Thing 4- Image Generators and Mashups

As is the nature of Web 2.0 sites, Flickr has encouraged others to build applications that use images found on their site. This results in third-party tools called mashups. These tools are designed to help you find, organize, and use photos in various ways. You can do such things as locate photos based on color, create mosaics of photos, use photos in games, and much, much more.

There are also online image generators that use photos from your computer, Flickr, or other sources. Most of us don’t have the time or talent to create customized graphics or logos, but online image generators let you and your students create different types of images – framed pictures, posters, comic-style captions, and much more. Check out this one that I made, which placed in this year's Media Fair:

Students can create trading cards of authors, scientists, or historical figures. Other possibilities include creating a calendar with images related to what you’re studying that month, a billboard advertising an event, or a magazine cover featuring a project team. The possibilities are endless.

This Thing is all about discovery and exploration. If you have colleagues who are also participating in 23 Things, you may even enjoy exploring together.

To complete Thing 4 you need to:

1. Explore some fun Flickr mashups (instructions and links below)

2. Play around with online image generators

3. Post some products you created on your blog

4. Reflect on Thing 4 on your blog

1. Try Out Some Flickr Mashups

These tools are fun and it's easy to spend a lot of time experiementing! In fact, it may become your newest hobby! Note: You will need the latest version of Flash Player enabled for some of these.

Spell with Flickr -to create a word with photos of letters

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.

2. Play with Image Generators

Using the links below explore several image or text generators and play with them. Some require you to simply enter text; others use images of your own or that you found in Flickr. Each works a little differently, but they are easy to figure out if you read the instructions.

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 more potential.
Sumo Paint-  free online Flash-based image editor. It is very similar to Photoshop, in that it features many of the same tools, but Sumo Paint is geared towards illustration.

3. Place Your Creation on Your Blog

Often adding the image you created to your blog is as simple as copying and pasting the embedded 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 computer. When you are blogging, there is a toolbar with a photo (when you are in Compose mode) that you can click on to upload your photo to Blogger.

4. Reflect

In the same post in which you placed your creation, briefly describe your experience completing this Thing. Which of these tools intrigues you and why? Was it easy, frustrating, time-consuming, fun? Share some of your ideas for using the images you can create.