Copyright: © 2000 Alexander Sabov


About
About the program

PicMaster Version 2.42

Copyright © 1999-2001 Alexander Sabov

World Wide Web:

International Homepage:

http://www.graphics-tools.com

German Homepage:

http://www.grafik-software.de


Program Overview

The multi-talented PicMaster promises you quick and easy image editing.

Main features are: Image Editing, Filtering, WebCam, Slide Shows, 3D Images, Video Image Capturing, Scanning, Catalogs, Screenshots, Poster Printing and much more...

Thousands of Photoshop® compatible Filter Plugins from the Internet can be included into PicMaster.

Over 300 are already included. You can even create your own filters.

You can record a sound comment to each picture which, when combined with the slide show, gives you a true multimedia experience.

Create real 3D-Images that can be seen with mirrors and red-blue glasses. Watch 3D-objects emerge out of your monitor. Print out your own glasses with PicMaster.

An image browser in Explorer-style shows you all images as a thumbnail preview. You can choose the displaying order with different sorting possibilities.

The webcam images can be uploaded into the Internet via FTP, HTTP or Email. The system can also detect movements and turn into an alarm system.

All commands can also be entered, saved and executed at a command prompt so that repeated operations can be automated. For example print out all pictures of a folder with only one command.

With the possibility of previewing all operations, PicMaster becomes a very comfortable program for you.

Why not take the PicMaster-Info-Tour at http://www.graphics-tools.com/tour/tour.html and read all about the program details with screenshots.

New:

- Fixed bug with some scanners.

- Change image size in percent possible, for example to change image size of all graphics in a directory.

- Text possible for WebCam image.

Download Addresses:

  http://picmaster.virtualave.net/english/picmaster.exe

  http://home.t-online.de/~alexander.sabov/english/picmaster.exe

  http://picmaster.jumpcomputers.com/english/picmaster.exe

  http://members.xoom.com/mraalex/english/picmaster.exe

Program Info:

  http://www.graphics-tools.com

PicMaster Info Tour:

  http://www.graphics-tools.com/tour/tour.html

Homepage:

  http://www.graphics-tools.com


History / What´s new?

V2.42	16.5.2001

- Fixed bug with some scanners.

- Change image size in percent possible, for example to change image size of all graphics in a directory.

- Text possible for WebCam image.

V2.41	16.4.2001

- Bugfix: Video grabbing crashed when no image active.

V2.4	1.4.2001

- More than 300 Filters can now be used on your pictures and videos.

- Support for Filter Factory Filters (.acf und .ffl)

- Create your own filters with a mathematical formula.

- 3D-Images: JPS format is now supported.

V2.3	1.3.2001

- 3D-Images: You can display 3D-objects and view them in realistic 3D so that they come out of your monitor.

- Slideshow bugfix: file informations were not displayed correctly.

- Photoshop Plugins bugfix: now some of the plugins do not crash any more.

- Video: You can apply now filters and batch-programs in real-time on your video. The  FTP-file will be uploaded under a different name and renamed so the picture-changing- time is very low. A frame can now be send to multiple Internet-addresses.

- Screenshots can be made from your monitor

V2.21	1.2.2001

- File Browser can now copy and delete files

- Print preview will now be shown even for very big or small images

- Saving Video images on harddrive did not work

- Video and Batch: now you can set save parameters

- Images and catalogs can be send via email, email program will be loaded automatically - TGA Format added

- Magic Wand effect added

- Attach a picture to another or blend them together

- Slide Show: Effects added for changing picture

- Morph Filter

V2.1	14.12.2000

- Shortcuts choosable

- Gamma Correction

- Set number of undo

V2.0	5.12.2000

- Functions for watermarks (small pictures) and secret message in your pictures

- Viwing and generating pictures with realistic 3D-View with the help of glasses and mirrors

V1.25	23.10.2000

- supports more Photoshop Plugins

- has several Weblinks for Plugins in the Internet

- Webcam now also as a webcam server reachable over the internet.

V1.24-1.0

PicMaster has been released with standard graphics functions, Photoshop Plugins, Poster-/Tile-/Nomalprint, Slide Show, Video, Catalogs, etc.


Other programs

Visit the Homepage of PicMaster. There you´ll find useful Shareware programs.

The address is:

World Wide Web:

International Homepage:

http://www.graphics-tools.com

German Homepage:

http://www.grafik-software.de


Contact information
Contact informationen

Technichal Support is free for registered users. Critics and suggestions are welcome.

E-Mail: Support@Graphics-Tools.com

World Wide Web:

International Homepage:

http://www.graphics-tools.com

German Homepage:

http://www.grafik-software.de


How to use help

If you need help to the program, do one of the following steps:

- Press F1, if you need help. If there is any help information  to this situation, it will be shown in a new window.

- Load in menu Help   Help topics. There you can load the help topics, search for a specific word in the index list or in the whole help file.

- If the dialog has a help button, press it and you´ll get to the help page.


Opening and saving images

Open an image:

To open an image, click in menu File on Open.

A new Dialog will appear, in which you can see your current directory.

Change into the directory where your images are located. Then you have to select the desired images and press on open.

Tip: To load more than one image, select the first file with the mouse, press and hold your SHIFT-key and select the other files by pressing the cursor-keys (still hold the SHIFT-key).

Tip: You can select several files with the mouse also seperately, if you hold your CTRL-key the whole time.

After the images is loaded it will be shown in a new window. You now can simply try out all the menu commands. This is the fastest way to learn, what PicMaster can do.

Saving images:

If you made changes on your images you want of course to save those: To do this, press in the menu File on Save.

If you want to save the image under a different Filename or Image type, press in menu File on Save as... . A Dialog will appear in which you can enter the name and the wanted image type.

The Image browser:

With the Image browser you can see a preview of each picutre in a folder that help you more than only the filename. You can access it under File/Image Browser to load files. An window in Explorer-Style opens. At the left you see your folders and at the right the images of the folder in a small preview. If you double click on an image it will be loaded.


Print

If you have a printer, you can print your images with PicMaster.

If you want to print an image, open the image and then click in menu File on Print ... .

A Print dialog appears, in which  for example you can decide, how big your image should be printed, where it should be, if you want additional information and what kind of printing mode you want. The meaning of the printing modes is a followed:

Clipping: This is the normal printing mode. Everything not fitting on the page will be clipped.

Tile: The image will be placed on the page as often as possible. This is useful if you want to make a lot of copies of the image.

Poster: In the Poster mode you can print the image over sereral pages.

Tip: If you need help to the dialog Print, klich here with the mouse.

After you finished to set up the print dialog you only have to press on Print and your image will be printed.


Scan

If you have a scanner, you can scan photos with PicMaster.

To scan a photo, press in menu File on Scan und then on Scan ... .

You scanner software will be started and you can scan your image now.

Tip: The scanner software is different for each scanner, look in your scanner manual if you need help.


Import from video

If you have the possibilty to plug a camera to your computer, you can import single images from it.

To do this, press in menu File on Video. Here you can choose between one of the followings:

Record video: Here you can record videos in avi-format. The buttons are similiar to the ones from a real vcr.

Capture pics: Images from the camera ca be caught in “Frames” an saved on your computer with automatic numbering.

Webcam: You can upload each grabbed picture into the Internet. You can automaticaly send an email to a person with the image attached to it or put it onto your homepage as a webcam, which for examples uploads images every minute. The images can also be grabbed upon movement so your computer turn into an alarm system. You can also turn your computer into a webcam server and he sends real time images upon request. . Read here more about it.Screenshot: You can make a snapshot of your screen. Simply choose the desired window.

Tip: If you need help to the dialog Video, press here with the mouse.


Webcam

At Video/Webcam you can choose between two method for your webcam:

1. You donwload the pics via FTP onto your homepage, for example every minute.

Disadvantage: It´s not a real time pic, about one minute old.

Sometimes the image will not be shown fully because it is replaced while loading it.

2. You turn your computer into a webcam server. When someone enters your IP-address in the browser they get a real time picture. Your IP-address is a four digit number (e.g. 123.456.78.9) which will be assigned to you from your provider when you are online.

Disadvantage: If your provider assigned you always a new IP-address each time you connect the address is dynamic and can not be integrated into your webcam homepage that easy.

All access goes directly to your computer so you need a fast connection. This method should be used for computers always connected to the internet.

Webcam Server

All current IP-addresses of your computer will be listed at the Webcam Server dialog tab.

Network card for example also have an IP-address so you have to choose the correct IP which is responsible for the internet connection. If you connect with a modem your IP will only show up if you are connected. Use Update to get the IP´s again.

As soon as you hit on GO! Your webcam server will be active. If now someone enters your IP-address in his browser  he get´s the image. For example http://123.456.78.9   .You can try it by your own browser. At Active Conncetions you can see how many people access your right now. If you use a different port than 80 you have to specify it, e.g.: http://123.456.78.9:8080     .

Tip: The IP-Adresse 127.0.0.1 is only for your own computer. With it you can test it while beeing offline.

Tip: If the image is not be shown in the browser hit the reload button to be sure that the browser really tries to reload it.

Webcam Homepage

 Now you only need to create a homepage where your webcam image will be shown automatically. To do so there are two example HTML-files in the PicMaster Subfolder \Webcam. Some small changes need to be done to fit them for your needs. Read the help file also included in the subfolder.

Tip: If you need help to the dialog Video, press here with the mouse.


Slideshow

You can let play your images in a selected order on the screen.

To do this press in menu Extras on Slideshow and then Slideshow ... . A Dialog appears in which you can choose the files change some options for the playing of the show.

There are two ways to choose the files:

You can add the files to a list. To do this, set the option Images from to File list.

You can let play all files in a specific directory. This is useful if there will be always new files in the directory and you don´t always want to add them to the list. To do this, set the option Images from on Directory.

Tip: If you need help to the dialog Slideshow, Press here with the mouse.


Processing images

There are several ways to process images:

-	In the menu Edit you can cut an paste pieces of the images.

Click here for more informations.

-	In the menu Colors you can process the colors (e.g. convert to grayscale, reduce blue color in image, sharpen image, convert to negativ, etc.).

Click here for more informations.

-	In the menu Image you can for example change the size, rotate the image, flip it or merge it with another image,etc..

Click here for more informations.

-	In the menu View/Mousepointer you can change the mousepointer into a drawing tool for drawing on the image.

Click here for more informations.


 	3D-Images

 	With PicMaster you can create and view real 3D-Pictures. PicMaster offers a range of different methods to view them. Methods range from Red-Green Glasses, mirrors and even to shutter glasses.

 	At Extras/3D-Imager you can create the 3D-Images or split them into two seperate pictures.

 	PicMaster show you Internet addresses where you can find thousands of created 3D-Images  for watching. An with the ability of backconverting the 3D-Images you can even turn them into your desired 3D-Method for viewing.

 	How do 3D-Images work?

 	The two eyes of a human see two slightly different pictures from which the brain calculates the 3D-Information.

 	Hold a pen in front of your eyes and close one eye at a time. You will notice that the pen – looking through your left eye – is being places more right and - looking through your right eye - being placed more left. From this distance of the pen between left and right eye the brain calculates the deepness of the pen. If you hold the pen more away from yourself you will notice that the pen position difference between left and right eye will be less.

 	If you look on your monitor or on a printed image, both eyes will see the same image. So have to accomplish somehow that – even when both eyes look at the monitor – your left eye will see a different picture than your right eye to create the illusion of a real three dimensional picture.

 	To accomplish this, there are several different methods.

 	Methods to view 3D-Images

 	Red-Green / Red-Blue Glasses to view Anaglyph Pictures

 	In order that your eyes will see different pictures, color filters will be placed in front of the eyes. The Red-Blau Glasses for example is using red for the left eye and blue for the right eye. So your left eye will only see the red channel of the picture and the right eye only the blue channel.

 	The two images for your eyes from which you will produce the 3D-Image will be packed accordingly. The 3D-Image has the left picture in the red channel and the right picture in the blue channel.

 	To view pictures with this method you need Red-Green or Red-Blue glasses.

 	Click here if you want to know how to get Red-Green Glasses or Red-Blue Glasses.

 	Monotone Image

 	These pictures are also anaglyps with the difference that the two images for your eyes has been converted to grayscale before doing the calculation. This can be advantage if the own colors of the image disturb the 3D-View.

 	Parallel-View

 	This method doesn´t need any additional devices but you need a little practice. The two pictures for left and right eye will be placed side by side. You now look at the picture but your eyes have to focus a spot behind the picture, as if you would look at a spot behind your monitor. This way the eyes will  be places parallel and you will only see one resulting picture.

 	The width of the 3D-Image should be bigger than double the distance between your two eyes (12 cm). If this should be the case resize the image to a smaller size before viewing.

 	The images also can be viewd with so called “Prism” Glasses.

 	Crossed view

 	Like the parallel view but this time you have to cross your eyes to see the resulting picture. The right eye sees the left picture and the left eye the right picture.

 	The width of the 3D-Image should be bigger than double the distance between your two eyes (12 cm). If this should be the case resize the image to a smaller size before viewing.

 	Mirror

 	Take a mirror and put the border at the black line in the middle of the picture so that the mirror is orthogonal to the monitor. The mirror side is on the left.

 	If you now put the head to the outstanding border of the mirror, the mirror is like a divider, your right eye sees the right image and your left eye sees your left image. But the two pictures are not at the same position yet. This is done by the mirror. It mirros the left image to the right size exactly to the same spot where your right eye sees the picture.

 	Shutter Glasses

 	For this method you need shutter glasses that can show each odd row of the picture in one eye and each even row in the other eye on the monitor. Do not zoom the 3D-Image when watching, otherwise the rows of the image will not change correctly.

 	How do I create my own 3D-Images?

 	You can create your own images already with a simple photo camera. All you need to do is make two snapshots just like your eyes see the scene.

 	So take a snapshot for your left eye and then move the camera about 6 cm to the right (do not change direction of the camera) and then take the snapshot for the right eye.

 	The distance must be kept exactly, the height of the picture should stay the same and do not jiggle the picture. Best to do is work with marks, use a tripod or slide the camera on a horizontal area.

 	In order that the image will come out of the monitor, remember the place of a certain spot in the picture of your left eye. For the right eye picture turn your camera horizontaly this way that the spot has the same place again. The point will be exaktly in the monitor plane (because his distance between left and right eye is zero). All points in front of it will come out of the monitor and all points behind will go in.

 	Of course this method will not work for moving objects. For moving objects there are special 3D-Cameras. They simlpy consist of two cameras side by side being shot at the same time.


 	3D-Meshes

 	At Extras/3D-Bilder/3D-Meshes you can view three dimensional objects with a realistic 3D-effect so that they come out of the monitor.

 	The objects can be loaded with the button Load image ... and moved in space.

 	Choose your desired 3D-method and press on the lock near the preview to permanently follow the movement.

 	At Demo you can make changes to the objects moving path. Default is that it turn around it´s axis and comes half out and in of the monitor.

 	If you deactivate the Go Button you can move, turn and scale the object by yourself at Move.

 	Picmaster can display files with .ASC extension. This is an older 3D-Studio ASCII-Format. With the freeware program Wcvt2pov at the Internet-Adress http://home.europa.com/~keithr/ you can convert all major 3D-Formats (.3DS, .DXF, etc) into .ASC.

 	You can find thousands of 3D-Objects in the internet

 	Here are some starting sites:

 	http://www.amazing3d.com/links.html

 	http://www.klicker.de/e_mod07.htm

 	http://www.webbrain.com/brains/Mozilla/Top/Computers/Graphics/3D/3D_Models/links.html


Red-Green Glasses;Red-Blue Glasses
 	Red-Green / Red-Blue Glasses

 	To watch the anaglyph pictures you need Red-Blue Glasses (recommended) or Red-Green Glasses. You should get them at an optician sometimes even for free.

 	With PicMaster you can make your own glasses by yourself, but be aware that the effect will not be as good as with bought glasses.

 	If you click on „Print Red-Blue Glasses ...“ or „Print Red-Green Glasses ...“ ,PicMaster will load an image showing the glasses.

 	You can now:

 	Print the glasses on paper, cut them out, cut holes for the eyes and replace them with transparancy foil of the desired color.

 	or

 	Print the glasses on transparency foil of your printer.

 	When printing on transparency foil the effect will not be as good. The color is too weak on the foil. You can print again on the same foil to increade the color. You can also experiment with the lightness of the glasses color by filling the flasses with different colors.


Working with catalogs

With catalogs you can group your images. A contalog consists of small previews of the original images which can be loaded quickly. With the catalogs you get a good view over your files.

Creating a new catalog:

To create a new catalog click in menu File on New and then on Catalog.

Add files to the catalog:

The next step is to add files to the catalog..If you just created a new catalog this dialog will appear automtically. Otherwise you have to click in menu catalog on Add file. There you choose your desired files and then press open. A small preview of the file will appear in the catalog.

Tip: If you double click on a preview the original image will be loaded.

Tip: If you want more informations about catalogs click here with the mouse.

Opening and saving catalogs:

Opening and saving images works the same way as for Images, use the menu File for it..

Tip: If you need help about opening and saving images click here with the mouse.


Working with comments
Working with sound comments

If you have a microphone and a soundcard you can record sound comments to the images. Those you can then let play after loading the images or in the slideshow. After you have loaded the image you can record, delete or play the sound comment in the menu Image and then comment.

Tip: If you need help to the menu options in Image->comment, click here with the mouse.


Filter

In menu Image/Filter you can choose a range of filters for using on the pictures. You have different methods to choose a filter. After you have loaded an image you can use a filter

-	By clicking on Filter Browser you can see all filters

-	By clicking on Quick-Browser all filters will be used on the image and shown in a preview window

-	By choosing it directly at Image/Filter

-	By creating an own filter at Image/Filter/Create Filter.

Create Filter

You can even create your own filters. Click on Image/Filter/Create filter. They are called “Filter Factory” filters.

You simply have to write a mathematical formula for each color channel (red, green and blue). The formula calculates the color value for each pixel.

For example the function r = r / 2 would darken the red color in your image by 50 %. You can also use constants such as the image width to calculate the value. There are several supporting functions like the square root or the maximum of two values.

The filters can be saved and will automatically be integrated into PicMaster. They will be shown in the menu and can be used in the same way as the other filters.

Click here for a detailes description on how to create the filters.

Tip: If you need help to the dialog Filter, click here with the mouse.


Create Filter

Im the menu Image/Filter/Create Filter you can create your own filter. You simply have to enter a mathematical formula for the color values of each color channel red, green and blue.

A color value can have a value from 0 (invisible) to 255 (full). Each pixel in the image will then be used on the formula to calculate the new color value for each color channel.

At the beginning the formula for the red channel is set to „r“. „r“ is a constant containing the red value of the current pixel, so there will be no change in the picture. If you replace it with the formula „r+100“, the red channel of your picture will be increased by 100. If you replace the formula with a 0, the red channel will disappear. „r / 2“ will reduce the red channel by 50 %.

Replace the formula for the green and blue channel with a 0 so only the red channel will be shown. Now replace the red channel with „255-r“ and you will see it inverted.

If you simply type „x“ (must be lowercase!) you will get a color gradient. x always has the horizontal position of the current pixel. So the pixels at the left have an x-value of 0 and the ones at the right a value of 255. These values taken as the formula result make the color gradient.

You also use a lof of useful functions. For example „sin(x*100)“ creates a sinus function and you will see red bars in the preview.

In order that you can change settings of your filters there are eight sliders you can use.

Replace the red formula with the expression „ctl(0)“. Now the value of the first slider will be taken. If you change the first slider your picture will be filles homogenously with the value.

You can enter a name for the slider at the left of it.

Enter „Brightness“ for the name of the slider and change the formula to „ctl(0)*r/255“. This way you have a brightness regulator because the red color value r will be multiplied with a number between 0 and 1 because of „ctl(0)/255“. Now you can adjust the brightness with the slider.

Please notice that the expression „( ctl(0)/255 ) * r“ will not work. The reason is that only whole numbers are used so ctl(0)/255 would round up to 0 and would not give the desired result. Try to put division to the most right.

With the buttons at the bottom you can add new filters, delete and change the current filter. The filter. can be saved in the „User Filter“ directory and will be automatically integrated into PicMaster. You should always give the filter a name and a category in which in should show up. Your name and a copyright notice can also be included. At 8BF-Name you need to type a filename with the extention .8bf like bright.8bf  but this is not important for PicMaster.

While you type in a formula you will see sometimes an exclamation mark. This means that there is an error in the current formula so it can not be calculated. The pos says at which character position the error is.  But it Is not always the correct position so in this case check your bra brackets and lower/uppercase. If you press on the exclamation mark you will get to the place where the error is assumed

The following shows you a list of all possible variables, operators and functions with a short description. Click on Image/Filter/Filter in WWW in the menu to get to the PicMaster homepage and download a more detailed description.

Constants

You can use whole positive or negative numbers, for example 104 or –500. The result of the formular will always be clipped to 0..255 since this is the range of color values. You can also write the number in hex format like 0xA3.

Variablen

The following variables can be used in the formula. The contain values depending on the current pixel so they don´t need much calculation time.

r 	Returns the red value of the current pixel from 0 to 255.

g	Returns the green value of the current pixel from 0 to 255.

b	Returns the blue value of the current pixel from 0 to 255.

c	Returns r,g or b depending on which color channel you type it in.

x	Returns the X-Coordinate of the current pixel, that means the horizontal position. Since X (upper case) ist the width of the image, x runs from 0 to X-1.

y	Returns the Y-Coordinate of the current pixel, that means the horizontal position. Since Y (upper case) ist the height of the image, y runs from 0 to Y-1.

X	Returns the width meaning the number of horizontal pixel.

Y	Returns the height meaning the number of vertical pixel.

d	Returns the angle of the current pixel from the center of the image. Angle values go from -512 = -180° to 512 = 180°.

D	Returns the number of possible values, always 1024.

m	Returns the distance of the current pixel from the origin.

M	Returns the maximum value for m, always half of  the diagonal size of the image.

z	Returns the channel index, red=0 green=1 and blue=2.

Z	Returns the number of Channels, always 3 in PicMaster.

i,u,v	Returns the color values in the YUV color modell.

Operators

The following operators can be used. Please be advised that they have an order (e.g. multiplikation comes before addition, see more in the documentation on the internet). If you are not sure of the order you should use brackets for your expressions.

Arithmetic Operators

+	Adds two values.

-	Substracts two values.

*	Multiplies two values.

/	Divides two values.

%	Returns the rest of a division. For example 20 % 7 returns 6 because the 7 can be put into th e 20 twice (2*7=14) and 6 is left.

Logical Operators

The are used together with the condiational operator (  ?  :  ) and return 0=false oder 1=true.

&&	Logical AND, returns true if both expressions are true, e.g. (r > 128) && (r<200)

||	Logical OR, returns true if at least one of the expressions is true.

!	Logical NOT, makes false from true and true from false, e.g. !(r > 128)

==	Returns true if the value on the left equals the value on the right.

!=	Returns true if the value on the left is not equal to the value on the right.

<	Less than, returns true if the value on the left is smaller than the value on the right.

>	Greater than, returns true if the value on the left is greater than the value on the right.

<=	Less or equal, returns true if the value on the left is smaller or equal to the value on the right.

>=	Greater or equal, returns true if the value on the left is greater or equal to the value on the right.

Bitwise and Shifting Operators

For the computer numbers consist of bits. With the help of the following operators you can manipulate the bits.

&	Bitwise AND, eg. 0101 & 1110 = 0100

|	Bitwise OR

^	Bitwise XOR

~	Bitwise NOT, e.g. ~0001 = 1000

<<	Shifts the bits on the left side a number of places (right value) to the left. This is a quick multiplication by 2 each time.

>>	Shifts the bits on the left side a number of places (right value) to the right. This is a quick division by 2 each time.

Conditional operator  ? :

The conditional operator return two different values, depending on if an logical expression is true or false. It is calles an IF..THEN..ELSE condition.

For example to convert a picture into two colors you want to return 0 if the color value is below 128 and return 255 if it is greater or equal. IF r>128 THEN 0 ELSE 255. The only difference is that instead of typing IF <condition> THEN <do this> ELSE <do this> you have to type:: <condition> ? <do this> : <do this>.

The expression „r>128?0:255„ would be correct for the two color converter.

Comma Operator ,

With the comma operator you can write expressions in an order but only the value of the last one will be returned. The other values will not be taken but  still calculated. This is useful together with the get and put operation where you can save interim values. E.g. put(x*x/100,0),get(0)+get(0)/2 would save the value of x*x/100 so get can use it twice.

Brackets ( )

Brackets can be used in each other like (  (c+ctl(0) ) * 2 + 2   ) / 2

Functions

The following functions can be used for your filters. The letters must of course be replaced with values, variables, etc.

abs(a)	Returns the absolute value of a. This is the positiv part.

add(a,b,c) Adds a and b and returns the minimum between the result and c.

c2d(x,y)	Returns the angle of the pixel (x,y) to the origin  (0,0). Angle values go from -512 = -180° to 512 = 180°

c2m(x,y)	Return the distance of the pixel (x,y) from the origin (0,0).

cnv(a11,a12,a13,a21,a22,a23,a31,a32,a33,d) 	With this you can define filter matrices. Each pixel has eight neighbours around him. The values of the neighbours will be added to the current pixel with a wheight constant a??. The bigger the constant the more the neighbour plays a role. The neighbour order is the following:

a11 a12 a13

a21 a22 a23

a31 a32 a33

a22 is the current Pixel and the others are the neighbours around it. At the end the result will be divided by d which will changes the brightniess. Mostly d is the sum of the wheights.

cos(x)	Returns the cosine of X. Result will go from –512 to 512.

ctl(i)	Returns the value of the slider i, i goes from 0 to 7 (there are 8 sliders).

dif(a,b)	Returns the distance between a and b meaning abs(a-b)

get(i)     Returns the intermediate result of saving place i (i goes from 0 to 255, there are 256 saving places you can use). The value in the saving space must have been places with the function put before.

max(a,b)	Returns the maximum of two numbers.

min(a,b)	Returns the minimum of two numbers.

mix(a,b,n,t)	Returns a * n/t + b * (1-n/t).

r2x(d,m)	Returns the X-Fraction of the polar coordinate (d,m).

r2y(d,m)	Returns the Y-Fraction of the polar coordinate (d,m).

rad(d,m,z)	Returns the pixel value like src but you can type in polar coordinates.

rnd(a,b)	Returns a random number between a and b.

scl(f,xl,xh,yl,yh)	Scales the value f from the interval xl..xh to the interval yl..yh.

sin(x)	Returns the sine from X. Result goes from –512 to 512.

sqr(a)	Returns the square root of a.

src(x,y,z)	Returns the color value from the color channel z (z=0 red channel, z=1 green channel, z=2 blue chanel) of the pixel at (x,y) from your pixel.

sub(a,b,c)	Substracts b-a and returns the minimum of the result and c.

tan(x)	Returns the tangens of X.

val(i,a,b)	Returns like ctl the value of slider i but already in the desired interval from a to b.


Batch - processes

If you always do the same operations on images, batch-processes will help you with your work. You simply record your steps and then can use it on the current picture. You can also use it on a whole directory or always scan the images

Record  a process:

To record a process, click in menu Extras on Batch and then on New Record. All following steps will now be recorded. If you record should be finished click in menu Extras on Batch and then on Stop record. Now you have to enter a name for the record and the record is saved.

Play process:

Click in menu Extras on Batch and then on Batch... . There you can choose the record to be played.

In the load picture before-box you can load picutures to use the batch on. You can choose if the pictures should come from a catalog, a folder, scanner or all opened.

In the when done-box you can decide what should happen after the batch. The images can be closed and saved and the filename can even be nummerated automatically.

Tip: If in the menu View Batch-Window is activated you have a small help window where you can comfortably record and play batch files

Tip: If you need help to the dialog Batch then click here with the mouse.


Selection

To select a piece of the image, load the image and then click in the menu View on Mousepointer and then for example on Region select. Now press the mousebutton on your image. Hold the button and move the mouse to the lower right. A rectangle will appear. When you stop pressing the mousebutton the region will be selected.

A lot of operations now will only be used on the selected area.

To cut, copy or paste a selection, check out the menu edit.

Tip: If you need help to the menu Edit, click here with the mouse.

If you click in the menu View on Mousepointer and then on Polygon select you can define a polygon which selects the area. Simply navigate your lines back to the starting point to close the polygon.

If you click in menu View on Mousepointer and then on Circle select you can define a cicle which selects the area.


File menu
The menu File

The menu File is used for Input and Output of images. They can come for example from your harddisk of your scanner. The output could be a for example a slideshow or a printer.

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu File has the following menu items:

New->Image  Create a new image.

New->Catalog Create a new catalog.

Image Browser  With the image browser you can see previews of the pictures in your folders.

Reload  Here you can quickly load an old image.

Open ... Here you can open an image.

Save With this you can save your image.

Save as ... With this you save your image under a specific filename.

Save all With this you can save images at once.

Close With this you close your image.

Close all With this you close all images at once.

Print ... With this you can print your images.

Scanner->Scan... With this you scan your pictures.

Scan->Choose scanner...  With this you choose your scanner.

Video With this you can record videos, import images from a video camera, send them with email or make a webcam

Send->As email ... Opens your standard email program with a new mail and the picture attached to it.

Options... Calls a dialog in which you can change options to PicMaster.

Registration ... With this you can register PicMaster.

Close  With this you can close PicMaster.


Edit menu
The menu Edit

In the menu Edit you can cut an paste a selection of the image.

Tip: If you need help to selecting images click here with the mouse.

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Edit has the following menu items:

Undo  Undos the last operation.

Cut  With this you can cut the selected area.

Crop  The image consists after the operation only of the selected area.

Copy  With this you can copy the selected area to the clipboard.

Paste With this you can replace the image with the content of the clipboard.

Choose all(no selection) With this you select the whole image.


Colors menu
The menu Colors

In the menu Colors you can process the colors (e.g. convert to grayscale, reduce blue color in image, sharpen image, convert to negativ, etc.).

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Colors has the following menu items:

Reduce Colors  With this you can reduce the number of colors to X.

Color Channels  Here you can seperate the colors into channels and recombine them.

Gamma Correction Here you can change the gamme value of the image. The gamma value can get adulterated when scanning or showing the image on the monitor, the color will be too dark for example.

Brightness/Contrast Changes Brightness and Contrast of image

Hue/Saturation Changes Hue and Saturation of image

Invert Inverts the image.

Histogram Shows a Histogram of the image.


Image menu
The menu Image

In the menu Image you can for example change the size, rotate the image, flip it or merge it with another image,etc..

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Image has the following menu items:

Change size  With this you can change the width and the height of the image with optional scaling.

Rotate/Flip With this you can rotate amd flip the imag.

Div->Duplicate With this you can create a copy of your current image.

Clear with background color Clears the whole image with the background color.

Attach to another image With this you can attach an image to another one or blend them together. This function is useful when scanning images that are bigger than your scanner so you can put them together afterwards.

Use as Background for windows Uses the image as your background picture for windows. It can be shown centered, tiles (side by side drawn on the screen) or as full picture.

Use as Background for windows Uses the image as your background picture for windows. It´ll be shown tiled, as often as possible on the screen.

Comment->Record comment With this you can record a comment to the image.

Comment ->Delete comment With this you can delete a comment to the image.

Comment ->Play comment With this you can play the comment.

Comment ->Import comment ... With this you can import the comment from a WAV-file.

Record settings Calls the Setup from Windows for setting the recording options.

Comment ->Set text comment ... Here you can set a text comment which can be shown in the slide show.

Filter Here you can use different filters on your image.

Filter->Filter Browser Open a dialog in which you can select the filter.

Filter->Quick Browser The current picture will be used on every filter and presented in a preview window.

Filter->Create Filter Here you can create your own filter.


Extras menu
The menu Extras

In the menu Extras you can for example change the size, rotate the image, flip it or merge it with another image,etc..

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Extras has the following menu items:

Slideshow->Slideshow ...  With this you can create a slideshow of your images.

Slideshow->Slideshow direct from catalog  If your current window is a catalog you can create with this function a slideshow with the files of the catalog.

3D-Images -> Eye left/ right -> 3D-Image... Here you convert pictures into a 3D view.

3D-Images ->3D-Image -> Eye left/ right... Hier you convert 3D-Images into seperate Images.

Batch->Batch ... With this you can run batch-processes.

Batch->New record With this you can record a new process.

Batch->Stop recordWith this you stop your recording.

Batch->Pause Record  With this you can pause your record.


View menu
The menu View

In the menu View you can change settings to the view of PicMaster.

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu View has the following menu items:

Standard bar Toggles showing of the standard bar with which you can do operations quicker.

Draw bar Toggles showing of the draw bar which which you can do operations quicker.

Images->Ruler  Toggles the showing of a ruler for the images.

Images->Status bar Toggles the showing of the status bar. It shows informations like the dimensions of the image or the position of the mouse.

Batch Windows Shows a batch window where you can see a list of your last operations and you can save and play them

Mousepointer->Zoom Changes the mousepointer into the Zoom mode. With the left mouse button you zoom in, with the right mouse button you zoom out.

Mousepointer->Hand Changes the mousepointer into the hand mode. If the image doesn´t fit the window you can scroll it now.

Mousepointer->Select(Rectangle) Changes the mousepointer into the selection mode. You can now define a rectangle which selects the area.

Mousepointer-> Select(Polygon) Changes the mousepointer into the selection mode. You can now define a polygon which selects the area.

Mousepointer-> Select(Ellipse) Changes the mousepointer into the selection mode. You can now define a circle which selects the area.

Mousepointer->Draw Changes the mousepointer into the drawing mode. The mousepointer now has the function defined in the menu Draw.

Zoom-> X % Zooms the image to X %. 100 % is normal, below makes it smaller, above makes it bigger. The image will not be changed, only the view.

Zoom->Window size Zooms the image that it fits exactly into it´s window.

Zoom->Set With this you can set the zoom value.

Line->Line style With this you can set the line style. Striped lines only work with line width 1..

Line->Line width With this you can set the line width.

Line->Paint color With this you can set the paint color.

Fill->Fill color With this you can set the fill color.

Fill->Fill style With this you can set the fill style.

Pen With this your mousepointer changes to a pen. If you now click on your image, you´ll draw on it with the current pen style.

Line. With this your mousepointer changes to a line-tool. If you now click on the image and hold the button you can now set the direction of the line if you move the mouse.

Rectangle/Sqaure With this your mousepointer changes into a Rectangle/Square-tool. If you now click on the image and hold the button you can set the rectangle by moving the mouse. To draw a square, simply use the right mouse button.

Ellipse/Circle With this your mousepointer changes into an Ellipse/Circle-tool. If you now click on the image and hold the button you can define the ellipse by moving the mouse. To draw a circle, simply use the right mouse button.

Round Rectangle With this your mousepointer changes into an Rectangle-tool with round edges. If you now click on the image and hold the button you can define the rectangle by moving the mouse. To draw a square, simply use the right mouse button.

Flood fill With this your mousepointer changes into an flood fill-tool. If you now click on the image some portions of the image will be filled with the paint color. Filled will be all those colors which are beside the one you clicked on and have the same color.

Text With this your mousepointer changes into an flood fill-tool. If you now click on the image the text set in menu Draw->Set text ... will be drawn.

Get color If you now click on the image with the mouse your paint color will change into the color you clicked on. To change the fill color, use the right mouse button.

Remove red eye With this your mousepointer changes into an pen. If you now click on the image, the red-values will be removed with the current pen style.

Paint with copy of image If you choose a copy point by pressing the right mouse button you can draw with the left mousebutton. Instead of drawing with the paint color, you now draw with the image at the copy point. This way you can repaint object in your image at other places very easy.

Zoom Here you can set the zoom size for displaying the image.


Catalog menu
The menu Catalog

In the menu catalog you can manage images. With catalogs you can group your images. A contalog consists of small previews of the original images which can be loaded quickly. With the catalogs you get a good view over your files.

In Order to use the menu catalog you first have to create a new catalog or load a catalog.

Tip: If you need help with creating and loading catalogs, click here with the mouse.

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Catalog has the following menu items:

Add file With this you can add an image to the catalog.

Remove file Removes the selected images from the catalog. The original images will not be deleted.

View Here you can choose between different view styles for the pictures.

Slideshow from catalog Calls the slideshow dialog with the images from the catalog.

1.Sort Select the sort criteria.

2.Sort Select the second sort criteria.

Thumbnail-print Here you can print the preview images.


Window menu
The menu window

In the menu Window you can manage your windows.

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Window has the following menu items:

Fit to image size With this you can fit your window to the image size.

Tile horizontal The windows will be ordered (tiled horizontal).

Tile vertical  The windows will be ordered (tiled vertical).

Cascade The windows will be ordered (Cascade).


Help menu
The help menu

The menu Help gives you help to the program.

You´ll now see the menu items with a small description about its function. If the menu item is green and underlined you can get more information about if you click on it with your mouse.

The menu Help has the following menu items:

Help topics Shows you the help topics.

How to use help Describes how to use help.

Welcome Shows a welcome window

Register ... Here you can register.

Other programs Here you can get other programs.

About the program Gives informations about the program.

Reccomend via email Opens up your mail program where you can recommend PicMaster to friends.


New Image

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

Pixel: Pixel are the points of the image.

Width: The width of the image.

Height: The height of the image.

Resolution: Defines the Resolution of the image. This is neccessary if you work with cm or inch instead of pixel. You have to define how many pixels one cm or inch are. The best thing to do is to use your printer resolution. If you don´t know your printer resolution you can simply check it in the menu File and then Print ... and then look at Prionter options.

Special: Here you can take predefiened values

Fill color: Here you can set the background color of the  image.

Proportional: If this is activated, width and height only have values that the image is still proportional. So if e.g. the width is change, the height will be adjusted automaticaly so the image won´t be distorted.


Print

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

Preview box: Shows a preview if you press the preview button or the lock is down.

Lock: Show preview permanently.

Preview: Show preview.

Grafik

Left margin: Sets the distance from the left side. In tile mode it will be uses for each image.

Top margin: Sets the distance from the top side. In tile mode it will be uses for each image.

Width: The width of the image.

Height: The height of the image.

Pixel: Pixel are the points of the image.

Proportional: If this is checked, width and height only get values proportional to the original image. So if you for exampel change the width, the height will be changed, too, so the image will still look proportional.

Move up: Places the image to the top.

Arrows: Places the image at the right position.

Full (Fit): Changes size of image so that it fits exactly into the page.

Full (Cut): Changes size of image so that it fills the page completely. Some Border could get lost.

Original size: Sets the size of the image to the original value.

Double: Doubles the width and height of the image..

Half: Halves the width and height of the image.

Info

Additional Information: Enter here additional Information to be printed with the image.

Cutlines: Prints cutlines to the image so you can cut it better out.

Font size: Set here the size of your font to be used for printed text.

Printer options

Printer: Shows your current printer.

Resolution: Shows your choosen resolution.

Width: Shows the width of the printable area (Page width minus not printable area).

Height: Shows the height of the printable area (Page height minus not printable area).

Page border: Show you how the size of the border, that means the not printable area.

Printer-Setup: Here you can set your print-options.


Import video
Video

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

Video on: Activates/Deactivates the video playback in the video window.

Video window: Show the actual Video.

Frame: Shows a catched picture.

Video window

Video size: Shows the real video size.

Driver: If you have more than one video device installed on your computer you can choose here the right one.

Overlay: In Overlay mode you let your video card show the video. This is faster most of the time.

Source: Here you can set the video source.

Format: Here you can change the real video format.

Display: Here youc an change the display options.

Frame

New Frame: Choose when a new frame should be generated. It will be shown in the bottom frame window.

Capture images: Here you can import the frames into PicMaster or save them with automatic numbering.

Webcam: Here you can send the frames into the Internet via FTP or Email.

Webcam Server: Here you can turn your computer into a Webcam-Server so others can access it with their browser and get the pictures.. Click here to read more.

Status: Here you can check if the sending of the frames has been successful.

Record: Here you can record the video as an AVI-File.


Filter

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

Preview Quality: Set the quality of the preview.

Before: Shows the original image as a preview.

After: Shows the filtered image..

Preview: To show the filtered image.

Automatic preview: Always preview

Check: Checks the filter at the original image.

Automatic check: Always preview

Scale also filter: If this options is activated the smaller size of the preview will be considered so that the preview effect will look exactly like later on the original. The option is not recommended for minimal preview qualitites because small lines will get lost

Quick choose: Generates Preview pics with the actual filters.

Suggestions: : Generates Suggestions with the actual filters.

Default values: Sets the filter to the default values.

The parameters for the filters are different for each.


Slideshow

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

Images from:

Catalog: You can add the images for the slideshow to a catalog. If you click on this options, the left side will have the following components:

Add: With this you can add files to the list.

Delete: With this you can remove the current selected files from the list.

Load catalog: With this you can load a previously saved list.

Save catalog: With this you can save the current list.

Sort: Here you can set how the list should be sorted..

Directory: You can set a directory in which the images are located. This is useful if you always get new images in the directory. If you click on this options, the left side will have the following components:

Directory: Here you can set the directory in which the images are located.

Include subdirectories: This will use the subdirectories.

Show following types: Here you can choose the graphic types to show.

Sort: Here you can set how the list should be sorted..

View:

Background color: Here you can choose the background color.

Filter: Here you can set a filter so that zoomed images will look better.

No borders: Hides the border of the window.

Hide mouse: With this the mousepointer will be hidden for the slideshow if it is on the canvas.

Next Pic after x seconds: Here you can set after how many seconds the next image will be shown. You can stop this by pressing the “S”-Key at any time.

Repeat when finished: Repeats the slideshow if it is finished.

Size:

Canvas size: Here you can set the size of the area in which the images will be shown. You can either set it to full screen, always take the size of the loaded image or seit it by yourself.

Image size: Here you can set the size of the images. You can either use the original size, fit it on the canvas (so that there will be black stripes if it doesn´t fit very well) or fill the canvas with the image (so that a bit of the edges might be cut of).

Anchor: Here you can set the anchor of the image.

Info:

Sound: You can play a background sound. You can use WAV- and Midi-Files or the recorded comments.

Additional Information: Here you can choose what Information should be shown with the image.


Batch

If you always do the same operations on images, batch-processes will help you with your work. You simply record your steps and then can use it on the current picture. You can also use it on a whole directory or always scan the images

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

New Record: Here you can start a new record.

Löschen: Deletes the selected record.

When done:

Nothing: does nothing

Save and close: calls the save dialog when done and then closes the image.

In Directory: The image will be saved and closed when done in the specified directory. The graphic format and parameter can either be set or be kept. The filename consists of the text set in Startfile and a number, e.g. noname14.jpg. If this file should exist you can decide what should happen, should it be overwritten or should the number be incremented.

Load pictures before:

You can load pictures to use the batch on. Sets where the images should come from.

Catalog: You can add the images for the slideshow to a catalog. If you click on this options, the left side will have the following components:

Add: With this you can add files to the list.

Delete: With this you can remove the current selected files from the list.

Load catalog: With this you can load a previously saved list.

Save catalog: With this you can save the current list.

Sort: Here you can set how the list should be sorted..

Directory: You can set a directory in which the images are located. This is useful if you always get new images in the directory. If you click on this options, the left side will have the following components:

Directory: Here you can set the directory in which the images are located.

Include subdirectories: This will use the subdirectories.

Show following types: Here you can choose the graphic types to show.

Sort: Here you can set how the list should be sorted..

All opened: This plays the process on all loaded images.

Scanner: This scans the image and then plays the process on it.


Options

Here you can change options to PicMaster.

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

General:

Background  image: Here you can set the wallpaper for PicMaster. Leave it empty to disable.

Dialog image: Here you can set the wallpaper for Dialogs. Leave it empty to disable.

Language: If you have other language packs you can change the language of the program here.

Image:

Units in: Set the type of units for the ruler.

Image Resolution in: Set the type of units for the resolution.

Pixel: Pixel are the points of the image.

Fit on window size when loaded: When a new image is loaded, the size of the window fill be set to the size of the image.

Beim Laden auf Fenstergröße zoomen: When a new image is loaded, the image will be zoomed so that it fits the window.

File types: Here you can decide which graphic types should be linkes with the Windows-Explorer. If you then click in the Windows-Explorer on the file, PicMaster will load it.

Catalog:

Image distance: Here you set the distance between the preview images in the catalog.

Image width: Here you set the width of the images in the catalog.

Image height: Here you set the height of the images in the catalog.

Additional Information: Here you can choose what Information should be shown with the image.

Font options: Here you can set the font options.

Cache:

Disk-Cache: The Disk-Cache accelerates the loading of images in the catalog by saving them in the cache folder.

Memory-Cache: The Disk-Cache accelerates the loading of images in the catalog by saving them in the memory.

Max. History entries: Choose the max number of lines to be shown in the history window.

Copy image before Plugin Filter: Makes a memory copy before using Plugins Filters. Otherwise the image in the background will be flipped and has wrong colors while setting the filter. You can disable this options if you run into memory problems,, the image will be flipped back correctly after the filter.


Resize
Change size (Resize)

With this you can change the width and the height of your image.

You´ll now see the descriptions to the components of the dialog.

Pixel: Pixel are the points of the image.

Width: The width of the image.

Height: The height of the image.

Resolution: Defines the Resolution of the image. This is neccessary if you work with cm or inch instead of pixel. You have to define how many pixels one cm or inch are. The best thing to do is to use your printer resolution. If you don´t know your printer resolution you can simply check it in the menu File and then Print ... and then look at Prionter options.

Special: Here you can take predefiened values

Scale with picture: Scales the picture to the new dimensions (Resample)

Filter: Set a filter that image pixels do not look too big.


Filter Plugins

In the menu Image/Plugin-Filter you can include Photoshop compatible filters. You can find thousands of them in the Internet. These filters have the file ending .8bf  .

To include them you can either copy them into the Plugins-Filder of PicMaster of press in menu Image/Plugin-Filter on Import Plugin-Filter.

If the plugins shows up in the category "Could not load", the plugin could not be included into PicMaster.

Mostly this is because of missing files in the windows system folder (C:\Windows\System) the plugin needs.

Possible files are:

msvcrt.dll

msvcrt40.dll

msvcrt10.dll

msvcrt20.dll

plugin.dll

The first two files are the mostly needed. If they are not in the specified folder you can download them from the Internet at

http://www.graphics-tools.com/filter/filter.htmland copy them into the folder.