Image Tools for Web Designers
Website design is heavily dependent on great images, and there are so many ways that images can be used to enhance a web page that designers are always looking for new tools to make the job easier. That's why I created these scripts in the first place. I readily admit that graphic design is not my strong suit, so I often need help. But I wanted tools that worked the way I do, so I ended up writing several of my own. I've already published many of these tools here, and I've got a handful that I've developed that have been useful to me, but except for my new PDF to JPG converter, they just aren't ready to be seen in public just yet. In any case, I hope you find something here that helps you to make great images for your website design projects.
The tools presented here are generally very simple. I work hard to make them useful and to solve problems that are commonly encountered by web designers. All of them are free to download and use, and they all come with documentation.
PHP Automatic Thumbnail Maker
Dynamically creates thumbnail images from your originals. Includes .htaccess instructions to
make them automatically. GD and ImageMagick versions included.
PHP Watermark Script
Automaticlly add a text or image watermark to your most important images. Control
position, font color, and more. GD and ImageMagick versions included.
PHP PDF Thumbnail Generator
A simple, but very versatile PHP script that uses ImageMagick to dynamically convert any page
you choose from a PDF file into a JPG image that you can display in your web pages. Images are cached to
increase speed and reduce server load.
Transparent Background Image Generator
A simple, but very versatile PHP script that creates transparent/translucent images you can
use as backgrounds to highlight sections of your webpages.
RRAnimate© - Floating Image Script
A JavaScript package that lets you decorate your webpages with an unabtrusive
floating image that moves underneath your content. Great for adding a holiday theme to any page.
JavaScript Slide-in Image Effect
A JavaScript-based method of animating an image with a slide-in from the middle effect. Check it out and you'll
see what I mean.
Image Loading Message JavaScript
A JavaScript-based method of displaying an "image loading" message on your large images with either 'alt' text or a replacement image.
Pop-Up Window Referer Problem Tutorial
A tutorial that demonstrates a workaround for problems associated with using
Apache Server Software's .htaccess file to prevent image file "hotlinking" or
"leeching". A problem arises when the .htaccess method is used on windows created by
JavaScript and on pages enclosed in HTML frames with respect to the HTTP_REFERER value.
Image Shield© Anti-Hotlinking Script
A script that lets you hide, or at least obscure, the true path to your
graphics files and prevent hotlinking without .htaccess. Just good enough to keep the casual
image thief from running off with your graphics. Perl and PHP versions included.
This page was last modified on August 27, 2020
