Creating a sig tag and sizing it for the web
with Microsoft's Digital Image Pro version 10.
Using Digital Image Pro 10, you have the option of creating a new Canvas (or workarea) and sizing it to the size you want your final image to be. 
You would drag your graphics from your "Files" 
(images that you brought  or opened  into the software program,
to use to complile your sigtag graphic)
pcCrafter graphic image files are very large, But using Digital Image Pro, - 
They will autofit themselves to fill the Canvas area that you create and/or size.
They will be in porportion of the canvas and the image itself,
it will not "stretch" or distort itself to fill entire area if it is not in proper porportion.
You will be able to size and position the graphics you drag onto the Canvas, and layer them, etc.
Or - an alternative - You can use graphics full size and compile your final image, and then resize "image" to the size you want for posting online.
Please note: Sigtags are made for posting online, as a "web graphic".
Web Graphics are Not Designed for  PRINTING, they are designed for fast loading on a web page.
Since they aren't designed for printing, you can  save them at a much lower resolution than Print graphics, I save mine at either 72dpi or 92dpi. versus Print Graphics which I save usually at 200 to 300 dpi. (DPI = dots per inch) 
You will not achive good results either for creating web graphics or print graphics if you try to increase the size of an original "small" sized graphic. You can "size down" most graphics, but not "size up" from the original size designed by the artist and saved at that particular size in pixels and dpi. 
See links to online articles at the bottom of this mini-tutorial to learn about
Scaling images for the web and understanding: DPI, Pixels and Resolution of images.

For the following examples I am using a graphic that Elizabeth originally posted, 
and wanted help with resizing. I resized it to a size of 316 pixels wide by 177 pixels high, removed the white, and added text to it. 
After I had resized it, I needed to add text to the image.

**NOTE: because I did not design the original graphic, I had to work backwards in making this tutorial, showing how I would have done it, by sizing the Canvas to 316 x 177 and I dragged Elizabeth's original tag to that workspace, so that I could add text and the copyright information.
Screen shots and notes on the steps I used:
Important to NOTE:
The CANVAS or Workspace is "Transparent".
It appears white, and if you drag a graphic onto it that has white surrounding it, you may think it is transparent. But if you want to layer it against a background or group together with other graphics you will see the white box surrounding jpg images. At this point you can use the Magic Wand tool feature and click in all areas of white and press your keyboard Delete key to remove the white. To layer images against a background graphic, you can add/insert a rectangle or square shape and size it the same size as your Canvas, then using Format menu, position shape to "back". Next choose to use Effects menu and choose Fill with Texture or Color, and if you want a graphic, choose "Picture", then pick the graphic from the Files you brought/dragged/opened into the softwares workarea. Your background graphic will autosize itself in porportion to fit/fill the shape.
Or use alternative:
Size your Canvas/Workarea, and Drag the Background Graphic first to the Canvas, and then layer on the other graphics to compile your graphic or sigtag image.

The size of the original graphic  was "666 x 373 pixels", I found the size by clicking
on the Format menu, and resize image, and viewing the information.
**I forgot to make a note on this screen graphic that I am going to change this image to be 316 x 177 pixels. **
I am not going to resize using this method, but you could use this option to resize an image yourself, and you could also change the Resolution to 72pixels per inch or keep at 96dpi.
What ever dimension you want to change, the little button next to it, must be "unchecked", notice how the pixel dimensions is unchecked and the Inches size is checked. If I want to change pixel size, I make sure circle is unchecked and I can type in the size I want image to be.

I will open a New Canvas - Workarea, and then resize the Canvas

 

I type in the size I want final image to be = 316w by 177h pixels

I take the original image that is open in my Files that I opened from a folder on
my computer and I only have to drag it over to this Canvas, it will autofit itself into this
smaller space without distortion.

Image may appear blurry if on your Zoom scale it is showing you the image and canvas at a larger scale percentage than 100 %.
I slide scale down to view at 100 %.

The original image was saved in a jpg format and had white surrounding it.
to remove the white, I used the magic wand tool, clicked in all white areas
and used my keyboard delete key. 
Since this image did not have alot of "white" within the graphic itself, I could have
used an alternative method to remove the white, I could have used my Deluxe
Hugbug Browser feature of holding down my keyboard shiftkey, as I dragged
image from my Browser to my files in DIP. 
(**I can access images I save, via my browser by using the My Favorites option, and accessing other image folders I have on my computer**)

Then I added the text, and saved the image. To retain the transparency
I saved the image as a .gif format. Gif and PNG images retain and support
transparency, JPG images do not.

Here is the final image - with the text added.
file name is dreamsigtagwname.gif

Here is the same image resized to 246w x 138 pixels,
using the Format menu, resize Image option.
file name is dreamsigtag02.gif

to demo the transparency - I put a graphic background behind it

then used Effects menu, and edges, and chose soft edge to create this final image
file name dreamtagwname03.gif



Creating an image from scratch, using the Size the "Canvas" first method.

To demo, I made a new tag for myself, and used the steps I suggest of sizing the Canvas first to the size I want final image to be, for this example I chose to size it the same as the Dream tag of 316 x 177. I used images from the Happy Thanksgiving Creatable by Carol Halm. I dragged the images from my browser, 
and put them in my Files. (this particular images did not have alot of white in them'so I used the hold down the shift key while dragging, and did not have to remove the
white) 
**See my  online mini-tut showing how I remove white using the
Magic Wand tool and delete key method**

Then I opened or created a new canvas workspace and
sized it to 316 x 177 pixels. 
(Note at top of my screen, that DIP is zooming to 256%, so, when viewing these graphics at this level they will appear blurry on the Canvas)

Viewing at 100%, I see how the image will look online, I added text
to image and then using Free hand selection tool, I selected parts, copied them
and arranged on graphic compilation.


 

Here is final image

see how it is the same size as the dreamtag of 316 x 177 pixels


One final Important note: 
When closing out of Digital Image Pro, the program  may display a message asking if you want to save changes to the Original graphics you had used from your FILES 
(the graphics you opened or brought into Digital Image Pro to use).
Always say NO!!
Never change ORIGINAL graphics from your pcCrafter creatables or other collections you have.
Don't change names or file formats on ORIGINAL graphic, always preserve the Original. 
You can make copies and change (or not) them anyway you want
and or save as any format, just be sure to "name" them something different than Original graphic name.

Online articles about Scaling images for the Web and
Pixels, DPI, and Resolution - Oh MY!!
Scaling Graphics for the Web
http://www.kumc.edu/webdev/graphics2/scaling.html

Sizing Graphics for the WEB
http://www.graphic-design.com/DTG/DTG-Solutions/60-Sizes.html

Sample Chapter from Easy Web Graphics by Julie Adair King
http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/4805.asp

How do I reduce the size of photos for online use?
http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/digitalimaging/f/howreducesize.htm

InfoNotes: What is File Resolution?
http://www.wfubmc.edu/biomed/infonotes/file_resolution.html
Excerpt quoted:
when an image is 300 dpi that means there are 300 pixels for every inch of image
Read entire article:
http://www.wfubmc.edu/biomed/infonotes/file_resolution.html

Understanding Resolution
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/und_resolution.shtml

Understanding resolution | Keep in mind, they're only pixels
http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/Tips/resolution.html

The Mad, Mad World of Pixels Per Inch (PPI) http://www.webdevelopersjournal.com/columns/ajs_ppi.html

Explaining "DPI" | a chapter from Photo Business Books
http://www.danheller.com/tech-dpi.html

Pixels, Dots, and Inches: How Big Can I Print It
By Dave Etchells
Excerpt quoted from article:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/TIPS/PRINT1/PRINT1A.HTM
Based on what I've seen in various discussion forums on the
‘web, printing resolution has to be one of the most confusing topics in digital imaging. 
The question is simple: "How large can I print images from my digital camera
(scanner, photo-on-floppy, etc.), and still have them look their best?" 
This month, we’ll take on this question, and hopefully clear up a few misconceptions along the way.
Read full article:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/TIPS/PRINT1/PRINT1A.HTM

Related:
My all about SigTags and posting in forum messages
information page
http://www.marynpauln.com/sigtagimages.html

Learn more about Digital Image Pro
MarysGraphics.com has excellent tutorials for
all versions of Microsofts Digital Imaging software programs
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit.html

See also Scrapbook-Bytes tutorials for Digital Image Pro
*click on tutorials and then choose Digital Image Pro
Register for free at Scrapbook Bytes for access to their messageboard
forums, and you can post questions about DIP.
And  download the freebies offered online, etc.


Create a Graphic for PRINTING

I made a webpage showing how I would use this method of Sizing the Canvas workarea first, and dragging graphics to "that Canvas" to create an image compilation and print out that exact size. 

The graphics dragged to this specific sized work canvas will automatically
size themselves to fit the sized work canvas.
See how I would create an image graphic for a 4inch x 4inch Tile. 
http://www.teas2dine4.com/hugbees/maketilewdip.html



Filling a Simple Template using Digital Image Pro
http://www.teas2dine4.com/hugbees/filltempwdip10.html

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This Page was created by LibMary October 2005
for informational purposes only!
To show how "I" use 
Digital Image Pro 10 software and it's features.
You may find different ways to utilize this program
when working with graphics.

**Graphic at top of this page** made using
Xara's WebStyle 4 Software
www.xara.com/products/webstyle