. The screensaver builder will put a line on (in anyplace on the screen) OR I can add it right to the picture, itself before I make it. If it's in the lower part of the picture, will it disappear on a 21" or so monitor?

Apparently almost everyone now has over a 17" monitor and a lot 21" or bigger.

I'm not sure how many people even use screensavers now (or want them) I know they are more entertainment than actual need. And new WINDOWS lets you set up your own slideshow-screensaver on your own computer.

My idea is to put something on it, like text. Short, easy to read. Maybe positive affirmations or quotes. Something to make use of the screensaver? Since when it comes on, usually we get to see a few of the pictures before hitting a key and taking it off. When I have beautiful scenes or pictures on, I sometimes sit here and just look at it. A "picture break".

Thanks for the feedback,

~ Carrie

[buck52]

Originally Posted by starchild

Apparently almost everyone now has over a 17" monitor and a lot 21" or bigger.~ Carrie

I disagree... the vast majority of users that might be interested in a screensaver you make, will have a 15" or 17" monitor using a 800x600 or 1024x768 display setting...

There are of course exceptions...

Personally I have two Apple Cinema displays...17" and 23" and could care less about a screensaver...if I'm not using the computer I'm not in the room

buck

[southernlady]

starchild, somewhere on ONE of these sites http://tomcoyote.com/links.php , I saw an app that did what you needed doing. It allowed you to see your program in different sizes regardless of YOUR browser window size. I can't remember what link it was but it was a FREEWARE link. So good hunting! And I LOVE screensavers, esp the 3D or OpenGL ones. I have a graphics card that can handle it and it's neat to watch. Liz

[buck52]

Originally Posted by ltramsey1954

I have a graphics card that can handle it and it's neat to watch. Liz

please take no offense but...are you so bored and lacking for things to do that you sit and watch a screensaver

buck

[southernlady]

Buck, no, but if it happens to come on while I wander by, it is fascinating...

And I DO sit at my desk and do OTHER things besides work on the computer so it does tend to come on while I am sitting here, LOL. I use my desk as my home base for phone calls and stuff. Liz

[buck52]

Hi Liz

Just teasing with you... You sound like your a busier person than that...

didn't have much help for Carrie but didn't want her to be planning her screensavers around 19+" monitors...there just not the norm

buck

[southernlady]

The reason I ran across it was *I* was hunting thru the freeware apps for web developer tools, LOL. You never know what you might find and that was a type of web developer tool. What *I* was hunting for was one to search for my unused jpegs. Liz

[starchild]

Thanks Liz,

Making screensavers is mainly something I can do to tie in with learning graphics, and since I've already been told (here) I can't get more than crummy pictures with my camera and the number of megapixels it has, I can use art programs to change the pictures into... well, art. Or, using someone else's pictures to make them screensavers. Though most people don't seem to have big, good pictures ON their websites or even have them, in their files.

I also like the idea of putting words on them. Positive affirmations, and such.

I have been making these smaller, to set on the desktop. Even if we don't sit and stare at the desktop, we still see it occasionally. In passing. I think we look at a computer screen (with desktop or screensaver on it) a lot more than we realize. Even those of us who still have small screens.

I've talked to some about making a screensaver using artwork (or pictures) from their website, and putting the url of it on. Sort of like advertising. One person wanted me to make one of her angel art, but never sent me larger pictures, so I used the small ones on the website, sort of to see what I could come up with.

http://www.angelfire.com/magic/under...eensavers.html (the Angelic Vision one)

She is planning to put angel pictures and sayins on coffee mugs and having them for sale on the website, at some point. But, I suppose that would only be for someone bored enough to sit and read what's on their coffee mug

The other one is just practice.

I also have a project "in the world" for putting quotes and lines from a person's ebook (inspirational) on a screensaver. With the author's permission, of course. And the link to his website on it, too.

That's one thing I'm trying to figure out about the size of the pictures, screens and how the url will show on different sizes. Of course, if Buck is right, nobody with a big monitor would be interested in a screensaver anyway. (according to a poll relating to screen size on another board, the average size there is 17" or bigger. One person has a 23" which I don't think would fit on the big diningroom table (with center leaf) I have my computer, printer, scanner, etc. on! I can burn my eyes out just as fast on a small screen...)

Anyway, I put some of the first ones on a webpage as a way of showing them to some who wanted to see them.

I haven't done any with text/affirmations ON them yet. I has to be just right, the pictures not too bright and distracting and not too many words. I'm also thinking that if all the text ties in together, the pictures (or designs) should be somewhat similar, too.

I guess people with super big monitors and the best and most expensive camera and biggest/fastest computer stuff, who can buy this as fast and soon as it comes out, wouldn't be interested in looking at pictures with positive affirmations on them. Maybe they don't need it.

I think I'm mainly doing this for myself.

And when I get discouraged by not having the best and biggest and fastest stuff (and getting reminded of this by those who do) I tell myself that I have my mind and imagination, and creativity and that isn't something only those with enough money can buy.

I do the best I can with what I have. The alternative is to give up and that seems really depressing.

~ Carrie

[southernlady]

Carrie, don't give up...it takes ALL kinds of people out there and many people can't afford those HUGE monitors...most of us are lucky to get a 17-19 inch monitor to be honest. I have a 17 and would KILL for a 19! Just because you run across people on a TECH board with BIGGER ones doesn't mean the average person has the big monitors. And the average person is who is looking for something to decorate their screen with, esp if it comes WITHOUT a EULA. One way is to try and get it listed with www.themedoctor.com I've found some neat themes there.

Also, look at the web rings that some of the theme designers belong to like
http://patinastreasures.com/ (you have to go to the links page)
http://www.woofensworld.com/
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Suite/8441/
http://www.quickcreations.50megs.com/index.html (this one esp)

Anyway, there is a good start on what you can look at as far as what other screensaver designers have done. Liz

[buck52]

I think I'm mainly doing this for myself.

that is all that counts...

I guess people with super big monitors and the best and most expensive camera and biggest/fastest computer stuff, who can buy this as fast and soon as it comes out, wouldn't be interested in looking at pictures with positive affirmations on them. Maybe they don't need it.

I hope this was not provoked my my posts as I was trying to be helpful... the fact I have a big monitor and decent camera is irrelevant...

I will say to you also... your posts are starting to have the "poor me" sound to them...please take no offense and keep plugging

buck

[starchild]

I couldn't find anything on TomCoyote, and in the process of looking in google.

I don't know what to put in though. "Testing graphics on different size monitors"-?

Buck wrote something in another thead, "in a perfect world you'd have a better camera" which actually made me feel better.

I bought a used camera (Epson PhotoPC 650) on ebay, which came to $86 in all. I would have liked a newer model and having a zoom function would help, but one of my daughters has this one (she paid $350 for it new 3 years ago) and I knew it takes good, clear pictures. It must be the lens because I know people who buy cameras (like Kodak EasyShare- at least one model) with more than the 1.9 Megapixels mine has, I think don't take good pictures at all.

Anyway, I've been told that people throw out cameras better than the one I bought.

Well, if they are going to throw them out, they could send them to me!

Anyway, I just realized that "in a perfect world" I'd have the biggest and best and could compete with others in this (camera, monitors, computers, etc) but having to do the best I can with what I have, I bet I am learning more.

And my mind, and thinking and creativity is... priceless.

In a perfect world everyone would be equal, regardless of the number of megapixels or the size of their harddrive.

~ Carrie

[southernlady]

Ok, so my Kodak EasyShare is just MARGINALLY bigger than yours but not by much! I have a DX 3600 and it's a 2.2It does just fine, thank you very much! Some day we may get a better one but for now, it does what I want. LOL. I'n not a graphics designer, at least not yet. Heck, I haven't even begun to figure out Photoshop. It and I have a running argument...so badly that I took it OFF my computer and went back to PhotoSuite. So my hat is off to you, Carrie for being able to design screensavers. I think it's a talent that you should enjoy and do what you can with. Liz

[starchild]

I didn't mean to insult people with Kodak EasyShare cameras!

Maybe my daughter isn't using hers right. I remember when she was looking for them and sent me the link to it, I saw it had more megapixels than mine and thought that must be better.

I'm not sure what model she has, but I think she paid around $200 for it (maybe on sale). Someone on another board I go on just bought one, and a "dock" to go with it to take pictures off.

The camera I had before this one was a Kodak DC3200. Even though it has a zoom function (which I used most of the time, otherwise things were too small to see) I was continually frustrated by the lack of detail. Especially at a distance. We have mountains on the horizon out back, and with that camera they didn't even show.

With the Epson I now have, they show (but would be better with a zoom). Since another daughter has had this same Epson camera (she bought new 3 + year ago) I knew it takes fairly good, clear pictures.

My daughter sends me pictures of her baby (and cat, etc) with the Kodak Easy Share and I've tried making screensavers from them, and if they're made the least big bigger they don't have detail and distort. I don't know how she saves them, I think with the EasyShare software she got with them. So, maybe they are saving at a lot resolution or something. Maybe she has it on the lowest setting.

I think I was disappointed in my first camera (which was over $100-"factory refurbushed) and the Easy Share she got, because of thinking the name Kodak would mean something better.

As to learning things like graphics and web design (and fixing my computer to keep it going) a lot is just to keep my mind on something. It helps me feel like I'm doing something (learning) and being somewhat productive. Maybe it helps me stay sane

~ Carrie