ColorDesk Photo Online Help

Welcome to ColorDesk Photo!

ColorDesk Photo is a powerful, easy-to-use image enhancement program which provides a simple way to capture color images on your PC, add them to your documents, print them with high quality results on almost any color printer, and order photo-personalized merchandise and photo reprints from the PictureMall.

Quick Overview

ColorDesk Photo is divided into five steps, or pages, which are listed at the bottom of the toolbar:

1	Open your image on the Start page.

2	Resize, rotate, and crop your image on the Adjust page.

3	Change the appearance of your image manually or automatically on the Fix Colors page.

4	Touch-up your photo by adjusting the focus and removing dust on the Retouch page.

5	Save, print, and connect to the PictureMall on the Finish page.

Move from page to page by clicking the red Back and green Next buttons at the bottom-right of the window.

Need more help?

All ColorDesk applications feature quick access to context sensitive help. To find out how any tool or control works, just position the mouse over the tool, click the right-mouse button, and choose What's This? from the menu that appears. A brief description of the tool will appear on-screen. Click anywhere on the screen to clear the help window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.


Start Page

Find and open your image on this page. If you already have an image open, you can open a new one here.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[ALT-S]


Adjust Page

You can resize, flip, rotate, or crop your image on this page.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[ALT-A]


Fix Colors Page

Fix the colors in your image on this page. You can manually adjust brightness, contrast, and color intensity; or ColorDesk Photo can fix your image’s colors for you with the click of a single button. Just click AutoFinish and it’s automatically done for you!

Shortcuts

Keys:	[ALT-C]


Retouch Page

Improve the appearance of your image on this page. Change the Focus, and remove Dust & Scratches quickly and easily.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[ALT-R]


Finish Page

When you are finished enhancing your image, this is where you can Save, Print, Copy to Clipboard, Send via E-mail, or order something from the PictureMall. You can also exit ColorDesk Photo on this page.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[ALT-F]


Back

Return to the previous page. This button is unavailable if you are on the Start page, which is the first page in ColorDesk Photo.


Next

Move to the next page. This button is unavailable if you are on the Finish page, which is the last page in ColorDesk Photo.


Undo

Reverse your last action. This button is only available if there is an action to undo.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[CTRL-Z] or

[ALT-BACKSPACE]


Redo

Restores your last action. Redo is only available after you have used the Undo button.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[CTRL-Z] or

[ALT-BACKSPACE]


Open Last Used Image

Click here to open the last image you were working on. The image will be opened, and ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust Page.

Note

If this is the first time you’ve used ColorDesk Photo, clicking this button will open one of the included sample images.


Browse My Computer

Click here to find an image on your computer. A Browser will be displayed where you can view thumbnails of the files on your computer or network. After you have selected an image, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.

You can also open, cut, copy, paste, delete, rename, or even create a new folder for an image by clicking the right mouse button on a thumbnail.


Thumbnails
Image Thumbnail

Click here to select this image. ColorDesk Photo displays thumbnails of all the images in the current directory, which it can open.

Tip

You can also double-click on a thumbnail to open the image.

Note

If you cannot find the thumbnail for an image you are looking for, either it is not in the current directory, or it is an image format that ColorDesk Photo does not support.

File Management

The browser also supports many file operations such as Cut, Copy, Paste, and Rename. To access these features, click the right mouse button on the thumbnail you want to work on, and a popup menu will appear with various options.

Drag and Drop

You can drag a file from the browser into another program. Just click on a thumbnail with the mouse and drag it into the other program. The image will automatically be opened.


Browser Directory Tree
Browser Tree

This box displays the folders on your computer. To expand or collapse a folder, click the plus or minus sign to the left of the folder’s name. Click on a folder to see thumbnails of all the images inside.

File Management

•	You can move a file from one folder to another by clicking on its thumbnail and dragging it into a folder in the tree.

•	Click the right mouse button in the tree to get a menu of additional options. You can create new folders and paste files from the clipboard into other folders.

Tips

You can double-click on a collapsed folder to expand or collapse it.

Note

If no thumbnails appear when you click on a folder, that means that ColorDesk Photo could not find any images in a file format it supports.


Browse CD-ROMs

Click here to find an image on a CD-ROM. A Browser will be displayed where you can view thumbnails of the files on the CD currently installed, as well as files on CDs you have previously viewed.

After you have selected an image, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.


Use My Digital Camera

Click here to open an image from your digital camera. A dialog box will be displayed that displays all the photos that are stored in your camera.

If you have not specified what kind of digital camera you are using in ColorDesk Setup, a Select Source dialog will appear and you can select your camera from the list.

After you have selected an image, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.


Use My Video Capture Port

Click here to open an image using the Video Capture port in your computer. The Video Capture page will be displayed showing live video on your computer monitor. You can freeze the video at any point and open that frame in ColorDesk Photo.

After you have selected a frame, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.


Video Capture: Freeze
Freeze Video

Click here to freeze the video that is being displayed. If you like the frozen video frame that is shown, click the green Next button at the bottom-right of the window to continue working on the image in ColorDesk Photo.  To continue watching live video so that you can select another frame, click this button again to unfreeze the video.

Note

By clicking this button you are not controlling your video source (i.e. Camcorder, VCR, TV, etc). All that is happening is that the video that is being displayed on your computer is being frozen on a single frame so you can decide if you want to open that frame in ColorDesk Photo. Your video source continues to play in real time in the background.

Tip

If the video is moving too quickly for you to select a specific frame, and you’re using a device which you can control such as a VCR or Camcorder, try putting the device in slow playback, or pause it manually. This way you can slowly move through the video while watching it on your computer screen to select the frame you want to capture.


Video Capture: Play
Play Video

Click here to start viewing live video again.

Tip

If the video is moving too quickly for you to select a specific frame, and you’re using a device which you can control such as a VCR or Camcorder, try putting the device in slow playback, or pause it manually. This way you can slowly move through the video while watching it on your computer screen to select the frame you want to capture.


Video Capture: Video Source
Video Source

Click here to display the Video Source dialog for your computer. This dialog will let you select the source for the video that is being displayed (i.e. cable tuner, antenna, RCA input, etc.).  Refer to the documentation that came with your computer or video capture port for additional information.


Video Capture: Video Format
Video Format

Click here to display the Video Format dialog for your computer. This dialog will let you select the size for the video that is being displayed and the color options.


Video Capture: Capture
Capture

Click here to capture a frame of video and continue to the Adjust page. If the video is currently frozen, the exact image you see will be captured. If the video is playing, then the frame of video that happens to be playing in the instant you click the Capture button will be captured.


Paste From Clipboard

Click here to bring in an image from the clipboard. This button will be unavailable if the clipboard is empty, or if the contents cannot be opened in ColorDesk Photo.

After the image is pasted, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[CTRL-V]


Use My Scanner

Click here to scan an image using your default scanner. The TWAIN dialog for the scanner will be displayed.

If you have not specified what kind of scanner you are using in ColorDesk Setup, a Select Source dialog will appear and you can select your camera from the list.

After you have scanned an image, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.


Use Another TWAIN Device

Click here to display the Select Source dialog where you can choose which device you want to use. The TWAIN dialog for your device will be displayed so that you can select an image.

After you have selected an image, ColorDesk Photo will automatically move to the Adjust page.


Save

Use this button to save your image. ColorDesk Photo will display the Save dialog box where you can name your document and set other options such as the File Type and Compression. This button is unavailable if you don’t have an image open.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[CTRL-S]


Print

Click here to display the Print dialog box, where you can specify which printer you want to use, the number of copies, the paper orientation, the type of paper and ink you want to use, and other printer options. This button is unavailable if you don’t have an image open.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[CTRL-P]


Print: Profile
Profile

This displays the name of the color matching profile that is going to be used.  The profile is selected automatically according to the settings you made in ColorDesk Setup.


Print: Paper and Ink Type
Paper and Ink Type

Select the type of paper you are printing on from this dropdown. This fine-tunes the color matching profile to produce the best results possible from your printer.


Print: Portrait
Portrait

Click here to print the page vertically.


Print: Landscape
Landscape

Click here to print the page horizontally.


Print: Paper orientation
Paper Orientation

Displays the current orientation of the paper.


Save: compression
Compression

Specifies the amount of compression to be used when saving a file.  The higher the compression, the smaller your file will be, but this will result in poorer quality.  This dropdown is only available when the selected file type supports compression.


Copy to Clipboard

Click here to copy your image to the clipboard. You can then paste it into another program by selecting the Edit/Paste command from that program. This is a good way to transfer your image from ColorDesk Photo to another program.

Copying your image to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there. This button is unavailable if you don’t have an image open.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[CTRL-C]


Send via E-mail

Click here to send your image via e-mail to family and friends. Your default e-mail program will launch and a new message will be created with your image already attached. Then you can address it as you usually do and send it when you’re finished.

This button is unavailable if you don’t have an image open.

Notes

•	ColorDesk Photo will work with any e-mail program that supports the MAPI standard.

•	If the image you are working on was not opened as a file (i.e. it did not come from a CD-ROM, Hard Disk, Network, etc.), you will need to save it before you can send it via e-mail.


PictureMall

Click here to order photo-quality reprints and photo-personalized merchandise over the internet.

Your Internet browser will be displayed and will then automatically access the PictureMall web site. Follow the instructions on the web site for ordering information.


Exit

Click here to exit ColorDesk Photo. You will be prompted to save your image if you have changed it and haven’t saved it yet.

Shortcuts

Keys:	[ALT-F4]


Size -

1	Each time you click this button, your image will be made 5% smaller. The first time you click, the green OK and red CANCEL buttons will appear on screen.

2	Keep clicking the button until the display shows the size you want.

3	Click the OK button to resize your image or the CANCEL button if you have changed your mind.

Tip

Making your image smaller will increase the quality and detail when printing.

Note

Your image will not zoom in or out on the screen while you are pressing the + and - buttons.


Size +

1	Each time you click this button, your image will be made 5% larger. The first time you click, the green OK and red CANCEL buttons will appear on screen.

2	Keep clicking the button until the display shows the size you want.

3	Click the OK button to resize your image or the CANCEL button if you have changed your mind.

Notes

•	You can make your image up to 500% larger.

•	For best results, don’t make your image significantly larger than the original because this will result in a loss of detail. Try using the SuperSample option to reduce the loss of detail caused by making your image larger.

•	Your image will not zoom in or out while it is being resized.


Current Image Size

This shows the current size of your image, rounded to the nearest fraction. The units of measurement are automatically selected from the Windows Control Panel.


SuperSample

If you are making your image larger and want to print it, enabling this checkbox will increase the resolution and make the final image sharper, with more detail.

However, when it is enabled, the size of your image when saved to disk will be much larger.

Tip

You should only use the SuperSample option if you plan to print your images.


OK

Click here to complete the current action.


Cancel

Click here to cancel using the current tool.


Flip Up and Down

Each time you click on this button, your image is flipped upside-down.


Flip Sideways

Each time you click on this button, your image is flipped from left to right.


Rotate Quarter Turn Right

Each time you click on this button, your image is rotated a quarter turn to the right.


Rotate Quarter Turn Left

Each time you click on this button, your image is rotated a quarter turn to the left.


Rotate
Rotate Custom Amount

This tool lets you rotate your image visually instead of guessing how many degrees you need to turn it by. When you activate the tool, a grid will appear on top of your image. Just align the grid with something in your image that is straight vertically or horizontally, and ColorDesk Photo will automatically rotate your image by the correct amount.

1	Click this button to activate the Rotate tool. A grid will appear on top of your image, and the green OK and red CANCEL buttons will appear.

2	Move your cursor over the image to either a vertical or horizontal grid line.

3	Click and drag the mouse button to rotate the grid. Rotate the grid so that it lines up with something in your image.

4	Click the OK button to complete the rotation or the CANCEL button if you have changed your mind.

Notes

•	You can move the grid around by clicking on the bulls-eye in the center of the grid and dragging the mouse.

•	To cancel the rotation, press the CANCEL button or [Esc] key at any time.


Crop

1	Click this button to activate the Crop tool. A green OK and red CANCEL button will appear.

2	Move your cursor over the image to the top-left corner of the section you want to keep.

3	Click and drag the mouse button to the bottom-right corner of the section you want to keep.

4	Release the mouse button. A box will appear on top of the image. Everything outside the box will be removed, so make sure the section you want to keep is entirely inside the box.

5	Click the OK button to complete the Crop operation or the CANCEL button if you have changed your mind.

Notes

•	You can move the box around by clicking inside it and dragging the mouse.

•	You can resize the box by clicking on any of the square dots at the corners and dragging the mouse.

•	You can create a new box by repeating step 2 and starting outside the boundary of the current box.

•	To cancel the cropping, press the [Esc] key at any time.


AutoFinish

AutoFinish is a unique and powerful tool that quickly and automatically fixes the colors in your image. Simply click the button and it analyzes your image and makes thousands of adjustments quickly and automatically.

Tips

•	AutoFinish works best on problem images. If your image is good to begin with, AutoFinish won’t make any more changes.

•	Some images just can’t be helped! For example, if your image is so over- or underexposed that you can’t make out many details, there simply isn’t enough information in the image for AutoFinish to work with.


Brightness

Drag this slider to the right to increase your image’s brightness, and to the left to decrease the brightness.


Contrast

Drag this slider to the right to increase your image’s contrast, and to the left to decrease the contrast.


Color Intensity

Drag this slider to adjust the intensity of the colors in your image.

Note

Some printers cannot handle images with very strong, intense colors. Inkjet printers in particular may cause the paper to wrinkle because they have to lay down a lot of ink. To avoid this problem, don’t make the color intensity too high.


Dust and Scratch Removal (dark)
Remove Dust and Scratches (Dark)

Use this tool when the dust or scratch you want to remove is darker than the surrounding area.  For example, if there is black dust on a white dress in your picture, use this tool.

1	Click this button to activate the tool. Green OK and red CANCEL buttons will appear.

2	Move your cursor over the image to the top-left corner of the section that has the dust or scratch.

3	Click and drag the mouse button to the bottom-right corner of the section.

4	Release the mouse button. A box will appear on top of the image.

5	Click the OK button to complete the operation. The dust and scratches that are darker than the image and inside the box will be removed.

Notes

•	You can move the box around by clicking inside it and dragging the mouse.

•	You can resize the box by clicking on any of the square dots at the corners and dragging the mouse.

•	You can create a new box by repeating step 2 and starting outside the boundary of the current box.

•	To cancel the tool, press the [esc] key at any time.


Dust and Scratch Removal (light)
Remove Dust and Scratches (Light)

Use this tool when the dust or scratch you want to remove is lighter than the surrounding area.  For example, if there is white dust on a dark jacket in your picture, use this tool.

1	Click this button to activate the tool. Green OK and red CANCEL buttons will appear.

2	Move your cursor over the image to the top-left corner of the section that has the dust or scratch.

3	Click and drag the mouse button to the bottom-right corner of the section.

4	Release the mouse button. A box will appear on top of the image.

5	Click the OK button to complete the operation. The dust and scratches that are lighter than the image and inside the box will be removed.

Notes

•	You can move the box around by clicking inside it and dragging the mouse.

•	You can resize the box by clicking on any of the square dots at the corners and dragging the mouse.

•	You can create a new box by repeating step 2 and starting outside the boundary of the current box.

•	To cancel the tool, press the [Esc] key at any time.


Focus: Sharpen
Focus: Sharper

Click this button to sharpen the focus of your image. Each time you click, your photo will get sharper.

Tips

•	Sharpen cannot rescue completely out-of-focus pictures. It works best when the image is just a bit fuzzier than you would like.

•	If you Sharpen your photo too many times, thin white lines will begin to appear in your photo around the edges of objects. If this happens, it means you have tried to sharpen the image too much. Click the Undo button to go back a level.


Focus: Fuzzier

Click this button to blur the focus of your image. Each time you click, your photo will get fuzzier.