Mixing Websafe Colours (was; 216 netscape colors, a limitation, NOT!)

This is an extension to the excellent guide to creating background .gif's by
mixing websafe colours posted by Sabrina yesterday.

If you want to create images that contain areas of colours made by mixing
websafe colours here is a way to do it using the "fill" tool. This works in
PSP6 (and in PSP5). It will also work in any graphics package that allows
you to fill with a pattern though the way you select the pattern may well be
different to PSP.

Stage 1

1. Create a new image 2 x 2 pixels, zoom in on it so that you can see what
you are doing.
2. Select a websafe colour (I'll use the same ones Sabrina did) such as
CCFFCC.
3. Using the paintbrush (or whatever) set at one pixel size, fill in the
four pixels on your image.
4. Select a second websafe colour, such as FFFFFF, and paint two opposite
corners of the small square.
5. Leave the image open.

Stage 2

1. Create a new image to whatever size you choose and create the design you
want.
2. Select the Flood Fill tool (the paintpot in PSP).
3. In the Tool Options palette select Fill Style: Pattern.
4. In PSP6 select the middle tab of the palette with the hatched line symbol
(Flood Fill Options). In PSP5 choose the "Options" button.
5. Using the drop down menu called "New Pattern Source" you will have a list
of all the images you currently have open, including the 2x2 image created
in Stage 1. Select that as your pattern.
6. On your main image you can now use the Flood Fill tool to fill areas of
your design with a checkerboard pattern made up of the two colours you chose
in Stage 1.

You can go through Stage 1 as many times as you like to create a number of
different colour mixes. As long as you leave them all open they will all be
available as patterns for your Flood Fill tool.

HTH

Brian
comharsa(at)clara.net

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