What kind of images are available on the ROOTS web site?

On the ROOTS web site, you will find a range of images. Most of the illustrations from the magazines, where they are appropriate for use in projections or on service sheets (but not when they are simply illustrating a game or craft activity) are put up on the web site for your use in .gif or .jpg format, as appropriate. Templates for craft activities may also be put up in these formats, or they may be provided as .pdf files instead. .pdf files work very differently and can only be viewed using special software called Acrobat Reader. Help with .pdf files is available from a separate page.

As well as images taken from the magazines, we sometimes provide additional images, such as photographs, sourced especially for the web site. However, because of budget constraints, these are limited at present.

How do I find and view an image?

Images, where available, are listed under the 'Be creative' heading on the Sunday listing and other contents pages, and the item titles always begin with 'Image' so that you can spot them easily.

You can search for available images in the archive by going to the 'Search' page and using the 'Advanced search' form to input some information about the kind of image you are looking for, and choosing 'Format' .gif or 'Format' .jpg. If you want to look for all images, regardless of format, you can try searching for items with 'Title' including 'image' instead (although this search would also find items with a title such as 'Story: Made in the image of God').

How do I save an image to my computer?

To save an image to your computer, if you are using a Windows PC and Internet Explorer, hover your mouse over the image and right-click once. Then choose 'Save Picture As...' from the pop-up menu. The filename and type will be suggested automatically, though you can give the picture a different filename if you like. Don't change the file type. Then choose an appropriate location on your computer in which to save the image, and select 'Save'. The process will be similar on other computer systems but you may need to consult your web browser's help files to find out what to do. It is always advisable to save an image to your computer before working with it.

How do I print an image?

If you just want a simple printout for reference, distribution, or use on an OHP slide, you can choose the 'printable page' view by selecting the 'printable page' button to the top-right of the image item screen (pictured). This will give you a page that has just the image title, the image, and the copyright notice, without any of the navigation buttons. You can then print this straight to your printer. If printing on to OHP transparencies, it's always advisable to print a test copy to plain paper first, to check for size and alignment issues. If you need a larger or smaller version of the image, see the suggestions below.

If you want greater control over where the image prints on the page, and how large or small it appears, you should open the image in image processing software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Paint Shop Pro, or photo editing software and use any appropriate options in the software. If you don't have any suitable image software, you can try inserting the image into a blank document in Word or another word processor, as these will often allow you to position one or more images as you wish within a blank A4 page, and perhaps also to resize them as needed.

How do I resize an image?

To resize an image, you must first save it to your computer. You will then need to use suitable software to enlarge or reduce the size of the image. Image processing software will work best. Some examples include Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel Paint Shop Pro. Most photo editing software, included on many new PCs or with digital cameras, will also be able to open and resize the .gif and .jpg images available on ROOTS. If you don't have any suitable software, you can also try inserting the image into a blank document in Word or another word processor, as these will often allow you to perform simple resizing operations on images.

What are .gif and .jpg files?

.gif and .jpg are the names of two different file formats that can be used for images. .gif files are often smaller in file size, but cannot have as many colours in them. .jpg files can have many more colours, and so photographic images are normally stored as .jpg files.

Are there any copyright restrictions on the images and how can I use them?

Unless otherwise specified, all the images on the ROOTS web site are covered by the general ROOTS copyright policy, and so may be used for non-commercial purposes by the church, individual or institution that subscribes to or buys the ROOTS magazines. For example, you may use the images in order of service sheets, in PowerPoint slideshows used in church, in church newsletters that are freely distributed, or on transparencies for use in overhead projection during worship or other church activities. The copyright acknowledgement that appears on the image item page should be reproduced somewhere on the item, though small print is acceptable. Where an illustrator has been credited, their name should also be given in the acknowledgement.