Download and convert online video clips to all major standard video formats. Batch resize and add watermarks to your pictures. Take screenshots of any website as seen from multiple browsers to test compatibility and differences. Grab the color code of any pixel of your screen. These are some of the highlights of the tools listed in this week visual communication-focused Sharewood Picnic.

Photo credit: Dmitry Bomshtein

Here my selected visual communication and video tools for this week:

1. Mux: Convert videos online to all major standard formats for free
2. Dosize: Batch resize up to ten images at once online
3. BrowserShots: Take screenshots of a website in multiple browsers without installing any software
4. uMark: Add text or image watermarks to up to 50 pictures at ones with many customizable settings
5. ColorPix: Downloadable application lets you grab the color values of any pixel of your screen in multiple formats
6. TwitPic: Upload your images and share them as a Twitter post
7. ClipNabber: Online service allows you to download videos in FLV video format from all major video sharing web-sites
8. Freedigitalphotos: Free online photography database offers free pictures for both commercial and non-commercial works

Visual Communication And Video Publishing Tools

1. Mux
   
   Mux is a free online video editor that lets you convert any video to 15 standard video formats (also MP3 and AMR audio only formats). The interface is made of only two boxes: in one you can just paste the video's URL if it is stored online while the other lets you browse your PC for direct upload. When you have selected it, you just have to select the output format and wait for the download link to appear. If you cannot wait you can just insert your email address and wait for a message to arrive. Free.
   http://beta2.mux.am/





2. Dosize
   
   Dosize is a free image resizer that you can use to batch resize your pictures online without knowing anything about image editing. You just have to upload up to ten JPG images, select the output size and let Dosize do the rest. When done, you can enter up to five email addresses to which the picture will be sent as an attached file. The service is free to use and doesn't need any registration.
   http://www.dosize.com/





3. BrowserShots
   
   BrowserShots is an open-source project that allows you to take screenshots of any website with different browser. All you have to do is to paste the URL, select the browsers you want to test within a list of 50 different browsers divided by operating system, set screen size and colors, Java, Flash, and click submit. A zip file containing the different screenshot will create after a couple of minutes and the download link will be given to you after a refresh. Free to use.
   http://browsershots.org/





4. uMark
   
   uMark Lite enables you to add a text or image watermark to your digital photos (up to 50 pictures at once). You can choose from 9 pre-defined watermark placements, set a custom font, size, and color, as well as opacity level. The watermarked images are saved in a new folder, so your originals remain unchanged. Works on Windows machines and it's free.
   http://www.uconomix.com/...





5. ColorPix
   
   ColorPix is a little downloadable application that lets you grab the color values and screen coordinates at any pixel on your screen.ColorPix automatically translates any screen color into RGB, HEX, HSB and CMYK color values, and comes with a zoom-able magnifier built in. It works on Windows platforms, and it is free to use.
   http://www.colorschemer.com/colorpix_info.php





6. TwitPic
   
   TwitPic is a free online service that you can use to share photos on Twitter. All you have to do is log-in to TwitPic with your Twitter credentials, browse for the file you wish to upload and click a button. Your photos will the be uploaded to TwitPic and the URL will be automatically posted to your Twitter as a new post, so that your friends can grab it and download the picture. Free to use, Twitter account required.
   http://twitpic.com/





7. ClipNabber
   
   ClipNabber is an online service that allows you to download videos from all major video sharing sites (YouTube, Google Video, Metacafe...) is FLV format. All you have to do is copy and paste the URL of the video into the box and you will get a link from which you can download the video in FLV video format. Free, no registration needed.
   http://clipnabber.com/





8. Freedigitalphotos
   
   Freedigitalphotos is an online photography database that has over 2000 free images for commercial and non-commercial works such as presentation, videos, education projects, and more. You can search for images or browse them by category and, when you've found one, you can download it and use it, as long as you give credit. You can also download higher resolution versions for 5 or 10 dollars.
   http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Originally written by Nico Canali De Rossi for Master New Media and first published on March 30th 2008 as "Visual Communication And Video Publishing - Selected Tools And Web Services - Sharewood Picnic Mar30 08"