For full-color illustrations of these techniques and more, explore the sampler pages that have been posted: http://www.jmadden.info/eZedia-Sampler.htm

Note: For Mac Users, the CTRL key becomes the Option key. For QTI2 users, the Wells are known as Media Libraries.

Preliminary suggestion: Any time you use an object of any type in a frame, you should put a copy in a well. To open a well, click on File > New > New Object Well. Hold down the CTRL key and click, hold, and drag the object into the well. When the well gets a gold line in the interior, let go of your mouse. Don’t forget to save your well.

1. Plain color (other than the default color of white)
Example: http://www.jmadden.info/Desert_Animals.htm
a. Click on Frames > Frame Setup > Color
b. Click on one of the little squares in the Swatches view or click on the HSB tab, move the slider bar up and down the color spectrum and then click in the big square to choose a single color within that range. Click on OK.
Suggestion: Write down the number of your color (on the right).

2. Graphic – search for appropriate graphic – leave solid and use contrasting text
Example: http://www.jmadden.info/Butterfly_Project.htm
Variation combined with text: http://www.jmadden.info/eZedia_Techniques2.htm
a. Click on Frames > Frame Setup > Image
b. Select Image dialog box shows up. Navigate to where the picture is that you wish to use.
c. Click on the file (picture) you want and then click on Open.
d. In the Frame Image dialog box, click on OK.
Note: eZedia will automatically add this graphic to the background of your frame. You cannot move it, nor can you alter the transparency level of a photo when it is added to the background.

Here’s a second method that will allow you to change the image should you want.
2. Graphic  - search for appropriate graphic - leave solid and use contrasting text - Method 2
a. Click on the Graphic icon in the toolbar
b. Navigate to where the picture is located you wish to use
c. Select the picture/photo by clicking on it. Then click on Open.
d. In the Graphic dialog box, click on OK.
e. If the image is bigger than your frame, it will offer to resize it. Saying yes will save you some time, but you can also say no and resize it manually.
f. Your picture is not added to the background (think - glued in place). You can click on it and move it around until you get it positioned the way you want. Check to make sure you don’t have white space showing oddly around the edges.
g. When the picture is positioned as a background image the way you want, click on Objects > Add to Background. It is now glued in place and cannot be “unglued.”

3. Graphic for background – lower transparency level and place over white background
a. Click on the Graphic icon in the toolbar
b. Navigate to where the picture is located you wish to use
c. Select the picture/photo by clicking on it. Then click on Open.
d. In the Graphic dialog box, click on OK.
e. If the image is bigger than your frame, it will offer to resize it. Saying yes will save you some time, but you can also say no and resize it manually.
f. Your picture is not added to the background (think - glued in place). You can click on it and move it around until you get it positioned the way you want.
g. Pull the photo out from the corner by clicking, holding, and dragging on it.
h. Right-click on the photo or click on the menu options under the icon in the upper, left-hand corner. Choose Edit Graphic.
i. Click on the second icon from the top to lower the transparency level of the entire picture.
j. Drag the slider bar down until you get the effect you want.
k. Close the Edit tools by clicking in another area of the frame or by clicking on the small “x”.
L. Move the picture back into place. (Add it to the object well if you want.) To add it to the background of your frame, click on Objects > Add to Background.

4. Graphic for background – lower transparency level and place over colored background – background color will show through picture
a. Combine the steps outlined in choosing a plain color (#1) and lowering the transparency of a graphic (#3 - lower transparency level).

5. 2 graphics for background – each made partly transparent and placed over top of each other and then both added to the background
a. Repeat the steps in #3 (lower transparency level) two times. You’ll need to bring in two different photos and repeat the steps for dropping the transparency level. You’ll need to add them to the background separately. Make sure you have the photo you want on the bottom added to the background first.

6. Regular graphic as background combined with a solid color made with the Shape tool
Example: http://www.jmadden.info/eZedia-ClassroomConnect_Project.htm
a. Use the steps outlined in #2 and then create a shape which is detailed in #7.

7. Transparent graphic combined with a solid color made with the Shape tool
Example: http://www.jmadden.info/QTI-1.htm
a. Follow the steps outlined in #3 (lower transparency level).
b. Click on the Shape Object in the toolbar. Choose a shape to create by clicking on it in the drop-down menu.
c. Move into your frame and click, hold, and drag with your mouse to create your shape.
d. Right-click on your graphic or click on the menu option under the icon in the upper, left-hand corner of the object and choose Edit Graphic.
e. Click on the little square in the Fill tool.
f. The Choose Color dialog box appears. Click on one of the little squares in the Swatches view or click on the HSB tab, move the slider bar up and down the color spectrum and then click in the big square to choose a single color within that range. Click on OK.
Suggestion: Write down the number of your color (on the right). Also, you may want to experiment with different colors or different transparency levels for your photo.

8. “The Sandwich” - Colored glass effect - 2 copies of the same transparent graphic – one is put in the background – then a solid shape filled with a complementary color is added on top and then also added to the background (middle of the sandwich) – followed by the second copy of the first transparent graphic, lined up to match the first one – then added to the background. The color of the solid shape will show up like glass.
Suggestion: Make sure you have 2 identical copies of the graphic. It is a 2 second job if you have it in the well. The same goes for the graphic you create to go in the middle. Add it to the well before adding it to the background.

9. Slightly frosted glass effect – put transparent graphic in background – add solid shape filled with complementary color and with transparency somewhat reduced.
Note: You reduce the transparency level of a graphic you create, the same way that you do for a picture. Right-click, choose Edit Graphic, and then choose the 2nd icon and use the slider bar to lower the transparency level.

10. Combing graphic effects from the eZedia Resource Wells with shapes, photos, and colors.
Examples can be found at: http://www.jmadden.info/Ideas1.htm
More examples: http://www.jmadden.info/eZedia_Techniques3.htm
a. Click on File, Open.
b. Navigate to where your eZedia Resources folder is kept. Usually, it is in the same folder as your program files. I have copied the Resources folder into My Documents and to my Desktop at different times to keep it handy.
c. Look inside the Resources folder for another folder called Transparency Wells.
d. Click on the Borders well and then click on Open.
e. Repeat this process and open up the Textures well.
f. Repeat this process again and open up the Spotlights well.
Note: You can just open up one well and play with it first. Opening up all three allows you to pull items from them all and layer them one on top of the other to look for new effects. Keep track of which ones you’re using in case you come up with something you like!   
g. Once you have the wells open, bring in pictures you want to use in your frame. Play with changing the transparency level of the photos. At the same time, play with the color of the frame so that it shows through. The variations are endless!

11. Using the backgrounds that come with eZedia
a. In eZediaMX or eZedia QTI, click on File, Open.
b. Navigate to where your eZedia Resources folder is kept. Usually, it is in the same folder as your program files. I have copied the Resources folder into My Documents and to my Desktop at different times to keep it handy.
c. Look for a folder called Background Wells. Open the folder. Each well in the folder has all the parts and pieces to build unique backgrounds.
d. Select a well and click open.
e. The well will load next to the frame in eZediaMX or eZediaQTI. Click and drag pieces from the well into your frame to create your background.
Note: The Resources folder also holds Interface Wells which are also collections of coordinated graphics, including backgrounds.
To see thumbnails of the graphics in the Background Wells, go to:
http://www.ezedia.com/support/resources/object_wells/res_backgrounds.html

12. Movie as background – running full frame
13. Slide show done as movie for background
14 . Slide show done as movie – kept smaller in size – used as an accent on frame
15. Slide show with narration – sound file coordinated to movie
16. Graphic on path (not applicable to QTI1)