Image Composer is a graphics program that is bundled with Microsoft FrontPage. Although the version that came with FrontPage 97 (1.0) did some very cool things, it really wasn't the best basic program for use in creating web pages. Microsoft has made a lot of changes to it and although it still isn't the program I use most often, it is definitely worth getting to know. Using a combination of PaintShopPro (or Ulead's Photo Impact) and Image Composer (new version, 1.5), there is not much you can't do. If you aren't going to get Adobe's Photoshop, these programs are the ones to use. (IMHO, of course.)

This page shows an example of some of the effects that ImageComposer can create. I have chosen the ones that work well for background images, as this is a good place to "get your feet wet" with this program. One color was used to create the square at the top left of this page. After duplicating that image, the three effects shown in the first column on the left were applied. These add some basic texture for the other effects to work with. All settings used were the default settings except in the Film Grain effect, where specified, and which is the only effect that was applied multiple times. For the really basic details of operation, see the bottom of this page.

scroll horizontally  >
To create the first square click on the Shapes icon: This opens the shapes screen. Click on the square shape, drag the box the size you want on the work surface (the white part) then click on Create. To add effects, click on the shape you have created to highlight it, open the Effects screen with this icon . Make duplicates of the basic colored shape by clicking on Edit, Duplicate. Hightlight the square you want to apply the effects to by clicking on it, then scroll through the effects. Click on the one you want to use, then click Apply. Variations such as opacity can be changed in the Detail tab of the Effects screen.		bunni dot com Graphics Help

*