This tutorial could be used as a computer class activity to illustrate a zoomed image of something minuscule or perhaps even molecular. In this example I am using a Google Earth screen shot of a neighborhood and illustrating a zoomed image of a neighborhood school .

This tutorial will demonstrate how to use screen capture and the free program Paint.Net to create a combined image illustrating a close up zoomed image superimposed on a wide shot.

Image Zoom Shot

What you will need:

Paint. net - Free image editor.
Border plugin for Paint.NET (border.dll) - optional.
Two images - one wide shot and one closeup.

What you will do:

Insert the images into the image editor, work with layers, add a border around the close up image and add some text to enhance the image. To install the border plugin, download it here. Close Paint.Net, paste the border.dll file into the effects folder (C:\Program Files\Paint.NET\effects) of Paint.Net. Re-Open Paint.Net.

Step One:

Open the wide shot image. File > Open. Then add a new layer. Layers > Add New Layer. Now there are two layers.

Step One. Open the Wide Shot Image.

Step Two:

Open the zoomed image. File > Open.
Add a border around the zoomed image. Effects > Render > Border.
Select the image and make a copy to paste onto the wide shot image. Edit > Select All. Then Edit > Copy.

Step Two Add a Border.

Step Three:

Switch to the wide shot image. (The one with the two layers).
Paste the zoomed image. Edit > Paste.
Hold down the "shift" key and drag a corner of the image to resize it proportionally.
Deselect the image when done. CTRL+D.

Step Three. Paste the Zoomed Image.

Step Four:

In the Tools palette select the line tool. In the tool bar select the "Filled Arrow" option and then create arrows pointing to the small image.

Step Four. Create Arrows.

Step Five:

After creating the pointing arrows, add a new layer and then use the rectangle tool to draw a rectangular box. Use the paint bucket tool to fill the rectangle with a color of your choice.
Add another new layer and type a description in the rectangle with the text tool.

Step Five. Add a Description.

Save your image as . jpg and choose "flatten" to combine all the layers.

Image Zoom Screen Capture Activity