Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
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Name descriptively.
If you are designing a homepage image for a new web-
site, HomeHeader_Greenway—what the image is, and the client it's for—
might be a good naming convention. Calling alternative files “JimBroV1”
and “JimBroV2” may seem to make sense, but if you do many versions, will
you remember what was different about each one? Add a little description
and you will. Avoid numbers in file names unless they refer to a series (like
pages or book folios). Numbers work best as “save as” devices for chronologi-
cal stages of one working session.
•
Name briefly.
Really long names truncate (get cut off) in directory displays
and make poor icon labels. If you must use a long file name, start it with the
most unique information, moving toward the least unique. For example, if
you are archiving artwork for specific pages of a book, try “Fig57ARev-P210-
Ch5-DDP.psd” rather than “DDP-Ch5-P214-Fig67ARev.psd.” You'll be able to
scan for the most unique portion of the name more easily.
You can use a similar strategy in Windows. File icons themselves must be ICO files, and
you'll need third-party software to create them from BMP artwork. The artwork will have to
be square and created to the right
size. But Windows XP and Vista let you
add a picture to the generic folder icon
instead of completely replacing the
icon with another picture.
To make a folder more visual in
Windows XP, right-click the generic
folder icon you want to personalize,
then click Properties. Click the
Customize tab and then click
Choose Picture from the Folder
pictures section. Browse to the
image and select it.
