Anyone good at creating images?

[MarkB]

I know the answer to the above question is obviously "Yes" (See: Sigs thread :wink: ), but I'm having some trouble creating a decent image.

I have PSP 8, but still have a lot to learn. I also have Photoshop, but I uninstalled it due to a lack of HDD space and now I can't find my disc.

If anyone can help, I'm trying to create a 762x188 image. It's actually pretty basic, but I'm struggling due to my lack of knowledge with this stuff. You guys are obviously superior, so I though I'd ask.

I've created this in Paint:

As you can see from the name of the file, it is pretty pathetic, but it is what I'm looking for. The actual image is:

...and I've resized it to use as my forum avatar at HighHeat2004.net. I'm now trying to create something like the above with a main black background and that picture on the far right.

The obvious problems I've come across is the fact that as Muhammed Ali's hair is black, it blends in with the background. Also, PSP 8 didn't want to select Ali himself with the magic wand and I always ended up with parts of him. Even when I tried the freehand selection, because I was running across the horizontal area of the pic, it only took his head, neck and the top of his fist. Finally, the blending of Ali with the background didn't go too well as you can see.

Basically, I need that image of Ali on the right of a black background. Maybe some kind of background fade would be good, such as pure black on the left to a dark grey on the right. The whole image is being used as a background for white text though, so at the right, the dark grey would have to be pretty dark or the text wouldn't be very visible.

If anyone could help with any ideas of any samples they create, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks. :)

[KerryW]

Ill do it...itll take a sec...

Hows this?

w/ a border

[MarkB]

Oh man, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot! :D