exact size graphic

[irpresley]

I have the attached banner for a web page that I want to export to 775 X
120 pix. Whenever I export via jpeg or gif the banner is 783 or 815 pixels and both ends have a gap. I used various methods to obtain the correct
size, convert to bitmap, exact size square and slice and other failures.
The banner consists of transparencies, a bitmap, and shadows.
How can I get this banner to 775 X 120 with no gaps?

TIA, JP

[Scotty]

Hi,
My two cents worth, if the artwork is in whole pixels, then select all, and export as jpg, if the image does not com out as whole pictures, I export as png+alpha channel then bring into bitmap editor to get to the proper dimensions.
Xara has a habit of rounding of images to nearest pixel or adding pixels to obtain exact size.
Jim
Try this

[salaam]

Hi JP,
Due to the transparencies, your image contains overlaps on either end, which add quite a few pixels to the length.

When saving bitmaps which are rectangular in shape and which do not need transparent pixels, it is usually better to save them as 'true colour' only and not 'alpha' this way saves on the file size and you can better see what you have.

[remi]

Hi JP,

1. Your drawing in the background should be a little bigger than 720 px.
2. Create a new layer called "Export" (this step allows you to select the following shape very easy in a complex drawing).
3. Create a new shape with 720px x 120px (without line color, so that's the exact size).
4. Positionize the new shape about your drawing.
5. Make the new shape invisible and export it as a PNG bitmap.

see also the attached XAR file.

Remi

[irpresley]

Thanks everyone for your help.
Scotty, I was using an external bitmap editor to crop but I knew xara would complete the task.
Remi, your method works perfectly after I realized you could make a bitmap
copy within xara. (arrange-create bitmap copy) Then I could export the extra, selected image at the correct size. I was using mostly the export file
option.
The gif on export is much sharper than the previously exported and externally cropped gif.
This is excellent learning forum, Thanks.

JP

[remi]

You don't need to create a bitmap copy:

1. Select only the invisible shape (I often deselect all layers and only select the "Export" layer and type CTRL+A to select only the invisible shape)
2. and type CTRL+Shift+E to export only the (invisible) selected shape.
3. The result is a bitmap file with the same size as the invisible shape.

Remi

[pauland]

That's a great tip, Remi.

Paul

[irpresley]

Thanks again Remi. This works great with png and jpeg. Gif will not work.
I am not familiar with png and web pages but the output looks sharper than both gif and jpeg.
It would be nice to start a web graphic thread to learn how everyone outputs their graphics for design.

Jp

[amoore]

I'm still using gif and jpeg because some older browsers don't do pngs, and I can't assume that my visitors are using only newer versions.

[aridzone]

You can always save as png and convert to gif later for smaller file size.