You can classify electronic clip-art into three categories depending on the type of program used to create the image.

Paint:
Paint programs provide tools such as paint brushes, air brushes, and pencils you use to “paint” on your Macintosh screen as you would on paper. Paint documents are “bit mapped”, which means that each pixel or “bit” is defined on a “map” of the page. Paint programs give you complete control over each pixel in the image you create; the resulting images often include fine details reminiscent of antique etchings.

Draw:
Draw programs, such as the Graphics module in ClarisWorks, produce “object-oriented” art. These programs create images by layering “objects” defined by mathematical equations, such as circles, squares, lines, and blocks of text.

Bezier
Draw: Bezier Draw programs produce “Bezier object” art which contains objects drawn with Bezier curves. (A Bezier curve is a line defined as a series of points, each of which have zero to two control points or handles.) The complex mathematical formulas supported by Bezier Draw programs let you define more complex shapes than those you can create with simple Draw applications.

Have you ever seen an ad in a publication that was just text? Just a big block of words. I’m sure you have, and wasn’t it boring? If you’re scanning quickly through ad sheets, your eye won’t stop at a block of gray text. It’ll skip right over. To make your ad interesting and eye-catching use ready-made graphics called CLIP ART.

Clip-Arts are ready-to-use pictures, borders, headlines and other little pieces of art, printed in groups on a page, that you can clip out and use in your ads and publications. Clip art can be found at office supply stores, and from mail order dealers. Here’s how you can get into the business of selling clip art.

First, you need a source of clip art. If you, or a friend, are artistically inclined, draw your own. Don’t worry about having to draw it small enough, you can reduce whatever you’ve drawn with a photocopier. It’s a good idea to make your art relatively free of small details, since they’ll get lost when you photocopy the picture. Draw items that would be useful in mail order ads (business related pictures, money, mail, etc.). Then, reduce them and assemble them on one page. You now have a product you can sell!

Another source of clip art is other dealers. Many dealers sell copyright-free clip art packages that you can resell, either for 100% profit or for a commission. The only drawback is it will be the same clip art that others are selling. That’s OK, though, if you make sure to advertise it in places where other dealers aren’t.

Finally, if you own a computer, you have a wealth of clip art at your fingertips. Many graphics and sign-making software packages allow you to create your own graphics. These can be printed out and used as clip arts. A laser printer will produce the best, professional quality clip art you’ll ever see.

Clip art, in the graphic arts, refers to pre-made images used to illustrate any medium. Today, clip art is used extensively in both personal and commercial projects, ranging from home-printed greeting cards to commercial candles. Clip art comes in many forms, both electronic and printed. However, most clip art today is created, distributed, and used in an electronic form. Since its inception, clip art has evolved to include a wide variety of content, file formats, illustration styles, and licensing restrictions. Clip art is generally composed exclusively of illustrations (created by hand or by computer software), and does not include stock photography.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia