Web Factory Reference Manual

Object Menu

Available when the current file is an image file in the image editor.

Note: This menu allows you to manipulate image objects, which are portions of an image that can be trimmed to a non-rectangular shape and layered on top of one another in an image window, in any arrangement you like. Objects provide tremendous flexibility in image editing.

To create an object:

Select the area of an image that you wish to convert to an object. Use the Area tools.
Choose Grab Object from the Area menu, and type a description for the object in the box that appears.
To save the object for future use, choose Objects, Save, from the File menu.
Use the options on the Object menu and the tools on the Object Toolbar to manipulate the object.

View Attributes...

Displays the Object Attributes box, which provides the following information about the current object:

Description: The description you assigned to the object, if any. Can be edited here.
Filename: The filename of the object, if it has been saved.
X position: The position of the object, in pixels, from the left edge of the image window.
Y position: The position of the object, in pixels, from the top of the image window.
Angle: The degree at which the object is rotated.
Hor. Scale: The percentage size of the object's original width, 100% being original size.
Ver. Scale: The percentage size of the object's original height, 100% being original size.
Hor. Pixels: The object's width in pixels
Ver. Pixels: The object's height in pixels
Serial Number: A unique number assigned to this object in the current image window for this work session only.
Level: The level, or layer, the object currently occupies in relation to other objects in the image window. The lowest object, that is, furthest beneath other objects, is level 1.
Flags: indicates special characteristics of the object, including whether it is currently locked, hidden, or flipped.

Size/Rotate: Displays the Size/Rotate box, which allows you to re-size or rotate the current object.

Restore: Restores the current object back to its original angle of rotation prior to your selecting the Size/Rotate option.

Raise: Raises the current object one level in relation to other objects in the image window. This is useful for viewing an object that may be partially or completely hidden by another object.

Lower: Lowers the current object one level in relation to other objects in the image window.

Hide/Show: Hides the current object from view. To prevent accidental modifications to the hidden object, this option also locks the object so that it cannot be moved or modified until it is unlocked. Once the object is unlocked (see below), this menu option changes to "Show". Selecting "Show" returns the object to view.

Lock/Unlock: Locks the current object to prevent further movement or modifications to the object. If the current object is locked, this menu option changes to "Unlock". Selecting "Unlock" unlocks the current object, making it available to be moved or modified.

Clone: Makes a copy of the current object. The clone sits directly on top of the original object, so you may not notice it until you move it to the side and see the original object beneath it. The clone is assigned the same description as the original object.

Select by Description: Displays the Select Object box, which allows you to select an object from a list of the descriptions and object numbers of all objects in the current image window. Click the description of the object you want to select, and click OK.

Change Description: Displays the Describe Object box, which shows you the description of the current object and allows you to type a different description.

Next Object: Selects the next object in the image window, based on order of creation or loading into the window.

Adjust Transparency: Displays the Adjust Transparency box, which allows you to set the level of transparency of the current object, and select whether you want to apply the transparency evenly or on a gradient of a circular, horizontal, or vertical nature.

Filters: Displays the Filters sub menu, which allows you to choose one of the following special effects to be applied to the area of the image.

Fill: Displays the Fill box, which allows you to choose the color with which to fill the current object. Click the color box to choose a color from the Color Picker box. Then click the arrows on the slider bar or type in the percentage of saturation of the fill. For example, 100% saturation will fill the current object completely with color, obliterating the image beneath, while 50% saturation will allow the image underneath to show through the fill color. You can also choose to fill the area on a gradient, that is, gradually from one color to another. If you choose gradient, the Fill box will expand, allowing you to choose the second color and the direction in which to fill: horizontally from one color on the left to another on the right; vertically from one color on top to another on the bottom; or circular from one color inside to another color on the outside. Click the Update button to preview the results before applying them to the image.

Tint: Applies a tint of the current foreground color to the current object.
Related Topic:
To change the foreground color, see Paint Tools.

Posterize: Displays the Posterize box, which allows you to select the number of colors you want to reduce the current object to. This creates an interesting, poster-like special effect. The preview area shows the results of each option as you select it.

Gray-scale: Converts the current object to shades of gray.

Sharpen: Displays the Sharpen box, which allows you to specify the amount to sharpen the current object. You can choose from 1 (least amount of sharpening) to 10 (most amount of sharpening). Click the Update button to preview the results before actually them to the image.

Blur: Displays the Blur box, which allows you to specify the amount to blur the current object. You can choose from 1 (least amount of blur) to 10 (most amount of blur). Click the Update button to preview the results before actually them to the image.

Adjust Color: Displays the Adjust Color box, which allows you to adjust the RGB (red, green, blue) or HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) or HSC (hue, saturation, contrast) of the current object. First, choose whether you want to adjust the RGB, HSL or HSC. Then choose whether to apply the adjustment evenly throughout the current object, or on a gradient. If you choose gradient, the Adjust Color box will expand, allowing you to choose horizontal, vertical, or circular. Finally, click the arrows on the slider bars or type in the percentage you want to adjust each value. Click the Update button to preview the results before applying them to the image.

Flip: Displays a sub menu, which allows you to choose whether to flip the current object horizontally (from side to side) or vertically (upside down).

Affix Object: Affixes a copy of the current object in the current image window to the background. The original object remains on top of the affixed copy, until you move or delete it. Affixed objects can no longer be moved; they become a permanent part of the image background.

Affix All Objects: Affixes a copy of all objects in the current image window to the background. The original object remains on top of the affixed copy, until you move or delete it. Affixed objects can no longer be moved; they become a permanent part of the image background.

Delete Object: Deletes the current object from the current image window. If it was not previously saved, it will be lost.

Delete All Objects: Deletes all objects from the current image window. Any objects that were not previously saved will be lost.

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