WordPress – your free web log on the Internet by Marian Heddesheimer

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Gimp can be used to isolate an object from the background. There are several methods to do this, we will use the method that all professional designers prefer: Using the path tool to isolate the shape of the object. We will then select the space around the object and remove it, so that the object is available without any distracting background.

- loading a photo from your desktop
- using the path tool to define the shape of our object
- selecting the object according to the defined path
- inverting the selection to remove the background
- adding transparency to the picture
- removing the background to make it transparent

Gimp must be installed and running. First experience with Gimp is necessary to come to this workshop. If you don’t have this experience, use the tutorial video in the Moodle class at http://www.rent-a-tutor.com/moodle/ or come to my free class “Gimp installation and first steps”.

Gimp can be used to create seamless textures. A seamless texture is a picture that you can duplicate in width and height as often as you like. You will also find the expression “tile-able” texture because the picture will be tiled. If the picture is well prepared, you will not see any seams from this tiling. This works fine for backgrounds like sky, grass, sand etc. In this workshop we will also use cobblestone which needs a bit more attention if the texture shall look seamless.

- loading a photo from your desktop
- applying an offset to make problems visible when the picture will be tiled
- removing visible seams by using the clone tool
- removing visible seams by copying and pasting parts of the picture
- testing the tiled image

Gimp must be installed and running. First experience with Gimp is necessary to come to this workshop. If you don’t have this experience, use the tutorial video in the Moodle class at http://www.rent-a-tutor.com/moodle/ or come to my free class “Gimp installation and first steps”.

Gimp can be used to easily retouch images. This can be used to remove small blemishes from a photo or to remove a brand name from an object. In the life workshop you will remove a blemish from a leaf and you will also remove a traffic sign from a landscape picture.

- loading an photo from your desktop
- zooming in to see mor details
- using the clone tool to remove a part of the image
- using the healing tool to remove remaining marks

Gimp must be installed and running. First experience with Gimp is necessary to come to this workshop. If you don’t have this experience, use the tutorial video in the Moodle class at http://www.rent-a-tutor.com/moodle/ or come to my free class “Gimp installation and first steps”.

Learn how to create a simple currency converter in PHP. You will create a simple form that will enable you to enter a value and an exchange rate for your currency. The script will then calculate the amount for the foreign currency and display the value on the page.

This is a part of my web development series that covers PHP, MySQL, HTML and JavaScript. Each of these classes can be booked separately but please make sure you meet the prerequisites stated below.

- HTML Form basics
- retrieving values from a form submit
- short overview on variables, constants and data types
- short overview on operators
- using number_format to display a number amount

You need a web space or a local Web Server that supports PHP. See Part 1 and/or Part 2 to find out how to get free web space or how to install your own Web Server.

You also need to know how to edit a text file and upload it to your web space (or alternatively copy it to your local web server’s folder).

The class is operating-system independent, so if you have an editor and a web space ready, you can create your PHP script on Windows, Macintosh or Linux. Please make sure you can use your tools (like your FTP client) since I can’t answer software specific questions in this class apart from PHP itself.

You also need some basic knowledge about HTML to understand how to use and submit a HTML form. If you know what a HTML tag is and how to build a simple HTML page with head, body and some text paragraphs, you will probably meet the requirements for this class.

If you have any doubts or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly and ask.

Learn to install an Apache Web Server on your own computer along with PHP support. This is for all who don’t want to bother with file uploads every time they want to text their HTML/PHP pages on a live web space.

This is a part of my web development series that covers PHP, MySQL, HTML and JavaScript. Each of these classes can be booked separately but please make sure you meet the prerequisites stated below.

- Download the Apache Web Server from Apache Friends
- Unzip and install the software package for Windows
- configure the Apache Server for your local machine
- run a test with a simple PHP web page that will run locally

Windows XP, Vista or Win 7