Table of Contents:

1.  Overview of the ArtPlayer 4.0 and ArtAlbum Collections
2.  Cool Stuff You Can Do With Your ArtPlayer
3.  Tour through the ArtPlayer
4.  Frequently Asked Questions
5.  Known Problems and Workarounds
6.  Technical Support Contact Information

1.  OVERVIEW:  THE ARTPLAYERTM AND ARTALBUMTM COLLECTIONS

“Art for Your Desktop”TM

Each of LiquidArt's ArtAlbum collections is viewed and used through the ArtPlayer -- our own media player.  

The ArtPlayer enables the contents of each ArtAlbum collection to be used as a slideshow screensaver and desktop wallpaper. You can also:

•	Make collections using your own images
•	Download collections directly from the ArtPlayer
•	Email collections to your friends
•	Learn about the art through the ArtPlayer

The ArtPlayer is yours to keep when you download it along with an ArtAlbum collection.  You can download Free Trial versions- so you can "try before you buy" each of our ArtAlbum collections.  We'll be continually improving the ArtPlayer to add functions and features and make it easier to use (email us with your suggestions).  Be sure to upgrade your ArtPlayer version after each new release.

2.  COOL STUFF YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR ARTPLAYERTM

•	Make a homemade image collection with your own photographs and art.

•	Make any collection your screensaver and background wallpaper.

•	Send an ArtAlbum collection via e-mail to a friend.

•	Link back to the www.liquidart.com website to learn more about the artist,  collection, and about liquidart.  Explore each artist.

•	Read about each artist, collection, and work  -- learn about your favorite artists! 

3.  TOUR THROUGH THE ARTPLAYER:TM

"Collections" Tab

The "Collections" Tab is a display of each ArtAlbum collection you have downloaded and installed in your ArtPlayer and all collections you've made yourself.  The "Collections" Tab is like an interactive library bookshelf -- you can view the covers of your art books and choose specific ArtAlbums to explore.

From the "Collections" Tab you can add more ArtAlbum collections, purchase ArtAlbum collections, and change the settings on your screensaver.  

Navigating from the top of the "Collections" Tab downward:

•	"Web" link next to collection title:  click on this to link to the Internet and see more information regarding the art relating to the title displayed.  

•	"Open Collection" button:  allows you to browse all the images in an ArtAlbum collection by clicking on a collection title (locked images in a Free Trial collection won't display until you buy the ArtAlbum collection and insert the unlocking key).  

The dialog box displayed when you click on the "Open Collection" button has a few cool features:

•	You can download another collection by clicking Download

•	To locate an ArtAlbum collection on your hard drive, use the Find a Collection button. 

•	The Remove button removes the collection highlighted in the "Open Collection" dialog box.

•	"Send Collection" button:  you can e-mail collections to your friends and family!  

To send a collection, click on the Send Collection button collection and follow the instructions given by the Wizard.

Presently this functionality supports e-mailing an Internet hyperlink to the liquidart.com website to download the ArtAlbum collection you'd like to share with a friend.  

Also, this function supports only certain e-mail systems, such as Microsoft Outlook, Eudora, and Netscape.  We'll continue to enhance this functionality to support other e-mail systems.

The ArtPlayer only helps you send e-mails through your own e-mail system, so you have to be connected to the Internet, have your e-mail system installed, etc., to use the Send Collection function.

•	"Download" button:  The Download feature provides you 2 options:  

(1) download any ArtAlbum collection (buy it or try it before you buy it!) for which you've received a Teaser collection.

and

(2) hyperlink to the www.liquidart.com website to view a selection of additional ArtAlbum collections we have available.

To use this feature, click on the Download button and follow the instructions provided by the wizard.

•	"Purchase" button:  buy an ArtAlbum collection for which you've already downloaded a free Trial version.  To use this feature, see:  

•	"Settings"  button:  modifies settings for the ArtPlayer and screensaver:

•	"Screensaver" Tab:

•	"Enlarge picture to full screen" expands the size of the screensaver image to fit your full computer monitor screen.

Our images are designed for best use at 800 by 600 screen resolution.

•	"Show pop-up navigation bar on mouse move" toggles the small "fastforward" and "rewind" button bar that pops up when you move your mouse while the screensaver is playing.  If you uncheck the box, the bar doesn't come up and the screensaver exits when you move the mouse.

•	"Password Protected" check box:  check this box to require a password to close your screensaver and return to your Windows display.  If you forget your password, re-boot your computer and reset the password to something you'll remember.

•	"Collections" Tab:  check the box for each collection that you want to view as your screensaver.

•	"Transitions" Tab:  allows you to choose which screensaver transitions to use and specify their duration.

•	"Tray Icon" Tab:  toggles the ArtPlayer tray icon (the liquidart logo-shortcut in the Windows Taskbar, on the right).

•	"Wallpaper" Tab:  gives quick instructions on how to make any ArtAlbum collection image into your background wallpaper.

•	"Preview" button:  launches the selected ArtAlbum as a screensaver.

One important note:  when the screensaver comes on as a result of inactivity on the computer, it launches the collections you've selected in the Settings dialog box (under the "Collections" Tab in the Settings box), but when you click Preview, the ArtPlayer displays the currently selected ArtAlbum as displayed on the main ArtPlayer window.

•	"Help" button:  Gives some quick tips on using the ArtPlayer.  See the www.liquidart.com website for additional help.

•	"About" button:  Displays information about liquidart, the ArtPlayer, and the currently selected collection in the main ArtPlayer window.

•	"Zoom" button (lower right of ArtPlayer):  allows you to toggle between different viewing modes.

"Images" Tab

The "Images" Tab displays all of the images from the collection selected through the "Collections" tab.   The "Images" tab is like an interactive table of contents for an art book or photo album -- you can zoom in and out to view images up close or view more than one image at a time.  

If the "Images" Tab doesn't display all the images in a free Trial ArtAlbum collection, you’ll need to buy it then insert the unlocking key you’ll receive.  Until you insert the unlocking key, only the "sample" images will be displayed.  All images will be disabled when the trial period expires.  

A typical ArtAlbum collection has between 5 and 10 images displayed in "try before you buy" mode and 25 images after the unlocking key has been inserted.

Navigating from the top of the "Images" Tab downward (skipping buttons which are the same as on the "Collections" Tab:

•	About Art button:  click on this button to read all about the artist, museum or other originator of the world-class art you're viewing.  

There's a lot of great info there -- check it out!

•	Set as Wallpaper button:  allows you to set the selected image as your background wallpaper.  To retrieve your old wallpaper, see "wallpaper" in the FAQ.

"Expert" Tab

The "Expert" Tab displays the same images as the "Images" Tab, but allows you to make greater use of the ArtPlayer and gives you more control over how you view and use the images.  

From the "Expert" Tab you can make and edit your own image collections and modify ArtPlayer settings.  

Navigating from the top of the "Expert" Tab downward (skipping buttons which are the same as the other Tabs):

•	Create Collection Button:  allows you to create your own image collections.  See the FAQ for additional information.

•	Edit Collection Button:  Allows you to change the order of the images in a homemade collection, or remove or add images.

4.  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

•	Question:  What are the ArtPlayer system requirements?

•	Answer:  The ArtPlayer is designed to work on Windows 95, 98, and NT, SVGA video (see best resolution and color below), and works best on systems with a processor speed of 200 mhz or higher, at least 32 megs of RAM and over 50 mb of hard drive space (it won't use all the space, but it's best for any Windows applications to have extra space to run). 

The minimum screen resolution to display the ArtPlayer is 800 x 600.  You can still use it at lower resolutions but the ArtPlayer won’t display the entire window.  

The ArtPlayer displays correctly on systems set to "high color" or "true color" or better (in the Windows Control Panel, go to "Display Properties," then "Settings," and select high color or true color in the "Color Palette" menu).  

The ArtPlayer 4.0 works best with Display Properties set to "small fonts"  (to set this, look under "Display Properties" in the Windows Control Panel, then go to the "Settings Tab," then click the <Advanced> button and set fonts to "small fonts").

•	Question:  How do I exit a screensaver?  When I move my mouse, rather than exiting, I get a little pop-up bar with arrows on it.

•	Answer:  To exit a screensaver, hit any key on the keyboard or mouse-click anywhere outside the small pop-up bar.  The pop-up bar is a  feature that allows you to browse through images in full screen mode and hyperlink to our website to find out more about our artists and collections.  

You can toggle the pup-up bar to "off" and the screensaver will exit when you move the mouse. 

•	Question:  What is a “Free Trial” version? 

•	Answer:  We want you to be able to try ArtAlbum collections to see if you like the art before you commit to keeping a collection.  You can download them, install them, and view them for a limited time, usually between 14 and 30 days. The shareware versions of ArtAlbums usually have fewer images than are in the full, unlocked versions.

If you want to keep it, you can buy it (you don't have to download anything else -- it's all in the Trial version to be unlocked!) before or after it expires.  

•	Question:  How do I download additional ArtAlbum collections to use with my ArtPlayer?

•	Answer:  Download any ArtAlbum collection from this website or any other website where you find one.  

You can do this through the ArtPlayer, too.  Click on the "Download" button on the ArtPlayer.

Run the Setup_(collection name)_LAC.exe file (click on the Windows Start Menu button, click Run, then Browse to the location of the Setup file, and click OK) and be sure to install the new collection in the same folder as your prior ArtPlayer (usually it's the default, c:\Program Files\liquidart).  

Follow the setup instructions and you're done.

•	Question:  How do I buy an ArtAlbum collection so that I can keep it and view all of the images in the collection?

•	Answer:  You have 2 options:

(A) You can buy a pre-paid version and download it from liquidart.com.  Follow the instructions to buy a collection from liquidart.com (use a credit card):

1.  Download the collection to your computer; and 

2.  Run the Setup_(collection name)_LAC.exe file (click on the Windows Start Menu, then click Run, then click Browse and move to the location of the Setup file, then click OK). 

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND INSTALLING THE ARTPLAYER INTO THE DEFAULT C:\Program Files\liquidart FOLDER.

If you cannot find the file you just downloaded, try searching for "*LAC*" on your hard drive, this should locate all of the ArtAlbum collections you have on your hard drive (both installed and just downloaded).

(B)  Download a Free Trial collection and install it with the same procedure described above.  There are a few additional steps involved in buying and keeping a Trial version:

1.  Launch the ArtPlayer.

2.  Select / highlight the ArtAlbum collection that you want to purchase by single-clicking on the cover image representing the ArtAlbum.

3.  Click on the Purchase button on the ArtPlayer.

4.  Follow the instructions provided by the ArtPlayer Purchase wizard.

5.  The liquidart.com website will provide you with an "Unlocking Key."  Copy the Unlocking Key by highlighting, right-clicking on the selected text and choosing <Copy>.

6.  In the ArtPlayer Purchase window, right click into the "Unlocking Key" box, and choose Paste.  Then click OK.

At this point, you should have successfully purchased the collection and be looking at a confirmation from the ArtPlayer.  If you're not, go back to the liquidart.com website Unlocking Password page and try to copy it again (proofread!) and, if that doesn't work, type it in manually.

K.  You can also purchase a collection by:

Faxing your Name, e-mail address, credit card number, credit card billing address, and Registration Number to liquidart at 312-595-0675  (give us a return fax number if you don't have e-mail)

E-mailing the same information to liquidart at purchase@liquidart.com.

•	Question:  I just want to use a liquidart collection as a screensaver.  How do I do this?

Answer:  Run the Setup_(collection title)_LAC.exe file you downloaded.  The ArtAlbum collection you installed will automatically be your default screensaver (you can always change this back through the Windows Control Panel, in "Display Settings," under the "Screensaver" Tab).  

•	Question:  How do I change the settings for my screensaver?

•	Answer:  Open the Control Panel,  "Display Settings," "Screensaver" Tab, (click on "Settings" for the screensaver) or launch the ArtPlayer through the Start Menu or the tray icon and choose Settings.

To use a non-liquidart screensaver, you can change the settings under Control Panel, "Display Settings," "Screensaver" Tab, to another screensaver, or go to Settings on the ArtPlayer and uncheck "use ArtPlayer as screensaver."

•	Question:  How do I uninstall the ArtPlayer from my computer?

•	Answer:  Follow these steps:

1.  If you have the liquidart tray icon running (lower right corner of your Windows Taskbar), close it by right -clicking and selecting "Close Tray Icon."

2.  Go to "Add/Remove Programs" in the Windows Control Panel (Windows Start Menu on the Windows Taskbar, choose "Settings," then "Control Panel," and "Add/Remove" programs), then make sure you're at the "Install/Uninstall" Tab.

3.  Select the ArtPlayer in the list of installed applications.

4.  Click on <Add/Remove> and then follow the instructions in the uninstall routine.

The following steps are for additional cleanup only:

5.  Through Windows Explorer, check the folder where the ArtPlayer was installed (usually it's the default c:/Program Files/liquidart).  If you do not intend to reuse any of the data in that folder, you can delete the whole folder.

If the next time you reboot your computer you see a Windows dialog box that says it's searching for the ArtPlayer tray icon, click Cancel.  

6.  Use Windows Explorer to search for files with the word "*liquid*" and also the extension "*lac*" in them (in Windows Explorer, choose "Tools," then "Find," then "Files or Folders," then select a drive, and type search words in the "Named" box). 

Delete all found liquidart files. 
 
8.  Here is a manual process to delete the screensaver component:

Delete the ArtPlayer.scr file in the "c:\windows" directory 

•	Question:  My LiquidArt screensaver stopped working and I can't see the artwork through my ArtPlayer any more.  What happened?

•	Answer:  One of two things has happened.  

1. You downloaded a Trial version of an ArtAlbum collection and it's past its expiration date.  If you want to keep it and see more images (in most collections, buying and registering unlocks more images too) follow the purchase and registration procedure described below (click on the Purchase button on the ArtPlayer and go from there). OR

2. You might have accidentally moved or deleted the ArtAlbum collection files (or you renamed the directory or folder). 

If you still see the files in Windows Explorer but the ArtPlayer can't find them, try removing the collection from the ArtPlayer ("Remove" procedure described below -- under the Open Collection button) and reinstalling the ArtAlbum collection file with the Find Collection and Install Collection functions under the Open Collection button.

If you cannot find the files with Windows Explorer, you may have deleted the ArtAlbum collection.  Try Re-downloading them from liquidart.com and running Setup_(collection name)_LAC.exe as described above.

•	Question:  I downloaded an ArtAlbum collection and I also received a cover for a "Teaser" collection.  What's a "Teaser" collection? 

•	Answer:  a "Teaser" collection is like a "coming soon" movie trailer.  It informs you of an ArtAlbum collection we think you'll like.

The Teaser collection doesn't have any of the full features of a full ArtAlbum collection.  

You can remove it through the Open Collection button on the "Collections" Tab of the ArtPlayer (or by right mouse-clicking on the collection cover at the "Collections" Tab and choosing "Remove Collection").  

If you want to download an ArtAlbum collection for which you've received a Teaser, click on the Download button, select the ArtAlbum collection that you want to download, and follow the wizard’s instructions to install the ArtAlbum collection.

•	Question:  I want to use more than one collection as my current screensaver -- how do I do this?

•	Answer:  Access the ArtPlayer Settings screen , then Then click on the "Collections" Tab on the Settings dialog box (not the same as the main "Collections" Tab of the ArtPlayer) and check the box for each collection you want to use as your screensaver.

•	Question:  How do I get rid of the liquidart wallpaper and get back what I had before?

•	Answer:  the same way you always changed your wallpaper.  You can set any image as wallpaper through your web browser by right -clicking on the image and choosing the "Save as wallpaper" feature, or you can do it manually through the Windows Control Panel (Windows Start Menu on the Windows Taskbar, choose "Settings," then "Control Panel," , select "Display Settings," click on the "Background" Tab, and choose the wallpaper pattern you want to select).

•	Question:  I'd like to make my own collection of images to view through the ArtPlayer, how do I do this?

•	Answer:  You can make your own collection of images to view through the ArtPlayer -- photographs, your own art, whatever you'd like -- through the Create Collection feature on the "Expert" Tab in the ArtPlayer.

To make your own image collection, follow these steps:

1.	Open the ArtPlayer, and click on the "Expert" Tab.  

2.	If you want to have a collection cover, you can create one through an image editor (like Microsoft's Paint program or Adobe Photoshop), and insert it as the cover.

3.	Click on the Create Collection button on the ArtPlayer ("Expert" Tab) and follow the instructions provided by the Create Collection wizard.  

A few notes and hints:

•	Currently supported image formats: JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg), and bitmap (.bmp).  You can convert images from other formats into JPEG's and bitmaps with most image editors.

•	"Collection Name" is the title of your collection.

•	"Description" text shows up in the "About the Collection" text under the Art Info  and About buttons.  Use this to store important information about the collection and the images.

•	When you "Select an Image for the Collection Cover," choose a cover that will help identify the collection for you.  If you don't choose a cover, a default cover will be selected.  

After you've finished your collection, you can change the order of images and remove images by clicking on the Edit Collection button at the "Expert" Tab in the ArtPlayer.

5.  KNOWN PROBLEMS AND WORKAROUNDS

•	ArtPlayer 4.0 beta does not support "large fonts" under the Windows Control Panel, "Display Properties," "Settings" Tab (hit the<Advanced> button).  When set on "large fonts," the bottom buttons on the ArtPlayer are not visible and you cannot enlarge the ArtPlayer window to make them visible.  The best fix for the beta is to install "small fonts" under the same "Display Properties" tab and reboot.

•	ArtPlayer 4.0 beta requires color settings of "high color" or "true color" or better.  If your computer is set to a lower setting (see the Windows Control Panel, "Display Properties," "Settings" Tab, "Color Palette")  then the ArtPlayer (together with other newer applications) display with odd colors (the ArtPlayer is gray and black) and each thumbnail window looks like a target.  The best fix for the beta is to set your computer to "high color" or better.  If the higher setting doesn't work, your video card does not support it (its VERY likely you can download and install a later driver -- see your video car manufacturer's website).

•	The Windows Control Panel, "Display Properties" "Screensaver" tab and the ArtPlayer have a few communications problems between them.  We are working on this.  If you have any problems making your settings take effect through the ArtPlayer, try setting them through the "Display Properties" window in the Windows Control Panel.

•	The screensaver mode can give you a "blue screen" and display an invalid page fault at times.  This is often related to available hard drive space on your computer, but also happens when certain transitions, settings, and images come together.  We're working on this.  For now, just hit a key and continue.  

•	On the ArtPlayer "Collections" Tab, <Open Collection> button, the wizard for "Find a Collection" does not display ArtAlbum collection names until the <Search for Files> button is clicked.  Click it and it will display them.  In addition, you have to click on an ArtAlbum collection title and highlight it before the <Install> button will work.

6.  TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTACT INFORMATION:

We've done our best to provide as much technical information as we can for the ArtPlayer and the liquidart.com website, and we'll be enhancing our on-line technical support as fast as we can.

If you need to ask a more specific question or need technical support, you can contact us by e-mailing us at:

techsupport@liquidart.com  

Or, you can fax in a question to 312.595.0675

Please include a return e-mail address or fax number (or your snail-mail address) and we'll answer your question as quickly as we can.  

Also, be sure to include the following information:

•	Your computer's operating system, processor speed, amount of RAM memory, and available hard drive space if you know it.

•	The ArtAlbum collection (by title) you're using.  Whether you paid for it and then downloaded it, downloaded it as a trial version and then paid for it, or downloaded it as a trial version and haven't bought it yet.  (Or if it was a free collection, etc.)

•	The version of the ArtPlayer you have (under the <About> button of the ArtPlayer).

Be as specific as you can about your question or trouble, and the exact steps that lead up to the issue.