Thing 7.5 - Fun with Images (Optional)

Like many Web 2.0 sites, Flickr has encouraged others to build online applications that use images found on the site. As a result, many people have created third-party tools called mashups. These tools help you find, organize, and use photos in various ways. You can locate photos based on color, create mosaics of photos, use photos in games, and much more.

There are also online image generators that use photos from your computer, from Flickr, or from other sources. Most of us don’t have the time or artistic talent to create specialized graphics or logos for projects, but online image generators let you create many types of images – framed pictures, posters, comic-style captions, and much more. Teachers and students can create trading cards of authors, scientists, historical figures, or concepts they've learned. Other possibilities include creating a calendar with images related to school happenings, a billboard advertising an event, or a magazine cover featuring a project team. You'll come up with plenty of ideas. This Thing is all about self-discovery and exploration, so allow some time if you choose to do it.

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A. Explore some fun Flickr mashups
B. Play around with online image generators
C. Post your creation on your blog if you choose to

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A. Try Out the Following Flickr Mashups
These tools are fun and it's easy to spend a lot of time! In fact, it could become your newest hobby! You will need the latest version of Flash Player enabled for some of these.
Spell with Flickr - We used this tool to create the header on the RESA 23 Things blog.
Flickr Color Pickr - lets you find public photos in Flickr that match a specific color.
Sudoku with Flickr - – Instead of numbers, use images in your Sudoku puzzles.
Flickr montager - Enter a tag and this site will create a mosaic comprised of images.
Flickr Memry – Traditional memory game created with Flickr images.

B. Play with Image Generators
Using the links below explore several image or text generators and play with them. Some require you to simply enter some text; others use images. Each works a little differently, so get in there, read the instructions, and create.
Big Huge Labs - Here you might want to try the motivational poster, badge maker, magazine cover, movie poster, Jigsaw, or trading cards.
ImageGenerator.org - This site represents one-stop shopping for image generators. You may find it more challenging to use than Big Huge Labs, but it definitely has possibilities.

C. Place Your Creation on Your Blog
Often adding the image you created to your blog is as simple as copying and pasting the embed code that the page provides if you know how to do that. If not, just right-click on the image and save it to your hard drive before using Blogger’s image button to add it to your post - just like you did in Thing 6.