Copyright: Copyright © 1999 by CDH Productions
Citation: Image Explorer Pro and all its accompanying files, unless credited otherwise, are Copyright © 1999 by CDH Productions.


Introduction

Image Explorer Pro is an all-in-one image editing, viewing, and management tool.  It provides viewing and editing for an overwhelming number of formats!  Besides supporting many more formats than competitive image viewers and editors, it also has many more tools then the competition.  Some of the advanced features include:

•	3D Text and 3D Shape apply

•	Adobe Photoshop Plug-in support

•	Batch format conversion among all supported formats

•	Color correction

•	Customizable interface

•	Effect previewing

•	GIF animation creation

•	Image capturing

•	Image/icon resource extraction

•	Image information

•	Image mailing

•	Image management (delete, rename, etc.)

•	Image optimization

•	Image printing

•	Image thumbnailing

•	Object drawing

•	Powerful image filters

•	Photo retouching

•	Region processing

•	Slideshow capabilities

•	Streaming Internet video

•	Special paint effects

•	TWAIN acquisition

•	Video editing

This featured packed program should exceed all your needs for any image and video editing, viewing, and management you need to do.


Supported Formats

Image Explorer Pro strives to support all formats. Chances are Image Explorer Pro will read or write the format of your choice. If it doesn't, let us know, and we will attempt to implement support for your specific format.

Here are SOME of the Supported Formats:

AVI - Windows Video|*.avi

AWD - Microsoft FAX|*.awd

BMP - Windows or OS/2 Bitmap|*.bmp

CAL - CALS Raster|*.cal

CMP - LEAD Image Format|*.cmp

CUR - Windows Cursor|*.cur

CUT - Dr. Halo|*.cut

DIB - Windows or OS/2 DIB|*.dib

DXF - Autodesk Drawing Interface|*.dxf

EPS - Encapsulated PostScript Raster|*.eps

EXF - Fuji EXIF|*.exf;*.exif

FAX - Raw FAX Format|*.fax

GEM - Ventura/GEM Drawing|*.gem

GIF - CompuServe|*.gif

ICA - IOCA Image Object Content Architecture|*.ica;*.ioca

ICO - Windows Icon|*.ico;*.icn

IFF - Interchange File Format|*.iff

ILBM - Deluxe Paint|*.lbm

IMG - Gem Paint|*.img

ITG - Intergraph Format|*.itg

JIF - JPEG - JFIF Compliant|*.jif;*.jiff;*.jfif

JPG - JPEG - JFIF Compliant|*.jpg;*.jpe;*.jpeg

JTIF - JPEG - JTIF Compliant|*.jtif

MAC - MacPaint|*.mac

MNG - Multiple Network Graphics|*.mng

MOV - Apple Quicktime Movie|*.mov

MPG - MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 Video|*.mpe;*.mpg;*.mpeg

MSP - Microsoft Paint|*.msp

PBM - Portable Bitmap|*.pbm

PCC - ZSoft Paint|*.pcc

PCD - Kodak Photo CD|*.pcd

PCT - Macintosh PICT|*.pct;*.pict

PCX - Zsoft Paintbrush|*.pcx;*.dcx

PGM - Portable Graymap|*.pgm

PIC - PC Paint|*.pic

PNG - Portable Network Graphics|*.png

PPM - Portable Pixelmap|*.ppm

PSD - Adobe Photoshop|*.psd

RAS - Sun Raster Images|*.ras

RAW - Raw File Format|*.raw

RLE - Windows or CompuServe|*.rle

TGA - Truevision Targa|*.tga;*.targa

TIFF - Tagged Image File Format|*.tif;*.tiff

WFX - Winfax Image|*.wfx

WMF - Windows Metafile|*.wmf;*.emf

WPG - WordPerfect Raster|*.wpg

XBM - XBitMap|*.xbm

XPM - XPicMap|*.xpm


Audio Formats

These audio formats can be used in the background music feature of Image Explorer Pro.

SND or AU - Simple sound format which originated on Sun computers. This format is Read Only in Image Explorer Pro.

MPEG-1 - File format used for storing video and audio data. It is targeted for systems that can transfer up to 1.5 Megabits per second. This format is Read Only in Image Explorer Pro.

AIFF and AIFF-C - Audio Interchange File Format for storing audio data. This format originated on the Macintosh.
AIFF-C is an extension of AIFF which allows compression. These formats are Read Only in Image Explorer Pro.

MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface is used in computer music applications to store and play musical notes. This format is Image Explorer Pro.

WAVE - Native sound format for MS Windows. This format is Read/Write in Image Explorer Pro.

AVI - Native multimedia file format for MS Windows which supports storing audio and video data. This format supports both compressed and uncompressed data. This format is Read/Write in Image Explorer Pro.


AVI
Windows AVI Format

Windows AVI (AVI) is a file format created by Microsoft and used for multimedia files. These files store both audio and video data.

For AVI files, you can read the following bits per pixel: 24.
You can write 24-bit AVI files as well.


AWD
Microsoft FAX Format (AWD)

AWD - Microsoft Fax At Work format, a black-and-white (one bitplane) format for storing fax images.


BMP
Bitmap Formats

This is the Microsoft Windows bitmap format, also used in OS/2. It's a fairly compact (compression is optional, but normally used) format for images up to 32-bit. BMP is the native bitmap format for the Windows environment. Some BMP images are compressed with an RLE-type compression.

You can read and write the following bits per pixel, without RLE compression: 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32.
You can read and write the following bits per pixel, with RLE compression: 4, 8.

OS/2 Bitmap (OS/2 BMP). These are files created on an OS/2 operating system. Image Explorer Pro supports both 1.x and 2.x formats.

You can read and write the following bits per pixel, without RLE compression: 1, 4, 8, 24.
You can read (but not write) the following bits per pixel, with RLE compression: 4, 8.


CAL
CALS Format

CALS - Computer Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support Raster Format; a military-spec two color document storage format. Used in a range from Pentagon archives to standard FAX documents.


CUR
Cursor Formats

Image Explorer Pro reads and writes Windows Icon and Cursor files. An icon editor module (Icon Workshop) is also included with Image Explorer Pro for editing icons. This file support allows you also to create a bitmap from an icon or cursor, or create an icon or cursor from a bitmap.

Image Explorer Pro supports these file formats as follows:

Windows Icon (ICO): This is a multipage file format for storing one or more Windows icons. The background color when you read these images is always black. The size when you write these images can be no larger than 255-by-255 pixels. (Neither the width nor height can be greater than 255.)

You can read multipage files with the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.
You can write single-page files with the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.

Windows Cursor (CUR): This is a file format for storing Windows cursors (mouse pointers). Image Explorer Pro does not load or save transparency information in these files. The size when you write these images should be exactly 32-by-32 pixels.

You can read and write 1, 4, 8, and 24-bit, single-page or multi-page files.


CUT
Dr Halo (CUT) Format

The 256 color format used by the older Doctor Halo paint program. Dr. Halo files are device-independent images. The image is stored in one file (.CUT) and the palette is stored in a separate file (PAL). If the image has no corresponding .PAL file, it is considered a grayscale image.

For CUT files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8.


CMP
LEAD 1-Bit Format (CMP)

EAD 1BIT is a proprietary 1-bit LEAD compressed format that has better compression and performance than other 1-bit formats.

You can read and write files in this format.


DIB
Bitmap (DIB) Format

DIB - This is a Windows image format. It stands for Device Independent Bitmap.  It only supports 256 colors.


DXF
Drawing Interchange Format (DXF)

DXF (Drawing Interchange Format) was first introduced by AutoDesk AutoCAD, and is one of the most widely used CAD/CAM/CAE application in the world. DXF is very popular and is supported by most 3D applications on PC platforms.

A DXF file is an ASCII file containing 2D and 3D components representing a drawing. Those components are known as Entities. The DXF file can represent almost any CAD drawing using those entities, and can connect a group of entities together (such as windows, doors, etcÉ) and use them later in the file . The DXF file has seen many changes through the years, from version 2.6 to the latest release version 14. However, the latest release of AutoCAD still manages to open files created with any of the earlier versions.

Image Explorer Pro supports all current variations of the DXF format (versions 2.6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) with the following entities: 3DFACE, 3DSOLID, ARC, CIRCLE, ELLIPSE, INSERT, LINE, LWPOLYLINE, MTEXT, POINT, POLYLINE, SOLID, TEXT, and TRACE in full 2D or 3D DXF files. You can load any of the DXF files as either vector images or raster images. Users can load a DXF file, and save it to any of file formats supported by Image Explorer Pro.

For DXF files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8.


EPS
Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)

PostScript Raster (Encapsulated PostScript). These files are used primarily on PostScript printers. These printers usually offer more variety of fonts and higher resolution than standard laser printers. EPS files will work on any PostScript compatible printer and any end-user application that supports placement of EPS files in its work space.

The image that you read from an EPS file can be either a PostScript raster image, an embedded TIFF image, or an embedded WMF image. The image that you write to an EPS file is always a PostScript raster image.

For a PostScript raster image, you can read the following bits per pixel: 1, 8.
For an embedded TIFF image, you can read the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32.
For an embedded WMF file, you can read the following bits per pixel: 24.
You can write only an 8-bit PostScript raster image, which is grayscale.


EXIF
Exif (EXF, TIFF, JPG) Formats

Exif is a standard for image files created with digital cameras and other input devices. The standard is set by the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association, and formally it is called the Digital Still Camera Image File Format Standard.

Exif files contain either uncompressed TIFF images or compressed JPEG images. In addition, these files can contain many comment fields of various types. Image Explorer Pro reads and writes the following Exif formats:

TIFF-encoded: This is a tag-based file format designed to promote universal interchanges of digital image data. You can save any image size. You can read and write 24 bits per pixel.

JPG-encoded: This is the JPEG format with YUV 4:2:2 sampling. You can save any image size. You can read and write 24 bits per pixel. (Grayscale is not supported).


FAX
RAW FAX format

This format is comprised of two main variations, with sub-variations therein:

FAX Group 3: This is a raw FAX format (without a header) for Group 3 support. Image Explorer Pro supports both 1-dimension and 2-dimension variations of this format.

FAX Group 4: This is a raw FAX format (without a header) for Group 4 support.


GEM
Single-bit Format (GEM)

Image Explorer Pro supports reading and writing of 1-bit formats.

GEM Image (IMG). These files are native to the Graphical Environment Manager developed by Digital Research.


GIF
GIF Formats

Graphics Interchange Format (the acronym's officially pronounced "JIF", by decree of the format's creator) is a very efficient, and still quite popular picture format. There are two "flavors" of GIF, the old 87 and the newer 89a. 89a adds several extra features like transparency (so background graphics can "show through" the GIF in places) and animation. GIF animations are a very popular form of Web multimedia, because they're small and display on all current graphical browsers without needing a special plug-in or taking up much CPU time.

GIF images can also be interlaced, so that you can see a low resolution version of the picture before downloading very much of it. GIF interlacing has four passes, which show one out of every eight lines, then another eighth of the image, then another quarter, then the remaining half. GIF is a data-stream type format, like JFIF, so you can view partially downloaded images whether or not they're interlaced - without interlacing, a 25% downloaded picture gives you the first 25% of the lines, starting at the top.

You can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Animated GIF: This is a multipage GIF format that can be played as an animation by displaying the images sequentially. Image Explorer Pro allows you to both create and play the animations.


ICO
Icon Formats

Image Explorer Pro reads and writes Windows Icon and Cursor files. An icon editor module (Icon Workshop) is also included with Image Explorer Pro for editing icons. This file support allows you also to create a bitmap from an icon or cursor, or create an icon or cursor from a bitmap.

Image Explorer Pro supports these file formats as follows:

Windows Icon (ICO): This is a multipage file format for storing one or more Windows icons. The background color when you read these images is always black. The size when you write these images can be no larger than 255-by-255 pixels. (Neither the width nor height can be greater than 255.)

You can read multipage files with the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.
You can write single-page files with the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.


ICA
IBM IOCA Format

IOCA (ICA). This is the Image Object Content Architecture developed by IBM. Image Explorer Pro supports these files in an MO:DCA wrapper with embedded 1-bit CCITT Group 3 or Group 4 images. Image Explorer Pro also supports IOCA files without an MO:DCA wrapper.


IFF
Interchange File Formats(IFF)

This is Electronic Arts' Interchange File Format, and is the image format used by Amiga and Atari ST personal computers. IFF is a general purpose data storage format that can associate and store multiple types of data. There are multiple IFF formats, but by far the most popular are the image and sound file formats. A file with the .IFF suffix may, therefore, be a sound, not a picture - and it might be any one of a number of other types of data. IFF images may also, uncommonly, have the suffix .ILBM, for InterLeaved BitMap, or just .LBM on DOS-based systems. Image Explorer Pro will view or play all IFF formats, image or sound.

IFF images are very fast to display, and consist of two common variants: HAM and HAM8. HAM stands for Hold And Modify, and is a technique the original Amiga designers came up with for getting 4096 colors from hardware which, traditionally, can only display 32 at once. HAM8 is the updated version, which displays 262,144 colors on 256 color hardware. No non-Amiga computer can display HAM images exactly as they're meant to be seen; Image Explorer Pro can also display them as 256 or higher color images. There are also some less common IFF variants which use whole different palettes on every line.

IFF reads RLE, and non-compressed images.
IFF writes only RLE compressed images.
For IFF files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1 - 8, 24.


IMG
GEM IMG Format

GEM Image (IMG). These files are native to the Graphical Environment Manager developed by Digital Research. This is the format used by older GEM Paint programs as well; it only works in 256 shades of grey.


IMJ
Pegasus Image Corp Format (IMJ)

IMJ - A proprietary variant of the JFIF format created by Pegasus Image Corporation.


ITG
Intergraph Format (ITG)

Intergraph is a monochrome bitmap format.

For ITG files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1.


JPG
JPEG and JFIF Formats

JFIF - The JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) File Interchange Format, commonly called JPEG and with the filename suffix .JPG, can be the most efficient image storage method of all - at a price. First to the name. Everybody might call these images JPEG, but that just describes the type of compression used for the data; it doesn't describe how the compressed data is sorted and stored. Calling JFIF "JPEG" is like calling a Ford Falcon "internal combustion".

The idea of JPEG is that as it compresses the data it throws some of it away - technically, this is called "lossy compression". You can configure how lossy you want your JFIFs to be; 100% quality gives you almost exactly the same result as the original picture but also gives you a gigantic, uncompressed file. 10% quality takes up much less space but looks dodgy. You have to strike a balance.

JFIF can store up to 24 bit color; so it's suitable for professional use, and it can do interlaced display like GIF (called "progressive" JFIF), which along with its small file sizes makes it the standard format for Web graphics. Like GIF, JFIF is a data-stream format - you can view images before you've got all of the data. Also like GIF, JFIF supports interlacing.

Lossy JFIF: Image Explorer Pro supports YUV 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:1:1 color spacing, and YUV 4:0:0 for grayscale.
Lossless JFIF: Image Explorer Pro supports 8, 12, and 16-bit grayscale and 24-bit color spacing.

Progressive JPEG: This is a JFIF format that is useful for transmitting images, because the first part of the file contains the full dimensions of the image. Therefore, in a paint-while-load routine, you can display the whole image, then progressively clarify it as the rest of the file loads. Image Explorer Pro supports YUV 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:1:1 color spacing, and YUV 4:0:0 for grayscale.

Lossy JTIF: This is the JPEG Tagged Interchange Format. Image Explorer Pro supports YUV 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:1:1 color spacing, and YUV 4:0:0 for grayscale.

Lossless JTIF: This is the JPEG Tagged Interchange Format. Image Explorer Pro supports 8, 12, and 16-bit grayscale and 24-bit color spacing.


MAC
MacPaint (MAC) Format

MacPaint (MAC): These Macintosh Paint files are commonly used for monochrome clip art. MacPaint (3k), usually suffixed .MAC, is the format used by the original black and white Macintosh paint program. Two colors only, 576x720 resolution only.


MNG
Multiple Network Graphics Format (MNG)

The Multiple Network Graphics format is a multi-image extension of the PNG format.


MOV
Apple QuickTime (MOV) Files

Image Explorer Pro reads Apple QuickTime (MOV) files, and can be used to extract the individual frames one at a time and save the frame as another format.


MPE
MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Files

Image Explorer Pro reads MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Files, commonly used in streaming video and DVD applications. Image Explorer Pro can be used to extract individual frames and to save the individual frames separately in another format.


MSP
Microsoft Paint Format (MSP)

Microsoft Paint (MSP): These files from early versions of Windows are used for black-and-white drawings and clip art. This was Microsoft's early response to MacPaint. Two colors only.


PBM
Portable Bitmap Utilities (PBM)

The Portable Bitmap Utilities consists of Portable Greymap Utilities (PGM), Portable Pixmap Utilities (PPM), and Portable Anymap Utilities (PNG). Their source is the UNIX environment.

For PBM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1.

For PGM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8 (Grayscale).

For PPM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 24.


PCD
Kodak (PCD) Formats

Kodak's PhotoCD originated as a format for people to take pictures and have their film scanned and the high-resolution images written to CD for access via PC or special PhotoCD players. It is now a popular professional image storage format; a genuine PhotoCD has a particular directory structure containing the images, stored in five resolutions. The PhotoCD storage process is proprietary to Kodak, who no longer sell the software to make full multi-resolution images. An image file can contain one or more physical resolutions, with fixed dimensions. You can choose which resolution to load, and thus control the size of the resulting bitmap.

You can read the following bits per pixel: 8, 24.
You cannot write PhotoCD files; they are read-only.


PCT
Macintosh PICT Format (PCT)

Pict is the all-in-one Apple Quickdraw metaformat. It can include bitmapped or vector images, and can use different compression scheme. These images are used in desktop publishing and imaging applications.

For PCT files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.


PCX
PCX and DCX Files

The ZSoft Paint format consisting of three common versions: 0, 2, and 5; 0 is the original two color one ( very small file sizes), 2 is a 16-color version, and 5 does 24-bit. PCX and DCX are very fast loading images. PCX is the IBM equivalent of Amiga IFF. Image Explorer Pro reads and writes the following PCX formats:

PCX: This format compresses its image data with the RLE type compression.
DCX: This is a multipage PCX format that enables a file to contain more than one image. It is handled the same as a regular PCX file, except for the multipage feature.

For PCX and DCX files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.


PGM
Portable Bitmap Utilities (PBM)

The Portable Bitmap Utilities consists of Portable Greymap Utilities (PGM), Portable Pixmap Utilities (PPM), and Portable Anymap Utilities (PNG). Their source is the UNIX environment.

For PBM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1.

For PGM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8 (Grayscale).

For PPM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 24.


PIC
PIC Formats

PIC - A few proprietary image formats use this suffix. They are not interchangeable. PIC is most likely to be the 256 color format of the old PC Paint program, but it might also be a Micrografx Draw! vector file, a Lotus vector file, a Pegasus Imaging Corporation image file, or an image file for General Parametrics' Video Show Film Recorder. Image Explorer Pro supports the PC Paint variation as well as the Pegasus image format.


PNG
Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Files

The Portable Network Graphics format, pronounced "ping", was created as a free replacement for the GIF format. It handles 1 to 48 bit images, and is a lossless, well-compressed format like GIF. It is a full-featured (non-LZW) compressed format intended for widespread use without legal restraints.

You can read the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32.
You can write the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24.

Image Explorer Pro supports reading (but not writing) interlaced PNG files. To implement interlaced display in the paint-while-load feature, set the ProgressivePasses option to paint the image in more than one pass.


PPM
Portable Bitmap Utilities (PBM)

The Portable Bitmap Utilities consists of Portable Greymap Utilities (PGM), Portable Pixmap Utilities (PPM), and Portable Anymap Utilities (PNG). Their source is the UNIX environment.

For PBM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1.

For PGM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8 (Grayscale).

For PPM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 24.


PSD
Adobe Photoshop 3.0 Format

Adobe Photoshop's native format, which stores all of its layer and selection and miscellaneous other image data.

For PSD files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 8, 24.


RAS
Sun Raster Format (RAS)

This is SUN Raster format, the default image format for monster SUN workstations running on Unix. Only lightly compressed and so a rather large format, but it supports up to 36 bit images.

For RAS files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8, 24, 32.


RAW
Raw Formats

RAW - This may be a Photoshop RAW file, which is a PSD file with no identifying header. Or it may be a minimally formatted image data dump. Image Explorer Pro supports both variations.


RLE
RLE Format

RLE - This is a CompuServe or Windows Run Length Encoded compressed image format, which support 256 x 192 black and white images. Image Explorer Pro can read and write all possible combinations of this format.


TGA
TrueVision Targa (TGA) Files

Truevision TGA (TARGA) is a file format created by Truevision Inc. Image Explorer Pro supports all uncompressed and RLE compressed TGA file formats. The format supports 1 to 32-bit images and professional features like an alpha (mask) channel, gamma settings, and a built-in thumbnail image.

For TGA files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8, 16, 24, 32.


TIFF
TIFF (Tag Image File Format)

TIFF, since version 6, supports a number of compression types and is used widely with FAX documents and is also a very popular professional graphics format.  Image Explorer Pro supports all TIFF formats:

TIFF CCITT: These are compressed TIFF files that are commonly used for FAX transmission and document imaging.

TIFF CCITT Group 3: These are TIFF CCITT files in a format that is more advanced and more compressed than TIFF CCITT. Image Explorer Pro supports both 1-dimension and 2-dimension variations of this format.

TIFF CCITT Group 4: These are TIFF CCITT files in a format that is more advanced and more compressed than TIFF CCITT Group 3.


WFX
WinFAX (WFX)

The Delrina WinFAX graphic format used for managing FAX documents and related files.  Image Explorer Pro supports images of all formats of this software, both Group 3 and 4 types:

WinFax Group 3: This is a FAX format created by Delrina for Group 3 support.

WinFax Group 4: This is a FAX format created by Delrina for Group 4 support.


WMF
Windows Metafile (WMF & EMF) Files

The Windows Metafile (WMF and EMF) formats are vector formats that may or may not also contain a raster image. When reading or writing a WMF or EMF file, Image Explorer Pro converts all of the image data to a raster image. Therefore, if you load and save a WMF or EMF file, you convert any vector image data that the original contained.

For WMF and EMF files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 8, 24.


WPG
WordPerfect Format (WPG)

This is the WordPerfect metafile format, used by WordPerfect software on various platforms. It supports bitmapped, raster, vector, and Encapsulated Postscript data. Image Explorer Pro handles all bitmap and raster variations of this format.

For WPG files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 4, 8.


XBM
XBitMap Format

XBM is a monochrome bitmap format in which data is stored as a C language data array. It is primarily used for the storage of cursor and icon bitmaps, for use in the X graphical user interface.

For XBM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1.


XPM
XPicMan (XPM)

XPicMap files are used to store X Window PixMap information to disk. They are capable of storing black-and-white, grayscale, and color images. XPM stores image data in the form of ASCII text formatted as a standard C character string array.

For XPM files, you can read and write the following bits per pixel: 1, 8, 24.


Buttons

These are the buttons that appears on the Image Explorer Pro interface. Click on the buttons below for detailed descriptions.

 Create New Image

 Open Existing Image

 Save Image As

 Select Region

 Crop

 Thumbnail Browser

 Zoom Options

 Resize Current Image

 Rotate Current Image

 Batch Format Convertor

 Capture

 Acquire

 Advanced Slideshow

 Gif Animation Creator

 Video Editor


Create New Image
Create New Image (Ctrl+N)

Selecting this option will allow you to create a new image.  The window below will popup for you to enter the size and number of colors for the new image.

Width is how wide in pixels you want the image to be.

Height is how tall in pixels you want the image to be.

Format is the color settings.  You can choose from monochrome, 16 colors, 256 colors, 32,000 colors, 16 million colors, or grayscale.

You also have the option of saving the new image creation settings.  This is especially useful if you are going to be using the same settings often; however, the settings dialog will always be displayed to provide the option for changing settings.


Open Existing Image
Clicking this option or pressing (Ctrl+O) will open existing image in the main display window. The below window will be displayed to allow selection of an existing image from hard disk or another media device.  Click the different parts of the image below for information on the selected function.


BIW Hotspot 1
This is where you choose the drive or directory of the file you want to open is in.


BIW Hotspot 2
These buttons vary from system to system.  The ones displayed in this image are Up One Level, View Desktop, Create New Folder (Directory), List View, and Details View in that order.


BIW Hotspot 3
This displays the folders (directories) and files of the drive or directory you are in.  Note the files shown are limited to the file type you have chosen.


BIW Hotspot 4
Enable Preview will let you see a thumbnail of the image before you open it.


BIW Hotspot 5
File name is the name of the file you want to open.

Files of type will display all the files of the type you choose (i.e. choosing JPG will only display the files with the .jpg extension).


BIW Hotspot 6
Open will open the currently selected image in Image Explorer Pro.

Cancel will close the browse window and take you back to the Image Explorer Pro Main Window.

File Info will bring up the below window displaying the image's properties.


BIW Hotspot 7
You can choose to have the file load rotated and/or compressed.


Save Current Image
Clicking this option or pressing (Ctrl+A) will display a dialog providing options to save the currently displayed image.  This window allows you to specify the filename, output format, subfile type, Q-factor, and set the stamp options.


Select Region
Select this option to select a specific region (area) of the currently displayed image.  First, simply select the type of region you want to create. After selecting the region type, the cursor turns in a crosshair icon.  Position the cursor where you want to begin the selection then holding down the left mouse button drag the cursor to where you want to end the selection and release the left mouse button once your region has been defined.

Type of Selection Menu:

Rectangle (Shift+F5):  This lets you select a square or rectangular region in the current image.

Ellipse (Shift+F6):  This lets you select a ellipse or circular region in the current image.

Rounded Rectangle (Shift+F7):  This is the same as rectangle except the corners are rounded instead of pointed.

Free Hand (Shift+F8):  This lets you select an irregular region in your image.  For example while holding down the left mouse button you can draw a star shape then release the left mouse button and the selected region will be shaped like a star.

Cancel Selection (Shift+F9):  This cancels the currently selected region (unselects the currently selected region in the displayed image).


Crop
Click this or press (Shift+Ins) after you have selected a region in your image. The area you have selected will now be displayed separately, allowing you to modify or save the region only.

This feature is very useful if you want eliminate unwanted portions of an image.  Simply select the portion of the image you want to keep and the choose crop and the rest of the image will be removed.


Thumbnail Browser
Select this feature if you want Image Explorer Pro to show thumbnails of all the images in the current directory or new directory.  After choosing "Thumbnail Browse Current Directory" (Shift+Ctrl+F11) or "Thumbnail Browse New Directory" (Shift+Ctrl+F12), Image Explorer Pro will scan the directory you chose and display thumbnails of all the images found.  Below is a screen shot of the Thumbnail Browser window displayed when you use this feature on a given directory.  (Note:  Since we have different images, the thumbnails in the Thumbnail Browser window will, of course, be different).


Zoom Options
Choose this option if you want to change the zoom factor or style of the current image.  Below is the menu of options that will appear if you click the Zoom Options button.  Simply select the option in the menu below to display a description of that feature.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Fit
Fit (Ctrl+F2): This sets the zoom factor where the entire image can be seen in Image Explorer Pro's display area.  This is usually used when an image is larger than the display area and you want to see the entire image without having to scroll.

Fit Sides (Ctrl+F3): This sets the zoom factor where the entire width of an image can be seen in Image Explorer Pro's display area.  You may still need to scroll up or down depending on the length but you will not need to scroll left or right.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Actual
Actual Size (Ctrl+F4): This sets the zoom factor to 100% the actual size of the image.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Stretch
Stretch (Ctrl+F5): This sets the zoom factor where smaller images fill the entire Image Explorer Pro's display area.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Percent
50% (Ctrl+F6):  This sets the zoom factor to half the actual size.

200% (Ctrl+F7):  This sets the zoom factor to twice the actual size.

Custom Zoom (F11):  This lets you set the percentage of the actual size you want  the zoom factor to be (i.e. 75%, 300% and so on).

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Selected
Zoom to Selected Region (F12):  This will have Image Explorer Pro zoom in on the region (area) you have selected.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Inc/Dec
Decrease Zoom (F8):  Clicking this will decrease the zoom factor a preset increment each time you click it.

Increase Zoom (F9):  Clicking this will increase the zoom factor a preset increment each time you click it.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Zoom Full Screen
Full Screen Mode (Stretch) (Ctrl+F8):  Clicking this will change the entire monitor screen in a viewing area and will increase the zoom factor so that an image will fill the entire screen.

Full Screen Mode (Normal) (Ctrl+F9):  Clicking this will change the entire monitor screen in a viewing area and will increase or decrease the zoom factor so that the entire image is viewable on the screen.  If the image is small it will appear in the center of the screen with a black background filling the rest of the screen.

Note:  These options only change the display view mode and not the actual image size.


Resize Current Image
Click this or press (Alt+Z) if you want to change the size of the current image.  It will bring up the window below.

Width:  The current width of the image is displayed in this field by default.  Simply enter the new width in this field or use the slider bar to increase or decrease the current width to your specifications .

Height:  The current height of the image is displayed in this field by default.  Simply enter the new height in this field or use the slider bar to increase or decrease the current height to your specifications.

Maintain Aspect Ratio:  Selecting this option will keep the proportions of the image when resizing.  If the image height is adjusted by 50% then the image width is adjusted by 50% and vice versa.  This works when enlarging or reducing.

Resample:  Choosing this option will change the storage requirements of the image, often producing a better quality image.  When resampling the pixels in the image are "resampled" using a bilinear interpolation algorithm.  Although this usually produces a better quality image than the Resize method, it takes longer to perform the task.


Rotate Current Image
Select this feature if you want to rotate the image currently being displayed.  You can choose to rotate (turn) the image Right 90 degrees (Shift+F2), which is a one quarter turn clockwise (from 12 to 3 on a clock), Left 90 degrees  (Shift+F3), which is one quarter turn counter clockwise (from 12 to 9 on a clock), or set your own rotation factor.

Custom Rotate (Shift+F4):  This method will allow you to choose how much you want to rotate an image.  The resulting window makes it very easy to produce exactly the rotation you want since a preview is displayed in real-time as you move the slider, with the image rotating to the current angle.

This method has the following features:

** It uses the center of the bitmap as the center of rotation.

** It can rotate the bitmap clockwise or counterclockwise up to 360 degrees in hundredth-of-a-degree increments.

** It can resize the bitmap to accommodate the rotated height and width, or it can retain the original height and width, cropping the bitmap as necessary.

** It lets you specify the background color to fill any new area created by the rotation.

This is a great feature when creating images for animated GIFs.

This is a great feature when creating images for animated gifs.


Batch Format Convertor
Click this or press (Ctrl+B) if you want to convert several images to another format (type).  You can convert a variety of different file types to the selected file type in same batch conversion operation.  The process is simple: add the files you want to convert, set the destination format, and click convert.  Below is the Batch Format Conversion window.  Clicking on the different areas of the image will provide a description for that element.


BFC Hot1
Add File(s) to List:  Clicking this will bring up a browse window where you can choose the image files you want to add to the list of files to be converted.  Just locate the files and click on them.  If you want to choose more than one file from the directory hold down the control key while clicking on the file names.  If you want to choose all the files in a directory click on the first file and hold the shift key and hit the end key this will select all the files.  Once you have highlighted all the files in the current directory you want to convert click open.  If you want to convert files from more than one drive or directory you will need to click this button more than once.


BFC Hot2
Remove File(s) from List:  Highlight (click on) the file(s) in the list that you do not want to covert then click this button.  It will be removed from the list.


BFC Hot3
Convert Image(s):  Click on this button after the files to be converted has been selected and the type you want them to converted to has been set.  This will save all the files in the new format but the original files in the other formats will still be there also if you need them.  In fact you save the converted files in a directory you choose.


BFC Hot4
Exit Conversion Module:  This exits the Batch Format Conversion either before conversion (files will not be converted) or after conversion.


BFC Hot5
Selected Files Display Area:  This shows the files that have been selected to be converted.


BFC Hot6
Output Format:  This is where you choose what format you want to convert (save as) to.  You can convert to the following formats:

BMP - Windows Bitmap
CUT - Dr. Halo
EMF - Enhanced Windows Metafile
EPS - Encapsulated PostScript
EXF - Exif
GIF - CompuServe GIF
IFF - Interchange File
JPG - JPEG (JFIF Compliant)
MAC - MacPaint
MSP - Microsoft Paint
PCT - MacPict
PCX - ZSoft PCX
PNG - Portable Network Graphics
PPM - Portable Pixelmap
PSD - Adobe Photoshop
RAS - Sun Raster
TGA - TARGA
TIF - Tagged Image File Format
WMF - Windows Metafile
WPG - Word Perfect Graphic
XPM - XPicmap


BFC Hot7
Color Depth:  Simply put you can save the image at a 4 bit, 8 bit, 16, bit or 24 bit color depth.  For a more detailed explanation view the topic Color Depth Explained which explains color depth in plain English.


Capture
Click this if you want to perform a capture.  There are several different types of captures that Image Explorer Pro can do.  Below is a screen shot of the different captures it can do just click on the different types for a description.


Capture Area
This is used when you want to select a specific area to capture.  When you click on Area capture or press (Alt+F1) a window will come up for you to set options for the capture.  The most common settings are already set so you can just click ok.  After clicking on ok make the item you want to get an area capture of active (bring the item to the front where you can see it) and hit F11 (default) on the keyboard to start the capture. Once the capture has started position the cross hairs where you want to begin the capture then holding down the left mouse button drag to where you want to end the capture and release the left mouse button.  The capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.

Most users will use the default settings but there are many options you can set to personalize it to your needs.  You can choose and area type (triangle, rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, polygon, and freehand), draw line style, fill pattern, draw cursor, ellipse width, and ellipse height.  You can also choose to (check or uncheck) include cursor in captured area, use cross-lines cursor, bitmap with region, show draw cursor, and enable keyboard.

Colors:  You can set the colors for the area fill foreground, area fill background, draw polygon/freehand line, cursor position/area size text, cursor position/area size background.

Info Windows Options are for setting the options of the window that shows what you are capturing.  You can set the position of X and Y, the width and height of X and Y, and Zoom.  Other options are show cursor position, show capture size, show opaque text, show info window, and sensitive info window.


Capture Active Window
This is used when you want to capture an active window.  When you click on  Active Window capture or press (Alt+F2) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Make the window you want to capture active (bring it to the front) then hit F11 (default) on the keyboard and the capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Active Window Client
This is used when you want to capture an active window client (the area of the window without the title bar).  When you click on Active Window Client capture or press (Alt+F3) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Make the window that you want to capture the client area of active (bring it to the front) then hit F11 (default) on the keyboard and the capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Window Under Cursor
This is used when you want to capture window under cursor.  This will capture whatever window or section of a window that is under the cursor (i.e. if the cursor is over the toolbar of a window the toolbar will be captured.  When you click on  Window Under Cursor capture or press (Alt+F5) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Make the window you want to capture active (bring it to the front) then hit F11 (default) on the keyboard and the capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Full Screen
This is used when you want to capture the entire screen (desktop area).  This will capture whatever is displayed on the screen when you hit F11.  When you click on Full Screen capture or press (Alt+F6) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Make what you want to capture visible on the screen then hit F11 (default) on the keyboard and the capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Object
This is used when you want to capture an object (i.e. error message, buttons, and so on).  When you click on Object capture or press (Shift+F1) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Make the object you want to capture visible, hit F11 (default) on the keyboard, position the cursor over the object, then click the left mouse button and the capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Menu Under Cursor
This is used when you want to capture a menu.  When you click on Menu Under Cursor capture or press (Shift+F5) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Make the menu you want to capture visible, position the cursor over it, then hit F11 (default) on the keyboard and the capture will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Mouse Pointer
This is used when you want to capture the mouse pointer.  When you click on Mouse Pointer capture or press (Shift+F6) the Capture Options window comes up enabling you to set options for the capture make whatever changes you want to make and click ok.  Simply hit F11 (default) on the keyboard and an image of the mouse pointer will be displayed in Image Explorer Pro.


Capture Cancel Capture
Clicking this or pressing (Alt+F7) will cancel the capture.


Capture General Options
This is used when you want to change the capture General Options.  You can change the hot key, delay, repeat, interval, cancel key, capture cursor, and delay cursor.

Hot Key:  The key that is pressed to begin the capture.

Delay:  How long you want to wait from the time you hit the hot key until the capture is made.

Repeat:  How many times you want to do the capture.

Interval:  The amount of time you want to wait between repeat captures.

Cancel Key:  This key will stop the capture operation.

Captured Cursor:  This is for setting the mouse pointer to be included in the capture.  The mouse pointer with an X over it disables including the mouse pointer in the capture.

Delay Cursor:  This is for setting the mouse pointer that will be displayed during the delay.


Acquire
Click this or press (Ctrl+Q) if you want to acquire (get) an image from a scanner or digital camera.  First, a window will be displayed to allow selection of the device to be used.  If your TWAIN driver provides a built-in dialog for the acquisition, Image Explorer Pro will use this dialog; otherwise, the Image Explorer Pro dialog will be displayed and the process cam then be performed. When the acquisition is complete, the image will be displayed in the main Image Explorer Pro window.


Advanced Slideshow
Advanced Slideshow (Ctrl+L)

Select this option if you want to do an advanced slideshow. Simply add the images you want to include in the slideshow, set your preferences (you can skip this step and just use the default settings if you want), then click on one of the start slideshow options. There are many features for making some outstanding slideshows. Below are the Advanced Slideshow menus, you can click on the items for detailed descriptions.

File Menu:

Edit Menu

View Menu


AS Start Slideshow
Start Slideshow (Full Screen):  This starts the slideshow in Full Screen mode.

Start Slideshow (Current Window):  This starts the slideshow in Current Window.


AS Settings
Settings:

The advanced slideshow settings are for setting the number of passes, effects, text labels, and shape labels. Clicking on the different set buttons enables you to set the special effects, text effects, shape effects and so on. Simply click the different set buttons, click on the effects and settings you want to check out and click preview. For detailed descriptions of each of the settings click on the appropriate link below.

It is much more fun for you to experiment with the different effects and settings than reading about them.  Since the effects and settings are for the slideshow only and will not change the original image(s) experimenting is completely safe.

Single Pass Set

Multiple Pass Set

Text Label Set

Shape Label Set


AS Single Pass Set
Single Pass Set

Single Pass means the effect will happen once displaying the entire image after the first (single) pass.  Below is the screenshot of the window that will appear if you click the Set button next to Single Pass.  Click on the different items of the image below for detailed descriptions.


AS Multiple Pass Set
Multiple Pass Set

Multiple Pass means the effect will happen the number of times you chose displaying a little more of the image each pass.  The final pass will display the entire image.  Below is the screenshot of the window that will appear if you click the Set button next to Multiple Pass.  Click on the different items of the image below for detailed descriptions.


AS Text Label Set
Text Label Set

This is for setting text labels for the slideshow.  The text will be displayed along with the image during the advanced slideshow depending on the settings you make here.  Below is the screenshot of the window that will appear if you click the Set button next to Text Label.  Click on the different items of the image below for detailed descriptions.


AS Shape Label Set
Shape Label Set

This is for setting shape labels for the slideshow.  The shape will be displayed along with the image during the advanced slideshow depending on the settings you make here.  Below is the screenshot of the window that will appear if you click the Set button next to Shape Label.  Click on the different items of the image below for detailed descriptions.


AS Set Effects
This is where you choose the effect you want to use.  There are many effects to choose from.  Simply click the effect you want to try and click the preview button to see what it is.  Note this will not change the original image(s) so it is completely safe to check out the different effects and find you favorites.


AS Set Delay
This is where you set the delay speed.  The speed effects how fast or slow the effect is carried out.  Try out different delay speeds by change the speed and clicking preview until you have it set at the speed you want.


AS Set Grain
This is used to get the grain.  The grain affects how fast an effect is painted. The lower the Grain, the slower the effects paint and you can see the effect "jump". It paints pixel by pixel. So if you set the Grain to be 50 (which would be high), it jumps across the screen, therefore not being very smooth. But if you set the Grain to be 1, you see that it paints smoothly and slowly.  This setting works in conjunction with Delay.


AS Set Wand
This is for setting the thickness of the wand.  The default setting is for a small wand but you can set it where the wand covers the entire image.  Simply change the wand size and click preview until you find your favorite size.


AS Set Transparent
This is for setting a certain color transparent.  This will change the view of the image only.  If you want to make a certain color transparent then make sure transparent is checked and click the colored box beside the word to choose the color that you want to make transparent.  If the color you choose to make transparent is not in the image then this will have no effect.  Note this is for the Advanced Slideshow only so it will not permanently change the original image(s).


AS Set Preview 1
Preview Area:  This is the area where you can preview the settings.  Simple choose the settings you want and click preview button.  The effects of the settings you chose will be displayed here.

Preview Button:  This button allows you to preview the settings you have chosen in the Preview Area above.


AS Set Buttons
Ok:  This button accepts the settings and closes the window.

Cancel:  This button discards the settings (if any) you just made and closes the window.


AS Set Passes
This is where you set the number of passes.  The effect will happen the number of times you set displaying a little more of the image each pass.  The final pass will display the entire image.


AS Set Sample Text
This is where you type in the text you want on the image.


AS Set Style
This is where you choose the text style you want.  The choices are No 3D Effect, Inset Light, Inset Extra Light, Inset Heavy, Inset Extra Heavy, Raised Light, Raised Extra Light, Raised Heavy, Raised Extra Heavy, Drop Shadow, Block Shadow, and Outline Block.


AS Set Text Color
This is where you choose the color you want the text to be.  Simply click on the color block and choose the color you prefer.


AS Set Border Color
This is where you set the border color.  Simply click the color block and choose the color you prefer.  This does not work if No 3D Effect is chosen.


AS Set Alignment
This is where you set the alignment.  The left drop down list is for setting the horizontal alignment (Left, Center, Right) and the right drop down list is for setting the vertical alignment (Top, Center, Bottom).

When applying 3D Text you can alway drag the text where you want before applying.


AS Set Word Wrap
This is turning Word Wrap on and off.  This means if the text entered does not fit on one line then it will wrap to the next line(s).


AS Set Angle
This is for setting the angle of the text.  What number you type in will determine the slant of the text.  Entering 90 will turn your text where it is vertical with the first letter on the bottom, entering 180 turns the text upside down, and entering 270 will turn the text where it is vertical with the first letter on top.  These are only examples you can enter any number you prefer from 0 to 360.  Actually you can enter numbers higher then 360 but since 360 puts the text at the same angle as 0 it isn't needed.


AS Set Font
Click on this to choose the font type, style, and size you prefer.


AS Set Foreground Image
This is where you can choose an image to use as the foreground (color of your text).


AS Set Shadow
This is for setting the shadow of the text.  The default is already set but feel free to experiment around with this setting.


AS Set Preview 2
This is the area where you preview the settings you have made.  Each setting is displayed here as you make them.


AS Set Shape Style
This is where you choose the shape you want to use.  The shape will be over the image.


AS Set Back Style
This is for choosing the back style (background) for the shape chosen.  The choices are Transparent, Opaque, Translucent, Tiled Image, and Translucent Tiled Images.  Click the box with "..." on it to choose the image.


AS Set Fill Style
This is for choosing the fill style for the chosen shape.  The choices are Solid, Transparent, Horizontal, Vertical, Forward Diagonal, Backward Diagonal, Cross, and Diagonal Cross.


AS Set Fore/Back Color
This is where you set the fore color and back color.  The fore color is the color used for the fill style.  If you chose a solid fill style and the fore color blue the shape will be filled with blue.  To choose the color click on the box of the color you want to change and click the color you want.


AS Set Border Settings
Border Style:  This is for choosing the border style you prefer.  The choices are Transparent, Solid, Dash, Dot, Dash-Dot, and Dash-Dot-Dot.

Border Color:  This is for choosing the color you want the border to be.  Simple click on the color square then click the color you prefer.

Border Width:  This is for setting the thickness of the border.


AS Set Inner
Inner Style:  This is for choosing the inner style you prefer.  The choices are None, Inset, Raised.  This puts an inner frame around the shape.

Inner Hilite/Shadow:  This is for choosing the colors you want the inner style (frame) to be.  The hilite colors the top part of the frame and the shadow colors the bottom part of the frame.

Inner Width:  This is for setting the thickness of the inner style (frame).

Note the inner settings are only available for the square and rectangle shapes.


AS Set Outer
Outer Style:  This is for choosing the outer style you prefer.  The choices are None, Inset, Raised.  This puts an outer frame around the shape.

Outer Hilite/Shadow:  This is for choosing the colors you want the outer style (frame) to be.  The hilite colors the top part of the frame and the shadow colors the bottom part of the frame.

Outer Width:  This is for setting the thickness of the outer style (frame).


AS Transitions
This is for setting the transitions for the slideshow.  The transition appears between the images in the advanced slideshow.  Below is the screenshot of the window that will appear if you click the Transitions in the Advanced Slideshow file menu.  Click on the different items of the image below for detailed descriptions.


AST Fill Style
This is for setting the fill style of the transition.  The choices are Solid, Horizontal Lines, Vertical Lines, Forward Diagonal Lines, Backward Diagonal Lines, Cross Lines, and Diagonal Cross Lines.  The default setting is gradient.


AST Gradient
This is for choosing the gradient of the transition screen.  Below is the screenshot of the window that will appear if you click the Gradient button.  Click on the different items of the image below for detailed descriptions.

It is much more fun for you to experiment with the different effects and settings than reading about them.  Since the effects and settings are for the slideshow only and will not change the original image(s) experimenting is completely safe.


AST Effect
This is for setting the transition effect, delay, grain, wand, and transparency.  This is the same screen as the Single Pass Set but these settings effect the transitions display during the advanced slideshow instead of the image display.  Below is the screenshot click on the different items of the image for detailed descriptions.


AST Fore/Back Color
ForeColor:  This is for choosing the foreground color of the transition.  To select a color click on the box beside Forecolor then click on the color you prefer.

BackColor:  This is for choosing the background color of the transition.  To select a color click on the box beside Backcolor then click on the color you prefer.


AST Gradient Style
This is where you choose the Gradient Style you want to use for the transition.  There are many styles to choose from.  Simply click the style you want to try and click the preview button to see what it is.  Note this will not change the original image(s) so it is completely safe to check out the different effects and find your favorites.


AST Color and Steps
Start Color:  This is for choosing the start color of the gradient.  To select a color click on the box beside start color then click on the color you prefer.

End Color:  This is for choosing the end color of the gradient.  To select a color click on the box beside end color then click on the color you prefer.

Steps:  This is for setting the number it steps it will take to complete the gradient cycle.


AS Exit
Advanced Slideshow Exit:  This exits (closes) the Advanced Slideshow. Note if you want to stop the slideshow but remain in the advanced slideshow window hit the Esc(ape) key on the keyboard.


AS Add
Add File(s):  Clicking this will bring up a browse window where you can choose the image files you want to include in the slideshow.  Just locate the files and click on them.  If you want to choose more than one file from the directory hold down the control key while clicking on the file names.  If you want to choose all the files in a directory click on the first file and hold the shift key and hit the end key this will select all the files.  Once you have highlighted all the files in the current directory you want to convert click open.  If you want to include files from more than one drive or directory you will need to click this more than once.


AS Remove
Remove File(s):  Highlight (click on) the file(s) in the list that you do not want in the advanced slideshow then click this menu item to remove them from the list.


AS Move Up/Down
Move Up:  Select a file in the list of files to be included in the slideshow and click this menu item, this will move the file up in the slideshow.

Move Down:  Select a file in the list of files to be included in the slideshow and click this menu item, this will move the file down in the slideshow.


AS Fit to Window
Fit to Window:  This will stretch or reduce the image to fill the slideshow window.  Note this is for the slideshow only therefore it does not change the original image.


AS Enable Scroll
Enable Scroll:  This is used if you don't choose fit to window so that you can scroll up, down, right, or left to view images that are larger then the slideshow window.


AS Set Zoom Factor
Set Zoom Factor:  This lets you set the percentage of the actual size you want the zoom factor to be (i.e. 75%, 300% and so on).


GIF Animation Creation
Click this or press (Shift+C) when you want to create an animated gif.  Simply add the images (in the order you want them to appear in the animation) you want to be in the animation, click on settings in the file menu to set up your preferences for the animation, then click create animation and the animated gif will be created.  Below is a screen shot of the Gif Animation Creator window click on the different items (including File and Edit) for a detailed descriptions.


ANI File Menu
GIF Animation Creator file menu:

Create Animation:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+C) will create the animated GIF with the images you have added (in the order they appear) using the settings you specified in settings.

Optimize Colors:  Clicking this will optimize the colors.

Settings:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+S) will bring up the Settings Window where you can choose your preferences for the animation.  For a screen shot and detailed description of settings click the link.  Gif Animation Settings Screen Shot

Exit:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+X) will exit the GIF Animation Creator either before creating the animated GIF or after creating the animated GIF.


ANI Settings
GIF Animation Settings:

Background Color:  This is for setting the background color of the animation.

Animation Transparency Color:  This is for choosing the color that you want to be transparent.

Use Transparency:  This is choosing whether or not you want to use transparency.  Click the white block to select/deselect transparency.  If there is a check in the block that means transparency will be used.

Bits Per Pixel:  This is for setting the number of bits per pixel.  The choices are 1 to 32 bits.  For a more detailed explanation of bits see the Terminology Topic.

Disposal Method:  This is for choosing what you want to do with the frame (image) after it is displayed.  The choices are None, Leave As Is, Restore Background, Restore Previous.  The most common setting is Restore Background.

Width:  This is for setting the width of the GIF Animation.

Height:  This is for setting the height of the GIF Animation.

Delay:  This is for setting the delay between frames.  How long in milliseconds you want to display one frame before display the next frame.

OK:  Clicking this accepts the settings and takes you back to the GIF Animation Creator window.

Cancel:  This discards the settings (if any) you just made and takes you back to the GIF Animation Creator window.


ANI Edit Menu
GIF Animation Creator edit menu:

Add File(s)  (Ctrl+A):  Clicking this will bring up a browse window where you can choose the image files you want to include in the GIF animation.  Just locate the files and click on them.  If you want to choose more than one file from the directory hold down the control key while clicking on the file names.  If you want to choose all the files in a directory click on the first file and hold the shift key and hit the end key this will select all the files.  Once you have highlighted all the files in the current directory you want to convert click open.  If you want to include files from more than one drive or directory you will need to click this more than once.

Remove File(s)  (Ctrl+R):  Highlight (click on) the file(s) in the list that you do not want in the GIF animation then click this menu item to remove them from the list.

Move Up  (Ctrl+U):  Select a file in the list of files to be included in the GIF animation and click this menu item, this will move the file up in the GIF animation.

Move Down  (Ctrl+D):  Select a file in the list of files to be included in the GIF animation and click this menu item, this will move the file down in the GIF animation.


ANI Add Files
Add File(s):  Clicking this will bring up a browse window where you can choose the image files you want to include in the GIF animation.  Just locate the files and click on them.  If you want to choose more than one file from the directory hold down the control key while clicking on the file names.  If you want to choose all the files in a directory click on the first file and hold the shift key and hit the end key this will select all the files.  Once you have highlighted all the files in the current directory you want to convert click open.  If you want to include files from more than one drive or directory you will need to click this more than once.

Note:  Either you can add the files in the order you want them to appear in the animation or you can add all the files and use the move up (Ctrl+U) move down (Ctrl+D) options in the edit menu.  The files will appear in the GIF animation in the order that they appear in the list.


ANI Remove Files
Remove File(s):  Highlight (click on) the file(s) in the list that you do not want in the GIF animation then select this option to remove them from the list.


ANI Create Gif Animation
Clicking this button or pressing (Ctrl+C) will create the animated GIF with the images you have added (in the order they appear) using the settings you specified in settings.


ANI Exit
Clicking this button or pressing (Ctrl+X) will exit the GIF Animation Creator either before creating the animated GIF or after creating the animated GIF.


ANI Files
This displays the list of files that have been added in the order that they will appear in the GIF animation.


Video Editor
Click this or press (Ctrl+E) if you want to view and edit videos.  The video editor supports viewing and editing of several different file types.  Below is a screen shot of the Video Editor window click on the different items (including File, Edit, Multimedia, and Position menus) for a detailed descriptions.


VIdeo File Menu
Below is a screen shot of the Video Editor file menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


VF Open
Open:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+O) will bring up a browse window where you can choose the video you want to open.

Open Media Stream URL:  Clicking this or pressing (F2) will bring up a window for you to enter a url to a Media Stream file.  Clicking OK will open the media stream file in the Video editor.


VF Close
Close:  Clicking this or pressing (F7) will close the currently opened video file.


VF Edit Mode
Edit Mode:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+E) will put Video Editor in edit mode.  In this mode you can edit (change) the video by adding frames, removing frames, changing settings, and so on.


VF Read Only
Read Only:  Clicking this or pressing (F6) will put Video Editor in read only mode.  In this mode you can view the video, view the video frame by frame, save current frame (same as extract frame).


VF Save
Save:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+S) will save the current video.  You can save it in the Avi or Mpg format.


VF Save Options
Save Options:  Clicking this or pressing (F3) will bring up the save options window which lets you choose Video Compression, Audio Compression, Audio Format, and MPEG options (Frame Rate, Chroma, Aspect and Video).  The default options are already chosen.  We are not going to go into detail about all the save options.  Our suggestions is make an extra copy of the video file before editing and/or saving it.  If you have the file save somewhere else then feel free to experiment with the save options.  It is much more fun to learn by doing then it is to learn by reading.  The Save Options Window is displayed below.


VF Save Current Frame
Save Current Frame:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+F) will bring up a window where you can choose where you want to save the frame, what you want to name the frame, and what format (type) you want to save the frame as.  You can use the next, previous, first, and last options in the Position Menu to cycle through each frame saving each one as you go to extract all frames.


VF Exit
Exit:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+X) will exit Video Editor and return you to the Image Explorer Pro Main window.


VF MRU
Most Recently Used Documents:  This area displays the last 4 files you have used (opened).  You can easily reopen any of the 4 files by clicking on it's name.


Video Edit Menu
Below is a screen shot of the Video Editor edit menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


VE Copy
Copy:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+X) will copy the entire image to the Windows clipboard where you can paste it in a new video, existing video, the Image Explorer Pro main screen, or another graphics program.  Note you can only paste into a video opened in the Video Editor if you are in Edit mode.


VE Paste
Paste:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+V) will copy whatever data that is in the windows clipboard to the currently open image in Image Explorer Pro.  Note this only works if Video Editor is in Edit Mode.


VE Delete
Delete:  Clicking this or pressing (Del) will delete the frame that is currently being displayed in the Video Editor.  Note this only works if Video Editor is in Edit Mode.


VE Frames
Insert Frame:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+Ins) will insert an image you select into the video currently being displayed in Video Editor.  Note this only works if Video Editor is in Edit Mode.

Replace Frame:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+R) will replace the frame that is currently being displayed in the Video Editor with an image you select.  Note this only works if Video Editor is in Edit Mode.


Video Multimedia Menu
Below is a screen shot of the Video Editor Multimedia menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


VM Play/Pause
Play:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+P) will play (run) the video currently opened in the Video Editor.

Pause:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+U) will pause the video currently being played (ran) in the Video Editor.


VM Playback Speed
Playback Speed:  Clicking this will bring up another menu where you can select the speed you want to play the video in.  The speed choices are displayed below.


VM Audio Properties
Audio Properties:  Clicking this will bring up another window where you can set the audio properties of the video in.  You can change the Volume and Balance.  The window is displayed below.


VM Mark
Mark In/Out:  Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+M) will set the starting position to use when playing and/or editing multimedia objects.

Use Clip Start and Clip End to mark a range of frames for playback, for example, to play only a selection of the media sample.  The default value is 0, the first frame.  These settings can be used in both Playback mode and Edit mode.  If you stop the play while playing a multimedia object, the current position will be set to the value of Clip Start.


Video Position Menu
Below is a screen shot of the Video Editor Position menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


VP Next
Next:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F2) will advance you to the next frame of the video currently open in the Video Editor.  This is useful for saving the different frames, finding mistakes in the video, inserting frames, replace frame, deleting frames and so on.


VP Previous
Previous:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F3) will move back to the previous frame of the video currently open in the Video Editor.  This is useful for saving the different frames, finding mistakes in the video, inserting frames, replace frame, deleting frames and so on.


VP First
First:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F6) will move to the first frame of the video currently open in the Video Editor.


VP Last
Last:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F7) will move to the last frame of the video currently open in the Video Editor.


Video View Area
This is where the video will be displayed.


File Menu
File Menu (Alt+F)

Below is a screen shot of the file menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


File View Selected File
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+V) will display the file you currently have selected (highlighted) in the file list.  This is mainly used if Single Click View Mode is not selected in General Options.


File Clear Current Image
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+G) will clear Image Explorer Pro's display area of any image.


File Save
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+S) will save the currently displayed image with the same file name and format to the directory where it is currently located.  If the image has not been saved before it will bring up another window displaying the current directory and files. Type in what you want to name the image, choose what format you want to save the image as and click ok. This will save the image to where you indicated.


File Create Thumbnail Index
Clicking this or pressing (F6) will open the Image Thumbnail Viewer window displaying thumbnails (small images) of all the files in the current directory.

Clicking this or pressing (F7) will open the Image Thumbnail Viewer window displaying thumbnails (small images) of all the files selected.

The File menu choices are:

Copy Thumbnail Image To Clipboard (Ctrl+C):  This will copy all the thumbnails as one image (the entire Thumbnail viewer display area) to the Windows clipboard where you can paste it in a new image, existing image, or another graphics program..

Save Thumbnail Image (Ctrl+S):  This will save all the thumbnails as one image (the entire Thumbnail viewer display area) in the format you choose.

Print:  This will print all the thumbnails as one image (the entire Thumbnail viewer display area).

Export Thumbnail Image To Main Window (Ctrl+I):  This will send all the thumbnails as one image (the entire Thumbnail viewer display area) to Image Explore Pro's display area.

Set Thumbnail Image As Windows Wallpaper (Ctrl+W):  This will change the current desktop wallpaper to the what is currently displayed in the Thumbnail viewer.

Exit (Ctrl+X):  This will exit the Thumbnail Viewer and return you to Image Explorer Pro.


File Start Slide Show
Clicking this or pressing (F5) will start/stop a slideshow in the viewing area of Image Explorer Pro.  A slideshow displays all the images in the currently selected directory one at a time until all the images has been displayed.


File Properties
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+Ins) will display the currently displayed image's properties.

The General tab displays File Name, MS DOS Name, Image Format, Size on Disk, Size in Memory, Created, Modified, Accessed, and Attributes.  Note you can change the attributes.

The Image tab displays Width, Height, X Resolution, Y Resolution, Bits per Pixel, Number of Colors, and File Comment.  Note you can change the file comment or add one.


File Icon Extractor
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+E) will let you capture (extract) bitmaps, cursors, and icons from .exe and .dll files.  It will also let you change the background color before capturing (extracting) them.  Below is a screenshot of the window that will come up after you have chosen a .dll or .exe file.  Click on the different areas for detailed descriptions.


FIE Images Found
This displays the list of images found in the .dll or .exe you selected.  Clicking on the folders (+/-) will expand the folders view so that the images may be access.  Selecting an image will display it in the preview area.


FIE Preview
This is where the selected image will be displayed.


FIE Background Color
This is for setting the background color of the displayed image.


FIE Capture
This always remains 1 of 1 because when you do a capture you are automatically taken to the Image Explorer Pro main window.


FIE Buttons
Browse:  Clicking this will open up a browse window where another .exe or .dll can be selected.

Capture:  Clicking this will capture (extract) the image and display it in the Image Explorer Pro main window.

Close:  Clicking this will close the Capture From Executable File window and return to the Image Explorer Pro main window.


File Icon Workshop Editor
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+W) will start the Icon Workshop Editor which is used for creating or editing icons.  Below is a screenshot of the Icon Workshop window.  Click on the different areas for detailed descriptions.


IWE File Menu
Icon Workshop Editor File Menu

Click the menu items for detailed descriptions.


IWE Edit Menu
Icon Workshop Editor Edit Menu

Click the menu items for detailed descriptions.


IWE View Menu
Icon Workshop Editor View Menu

Click the menu item for a detailed description.


IWE Current Mode
This displays the current mode you are in (have selected).


IWE Mode Select
This is where you select the mode you want to work in.  The choices are Pencil, Line, Rectangle, Filled Rectangle, Circle, Filled Circle, Text, Color Fill, and Capture (Select Region).

Pencil - Position the cursor where you want to start drawing, hold down the left mouse button, drag cursor to where you want.  As the cursor is moved a line will be drawn.  To draw square by square click in the individual squares without dragging.

Line - Position the cursor where you want to start the line, holding down the left mouse button drag to where you want to end the line, release mouse button and the line will be drawn.

Rectangle - Position the cursor where you want to start the rectangle, holding down the left mouse button drag to where you want to end the rectangle, release mouse button and the line will be drawn.  Rectangles are hollow and filled rectangle are solid.

Circle - Position the cursor where you want to start the circle, holding down the left mouse button drag to where you want to end the circle, release mouse button and the line will be drawn.  Circles are hollow and filled circles are solid.

Text - Position the cursor where you want the text to go and click.  The text that is typed into the text box will be placed on the icon.

Color Fill - This can be used to fill hollow shapes, change the color of the solid shape, and so on.

Capture - This is used with copy and cut.  Simply position the cursor where you want to start the capture, holding down the left mouse button drag to where you want to end the capture, release mouse button and the area will be selected.


IWE Text
This is where the text that you want to appear in the icon is typed and the font you want to use is chose.  Select text mode, choose the font, type in the text, position the cursor where you want to place the text, left click and the text will appear in the icon.


IWE Display
This is the working area.  All the editing is done in this area and whatever is done here will effect the final icon.


IWE Colors
This is where you choose the colors for the drawing (mode) tools will use.  The first square box is the foreground color and the second square box is the background colors.  The little squares is for choosing the colors.  Left clicking on one of the little colored squares changes the foreground (drawing color) and right clicking will change the background color.


IWE Shift
This shifts the entire image (display area) in the direction of the arrow you click on.


IWE Icon/Clip
This displays what the icon looks like in its true size and the captured area.


IWE Clear
This clears the display area filling it in with either the foreground or background color depending on if it is left or right clicked.  The menu clear lets you choose either to clear with the foreground or background color.


IWE Cut
This cuts (deletes and copies to the clipboard) the captured (selected) area.


IWE Grid
This will turn the grid (the small squares covering the work area) on and off.


IWE Copy
This copies the selected area to the clipboard.


IWE Rotate
This rotates the icon one quarter turn each time it is clicked.


IWE Paste
This will paste the data in the clipboard to the icon.  Click paste and then click where you want to paste.


IWE Flip
This flips the icon horizontally or vertically depending on what is chosen.  For example a horizontal flip produces a mirror image.


IWE Save
This saves the icon.


IWE New
This clears the work area so that a new icon can be created.


IWE Open
This opens an existing icon for editing.


IWE Exit
This exits the Icon Workshop.


File Print
This will print the currently displayed image.


File Send
Clicking this will send the selected image to the e-mail address that you enter.  You can also enter a subject and a message to be sent with the image.  Note the first time you run this it will ask for your name, e-mail, and smtp server.  There is a special feature for AOL and other users who do not have a smtp server.


File Exit
Clicking this or pressing (Alt+F4) will close Image Explorer Pro.


Edit Menu
Edit Menu (Alt+E)

Below is a screen shot of the edit menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


Edit Undo
Clicking Undo or pressing (Ctrl+Z) removes the last change made. Undo can be clicked several times to remove the last several changes.


Edit Cut
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+X) will erase the entire image or selected (highlighted) area from the current document and place it in the windows clipboard so you can paste it a new image, an existing image, or in another graphics program.


Edit Copy
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+C) will copy the entire image or selected (highlighted) area to the Windows clipboard where you can paste it in a new image, existing image, or another graphics program.


Edit Paste
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+V) will copy whatever data that is in the windows clipboard to the currently open image.


Edit Delete Selected File(s)
Clicking this or pressing (Del) will delete (erase) the currently selected file(s).


Edit Delete Selected Directory
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Del) will delete (erase) the currently selected directory.


Edit Rename Selected File
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+R) will let you rename the currently selected file.


Edit Rename Selected Directory
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+M) will let you rename the currently selected directory.


Edit Flip
Clicking this will flip the currently selected image from top to bottom.


Edit Mirror
Clicking this will reverse the bitmap (left to right) to produce a mirror image.  A mirror copy is what you would get if you held the image up to a mirror.  This is needed for several things including creating images for iron-on transfers.


Edit Auto-Trim
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+U) will trim the current image's bitmap, removing blank space (usually white space) around the edges.  The threshold is a delta value for detecting blank space. Starting at each edge of the bitmap and evaluating toward the center, any change in intensity that is less than or equal to iThreshold is considered blank space. Valid values are 0 to 244.


Edit Time Stamp Image
Clicking this will annotate or stamp the time on an image.


Edit Empty
Empty Clipboard:  Clicking this will clear (erase) the contents of the windows clipboard.  It is good to empty the clipboard when you get done with it's contents to free up memory.

Empty Undo Buffer:  Clicking this will clear (erase) the contents of the undo buffer.  Note if you clear the undo buffer you will no longer be able to undo any changes you made up to then.


View Menu
View Menu (Alt+V)

Below is a screen shot of the view menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


View Force Refresh
Clicking this or pressing (F2) will refresh (reload) the current file or directory.  You can automatically refresh the file list (directory) by choosing the option in General options.


View Show PanWindow
Clicking this will bring up a small window which will display a scaled view of an image, which is also being displayed in another main window at a size that would require scrolling.  The Pan Window will maintain the images aspect ratio.  In the Pan Window, a colored Pan Rect will be displayed to indicate the portion of the image currently being displayed in the main window.  When a user clicks inside the Pan Window and moves the mouse, while holding down the left mouse button, the Pan Rect will move with the mouse pointer.


View Page
This is for changing the page for multiple page documents such as faxes.


Image Menu
Image Menu (Alt+I)

Below is a screen shot of the image processing menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


Image Apply 3D Text
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+T) will start the 3D text editor for creating text overlays and captions on images.  Below is a screen shot of the 3D text editor.  Click on the different items for detailed descriptions.


3DT File Menu
Below is a screen shot of the 3D Text file menu.  Click on the individual items for a description.


3DT Select Color
Select Background Color (Ctrl+B):  This will bring up a color selection window for you to choose the background color.

Select Foreground Color (Ctrl+F):  This will bring up a color selection window for you to choose the foreground color.  The text will be the color you choose.


3DT Position Text
Position Text (Ctrl+P):  This will open the Text Options Menu.  Click on the different items of the screen shot below for detailed descriptions.


3DT Apply Text
Apply Text (Ctrl+D):  This applies the text with the settings you chose to the image.


3DT Exit
Exit (Ctrl+X):  This closes Apply 3D Text and returns you to the Image Explorer Pro main window.


3DT Position Sliders
You can move the slide bars to position your text.  The Top slide bar is for horizontal position and the bottom slide bar is for vertical position.


3DT Quick Position
You can use these buttons to quickly position your text.

L=Left

C=Center

R=Right

T=Top

B=Bottom


3DT Display Area
This is the display area.  It displays the image you are working on.


3DT Use Background
This lets you decide whether or not to include the background color.


3DT New
New (Ctrl+N):  Clears the display area and starts a new image.


3DT Zoom
Zoom to Fit (Ctrl+Z):  This will shrink or enlarge the view of the image where it completely fills the display area.


3DT Import
Import Graphic (Ctrl+I):  This will bring up a menu where you can choose a graphic that you want to Apply 3D Text to.


3DT Edit Menu
Below is a screen shot of the 3D Text edit menu.  Click on the individual items for a description.


3DT Select Region
Select Region (Ctrl+R): to select a specific region (area) of the currently displayed image.  Simply  position the cursor where you want to begin the selection then holding down the left mouse button drag the cursor to where you want to end the selection and release the left mouse button once your region has been defined.

Cancel Selection (Shift+F9):  This cancels the currently selected region (unselects the currently selected region in the displayed image).


Image Apply 3D Shape
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+D) will start the 3D shape generator for quick and easy creation of geometric shape overlays.  Below is a screen shot of the 3D Shape editor.  Click on the different items for detailed descriptions.

Before:

After:


Image Draw Object
The Draw Object option is a set of tools which will draw the selected shape.  Click which type of object you want to draw; make your selections; click where you want to start drawing the object, holding down the left mouse button, drag until the object is the size you want; release the mouse button; and your object will be displayed.

Clicking Ellipse or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F2) will draw an ellipse.

Clicking Line or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F3) will draw a line.

Clicking Rectangle or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F4) will draw a rectangle.

You choose the draw mode, fill style, fill color, pen style, pen width, and pen color.  We think this is pretty self explanatory so we aren't going to go into detail about however below you will find an image we made using the solid and transparent settings and changing the pen size.


Image Color Resolution
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F10) will change the color resolution of you image according to the settings you choose.  Depending on the color depth you select different options are available to customize the output.

For 1-Bit through 8-Bit you can select a dither method and palette.  The dithering choices are Floyd Stein, Stucki, Burkes, Sierra, Stevenson Arce, Jarvis, Clustered, Ordered, and none.  The palette choices are Fixed, Optimized, Windows Identity, and Netscape Fixed.

For 16-Bit through 32-Bit you can select the color order.  The color order choices are Blue-Green-Red or Red-Green-Blue.

A preview area is available which allows you to view what the resulting image will look like before making the changes.

Bit Table:

1-bit:         Black & White

4-bit:         16 colors (VGA)

8-bit:         256 grayscale colors

8-bit:         256 colors (paletted)

16-bit:        65,536 colors

24-bit:        16 million colors (16,777,216)

32-bit:       4.3 billion colors (4,294,967,296)

Note that you can determine the exact number of colors as follows:

8-bit is 256

16-bit is 256x256

24-bit is 256x256x256

32-bit is 256x256x256


Image DPI Resolutions
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+P) will allow you to change the DPI (Dots per inch).  When changing the dpi it might help to keep the following in mind.

1).  The DPI does influence the file size.  A lower DPI will produce a smaller file size.

2).  If you are creating an image for a program or web page the standard is 96 dpi.

3).  If you are creating an image that will be printed the dpi needs to be higher.  In most cases 300 dpi will produce the best quality when printing.


Image Convert to Grayscale
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+G) will change a color image to a grayscale image.  Each color will be changed to a matching shade of gray.  Below shows a 256 color image and the same image converted to grayscale.


Image Effects
Clicking this will bring up the effects menu.  Click on the different effect types for detailed descriptions.

Add Noise	Average	Blend

Blur	Buttonize	Despeckle

Diffuse	Dialate	Emboss

Equalize	Erode	Gamma Correct

Gamma Enhance	Half-Tone	Hue

Invert	Lunar Flair	Matrix

Median	Mosaic	Motion Blur

Negative	Oilify	Outline

Parabolic	Perspective	Pinch

Polynomial Warp	Posterize	Ripple

Sharpen	Solarize	Stamp

Swirl	Twist


Effects Add Noise
This adds random pixels to the bitmap, letting you specify the percentage of coverage and the color plane.  This effect simulates taking pictures on high-speed film.  It can be used to make painted areas less apparent.


Effects Average
This changes the color of each pixel in the bitmap to the average color of pixels in its neighborhood. This results in a blur effect on that neighborhood based on it's surroundings.


Effects Blend
This blends each pixel in the current image with its neighboring pixels.


Effects Blur
This blurs the current image by averaging each pixel with each of its neighboring pixels.


Effects Buttonize
This transforms the current image to make it look like a 3D button by adding translucent bevels to the edges of the image.


Effects Despeckle
This removes speckles from the current bitmap. Typically, this method is used to clean up scanned images (such as FAX images).  It removes 1-pixel speckles, and shrinks larger speckles. Therefore, in most cases, speckles can be completely removed by running it more than once if needed.


Effects Diffuse
This diffuses the current image by replacing each pixel with a randomly selected neighboring pixel.


Effects Dilate
This is hard to explain just look at the before and after to get an idea what it does.


Effects Emboss
This applies an emboss effect to the bitmap, letting you specify the depth and direction of the effect.


Effects Equalize
This performs contrast equalization on the current image.


Effects Erode
This is hard to explain just look at the before and after to get an idea what it does.


Effects Gamma Correct
This adjusts the intensity of colors in the bitmap by changing the gamma constant that is used to map the intensity values.  Intensity values ideally follow a logarithmic progression, because the eye perceives changes in intensity as being equal when the ratio of change is equal. For example, we would see a change from 0.1 to 0.2 as being equal to a change from 0.2 to 0.4.  Gamma is a standard constant that is used to calculate the progression. For most CRTs the gamma constant is in the range of 2.2 to 2.5.


Effects Gamma Enhance
This increases or decreases the intensity of the image using the gamma by raising or lowering the brightness midpoint.  Gamma values greater than 1.0 produce a brighter image.  Gamma values less than 1.0 produce a darker image.


Effects Half-Tone
This converts a 1-, 4-, 8-, 16-, 24-, or 32-bit bitmap to a ha;f-toned bitmap. A half-toned bitmap is a 1-bit bitmap that has been dithered for black and white printing or display.  If the bitmap is originally 1-bit but is not black and white, this method changes it to black and white..


Effects Hue
This changes the hue of colors in the bitmap by rotating the color wheel.  This method can rotate the color wheel in either direction. A 180-degree rotation in either direction changes each color to its complement. Positive rotation takes red toward green, green toward blue, and blue toward red. Negative rotation has the opposite effect.


Effects Invert
This inverts the colors in the bitmap, making it like a photographic negative.

This method can also be used to invert the color of a 1-bit bitmap, making the black white and the white black.


Effects Lunar Flair
This produces a flair effect which is determined by the image's composition.  Therefore, different images will produce different effects.

This is a different image with the Lunar Flair Effect applied.


Effects Matrix
This is hard to explain just look at the before and after to get an idea what it does.


Effects Median
This changes the color of each pixel in the bitmap to the median color of pixels in its neighborhood. This is similar to the Average method, but it is used for noise reduction, rather than a blur-like effect.  You control the effect by specifying the size of the neighborhood that is used for calculating the median value.


Effects Mosaic
This imposes a mosaic effect on the bitmap by dividing the bitmap into tiles of a specified size and changing the color of all pixels in each tile to the average color of pixels within the tile.  In other words it sort of clumps pixels into square blocks.


Effects Motion Blur
This creates a motion blur of the current image.  This is like the effect you would get if the thing you were taking a picture of moved just when you took the picture.


Effects Negative
This creates a color negative of the current image.


Effects Oilify
This applies an oil-painting effect to the bitmap.  You control the effect by specifying the size of the neighborhood that is used for calculating the pixel value. You increase the size of the neighborhood in order to decrease the amount of detail in the resulting image.


Effects Outline
This performs an outline effect on the current image.  Outlining has the effect of creating enhanced edges.


Effects Parabolic
This transforms the brightness values of each pixel current image using one of the parabolic transformation methods.

Parabolic Convex:

Parabolic Concave:


Effects Perspective
This performs a perspective effect on the current image by vertically or horizontally changing the aspect for each row or column of pixels from the percent specified  to 100%.

After (using Top to Bottom):


Effects Pinch
This transforms the current image by making it look as if it were pinched in the center.


Effects Polynomial Warp
This performs a polynomial warp on the current image by resizing and warping it based on 4 bounding points within the current image.

After (using Type A):


Effects Posterize
This imposes a poster effect on the bitmap by quantizing the bitmap's colors to a specified number of color levels per plane. For example, two levels means two of red, two of green, and two of blue.  This effect reduces the number of colors that exist within an image.


Effects Ripple
This produces a wave-like ripple effect on the current image.

After Horizontal Ripple:

After Vertical Ripple:


Effects Sharpen
This increases or decreases the sharpness of the image in the bitmap.  Negative values decrease the sharpness of the image. Specify -1000 for minimum sharpness. Positive values increase the sharpness. Specify +1000 for maximum sharpness.  This effect can bring out the details of an image but it can also add unwanted noise to it.


Effects Solarize
This applies an effect that mimics the accidental exposure of photographic film to light. It does so by inverting all color data with an intensity value greater than or equal to the threshold that you specify.


Effects Stamp
This puts a stamp on your image.  At the present time the only stamp available is a smiley face.  You can select a region you want the stamp to appear in before applying this effect to have the stamp placed in the selected region.


Effects Swirl
This transforms the current image by making it look as if it were swirled from the center.


Effects Twist
This performs a twist effect on the current image.  A twist is performed by dividing the image into square blocks and rotating each block.


Image Plug-ins
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+I) will open the apply plug-in window with the currently selected image in it.  Although plug-ins are included with Image Explorer Pro, additional plug-ins are available for download at the Image Explorer Pro's Website.  Most Adobe Photoshop plug-ins will work with Image Explorer Pro providing they do not call the Photoshop API directly. Please note that CDH Productions did not create the included plug-ins or the plug-ins available for download.  The developers of the plug-ins were generous enough to allow us to include them in Image Explorer Pro for your convenience.  Below are the menus for the Apply Plug-In Filter Window.  Click on the different items for detailed descriptions.

File Menu:

Edit Menu:

View Menu:


Image Open
This opens an existing image in the Apply Plug-In Filter Screen.


Image Save
Clicking this will save the image that is now being displayed with the file name you type in and in the format you choose.


Image Print
This will print the currently displayed image.


Image Apply Filter
This will open up the Select Plug-In Filter where you can select the Plug-In you want to apply.  The Adobe Plug-Ins you have installed on your computer will be listed here.  Simply select the Plug-In that you want to use and click ok.  Below is a screenshot.


Image Exit
This will close the Apply Plug-In Filter window.


Image MRU
This displays the last 4 documents you had open for easy access.


Image Rotate
This will rotate the displayed image 45 degrees (F5), 90 degrees (F6), or 180 degrees (F7).


Image Undo
Clicking Undo removes the last change made. Undo can be clicked several times to remove the last several changes.


Image Export
Selecting this option will display the image in Image Explorer Pro's Main window.


Image Best Fit
This will stretch or reduce the image's view so it will fit in the window.  The difference between this and Fit Window is this will maintain the aspect ratio of the image.


Image Fit Window
This will stretch or reduce the image's view so it will fit in the window.


Image Actual Size
This will display the image at it's actual size.


Image Zoom
Zoom:

50%:  This will display the image at half it's size.

200%:  This will display the image at twice it's size.

Increase Zoom:  This will make the image appear larger.

Decrease Zoom:  This will make the image appear smaller.

Note:  Zoom does not change the original image just the view of it.


Image Spatial and Binary Filters
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F) will bring up a window giving you several filters types and filter values to choose from.  There is also a preview area so that you can see what effect the selected filter will have on the image before applying.

The filter types include Gradient, Laplacian, Sobel, Prewitt, Shift & Difference, and Line Segment.  The filter values depend on the filter type selected.  Below is a image before applying the Gradient Filter using the North Value.


Image Texturize Current Image
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+T) will add texture to your image.  At present there are 25 texture types to choose from and you can add your own.  You can also adjust the Intensity, Mid Value, and Saturation.  The preview area shows how the image will look if you apply the currently selected texture.  When the image in the preview area is exactly how you want it click on the Texturize button to apply the settings to the image.  Below is a screen shot of the Texturize window.


Image Picturize Current Directory
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+P) will replace the current image with an image created from images contained in the specified directory.  The image, or selected region, is broken down into rectangles of size CellWidth x CellHeight.  For each rectangle, the image in the directory that is best suited to replace that rectangle is inserted into the original image.

The quality of the result is controlled by three factors:

1. the number of images present in the directory (the more images, the better).

2. the size of the rectangles.  Smaller rectangles create an image that more closely resembles the original.

3. the type of image being replaced. If you are replacing a small image with lots of detail, then you will need a lot of images in the directory in order to create an image that closely resembles the original.


Image Brightness
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+B) will add the percentage adjustment to the red, green and blue components of each pixel.  A lower percentage makes the image darker and a higher percentage makes the image brighter.


Image Stretch Intensity
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+N) will increase the contrast in an bitmap by centering, maximizing, and proportioning the range of intensity values.  Unlike the Contrast method, this method always retains the original number of different intensity values. (Ordinary contrast adjustments can lose values at the high and low ends of the scale.)


Image Contrast
Clicking this or pressing (Alt+F10) will expand or decrease the brightness range by the percentage specified.


Image Histogram
Histogram Contrast:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F5) will increase or decrease the contrast of the image in a bitmap, using a histogram to determine the median brightness.  This method finds the median brightness of the image; then brightens the pixels with values above the median and darkens the pixels with values below the median. This is more sophisticated (but slower) than the Contrast method, which uses the middle possible value (128) rather than finding the actual median.

Histogram Equalize:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F6) will linearize the number of pixels per gray level in the bitmap. This can be used to bring out the detail in dark areas of an image.


Image Saturation
Increase Saturation:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F8) will increase the saturation of colors in the bitmap.  Positive values increase the saturation. The saturation level is increased by a percentage of its present saturation level.  For example, an increase of 20% of the current saturation level "L" will raise the new saturation level "L1" to a value of L + 0.20 * L.  Likewise, increasing the saturation level 100% doubles the saturation level (L1 = L + 1.0 * L).

Decrease Saturation:  Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Ctrl+F9) will decrease the saturation of colors in the bitmap.  Negative values decrease the saturation of colors. The saturation level is increased or decreased by a percentage of its present saturation level.  Decreasing the saturation level 100% will set the new saturation level to 0.  This process is carried out for every pixel.


Image Fill
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+F) will fill the bitmap with the specified color.  If you just want to fill a certain part be sure to select it before applying Fill.


Image Shear
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+H) will move the corners of the bitmap in the fashion of a parallelogram.  You specify an angle of slant, horizontal or vertical shear, and the fill color for the created space. The angle is expressed in hundredths of degrees, with a limit of 4500 (45 degrees).


Image Underlay
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+Y) will combine two bitmaps so that one appears to be an underlying texture for the other. This is most effective when the underlying image is a filtered one, such as an embossed image.  This method changes the colors of the underlay to grayscale as it combines the images. It updates the current bitmap, leaving the second bitmap unchanged. The underlying image can either be stretched or tiled to fill the target image.


Image Deskew
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+W) will rotate the bitmap to straighten it. This method typically is used to automatically straighten scanned images.  The calculated rotation is limited in degrees in either direction. This method is intended for images, such as scanned documents, that are mainly horizontal lines of text. The results are unpredictable with other types of images


Video Menu
Video Menu (Alt+D)

Below is a screen shot of the file menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


Video Play
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Spacebar) will play (run) the currently selected video.


Video Pause
Clicking this or pressing (Alt+F8) will pause the video currently playing (running) in Image Explorer Pro.


Video Playback Speed
Increase (Alt+F12):  This will make the video play faster.

Normal (Alt+F11):  This will play the video at normal speed.

Decrease (Alt+F9):  This will make the video play slower.


Video Open URL
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+Backspace) will bring up a window for you to enter a url.  Clicking OK will open the video file in Image Explorer Pro.


Video Animation Options
Stop Animation Play (Shift+A):  This will stop the animated GIF or Video if it is playing.

Loop Animation Play (Shift+L):  This will play the animated GIF or Video over and over until you click stop.


Options Menu
Options Menu (Alt+O)

This is the menu used to set Image Explorer Pro to suit your preferences.  The most common settings are already made.  Below is a screen shot of the menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


Opt General
Clicking this or pressing (F3) will bring up the following screen where you can customize Image Explorer Pro to suit your taste.  Click the different items in the screen shot below for descriptions.


OG Single Click
Use Single-Click view mode:  If this option is checked whenever you click on a file in Image Explorer Pro's file list it will be displayed.  If it is not clicked then you need to double click on the file for it to be displayed.

Use Single-Click Directory Change:  If this option is checked whenever you click on a directory in Image Explorer Pro's directory list it will open the directory and display the files in the file list.  If it is not clicked then you need to double click on the directory to display the files in the file list.


OG FitZoom
Use FitZoom image viewing:  If this is checked it the image you choose to view will be stretched to fill the entire Image Explorer Pro display area.


OG Multiple Instances
Allow Multiple Program Instances:  If this is checked it will allow Image Explorer Pro to be opened more than once.


OG Confirm Delete
Confirm File Deletion:  If this is checked each time you delete a file a warning window will pop up asking if you want to delete the file.


OG Transparency
Use Transparency Mask:  If this is checked it will set the selected color as a transparent color in the image(s).  Very useful when working with transparent GIF files, as well as other formats that support transparency.  This feature can also be used simply for a display effect..

Mask Color allows you to set the color for the transparency mask.


OG Auto-Refresh
Auto-Refresh File List:  This will automatically update the listed files.


OG Confirm Save
Confirm Save Changes on Exit:  If this is checked each time you exit Image Explorer Pro it will ask you if you want to save the image before closing.

Confirm Save on File Change  If this is clicked each time you try to open a new file it will ask you if you want to save the current file before displaying the selected file.


OG Recycle Bin
Use Recycle Bin on File Deletion:  If this is checked all files deleted will be sent to the recycle bin.


OG Tile Background
Tile Background Image:  If this is checked the background image will be tiled.  If it is not checked the background image will be centered.


OG Slideshow
Include Sub Directories in Slide Show:  If this is checked all images in the sub directories of the directory you choose to view a slide show on will also be displayed.

Slide Show Delay In Seconds:  This is where you set the amount of time to wait before the next image in the slide show is displayed.

Clear:  This clears the slide show delay.


OG Printer
Select Printer for Application Use:  This is where you select the printer you want Image Explorer Pro to use when printing.


OG File Formats
File Format Filtering:  This is where all the filters (extensions) appear.  Unless you are experienced with file formats and extensions it is best to leave the default settings.  However if you choose to change them you can always restore the default settings by clicking the restore default button.


OG Plug-In Directory
Plug-In Path:  This tells Image Explorer Pro where the plug-ins are installed.


OG Buttons
OK:  Accepts the options set and returns you to the main Image Explorer Pro window.

Cancel:  Returns to the main Image Explorer Pro window.  Without making any changes to the options.


Opt Associate
Clicking this or pressing (F4) will associate file types you select with Image Explorer Pro.  In other words if you double click on a file with the extension of the file types you select Image Explorer Pro will open displaying the file that was double clicked on.  Below is a screen shot of the Association Options.


Opt Thumbnail Browser Options
Clicking this will bring up a window where you can customize the Thumbnail Browser Options.


Opt Image Mailer Options
Clicking this will bring up a window for you to enter your e-mail information.  This is needed if you want to use Image Explorer Pro to e-mail the currently displayed image to someone.  Below is the screen shot of the window.


Opt Background Image
Clicking this will let you adjust the background image of Image Explorer Pro.

Select Background Image:  You can select a different background image for Image Explorer Pro.

Clear Background Image lets you choose to use Image Explorer Pro without a background image.

Restore Default Background Image replaces Image Explorer Pro's original background image.

Select Background Color lets you select the background you want to use for Image Explorer Pro.  To have the background color displayed instead of an image you need to select the Clear Background Image option.


Opt Background Music
Play background music:  Lets you select an audio file to play in the background.

Re-Play background music:  This will play the last selected background music file again.

Loop background music:  This will play the selected background music file over and over again until you stop it.


Opt Paint Effects
Special Paint Effect:  This will bring up the Paint Effect Options window.  Whatever effect you choose will be displayed each time an image is loaded in Image Explorer Pro.  These do not change the original image just how it is loaded in the display.  Below is the Paint Effect Options screen.  Click on the individual items for detailed descriptions.

Clear Special Paint Effect:  Will stop the effect from being chosen each time an image is displayed.


Opt Set To Wallpaper
Set Current Image to Windows Wallpaper:  This will replace the current desktop image with the image currently being displayed in Image Explorer Pro.  You can choose to have the image centered or tiled.

Clear Windows Wallpaper:  This will clear the currently displayed desktop image.  This is great if you want to use a background color instead of an image.  The currently selected desktop background color is the color surrounding the icon text on the desktop.


Opt Create Desktop Icon
Clicking this will put a shortcut icon to Image Explorer Pro on your desktop.


Help Menu
Help Menu (Alt+H)

Below is a screen shot of the file menu.  Click on the different items for a detailed description.


Help
Clicking this or pressing (F1) brings up the Image Explorer Pro help file.


Mail CDH Productions
Clicking this will bring up an e-mail editing window. The CDH Productions e-mail address will already be in the "To" box so just type your subject and message and click "Send".


Visit CDH Productions
Clicking this will bring up the CDH Productions web site in your default browser. You must be connected to the internet for this to work.


Disclaimer
Clicking this will display the disclaimer that you agreed to when you installed Image Explorer Pro.


About
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+A) will bring up a window telling you About your current version of Image Explorer Pro.


Hot Keys

There are several windows each with their own hot keys.  Click on the links below to get the hotkeys for those windows.

Advanced Slideshow Window

Apply 3D Text Window

Batch Conversion Window

Create GIF Animation Window

Create Thumbnail Index Window

Icon Workshop Editor Window

Image Explorer Pro Main Window

Plug-ins Window

Video Editor Window


HK Advanced Slideshow Window
Hotkeys for Advanced Slideshow Window:

Ctrl+A	Add

Ctrl+C	Start Slideshow (Current Window)

Ctrl+D	Move Down

Ctrl+F	Fit to Window

Ctrl+R	Enable Scroll

Ctrl+S	Start Slideshow (Full Screen)

Ctrl+U	Move Up

Ctrl+X	Exit

Ctrl+Z	Set Zoom Factor

Del	Remove

F3	Settings

F4	Transitions


HK Apply 3D Text
Hotkeys for Apply 3D Text Window:

Ctrl+A	Apply Text

Ctrl+B	Select Background Color

Ctrl+C	Copy

Ctrl+F	Select Foreground Color

Ctrl+H	Send to Main Window

Ctrl+I	Import Graphic

Ctrl+L	Cancel Selection

Ctrl+N	New

Ctrl+P	Position Text

Ctrl+R	Select Region

Ctrl+V	Paste

Ctrl+X	Cut

Ctrl+Z	Zoom to Fit


HK Batch Conversion Window
Hotkeys for Batch Conversion Window:

Ctrl+A	Add

Ctrl+C	Convert

Ctrl+D	Move Down

Ctrl+U	Move Up

Ctrl+X	Exit

Del	Remove


HK Gif Animation Window
Hotkeys for Create GIF Animation Window:

Ctrl+A	Add

Ctrl+C	Create Animation

Ctrl+D	Move Down

Ctrl+R	Remove

Ctrl+S	Settings

Ctrl+U	Move Up

Ctrl+X	Exit


HK Thumbnail Index Window
Hotkeys for Create Thumbnail Index Window:

Ctrl+C	Copy Thumbnail Image to Clipboard

Ctrl+I	Export Thumbnail Image to Main Window

Ctrl+S	Save Thumbnail Image

Ctrl+W	Set Thumbnail Image as Windows Wallpaper

Ctrl+X	Exit


HK Icon Workshop Window
Hotkeys for Icon Workshop Editor Window:

Ctrl+C	Copy

Ctrl+N	New

Ctrl+O	Open

Ctrl+R	Rotate

Ctrl+S	Save

Ctrl+V	Paste

Ctrl+X	Cut

F2	Grid

F4	Exit

F5	Flip Image Horizontally

F6	Flip Image Vertically

F8	Clear With Left Color

F9	Clear With Right Color


HK IEP Main Window
Hotkeys for Image Explorer Pro Main Window

Alt+F1	Capture Area

Alt+F2	Capture Active Window

Alt+F3	Capture Active Window Client

Alt+F4	Exit

Alt+F5	Capture Window Under Cursor

Alt+F6	Capture Full Screen

Alt+F7	Cancel Capture

Alt+F8	Pause

Alt+F9	Decrease Playback Speed

Alt+F10	Contrast

Alt+F11	Normal Playback Speed

Alt+F12	Increase Playback Speed

Alt+D	Video Menu

Alt+E 	Edit Menu

Alt+F	File Menu

Alt+H	Help Menu

Alt+I	Image Menu

Alt+O	Options Menu

Alt+V	View Menu

Ctrl+F2	Zoom Fit

Ctrl+F3	Zoom Fit SIdes

Ctrl+F4	Zoom Actual Size

Ctrl+F5	Zoom Stretch

Ctrl+F6	Zoom 50%

Ctrl+F7	Zoom 200%

Ctrl+F8	Full Screen Mode (Stretch)

Ctrl+F9	Full Screen Mode (Normal)

Ctrl+F11	Flip

Ctrl+F12	Mirror

Ctrl+Ins	Properties

Ctrl+A	Save As

Ctrl+B	Batch Image Format Conversion

Ctrl+C	Copy

Ctrl+D	Apply 3D Shape

Ctrl+E	Video Editor

Ctrl+F	Fill

Ctrl+G	Clear Current Image

Ctrl+H	Shear

Ctrl+M	Rename Selected Directory

Ctrl+N	Create New Image

Ctrl+O	Open Existing Image

Ctrl+P	Picturize Current Directory

Ctrl+Q	Acquire Image

Ctrl+R	Rename Selected File(s)

Ctrl+S	Save

Ctrl+T	Apply 3D Text

Ctrl+V	Paste

Ctrl+W	Deskew

Ctrl+X	Cut

Ctrl+Y	Underlay

Ctrl+Z	Undo

Del	Delete Selected File(s)

F1	Help

F2	Force Refresh

F3	General

F4	Associate

F5	Start Slide Show

F6	Thumbnail Index Current Directory

F7	Thumbnail Index Selected Files Only

F8	Decrease Zoom

F9	Increase Zoom

F11	Custom Zoom

F12	Zoom to Selected Region

Shift+Alt+F1	Capture Object

Shift+Alt+F5	Capture Menu Under Cursor

Shift+Alt+F6	Capture Cursor

Shift+BckSpc	Open URL

Shift+Ctrl+F2	Draw Object Ellipse

Shift+Ctrl+F3	Draw Object Line

Shift+Ctrl+F4	Draw Object Rectangle

Shift+Ctrl+F5	Histogram Contrast

Shift+Ctrl+F6	Histogram Equalize

Shift+Ctrl+F8	Increase  Saturation

Shift+Ctrl+F9	Decrease Saturation

Shift+Ctrl+F11	Thumbnail Browse Current Directory

Shift+Ctrl+F12	Thumbnail Browse New Directory

Shift+Del	Delete Selected Directory

Shift+F2	Rotate Right 90 degrees

Shift+F3	Rotate Left 90 degrees

Shift+F4	Rotate Custom

Shift+F5	Select Region Rectangle

Shift+F6	Select Region Ellipse

Shift+F7	Select Region Rounded Rectangle

Shift+F8	Select Region Free Hand

Shift+F9	Cancel Selection

Shift+F10	Color Resolution

Shift+Ins	Crop

Shift+Spacebar	Play

Shift+A	About

Shift+B	Brightness

Shift+C	Create Gif Animation

Shift+E	Icon Extractor

Shift+F	Spatial & Binary Filters

Shift+G	Convert to Grayscale

Shift+I	Plug-ins

Shift+L	Loop Animation Play

Shift+N	Stretch Intensity

Shift+P	DPI Resolution

Shift+R	Register

Shift+S	Stop Animation Play

Shift+T	Texturize

Shift+U	Auto-Trim

Shift+V	View Selected File

Shift+W	Icon Workshop Editor

Shift+Z	Resize


HK Plug-Ins Window
Hotkeys for Plug-ins Window:

Ctrl+C	Copy

Ctrl+F	Apply Filter

Ctrl+O	Open

Ctrl+P	Print

Ctrl+S	Save

Ctrl+V	Paste

Ctrl+X	Cut

F2	Mirror

F3	Flip

F4	Exit

F5	Rotate 45 Degrees

F6	Rotate 90 Degrees

F7	Rotate 180 Degrees


HK Video Editor Window
Hotkeys for Video Editor Window:

Ctrl+F2	Video Playback Speed 1/4x

Ctrl+F3	Video Playback Speed 1/3x

Ctrl+F4	Video Playback Speed 1/2x

Ctrl+F5	Video Playback Speed Normal

Ctrl+F6	Video Playback Speed 2x

Ctrl+F7	Video Playback Speed 3x

Ctrl+F8	Video Playback Speed 4x

Ctrl+Ins	Insert Frame

Ctrl+A	Audio Properties

Ctrl+C	Copy

Ctrl+E	Edit Mode

Ctrl+F	Save Current Frame

Ctrl+M	Mark In/Out

Ctrl+O	Open

Ctrl+P	Play

Ctrl+R	Replace Frame

Ctrl+S	Save

Ctrl+U	Pause

Ctrl+V	Paste

Ctrl+X	Exit

Del	Delete

F2	Open Media Stream URL

F3	Save Options

F6	Read Only Mode

F7	Close Media

Shift+F2	Next

Shift+F3	Previous

Shift+F6	First

Shift+F7	Last


Support

There are a number of ways you may obtain additional information concerning Image Explorer Pro:

CDH Productions Website

ICQ UIN 5264277

E-mail

You may also always download the latest version of Image Explorer Pro from:

ftp://ftp.cdhnow.com/Setup_IEP.EXE


Copyright

Image Explorer Pro and all its accompanying files, unless credited otherwise, are Copyright © 1999 by CDH Productions. All Rights Reserved. No portion of these documents may be transmitted by any means, whether electronic or not, without the express written permission of CDH Productions. Broadcast via Web server for general (non-LAN) access is also prohibited without express written permission.


How To Register

Registration of Image Explorer Pro is $50.00 (US) and entitles you to a Registration ID via E-mail. The Registration ID will usually be sent within a few hours after registration.

When registering Image Explorer Pro, you will need to provide the System ID within your copy of Image Explorer Pro. (A field is present on the online order form) The System ID can be found by selecting the Help menu and choosing Register. When ordering via any other method, you will need to include this information with your order.
For your convenience, there are several ways to purchase Image Explorer Pro:

® CDH Productions (* Make sure your Internet connection is active before clicking the link.)

® Regular Postal ("Snail") Mail:

Please , fill out the above form, and mail it to:

CDH Productions
Attn: Order Processing
141 Topsail Greens Drive
Hampstead, NC 28443

Limitations of Unregistered Version:

Image Explorer Pro is a fully functional during the trial period.

No one likes to be nagged. Therefore no nag screens are present within the application until expiration. However, Image Explorer Pro will cease to function after 20 days.

Upon purchase, you will receive a Registration ID which will unlock your existing version to fully registered.


Registration Screen
Below is the Registration Screen.  You get the screen by clicking on Register in the help menu or pressing Shift+F2 on the keyboard.  To make it easier for you to locate the System ID needed for registration we have circled it in red on this screenshot.  Note the number is different for each system.


Registration Form
This order form has been provided to allow ordering CDH Productions products via more traditional means. Simply print this form, fill the appropriate fields, and mail it along with payment to the below address.  Note if you have problems you can find this form online at http://www.cdhnow.com/print_and_mail.htm.

CDH Productions
Attn.: Order processing
141 Topsail Greens Drive
Hampstead, NC 28443

Personal Information

Name

Address (Line 1)

Address (Line 2)

City

State or  Province	Zip or Postal  Code
Phone #

E-mail Address

How did you discover CDH Productions?

Product Quantities

Please specify the quantity of each product you would like to order. (All prices are in US dollars. Please make any checks or money orders payable in US currency to Chris Hoffman.)
________ copies of CDH Image Explorer Pro, at $ 50.00 per copy
________ copies of CDH RoboImage, at $ 40.00 per copy
________ copies of CDH Mail Bagger, at $ 50.00 per copy
________ copies of CDH Media Wizard, at $ 50.00 per copy
________ copies of CDH TrayPlay, at $ 20.00 per copy
________ copies of CDH Check-It!, at $ 20.00 per copy

System ID of Application

(You can find your System ID by running the CDH Productions product,
selecting the Help menu, then clicking Register.)
Grand total for the above item(s): _____________________________________

Payment Method

Please indicate the payment method (and supply any required information.)
___ Personal or business check (NOTE: CDH Productions reserves the right to wait until any checks clear our bank, usually 2 to 5 business days after receipt. CDH Productions also reserves the right to charge a $ 25.00 fee for returned checks, so please don't bounce them.)
___ Cashier's Check or Money Order
___ Credit Card (NOTE: The address of the cardholder MUST match the address given. Please supply the following information.)

Card Type

Card Number

Expiration Date

Signature


Terminology Explained
Terminology

The terminology for image formats can be confusing because there are often several ways of describing the same format. This topic explains what the terms mean.

If an image is 24 bits per pixel, it is also called a 24-bit image, a true color image, or a 16M color image. Sixteen million is roughly the number of different colors that can be represented by 24 bits, where there are 8 bits for each of the red, green, and blue (RGB) values.

A 32-bit image is a specialized true-color format used in image files, where the extra byte carries information that is either converted or ignored when the file is loaded. The extra byte is used for an additional color plane in CMYK files, which are specialized files for color printing. In that case, Image Explorer Pro, by default, converts the values to 24-bit RGB values when loading an image. The additional byte may also be used for an Alpha channel, which carries extra information such as a transparency indicator.

If an image is 16 bits per pixel, it is also called a 16-bit image, a high color image, or a 32K color image. Thirty-two thousand is roughly the number of different colors that can be represented by 16 bits, where there are 5 bits for each of the red, green, and blue values. (Devices that specify 64K color support are also referring to 16-bit images, but they are counting the left-over bit.)

If an image is 8 bits per pixel, it is also called an 8-bit image or a 256-color image. Two hundred fifty-six is the number of different colors that can be achieved by using the image data as 8-bit indexes to an array of colors called a palette.

If an image is 4 bits per pixel, it is also called a 4-bit image or a 16-color image. Sixteen is the number of different colors that can be achieved by using the image data as 4-bit indexes to a palette.

If an image is 1 bit per pixel, it is also called a 1-bit image, a black and white image, a 2-color image, or a bitonal image. Two is the number of different colors that can be achieved by using the image data as 1-bit indexes to a palette. The palette can contain colors other than black and white, although black and white are most common.

If an image is grayscale, its red, green, and blue values are all the same, and the values are incremented from the lowest to the highest. For example, an 8-bit grayscale image has 256 shades of gray, with values from 0 to 255.

Most of this same terminology is applied to video cards. For example, an 8-bit card is one that is capable of displaying 256 colors.


IEP Main WIndow
Below is a screen shot of Image Explorer Pro.  To jump to the specific help for an item just click on the item (including menus) in the screen shot.


IEP Main Drive
This shows the current drive to change to a different drive click on the down arrow and select the drive from the list.


IEP Main Directory
This displays a list of directories for the current drive.  This works the same as Windows explorer except whether a single click or double click is needed to open a directory depends on the settings in General Option.


IEP Main Files
This displays the files that are located in the directory currently open.  To view a file simply click or double click (depending on settings in General Options) and the file will be displayed in the display area of the main window.


IEP Main Display
This is the display area.  The currently selected file is displayed here.


Quick Start
To help get you started quickly in the other window that opened with this one you will find a screen shot of Image Explorer Pro's main window.  Simply click on the different items (i.e. menus, buttons, etc.) to jump directly to the help for that item.  Note leave this window open because most of the topics will be displayed here.

For those of you who prefer the more traditional way you can access the same topics using the help contents.

Before you get started going through the help file please read the following.  It may help you understand some of the terminology.

If you are not really into graphics all the terminology can be confusing.  We have done our best to explain what each term means however if you do have any questions please contact us.

Since you will see 1 bit, 4 bit, and on up to 32 bit a lot in this program we thought the following might help simplify things however if you want more detailed information read Terminology Explained.

1-bit:         Black & White

4-bit:         16 colors (VGA)

8-bit:         256 grayscale colors

8-bit:         256 colors (paletted)

16-bit:        65,536 colors

24-bit:        16 million colors (16,777,216)

32-bit:       4.3 billion colors (4,294,967,296)

Note that you can determine the exact number of colors as follows:

8-bit is 256

16-bit is 256x256

24-bit is 256x256x256

32-bit is 256x256x256

When making colors the highest usable number is 255 because 0 is counted as the first number.

Another thing to keep in mind when trying to decide what bit size you want to save as is the file size.  The more colors the larger the file.

One more thing to keep in mind is that people have their display set at different resolutions.  Unless you know the exact resolution the image you are creating is going to be viewed as it is a good idea to see how the image will look at different resolutions by changing your display resolution and viewing the image.


Before
Before:


Resize Short
Click this or press (Alt+Z) if you want to change the size of the current image. MORE


Rotate Short
Select this feature if you want to rotate the image currently being displayed. MORE


Select Region Short
Select this option to select a specific region (area) of the currently displayed image. MORE


Create New Image Short
Selecting this option will allow you to create a new image.  MORE


Open Existing Image Short
Clicking this option or pressing (Ctrl+O) will open existing image in the main display window. MORE


Batch Convert Short
Click this or press (Ctrl+B) if you want to convert several images to another format (type).  You can convert a variety of different file types to the selected file type in same batch conversion operation. MORE


Thumbnail Browse Short
Select this feature if you want Image Explorer Pro to show thumbnails of all the images in the current directory or new directory. MORE


Thumbnail Index Short
Clicking this will open the Image Thumbnail Viewer window displaying thumbnails (small images) of selected files or all the files in the current directory. MORE


Advanced Slideshow Short
Select this option if you want to do an advanced slideshow (display images one after another with special effects). MORE


Capture Short
This is clicked if you want to perform a capture.  There are several different types of captures that Image Explorer Pro can do.  MORE


Icon Extractor Short
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+E) will let you capture (extract) bitmaps, cursors, and icons from .exe and .dll files.  It will also let you change the background color before capturing (extracting) them. MORE


Icon Workshop Short
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+W) will start the Icon Workshop Editor which is used for creating or editing icons. MORE


Zoom Short
Choose this option if you want to change the zoom factor or style of the current image. MORE


Apply 3D Text Short
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+T) will start the 3D text editor for creating text overlays and captions on images. MORE


Apply 3D Shape Short
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+D) will start the 3D shape generator for quick and easy creation of geometric shape overlays. MORE


Draw Object Short
The Draw Object option is a set of tools which will draw the selected shape.  Click which type of object you want to draw; make your selections; click where you want to start drawing the object, holding down the left mouse button, drag until the object is the size you want; release the mouse button; and your object will be displayed. MORE


Color Resolution Short
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+F10) will change the color resolution of you image according to the settings you choose. MORE


Plug-Ins Short
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+I) will open the apply plug-in window with the currently selected image in it.  Although plug-ins are included with Image Explorer Pro, additional plug-ins are available for download at the Image Explorer Pro's Website.  Most Adobe Photoshop plug-ins will work with Image Explorer Pro providing they do not call the Photoshop API directly. Please note that CDH Productions did not create the included plug-ins or the plug-ins available for download.  The developers of the plug-ins were generous enough to allow us to include them in Image Explorer Pro for your convenience. MORE


Texturize Short
Clicking this or pressing (Shift+T) will add texture to your image.  At present there are 25 texture types to choose from and you can add your own.  MORE


Picturize Short
Clicking this or pressing (Ctrl+P) will replace the current image with an image created from images contained in the specified directory. MORE


Create Animated Gif Short
Click this or press (Shift+C) when you want to create an animated gif. MORE


Video Editor Short
Click this or press (Ctrl+E) if you want to view and edit videos.  The video editor supports viewing and editing of several different file types. MORE


Options General Short
Clicking this or pressing (F3) will bring up the following screen where you can customize Image Explorer Pro to suit your taste. MORE


Options Associate Short
Clicking this or pressing (F4) will associate file types you select with Image Explorer Pro. MORE


Options Background Short
Clicking this will let you adjust the background image of Image Explorer Pro. MORE


Options Paint Effects Short
This will bring up the Paint Effect Options window.  Whatever effect you choose will be displayed each time an image is loaded in Image Explorer Pro.  These do not change the original image, just how it is loaded in the display. MORE