Combine and Conquer!

When I began my writing journey, I attempted to draw charming little illustrations, aiming to establish a personal brand. While this worked well for some stories, it was a struggle for others.

I am not a professional artist, and sometimes inspiration can be elusive. Such creativity often demands time and energy that I prefer to invest in other pursuits, like exploring productivity tips, refining my text planner, or practicing qigong.

Please don’t assume that my design background means I effortlessly create stunning visuals. When I need an image quickly, I turn to the same royalty-free websites as you do.

However, I don’t stop there.

Take a moment to jot down five words that encapsulate your article's essence and enter them—one or two at a time—into the search box.

The image below was crafted for a narrative regarding my Obsidian writing template by searching for "frames," "grids," and "nature" on Pexels.

This image relates to a flexible structure that fosters easy and creative writing, so I focused on terms that evoke emotions rather than tangible objects. Generating a list of feelings that connect to your topic can lead to surprising and delightful visuals.

I certainly didn’t expect a spiderweb to appear in my search results, but once it did, I recognized its perfection! It symbolizes both structure and flexibility, with those glistening water droplets adding a touch of beauty.

Always credit the creators of any images you use, regardless of whether they are free or mandatory.

In keeping with the nature theme, I selected my second image from the search results, ensuring it was both structured and aesthetically pleasing. Afterward, I downloaded the images and included the credits in the Resources section of my writing template.

Tools of the Trade

• Affinity Designer
• Canva
• Vectornator
• KeyNote/PowerPoint

I used Affinity Designer (a professional application) to edit those images, but you can achieve similar results using Canva’s transparency tool.

Vectornator (for Mac) is another free tool with a manageable learning curve, though it doesn’t offer the same fading capabilities as Affinity Designer.

Vectornator excels at tracing photos and sketches and converting them into vector graphics.

I created this image by experimenting with three Unsplash photos via Vectornator’s Unsplash integration.

PowerPoint or KeyNote can serve as effective platforms for combining simple images, like this one used in the following story:

Digital Books Don’t Have a Soul …Do They?

How I learned ebooks aren’t actually devil-spawn, and 4 wonderful books that proved it.

The dark background harmonizes the images, aligning the Kindle screen with the girl’s shoulder.

Techniques to Try

Here are some methods to explore:

• Blend one image into another using Affinity Designer.
• Incorporate a solid color into an image (Canva excels at this).
• Posterize a bold image with the Trace tool in Vectornator (Sketch mode).
• Utilize Vectornator’s Trace tool in Photo mode, adjusting the shapes/colors of the resulting vector graphic.
• Apply Vectornator’s Blend Modes on the top layer for various effects.
• Choose three images and crop them into tall or wide strips; arrange them side by side with small gaps to create a rectangle or window frame effect.
• PowerPoint or Keynote can provide an excellent workspace for aligning your images accurately.

Design Tips

Observe designs that resonate with you and replicate their layout using your gathered elements. Canva is a fantastic resource for understanding good design principles.

When merging images, keep the following points in mind:

1. Select one dominant image.
   • Other images should complement it, drawing less attention.
2. Ensure all images work cohesively.
   • Every image must serve a purpose in your narrative.
3. Simplicity often triumphs over complexity.
   • Though I enjoyed creating an intricate Vectornator image, the girl and the landscape alone sufficed.
4. Identify the focal point.
   • Where does the viewer's gaze first land? Use perspective lines or graphic elements to guide their attention.
5. Avoid overthinking.
   • If you tend to overanalyze, strive to work quickly. Experiment and allow your instincts to guide you.

The image for this narrative was crafted by flipping a plane picture upside down and adding some icons to resemble an iPad. Quick and straightforward!

Extra Tips (Don’t Skip These)

3…2…1… Blast Off!

With free tools at your disposal, you can swiftly create distinctive cover images by manipulating photos or merging complementary visuals.

This article by Darshak Rana presents a wealth of free stock photo sites as alternatives to Unsplash.

Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of effective design so you can creatively bend the rules, leading to exceptional results. At the very least, you’ll have a genuinely unique image that beautifully complements your writing.

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