The first thing you need to do, is find an image, (gif or jpg), that you want to use to make an award. It could even be a pretty background that you like.

Here is the image I am going to use for this tutorial. Now we'll get started.


We'll take our image to Image Magick, and resize it to the size we want our award. Here's what you'll do, when you get to Image Magick.

      *Where it says URL, type in the URL of the image you are using.

      *Press "view"

      *Check to be sure your image is on the next page, and if it is,
       go up to the top, and click the "resize" tab.

      *scroll down to the first textarea, which says "image size".

      *erase what is there, and type in the size you want your award.
       (I use 175x200). So for this tutorial, type in 175x200! (be sure
       you add the exclamation mark at the end.)

      *Now just click on the "resize" button, down below. 


The next page, will have your resized image on it.

Here is my resized image.



Now we need to put a frame around our image! 



      *Go up to the top, and click on the "decorate" tab.

      *Where it says "decoration geometry", put in 5x5. That
       is how big the border around your image will be. You can
       make it smaller or bigger, depending on how thick you want
       the border.

      *Fill in the color you want the border to be. We'll use gray
       to contrast the blue a little bit.

      *You'll see 4 choices, on how to do your border. They are:
       border, frame, raise and sunken. You can pick whichever of 
       these you like. Each one has a different effect. Try each of
       them, and see which one you like best. After choosing one, you
       need to click the "decorate" button. Then all you need to do is
       use the back button, to try a different one. When you find the
       the one you like, go on to the next step. I'll use the one 
       called "sunken". I like it best I think.
       

      *After you have clicked on the "decorate" button, the next page
       will have your bordered award.
      
Here is my bordered award.





      *Now go up to the top, and click on the "annotate" tab.
       (we are going to have the award say "Beautiful Site Award")

      *In the place where it says "text", type in the word: 
       Beautiful.

      *In the location and gravity fields, you'll put +20+40 in the
       first space, and choose "north".

      *Scroll down to where you see font choices, and choose one. (I am
       using Comic Sans MS).

      *Scroll on down to "fill color". Type in a color, that you will be
       able to see on your award background. I'll use white for mine.
       
      *Go on down to "point size". This is how big the writting will be.
       We'll leave it at 24.

      *Scroll half way back up the page, and click the gray annotate
       button.

The next page will have your award with the word beautiful on it. Now we'll
add the word site.




      *Click on the tab at the top that says "annotate".

      *Where it asks for text, type in the word: Site

      *In the location and gravity fields, you'll put +20+100 in the
       first space, and choose "north".

      *Scroll down to where you see font choices, be sure it still says 
       Comic Sans MS

      *Scroll on down to "fill color". It should still have the same color
       you chose.

      *Go on down to "point size". Check that it is still 24.

      *Scroll half way back up the page, and click the gray annotate
       button.


The next page will show your award so far. Now we need to add the 
word "Award".



      *Click on the tab at the top that says "annotate".

      *Where it asks for text, type in the word: Award

      *In the location and gravity fields, you'll put +20+160 in the
       first space, and choose "north".

      *Scroll down to where you see font choices, be sure it still says 
       Comic Sans MS

      *Scroll on down to "fill color". It should still have the same color
       you chose.

      *Go on down to "point size". Check that it is still 24.

      *Scroll half way back up the page, and click the gray annotate
       button.

The next page will have your finished award!
Now you need to save your work. Just follow these steps.


      *Click the "output" tab at the top.

      *On the next page, choose "gif" for the format.

      *For storage type, choose "single file".

      *Now click the gray output button. (not the one on top)

      *On the next page, click on your image.

      *The next page will be your temporary URL. Now you need to 
       transload it to your site.


Here is my finished award.

Congratulations! You have your award. Keep in mind, that when you make any
other awards, other than this one, you'll have to play around with it. 
For instance, yours might only have 2 words on it, instead of 3.


If you'll notice how the second number changed with each word..first it 
was 40, then 100, then 160. That is how far the word comes down from the 
top ("north") of the award. If you remember, we used "north".

So keep that in mind, when you go to make another award. you may just have
to play around a bit, but you will eventually get it how you want it!





http://sammikay.com