Creating BGs at I.M.

Creating BGs at Image Magick
for Classic & Plus users

On page 1 of IM where you normally enter your URL there are a number of other options with which you can create a number of different backgrounds. This ranges from Transparencies, Solid Colors and one or two color Gradients & Plasmas. Also available to WTV users are Pattern, Netscape and Granite but we have no color control with these formats

Here's what it says at Image Magick:

"These formats behave uniquely:

Gradation
Granite
Netscape
Plasma
XC

in that the filename is a color or color range. For example, if you select the plasma format, you might define the filename as blue-yellow

Or suppose you want a red canvas that is 512 pixels in width and 480 pixels in height. Set Filename to red, Size to 512x480, and Format to xc."

From what I've read in newsgroups and my own experimetation, these are the formats we can use.
At this time, the only colors we can use are the ones available at IM and must be by name, not number.

These options used to only be available to Classic Models of WTV.
Instructions for Plus users can be found at the bottom of this page!

Implicit
This is the default setting and is used when we enter a URL

XC
This setting is used when you want to make a solid bg or a transparency. Simply type in a Color or the word Transparent in the Filename box, leaving the URL box empty, scroll down to the bottom of the page, enter width & height and choose xc. Click on "View"

Gradient & Plasma
Type in one or 2 colors in Filename box (Use the Meta box instead if you have a Plus unit). Scroll down to the bottom of the page, enter width & height and choose either gradient or plasma. They will be in MPC format so remember to output as JPG or GIF

Netscape
"Built-in image which returns an image containing the colors in the 6x6x6 color cube used to render colors on 256 color displays by the Netscape 2.0 browser"

Pattern
Choose Patten and enter desired width and height at the bottom of the page, (Plus users must use the default width & height). Using one of the available pattern choices from IM's list (click on format to see your choices, or scroll down to the pattern section of this page), type it into the filename box (Plus units use meta box), and hit View. It will be in PNM format so remember to output as JPG or GIF.

Granite
A 128x128 textured gray graphic in gif format

wu4

If you type in only one color, and if your image is a light color, it will gradiate to black. If it is a dark color it will gradiate to white.

wu4

azure, gradient

burlywood, gradient

darkslateblue, gradient

To use 2 colors you must put a dash between them with no spaces. The color you type in first will be at the top. When using colors of like density you get a fairly even amount of each color, but when using a light color with a dark one the domanant color will somewhat overshadow the lighter one.

darkslateblue-darkviolet
wu4

rosybrown-darkviolet
wu4

wu4

Plasma will add a lot of colors on its own, especially if you only type in a single color. You get a lot more control over coloration if you use 2 colors (I tried 3, it didn't work).

wu4

gold

gold-burlywood

gold-cornflowerblue

I was curious what I would get if I tried Black and White. It's pretty darn colorful. I had a look at the "Channel" button, default is "All"
It gives the options of Red, Green, Blue & Matte. Using any of the colors listed there gave me Black/Grey/White images, Matte gives a solid Grey.

black-white
wu4

black-white using Channel
wu4

I wondered if Channel would give more control over the colors on a Gradient. It didn't, but it did produce some interesting B&Ws

gold-blue
channel red

gold-blue
channel green
wu4

gold-blue
channel blue
wu4

wu4

Image Magick's description:
Built-in image which returns an image containing the colors in the 6x6x6 color cube used to render colors on 256 color displays by the Netscape 2.0 browser.

Although the colors can't be changed you can get different Black/Grey/White images using the Channel & Interlace boxes at the bottom of the page. Under "Interlace" the options are: Plane, Line & Partition. Partition was used for the examples below. Since the differences were slight using Plane or Line I have not bothered to show them. I don't really know that I'd ever use this. (maybe the channel blue one), but here are the examples anyway. You can't choose size, it always comes out 216x144, in GIF format.

Netscape, default settings	Netscape, partition, channel red
Netscape, partition, channel green	Netscape, partition, channel blue

A list of available patterns is below. For samples and more information on using the Pattern format, click on the Pattern banner above.

From IM:
"For the Pattern format, choose from these patterns.
(Set the filename to one of these names):"

bricks
checkerboard
circles
crosshatch30
crosshatch45
crosshatch
fishscales
gray0
gray100
gray10
gray15
gray20
gray25
gray30
gray35
gray40
gray45
gray50
gray55
gray5
gray60
gray65
gray70
gray75
gray80
gray85

gray90
gray95
hexagons
horizontal
horizontalsaw
hs_bdiagonal
hs_cross
hs_diagcross
hs_fdiagonal
hs_horizontal
hs_vertical
left30
left45
leftshingle
octagons
right30
right45
rightshingle
smallfishscales
verticalbricks
verticalleftshingle
vertical
verticalrightshingle
verticalsaw

For examples click on the pattern banner.

GRANITE

Lastly there is Granite. It has a nice texture. I'm only sorry we don't have color options with this one. You can't choose size, it always comes out 128x128 in GIF format.

Netscape, partition, channel blue
wu4

BIG NEWS! 3/13/03

Plus Users can now make BGs at IM as well!
This just in from MISTY:

Instead of placing the color name by "filenames"... scroll down, choose the format (gradient, plasma, netscape)..and after that the box marked "meta" is where you place your color choice..then scroll back up and hit "view". Enjoy!!

~misty

Thank you so much Misty for keeping us updated!
Misty's Status Report

Special thanks to Susanna for posting some of the basics of making bgs and pushing me to experiment further

by ~Stranjer

Related Pages...More ways to get weird at IM

...but first, the fine print
Warning: My tutorials are experimental works in progress. I will add to them as I learn more about the combinations of effects I am trying to describe and try to refine my techniques and explanations, There are two other factors that are important here.

1. All images are NOT created equal. What works with one, may not work with another.
2. Things change at Image Magick from time to time, sometimes radically. I try to keep these pages updated.

Color Wrapping Images

Enhancing Gray Shade (Emboss)

Mock Emboss

Equalize Experiments

Using Level

Using Chop
remove image interiors

Making BGs at IM
for Classic and Plus units