page title button example
Skill Level: Beginner
Author:  Merlene Guldager
Home Page: Gold Acres Designs
Software:PhotoImpact Version 7 or higher

What you will need:

PhotoImpact 6 or higher
The Calendar Font click here
A Printed Calendar
This tutorial is going to have you thinking on a large scale for a change. I assume you already know how to download files and unzip them for use. I can't emphasize strongly enough the importance of having a printed calendar to refer to while you are making the grids for the months. You don't want to get the days wrong and miss an important appointment.
Although this tutorial was written for PhotoImpact, I am sure it can be done in other programs if you are comfortable with how your program works and how to use text objects and/or layers.
****Note to those using later versions of PI. You will need to be in Standard Mode, or Full Edit (or your own based on Full Edit) in order to have all the tools and attributes available to you.




BEFORE YOU BEGIN...

Download the freeware font CALENDAR linked above and unzip it. Then double click on it to open it in your Windows Font Viewer. It will display all of the characters in the font. Minimize this. Now when you open PhotoImpact you will find "Calendar" available in your Font list. Or you can install the font.
 display of font

About this Font:

Because it's a Dingbat font, it contains images as well as letters and numbers. The images are the numbered boxes for a Calendar grid. Things are not where you might expect them to be.
Open a blank white image in PI about 500x300 pixels and experiment with the font.

  • To type letters hold down the SHIFT key.
  • Type the numbers unshifted as you normally would.
  • Numbered boxes begin on the unshifted letter 'q' and go across the keyboard pretty much consecutively.
  • Days of the Week, hold the SHIFT key while typing the NUMBER keys across the top of the keyboard.
  • A blank or empty grid can be inserted by typing ] the right-facing bracket
  • To double up days once in awhile, you will find the 24/30 and 25/31 on the SHIFTED [ ] left-facing and right-facing brackets.

Not all keyboards are the same so I have made an image as guideline. What you see in Red are the Keys. In Blue are what is produced when you type that key. It's not where the key is on your Keyboard that matters, but what it would normally do when you type it. For example - to get the word Monday to appear you would type the @ symbol. Mine is the shifted 2, yours may be somewhere else.
It's a good idea to take time to experiment with the font and see how it works. It might even be a good idea to right click on the image, save it to your PC and then Print it out as a reference until you get used to it. Then, when you are ready get out your printed Calendar and go to the next step.

 keyboard strokes example

Let's Make a Calendar Grid

1.  Open a new White Image 1024x768 in RGB True color (or the size of your montior's screen resolution)
2. Get your Printed Calendar and refer to it as you make your Grid. You don't want to get your days wrong and think it's Sunday when it's really Monday and you should be at work :) You have a lot of space so use a size of at least 48 for the font. You'll want to set it up as follows...
  • Style = BOLD
  • Justification = Center
  • Size = 48 - 70
  • Color = any dark color will work you can change it later
3.  Begin with the Month and Year, press enter and add the days of the week if you want them. Be sure not to go over 7 boxes across. To look balanced use the Blank Box found on the ] key adding as many as your Printed calendar shows you need for the first or last weeks. DO NOT EXIT THE TEXT ENTRY UNTIL THE ENTIRE GRID IS COMPLETED so that it is one single object. This way you can apply presets and text styles to it. And don't forget about the double days at the end weeks if your month needs them.		 example
4.  Click anywhere outside the grid to select the base image or background. Open the image you want to use behind the grid or select one from the Easy Palette's Fill Gallery. Keeping it simple will make it easier to read the calendar. Personal Photos work great but be sure to keep them from overwhelming the calendar. This is where you get to be creative on your own. fill gallery example
5.  Using the Pick tool, click the Grid to select it. Now to fancy it up, apply a material preset from your Easy Palette. You can use both Text Attributes and Path Attributes. Do be aware that most also set a heavy shadow. You might want to right click the grid and choose shadow to make it smaller by altering the "x" and "y" amounts until you like how it looks.
6. While it's selected use the Alignment Icons on your Attributes toolbar to Align your grid to center. Or perhaps just centered vertically. The icons in the red box are best for those choices. Remember to leave room for your Desktop Icons and Taskbar. Now have some fun and decorate it. Use Stamps or Imported Picture Tubes, or small photos to enhance your wallpaper. You might want to mark special family days, or holidays in some way. If you plan to share your Calendar with others you might want to add your watermark. alignment example
alignment example
7. Now just Optimize and save as JPG. It's a good idea to keep the file size at around 200Kb.

Below are some examples of past Calendars. Click on them to see the full sized versions.

click here to see full version click here to see full version click here to see full version