New Search Engine

Just added my new search engine to my site. Now you can search for vector illustrations and see thumbnails image previews as search results. Now you can find what you are looking for faster than ever before!

Make a Graphic Snap in Line with Another Graphic in Microsoft PowerPoint

Sometimes you need graphics to line up perfectly in PowerPoint. You keep hitting the arrow keys hoping they will eventually line up but it can get to be time consuming and frustrating. You can use the align tool but when you are dealing with a lot of objects that is frustrating too. Here is an easy way to make PowerPoint automatically snap objects in alignment next to another object.

Step 1: Right-click on the white (blank) area of the slide and select "Grid and Guides..."

Step 2: Check the box "Snap objects to other objects".

Now just move graphic next to the other graphic and you will see it have this magnetic effect to the other object. Very cool!

Celebrity Shades

Celebrity Sunglasses

Movie Star with cool Glasses.

Tags: actor; actress; art; burst; celebrity; clipart; decoration; design; element; entertainment; eye; eyeglasses; eyes; glasses; gold; golden; graphic; hollywood; icon; illustration; movie; protect; protection; screen; shades; shield; star; sun; sunglasses; sunscreen; sunshine; tan; tanning; vector

Images of the Day

Download the high resolution version of these images at CTE Consulting Services Site.

Food Pyramid

Alligator

Barcode Icon

Standing on a Bathroom Scale

Christmas Present Icons

Shipping Box

Church

Collapsing House: Housing Crash

Golden Gate Bridge Icon Set

Energy Globe

Knight

Medusa

Mermaid

No Smoking Sign

Weight Loss Before and After

Witch

Easy Tutorial: How to Make Different Section Headers in Microsoft Word

When you make headers in Microsoft Word you have create a new section name for the new section of your document. This is how you do it.

Step 1: Click where you want the first section to end. Click on the Section Break Tool and click on "Next Page". This tells Microsoft Word you are making a new section.

 

Step 2: Double-click on the header section to make it active (not grayed out looking). Click on the header section you want to be the next section. Un-click the "Link to Previous" icon. The one circled in red.

 Step 3: Start typing and changing the new header to it's new name and you can see it is now it's own section with it's own unique text.

Tutorial: How to Move a Graphic Around in Microsoft Word

When you first bring a graphic into Microsoft Word it won't let you move it around the page easily like in PowerPoint. It is sort of stuck with the lines of text. Here is how you fix it so it will move around the page with no problems.

Step 1: Right-click on the graphic and select "In Front of Text".

 

And your done! Drag it around! Pretty easy!

Tutorial: How To Crop a Photo in Microsoft Word

When you have a specific item in an image you want to focus on you can just crop it in Word. In this example I only want to use the red mapping column icon.

Step 1: Click on the photo and select the crop tool.

Step 2: Click on the lower left hand corner handlebar and while holding down on the button, drag diagonally upward.

Step 3: Release the button. You now have only the red mapping pin and you can now place it anywhere in your document.

Microsoft Office Compression Settings

The newest version of Microsoft Office has a default setting to compress images. This helps to keep the file size small but can cause your images to blur or get grainy. You will need to uncheck the automatic setting of compression under the format picture compression settings to resolve this issue.

1.      Open a Word document with a photo and click on the photo

2.      Click on compress pictures

3.      Uncheck the "apply to selected pictures only"

4.      Click "options"

5.      Uncheck " Automatically perform basic compression on save" and "Delete cropped areas of pictures"

6.      Click OK and OK on the Compress Pictures Window as well.

Picasa to Promote Vector Illustrations

I was using Flickr to promote my illustrations but I finally hit the 200 image limit for the free version of the site. I checked out Picasa and they seem to have a much larger allowance for uploading images. I like the application that I can download to my computer so I can easily sort and upload to my online album. Right now, I have each image linked to my main site page but I'd like to make it more intuitive. I hope to have a unique link set up for each image that takes them to my site where they can immediately see the image they are interested in rather than using the search feature.

Site Maps for Images and SEO Search Engine Optimization

After a lot of research, I discovered just how important site maps are for allowing search engines like Google to include my images in their search results. With so many websites in the world it makes sense to have some type of guiding file that tells the search engine robots whats really important on your site so it can quickly get in an out and on to the next site.
I also learned you can have multiple site maps on your website and there is this little robot text message file that can tell the search engine robots what sitemap files to use and what directories to ignore.
Looking forward to the coming weeks so I can see what a difference it makes in overall presence I have on the web.

Web Banner Set

Colorful set of vertical web banners with five star rating symbols.

Tags: business; banners; vertical; web; banner; set; icon; blank; five; star; rated; button; free; five; dollar; sign; ten; fifteen; hundred; percent; twenty; four; hours; warranty; secure; protect; word; badge; label; business; text; isolated; white; gold; red; green; blue; yellow; red; pink; menu; purple; colorful; design; element; illustration; graphic; vector

Road Sign Set

Traffic Road Sign Set

Tags: parking; stop; do not enter; dead; end; street; left; turn; right; u-turn; one; way; do not pass; railroad; no parking; crossing; speed; limit; closed; keep; detour; road; traffic; sign; icon; set; design; element; illustration; graphic; post; clipart; clip; art; isolated; white; yellow; red; arrow; direction; control; vector

Waitress in Diner

Pretty waitress taking orders in a diner

Tags: art; attendant; cartoon; clipart; couple; customer; decoration; design; diner; element; female; girl; graphic; illustration; lady; order; restaurant; server; service; takes; taking; vector; waiter; waitress; woman

Birthday Kid with Cake

Child has a birthday and is holding cake with candles.

Tags: african; american; art; balloon; balloons; birthday; black; boy; cake; camera; candle; candles; child; clipart; decoration; design; diverse; diversity; element; ethnic; graphic; hat; hispanic; illustration; kid; lit; mexican; party; pose; posing; smile; smiling; son; vector

Octopus Drawing

Octopus swimming isolated on a white background.

Tags: octopus; swimming; cartoon; character; drawing; isolated; white; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart; red; white

Man Walking on Country Road

An image of a man walking on road.

Tags:  man; alone; lonely; sadness; depression; suicidal; walking; country; road; trail; forest; trees; traveling; exploring; drawing; sketch; doodle; landscape; banner; path; agriculture; black; white; color; green; set; illustration; countryside; outdoor; graphic; clip; art; clipart; vector

Don't Tread on Me

Don't Tread on Me snake image.

Tags: activism; rattlesnake; reptile; rattle; snake; dont; tread; on; me; logo; text; angry; tea; party; symbol; political; isolated; icon; drawing; cartoon; attacking; coiled; yellow; biting; illustration; graphic; clip; art; clipart; vector; republican; democracy; activist; striking; rattler; white; gop; grand;

Virus Alert Icon

Description: Virus Alert Button

Tags: virus; emergency; alert; danger; warning; protection; symbol; stripe; hazard; yellow; black; red; metal; chrome; steel; shiny; text; isolated; square; shape; panic; icon; button; computer; illustration; graphic; clip; art; clipart; vector

Happy Valentines Day Wings

An image for wings of love.
Tags: abstract; angel; angels; black; day; design; element; heart; hearts; icon; illustration; love; of; red; romance; romantic; set; valentine; valentines; vector; white; wing; wings

Pyramid Icon Set

 

A Set of Egyptian Pyramids.

Tags: pyramids; icons; egypt; ancient; pyramid; eygptian; icon; set; isolated; triangle; shape; sunrise; sun; brown; black; white; red; blue; green; simple; illustration; graphic; clip; art; clipart; vector

Rocking Chair Drawing

 

Hand Drawn rocking chair.

Tags: antique; brown; chair; classic; cushion; decor; furniture; heart; hearts; household; icon; illustration; isolated; love; object; old; pillow; rocker; rocking; seat; sketch; vector; vintage; wood; wooden

How To Use Vector Illustrations in PowerPoint

•  Give The Image a Transparent Background
• Use the magic wand tool in PowerPoint.
• Save the vector file from Adobe Illustrator as a PNG file with a transparent background. 
• Combine a graphic with text.
• Adjust the transparency of the image and use it as a background for your text.
• Place a graphic within a table and use it as an icon.
• Combine your illustration with a photo.
• Use your graphic as a button or web link.

cteconsulting | Vector Illustration

When buyers are looking for the best prices on my stock images. They often look from site to site. The best way to find me is to Google me using my username cteconsulting and then going to my website at www.cteconsulting services.com.

3 Reasons Why Stock Photos Are So Expensive?

1. Advertising: If the company is well-known, don't expect big discounts. The top sites that sell stock photos have to keep their position by heavily advertising plus they have to continuously meet higher and higher fiscal goals for the new year.
2. Contributors: Sites that charge a lot of money for images have to pay out a lot of money to the people who make images for them. They also have to manage the accounting and delivery of payments. More cost added.
3. Loyalty: So many people who buy images just "feel" secure buying from the same website over and over again. So the idea of trying another website, in the mind of a buyer, is extra work. Even if the stock photo buyer is spending ten times the amount of money, they are unlikely to change their habits.

Royalty Free Illustration : Where To Buy Vector Clipart

Here is my list of the best sites to buy Illustrations and why.

1. CTE Consulting Services: Pros: Artist owned site and great prices. Cons: Not as large as the major sites.
2. 123RF: Pros: The best prices I've seen compared to all the major sites. Cons: You don't get both the EPS and JPEG for one price.
3. GraphicLeftovers: They have the best prices for each image but you have to spend at least $10 and most images are $6 so you are compelled to spend even more or lose $4.
4. VectorStock: Just discovered this site and they have great prices where each credit is equal to $1. No wonder they are so popular at the moment. Again, you don't get both the EPS and the JPEG file.

These are not referral links. Just wanted to let you buyers know where the best prices and services are for vector illustrations.

5 Reasons To Buy Vector Illustrations Directly From The Artist

  

1. Creative Resource: When you buy stock illustrations from the artist, you are establishing a direct relationship with someone who can give you advice on where to find great images. I've been making images for stock photography sites since 2007. I can guide you to the best sites and even help you find images for your next project.
2. Customization: Finding an image that exactly meets your needs is rare. You may need the colors modified, text added or a different stylization of the illustration. A stock photo site can't help you but the artist who originally made the file can.
3. Logo Design: Looking at all those clipart stock photos giving you an idea for your next business logo? A big design firm can end up charging you thousands of dollars. When you buy images directly from the artist you get a huge savings. We're talking saving hundred of dollars!
4. No Subscriptions: Buying a subscription on a stock photo site can cost hundreds of dollars. If you don't download your maximum number of images every day you are wasting money. I use a pay-as-you-go method. Just buy what you want when you want it.
5. EPS and JPEG Files: So many sites give you either the vector EPS Illustrator file OR the JPEG Photoshop file with varying costs for the resolution size. Buy from my site and, as the creator and owner of my images, I provide both files for one low price.

Pay less and free yourself from the expensive big stock sites.

Break The Bank

Break The Bank
     
Keyword Tags
break; bank; pig; piggy; hammer; man; chasing; financial; metaphor; cartoon; drawing; isolated; white; pink; illustration; graphic; vector

Spider

Description
An image of a spider.
    
Keyword Tags
arachnid; art; black; bug; button; clipart; dangerous; design; element; icon; icons; illustration; insect; isolated; legs; poison; poisonous; spider; spiders; vector; venomous; web; white; widow

Zodiac Symbols

Description
An image of the 12 zodiac symbols.
    
Keyword Tags
aquarius; aries; art; astrological; astrology; born; bull; calendar; cancer; capricorn; compatibility; crab; earth; element; fantasy; fortune; future; gemini; goat; graphic; guidance; horoscope; icon; icons; illustration; isolated; leo; libra; lion; logo; luck; pisces; ram; sagittarius; scales; scorpio; scorpion; set; sheep; sign; signs; symbol; symbols; taurus; vector; virgo; white; zodiac

Moon Phase Chart

Description
Moon Phase Chart

Keyword Tags
Moon; Phase; Chart; diagram; lunar; crescent; waning; waxing; quarter; first; last; gibbous; northern; hemisphere; orbit; astronomy; arrow; circle; cycle; wheel; round; shape; background; blue; white; menu; interface; wave; pattern; illustration; graphic; eps10; transparency; vector

Stylish Shopper

Description
Cartoon of a fashionable woman walking with attitude holding shopping bags.
 
Keyword Tags
cartoon; woman; walking; attitude; fashionable; fashion; stylish; girl; young; sunglasses; jacket; jeans; shopping; bag; shopping bag; strutting; isolated; white; black; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart; drawing; female; shopper