The following is a request I received recently from a wonderful client who wants to help improve the presentation of his auction listings by putting text to the side of a product picture rather than above or below it:
Hello crystal, It's been a while since I talked with you. I have received your emails and I am anticipating use of some of your issues on advertising. They look good. But I am at this point trying to change the look of my listings. But am having a bit of trouble with one task.
I would like to be able to write a text beside the picture but it keeps wanting to continue below the picture. I have tried using a blank picture and writing text into it and saving as a picture, but it just don't look right. Is there a way one can write text to the side of a picture. I can't find a way to insert a text box which is what I think I need, (but not sure).. I am resizing my pictures to a smaller size; I am trying for a more professional looking listing
Thanks for any suggestions.
Hal at forever yours fine jewelry
Having text above or below a picture is by far the easiest and quickest way to list your products. But most times that extra effort to make an auction look just right, is well worthwhile! Here's a couple ways you can add text to the side of the picture. Some will find one way easier than the otherdepending on if they're more comfortable with light html code work, or light picture editing.
#1. You can add text directly to the image itself.
Please Note: I use Corel Drawl for most of my photo editing, so I'll use Corel Drawl for walking you through any photo editing instructions I may have. Most photo editing software offers many of the same capabilities, such as copy, cut, paste, resize, add text. ect. So it shouldn't be too difficult to catch on if you use different photo editing software.
· Open your picture with your photo editing software
· Be sure the picture is the size you want it to be shown as when viewed at 100%. So shrink it now if your picture is too big. You can shrink it by clicking "image" then "resize. Then, try different resizing percentages such as 75% or 50%, until you get just the right size. ( I don't recommend resizing a picture to be bigger using this same technique as it will make your picture fuzzy and ugly)
· Now that your picture is the size you want it, we'll add a spot for adding text to the right or to the left of the picture, whichever side you most prefer.
· Click "Image" Then click "Add Borders"
· Choose right or left and add some size to your image here.
· Make sure the other sides are at 0 (be sure the symmetric box is not clicked). You may have to adjust this size several times to get it just right.
· Now you have space in which you can add some text.
· Notice the Text Tool on the left side bar that looks like an A. Click this tool and decide where you want to add your text.
· See the bar at the top now, you can make your text bold, change the font, align the text to the left, right, center, ect. On the right you can choose what color you want the font to be.
· Save your image with a new name by Clicking "file" and "save as"
· Wa la! You have an image with text on the side.
· Note: it gets easier with practice and a ton of curiosity! ;)
#2. You can add text to the side of an image by adding a Table Code to your Auction Template. The table will be invisible. One side of the table will be for your image. The other side of the table will be for your text.
1. Find where you want to place a table in your auction and in that spot type in: AAAA
2. Click on the HTML description code view
3. Click somewhere in the code (but don't move or do anything else just yet)
4. On your keyboard click the Control button and F at the same time (this means you want to find something)
5. A search box should appear, type in it "AAAA"
6. It should take you right to the spot that you typed in AAAA
7. with your mouse copy the following code:
Right Click "Select All" and "Copy" the Table Code Below
8. go back to the html code in your ebay listing where your AAAA is highlighted. With your right mouse button click "paste". It should paste the table code right in the place where the AAAA's were.
9. Now click the description box and find your table.
10. If your background is a dark gray it may be little hard to find my text, but it's there so when you see my pictures, know that I have text to the right, that says "This is a great place to add a description of your product/image"
11. Edit the text and images like you would when normally listing with an auction template.
12. Wa'la! You now have text designed professionally to the side of your images!
