PhotoStyler Help Index

This Index lists PhotoStyler's on-line Help topics.

If you have any questions about how to use on-line Help, press the F1 key now, or anytime during PhotoStyler's help session.

Keyboard Commands

Menu Commands

Procedures

Tools & Palettes


Keyboard Commands

The following keyboard controls can be used to activate PhotoStyler commands.

Mouse Equivalents

The Arrow keys (while holding the mouse button) will move the pointer in the direction of the arrows.

Key(s)	Mouse Action

Up Arrow	Moves the pointer up

Down Arrow	Moves the pointer down

Left Arrow	Moves the pointer left

Right Arrow	Moves the pointer right

Scrolling Keys

Scrolling keys scroll the visible active image when it is larger than the document window.

Key(s)	Function

Page Up	Scrolls window up

Page Down	Scrolls window down

Ctrl+Page Up	Scrolls window left

Ctrl+Page Down	Scrolls window right

Home	Scrolls to top of window

End	Scrolls to bottom of window

Ctrl+Home	Scrolls to left edge of window

Ctrl+End	Scrolls to right edge of window

Menu Command Keys

These keys issue menu commands.

Key(s)	Function

F3	File: Open... command

F2	File: Save command

Shift+F2	File: Save as... command

Alt+Backspace	Edit: Undo command

Shift+Del	Edit: Cut command

Ctrl+Ins	Edit: Copy command

Shift+Ins	Edit: Paste: As Selection command

Del	Edit: Clear command

Ctrl+D	Edit: Duplicate command

Ctrl+F	Edit: Fill... command

Ctrl+M	Edit: Merge Control... command

Ctrl+P	Edit: Preserve Image command

Ctrl+S	Transform: Resample... command

Ctrl+B	Image: Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command

Ctrl+C	Image: Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command

F4	View: Add a View command

Ctrl+V	View: Actual View(1:1) command

Ctrl+1	View: Fit in Window: 1:1 command

Ctrl+2	View: Fit in Window: 1:2 command

Ctrl+3	View: Fit in Window: 1:3 command

F8	View: Show/Hide Color Palette command

F9	View: Show/Hide Brush Shapes command

Ctrl+E	Select Expand... command

Ctrl+H	Show/Hide Marquee command

Dialog Box Keys

These keys control dialog boxes.

Key(s)	Function

Tab	Moves to next option

Shift + Tab	Moves to last option

Alt + Letter	Issues command with the corresponding underscored letter

Direction keys	Moves cursor inside the entry fields or group

Home	Moves cursor to start of text in entry field

End	Moves cursor to end of text in entry field

Esc	Selects Cancel

Return	Selects OK

Help Keys

Use these keys to control the Help functions.

Key(s)	Function

F1	Displays PhotoStyler's Help index

Shift+F1	Displays Keyboard commands (this help text)

Shift + F10	Displays Using Help

Invert Menu+F1	Displays Help for the highlighted menu command.

Abort Key

Press the Esc key to abort lengthy operations.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key(s)	Function

Ctrl+A	Select All command

Ctrl+N	Select None command

F5	Picks the color under the pointer as current foreground color.

See Choosing a Color with Function Keys

F6	Picks the color under the pointer as current background color.

See Choosing a Color with Function Keys

F7	Display Tool Icon Dialog Box.

 	Pressing this key is the same as double-clicking the current tool icon.

Ctrl+W	Toggles between full screen view and normal view


Menu Commands

To get help, choose the menu where the command is located.

File Menu

Edit Menu

Transform Menu

Image Menu

View Menu

Window Menu


Procedures

Select one to get step-by-step instructions for using some of PhotoStyler's many features.

PhotoStyler Basics

Calibrating Your Monitor

About Image Data Types

Color Selection

Choosing a Color with the Eyedropper Tool

Choosing a Color with Function Keys

Choosing a Color from the Color Palette

Choosing a Color from the Color Picker

Enhancing Images

Using the Tune: Brightness & Contrast... Command

Using the Tune: Hue & Saturation... Command

Using the Tune; Gray/Color Correction... Command

Using the Tune: Gray/Color Map... Command

Working with Painting Tools and Patterns

Using the Stamp Tool

Using the Text Tool

Working with Patterns

Working with Selections and Masks

Image Selection Commands and Operations

Using the Lasso Tool

Using the Magic Wand Tool

Working with Selection Masks

Controlling the Floating Selections

Working with Floating Selections

Using Merge Control

Exchanging Image Information between windows

Using the Clipboards

Using the Cut, Copy and Paste Commands

Changing Image Resolution and Size

Using the Resample Image Command

Separating Images into Channels

Working with Color Component Channels

Performing the Inter-document Operations

Performing Document Computations

Printing Images

PhotoStyler Printing Capability

Changing the Printer Setup

Using Page Setup

Setting Up the Halftone Screen

Adjusting Calibration Curves

Printing an Image

Printing a CMY Image

Printing a Color Image to a CMYK Printer

Changing the Separation Setup


Tools and Palettes
Tools & Palettes

The Tools & Palettes topics tell you how to use PhotoStyler's floating palettes.

Selection Palette

Painting Palette

Color Palette

Brush Shapes Palette


File Menu

The File menu helps you manage your work. For more information on any command select one.

New...	Creates a new image

Open...	Opens a previously created image

Restore	Replaces the current image with the last saved version

Close	Closes the active image

Save	Saves the active image

Save as...	Saves the image under a new name or file format

Import 	A set of commands that open images created by other applications

Export 	A set of commands for saving images in other formats

Scan	A set of commands for operating a scanner.

Print	A set of commands for printing images

Separation Setup...	Sets up color separation parameters

Preferences...	Sets personal preference defaults

Exit	Exits PhotoStyler


Edit Menu

The Edit menu assists you in cutting and pasting image areas. For more information select one .

Undo	Undoes the last edit made

Cut	Cuts the selected area to clipboard

Copy	Copies the selected area to clipboard

Paste	Pastes clipboard information into an image

Clear	Clears selected area or entire image to the background color

Duplicate	Creates a duplicate of the active image and places it in a new document window

Fill...	Fills selected area with color or pattern

Clipboard...	Displays image on clipboard

Make Floating	Makes floating selection of selected area

Merge Control...	Controls the way in which a floating image merges with the active image

Discard Floating	Removes floating selection areas

Preserve Image	Preserves background when a selection area is dragged to a new location

Define Pattern	Creates a new pattern from selected area

Pattern...	Loads or saves a pattern


Transform Menu

The Transform menu helps you change image size, resolution or it can generate different special effects. For more information select one.

Flip Horizontal	Flips selection area or entire image horizontally

Flip Vertical 	Flips selection area or entire image vertically

Resample...	Changes size and/or resolution of the entire image

Resize...	Resizes selected area by a scale factor (percent) or to a specified size (pixel, cm, inch)

Free Resize	Resize selected area with the mouse

Skew	Move one edge of a selected area parallel to the opposite edge to slant the selection area

Perspective 	Lengthen, or shorten, one edge of a selection area to give the impression of perspective

Distort 	Drag the selection area corners in any direction to distort the selection area

Rotate...	Rotates selected area or entire image by degrees

Free Rotate	Rotates selected area with the mouse

Shift... 	Scrolls image inside selection area or entire image


Image Menu

The Image menu provides you with sophisticated image processing, color correction, and special effects functions. For more information select one.

Tune	A set of commands for tuning contrast and brightness of an image

Smoothing Filters	A set of commands to reduce image sharpness

Sharpening Filters	A set of commands to increase image sharpness

Special Filters	A set of commands that produce special visual effects

User-Defined Filter...	Allows you to create your own special image filters

2-D Spatial Effects	A set of commands for creating two-dimensional effects

3-D Spatial Effects	A set of commands for creating simulated three-dimensional effects

Convert to	A set of commands to convert an image from one image data type to another

Split RGB True Color to	A set of commands to separate RGB True Color images into individual color component channels

Combine RGB True Color by  A set of commands to merge separate color component channels into one new RGB True Color image

Compute...	Lets you perform sophisticated inter-image computations and put the results into a new document.


View Menu

The View menu lets you change your view,and get file information on the image in the active window. For more information select one.

Add a View	Creates another view of the active image in a separate window

Actual View (1:1)	Displays the image at one image pixel per screen pixel

Zoom in	Magnifies the view of an image in the active window

Zoom out	Reduces the view of an image in the active window

Fit in Window	Fits the window to the current image size

Ruler	Shows or hides the ruler in the image window

Information...	Gives image information for active window

Color Table...	Displays the color table for indexed-16 and indexed 256-color images

Full Screen Mode	Maximizes the active image window to full screen

Show/Hide Painting Tools  Show or hide the Painting Palette

Show/Hide Color Palette	Show or hide the Color Palette

Show/Hide Brush Shapes  Show or hide the Brush Shapes Palette


Window Menu

The Window menu lets you rearrange your image windows. For more information select one.

Tile	Arranges windows so that all of the images can be seen at once

Cascade	Arranges windows in an overlapping pattern

Arrange Icons	Arranges icons of any images that have been reduced with the minimize command


File: New

The New command creates a new image work space. A dialog box appears which allows you to set the image size, resolution and data type.

 Data Type	Sets the image data type to RGB True Color (24-bits per pixel) or Gray Scale (8-bits per pixel).

 Width	Sets the width of the image.

 Height	Sets the height of the image.

 Resolution	Sets the resolution of the image.

 Unit of Measurement	Sets the unit of measurement to inches, centimeters or pixels.

 OK	Select OK to create the new image.

 Cancel	Cancels the dialog box without creating a new image.

Related Topics

File: Open... command

About Image Data Types


File: Open

The Open command opens a file that has been previously created.

When you choose Open, a dialog box appears. You can set the following preferences:

 File Extension	Set the file format for the image file you want to open.

 Filename	Enter the name of the selected file.

 Files	Displays the files in the current directory with the selected file extension. Highlight a file to place the name in the Filename list box.

 Directories	Displays the drives and directories you can choose from. The current directory is indicated.

 Info...	Displays information on the selected file.

 Open	Select Open to open the file.

 Cancel	Cancels the dialog box without opening an image file.

Related Topics

File: New... command

View: Information... command

About Image Data Types


File: Restore

The Restore command replaces the active image with the most recently saved version. All editing done since the image was last saved will be undone.

Note:	You cannot undo the Restore command with the Undo command in the Edit menu.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Eraser  tool


File: Close

The Close command closes the active image window.

Note:	If you have made changes to the image since it was last saved, PhotoStyler asks if you want to save the changes.

Related Topics

File: Exit command


File: Save

The Save command saves the active image to disk. The document window will remain open after saving.

If you have not previously saved the image, PhotoStyler displays the Save as dialog box so that you can name the file, set directory path and set the file format.

Related Topics

File: Save as...command

File: Export command


File: Save as

The Save As command can assign a new filename, file format, and file path for the active image.

When you choose Save As, a dialog box appears with the following options:

 File Format	Select the file format.

 Options	Select the type of image compression you want (if available for the current image data type).

 Filename	Enter the name of the file to save. If you change the name, a new file will be created not altering the original file.

 Files	Shows the files in the current directory with the selected file extension.

 Directories	Displays the drives and directories you can save to. The current directory is indicated.

 Save	Select Save to save the file with the chosen attributes.

 Cancel	Closes the Save as dialog box without saving.

Related Topics

File: Export command


File: Import

The Import submenu command is for loading special PhotoStyler image data types.

Load Resource... 	Allows you to use plug-in utilities which load, palettes, patterns, clipboard and DCI document files created by PhotoStyler.

Related Topics

File: Open... command

File: Export command


Import: Load Resource

The Load Resource import command allows you to load resources created by PhotoStyler.

These resource files include palettes, patterns, PhotoStyler's private clipboard images, and PhotoStyler's private image files.

Related Topics

File: Export command

File: Import command


File: Export

This submenu allows you to use a plug-in software utility to convert image data to formats supported by other applications.

Save Document... 	Saves the current image in a PhotoStyler private data format called the Image format (DCI).

Related Topics

File: Import command

File: Save command


Export: Save Document

The Export command allows you to save the current active image in PhotoStyler's internal, private data format called the Document Image format (DCI). All image information will be saved.

You can open the document later with the Import command.

Related Topics

File: Import command


File: Scan

The scan command allows you to scan images while you are in PhotoStyler. The sub-menu Show Scanning is toggle switch (the default is on) that will let you see the image as it is being created. If you turn the switch off scanning is faster.

Each scanner is independent, to get more information please look at the help provided by the manufacturer.


File: Print

The Print command allows you to precisely choose how to print your image.

The Print submenu contains the following commands:

Print... 	Prints the current image.

Page Setup...	Sets up image for your specific Gray/Color printing needs.

Printer Setup...	Sets up printer.

Related Topics

PhotoStyler Printing Capability

Printing an Image

File: Separation Setup... command


Print: Print

The Print command will print (to your specifications to an output device).

When you choose Print, a dialog box appears:

 Copies	Enter the number of copies you want in the number entry field.

 Scale to fit the page	Check this box if you want the image scaled to fit the page.

 Center the image horizontally

Check this box if you want the image centered using the vertical sides of the page.

 Center the image vertically

Check this box if you want the image centered using the horizontal sides of the page.

 OK	Select OK to print the file.

 Cancel	Closes the Print dialog box without making any changes.

Related Topics

Printing an Image

Printing a CMY Image

Printing a Color Image to a CMYK Printer

Print: Page Setup... command

Print: Printer Setup... command


Print: Page Setup

The Page Setup command will give you the following options:

 Title	Enter the title of the document in the entry field.

 Include crop marks	Check this box to have each page printed with crop marks.

 Include calibration bar	Check this box to have each printed page include a gray scale calibration bar. If you print a color image, a process color bar will be printed.

 Halftone Screen...	Select this option to set the halftone screen dot shape, frequency and angle.

 Calibration Curve...	Select this option to set the calibration curve for the printer.

 Printer type	Set the printer type to either color or monochrome.

 Separation by printer	Check this box to have the printer, rather than PhotoStyler, make the color separation.

 Use printer's default separation

Check this box to use the printer's color separation defaults.

 Halftone by printer	Check this box to have the printer, rather than PhotoStyler, generate the halftone.

 Use printer's default screen

Check this box to use the printer's default halftone screen.

 Overwrite printer's default calibration curve

Check this box to replace the printer's default calibration curve, by the curve you set in the Calibration Curve dialog box.

 OK	Select OK to accept the Page Setup options.

 Cancel	Closes the dialog box without making any changes.

Related Topics

Changing the Separation Setup

File: Separation Setup... command


Print: Printer Setup

The Printer Setup will give you a dialog box that allows you to select and configure your printer.

 Printer	Select the printer you want to use from the list.

 Setup	Choose this option to configure your printer. Options such as page size and resolution are available, depending on your printer. This Setup dialog box has the same effect as the one in the Windows Control Panel.

 OK	Select this command button last, after the options have been set.

 Cancel	Closes the New dialog box without making any changes.

Related Topics

Changing the Printer Setup

Print: Page Setup... command

File: Separation Setup... command


File: Separation Setup

The Separation Setup command  determines how PhotoStyler or your output device will convert the current image into CMYK color separations. PhotoStyler downloads the information if your printer has a Windows supported PostScript printer driver.

When you choose Separation Setup, a dialog box appears.

 Starting Density	Enter a value to determine when black ink starts to appear with CMY. A larger value will have less black ink in lighter areas, a lower value will add more black ink to lighter areas.

 Black Generation	Determines how the RGB channels in the image are translated into CMYK in the printout. The higher the percentage entered, the more black used.

 Under Color Removal	Determines how much the CMY colors will be removed from areas where black is used. The higher the percentage, the more CMY colors are removed.

 Default	Select this option to restore the setting to their defaults.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Closes the dialog box without making any changes.

Related Topics

Print: Printer Setup... command

Print: Page Setup... command

Setting Up the Halftone Screen

Adjusting Calibration Curves

Changing the Separation Setup


File: Preferences

The Preferences command will give you a dialog box that allows you to control PhotoStylers features.

 Toolbox position	Choose which side of the workspace you would like the toolbox to appear.

 Painting Tool Cursor Shape

Lets you choose either the selected tool icon or a crosshair cursor as your cursor shape.

 Zoom Increment Unit	Allows you to zoom in or out as specified by the value you enter.

 View Images by Common Palette

Using the common palette lets you view all open images with the same palette, eliminating color mismatch. (For 8-bit display systems only.)

 Don't Care About Background Quality

Selecting this option reduces the time needed to switch between document windows, since the non-active windows are not redrawn.

 Enable Undo	If you have limited memory disable Undo to work on large files.

 Draw Selection from Center

Selecting this option changes the way the Selection tools operate. The starting pointer location determines the center, rather than the edge, of the selection area.

 Monitor Gamma...	This option sets your monitors RGB gamma value to ensure calibration.

 OK	Select OK to accept the preference settings.

 Cancel	Closes the dialog box without making any changes.

Related Topics

Edit: Undo command

Selection Palette


File: Exit

The Exit command will end your editing session.

If you've made changes to any images since they were last saved, PhotoStyler will ask if you would like to save the changes.

Related Topics

File: Close command


Edit: Undo

The Undo command cancels the effects of the last edit.

Most editing operations can be undone. If the change can not be undone, the Edit menu will display "Can't Undo."

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command


Edit: Cut

The Cut command cuts the contents of the selected area to the clipboard.

After the image is cut, the selected area is filled with the current background color.

Note:	If the current clipboard is the PhotoStyler private clipboard, the Cut command is disabled when the active image is not Gray Scale or RGB True Color.

Related Topics

Using the Cut, Copy and Paste Commands

Using the Clipboard

Edit: Copy command

Edit: Paste command


Edit: Copy

The Copy command copies the contents of the selected area to the clipboard. The selected area remains unchanged.

Note:	If the current clipboard is the PhotoStyler private clipboard, the Copy command is disabled when the active image is not Gray Scale or RGB True Color

Related Topics

Using the Cut, Copy and Paste Commands

Edit: Cut command

Edit: Paste command


Edit: Paste

The Paste submenu command puts the contents of the current clipboard into the active image or a new image document.

The Paste submenu provides several pasting options. After you paste a selection, the selection "floats" so that you can drag it to the desired position in the image. Use the Merge Control command in the Edit menu to control how the clipboard image is pasted.

Note:	The active image must be a Gray Scale or RGB True Color image for the commands in the Paste submenu to work. The only exception is the Paste As New Document command.

The following commands are available in the Paste submenu:

As Selection 	Pastes clipboard image as a new floating selection

Inside Selection 	Pastes clipboard image inside current selection

Outside Selection 	Pastes clipboard image outside current selection

As New Document 	Creates new document for clipboard image

Related Topics

Using the Clipboard

Using the Cut, Copy and Paste Commands

Edit: Merge Control... command

Using Merge Control


Paste: As Selection

The As Selection command pastes the contents of the Clipboard into the active image as a new selection. If there is already an area selected when you choose this command, that area is deselected and the pasted area becomes the new selection.

Related Topics

Edit: Paste commands


Paste: Inside Selection

The Inside Selection command pastes the contents of the Clipboard into the active image window. The Clipboard image can appear only in parts of the image that were selected when the Inside Selection command was chosen.

Note:	This command is enabled only when there is a current selection.

Related Topics

Edit: Paste commands


Paste: Outside Selection

The Outside Selection command pastes the contents of the Clipboard into the active image window. The Clipboard image can appear only in parts of the image that were not selected when the Outside Selection command was chosen.

Note:	This command is enabled only when there is a current selection.

Related Topics

Edit: Paste commands


Paste: As New Document

The As New Document command pastes the contents of the Clipboard into a new, untitled document window.

Related Topics

Edit: Paste commands


Edit: Clear

The Clear command removes the contents of the selection area without storing the contents on the Clipboard. If no area is selected, the entire image is cleared.

The cleared area is filled with the current background color.

Note:	For a wider range of fill options for the selected area (including color, Gray Scale and pattern options), use the Fill command.

Related Topics

Edit: Fill... command


Edit: Duplicate

The Duplicate command creates a new document window containing a copy of the current image. The two images can then be edited independently.

Related Topics

View: Add a View command


Edit: Fill

The Fill command will fill the entire image or only the selected area with a specified color, gray scale value, or pattern.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

Note:	The options available in this dialog box depend on the image data type of the active document and whether or not there is a current pattern.

 Use Filled Color	These options define the effect on pixels of the current image or selection when they are filled.

Always changes all of the pixels in the current image or selection to the selected fill color, gray scale value, or pattern.

If Lighter compares the gray scale/color value of the fill with pixels in the current image or selection, and replaces pixels only if they are darker than the fill.

If Darker compares the gray scale/color value of the fill with pixels in the current image or selection, and replaces pixels only if they are lighter than the fill.

Hue Only changes only the hue component of pixels in the current image or selection, without changing the saturation or brightness components.

Color Only changes the hue and saturation components of pixels in the current image or selection, without changing the brightness component.

Brightness Only changes only the brightness component of pixels in the current image or selection, while preserving the hue and saturation components.

Additive applies the fill color according to the RGB additive color model. Pixels get lighter with this command.

Subtractive applies the fill color according to the CMY subtractive color model. Pixels get darker with this command.

 Foreground Color	This option fills the selection area or entire image with the current Foreground color.

 Background Color	This option fills the selection area or entire image with the current Background color.

 Black	Choose this option to fill the selection area or entire image with black.

 White	Choose this option to fill the selection area or entire image with white.

 Gray	This option fills the selection area or entire image with the gray value entered in the entry field.

 RGB Color	This option fills the selection area or entire image with the RGB color specified in the three color entry fields.

 Indexed Color with Index No.	This option fills the selection area or entire image with the indexed color specified in the entry field.

 Pattern: (Aligned)	When filling with a pattern, this option tells PhotoStyler to align the pattern tiles at the top left corner of the document window.

 Pattern: (Non-aligned)	When filling with a pattern, this option tells PhotoStyler to align the pattern tiles at the top left corner of the selected area.

 OK	Choose OK to fill the selection area or entire image according to the settings of the various options.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Bucket Fill tool

Painting Palette: Gradient Fill tool

Working with Patterns


Edit: Clipboard

The Clipboard command shows the contents of the current Clipboard. In addition, you can use this command to select which clipboard you want to work with, load an image into the PhotoStyler private Clipboard from a file on disk, save a private Clipboard image to disk, and clear the private Clipboard.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Select Current Clipboard  There are two Clipboards: one is used by all Windows applications, and the other is reserved for PhotoStyler. To exchange data between applications, use the Windows Clipboard. To copy from one document to another inside PhotoStyler, use the Private Clipboard.

 Clipboard Contents	This area of the dialog box displays the Clipboard contents.

 Load	Select the Load command to load an image file directly into the Private Clipboard.

 Save	To save the Private Clipboard image to disk, select the Save command.

 Clear	Select Clear to erase the contents of the private Clipboard.

 OK	Accept all changes, including the new Clipboard.

 Cancel	Cancel all changes and close the dialog box.

You can scroll the Clipboard image, zoom in by clicking on the image and zoom out by holding down the shift key and clicking on the image.

Note:	The *.CLI format used by PhotoStyler private clipboard is a private format that is not compatible with the other image file formats. To load, save, or clear the content of Windows Clipboard, you must use the Clipboard utility provided by Windows.

Related Topics

Using the Clipboard

Edit: Cut command

Edit: Paste command


Edit: Make Floating

The Make Floating command causes the selected area to "float" above the rest of the image. The image underneath the selection will be cleared or preserved, depending on the setting of the Preserve Image command in the Edit menu.

Note: A selected area also becomes a floating selection any time you drag or paste it.

Related Topics

Edit: Discard Floating command

Edit: Preserve Image command


Edit: Merge Control

The Merge Control command lets you control how a floating selection (called the floating image) and the image background (called the target image) are merged. Normally, when you deselect a floating selection, all of the floating selection pixels appear in place of the background pixels.

This command allows you to determine which source image pixels replace the target image pixels. For example, you can choose to have just the pixels that are lighter or darker than those in the target image appear. You can also specify the transparency of the source image pixels, crop the floating selection according to specified gray scale/color value ranges, and merge only specified source image color components.

Note:	This command is enabled only for RGB True Color and Gray Scale images. Not all of the merge functions are available for Gray Scale images.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears. Make your selections and then choose OK or Cancel.

 Use Floating Image	Lets you merge source image pixels with target image pixels in the following ways:

Always merges all of the source pixels with the target image.

If Lighter merges the source pixels only if they are lighter than the corresponding target pixels.

If Darker merges the source pixels only if they are darker than the corresponding target pixels.

Hue Only merges only the hue of the source pixels without the saturation or brightness components.

Color Only merges only the hue and saturation of the source pixels without the brightness component.

Brightness Only merges only the brightness of the source pixels while preserving the color of the underlying image.

Additive adds together the source and target pixels according to the RGB additive color model. Pixels get lighter with this command.

Subtractive uses the CMY subtractive color model to create the final merged image. Pixels get darker with this command.

 Floating Opacity	Sets a percentage for how much of the target image you can see under merged source image pixels. At 100%, the target does not show through at all, while at 0%, the source becomes totally transparent.

 Replace with	Checking the RGB boxes determines which color component channels will be used to merge the source into target images. The settings affect the results of Use Floating Image and Floating Opacity.

 Preview	Select Preview to see the results of the merge with the current settings. The Preview command is very useful when making adjustments.

Range >>/<< Range	The Range function allows you to set options for the active gray/color range of the floating image and target image.

 Range Sliders	The range sliders set the range of the pixels appearing in the merged image. You can specify a gray/color range for both the floating and the target images by moving the two sliders. If the gray/color values of the source image pixels fall between the two sliders, then they are merged with the target image.

 In	Sets the controls to use the pixels that fall inside the range of the two arrows.

 Out	Sets the controls to use the pixels that fall outside the range of the two arrows.

 Range Channels	Determines which channels (red, green, blue, or all) are used with the In and Out buttons.

Related Topics

Using Merge Control

Edit: Cut command

Edit: Paste command


Edit: Discard Floating

The Discard Floating image command eliminates a floating area.

A floating image is a selected area that has been "lifted" off of the active image plane. A floating selection is created when you move the selection, use the Edit: Make Floating command , or use the Transform commands (except the Resample and Shift commands).

Note:	To restore the floating image, choose Undo from the Edit menu.

Related Topics

Edit: Make Floating command


Edit: Preserve Image

The Preserve Image command is a toggle. A check mark appears next to the command name when it is checked. The default is enabled.

When you select part of an image with one of the selection tools and drag the selected area, the background underneath will change to the current background color. This will happen unless the Preserve Image command is set. Preserve Image keeps the background from changing.

Related Topics

Selection Palette


Edit: Define Pattern

The Define Pattern can let you create your own custom patterns. The pattern used is the contents of the selected area.

You can use the pattern with the Fill command or when using the Stamp tool. You can also save a defined pattern for future use with the Pattern command in the Edit menu.

Note:	This command is enabled only when there is a rectangular, square, or linear selection area.

Related Topics

Working with Patterns

File: Import command

Edit: Pattern... command

Painting Palette: Stamp tool


Edit: Pattern

The Pattern command displays the current pattern and lets you zoom in or out on the pattern to view it in greater detail. You can also use this command to clear the current pattern and to load or save a pattern on disk.

Note:	The *.PAT format used for PhotoStyler patterns is a private format that is not compatible with other image formats.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Data Type	This option allows you to view the pattern image in either RGB True Color or Gray Scale data type.

 Pattern Contents	This is the display of the current pattern set to the current Zoom ratio.

 Load	This feature allows you to load a pattern that has already been saved to disk.

 Save	You can save a pattern on disk with this command.

 Clear	Select clear to erase the current pattern.

Related Topics

Working with Patterns

File: Import command

Edit: Define Pattern command

Painting Palette: Stamp


Transform: Flip Horizontal

This Transform command flips the selected area horizontally. If no area is selected, the entire image is flipped.

Related Topics

Transform: Flip Vertical command


Transform: Flip Vertical

This Transform command flips the selected area vertically. If no area is selected, the entire image is flipped.

Related Topics

Transform: Flip Horizontal command


Transform: Resample

The Resample command can let you change the size (the width and height of the image) and/or the resolution (the number of pixels/inch, inch/cm) of an image. When you change the resolution of an image a dialog box appears to ask if you want the new image in a new window or the active window.

When you choose Resample, a dialog box appears.

 Original Image Information	The original width, height, and resolution of the image is displayed.

 New Width	Enter the new width of the image.

 New Height	Enter the new height of the image.

 New Resolution	Set the density of the pixels (Pixels/Inch or Pixels/Cm) in the new image.

 Unit of Measure	Set the unit of measure (in Pixels, Inches, Cm, or percent).

 Resolution Unit	Set the unit that the resolution is calculated in (Pixels/Inch or Pixels/Cm).

 Aspect ratio: Arbitrary	This choice means that the proportions of the new image are determined by the new width and height.

 Aspect ratio: Fixed	This choice means that the proportions of the new image are used to determine the width and height. If you select this option, then enter a value for the fixed width or height, PhotoStyler automatically maintains the fixed aspect ratio when you enter values in the New Width and New Height entry fields.

 OK	Choose OK to resample the image.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Resample Image Command

Transform: Resize... command


Transform: Resize

The Resize command can let you change the size of a selected area.

Note: You must have an area selected before you can use the Resize command.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Original Image Information  The original width, height, and resolution of the selected area are given.

 New Width	Enter the new width for the selected area.

 New Height	Enter the new height for the selected area

 New Unit of Measure	Choose the unit of measure you would like to use for the dimensions of the selected area.

 Aspect ratio: Arbitrary	This choice means that the proportions of the new image are determined by the new width and height.

 Aspect ratio: Fixed	This choice means that the proportions of the new image are used to determine the width and height. If you select this option, then enter a value for the fixed width or height, PhotoStyler automatically enters a value for the other dimension that maintains the fixed proportion.

Related Topics

Transform: Free Resize command

Transform: Resample... command


Transform: Free Resize

The Free Resize command lets you resize the selected area by dragging the handles with the mouse. If you press the shift key will resizing Photostyler will maintain the aspect ratio of the image or selection

Related Topics

Transform: Resize... command

Transform: Resample... command


Transform: Skew

The Skew command allows you to distort a selection by moving one side of the selection's bounding box, horizontally or vertically, parallel to the opposite edge.

When you select the Skew command handles appear around the selection area, select one of the handles and drag the mouse. The first direction you move the mouse determines the direction of the skew. If you press the Shift Key and drag, only one handle will move.

To change directions, select Undo from the menu and try again.

Related Topics

Transform: Perspective command

Transform: Distort command


Transform: Perspective

The Perspective command lets you add the impression of three-dimensions to a selected area.

When you select the Perspective command, handles appear around the selected area, choose one of the handles and drag the mouse. The first direction you move the mouse determines which side of the shape will distort the most. To change directions, select Undo from the menu and try again.

You can adjust the perspective in the horizontal direction by pressing the Shift Key while dragging. Holding down the Ctrl Key while dragging changes the perspective vertically.

Related Topics

Transform: Skew command


Transform: Distort

The Distort command can stretch and pull a selected area into any shape you want.

When you select the Distort command, handles appear around the selected area, choose one of the handles and drag the mouse. You can continue pulling the handles to distort the selected area as many times as you like.

If you press the Shift Key while dragging the handles, PhotoStyler will not redraw the image until you have finished dragging. Release the Shift Key and drag the last handle, and PhotoStyler will redraw the selection.

Related Topics

Transform: Skew  command


Transform: Rotate

The Rotate command rotates an image or selected area. You can rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise, and specify the degree of rotation with a number between 1 and 359.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Degree	Sets the amount of rotation in degrees.

 Direction	Tells PhotoStyler to rotate the image clockwise or counter-clockwise.

 OK	Choose OK to rotate the selected area.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Transform: Free Rotate command


Transform: Free Rotate

The Free Rotate command lets you rotate the selected area by dragging with the mouse.

You must first have an area selected. When you select Free Rotate, handles will appear on the selection area. Drag any one of the handles to Rotate the image.

Related Topics

Transform: Rotate... command


Transform: Shift

The Shift command scrolls the image inside the selected area without moving the selection boundary. If no area is selected, the image is shifted inside the document window.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Horizontal	Enter the distance in pixels you want the image to shift left or right.

 Vertical	Enter the distance in pixels you want the image to shift up or down.

 Fill Empty Area with	Select how you want PhotoStyler to fill any empty areas following a shift:

Background Color uses the background color to fill the empty areas.

Foreground Color uses the foreground color to fill the empty areas.

Old Boundary Pixels fills the area with the pixels at the edge of the image. This option only available for rectangular selection.

Shifted-Out Image causes the part of the image that has shifted off one edge to wrap back in from the other side. This option only available for rectangular selection.

 OK	Choose OK to shift the selected area.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Transform: Flip Vertical command

Transform: Flip Horizontal command


Image: Tune

The Tune submenu lets you adjust specific color or gray value components such as brightness and contrast.

For all of the Tune commands, editing is done by mapping the brightness of each pixel to a new value.

The Tune submenu contains the following commands:

Brightness & Contrast...	Adjusts the brightness and contrast of the image

Hue & Saturation...	Adjusts the tint and color intensity

Gray/Color Correction...	Adjusts the image brightness and contrast. This command also uses the Gamma function to adjust image midtones

Gray/Color Map...	Adjusts the brightness of the image by changing the gray/color map

Negative	Inverts all gray/colors in the image to their complementary colors

Equalization	Evens out the distribution of pixel brightness values

Posterization...	Reduces the number of brightness levels in the image

Threshold...	Maps Gray Scale images to pure black and pure white


Tune: Brightness & Contrast

The Brightness and Contrast command lets you adjust the brightness and contrast of the entire image or selection area. These controls are similar to the brightness and contrast controls on a television set.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Brightness	Drag the scroll box to set the brightness of the image.

 Contrast	Drag the scroll box to set the contrast.

 Channel	With these options you can modify all of the colors in the image/selected area, or just the red, green or blue color component channel.

 Preview	This command lets you see the results of the current settings.

 OK	Select OK to make the changes to the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Tune: Brightness and Contrast... Command

Image: Tune commands


Tune: Hsu & Saturation
Tune: Hue & Saturation

The Hue & Saturation command lets you adjust the hue and saturation of the current image or selection. These controls are similar to the tint and color controls on a television set.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Hue	Drag the scroll box to change the Hue.

 Saturation	Drag the scroll box to change the color intensity. Negative levels wash out the color, and positive levels make colors more saturated.

 Preview	This command lets you see the results of the current settings.

 OK	Select OK to make the changes to the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Tune: Hue and Saturation... Command

Image: Tune commands


Tune: Gray/Color Correction

The Gray/Color Correction command lets you adjust the brightness and contrast of the current image or selection area. This command gives users more control over brightness and contrast than the regular Brightness and Contrast command.

The brightness and contrast are changed by limiting the map input and output ranges. Think of the brightness levels as they are displayed in the Gray/Color Map command:

The following dialog box appears.

 Channel	With these options you can modify all of the color in the selected area, or just the red, green or blue color component channel.

 Gray Map	Lets you remap pixel gray scale/color values by defining a mapping curve for the pixel input and output ranges.

 Input Range Handles	Drag the handles to set the input range.

 Output Range Handles  Drag the handles to set the output range.

 Saturated	Shows the percentage of the image pixels whose values are outside of the input range. These pixels will be mapped to the lowest or highest values of the output range.

 Gamma	Drag the scroll bar thumb to set the gamma level. Moving to the left darkens the image midtones and to the right lightens the midtones.

 	The Gray/Color Correction dialog box menu contains several command options you can use to control the interaction.

The Auto Ranging command automatically limits the input range to the actual brightness values in the image.

The Reset  menu command resets all changes, and restores the mapping curve to a straight diagonal line.

Enlarge Histogram change the level of magnification of the histogram in the image.

Reduce Histogram change the level of magnification of the histogram in the image.

 Preview	This command lets you see the results of the current settings.

 OK	Select OK to make the changes to the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... Command

Image: Tune commands


Tune: Gray/Color Map

The Gray/Color map command allows you extensive control to correct the gray/color values. The command will also create special effects in the current image or selection by remapping the brightness values of pixels.

The map displays the values of the darkest pixels on the left and the brightest on the right. The mapping curve that runs across the map shows the actual brightness values for the pixels at each point across the map.

To adjust the curve simply drag the mouse on the map.

The following options affect this command.

 In	This value is the original brightness value of the point under the cursor.

 Out	This value is the new brightness value of the point under the cursor. Before any changes are made, it is the same as the In value.

 Channel	With these options you can modify all of the color in the image/selected area, or just the red, green or blue color component channel.

 	The Gray/Color Map dialog box menu contains several options you can use to change the gray map.

The Piecewise menu command adds handles to the mapping curve. Drag the handles to adjust the mapping curve.

The Smooth menu command smooths the mapping curve.

The Gamma... menu command applies a Gamma curve to the mapping curve.

The Logarithm menu command applies a logarithmic function to the mapping curve.

The Equalize menu command evens out the distribution of pixels brightness values

The Auto Ranging menu command automatically limits the input range to the actual brightness values in the image.

The Reset menu command restores the mapping curve to a straight diagonal line.

Use the Load... menu command to load maps that were created on other images.

Use the Save... menu command to save the current map on disk.

 Preview	This command lets you see the results of the current settings.

 OK	Select OK to make the changes to the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Tune: Gray Map... Command

Image: Tune commands


Tune: Negative

The Negative command reverses the brightness and color values of each pixel in the image or selected area.

Note: Inverting the image a second time brings it back to its original state.

Related Topics

Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command


Tune: Equalization

The Equalization command enhances the appearance of the image by evenly distributing the pixel values across the full range of brightness levels.

The equalized brightness values tend to bring out more detail in the image, especially if the original distribution range is limited.

Related Topics

Image: Tune commands


Tune: Posterization

The Posterization command reduces the number of brightness levels in the image to the number that you specify. Reducing the number of brightness levels also reduces the number of different gray/color shades in the image.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Levels per channel	Drag the scroll box to limit the number of brightness levels in the image.

 Preview	This command lets you see the results of the current settings.

 OK	Select OK to make the changes to the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Tune: Threshold... command


Tune: Threshold

The Threshold command maps the current Gray Scale image or selection to pure black and pure white. All of the pixels lighter than the specified threshold level are white, and all pixels darker than this level are black. A Gray Scale image must be active for this command to appear undimmed in the menu.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Threshold Level	Drag the scroll box to set the level at which gray values become either black or white.

 Black ratio	Shows the percentage of the pixels in the resulting image that will be black.

 	The Gray/Color Threshold dialog box menu contains several options you can use to control this command.

The Median command sets the threshold level so that the percentages of black and white in the resulting image will be approximately the same.

The Reset command sets the threshold level to 128 (the original threshold level for the image).

The Enlarge and Reduce Histogram commands change the level of magnification of the histogram in the image.

 Preview	This command lets you see the results of the current settings.

 OK	Select OK to make the changes to the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Tune: Posterization... command


Image: Smoothing Filters

The Smoothing Filters submenu command softens a Gray/Color image. These filters can be used on entire images or only selected areas.

The Smoothing filters submenu contains the following commands:

Averaging	Averages brightness of neighboring pixels

Blur	Softens the image by reducing contrast between neighboring pixels

Blur More	Similar to the Blur command, but more stronger

Blur Heavily	Similar to the Blur and Blur More commands, but produces a stronger effect

Despeckle	Removes noise by blurring image areas other than edges

Gaussian Blur...	Allows you to specify the amount of Blur


Smoothing Filters: Averaging

The Averaging filter smooths the current image or selection by averaging the values of each pixel with the values of the surrounding pixels. You can choose the number of pixels used in the averaging; the more used, the softer the result.

Related Topics

Image: Smoothing Filters commands


Smoothing Filters: Blur

The Blur command softens the current image or selection by reducing the contrast between neighboring pixels.

You can use the Blur command several times for a stronger effect, or use the Blur More or Blur Heavily commands.

Related Topics

Image: Smoothing Filters commands

Painting Palette: Blur tool


Smoothing Filters: Blur More

The Blur More command has a similar result as the Blur command, except the blurring effect is a little stronger.

Related Topics

Image: Smoothing Filters commands


Smoothing Filters: Blur Heavily

Blur Heavily is similar to the Blur and Blur More commands, but has a stronger effect.

Related Topics

Image: Smoothing Filters commands


Smoothing Filters: Despeckle

The Despeckle command blurs the areas of the current image or selection where there is little transition between colors.

Related Topics

Image: Smoothing Filters commands


Smoothing Filters: Gaussian Blur

The Gaussian Blur command allows you to specify the amount of blurring you want in the image.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Variance	Drag the scroll box to the variance value you want. The greater the number, the more neighboring pixels used for the calculation and the greater the blur.

 OK	Select OK to blur the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Smoothing Filters commands


Image: Sharpening Filters

The Sharpening Filters submenu of commands offers a variety of ways to sharpen Gray/Color images. These filters can be used on entire images, or just selected areas.

The Sharpening Filters submenu contains the following commands:

Edge Enhancement	Sharpens the edges of the current image or selection (the parts where the degree of color change is the greatest)

Find Edge	Highlights image edges with white lines or lines with midtone values

Find Edge & Invert	Highlights image edges and then inverts pixels to their complementary values

Sharpen	Increases the sharpness of the image

Sharpen More	Similar to the Sharpen command, but produces a more noticeable effect

Sharpen Heavily	Similar to the Sharpen and Sharpen More commands, but produces the most noticeable sharpening effect

Trace Contour...	Traces image edges as defined by a specified threshold value


Sharpening Filters: Edge Enhancement

The Edge Enhancement command sharpens the edges of the current image or selection (the parts where there are the greatest degree of color changes).

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Find Edge command


Sharpening Filters: Find Edge

The Find Edge command highlights the edges of the current image or selection with white lines or lines with midtone values.

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Find Edge and Invert command

Sharpening Filters: Edge Enhancement command

Sharpening Filters: Trace Contour command


Sharpening Filters: Find Edge & Invert

The Find Edge & Invert command highlights the edges of the current image or selection and then reverses all of the color or gray levels to their complementary values.

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Find Edge command


Sharpening Filters: Sharpen

The Sharpen command increases image sharpness by enhancing the contrast between pixels in the current image or selection.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Sharpen tool

Image: Sharpening Filters commands


Sharpening Filters: Sharpen More

The Sharpen More command increases image sharpness by enhancing the contrast between pixels in the current image or selection. The effect is similar to the Sharpen command, except that the result is slightly stronger.

Related Topics

Image: Sharpening Filters commands


Sharpening Filters: Sharpen Heavily

The Sharpen Heavily command increases image sharpness by enhancing the contrast between pixels in the current image or selection. The effects of this command is more noticeable than those of the Sharpen and Sharpen More commands.

Related Topics

Image: Sharpening Filters commands


Sharpening Filters: Trace Contour

The Trace Contour commands traces the areas in the active image window where a specified color value difference occurs. You can control the tracing by entering a threshold value.

These options are available in the dialog box.

 Threshold	The Threshold setting determines how much of a difference in RGB or gray values to trace.

 Mode	Setting Mode to Below traces the areas where the brightness value difference is below the specified threshold value. Setting it to Above traces the areas where the difference is above the specified threshold value.

 Range	Specifies how the pixels are to be marked. 4-neighbor marks only the pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the contour pixel. 8-neighbor marks all pixels neighboring the contour pixel (including diagonal pixels).

 OK	Select OK to trace the outline.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Find Edge command

Sharpening Filters: Edge Enhancement command


Image: Special Filters

The Special Filters submenu of commands let you apply special effects to both Gray/Color images.

These options are available in the Special Filters dialog box.

Add Noise...	Adds randomly generated pixels in different brightness

Emboss...	Creates the impression of an image raised in relief

Maximum...	Lightens pixels in the current image or selection by changing the brightness value for each pixel to the maximum value in the surrounding group of pixels

Median...	Changes the brightness value for each pixel to the average value of the surrounding group of pixels

Minimum...	Darkens pixels in the current image or selection by changing the brightness value for each pixel to the minimum value in the surrounding group of pixels

Motion Blur...	Blurs the current image or selection in order to give the appearance of motion

Mosaic...	Creates an image composed of tiles of square or rectangular various brightnesses


Special Filters: Add Noise

The Add Noise command lets you add random pixels of colors to your entire image or selection area. Adding noise to edited areas can make retouched photos look more realistic.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Variance	Lets you specify the amount of noise to add.

 Distribution	Specifies the method used to calculate the gray/color values of noise pixels. Uniform uses random numbers (from 0 to the variance level you specify), Normal lets noise values be distributed using random numbers along a bell curve with the variance level you specify.

 OK	Select OK to add noise.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Sharpen command


Special Filters: Emboss

The Emboss command creates the impression of an image raised in relief. You can control the amount of depth for the effect and the color of the image surface.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Depth	The Depth command lets you specify the depth (in pixels) of the relief effect.

 Coating	The coating option allows you to specify the color of the image surface.

 OK	Select OK to emboss the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Trace Contour... command


Special Filters: Maximum

The Maximum command lightens pixels in the current image or selection by changing the brightness value for each pixel to the maximum value in the surrounding group of pixels.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Square Size	The square size determines how many pixels are used for calculations. The larger the number, the stronger the effect.

 OK	Select OK to maximize the image.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Special Filters: Minimum... command

Special Filters: Median... command


Special Filters: Median

The Median command changes the brightness value for each pixel to the median value of the surrounding group of pixels.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Square Size	The square size determines how many pixels are used for calculations. The larger the number, the stronger the effect.

OK	Select OK to perform the command.

Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Special Filters: Maximum... command

Special Filters: Minimum... command


Special Filters: Minimum

The Minimum command darkens pixels in the current image or selection by changing the brightness value for each pixel to the minimum value in the surrounding group of pixels.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Square Size	The square size determines how many pixels are used for calculations. The larger the number, the stronger the effect.

 OK	Select OK to perform the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Special Filters: Maximum command

Special Filters: Median command


Special Filters: Motion Blur

The Motion Blur command creates the impression of motion by blurring the image at a specified angle and length.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Length	Determines the length of the motion effect.

 Angle	Set the direction of the motion effect.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Smoothing Filters: Blur command


Special Filters: Mosaic

The Mosaic command converts the current image or selection into square or rectangular tiles of brightness values.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 X Unit	Drag the X Unit slider to determine the width of the tile.

 Y Unit	Drag the Y Unit slider to determine the height of the tile.

 Square	Selecting this option creates square tiles.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Special Filters commands


Image: User Defined Filter
Image: User-Defined Filter

This User-Defined Filter command allows you to create your own special filter effects. This is done by applying a 5 x 5 square matrix of values to image pixels in order to change their gray scale/color values.

A new value of each pixel in the image is calculated in a four-step process:

1.	The matrix is placed over each pixel and its neighbors; the pixel and matrix values are multiplied together.

2.	The values are added together.

3.	The result is divided by the Factor value.

4.	The Bias value is added; this value becomes the new pixel value.

The same process is then repeated for all of the other pixels in the image or selection.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Matrix Values	Enter the matrix values you want.

 Factor	Enter the value that the intermediate result is divided by.

 Bias	Enter a value that will be added to the result.

 Invert	Checking this box inverts the final result.

 Symmetry	The four options in the Symmetry box allow you to automatically make the values in the matrix symmetrical.

 Load	The Load command is for loading previously created filters from disk.

 Save	The Save command lets you save your filters on disk.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Special Filters commands


Image: 2-D Spatial Effects

The 2-D Spatial Effects submenu of commands lets you create special two-dimensional effects on your images.

The 2-D Spatial Effects submenu contains the following commands:

Ripple...	Applies distortion that looks something like the effect of wind on water

Wave...	Similar to ripple but provides greater control.

Whirlpool...	Twists the center of the image.

Related Topics

Image: 3-D Spatial Effects commands


2-D Spatial Effects: Ripple

The Ripple command applies distortion that looks something like the effect of wind on water.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Ripple Amplitude	Set the height of the ripple effect

 Ripple Frequency	Set the distance from one ripple to the next. The frequency can be set to Low, Medium or High.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

2-D Spatial Effects: Wave... command


2-D Spatial Effects: Wave

The Wave command distorts the image in a similar way as the Ripple command, but with more extensive control.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Wave Attributes	Sets the amplitude (height) and length of the wave.

 Wave Scaling	Sets how many times the wave amplitude is multiplied horizontally and vertically.

 Wave Style	Lets you choose from Sine, Triangle or Square waves.

 Random Seeds	Determines the degree of randomness of the waves.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

2-D Spatial Effects: Ripple... command


2-D Spatial Effects: Whirlpool

The Whirlpool command twists the image like a whirlpool. More twist is applied to the center of the image than to the edges.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Angle	This value determines the degree of rotation for the center of the image.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

2-D Spatial Effects: Wave... command


Image: 3-D Spatial Effects

The 3-D Spatial Effects submenu of commands lets you create simulated three-dimensional effects for your images.

The 3-D Spatial Effects submenu contains the following commands:

Custom...	Lets you define your own 3-D effect for the current image or selection

Cylinder	Makes the current image or selection appear as if it were wrapped around a cylindrical object

Pinch	Compresses image data toward the center of the current image or selection

Punch	Expands image data toward the edges of the current image or selection

Sphere...	Makes the current image or selection appear as if it were wrapped around a round object

Related Topics

Image: 2-D Spatial Effects commands


3-D Spatial Effects: Custom

The Custom command allows you to create your own special 3-D effects for the current image or selection.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Mapping Curve	This curve defines the relationship between the radius of the 3-D effect area and the depth of the effect. Set the curve you want by dragging the mouse over the map.

 	The 3-D Curve dialog box menu contains preset effects for the mapping curves. Selecting Piecewise places handles on the curve for easier control.

Selecting Smooth removes jagged points from the curve.

The Reset command restores the curve to its original condition.

The Load command is for loading previously created curves from disk.

The Save command lets you save your curves to disk.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: 3-D Spatial Effects commands


3-D Spatial Effects: Cylinder

The Cylinder command causes the image to look as if it were wrapped around a can. The distortion is stronger in the center of the image than at the sides.

Related Topics

3-D Spatial Effects: Sphere... command


3-D Spatial Effects: Pinch

The Pinch command causes the image to look as if the center has been pinched together. The distortion is greatest at the center of the image.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Power	Sets the strength of the effect.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

3-D Spatial Effects: Punch... command


3-D Spatial Effects: Punch

The Punch command causes the image to look as if the center has been pushed out toward the edges. The distortion is greatest at the center of the image.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Power	Sets the strength of the effect.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

3-D Spatial Effects: Pinch... command


3-D Spatial Effects: Sphere

The Sphere command causes the image to appear as if it were wrapped around a ball. The center of the image is distorted more than the edges.

Related Topics

3-D Spatial Effects: Cylinder... command


Image: Convert to

The Convert to submenu commands let you convert the active document to another data type. The new image appears in a separate document window.

The Convert to submenu contains the following commands:

Black & White	Converts the active image to Black & White

Gray Scale	Converts the active image to Gray Scale

Indexed 16-Color	Converts the active image to Indexed 16-color

Indexed 256-Color	Converts the active image to Indexed 256-color

RGB 8-Color	Converts the active image to RGB 8-color

RGB True Color	Converts the active image to RGB True Color

The Convert To commands are useful for converting images for use on systems with different graphics capabilities.

Related Topics

About Image Data Types


Convert to: Black & White

With the Black & White command, you can convert the active Gray Scale image to Black & White.

Gray scale is the only type which can be converted directly to Black & White. For other image data types, convert them first to Gray Scale, and then to Black & White.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Resolution	You can set the resolution of the new image to that of the display, printer or the original image. You can also enter a new resolution in dots per inch.

 Halftone Screen	You can set the halftone screen by selecting the dot shape, frequency, and angle of the screen.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands

Setting Up the Halftone Screen


Convert to: Gray Scale

The Gray Scale command lets you convert the active image to the Gray Scale image data type.

You can convert the following image types to Gray Scale: Black & White, Indexed 16-color, Indexed 256-color, RGB 8-color, and RGB True Color.

When you convert a Black & White image to Gray Scale, the following options are available.

 Cell Size	The cell size determines how many pixels in the original image are averaged to create pixels of a given gray level.

 Scale Down	The Scale Down command lets you reduce the resolution of the new image.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands

About Image Data Types


Convert to: Indexed 16-color

The Indexed 16-Color command allows you to convert the active image to the Indexed 16-color image data type.

You can convert Gray Scale, RGB 8-color and RGB True Color images to the Indexed 16-color image data type.

When you convert Gray Scale images, the following options are available in the dialog box.

 Palette	You can select the type of color palette you want for the converted image with the Palette options. Choose from the Gray, Firelight, or Pseudo Color palettes.

 Dither	The Dither command lets you control how the Gray Scale image will be converted to a Indexed 16-color image. You can choose from None, Pattern, and Diffusion as dither options.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

When you convert RGB True Color images, the following options are available in the dialog box.

 Palette	You can select the type of color palette you want for the converted image with the Palette options. Choose the System palette or use an adaptive palette that is determined from the source image.

 Dither	The Dither command lets you control how colors in the RGB image, which are not available in the Indexed 16-color image, will be converted. You can choose from None, Pattern, and Diffusion dither options.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands


Convert to: Indexed 256-color

The Indexed 256-color command lets you convert images to the indexed 256-color image data type.

You can convert Gray Scale, RGB 8-color and RGB True Color images to the Indexed 256-color image data type.

When you convert Gray Scale images, the following options are available in the dialog box.

 Palette	Select the type of color palette you want for the new image with the Palette options. Choose from the Gray, Firelight, or Pseudo Color palettes.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

When you convert RGB True Color images, the following options are available in the dialog box.

 Palette	Choose from the 3-3-2 (bits), 6-7-6 (levels), 6-6-6 (levels), or Adaptive palettes.

 Dither	The Dither command lets you control how colors in the RGB image, which are not available in the Indexed 256-color image, will be converted. Choose None, Pattern, or Diffusion dithering.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands


Convert to: RGB 8-Color

The RGB 8-color command converts images to the RGB 8-color data type.

RGB True Color is the only data type which can be converted directly to RGB 8-color. For other image types, convert them first to RGB True Color, and then to RGB 8-color.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Resolution	You can set the resolution of the new image to that of the display, printer or the original image. You can also enter a new resolution in dots per inch.

 Halftone Screen	You can set the halftone screen by selecting the dot shape, frequency, and angle of the screen.

 OK	Select OK to activate the command.

 Cancel	Use this command to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands

Setting Up the Halftone Screen


Convert to: RGB True Color

The RGB True Color command allows you to convert images to the RGB True Color type.

You can convert Gray Scale, RGB 8-color, Indexed 16-color and Indexed 256-color images to the RGB True Color data type.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands

About Image Data Types


Image: Split RGB True Color To

The Split True Color To submenu of commands allows you to put RGB True Color channels into separate color component channel images. Each channel appears as a Gray Scale image in a new document window.

You can edit each color component channel separately and then merge them back together with the Combine RGB True Color By command.

The Split True Color To submenu contains the following commands:

RGB Channels	Separates the active RGB True Color image into Red, Green and Blue color component channels

HSB Channels	Separates the active RGB True Color image into Hue, Saturation and Brightness color component channels

HLS Channels	Separates the active RGB True Color image into Hue, Lightness and Saturation color component channels

CMYK Channels	Separates the active RGB True Color image into Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black color component channels

Related Topics

Working With Color Component Channels

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands

Image: Compute... command

About Image Data Types


Split True Color To: RGB Channels

The RGB Channels command splits an RGB True Color image into separate color component channels representing the red, green and blue components of the RGB color model. Each channel is contained in a separate Gray Scale image document.

Related Topics

Image: Split RGB True Color To commands


Split True Color To: HSB Channels

The HSB Channels command splits an RGB True Color image into separate color component channels representing the hue, saturation, and brightness components of the HSB color model. Each channel is contained in a separate Gray Scale image document.

Related Topics

Image: Split RGB True Color To commands


Split True Color To: HLS Channels

The HLS Channels command splits an RGB True Color image into separate color component channels representing the hue, luminance, and saturation components of the HLS color model. Each channel is contained in a separate Gray Scale image document.

Related Topics

Image: Split RGB True Color To commands


Split True Color To: CMYK Channels

The CMYK Channels command splits an RGB True Color image into separate color component channels representing the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black components of the CMYK color model. Each channel is contained in a separate Gray Scale image document.

The settings in the Separation Setup dialog box determine the way in which the separation into CMYK channels is made.

Related Topics

Image: Split RGB True Color To commands

File: Separation Setup... command


Image: Combine RGB True Color by

The Combine RGB True Color By submenu of commands combines Gray Scale images of the same size and resolution into a single RGB True Color image.

The Combine RGB True Color By submenu contains the following commands:

RGB Channels...	Combines images representing the Red, Green and Blue components into one new image

HSB Channels...	Combines images representing the Hue, Saturation and Brightness components into one new image

HLS Channels...	Combines images representing the Hue, Lightness and Saturation components into one new image

CMYK Channels...	Combines images representing the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black components into one new image

Related Topics

Image: Split True Color To commands


Combine RGB True Color by: RGB Channels

The RGB Channels command lets you combine gray scale images into a single RGB True Color image based on the RGB color model. The gray scale images used must be open before selecting this command.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Red	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the RGB red component.

 Green	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the RGB green component.

 Blue	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the RGB blue component.

Related Topics

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands


Combine RGB True Color by: HSB Channels

The HSB Channels command lets you combine gray scale images into a single RGB True Color image based on the HSB color model. The gray scale images used must be open before selecting this command.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Hue	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the HSB hue component.

 Saturation	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the HSB saturation component.

 Brightness	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the HSB brightness component.

Related Topics

Working With Color Component Channels

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands


Combine RGB True Color by: HLS Channels

The HLS Channels command lets you combine gray scale images into a single RGB True Color image based on the HLS color model. The gray scale images used must be open before selecting this command.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Hue	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the HLS hue component.

 Luminance	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for HLS luminance component.

 Saturation	Lets you choose the Gray Scale image for the HLS saturation component.

Related Topics

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands


Combine RGB True Color by: CMYK Channel

The CMYK Channels command lets you combine gray scale images into a single RGB True Color image based on the CMYK color model. The gray scale images used must be open before selecting this command.

The following options are available in the dialog box.

 Cyan	Lets you choose the gray scale image for the CMYK cyan component.

 Magenta	Lets you choose the gray scale image for the CMYK magenta component.

 Yellow	Lets you choose the gray scale image for the CMYK yellow component.

 Black	Lets you choose the gray scale image for the CMYK black component.

Related Topics

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands


Image: Compute

The Compute command lets you perform sophisticated inter-image computations and put the results into a new document.

To use the Compute command, the images must be of the same size, and image data type. Also, the images must be open.

Compute functions include: extracting a specified brightness percentage from an image document; adding, subtracting, blending, or multiplying the pixel values of two images; and comparing the lightness/darkness of image pixels. Depending on the selected computation, these options are available in the dialog box:

 Source1	The Source1 image is the first of the two images to be compared by the chosen computation function.

 Source2	The Source2 image is the other image used in the comparison.

 Mask	For the Composite computation, allows a file to be used as a mask to limit the area affected by the computation.

 Percent	For the Blend and Extract computations, the amount of value used for blending or composition.

 Color	For the Extract computation, lets you add the foreground or background color, black, dark gray, gray, light gray, or white.

 Scale	For the Add and Subtract computations, lets you scale the pixel values of the target image.

 Shift	For the Add and Subtract computations, lets you add this value to each pixel in the target image.

 Sample	The Sample command lets you see the operation of the selected command.

Related Topics

Performing Document Computations

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands


View: Add a View

The Add a View command lets you open another view of the current image. Each window shows the same image file. Changes made in one image window will appear in the others. You can have different zoom factors for each view.

Related Topics

Edit: Duplicate command


View: Actual View
View: Actual View (1:1)

This command displays the current image without magnification or reduction. Instead of using the specified image width and height for displaying an image, PhotoStyler displays each pixel in the image with one screen pixel. This may cause images that have a resolution that is greater than the screen resolution (typically 72 to 100 dpi) to appear magnified on the screen.

Related Topics

View: Fit in Window command


View: Zoom in

The Zoom In submenu of commands give you a magnified view of the current image. These commands allow 16 different levels of magnification, from 1:1 (the lowest magnification) to 16:1 (the highest magnification). The document window title bar displays the current level of magnification.

Note:	You can also magnify the current image with the Zoom tool in the Selection Palette.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Zoom  tool


View: Zoom out

The Zoom Out submenu of commands give you a reduced view of the current image. These commands allow 16 different levels of reduction, from 1:1 (the least reduction) to 1:16 (the greatest reduction). The document window title bar always displays the current level of magnification.

Note:	You can also reduce your view of the current image with the Zoom tool in the Selection Palette.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Zoom  tool


View: Fit in Window

This command fits the document window to the size of the current image. It is similar to the Zoom Out command, except that it resizes not only the image, but the entire document window. Fit in Window offers 16 different levels of reduction, from 1:1 (the largest) to 1:16 (the smallest). The available levels of reduction in the submenu are determined by the size of the document window.

Related Topics

View: Actual View (1:1) command

Selection Palette: Zoom tool


View: Ruler

The Ruler command makes PhotoStyler's vertical and horizontal rulers appear in the active document window.

PhotoStyler uses inches as the default unit of measurement, but you can also choose centimeters or pixels by clicking the point where the horizontal and vertical rulers meet and selecting the unit of measure you want to use.

Related Topics

View: Information... command

Change Ruler Unit command


View: Information

The information command displays file information on the image in the active document window.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 File	Displays the full pathname of the active image.

 File Format	Displays the image file format and whether or not the image is compressed.

 Image Data Type	Displays the image data type.

 Width	Displays the width of the image in pixels.

 Height	Displays the height of the image in lines.

 Resolution	Shows the image resolution in dpi.

 File Size	Displays the file size in kilobytes.

 Has Been Modified?	Tells you whether or not the file has been modified since it was opened.

Related Topics

File: Open... command


View: Color Table
View: Color Table...

The Color Table command lets you view the color lookup table of the current Indexed 16- or 256-color image.

Note:	This command is available only when the current image data type is Indexed 16- or 256-color.

The 256 grid boxes of Color Table dialog box show the indexed colors. The sequence order of the colors is from left to right and from top to bottom. For example, the top row represents the colors numbered from 0 on the left side to 15 on the right side.

Related Topics

Image: Convert to commands


Full Screen Mode
View: Full Screen Mode

Maximizes the active document window so that it occupies the entire screen.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Normal Screen Mode command


Show/Hide Painting Tools
View: Show/Hide Painting Tools

The Show/Hide Painting Tools command in the View menu displays the Painting Palette. This floating palette contains tools that let you edit images.

You can move the Painting Palette around in the application window workspace by dragging the palette title. When finished, you can hide the palette by selecting the Hide Painting Tools command in the View menu.

Related Topics

Painting Palette


Show/Hide Color Palette
View: Show/Hide Color Palette

The Show/Hide Color Palette command in the View menu displays the Color Palette, a floating palette that lets you pick and edit the foreground and background colors from a default palette of colors or create a new color palette.

You can move the Color Palette around in the application window workspace by dragging the palette title. When finished, you can also hide the palette by selecting the Hide Color Palette command in the View menu.

Related Topics

Choosing a Color From the Color Palette

Current Colors Indicator


Show/Hide Brush Shapes
View: Show/Hide Brush Shapes

The Show/Hide Brush Shapes command in the View menu displays the Brush Shapes Palette, a floating palette containing brush shapes for the painting and editing tools. The palette includes 24 preset round, square, and linear shapes in different sizes and an additional brush shape that you can customize.

You can move the Brush Shapes Palette around in the application window workspace by dragging the palette title. When finished, you can hide the palette by selecting the Hide Brush Shapes command.

Note:	Many of the painting tool dialog boxes also let you choose the current brush shape.

Related Topics

Brush Shapes Palette


Window: Tile

The Tile command arranges the windows of the opened images side-by-side so that all images are visible in the application workspace.

Related Topics

Window: Cascade command


Window: Cascade

The Cascade command arranges image windows in an overlapping pattern so that the title bar of each window remains visible.

Related Topics

Window: Tile command


Window: Arrange Icons

You can arrange the minimized image icons in a horizontal row with the Arrange Icons command.

By double-clicking on the icon, you can bring an image back to its normal size.

Related Topics

Window: Cascade command

Window: Tile command


Selection Palette

 Selection Palette Menu

The Selection Palette menu commands lets you select and constrain a specific areas of an image for editing. The commands in this menu can be used along with the selection tools in the Selection Palette.

Selection Commands

The following commands are located in the Selection Palette menu. (The Normal Screen Mode and Undo/Redo commands appear only in Full Screen Mode.) To get more information on a particular Selection Palette menu command, just select the one you want.

Normal Screen Mode	Changes to Normal Screen Mode

Undo/Redo	Undoes the last edit

Expand...	Expands the selection

Border...	Creates a selection area from the selection marquee

Soft Edge...	Sets a soft edged selection

Export Mask...	Exports current selection as a Gray Scale image

Import Mask...	Sets a new selection from an opened Gray Scale image

Show/Hide Marquee	Shows/hides a selection marquee

Selection Tools

The selection tools in the Selection Palette give you a variety of ways to select and constrain a portion of an image for editing.

To make multiple selections, hold down the Shift key while selecting each area. Add an area to an existing selection by holding down the Shift key while making a further selection that overlaps the original. Subtract an area from the existing selection by holding down the Ctrl key while making a selection that overlaps (or lies entirely inside) the existing one.

You can use all selection tools interchangeably while making multiple selections and adding or subtracting from a selection.

The following selection tools are available in the Selection Palette:

  Magic Wand 	Selects an area based on the similarity of pixel color

  Lasso 	Selects an irregularly shaped area

  Rectangular Selection 	Selects a rectangular area

  Square Selection 	Selects a square area

  Elliptical Selection 	Selects an egg-shaped area

  Circular Selection 	Selects a circular area

  Horizontal/Vertical Line Selection  Selects a single row/column of pixels

  Move Selection 	Moves the selection marquee but not the selection contents

Auxiliary Tools

These tools provide a variety of functions.

  Grabber 	Positions images that are too large for the active window

  Zoom 	Zooms in or out on an image

  Eyedropper 	Sets the foreground or background color to one found in document

  Crop 	Trims the image

Selection Buttons

   Select All	Selects the entire image

   Select None 	Deselects all selected areas

   Invert Selection 	Makes the selected area deselected and the deselected areas selected

Selection Status Indicator

Shows the selection status of the current image. With the pointer on the indicator, press and hold the mouse button to view selection status information in the Status Bar.

  Current Colors Indicator	Shows the current foreground and background colors

Related Topics

Image Selection Commands and Operations

Working with Floating Selections

Working with Selection Masks


Selection Palette: Undo
Selection Palette: Undo/Redo

The Undo/Redo command cancels the effect of the most recent edit.

This command is the same as the Undo/Redo command in the Edit menu. It is included in the Selection Palette menu for convenience when you are using the Full Screen Mode.

Most editing operations can be undone. If the change can't be undone, the Selection Palette menu displays "Can't Undo."

Related Topics

Edit: Undo command


Selection Palette: Normal Screen Mode

When in Full Screen Mode, choose this command in the Selection Palette menu to return to Normal Screen Mode.

Related Topics

View: Full Screen Mode command


Selection Palette: Select Expand
Selection Palette: Expand...

This command expands the current selection to include image pixels that are similar in color or gray value to the pixels in the current selection. You can repeat this command to further expand the selection.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Color Similarity	This integer value defines a color range that PhotoStyler uses to determine which pixels to include in the expanded selection.

 Soft Edge	Enter the width (in pixels) of the soft edge you want around the selection area.

Note:	This option is enabled only for RGB True Color and Gray Scale images.

 Connected to Current Selection

Check this option to expand the selection to include only the pixels that are contiguous with the current selection.

 Preview	This command lets you see what the changes will look like before you actually expand them.

 OK	Select OK to cause the selection area to increase.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Selection Palette


Selection Palette: Select Border
Selection Palette: Border...

The Border command takes the current selection area boundary and makes the boundary itself the selection area. For example, a round selection area becomes doughnut-shaped. The width of the selection area can be determined in pixels.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Border Width	Defines the selection area width in pixels. The selection area extends an equal distance inside and outside the original selection boundary.

 Preview	Lets you see what the specified changes will look like before you actually apply them.

 OK	Select OK to create the new selection area.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Selection Palette


Selection Palette:  Soft Edge
Selection Palette: Soft Edge...

Defines an area around the selection border to which painting and editing effects are gradually applied. If you fill a selection that has a soft edge, the fill color gradually blends in with the colors surrounding the selection and the colors inside the selection.

Note:	This command is enabled only for RGB True Color and Gray Scale images.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Soft Edge	Specifies the width (in pixels) of the soft edge for the selection.

 OK	Select OK to create the soft edge of the selection area.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Export Mask... command

Selection Palette: Import Mask... command


Selection Palette: Export Mask
Selection Palette: Export Mask...

The Export Mask command lets you separate the current selection mask to a new document window. You can then edit the selection area as an 8-bit Gray Scale image with any of PhotoStyler's functions and tools. The mask document can also be saved for future use.

The selected portion of the mask appears as white, and the unselected area as black. A soft-edged selection area appears as a gray scale value.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Titled As	Enter the optional mask name.

 Minimize by Bounding Box

Check this box if you want the new image window to be only as big as a bounding box that frames the selection area.

 Width	The width of the new document.

 Height	The height of the new document.

 OK	Select OK to create the new image.

 Cancel	Select Cancel to close the dialog box without separating the mask.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Import Mask... command

Selection Palette: Soft Edge... command


Selection Palette: Import Mask
Selection Palette: Import Mask...

The Import Mask command lets you load a selection mask into an image from an opened 8-bit Gray Scale document. When the mask is imported into the image, you can see the mask displayed as a selection area.

When you choose this command, a dialog box appears.

 Import Selection From  Shows a list of the opened Gray Scale documents. A star following the title indicates the active document.

 Width	Shows the width in pixels of the selected image file in the Import Selection From list box.

 Height	Shows the height in pixels of the selected image file in the Import Selection From list box.

 Current Image	Shows the width and height of the active image document in pixels.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Export Mask... command

Selection Palette: Soft Edge... command


Selection Palette: Show/Hide Marquee
Selection Palette: Show/Hide Marquee...

The Show/Hide Marquee command shows or hides the marquee that outlines a selection area. Any changes you specify for the current selection, such as fills or color adjustments, are performed as usual.

You can toggle this command on and off: choose it once to hide the selection marquee; choose it again to show it.

Related Topics

Selection Palette


Select All

Click the Select All button (represented by an A) in the Selection Palette to select the entire active document.

Related Topics

Select None button

Selection Palette: Show/Hide Marquee command


Select None

Click the Select None button (represented by an N) in the Selection Palette to remove all selection areas from the active document.

Related Topics

Select All button

Selection Palette: Show/Hide Marquee command


Invert Selection

Click the Invert Selection button (represented by an I) in the Selection Palette to reverse selected areas and unselected areas. All areas currently selected become unselected, and unselected areas become selected.

Related Topics

Select None button

Select All button


Magic Wand
  Selection Palette: Magic Wand

The Magic Wand lets you automatically select an area of an image based on the similarity of pixel color and brightness. The Magic Wand eliminates the need to manually trace an irregularly shaped selection.

Double-clicking on the Magic Wand selection icon opens a dialog box that contains tool options.

 Color Similarity	Enter a value to set the similarity of colors selected with the Magic Wand. The lower the value, the closer the values of neighboring pixels must be, to be included in the selection area.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Magic Wand Tool

Selection Palette


Lasso
  Selection Palette: Lasso

The Lasso selection tool lets you select an irregularly shaped area of the image. With the Lasso you can create both freehand and straight sections for the selection marquee.

Click the pointer at the place you want to begin the selection. To make a straight line, release the button and move the pointer to the next spot. Click and release to make the next straight-line segment. To make freehand shapes, keep the mouse button down and drag the pointer.

When finished, double-click to create the selection area. If the ends of the shape are not connected, PhotoStyler will automatically connect them for you with a straight line.

Related Topics

Using the Lasso Tool

Selection Palette


Rectangular Selection
  Selection Palette: Rectangular Selection

The Rectangular Selection tool lets you select a rectangular area in the current image. Drag the pointer to create the selection area.

Double-clicking on the Rectangular selection icon opens a dialog box which allows you to determine the size of the selection area in pixels.

 Freehand	Select Freehand to create selection areas manually.

 Fixed Size	Click on Fixed Size and enter the height and width of the selection area you want.

 Current Size	If there is currently a selection area in the active window, selecting Current Size sets the values in the entry fields to the size of the selection area.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command

Selection Palette


Square Selection
  Selection Palette: Square Selection

The Square Selection tool lets you select a square area in the active image. Drag the pointer over the area you want to select.

Double-clicking on the Square selection icon opens a dialog box which allows you to determine the size of the selection area in pixels.

 Freehand	Select Freehand to create selection areas manually.

 Width/Height	Click on Width/Height and enter the size of the selection area you want.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command

Selection Palette


Elliptical Selection
  Selection Palette: Elliptical Selection

The Elliptical selection tool lets you create an oval selection area in the current image. Drag the pointer across the image to create the selection.

Double-clicking on the Elliptical selection icon opens a dialog box which allows you to determine the size of the selection area in pixels.

 Freehand	Select Freehand to create selection areas manually.

 Fixed Size	Click on Fixed Size and enter the height and width of the bounding box for the ellipse.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command

Selection Palette


Circular Selection
  Selection Palette: Circular Selection

The Circular Selection tool is for creating circular selection areas. Drag the pointer across the image to create the selection.

Double-clicking on the Circular selection icon opens a dialog box which allows you to determine the size of the selection area in pixels.

 Freehand	Select Freehand to create selection areas manually.

 Diameter	Click on Diameter and enter the diameter of the selection area you want.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command

Selection Palette.


Horizontal/Vertical Line Selection Tool
  Selection Palette: Horizontal/Vertical Line Selection

The Horizontal/Vertical Line Selection tool allows you to select a row/column of pixels. Drag the pointer over the line you want to select.

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command

Selection Palette


Move Selection Tool
  Selection Palette: Move Selection

The Move Selection tool moves the selection marquee without affecting the selection contents.

To use the Move Selection tool, first create a selection with one of the selection tools. Click on the Move Selection tool and drag the pointer inside the selection area to move it.

When this tool is selected, you can move the selection by pressing the Shift key and dragging. Double-clicking on the Move Selection icon deselects the current selection.

Related Topics

Working with Floating Selections

Selection Palette


Grabber Tool
  Selection Palette: Grabber

When an image is too large to show completely in the active document window, this tool provides a convenient method for scrolling the image in any direction. The Grabber tool is similar in function to the standard Windows scroll bars. Just drag the Grabber tool in the direction you want to scroll.

This tool is disabled when all of the current image is displayed in the document window.

Double-clicking on the Grabber tool icon activates the Fit in Window command.

Related Topics

View: Fit in Window command


Zoom Tool
  Selection Palette: Zoom

The Zoom tool magnifies or reduces your view of the image, allowing you to do fine retouching work or view all of an image that is too large to fit on the screen in actual size.

The Zoom tool provides magnification up to 16 times the actual pixel view and reduction down to 1/16 of the actual pixel size. The document window title bar displays the current zoom factor.

Select the Zoom tool and click on the image to zoom in. Hold down the Shift Key and click on the image to zoom out. Double-click on the Zoom tool icon to return to actual size.

Related Topics

View: Zoom in command

View: Zoom out command

View: Actual View (1:1) command


Eye Dropper
  Selection Palette: Eyedropper

The Eyedropper tool lets you select the foreground and background colors from the current image. You can also use this tool to identify the gray scale/color values that comprise the pixel. When you move this tool to a pixel in the active document, the pixel gray scale/color values are displayed in the Status Bar.

Select the Eyedropper tool and click on the image to select the color you want. Holding down the Shift Key and clicking on the image selects the background color.

Related Topics

Choosing a Color with the Eyedropper Tool

Color Palette


Crop Tool
  Selection Palette: Crop

The Crop tool allows you to select an area of an image and discard the rest.

To crop an image, select the Crop tool and drag it over the part of the image that you want to keep. You can adjust the cropping area by dragging the handles on the selection area. When ready, double-click inside the selection to discard the unselected portion.

Double-click on the Crop tool icon to preserve the entire image.

You can use the Undo command to undo the Crop command.


  Current Colors Indicator

The Current Colors Indicator displays the current foreground and background colors. The front color block shows the current foreground color, and the rear color block shows the current background color. These colors are used by the painting tools and fill command.

Click on either the Foreground or Background color block to open the Color Picker dialog box.

Related Topics

Color Picker

Color Palette


Color Picker

The Color Picker lets you select the foreground or background color using the RGB or HSB color models. You can use the Color Picker to specify the color component values for the color you want or choose a color from a Color Plane that shows all available colors for a selected color component.

 Title Bar	The Title Bar indicates whether you are selecting a foreground or background color.

 Color Plane	Click anywhere on the square Color Plane in the center of the dialog box to pick a color.

You can change which colors appear in the Color Plane with the Color Plane Selector.

 Color Plane Selector  Move the Color Plane Selector arrow or click on the selector to select the component color for which you want the Color Plane to display available colors. The Color Picker mixes this color component with the entire range of other colors in the Color Plane.

For example, if red is the selected color component, the Color Plane Selector will show the entire range of red values, from black to red. The value for the selected active color component determines all possible combinations of green and blue (the non-selected color components) in the Color Plane.

When using the HSB color model, the Color Picker works the same way, except the Color Plane Selector will be either hue, saturation or brightness.

 RGB	Select R, G or B to make red, green or blue the active Color Component.

 HSB	Select H, S or B to make hue, saturation or brightness the active Color Component.

 New/Old	The New/Old box show the new and previously selected colors.

 Cell	Selecting the Cell feature causes the Color Plane to be divided into units. This reduces the total number of colors that can be selected. This option is checked by default.

 Color Array list box	The Color Array list box works with the Cell feature. Set it to determine the number of cells the Color Plane is divided into. Selecting 8 (x 8) gives 64 colors, 16 (x 16) gives 256, and 32 (x 32) gives 1024.

 Zoom	Click the Zoom button to get a closer look at the colors in the Color Plane around the currently selected color.

 Zoom Distance list box  Select one of these values to set the difference between color cells in the Zoom window. The larger the number, the greater the degree of color difference between cells.

 OK	Select OK to accept the color chosen.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Choosing a Color from the Color Picker

Color Palette


Painting Palette

The painting tools allow you to add paint to specific parts of an image, as well as erase, smudge, blur and sharpen. Most of the painting tools offer options that let you achieve particular effects. You can access these options via a dialog box that appears when you double-click the tool icon.

The painting tools work only on Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

The following painting tools are located on the Painting Palette:

  Eraser 	Erases an area to the current background color or to the last saved version of the image

  Smudge 	Blends and smears pixel colors together

  Blur 	Blurs the image by reducing contrast between pixels

  Sharpen 	Sharpens the image by increasing contrast between pixels

  Lighten 	Increases pixel brightness

  Darken 	Decreases pixel brightness

  Gradient Fill	Fills a selection with gradually blended colors

  Stamp 	Duplicates (clones) areas of an image

  Air Brush 	Sprays very smooth lines

  Bucket Fill 	Fills an area with similar gray scale/color values

  Paintbrush 	Paints smooth-edged lines

  Pencil 	Draws sharp-edged lines

  Text 	Creates a text-shaped selection area on an image

  Line 	Draws straight lines


Eraser
  Painting Palette: Eraser

The Eraser tool lets you change pixels in the image to the current background color or restore to the last saved version of the image. To erase, drag the pointer over the image.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

Double-clicking on the Eraser tool icon displays a dialog box that allows you to select tool options:

 Erase to	Click an option to choose whether the eraser will erase to the background color or to the last saved version of the image.

 Transparency	Enter a percentage value for the transparency of the background color or restored image.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Eraser tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Edit: Clear command


Smudge
  Painting Palette: Smudge

The Smudge tool allows you to smear the paint in an image a specified distance.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

Double-clicking on the Smudge tool icon opens the Smudge dialog box with the following options.

 Use Foreground Color  These options control which pixels are affected by the smudge. With the default setting of Always, all the pixels you smudge are changed. With the If Lighter option selected, pixels are changed only when the foreground color is lighter than the image pixels. With the If Darker option, pixels are changed only when the foreground color is darker than the image pixels.

 Spacing	The Spacing control determines the distance (in pixels) between affected pixels. A value of 0, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that paint will be smudged according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Smudge Amount 	The Smudge Amount control sets the intensity of the smudge effect. The higher the value, the more noticeable the smudge.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Smudge tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Blur tool


Blur Tool
  Painting Palette: Blur

The Blur tool makes the part of the image you drag the tool over less focused. It works by decreasing the contrast in the pixels it touches.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click on the Blur tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Foreground Color  These options control which pixels are affected by the tool. With the default setting of Always, all the pixels you blur are changed. With the If Lighter option selected, pixels are changed only when the foreground color is lighter than the image pixels. With the If Darker option, pixels are changed only when the foreground color is darker than the image pixels.

 Spacing	The Spacing control determines the distance between affected pixels. A value of 0, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that paint will be blurred according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Blur 	Choose Light, Medium, or Heavy to specify the intensity of the blur effect.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Blur tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Smoothing Filters: Blur command

Painting Palette: Smudge tool


Sharpen Tool
  Painting Palette: Sharpen

The Sharpen tool makes the part of the image that you drag the tool over appear more focused. As you drag it over the image, this tool increases the contrast between neighboring pixels.

When you double-click on the Sharpen tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Foreground Color  This controls which pixels are affected. With the default setting of Always, all the pixels you sharpen are changed. With the If Lighter option selected, pixels are changed only when the foreground color is lighter than the image pixels. With the If Darker option, pixels are changed only when the foreground color is darker than the image pixels.

 Spacing	The Spacing control determines the distance between affected pixels. A value of 0, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that the image will be sharpened according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Sharpen 	Choose Light, Medium, or Heavy to specify the intensity of the sharpen effect.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Sharpen tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Sharpening Filters: Sharpen command


Lighten Tool
  Painting Palette: Lighten

The Lighten tool lightens the image. When you click or drag the pointer on the image, this tool lightens the pixels it touches.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click on the Lighten tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Lighten by 	The Lighten By control sets the intensity of the effect. To lighten a little, specify a low value. To lighten a lot, specify a high value.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Lighten tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Darken tool

Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command


Darken Tool
  Painting Palette: Darken

The Darken tool darkens the image. When you click or drag the mouse on the image, this tool darkens the pixels it touches.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click on the Darken tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Darken by	The Darken By control sets the intensity of the effect. To darken a little, specify a low value. To darken a lot, specify a high value.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Darken tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Lighten tool

Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command


Gradient Fill
  Painting Palette: Gradient Fill

The Gradient Fill tool lets you fill a image or selection area with colors that gradually blend from one to another. With the tool's default setting, the foreground and background colors are used.

When you select the Custom Colors option in the Gradient Fill dialog box, you can use the Custom Color Palette to choose custom colors for the Gradient Fill. See the description below for information on the Custom Color Palette.

To use the Gradient Fill, click on the starting point to fill and drag the pointer to the ending point.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

Double-click on the Gradient Fill tool icon to open the dialog box.

 Fill Style	This command sets the shape of the filled area. There are several options.

Linear causes the colors to blend in a straight line. The direction is determined by the angle of the line traced by dragging the cursor.

Circular fills a circle. Drag the mouse to set the radius of the circle.

Elliptical causes the fill to radiate from a center point outward. Drag the mouse to the outer boundary of the fill.

Square fills a square area. Drag the mouse to set the size of the square.

Rectangular fills a rectangle. Drag the mouse to set the size of the rectangle.

 Color Model	The Color Model option controls the fill colors and how they blend from the foreground to the background colors.

The RGB option fills directly from the foreground to the background color.

The first HSB option fills counter-clockwise through the color spectrum starting with the foreground color and ending with the background color.

The second HSB option fills clockwise through the color spectrum starting with the foreground color and ending with the background color.

 Fill Colors	The Fill Colors control determines which colors are used for the fill.

Fore. to Back. fills from the foreground color to the background color.

Back. to Fore. fills from the background color to the foreground color.

Custom Colors allows you to select a custom sequence of colors for the fill. See the description below for details on the Custom Color Palette.

 Repeat	Enter the number of times you want the colors to repeat.

 	The Gradient Fill menu contains three options you can use to modify the fill. Each of these options can be toggled on and off.

The Expanding Color(s) option causes the fill to continue past the boundaries of the selection area.

The Ping-Pong option causes the color sequence to repeat again backwards.

The Banding option causes the colors to jump directly from one to the other without blending.

 Mixing Controls	The Mixing Controls consist of three arrow handles you can drag to set the timing of the blending process.

The left handle sets the point at which the first color starts to blend with the next.

The middle handle sets the point at which the two colors are equally blended.

The right handle sets the point at which the last color has finished blending.

 Practice Pad	Use the Practice Pad to test the effects of dialog box settings.

 Clear	Clicking on Clear restores the practice pad to its original state.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

The Custom Color Palette

The Custom Color Palette is a modification of the standard Color Palette. It appears anytime you select Custom Colors for the Fill Colors option.

The bottom of the dialog box has eight Color Boxes that are used in the gradient fill. Click on one and select a color for it. You can have up to eight colors, or as few as two.

The Custom Color Palette has the following options.

 Title Bar	The Title Bar displays the palette name and the current zoom level.

 Scratch Pad	The scratch pad lets you see and edit the current color palette. Click on the Pick/Edit button to toggle between color selection and color palette editing modes. You can use most of the painting tools with the color palette scratch pad.

 	Click on the icon near the bottom of the palette to open the menu of available commands described below.

Undo command undo the last operation on the custom colors.

Add a Color command used to add another color to the Custom Color set. The maximum allowed is eight.

Delete Current Color command used to delete the current selected color from the Custom Color set.

Delete Other Colors command deletes all the selected colors except the one that is currently highlighted.

Set to Rainbow command sets seven of the color boxes to rainbow colors and deletes the last color.

Set to Default Colors sets the palette to its default colors.

Reverse command reverses the order of the colors in the Color Boxes.

The Load Custom Colors command lets you load a set of custom colors from disk.

The Save Custom Colors command lets you save a set of custom colors on disk.

 Custom Color Boxes	The Custom Color Boxes at the bottom of the palette show the custom colors. Clicking on any one of the boxes outlines it to indicate that the next selected color will go in that box. Empty boxes are indicated by black stripes.

If the box is empty, clicking on it adds the current color to that box. Clicking on a color box makes that box's color the current color. Clicking on the active color box opens the Color Picker.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Bucket Fill tool

Edit: Fill... command

Color Palette


Stamp Tool
  Painting Palette: Stamp

The Stamp tool lets you clone (duplicate) an area of an image to another part of the image. You can also use this tool to paint the current pattern in an image.

To use the Pixel Copy option of the Stamp, hold down the Shift Key and click on the area of the image you want to copy. Next, drag the mouse over the area you want to copy the first section to. The farther you drag the pointer, the more that is copied.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click this tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Source Image	The Use Source Image control lets you determine how the pixels under the Stamp are affected. There are several settings to choose from.

Always changes all the pixels that the Stamp passes over to the foreground color.

If Lighter changes only pixels that are darker than the corresponding pixels in the source image.

If Darker changes only pixels that are lighter than the corresponding pixels in the source image.

 Spacing	The Spacing control specifies the distance between the pixels that are affected by the Stamp. A value of 0, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that paint will be applied according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Transparency 	The Transparency setting controls the transparency of the paint. To use transparent paint, specify a high value. To use opaque paint, specify a low value.

 Clone	The Clone setting lets you control the source of the image area to be stamped. With the Pixel Copy option selected, you can copy part of an image onto other parts of the image. The Pattern option lets you paint the current pattern onto parts of the image.

 Aligned	Selecting this option lets you copy the image or paint the current pattern as aligned from the point where you initially clicked. When this option is not selected, you paint from the reference point (Pixel Copy option) or the center of the pattern tile (Pattern option) each time you click.

 Soft Edge	Selecting Soft Edge blends the edges of the stamped image smoothly with the underlying image.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Stamp tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Stamp Tool

Working with Patterns

Edit: Pattern... command


Air Brush
  Painting Palette: Air Brush

The Airbrush tool simulates a smooth spray effect by painting the foreground color with a soft-edge pattern. The edges always blend with the underlying image.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click this tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Foreground Color  The Use Foreground Color command controls which pixels under the line are affected. There are several settings available.

Always changes all the pixels that the line passes over to the foreground color.

If Lighter changes only pixels that are darker than the foreground color.

If Darker changes only pixels that are lighter than the foreground color.

Hue Only changes only the hue without affecting the saturation or brightness.

Color Only changes only the hue and saturation of the pixels without changing the brightness.

Brightness Only changes only the brightness of the pixels while preserving the color.

Additive adds together the current foreground color with the pixels under the Line according to the RGB additive color model. Pixels get lighter with this command.

Subtractive uses the CMY subtractive color model to create the final colors. Pixels get darker with this command.

 Spacing	The Spacing control specifies the distance between the pixels that are affected by the Paintbrush. A value of 0, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that paint will be applied according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Transparency	The Transparency setting controls the transparency of the paint. To use transparent paint, specify a high value. To use opaque paint, specify a low value.

 Rate of Flow	The Rate of Flow setting specifies the rate at which paint is deposited on the image. To lay down a lot of paint in a short time, specify a high Rate of Flow value and drag the Airbrush slowly.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Airbrush tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Pencil tool

Painting Palette: Paintbrush tool

Painting Palette: Line tool


Bucket Fill
  Painting Palette: Bucket Fill

The Bucket Fill tool fills an area of the image with the foreground color. With this tool you can fill a specific part of an image according to the color similarities of neighboring pixels.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click this tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Color Similarity	The Color Similarities control specifies the color range of the area to fill. The higher the value, the greater the color range and the larger the filled area.

 Transparency	Enter a percentage value for the transparency of the fill.

 Soft Edge	Use this command to specify the width of the soft edge for the fill area.

 Practice Pad	Use the Practice Pad to test the effects of dialog box settings.

 Reset	Clicking on Reset restores the practice pad to its original state.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Edit: Fill... command

Painting Palette: Gradient Fill tool


Paintbrush
  Painting Palette: Paintbrush

The Paintbrush tool paints a soft-edged freehand line using the foreground color. The edges of the paint blend with the image under the stroke of the Paintbrush.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click this tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Foreground Color  The Use Foreground Color command controls which pixels under the line are affected. There are several settings available.

Always changes all the pixels that the line passes over to the foreground color.

If Lighter changes only pixels that are darker than the foreground color.

If Darker changes only pixels that are lighter than the foreground color.

Hue Only changes only the hue without affecting the saturation or brightness.

Color Only changes only the hue and saturation of the pixels without changing the brightness.

Brightness Only changes only the brightness of the pixels while preserving the color.

Additive adds together the current foreground color with the pixels under the Line according to the RGB additive color model. Pixels get lighter with this command.

Subtractive uses the CMY subtractive color model to create the final colors. Pixels get darker with this command.

 Spacing	The Spacing control specifies the distance between the pixels that are affected by the Paintbrush. A zero value, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that paint will be applied according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Transparency	The Transparency setting controls the transparency of the paint. To use transparent paint, specify a high value. To use opaque paint, specify a low value.

 Rate of Flow	The Rate of Flow setting specifies the rate at which paint is deposited on the image. To lay down a lot of paint in a short time, specify a high Rate of Flow value and drag the Paintbrush slowly.

 Spread Distance	The Spread Distance setting controls how far you can paint before the paint fades out. The higher the Spread Distance value, the greater the distance you can paint before the paint fades out. A setting of 0 disables paint fade-out.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Paintbrush tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Pencil tool

Painting Palette: Air Brush tool


Pencil Tool
  Painting Palette: Pencil

The Pencil tool draws a hard-edged freehand line with the current foreground color. Use this tool when you don't want a soft-edged line.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click this tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Foreground Color  The Use Foreground Color command controls which pixels under the line are affected. There are several settings available.

Always changes all the pixels that the line passes over to the foreground color.

If Lighter changes only pixels that are darker than the foreground color.

If Darker changes only pixels that are lighter than the foreground color.

Hue Only changes only the hue without affecting the saturation or brightness.

Color Only changes only the hue and saturation of the pixels without changing the brightness.

Brightness Only changes only the brightness of the pixels while preserving the color.

Additive adds together the current foreground color with the pixels under the Line according to the RGB additive color model. Pixels get lighter with this command.

Subtractive uses the CMY subtractive color model to create the final colors. Pixels get darker with this command.

 Spacing	The Spacing control specifies the distance between the pixels that are affected by the Paintbrush. A value of 0, which is the same as selecting the Freehand option, specifies that paint will be applied according to how quickly you move the mouse.

 Transparency	The Transparency setting controls the transparency of the paint. To use transparent paint, specify a high value. To use opaque paint, specify a low value.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Paintbrush tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Line tool

Painting Palette: Paintbrush tool

Painting Palette: Air Brush tool


Text Tool
  Painting Palette: Text

The Text tool lets you place text-shaped selection areas in your image documents.

To place text, first select the Text tool icon and then click on the image. In the dialog box that appears, enter the text you want and click on the OK button. You will then see the text-shaped selection area in your document.

Click on any of the selection tool icons and drag the selection to move the text to the area you want it. If you want to change the text, click on the image again with the Text tool. This open the Text tool dialog box again. Any changes you make will appear when you select OK.

Once the text in the image is deselected, you can no longer move it.

The Text tool dialog box contains the following commands.

 Font Face	Select the font you want to use from this list.

 Size 	Choose the size of the font from the Size list.

 Font Style	Click on the font styles you want to use.

 Text Entry Field	Enter your text in this field. If you reach the end of the field, the text will wrap automatically. You can use standard editing commands to modify the text. Enter a return (line break) in the field by pressing [Ctrl + Enter] or [Ctrl + M] . Cut, copy, and paste using the keyboard Cut [Shift + Del], Copy [Ctrl + Ins], and Paste As Selection [Shift + Ins] commands.

 Sample	Enter a letter in the Sample box that you would like to see displayed.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Using the Text Tool

Selection Palette: Move Selection tool

Painting Palette: Gradient Fill tool


Line Tool
  Painting Palette: Line

The Line tool draws a straight line in the current foreground color. To use this tool, click on the starting point of the line and drag the cursor to the ending point. Release the mouse button and the line will then be drawn.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

When you double-click this tool icon, a dialog box appears.

 Use Foreground Color  The Use Foreground Color command controls which pixels under the line are affected. There are several settings available.

Always changes all the pixels that the line passes over to the foreground color.

If Lighter changes only pixels that are darker than the foreground color.

If Darker changes only pixels that are lighter than the foreground color.

Hue Only changes only the hue without affecting the saturation or brightness.

Color Only changes only the hue and saturation of the pixels without changing the brightness.

Brightness Only changes only the brightness of the pixels while preserving the color.

Additive adds together the current foreground color with the pixels under the Line according to the RGB additive color model. Pixels get lighter with this command.

Subtractive uses the CMY subtractive color model to create the final colors. Pixels get darker with this command.

 Transparency 	The Transparency setting controls the transparency of the paint. To use transparent paint, specify a high value. To use opaque paint, specify a low value.

 Soft Edge	Select the Soft Edge option if you want the edges of the line to blend in with the surrounding pixels.

 Practice Pad	Drag the tool over the practice pad to test the effects of the dialog box settings.

 Reset	Select Reset to return the practice pad to its original condition.

 Shape	Clicking on the Shape button opens a selection of brushes to use with the Airbrush tool.

 OK	Select OK to accept the settings.

 Cancel	Choose Cancel to reset any changes and close the dialog box.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Pencil tool

Painting Palette: Paintbrush tool


Color Palette

The Color Palette is a floating palette that lets you pick and edit the foreground and background colors from a default palette of colors or from a color palette that you create yourself.

Display the Color Palette by choosing the Show Color Palette command in the View menu. You can move the Color Palette around in the application window workspace by dragging the palette title. When finished, you can also hide the palette by selecting the Hide Color Palette command in the View menu.

The following options are available in the Color Palette.

 Title Bar	The Title Bar displays the palette name and the current zoom level.

 Scratch Pad	The scratch pad lets you see and edit the current color palette. Click on the Pick/Edit button to toggle between color selection and color palette editing modes. You can use most of the painting tools in the scratch pad.

 	Click on the icon to open the menu of available commands described below.

Undo cancels the last edit made to the color palette scratch pad.

Paste places the contents of the current clipboard into the scratch pad.

Load Palette lets you load a custom palette from disk.

Save Palette lets you save your new palette on disk.

RGB Color sets the RGB color model with the Scroll Bars feature and set the Eyedropper tool status display.

HSB Color sets the HSB color model with the Scroll Bars feature and set the Eyedropper tool status display.

HLS Color sets the HLS color model with the Scroll Bars feature and set the Eyedropper tool status display.

CMYK Color sets the CMYK color model with the Scroll Bars feature and set the Eyedropper tool status display.

Default restores the scratch pad to its default pattern.

Scroll Bars displays the Color Component Scroll Bars, which can be used to set the color in any of the color models that PhotoStyler uses: RGB, HSB, HLS and CMYK.

 Current Color Indicator  This box displays the current foreground or background color. Clicking the indicator calls the Color Picker.

 Fore/Back	Click on the Fore/Back button to toggle between foreground and background color selection.

 Pick/Edit	Click on the Pick/Edit button to toggle between color selection and edit mode. When Edit is selected, you can use the painting tools as well as the Paste function to edit the palette. When Pick is selected, the pointer changes to the Eyedropper. Click on the scratch pad to set the color.

 Mini Color Bar	The Mini Color Bar at the bottom of the Color Palette shows the entire range of colors available for the current image. Click anywhere on the bar to set the color.

Note:	The Mini Color Bar is enabled only for Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

 Color Component Scroll Bars	The Color Component Scroll Bars allow control over the settings of the components of the current color, using the RGB, HSB, HLS, or CMYK color models. Adjust the current color by dragging the slider.

Related Topics

View: Show/Hide Color Palette


Brush Shapes Palette

Display this floating palette by choosing the Show Brush Shapes command in the View menu. This palette contains 24 preset round, square, and linear brush shapes in different sizes, plus an additional customized shape. The custom brush shape (defined with the Define Brush Shape command in the Brush Shapes Palette menu) shows in the lower right corner of the Brush Shapes Palette. The currently selected brush shape is displayed in relief.

Note:	You can also access this palette in many of the painting tool dialog boxes by clicking the Shape button.

The Brush Shapes Palette has its own menu that lets you define and edit a custom brush shape. In addition, you can use commands in this menu to save a custom brush shape to a disk file and load a previously saved custom brush shape.

The following options are available in the Brush Shapes Palette menu.

 Define Brush Shape	The Define Brush Shape command lets you define the contents of a selection area as a custom brush shape. The selection must be 24 x 24 pixels or smaller. The current custom brush shape shows at the lower right corner of the Brush Shapes Palette.

 Edit User-Defined Shape...

Lets you define a custom brush shape by turning pixels on and off in a pixel map. You can also use this command to edit a previously created custom brush shape.

 Load User-Defined Shape..

Lets you load a previously saved custom brush shape from a disk file.

 Save User-Defined Shape...

Lets you save the current custom brush shape to a disk file so that you can use it later.

Related Topics

View: Show/Hide Brush Shapes


Change Ruler Unit

Change ruler unit to cm(C), inch(I), or pixel(P).

Related Topics

View: Ruler command


About Image Data Types

PhotoStyler lets you work with images in any one of these image data types: Black & White, Gray Scale, RGB 8-color, Indexed 16-color, Indexed 256-color, and RGB True Color. Data types differ in their bit resolution (the number of bits of image information per pixel) and the number of channels that comprise the image.

The bit resolution determines how many gray scale/colors can be represented by each image pixel. In PhotoStyler, image data options for bit resolution range from one bit per pixel (the Black & White data type) to 24 bits per pixel (the RGB True Color data type).

Note:	To convert a document to another image data type, use the Convert To command in the Image menu.

Black & White

In a Black & White image, each pixel can be black or white. This differs from black-and-white photography in that a photograph can show intermediate tones (grays, not just black and white). In a Black & White image, these intermediate tones are assimilated by arranging the black and white pixels in such a way as to convince the viewer that they represent gray and are not just black and white.

You need this data type for printers that only print black, and cannot convert intermediate tones into an arrangement of black and white pixels (a halftone screen).

PhotoStyler cannot edit Black & White images directly. To process a Black & White image, first convert the image to the Gray Scale data type then apply PhotoStyler editing functions to the image. If necessary, you can convert the Gray Scale image back to the Black & White data type after processing.

Gray Scale

In a Gray Scale image, each pixel can be any one of up to 256 different gray values, from black (0) to white (255). Similar to black-and-white photography, this data type allows you to show smooth changes in tone by using intermediate gray tones. The difference between this and black-and-white photography is the size and shape of each "pixel". The "pixels", or grains in a photograph are normally much smaller, and so more numerous, than their electronic counterpart. This can show very smooth changes in tone.

With Gray Scale images, the resolution governs the size of the pixels, and thus the number of pixels in an image. Higher resolutions can show smoother changes in tone, and so give a better quality representation of an image (they also occupy more memory). Use the Gray Scale image data type to give you the best representation of black-and-white images.

You can use all PhotoStyler functions to enhance Gray Scale images.

RGB 8-Color

In an RGB 8-color image, each pixel can be black, red, green, blue, or any combination of red, green, and blue. A pixel is: white when red, green, and blue are all combined; yellow when red and green are combined; cyan when green and blue are combined; and magenta when red and blue are combined. In all, eight different colors (if you include black and white). Other colors are assimilated when two, or more pixels of different colors are arranged close to each other. If the arrangement is right and the pixels are small enough, the human eye is then deceived into thinking a third color has been created.

This data type is used by the Microsoft Windows 2.EGA/VGA display driver and some color printers.

PhotoStyler cannot edit RGB 8-color images directly. To process an RGB 8-color image in PhotoStyler, first convert the image to the RGB True Color data type then apply PhotoStyler editing functions to the image. If necessary, you can convert the RGB True Color image back to the RGB 8-color data type after processing.

Indexed 16- and 256-Color

In an Indexed color image, each pixel can be one of 16 or 256 colors. These colors are recorded in the image's color table. Each pixel has a number associated with it that refers to a color in the color table. As with RGB 8-color images, colors which are not available are assimilated by the arrangement and proximity of colored pixels, the colors of which are available.

The Indexed 16-color data type is used by a standard VGA display in 16-color mode.

The Indexed 256-color data type is used in many 256-color display devices, including:

IBM 8514/A, XGA

Standard VGA adapter in 320 x 200 256-color mode

Some special VGA adapters with 256-color mode

You can apply some of PhotoStyler's image processing functions to enhance images in the Indexed color data types. If you wish to do extensive editing of an indexed color image, convert the image to an RGB True Color image, edit it, and then, if you need to, convert it back to an indexed color image when you are done.

RGB True Color

In an RGB True Color image, each pixel can be any one of over 16.7 million colors! At present, this is the best image data type for color image processing as it retains the maximum amount of information about the image.

You can apply all PhotoStyler functions to enhance images in this data type.

Related Topics

Image: Convert To commands


Calibrating Your Monitor

To display images correctly on screen, PhotoStyler uses an RGB color model that has been designed to match the phosphors used by most monitor manufacturers. You should adjust the monitor calibration so that the screen representation of color is as accurate as possible. If you do this, you will then be able to edit and compare colors accurately and consistently on screen.

Calibrate your monitor when you start PhotoStyler for the first time and whenever you change monitors.

Before Calibrating Your Monitor

Make sure your surroundings (such as lighting and partitioning) are set up as they normally are when you work. Set the contrast and brightness knobs on your monitor to the level that you usually work at.

Adjusting the Monitor Gamma

Gamma values for standard RGB monitors are usually within the range of 1.4 to 2.8.

You will use a file found in the PhotoStyler directory named PSGAMMA.TIF. The file contains gray, red, green, and blue color blocks. Each of these blocks consists of a center value and an outer value.

Adjust the Monitor Gamma as follows:

1.	Open the file PSGAMMA.TIF.

2.	Choose the Preferences command in the File menu. In the dialog box that appears, click Monitor Gamma. The Monitor Gamma dialog box appears.

3.	Set the Gamma values in the Red, Green, and Blue entry fields to 1.0.

4.	Click OK to return to the Preferences dialog box; then click OK again.

5.	Choose the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command in the Image menu. After a histogram is calculated for the image, a dialog box appears.

6.	Drag the dialog box to a position that allows you to see red color block of the PSGAMMA.TIF document window clearly.

7.	Click the red option button to adjust the red channel.

8.	Adjust the red Gamma value by clicking the Gamma scroll bar arrows or by dragging the scroll bar thumb to the left or right until the center and outer color values in the red color block match each other as closely as possible. You can also press the direction keys to precisely control the Gamma value.

If your display adapter has a color lookup table (currently available only for 256-color display adapters under the Windows 3.0 environment) that controls the display content, PhotoStyler can animate the adjustment, or immediately show you a preview of the result in the image document window. If your display adapter does not support animation, click Preview to see how the image will be affected.

Note:	If your display adapter supports real-time animation of color, PhotoStyler will not be able to animate color after you click Preview. To re-enable animation, double-click one of the slider handles or hold the Shift key down while you click Preview.

9.	Write down the red Gamma value.

10.	Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 to determine the green Gamma value, then repeat these steps again to obtain the blue Gamma value. The gray color block is provided for reference only.

Note:	You must obtain individual red, green and blue Gamma values for correct monitor calibration. A Gamma value obtained with the All option button selected will produce incorrect results.

11.	Click Cancel to close the Tune: Gray/Color Correction dialog box. Do not click OK; this will modify the PSGAMMA.TIF file.

12.	Choose the Preferences command in the File menu. In the dialog box that appears, click Monitor Gamma. The Monitor Gamma dialog box appears.

13.	In the Red, Green, and Blue entry fields, enter the Gamma values that you wrote down in step 9.

14.	Click OK to return to the Preferences dialog box and click OK again. If your monitor is correctly calibrated, the center values of the color blocks in the PSGAMMA.TIF document should match the outer values as closely as possible.

15.	Close the PSGAMMA.TIF document window.

Related Topics

File: Preferences... command

Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command


Choosing a Color with the Eyedropper Tool

Use the Eyedropper tool to pick the foreground or background color from the active image. You can also use this tool to identify the gray scale/color values that comprise an image pixel.

Select a foreground or background color with the Eyedropper tool as follows:

1.	Click the Eyedropper tool icon in the Selection Palette. When you move the pointer to the active document window, it changes to the Eyedropper pointer.

2.	Click on a pixel in the active image to select the pixel's color value.

 	To select the foreground color, move the Eyedropper pointer to the color that you want and click.

 	To select the background color, hold down the Shift key while you click a color.

The selected color appears in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Identify gray scale/color values as follows:

1.	Click the Eyedropper tool icon in the Selection Palette.

2.	In the active document window, move the Eyedropper pointer to the pixel whose gray scale/color values you want to identify.

The current pointer position (the column/row pixel coordinates as measured from the top left corner of the document window) and gray scale/color values for the pixel are shown at the left side of the status bar.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Eyedropper tool


Choosing a Color with Function Keys

You use function keys to select the foreground or background color from the active image or Color Palette.

Select the foreground color as follows:

1.	In the active document window or Color Palette, move the pointer to the color that you want to be the foreground color.

2.	Press the F5 key. The selected color shows in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Select the background color as follows:

1.	In the active document window or Color Palette, move the pointer to the color that you want to be the background color.

2.	Press the F6 key. The selected color shows in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

 Related Topics

Keyboard Commands


Choosing a Color from the Color Palette

The Color Palette lets you select the foreground and background colors (or gray scale values) from a default palette of values or from a color palette that you create. The color value you choose becomes the current foreground or background color and appears in the Current Colors Indicator.

When you display the Color Palette, the default color palette for the image data type of the active document appears. The number of colors (or gray scale values) displayed in the Color Palette is determined by the data type of the active image.

Choosing a Color from the Mini Color Bar

1.	Make sure the Fore/Back button reads Fore. If it reads Back, click on the button.

2.	Move the pointer into the Mini Color Bar. The pointer changes to the Eyedropper pointer; the Status Bar displays the component values of the color indicated by the pointer.

3.	Click on the desired color in the Mini Color Bar.

Holding down the Shift key as you click chooses a color as the background color.

Choosing a color from the Scratch Pad (Pick Mode)

1.	Make sure the Fore/Back button reads Fore. If it reads Back, click on the button.

2.	Make sure that you are in Pick mode (the Pick/Edit button should read Pick). If it reads Edit, click the button to enter Pick mode.

3.	Move the pointer into the scratch pad. The pointer changes to the Eyedropper pointer.

4.	Click on the desired color in the scratch pad.

Holding down the Shift key as you click chooses a color as the background color.

Choosing a color with the Color Component Scroll Bars

1.	In the palette menu, select the color model that you want to use. The default color model is RGB.

2.	In the palette menu, select the Scroll Bar command. The color component scroll bars appear at the bottom of the palette.

Note:	If the scroll bar does not show completely, drag the Color Palette to a position where you can see the scroll bar.

3.	Click on the Fore/Back button until it reads Fore.

4.	Choose a color by dragging the scroll bars or by entering a color value at the right of the scroll bars. The selected color is displayed in the palette's Current Colors Indicator and in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Editing the Color Palette (in the Scratch Pad)

If the active image is a Gray Scale or RGB True Color image, PhotoStyler lets you edit the Gray/color values) in the scratch pad.

1.	Make sure that you are in Edit mode (the Pick/Edit button should read Edit). If it reads Pick, click the button to enter Edit mode.

2.	To change your view of the scratch pad, use the Zoom and/or Grabber tools.

3.	Select a painting tool from the Painting Palette.

4.	Paint in the scratch pad with the selected tool.

Note:	In the Color Palette scratch pad, the Stamp function is limited to its Pattern options. Before you use the Stamp in the scratch pad, choose the Pattern option in the Stamp dialog box.

Related Topics

Color Palette

Choosing a Color from the Color Picker

Choosing a Color with the Eyedropper Tool


Choosing a Color from the Color Picker

The Color Picker lets you select the foreground or background color using the RGB or HSB color models. You can choose a color from a color spectrum or by specifying a color value for each component of the selected color model.

Note:	You can only accurately select a gray/color value with the Color Picker if the active image document is Gray Scale or RGB True Color. If the active image document is 16- or 256-Indexed color, you can select a value but it will then be matched out of the image's color palette.

There are several ways to display the Color Picker dialog box:

Click the foreground or background color in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Click the Current Colors Indicator in the Color Palette.

Using the Color Plane and Color Plane Selector

To define the mixture of color components that makes up the color, you can use the Color Plane and the Color Plane Selector, which change the display of colors according to the color model and color values you specify.

Select a color by using components of the RGB or HSB color models. The Color Plane Selector shows the entire range of color values for the selected color component. For example, with the HSB brightness component (B) selected, 0 % brightness shows at the left of the slider and 100 % brightness shows at the right. With the RGB red component (R) selected, black (0) shows at the left of the slider and red (255) shows at the right.

Use the Color Plane to choose a color using the two non-active color components. The colors shown in this field are based on the selected level of the active color component.

1.	In the Color Picker, click the Color Component option (Red, Green, Blue, Hue, Saturation, or Brightness) that you want to be the active component.

2.	Specify the active component value by clicking in the Color Plane Selector or by dragging the handle underneath the slider. The colors showing in the Color Plane change to reflect those colors available for the selected value of the active component.

Note:	When the pointer is in the Color Plane Selector or Color Plane, the Status Bar displays the component values of the color indicated by the pointer.

3.	In the Color Plane, click on the color you want. Your selected color is marked in the Color Plane with a small box; the color also appears as the new color in the Color Indicator.

Note:	To make a precise color selection, double-click on the color you want. See the section "Zooming Your View of the Color Plane" below.

4.	Click OK. The new color appears in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Selecting a Color By Color Component Values

If you know the component values for the color you want, you can choose the color by color component values as follows:

1.	Click the Color Component option (Red, Green, Blue, Hue, Saturation, or Brightness) that you want to be the active component.

2.	Enter the value in the entry field for the active color component.

The value range for Red, Green, and Blue is 0 to 255 (0 is the minimum color component value; 255 is the maximum value).

With the HSB model, specify the saturation and brightness levels as percentages and the hue in degrees. The value range for Hue is 0 to 359 degrees; the values for Saturation and Brightness are percentages.

3.	Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each of the other two color components.

4.	Click OK. The new color appears in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Zooming Your View of the Color Plane

Make a precise color selection in the Color Plane as follows:

1.	Select a color with the Color Plane and Color Plane Selector or by entering Color Component values.

2.	In the Zoom Distance drop-down list box, choose the degree of color difference that you want between cells in the Zoom window. A high value shows a high degree of color difference between cells.

3.	Click the Zoom button. The Zoom (Pick a Color) window appears. The currently selected color occupies the center cell of a 9 x 9 color array.

Note:	You can also display the Zoom window by double-clicking in the Color Plane.

4.	Click on the cell containing the color that you want.

5.	Click OK. The the new color appears in the Current Colors Indicator at the bottom of the Selection Palette.

Using the Cell Option

Reduce the number of colors displayed in the Color Plane as follows:

1.	Click the Cell option.  A grid appears on the Color Plane, with each cell containing a single color value.

2.	Choose the number of colors shown in the Color Plane from the Color Array drop-down list box. You can pick a color array of 8 x 8 (64 colors), 16 x 16 (256 colors), or 32 x 32 (1024 colors).

Related Topics

Current Colors Indicator

Choosing a Color from the Color Palette

Choosing a Color with the Eyedropper Tool


Using the Tune: Brightness & Contrast Command

Adjust the brightness and contrast for the current image or selection with the Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command in the Image menu.

Adjust the brightness and contrast in the current image or selection as follows:

1.	To adjust the brightness and contrast for a specific part of the image, select the area you want. If you do not select an area, the entire image document will be adjusted.

2.	Choose the Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command in the Image menu.

3.	Click the option button for the channel that you want to adjust.

Note:	If the active image is a Gray Scale image, the Red, Green, and Blue option buttons are disabled.

Note:	Usually you will first adjust all channels together and then adjust individual data channels as necessary.

4.	Adjust the brightness:

Increase the brightness by clicking the right scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the right.

Decrease the brightness by clicking the left scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the left.

5.	Adjust the contrast:

Increase the contrast by clicking the right scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the right.

Decrease the contrast by clicking the left scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the left.

6.	Click Preview to see the result of your changes. After you preview the image, you can repeat steps 3 through 5 until you are satisfied with the image.

7.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Tune: Brightness & Contrast... command


Using the Tune: Hue & Saturation Command

Adjust the hue and saturation of the current image or selection with the Tune: Hue & Saturation... command.

Adjust the hue and saturation of the current image or selection as follows:

1.	To adjust the hue and saturation for a specific part of the image, select the area you want. If you do not select an area, the entire image document will be adjusted.

2.	Choose the Tune: Hue & Saturation... command in the Image menu.

3.	Adjust the hue:

Increase the hue by clicking the right scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the right.

Decrease the hue by clicking the left scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the left.

4.	Adjust the saturation:

Increase the saturation by clicking the right scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the right.

Decrease the saturation by clicking the left scroll bar arrow or dragging the scroll bar to the left.

5.	Click Preview to see the result of your changes. After you preview the image, you can repeat steps 3 and 4.

7.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Tune: Hue & Saturation... command


Using the Tune: Gray/Color Correction Command

The Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command lets you change the contrast throughout the current image or selection while adjusting the brightness level of highlight and shadow areas. You can also use this command to adjust the image midtones in order to enhance detail in the lighter or darker parts of the image. For most scanned images, you should use this command before using other commands in the Image:Tune submenu.

Note:	This command is disabled for RGB 8-Color and Black & White images, and for indexed color images when an area of the image is selected.

When you choose the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command, a histogram is calculated to graph the distribution of the gray scale/color values for pixels in the current image or selection. The histogram appears behind the mapping curve in the dialog box's Gray Map. Each vertical line in the histogram represents a gray scale/color value from 0 to 255; the height of the line indicates how many pixels of that value the image contains.

Usually you will change the input/output ranges mapping by first adjusting all channels together and then adjusting individual data channels as necessary.

Defining the Input Range (adjusting the Shadows and Highlights)

1.	To increase the contrast for a specific part of the image, select the area you want. If you do not select an area, the entire image document will be adjusted.

2.	Choose the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command in the Image menu.

The histogram displays the number of image pixels for each gray scale/color value. The histogram's X-axis represents the 256 gray scale/color values, from 0 (black) to 255 (white). The Y-axis shows the number of pixels in the current image or selection for each value.

When the histogram is calculated, the area between the input range handles (underneath the histogram) is the full input value range of 0 to 255.

3.	If the active image is an RGB True Color or indexed color image, click the option button for the channel that you want to adjust.

Note:	If the active image is a Gray Scale image, the Red, Green, and Blue option buttons are disabled.

4.	Adjust the input range for the current channel(s):

If the Auto Ranging command in the dialog box menu is enabled, choose it to optimize the image contrast and brightness automatically.

Note:	If the image contains pixels with values of both black (0) and white (255), the Auto Ranging command is disabled.

To select the input range manually, drag the input range handles to the values you want.

Increase the contrast throughout the image and darken the shadow areas by dragging the left input slider handle to the right.

Increase the contrast throughout the image and lighten the highlight areas by dragging the right input slider handle to the left.

5.	Click Preview to see the result of your changes. Then you can repeat steps 3 and 4.

6.	When you are satisfied with your changes, click OK.

Defining the Output Range

With the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command, you can reduce the output range to decrease the contrast of an image. Reducing the output range is also useful for printing to some printers, if the printer output tends to be darker than what you see on screen.

1.	To decrease the contrast for a specific part of the image, select the area you want. If you do not select an area, the entire image document will be adjusted.

2.	Choose the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command in the Image menu.

3.	If the active image is an RGB True Color or indexed color image, click the option button for the channel that you want to adjust.

Note:	If the active image is a Gray Scale image, the Red, Green, and Blue option buttons are disabled.

4.	Drag the output range sliders (on the left side of the Gray Map) to reduce the output range. This reduces the contrast of the image. By reducing the output range, you map the brightest and darkest  pixels of the image to values of gray.

Decrease the contrast throughout the image and lighten the shadow areas by dragging the bottom handle upward.

Decrease the contrast throughout the image and darken the highlight areas by dragging the upper handle downward.

5.	Click Preview to see the result of your changes. After you preview the image, you can repeat steps 3 and 4.

6.	When you are satisfied with your changes, click OK.

Adjusting the Gamma

With the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command, you can use the Gamma scroll bar to enhance detail in the darker or lighter parts of the image. Correcting the Gamma lets you adjust the midtones (middle gray scale/color values) of the current image or selection without discarding information at the ends of the brightness range (the shadow and highlight areas).

1.	To adjust the Gamma for a specific part of the image, select the area you want. If you do not select an area, the entire image document will be adjusted.

2.	Choose the Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command in the Image menu. The Gamma value is set to 1.00 by default.

3.	If the active image is an RGB True Color or indexed color image, click the option button for the channel that you want to adjust.

Note:	If the active image is a Gray Scale image, the Red, Green, and Blue option buttons are disabled.

Usually you will change the Gamma by first adjusting all channels together and then adjusting individual data channels as necessary.

4.	To change the Gamma, click the Gamma scroll bar arrows, drag the scroll bar thumb, or press the direction keys. You can choose a Gamma value of from 0.01 to 7.99.

Increase the Gamma value to lighten the image midtones; this expands the detail in the darker parts of the image (the contrast of the shadow area is increased and the contrast of the highlight area is decreased at the same time). Generally, a Gamma value of 1.4 to 2.4 is suitable for enhancing the darker side of the image.

Decrease the Gamma value to darken the image midtones; this expands the detail in the highlight areas of the image (the contrast of the highlight area is increased and the contrast of the shadow area is decreased at the same time).

5.	Click Preview to see the result of your changes. After you preview the image, you can repeat steps 3 and 4 until you are satisfied with your changes.

6.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Tune: Gray/Color Correction... command


Using the Tune: Gray/Color Map Command

Use the Tune: Gray/Color Map... command in the Image menu to precisely map the gray scale/color values of pixels in the current image or selection. With this command, you can define a custom mapping curve (consisting of linear, curved, or freehand segments) that changes the original pixels values to new values.

Note:	This command is disabled for RGB 8-Color and Black & White images.

About the Gray Map

The X-axis of the Gray Map graphs the original (input) gray scale/color values, with the values 0 (black) to 255 (white) increasing from left to right. The Y-axis graphs the new (output) values, with values increasing from bottom to top. By default, the mapping curve bisects the Gray Map diagonally.

Adjusting Mapping Curves

1.	To remap a specific part of the image, select the area you want. If you do not select an area, the entire image document will be remapped.

2.	Choose the Tune: Gray/Color Map... command in the Image menu.

3.	If the active image is an RGB True Color or indexed color image, click the option button for the channel that you want to remap.

Note:	If the active image is a Gray Scale image, the Red, Green, and Blue option buttons are disabled.

Usually you will remap all channels first and then remap individual data channels as necessary.

4.	To apply a predefined function (such as Gamma, Logarithm, or Equalize) to the mapping curve, choose one of the Gray/Color Map menu commands.

5.	To modify the mapping curve with the mouse, move the pointer into the Gray Map and drag. Changing the slope of the line affects the image contrast; changing the level of the line affects image brightness.

To adjust highlight areas, drag on the upper part of the line (on the right-hand side of the Gray Map).

To adjust shadow areas, drag on the lower part of the line (on the left-hand side of the Gray Map).

Note:	To abandon any changes to mapping curves, choose the Reset command in the Gray/Color Map menu.

6.	Click Preview to see the result of your changes. After you preview the image, you can repeat steps 3 through 5.

7.	When you are satisfied, click OK.

Related Topics

Tune: Gray/Color Map... command


Using the Stamp Tool

Use the Stamp tool in the Painting Palette to specify a reference point in an image and paint a copy of that area in another part of the document. You can also use the Stamp tool to paint the current pattern. The Stamp options, such as Transparency, determine how the paint is applied and thus what result you will get.

Note:	This tool works only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

Painting the Active Image (Pixel Copy Option)

The Pixel Copy option lets you choose a reference point in the active image and paint a copy of the area around this reference point in another part of the image. When you start to paint, the area of the image that you defined as the reference point appears first. As you continue painting (holding down the mouse button), an increasingly large area of the image is copied.

With the Pixel Copy option selected, the Alignment option lets you reproduce unconnected parts of the image while maintaining their position relative to each other. With the Alignment option checked, you paint the area of the image immediately around the reference point with the first mouse click only; subsequent stamping, in other areas (not necessarily connected), reveals more of the image in the same position relative to the reference point as in the original. When the Alignment option is unchecked, you start painting the area of the image immediately around the reference point each time you stamp (click the mouse).

1.	Double-click the Stamp tool icon. An option dialog box appears.

2.	In the dialog box, click the Pixel Copy option.

3.	Select settings for the Alignment, Use Source Image, Soft Edge, Spacing, Transparency, and Shape options.

4.	When you are satisfied with the settings for the Stamp tool, click OK.

5.	In the active image document, choose a reference point by holding down the Shift key and clicking. A cross-hair cursor appears to mark the reference point.

6.	Move the pointer to the point at which you want to make a copy of the image.

7.	Drag to paint the image. Release the mouse button to stop painting.

While you are painting with the Stamp tool, a square cursor appears in the image. This cursor follows the movement of the Stamp to show you the area of the image that you are currently copying.

8.	To paint the sampled image in another area, move the pointer and drag the mouse again.

If the alignment option is checked, you can paint additional parts of the image relative to the reference point.

If you uncheck the Alignment option, you start painting the image from the reference point each time you click.

Painting the Current Pattern

The Pattern option lets you paint the current pattern onto the image.

Note:	This option is available only when there is a currently defined pattern.

The alignment option determines what part of the pattern will appear when you use the stamp more than once, in different parts of an image. When the alignment option is checked, the Stamp repeats the pattern as if it were a tile. When the Alignment option is unchecked, you start painting from the center of the pattern area each time you click the mouse button.

When you first paint a pattern with the Stamp, you start painting from the center of the pattern area. If you then release the mouse button, stop painting, and subsequently click elsewhere you begin painting again; the Alignment option lets you specify what part of the pattern area you will reproduce. With the Alignment option checked,you paint as if the pattern area was a tile, i.e., you paint the part of the pattern area that would appear at the current cursor position if the whole image was filled up with the pattern area, like tiles. With the Alignment option unchecked, you start painting from the center of the pattern area each time you Stamp (click the mouse button).

1.	Load or define a pattern by Pattern... or Define Pattern commands in the Edit menu.

2.	Double-click the Stamp tool icon.

3.	Click the Pattern option.

4.	Select settings for the Alignment, Use Source Image, Soft Edge, Spacing, Transparency, and Shape options.

5.	When you are satisfied with the settings for the Stamp, click OK.

6.	Move the pointer to the point at which you wish to start painting the pattern.

7.	Drag to paint the pattern. When you finish, release the mouse button.

8.	To paint the pattern in another part of the image, move the pointer and drag the mouse.

If the Alignment option is checked, you paint the pattern area relative to the first area you painted in.

If the Alignment option is not checked, you start painting from the center of the pattern area each time you click.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Stamp tool

Edit: Define Pattern command

Edit: Pattern... command


Using the Text Tool

Use the Text tool in the Painting Palette to define a text-shaped selection area. With the Text tool option dialog box, you can select typefaces, sizes, and styles such as bold, italic, underline, and strikeout.

You can modify the text selection as you would any selection. For example, you can fill it, move it, transform it, paint in it, invert the selection, and export it as a selection mask. After you deselect the text it becomes part of the image; you can edit it only as you would edit any other image data; you cannot edit it as text.

1.	Click the Text tool icon in the Painting Palette.

2.	In the document window, click on the image where you want the type to appear. An option dialog box appears.

3.	To change the character that appears in the Text Preview window, enter the character you want in the Sample entry field. The Text Preview window shows a sample letter in the selected typeface, size, and style.

4.	Click the pointer in the Text Entry Field. This introduces a flashing cursor that you can then type at.

5.	Using the keyboard, enter the text you want to appear in the image document. When the text reaches the right margin of the field, it automatically wraps to the next line.

Make a line break, return, by pressing [Ctrl + Enter].

Select text in the Text Entry Field by dragging over it. Select a single word by double-clicking on it.

Edit text using keyboard commands: Cut ([Shift + Del]); Copy ([Ctrl + Ins]); and Paste ([Shift + Ins]).

6.	In the Font Face list box, choose the typeface that you want to use.

7.	In the Size list box, choose a suitable size. If the size you require is not available, choose a larger size (if possible) and then scale the selection area with the Resize command in the Transform menu

8.	Click to select Font Style options. You can choose Bold, Underline, Italic, Strikeout, or any combination of style options. For plain type, uncheck all of the style options.

9.	Click OK. A text-shaped selection appears in the image document.

10.	Modify the text selection as you would any other selection.

Related Topics

Painting Palette: Text tool


Working with Patterns

A pattern is a predefined rectangular image that can be repeated to fill the current image or selection area like tiles on a wall.

You can apply a pattern to the current image or selection with the Fill command in the Edit menu or with the Stamp tool in the Painting Palette.

Use the Define Pattern command in the Edit menu to define a selection area as a pattern. The Pattern command in the Edit menu lets you view the current pattern, save the pattern to a disk file, and load a previously saved pattern when you want to use it.

Note:	Patterns can only be used with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images.

Defining a Pattern

Define a pattern from a selection area by choosing the Define Pattern command in the Edit menu.

1.	Use the Rectangular, Square, or Linear Selection tools in the Selection Palette to make a selection in the active image.

2.	Choose the Define Pattern command. The selection area is defined as the current pattern.

Using the Pattern Command

Choose the Pattern command in the Edit menu to view the current pattern.

1.	Choose the Pattern command in the Edit menu.

2.	To view the current pattern at optimum display quality, click the option button for the data type of the image in which the pattern was defined.

3.	To zoom your view of the current pattern, click on the pattern in the Pattern Contents field. To zoom out, hold the Shift key down while you click. The current zoom level is displayed above the Pattern Contents field. To return to actual view (1:1), press the right mouse button.

4.	To remove the current pattern, click Clear.

5.	When you have finished viewing the pattern, click OK.

Related Topics

Edit: Pattern... command

Edit: Define Pattern command


Image Selection Commands and Operations

PhotoStyler lets you define selection areas to protect parts of the image from the action of menu commands and painting tools. Only the pixels in the selection are affected by the changes you specify. If there is no selection area, you can use commands and painting tools on any part of the image.

PhotoStyler's array of selection tools lets you precisely select parts of an image, either by dragging with the mouse or by defining a fixed size. The Selection Palette menu commands complement and extend the function of the selection tools.

Once you've selected an area, you can move it, cut it, copy it, or paste it. You can also choose menu commands to affect the selection. The area stays selected until you deselect or discard it, so you can perform other operations in PhotoStyler and return later.

Note:	For some images, you may find it easier to make selections accurately with a magnified (zoomed in) view of the image.

Selecting the Entire Image

To select the entire active document, click the Select All button (represented by an A) on the Selection Palette. The selection marquee appears around the image.

Note:	For many PhotoStyler commands, if there is no selection area defined, the command is applied to all of the active document.

Making Multiple Selections

To make multiple selections, hold down the Shift key and drag the selection tools over the image to select each area in succession. You can use all selection tools interchangeably when making multiple selections.

Removing All Selection Areas

To remove all selection areas from the active document, click the Select None button (represented by an N) on the Selection Palette.  Clicking on the image with the right mouse button also deselects all selection areas.

You can also remove all selection areas by double-clicking the Lasso, the Move Selection tool, or the Linear Selection tool in the Selection Palette.

Adding to a Selection

PhotoStyler lets you adjust an existing selection by adding to the selection. You can use all selection tools interchangeably while adding to a selection.

1.	Click the selection tool that you want to use to add to the selection.

2.	Hold down the Shift key while making another selection.  It can overlap the existing selection, or be completely outside of it. Note that a plus sign (+) appears inside the pointer.

3.	If you are using the Square, Rectangular, Circular, Elliptical, or Linear selection tools, release the mouse button. If you are using the Lasso tool, double-click.

Subtracting from a Selection

PhotoStyler lets you adjust an existing selection by subtracting from the selection. You can use all selection tools interchangeably while subtracting from a selection.

1.	Click the selection tool that you want to use to subtract from the selection.

2.	Hold down the Ctrl key while making a selection that overlaps (or lies entirely inside) the existing one. Note that a minus sign (-) appears inside the pointer.

3.	If you are using the Square, Rectangular, Circular, Elliptical, or Linear selection tools, release the mouse button. If you are using the Lasso tool , double-click.

Moving the Selection Marquee

Use the Move Selection tool in the Selection Palette to move a selection marquee without affecting the contents of the document.

Note:	To move a selection together with its contents, click one of the selection tools and drag the selection.

1.	Click the Move Selection tool in the Selection Palette.

2.	In the document window, drag the selection marquee.

3.	Release the mouse button when you are satisfied with the position of the selection marquee.

Inverting a Selection

Click the Inverse Selection button (represented by an I) on the Selection Palette to make the area of the active image that is not currently selected into the new selection area. When you choose this command, the unselected part of the image becomes the selection area; the original selection area is deselected.

Creating a Selection Soft Edge

The Soft Edge command in the Selection Palette menu lets you fade out the edges of a selection. When you subsequently deselect the selection area, and combine it with the underlying image, this can help the selection area blend in. This command can be used to hide joins and make composite images look better.

Note:	This command is enabled only for RGB True Color and Gray Scale images.

1.	Make a selection.

2.	Choose the Soft Edge command in the Selection Palette menu.

3.	Enter a width value (from 1 to 5 pixels) for the soft edge. A smaller width value produces a less noticeable soft edge; a larger value produces a more noticeable soft edge.

4.	Click OK. The shape of the selection marquee may change slightly to indicate that you have specified a soft edge for the selection.

5.	To see the effect of the soft edge, make a change to the selection, such as moving, filling or pasting the selection.

Creating a Selection Border

Use the Border command in the Selection Palette menu to widen the current selection boundary and make the widened area into a new selection area.

1.	Make a selection.

2.	Choose the Border command from the Selection Palette menu.

3.	In the Border Width entry field, enter a value for the border width. You can specify a value of from 1 to 64 pixels.

4.	To see the result of the border width setting, click Preview.

5.	If you are not satisfied with the border width as previewed, change the setting and click Preview again.

6.	When you are satisfied with the border width, click OK.

Expanding the Selection

Choose the Expand command in the Selection Palette menu to make the current selection expand to include pixels that are similar in gray scale/color value. You can specify a Color Similarity value and a soft edge for the expanded selection. The Color Similarity value defines the range of gray scale/color values that PhotoStyler will include in the selection.

When you select the Connected to Current Selection option, this command only expands the current selection to include areas that are adjacent to the original selection. When this option is not selected, the new selection can include non-adjacent areas of the document.

1.	Choose the Expand command from the Selection Palette menu.

2.	Enter a value for the range of gray scale/color values that PhotoStyler will include in the selection. A lower value selects only pixels with similar colors; a higher value includes pixels with dissimilar colors.

3.	In the Soft Edge entry field, enter the width (in pixels) of the selection soft edge.

4.	To only expand the selection to include areas that are adjacent to the original selection, select the Connected to Current Selection option.

5.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Selection Palette


Using the Lasso Tool

Select an irregularly-shaped area of the image with the Lasso tool in the Selection Palette. Double-clicking the Lasso tool icon removes all selection areas from the active window.

1.	Click the Lasso tool in the Selection Palette.

2.	Move the pointer to the document window. There are two ways to select an area with the Lasso:

Drag continuously to make a freehand selection

Release the mouse button and then click to define the endpoints for straight-line segments of the selection.

You can alternate between freehand and straight-line segments of a selection.

Note:	Press the Esc key, while you are using the Lasso, to start again. This removes the selection marquee you are drawing and restores any selection areas that you had on screen when you started.

3.	Double-click when you finish outlining the selection. PhotoStyler closes the selection with a straight line, so if the two endpoints are not close together there will be a straight-line segment added to the selection border.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Lasso tool


Using the Magic Wand Tool

Like using a Magic Wand, this tool lets you automatically select a single area of the image containing pixels with the same, or similar, gray scale/color values. The similarity of gray scale/color values is determined by the Color Similarity value for the selection.

When you click on a pixel, neighboring pixels are selected if they come within the range established from the Color Similarity value. The selection area continues to expand until it meets pixels outside of the range. For example, with a specified Color Similarity value of 50, clicking a pixel with a gray scale/color value of 50 will cause all connected neighboring pixels with gray scale/color values in the range 1 to 100 to be selected.

Selecting an Area

1.	Click the Magic Wand tool in the Selection Palette.

2.	In the active image document, click on a pixel within the area of the image that you wish to select. All neighboring pixels within the range of similarity will be selected.

Changing the Magic Wand Color Similarity Setting

1.	Double-click the Magic Wand tool icon.

2.	Enter a Color Similarity value. The lower the value, the tighter the range, and hence only pixels with very similar gray scale/color values will be selected; the higher the value, the broader the range, and hence pixels with more greatly varying gray scale/color values will be included in the selection area.

3.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Magic Wand tool


Working with Selection Masks

When you use one of the selection tools, Selection buttons, or Selection Palette menu commands to select an area of an image, you create a selection mask. A selection mask can be thought of as an internal Gray Scale image that is the same size as the active image document. The selection area is white, the unselected area black, and if you have a soft edge on the selection area, the soft edge would be varying shades of gray. When you add to or subtract from a selection, you are actually modifying the gray scale selection mask.

You can export a selection mask to a separate Gray Scale image document, edit it, and later import it back to the original document or another document. Since the mask is a Gray Scale image, you can edit it with any PhotoStyler command or tool. When you import a mask into the active image document, you can use any of PhotoStyler's commands and tools within the mask's white areas; In the black areas you cannot make any changes; and in the gray areas (selection soft edges) any changes you make are only partially applied.

Exporting a Mask

Put the current selection mask in a new document window with the Export Mask command in the Selection Palette menu.

1.	Make sure that the part of the image from which you want to create a mask is selected.

2.	Choose the Export Mask command in the Selection Palette menu.

3.	To assign an optional name to the mask, enter the name in the Titled As entry field.

Note:	A mask is an unsaved document until you save it to disk with the Save command.

4.	If you want to minimize the size of the mask document to a rectangle enclosing the selected area, choose the Minimize by Bounding Box option.

5.	Click OK. A new document is created.

Importing a Mask

Import a mask into the active image document with the Import Mask command in the Selection Palette menu. Any open Gray Scale document can be imported as a mask. When the mask is imported into an image, you see the mask displayed as a selection.

1.	Make sure that the document that you want to import the mask to is the active document.

2.	Make sure that the Gray Scale document that you want to import as a mask is open.

3.	Choose the Import Mask command in the Selection Palette menu.

4.	In the Import Mask From list box, choose the Gray Scale document that you want to import as a mask.

5.	Click OK. The mask is imported into the active document, where it appears as a selection area.

Related Topics

Selection Palette: Export Mask... command

Selection Palette: Import Mask... command


Working with Floating Selections

PhotoStyler lets you "float" a selection, or lift it off the underlying image plane, so that you can control its position and appearance. A selection is made floating when you move or paste it, or choose the Make Floating command in the Edit menu. A selection also floats when you apply certain commands in the Transform menu (exceptions are the Shift and Resample commands).

To precisely control how the pixels of the floating selection will be merged with the underlying image, you can use the Merge Control command in the Edit menu. This command gives you a wide variety of options for specifying the gray scale/color values of the merged pixels. When you are satisfied with the position of the floating selection and how it will be merged into the image, merge the selection by deselecting it.

Moving a Floating Selection

Move a selection to a new position in the image by positioning the selection tool pointer within the selection and dragging.

Discarding a Floating Selection

To remove the contents of a floating selection without affecting the pixels of the underlying image, choose the Discard Floating command in the Edit menu.

Note:	You can restore the discarded floating image by choosing Undo from the Edit menu.

Preserving the Underlying Image

When you make a selection into a floating selection, the image is normally maintained in the original selection area. To fill the original selection area with the current background color, uncheck the Preserve Image command in the Edit menu before you make a selection into a floating selection or move a selection.

This command is a toggle: choose the command again to reenable the Preserve Image function. A check mark appears next to the command name when the command is selected.

Related Topics

Edit: Make Floating command

Edit: Discard Floating command


Using Merge Control

Normally, when you deselect a floating selection, the selection pixels completely replace the pixels in the underlying image. The Merge Control command in the Edit menu lets you precisely control how the pixels of a floating selection will be merged with the underlying image. This command gives you a wide variety of options for specifying which pixels, the selection area's or the underlying image's, are shown when the selection area is deselected.

When you are satisfied with how the floating selection will be merged into the image, merge the selection by deselecting it.

Note:	This command is enabled only when there is a floating selection in the active image document. In addition, the active document must be an RGB True Color or Gray Scale document. Some of the dialog box options are unavailable for Gray Scale images.

Merge a floating selection with the underlying image as follows:

1.	Choose the Merge Control command in the Edit menu.

If the command is disabled, the selection is not a floating selection. You can make it a floating selection by choosing the Make Floating command in the Edit menu.

2.	Select an option in the Use Floating Image drop-down list box.

When Always (the default option) is selected, all of the pixels in the floating selection appear in the merged image.

See the next section for a description of other options in the Use Floating Image drop-down list box.

Note:	Not all of the options are available for Gray Scale image documents.

3.	If the Always option is selected, you can click one or more of the Replace with RGB Channel option boxes. These option boxes specify which of the floating selection's RGB channels will appear in the merged image.

4.	To make the floating selection pixels transparent, enter a percentage value in the Floating Opacity entry field.

5.	If you want to crop the floating selection by specifying gray scale/color value ranges, click Range>>. The dialog box expands to show the Floating and Target range sliders.

The gray scale/color value ranges for the floating selection and target image are 0 to 255.

6.	To see how the pixels in the image will be affected by your choices before you apply the changes, click Preview.

7.	If you are not satisfied with the previewed results, change the dialog box settings and click Preview again.

8.	When you are satisfied, click OK. The floating selection changes to reflect the specified merge settings.

9.	To merge the floating selection with the underlying image, deselect the selection by clicking the Select None button (represented by an N) in the Selection Palette menu. Alternatively, click on the image with the right mouse button and the selection area will merge.

Selecting Floating Image Options

The options in the Use Floating Image drop-down list box let you control the effect on target pixels when the floating selection is merged.

Always (the default setting) merges all of the pixels in the floating selection that are within the specified gray scale/color range.

When this option is selected, you can click Replace with RGB Channel option boxes. These option boxes specify which of the floating selection's RGB channels will appear in the merged image.

If Lighter compares the gray scale/color values of corresponding pixels in the floating selection and the underlying image, and merges only floating selection pixels that are lighter than the target pixel.

If Darker compares the gray scale/color values of corresponding pixels in the floating selection and the underlying image, and merges only floating selection pixels that are darker than the target pixel.

Note: The following options are available for RGB True Color images only.

Hue Only merges only the hue component of the pixels in the floating selection, preserving the saturation and brightness of the underlying image.

Color Only merges the hue and saturation components of the pixels in the floating selection, preserving the brightness of the underlying image.

Brightness Only merges only the brightness component of the pixels in the floating selection, preserving the hue and saturation of the underlying image.

Additive merges all pixels in the floating selection according to the RGB additive color model. When you select this option, the resulting color will be the same as or lighter (because you are adding light) than the original pixel colors in the floating selection and target image.

Subtractive merges all pixels in the floating selection according to the CMY subtractive color model. When you select this option, the resulting color will be the same as or darker (because you are subtracting light) than the original pixel colors in the floating selection and target image.

Setting Floating and Target Ranges

PhotoStyler lets you define which pixel gray scale/color values from the floating selection and target image will be combined. With the default value range settings (0 to 255), all pixels in the floating selection will be combined with all the target image pixels.

In order to define the gray scale/color value range(s), it is helpful to know the gray scale/color values of areas of the floating selection and/or underlying image that will be affected by the crop. Use the Eyedropper tool to identify pixel gray scale/color values, before you choose the Merge Control command.

Use the Floating and Target range sliders as follows:

1.	In the active document, use the Eyedropper tool to identify gray scale/color values in the floating selection and underlying image. Make a note of these values.

2.	Choose the Merge Control command in the Edit menu.

3.	Click Range>>.

By default, the entire gray scale/color value range (0 to 255) is selected in the Floating and Target range sliders. Selected value ranges are indicated by black. White indicates deselected value ranges.

4.	For an RGB True Color image, select the data channel for which you want to set a value range.

With All selected, you set the value ranges for all RGB data channels simultaneously.

5.	Click the option button for the range slider that you want to set.

6.	Set the value range(s) for the selected range slider. There are several ways to set the value range(s):

Drag in the slider. When you drag while holding down the left mouse button, you can select a value range (change a white area of the slider to black). When you drag while holding down the right mouse button, you can deselect a value range (change a black area to white).

To deselect the value range between the slider arrows, drag the arrow(s) until the values you want appear above the slider. Then click Out. The range between the arrows becomes white.

To select the value range between the slider arrows, drag the arrow(s) until the values you want appear above the slider. Then click In. The range between the arrows becomes black.

To select the entire value range, double-click the left mouse button anywhere within the slider.

To deselect the entire value range, double-click the right mouse button anywhere within the slider.

7.	To see how the pixels in the image are affected by your choices before you apply the changes, click the Preview button before selecting OK.

Related Topics

Edit: Merge Control... command

Edit: Make Floating command

Edit: Discard Floating command

Edit: Preserve Image command


Using the Clipboards

For convenient exchange of image data between PhotoStyler documents and other Windows applications, PhotoStyler supports two clipboards: the PhotoStyler Private Clipboard and the Windows Clipboard.

When you choose the Cut and Copy commands in the Edit menu, selected image data is place on the current clipboard.

Choose the Clipboard command in the Edit menu to view the contents of the clipboards. In addition, for the PhotoStyler Private Clipboard you can use this command to save an image to a disk file, load an image from a disk file, and clear the private clipboard.

Viewing the Clipboard

1.	Choose the Clipboard command in the Edit menu.

2.	Click the option button for the clipboard whose contents you want to view: the Windows Clipboard or the Private Clipboard. The current contents of the clipboard, if any, appear in the Clipboard Contents field.

Because the Private Clipboard stores image data in a disk file, the contents of this clipboard will be maintained until you cut or copy another selection to the clipboard, clear the clipboard, or load another image to the clipboard. The Windows Clipboard stores image data in system memory; the contents are normally maintained until you cut or copy another selection to the clipboard, exit Windows, or turn off the system power.

Note:	If you are running PhotoStyler and another Windows application at the same time, PhotoStyler's Windows Clipboard may be cleared when you use the other application's Cut or Copy commands.

3.	To zoom your view of the clipboard contents, click on the image in the Clipboard Contents field. To zoom out, hold the Shift key down while you click.

4.	To remove the contents of the Private Clipboard, click Clear.

Note:	The Clear function is disabled for the Windows Clipboard.

5.	When finished, click OK.

Transferring Data with the Windows Clipboard

You can use the Windows Clipboard to exchange data with other Windows applications that support the same clipboard data format. With this clipboard you can also transfer data to PhotoStyler RGB True Color images from documents using data types not supported by the Private Clipboard, including the Black & White, RGB 8-color, Indexed 16-color, and Indexed 256-color data types.

Note:	To transfer image data between Gray Scale and/or RGB True Color images, use the Private Clipboard. Unlike the Windows Clipboard, the Private Clipboard maintains the original selection mask and image resolution.

1.	Choose the Clipboard command in the Edit menu.

2.	To select the Windows Clipboard as the current clipboard, click the Windows DIB option.

3.	Click OK.

4.	In the active document window, select the image data that you want to transfer.

5.	To place the image data on the Windows Clipboard, choose the Cut or Copy command in the Edit menu.

A message appears to remind you that the selection mask information will be lost. After you click OK to acknowledge this message, PhotoStyler places the selection on the Windows Clipboard.

6.	To check the contents of the clipboard, choose the Clipboard command in the Edit menu. Click OK when finished.

7.	Transfer the image data.

To transfer data to a PhotoStyler RGB True Color image, use the Paste submenu commands.

To paste to another Windows application, use the Paste command in that application.

Note:	All Windows Clipboard data is transferred into PhotoStyler in the RGB True Color image data type.

Saving the Contents of the Private Clipboard

With the Private Clipboard, you can save the current contents of the clipboard to a disk file and load an image from a disk file to the clipboard.

Note:	The Load and Save functions are disabled for the Windows Clipboard.

1.	Choose the Clipboard command in the Edit menu.

2.	Click the Private option button.

3.	Click Save.

4.	Type the name of the file in which you want to save the clipboard contents.

5.	Click Save. The clipboard contents are saved to disk with the CLI file extension.

Loading the Private Clipboard

Load the contents of a previously saved *.CLI file to the Private Clipboard as follows:

1.	Choose the Clipboard command in the Edit menu.

2.	Click the Private option button.

3.	Click Load.

4.	If necessary, use the Directories list box to access the drive and directory containing the file that you want to load.

5.	Click the file that you want to load.

6.	Click Open. The contents of the file are loaded to the Private Clipboard.

Related Topics

Edit: Cut command

Edit: Copy command

Edit: Paste command

Edit: Clear command

Edit: Merge Control... command

Edit: Clipboard... command

Using the Cut, Copy, and Paste Commands


Using the Cut, Copy, and Paste Commands

The Cut, Copy, and Paste commands in the Edit menu allow you to transfer image information between applications.

Note:	When the current clipboard is the PhotoStyler Private Clipboard, the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands work only with Gray Scale and RGB True Color images. When the current clipboard is the Windows Clipboard, the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands work with any image data type.

Cutting a Selection

Remove the contents of the current selection and put it on the current clipboard by choosing the Cut command from the Edit menu. When you cut a selection, the selection area is replaced with the current background color.

Note:	The Cut command is disabled when there is no selection in the active document.

Copying a Selection

Copy the current selection to the current clipboard by choosing the Copy command from the Edit menu.

Note:	The Copy command is disabled when there is no selection in the active document.

Pasting a Selection

Paste an image from the current clipboard into a Gray Scale or RGB True Color document with the Paste submenu commands in the Edit menu. When you paste a selection, it "floats" in the image document so that you can control the selection's position and how it will be merged with the underlying image.

After you paste a selection, drag it to the position you want in the image. To precisely control how the pixels of the pasted selection will be merged with the underlying image, you can use the Merge Control command in the Edit menu. This command gives you a wide variety of options for specifying the gray scale/color values of the merged pixels. When you are satisfied with the position of the pasted selection and how it will be merged into the image, merge the selection by deselecting it.

As Selection

Choose the Paste: As Selection command to paste the contents of the current clipboard as a new selection in the active Gray Scale or RGB True Color document.

If there is no selection in the active document when you choose this command, the image data is pasted as a floating selection in the upper left corner of the active document window. If there is already an existing selection, it is deselected, and the floating selection is positioned at the upper left corner of the old selection area.

Inside Selection

Choose the Paste: Inside Selection command to paste the contents of the current clipboard as a floating selection that appears inside the current selection. After you paste, you can drag the floating selection to display the part that you want to see within the current selection.

Note:	This command is enabled only when the active document is a Gray Scale or RGB True Color document and there is a selection in the document.

Outside Selection

Choose the Paste: Outside Selection command to paste the contents of the current clipboard behind the current selection. When you choose this command, the current selection is first deselected and the floating selection is pasted so that its upper left corner corresponds to the upper left corner of the current selection. After you paste, you can drag the floating selection to the position you want behind the current selection.

Note:	This command is enabled only when the active document is a Gray Scale or RGB True Color document and there is a selection in the document.

As New Document

Choose the Paste: As New Document command to paste the contents of the current clipboard into a new Gray Scale or RGB True Color document. When you choose this command, the pasted selection appears in a new document window that is sized to the selection.

When you paste as a new document from the Windows Clipboard, the new document is always an RGB True Color document.

Clearing an Image or Selection

Delete the current image or selection without placing it on a PhotoStyler clipboard by choosing the Clear command from the Edit menu. When you clear an image, the image or selection area is replaced with the current background color.

Related Topics

Edit: Cut command

Edit: Copy command

Edit: Paste command

Edit: Clear command

Edit: Clipboard... command

Edit: Merge Control... command

Using the Clipboards


Working with Color Component Channels

A PhotoStyler color component channel is an 8-bit Gray Scale image document. An RGB True Color image can consist of three or four color component channels: each contains information for one color component.

You can split an RGB True Color image as color components of the RGB, HSB, HLS, and CMYK color models. Individual RGB, HSB, HLS, and CMYK color component channels appear as Gray Scale image documents, but are treated as color component information when converted back to an RGB True Color image.

When you are finished editing split channel documents, you can combine the channel documents to create a modified version of the original RGB True Color image.

Splitting Channels

Split an RGB True Color image into three or four split color component channels by choosing the proper Split RGB True Color To submenu command in the Image menu. PhotoStyler creates a new Gray Scale image document for each split color component channel.

1.	Open the RGB True Color image that you want to split into separate channels.

2.	Choose one of the Split RGB True Color To submenu commands in the Image menu:

The Split RGB True Color To: RGB command converts the image into documents representing red, green, and blue color components.

The Split RGB True Color To: HSB command converts the image into documents representing hue, saturation, and brightness color components.

The Split RGB True Color To: HLS command converts the image into documents representing hue, lightness, and saturation color components.

The Split RGB True Color To: CMYK command converts the image into documents representing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black components.

Combining Channels

Combine a series of Gray Scale channel documents into a single RGB True Color image with the Combine RGB True Color By submenu commands in the Image menu.

When you choose one of the Combine RGB True Color By submenu commands, a dialog box appears. This dialog box is similar for each of the submenu commands; use it to select the channel documents that you want to combine as an RGB True Color image. Each of the selected documents must be the same size (in pixels).

1.	Make sure each of the documents you want to combine is opened.

2.	Choose one of the Combine RGB True Color By submenu commands in the Image menu.

A dialog box appears for the selected command.

3.	In the dialog box's drop-down list boxes, assign the color component channel documents that you want to combine as an RGB True Color image.

4.	When you have finished selecting color component channel documents, click OK.

Related Topics

Image: Split RGB True Color to commands

Image: Combine RGB True Color by commands


Performing Document Computations

Choose the Compute command in the Image menu to perform document computations on open documents. PhotoStyler provides simple binary operators to compare or calculate the gray scale/color values of the corresponding pixels in selected documents.

About Channel Computations

When you choose the Compute command, a dialog box appears. The Command drop-down list box in this dialog box offers a variety of document computation commands. When you choose a computation command, the equation used for each command and command options appear in the Command section of the dialog box.

The documents that are used in the computations are called source documents. Only open documents that are the same size (in pixels) as the active image document can be used as source documents. In addition, the source documents must all be of the same image data type. The result of the chosen computation function is shown in a new, untitled document window.

Use the Compute command as follows:

1.	Make sure the documents that you want to perform operations on are open.

2.	Make one of the documents to be included in the computation the active document. Only documents that are the same size (in pixels) as the active document will be available for document computations.

Note:	The Compute command is enabled only for Gray Scale and RGB True Color documents.

3.	Choose the Compute command in the Image menu. A dialog box appears.

4.	Choose a computation command in the Command drop-down list box.

5.	In the dialog box's source drop-down list boxes, select the documents that you want to include in the document computations.

Note:	In order to be available in the source drop-down list boxes, a document must be open and be the same size (in pixels) as the active document. The active document is indicated in the drop-down list box by an asterisk (*).

6.	Specify any other options that appear for the selected command, such as Scale and Shift for the Add command, or the Mask document for the Composite command.

7.	For an indication of the results of the computation command on the target document, click Sample.

8.	When you have finished selecting documents and options, click OK. PhotoStyler places the computation results in a new, untitled image document.

Adding and Subtracting Documents

Use the Add or Subtract commands as follows:

1.	Choose the Add or Subtract command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

2.	In the dialog box's Source1 and Source2 drop-down list boxes, select the source documents.

3.	In the Scale entry field, enter a value of 1 or 2. The result of the Add or Subtract operation is divided by this scaling value.

4.	In the Shift entry field, enter a value from -255 to 255. The results of the previous operation is added to this value to shift a brightness level.

5.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Multiplying Documents

 Use the Multiply command as follows:

1.	Choose the Multiply command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

2.	In the dialog box's Source1 and Source2 drop-down list boxes, select the documents that you want to use in the multiply computation.

3.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Computing the Document Difference

Use the Difference command as follows:

1.	Choose the Difference command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

2.	In the dialog box's Source1 and Source2 drop-down list boxes, select the documents for which you want to calculate an absolute difference.

3.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Blending Images

Use the Blend command as follows:

1.	Choose the Blend command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

2.	In the dialog box's Source1 and Source2 drop-down list boxes, select the documents that you want to use in the Blend computation.

3.	In the Percent entry field, enter a percentage value.

4.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Creating a Composite Image

Use the Composite command as follows:

1.	Create or open a Gray Scale document that will serve as a mask for the composite image.

2.	In the Compute dialog box, choose the Composite command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

3.	In the dialog box's Source1 and Source2 drop-down list boxes, select the documents that you want to use in the Composite computation.

4.	In the dialog box's Mask drop-down list box, select the Gray Scale image document that you want to use as the mask document in the computation.

5.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Comparing Brightness Values

Compare the gray scale/color values of two documents as follows:

1.	Choose the Lighter or Darker command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

2.	In the dialog box's Source1 and Source2 drop-down list boxes, select the documents that you want to compare.

3.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Extracting a Brightness Percentage

 Use the Extract command as follows:

1.	Choose the Extract command in the Command drop-down list box. The command options appear in the dialog box.

2.	In the dialog box's Source drop-down list box, select the document from which you want to extract a brightness percentage.

3.	In the Percent entry field, enter a percentage value.

5.	In the Color drop-down list box, select the color that you want to be added to the source document.

6.	Click OK. The computation results appear in a new, untitled image document.

Related Topics

Image: Compute... commands


Using the Resample Image Command

The Resample command in the Transform menu lets you change the resolution and/or size of the entire active image document.

With this command, you can:

Reduce or increase the image resolution

Resize the image document

Add or reduce the number of pixels in the document

When you use this command, a copy of the original image appears in a new document window.

Image resolution refers to the degree of fineness of image reproduction, as measured in elements per unit. The resolution of an on-screen image is measured in pixels per inch or pixels per centimeter; the resolution of printed images is measured in dots per inch (dpi) or lines per inch (lpi).

Resampling causes PhotoStyler to add pixels to or subtract pixels from the active image document. PhotoStyler interpolates, or evaluates the gray scale/color values of adjacent pixels, to determine the value of an added or changed pixel. You resample up by adding pixels to the image. You resample down by deleting pixels from an image.

Use the Resample command as follows:

1.	Choose the Resample command in the Transform menu.

2.	To constrain the image's proportions when resizing, click the Aspect Ratio: Fixed option and enter a ratio for fixed height and width. This lets you change the aspect ratio option from its default setting (Arbitrary).

PhotoStyler automatically enters values in the New Image Information: Width and/or Height fields that maintain the fixed proportion.

3.	To change the unit of measure for image size from its default setting (pixels), make a selection from the appropriate unit of measure list box.

4.	In the width and height entry fields, enter the new width and/or height for the image.

5.	To change the unit of measure for the image resolution from its default setting (Pixels/Inch), select Pixels/Cm from the appropriate unit of measure list box.

6.	In the resolution entry field, enter the new resolution for the image.

7.	When you are satisfied with the new image size and resolution, click OK.

Related Topics

Transform: Resample... command


PhotoStyler Printing Capability

PhotoStyler will output images to a wide variety of Windows-compatible printing devices, including color and monochrome printers, high-resolution Postscript imagesetters, and film-recorders. You can print an image in any supported image data type to a monochrome printer as a black-and-white halftone, as well as print RGB True Color, RGB 8-color, and indexed color images to a color printer.

In addition, you can print RGB True Color images to a color Postscript printer using the four process colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Note:	To print the CMYK separation documents individually, you can use the Split RGB True Color To: CMYK Channels command in the Image menu and then print each of the subsequently generated Gray Scale images individually. Some PostScript printers support separation and so separating in PhotoStyler may not be necessary.

Related Topics

File: Print commands


Changing the Printer Setup

When you choose the Print: Print command in the File menu, PhotoStyler prints the active image to the Default printer. If you have several printers installed and assigned as active printers, you can use the Print: Printer Setup command in the File menu to make any of these active printers the Default printer. You can also change setup options for the selected printer.

1.	Choose the Print: Printer Setup command in the File menu.

2.	In the Printer list box, select a printer.

3.	To choose setup options for the selected printer, click Setup.

A dialog box appears displaying setup options for the selected printer. These options vary from printer to printer. For most printers, you can set options such as: printer model, printer memory size, font cartridges, page orientation, paper size, paper source, and graphics resolution.

4.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Print: Printer Setup... command


Using Page Setup

Specify page setup options in the dialog box that appears when you choose the Print: Page Setup command in the File menu. You can choose to print crop marks, a calibration bar, and/or a title on the printed page.

Your printer may have the capability to perform halftoning or produce color separations. If the printer has either of these functions, you can select options to use the printer's default settings or have the printer apply the halftone screen or separation settings specified in PhotoStyler.

If you are printing to a Postscript printer, you can use the printer's default calibration curve in conjunction with PhotoStyler's calibration curves.

Note:	Check the documentation that came with your printer to find out the printer's capabilities.

Select page setup options as follows:

1.	Choose the Print: Page Setup command in the File menu.

2.	Make sure that the printer and printer port you want to print to are listed above the Printer Type options.

3.	To have text appear above the printed image, type an entry of up to 80 characters in the Title entry field. The text is printed using the printer's default font.

The default text in the entry field, &f, will be replaced by the name of the active image document. If you enter &t in the entry field, the date and time will appear on the printed image.

Note:	If you do not want text to appear on the printed page, delete the text in the entry field.

4.	To include crop marks, indicating the corners of the printed image, click the Include Crop Marks option box.

5.	To include a calibration bar underneath the printed image, click the Include Calibration Bar option box.

6.	Click a Printer Type option. If printing to a monochrome printer, click Monochrome. If printing to a color printer or printing a color separation, click Color.

7.	To set halftone screen attributes, including the dot shape, screen angle and frequency, click Halftone Screen.

8.	To change the default calibration curves, click Calibration Curve.

9.	If you are printing a color image and the selected printer is capable of doing separations, you can click the Separation by Printer option to have the printer do the separation using the attributes that you specified with the Separation Setup command in the File menu. In this case, PhotoStyler sends the image to the printer in RGB form.

10.	If you have chosen the Separation by Printer option, you can click the Use Printer's Default Separation option to use the printer's default separation attributes.

11.	If the selected printer is capable of producing a halftone screen, you can click the Halftone by Printer option to have the printer produce the halftone with attributes that you specified in the Halftone Screen dialog box.

12.	If you have chosen the Halftone by Printer option, you can click the Use Printer's Default Screen option to use the printer's default halftone screen attributes.

13.	If the selected printer is a Postscript printer, click the Overwrite Printer's Default Calibration Curve option to use the calibration curves in the Calibration Curve dialog box. If the selected printer is a Postscript printer and you do not select this option, PhotoStyler will combine the printer's built-in calibration curves with the curves defined in the Calibration Curve dialog box.

14.	When you are finished, click OK.

Related Topics

Print: Page Setup... command


Setting Up the Halftone Screen

For most printing devices, you must first convert a PhotoStyler image to a halftone before it can be printed. A halftone image consists of a series of dots of varying sizes, alignment and spacing that simulate the effect of different gray scale/color values. When you see a halftone image on a page your eye blends these dots, and the white space around them, to give the impression of uniform changes in tone, creating grays; not just black and white.

Color images, for normal four-color production, require four halftones. Each is printed in a different color, so that when you see a four-color image your eye not only combines image tone, light and shade, but also color.

To print a halftone, you must specify the halftone screen setting. The halftone screen converts original image pixels into halftoned dots that are output on a color or monochrome printing device. You can control the appearance of a printed halftone by specifying options for screen frequency, screen angle and dot shape.

The screen frequency you choose depends on the resolution of the output device. Generally, a higher screen frequency produces a higher density of halftone dots, and thus presents a better quality image. But when the screen frequency is too high there will be a loss in output quality. The default setting of 53.0 lpi has been calculated for 300 dpi printers.

Gray scale/color values are a measure of the different levels of gray/color that an image can display. In general, a halftone needs at least 16 gray scale/color values to produce minimum quality results.

When the halftone dots are created, the angle at which the screen is placed is called the screen angle. A screen angle of 0 degrees is applied horizontally over the image; a screen angle of 90 degrees is applied vertically. For printing most monochrome images, a 45-degree screen angle is recommended.

When you print color images, the halftone dots of the color plates must be aligned at precisely calculated angles in order to avoid distracting patterns known as moires. In traditional printing, it has been determined that angles of 105, 75, 90 and 45 degrees are ideal for the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black plates, respectively. For desktop separations, you might need to use other screen angles. For printing to color Postscript printers, for example, you should use the printer's default screen.

The dot shape also affects the printed halftone. The default shape is round; you can choose from a variety of other shapes, including line, round, diamond, square, and cross-shaped dots.

Set a halftone screen using the Halftone Screen option in the Print: Page Setup dialog box. This option is enabled when the Use Printer's Default Screen option is not checked.

1.	Choose Print: Page Setup command from the File menu.

2.	If the Halftone Screen option is disabled, click the Use Printer's Default Screen option box to unchecked it. This enables the Halftone Screen option.

3.	Click Halftone Screen.

4.	To choose a dot shape for the halftone, select a shape in the Shape drop-down list box.

5.	Specify a screen frequency. The allowed value range for the Frequency fields depends on the resolution of the selected printer.

If you are printing a color image to a CMYK printer, enter values in the C, M, Y, and K Frequency fields.

If you are printing a monochrome image, enter a value in the K (Black) Frequency field.

If you are printing a color image to a CMY printer, enter values in the C, M, and Y fields.

6.	Specify a screen angle. You can enter a value of from 0 to 360 degrees.

If you are printing a color separation, enter values in the C, M, Y, and K Angle fields.

If you are printing a monochrome image, enter a value in the Angle field. In most cases, you should use the default screen angle of 45 degrees.

If you are printing a color image without separation (a CMY image), enter values in the C, M, and Y fields.

7.	To restore the default settings for dot shape, screen frequency, and screen angle, you can click Default.

8.	When you are satisfied with the settings, click OK.

9.	If your printer has halftone capability, you can click the Halftone by Printer option to have the printer apply the specified halftone screen. If this option is not checked, PhotoStyler applies the specified halftone screen.

Related Topics

Print: Page Setup... command

Printing a Color Image to a CMYK Printer


Adjusting Calibration Curves

Calibration curves are a mechanism by which PhotoStyler adjusts the printed output to compensate for errors introduced by an output device, such as dot gain.

The Calibration Curve option in the Print: Page Setup dialog box lets you modify the default calibration curves. You can also create your own calibration curves based on the printing characteristics for the type of printer you have. You can adjust a single curve for all separation plates or specify an individual curve for each separation plate.

Postscript printers contain a calibration mechanism to compensate for output error. If you are using a Postscript printer, you can use the built-in calibration curve that is set by the printer's manufacturer. To use the printer's default calibration curve, uncheck the "Overwrite printer's default calibration curve" option in the Print: Page Setup dialog box, and reset all four curves in the Calibration Curves dialog box.

To calibrate your printer, print a test proof, then adjust the calibration curves and print the proof again. You may need to repeat this process until you are satisfied with the quality of your printed output. If you print a calibration bar (select the "Include Calibration Bar" option in the Print: Page Setup dialog box) you can then see how accurate the output is (by using a densitometer you can accurately measure the calibration bar and adjust the calibration curves accordingly).

About the Calibration Map

You use the calibration map in the Calibration Curve dialog box to adjust calibration curves. The curves show the correspondence between the original dot density values and compensated values that will be used for printing. The X-axis of the Calibration Map graphs the original (input) value range for the halftone densities, with the values 0 (black) to 255 (white) increasing from left to right. The Y-axis graphs the printed (output) value range, with values increasing from bottom to top.

The calibration map can show up to four curves: one for the overall dot densities of all channels and one each for the red, green, and blue channels. You can adjust a single curve for all channels or specify an individual curve for each channel. The default curve is calibrated for all channels. To adjust the curve for an individual channel, click the Red, Green, or Blue option.

Adjusting Calibration Curves

A calibration curve describes the relationship between the input (original image) dot density values and output dot density values (the compensated densities). When the curve lies at 45 degrees (a diagonal line), the input and output values are proportional (for example, an input value of 5 produces an output value of 5, an input of 10 produces an output of 10, and so on), and no compensation occurs. By changing the curve, you can reassign dot density values.

Adjust the relationship between the input and output density ranges by creating a curve in which a given point on the line has different X-axis and Y-axis values. You have several ways to precisely adjust the curves:

Paint freehand curves with the mouse (calibration curves can consist of linear and/or curved segments)

Choose a curve function from the Calibration Curve menu

Load a set of curves that you previously created and saved to disk

Adjust the calibration curve(s) as follows:

1.	Choose the Print: Page Setup command in the File menu. The Page Setup dialog box appears.

2.	Click the Calibration Curves option. The Calibration Curves dialog box appears.

3.	Click the option button for the channel curve that you want to calibrate.

Usually you will calibrate all channels first and then calibrate individual channels as necessary. The All option displays the overall density of the red, green, and blue channel data. Clicking the Red, Green, or Blue option button calibrates the curve for that channel only.

4.	To apply a predefined function such as Gamma or Logarithm to the curve, choose the appropriate Calibration Curve menu command.

5.	To modify the curve with the mouse, move the pointer into the calibration map and drag.

To adjust highlights, drag on the upper part of the curve (on the right-hand side of the map).

To adjust shadow areas, drag on the lower part of the curve (on the left-hand side of the map).

Note:	To abandon any changes to curves, choose the Cancel command in the Calibration Curve menu.

6.	When finished, click OK.

Related Topics

Print: Page Setup... command


Printing an Image

Print the active image to the selected printer with the Print: Print command in the File menu. PhotoStyler lets you print to any Windows-compatible color or monochrome printer. PhotoStyler lets you print any image data type, including RGB True Color, Gray Scale, RGB 8-color, Black & White, and indexed color images.

Before you send an image to the printer, use the Printer Setup and Page Setup commands to specify printing options. If you are printing a color image to a color Postscript printer, you also need to use the Separation Setup command in the File menu.

Print the active document to the selected printer as follows:

1.	If you have not already done so, use the Print: Printer Setup command in the File menu to choose the selected printer and setup options.

2.	Use the Print: Page Setup command in the File menu to choose page printing setup options including the printer type, halftone screen settings, calibration curve, and whether to print a title, crop marks, and/or calibration bar on the printed image.

3.	Make sure the image document that you want to print is the active document.

4.	Choose the Print: Print command from File menu.

5.	Click options to set the size and position of the image on the printed page. If the centering options are not selected, the image appears at the top left corner of the printed page.

Scale to Fit the Page enlarges the image to the maximum size for the page while maintaining the original aspect ratio.

Note:	When this option is selected, the original image resolution is ignored.

Center the Image Horizontally prints the image in the horizontal center of the page.

Center the Image Vertically prints the image in the vertical center of the page.

6.	In the Copies entry field, enter the number of copies of the image you want to print.

7.	Click OK. The active image is printed to the selected printer.

8.	If necessary, use the Print: Page Setup command to adjust the calibration curves, then print the image again.

Related Topics

Print: Print... command

Print: Page Setup... command

Print: Printer Setup... command


Printing a CMY Image

PhotoStyler can directly convert the RGB color component channels of an RGB True Color image to print a CMY image without doing a color separation. You can print a CMY image to any Windows-compatible color printer, including non-PostScript color printers.

Print a CMY image as follows:

1.	Choose the Separation Setup command in the File menu.

2.	In the Black Generation entry field, enter a value of 0%. This disables the color separation function.

3.	Click OK.

Related Topics

File: Separation Setup... command

Print: Print... command

Print: Page Setup... command

Print: Printer Setup... command


Printing a Color Image to a CMYK Printer

PhotoStyler produces a full-color reproduction of an RGB True Color image by splitting the image into four process color "plates" (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) that are overlaid on a printed page. The red, green, and blue channels of an RGB True Color image convert directly to cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively. In addition, because cyan, magenta, and yellow generally do not produce adequate dark colors when combined, black is added as a fourth process color. The Separation Setup command in the File menu lets you specify the amount of black that is generated for the CMYK image.

If the target output device is PostScript-compatible, it may be able to do the separation. If it can, select the "Separation by Printer" option in the Print: Page Setup dialog box. In this case, PhotoStyler sends the image to the printer in RGB form. The printer generates the CMYK plates using options specified in the Separation Setup dialog box. Because the results produced by these options are highly dependent on the technology employed by the printing device, it is recommended that you use the printer's default settings.

Print a color image to a CMYK printer as follows:

1.	If you have not already done so, use the Print: Printer Setup command in the File menu to choose a Windows-compatible color PostScript printer and setup options.

2.	Choose the Separation Setup command in the File menu.

3.	If you don't want to use the printer's default separation setting, specify color separation setup options including: the amount of black generated for the color separation; the amount of black that appears in lighter areas of the image (the starting density); and the amount of overlapping cyan, magenta, and yellow that is removed (under color removal) and replaced by black.

4.	Click OK.

5.	Choose the Print: Page Setup command in the File menu.

6.	Click the Color option for the Printer Type.

7.	Select any other page setup options that you want.

8.	Click OK.

9. 	Choose the Print: Print command in the File menu.

10.	Click options to set the size and position of the image on the printed page.

11.	Click OK. PhotoStyler converts the file to the Postscript language and directs the information to the printer.

Related Topics

Print: Print... command

Print: Page Setup... command

Print: Printer Setup... command


Changing the Separation Setup

PhotoStyler uses the options that you specify in the Separation Setup command in the File menu to separate an RGB True Color image to CMYK plates for printing.

Note:	In addition to using the Separation Setup dialog box options for printing a color separation, PhotoStyler also uses these options when you choose a color in the Color Palette using the CMYK color model, and when you use the Split RGB True Color To: CMYK Channels command in the Image menu.

The Starting Density option allows you to control the amount of black generated in the lighter areas of the CMYK image. Less black ink in the lighter areas prevents these parts of the image from appearing "dirty."

The Black Generation option determines how RGB colors are translated to CMYK colors by letting you specify the amount of black generated for the CMYK image.

The Under Color Removal option lets you reduce CMY inks in areas where the black ink has already been applied. The amount of CMY ink that you could remove with this option depends on the technology employed by your printer.

Specify the separation setup as follows:

1.	Choose the Separation Setup command in the File menu.

2.	In the Starting Density entry field, enter a percentage value for the amount of black generated in the lighter areas of the image. A larger value generates less black in the lighter areas; a smaller value generates more black in the lighter areas. The default value depends on the selected printer.

3.	In the Black Generation entry field, enter a percentage value for the amount of black that is generated in the image. A larger value generates more black in the image; a smaller value generates less black. The default value depends on the selected printer.

Note:	A value of 0% disables the color separation function; with this setting an image will print as a CMY image.

4.	In the Under Color Removal entry field, enter a percentage value to specify the amount of overlapping CMY color that is removed from the image when black is generated. A larger value removes more CMY color from the image; a smaller value removes less CMY color. The default value depends on the selected printer.

Note:	A low Under Color Removal setting is recommended.

5.	When you are finished, click OK.

Related Topics

File: Separation Setup... command

Print: Print... command

Print: Page Setup... command

Print: Printer Setup... command


Adaptive Palette

A color lookup table used for generating an Indexed 256-color or Indexed 16-color image from an RGB True Color image. Adaptive Palette colors are selected based on the color distribution of the original RGB True Color image.


Additive Color Mixing

A color mixing model which mixes colors in the same way as superimposing different colored light together. Mixing more colors makes the result brighter, and mixing the additive primary colors of red, green, and blue results in white.


Aligned or Non-aligned Pattern

Aligned patterns are patterns that start at the top left corner of the active image and are placed liked tiles with no spaces or overlapping. Non-aligned pixels and patterns copy start wherever you click the mouse button.


Aspect Ratio

The ratio of the height and width of a pixel, a selection or an image.


Black Generation

A process to generate the black plate for the four-color printing process.


Black & White
 Black & White Image Data Type

The way an Image is described by black and white pixels. When required the black and white pixels are dithered to give the illusion of shades of gray.


#$K+ Brightness

One of the color components of the HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) color model. This value is determined by the largest component value in each RGB pixel.


Channel

In PhotoStyler, an individual component of an RGB model. Different color models use different color components to represent a color image. The RGB color model uses red, green and blue color component channels, while the HSB color model uses hue, saturation and brightness color component channels. A Gray scale image can be thought of a a single-channel document.

An RGB True Color image can be separated into channels with the Split RGB True Color To command in the Image menu.


Clipboard

A temporary storage location used to save and transfer image information from one window to another with the Cut, Copy and Paste commands. PhotoStyler also has a second, private clipboard that you can also use with these commands.


CMYK
CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black)

These four colors are used by printers to reproduce a color images.


Color Lookup Table

A table that contains various color entries used by an indexed-color image. Each entry contains a RGB value. The table is often called a "palette".


Color Similarity

The degree of likeness for two different color values. In PhotoStyler, Color Similarity determines the range of colors and brightness levels which it can modify or select. Many commands have a Color Similarity control that can be set anywhere from 1 and 255.


Diffusion

A dithering technique which arranges pixel values by distributing errors (between the generated image and the original image) to their adjacent pixels. The resulting arrangement of pixel values are randomly distributed and makes the image look smoother than other dithering techniques.


Dithering

A technique to give the illusion of continuous tone gray/color levels. The digital image is divided into an arrangement of cells. Each cell contains pixels each pixel is assigned a gray/color value. When you look at the halftone cell (at a distance) the pixels will appear to be the gray/color shades you want.


EPS Encapsulated PostScript Format
EPS Encapsulated Postscript File

EPS is a file format that uses PostScript. Postscript is a printer description language that is widely used by output devices.

Note:	PhotoStyler can not open an EPS file when it is created by other applications.


Equalizing

A process to enhance an image by evenly distributing pixel values across the full range of gray/color values of the image.


Floating Selection

An image selection which is placed on the top of an image document and can be processed or moved around the image document without affecting the image laying under it.


Foreground/Background Color

The colors used by the painting tools. The current foreground and background colors are shown in the Current Colors Indicator. Click on the Foreground or Background color box to choose a new color.


Gray Scale Value

An integer number with a range between 0 and 255 which represents the brightness level of an individual pixel in a Gray Scale image document. In PhotoStyler, 0 is the darkest and 255 is the lightest level of brightness.


Halftone Screen

A grid pattern that breaks an image into dots of varying sizes and spacing.


Highlight

The parts of an image that reflect the most light.


Histogram

A 2-D graphic representation which shows the pixel-value distribution of an image. The horizontal coordinate is the pixel value. The vertical coordinate shows the number of pixels in the image that use the value.


Hue

The major property that distinguishes one color from another.


 Image Correction

A process that changes the gray/color value of each pixel to compensate for errors produced by the scanning or printing processes. This process makes the image more like the original one.


Image Data Type

The way that an image is described and represented by a digital computer. PhotoStyler can open six different image data types: Black & White, Gray Scale, Indexed 16-color, Indexed 256-color, RGB 8-color, and RGB True Color images.


Image File Format

The method a computer uses to stores image information. PhotoStyler opens several types of image files: TIFF, PCX, TARGA, Windows BMP, EPS and GIF. Each image file format works with different graphic applications.


Index Number

The color number defined in a 16-color or 256-color indexed color image. The index itself is a integer number used to index a color lookup table that contains 16 or 256 colors.


Lightness

Lightness is one of the elements used in the HLS (Hue, Lightness, Saturation) color model. Lightness is described by taking the average of the maximum and minimum values in each RGB color pixel.


Luminance

In general, luminance is the brightness (lightness) level of a pixel. In PhotoStyler, luminance is the Gray-Scale component of a color image.


LZW

LZW is one TIFF compression option. When a TIFF image is compressed with the LZW option it is divided into horizontal strips. When you select 16k PhotoStyler will optimize compression.

When you select the predictor PhotoStyler will look at the color information of adjacent pixels and store the image using the mathematical color differences.

Some applications can not read files that were saved with the predictor on.


Mapping Curve

A mapping curve shows how the pixels in an image are modified by some of PhotoStyler's image tuning commands, such as the Tune:Gray/Color Map command in the Image menu. These figures represent some commonly used mapping curves.


Monitor Calibration

A process to compensate for the error produced by the electronics of a display monitor, and make the color shown on the screen more like the original image.


Posterizing

A process which reduces the number of gray/color shades of an image to get a special effect similar to a hand-painted poster.


Process Color
Process Colors

The colors used in the four-color printing process, including cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.


Resampling

A process to change the number of pixels of an image. The resampling process is required to change the size or the resolution of an image.


Resolution

Resolution is a measure of fineness. The resolution of an on-screen image is measured in pixels per inch or pixels per centimeter, the resolution of printing devices is measured in dots per inch (dpi).


RGB
RGB (Red Green Blue)

The RGB color model uses red green and blue as the set of values used to describe a pixels color.


Saturation

Saturation is a component used to describe the purity of a color. It is measured in percentage. The higher percentage the purer the color, the lower the percentage the more gray in the color.


Selection

The portion of an image outlined with one of the selection tools in the Selection Palette. Selecting an area allows control over which part of an image is edited with a tool or command.


Selection Mask

A Selection Mask is a selected area of an image you can edit. Any part of the image outside the selected area will not respond to the editing.


Shadow

Parts of an image that absorb the most light.


Soft Edge

The edge of a selection area where painting and editing effects are gradually applied. Use a soft edge to blend a selection with the underlying image.


Source image

The source image is the image you cut, copy or select as data source. The target is the image you are changing with the source image or going to put the data into.


Subtractive Color Mixing

A color mixing model which mixes the color in the same way as blending color dyes. Mixing more dyes makes the result darker. Ideally, mixing the subtractive primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow will result in black.


System Palette

A set of pre-defined color values used by Windows to display the window's components such as border, caption bar, scroll bar, and icons.


Target Image

The target image is the image that you are changing when you paste from the clipboard. The source of the clipboard image is the source image.


Thresholding

A process to reduce the gray shades of an image into black and white. The gray shades lighter than a specified threshold value become white and the others become black.


UCR
Under Color Removal (UCR)

Technique of removing the colored inks (CMY) from the dark neutral areas where the black inks are more effective.