Significant development in online image editing

[Theo Kuechel]

Online image editing is an excellent way of integrating graphics into learning activities and there are now quite a number of freely available tools such as Picnik, (my personal favourite), that can be used to extend the uses of images in learning. With Adobe due to launch the free online version of Photoshop before the end of the year, there will certainly plenty of opportunities to create and develop images online.

VectorMagic (beta) from Stanford, a new Web 2.0 service opens up a new horizons in Web 2.0 graphic editing. It lets you upload bit map images and convert them into vector graphics for further editing, scaling, use as logos, etc. Not only does the tool deliver an excellent conversion, it is fast and intuitive, making it a delight to use. It includes some good basic editing tools, context sensitive help, and the ability to download your images as either .eps or .svg.

The real educational potential of the the VectorMagic service is the facility to save your finished graphics online and share them online. The potential for creating re-usable vector 'image assets or learning objects' is certainly worth consideration. In my experience, working with schools, teachers often shied away from vector graphics. So if it is necessary to explain and explore " the difference between bitmaps and vectors" in an exciting way then this may be of great value.

[Ana]

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Ana*