User Guide Photofix™Contained here are basic instructions on the functions of PhotoFix™ . If you wish to print these instructions, it will take approx 13 pages
INTRODUCTION
System requirements :
You can use PhotoFix™ with any colour Macintosh® (68020 or more) or Power Macintosh®, with system 7 or later.
The minimum required RAM for PhotoFix™ is 1.5Mb
The minimum required RAM for the PhotoFix™ browser is 500 K.
If you have enough RAM you can increase these values to 2.5Mb. or 6 Mb. for PhotoFix™, and to 1 Mb. or 3 Mb. for the browser. This will increase the speed of your software.
If you have more than than 4Mb of Ram allocated use the 768 x 512 images.
If less use the 384 x 256 that require less space
Copyrights :
This manual cannot be copied or translated, completely or partially, without the prior written consent of Le Pixel. However it can be sold or given.
PhotoFix™ is an image editing Software program that allows you to work with digital images at a reasonable cost.
PhotoFix™ allows you to create, retouch, edit and print high quality images.
Many selection, design, retouching and special effects tools are available.
You can also print your images at high quality even on a low end printer, or perform CMYK colour separation (option) for offset printing.
Please Note
To use PhotoFix™ (also called program in this manual), you must know the basic functions and operations of your Macintosh. Only the program specific functions will be detailed.
Claris XTND interface
This software reads and writes PICT and TIFF files.
However you can open other image formats by using the Claris™ XTND™ interface.
To do that you must put the Claris translators you have in a folder named Claris in your system folder.
You will find these translators with Claris software such as MacDraw ™, ClarisWorks™…
For more information on Claris translators, please consult Claris or your Apple® dealer.
Note : when opening an image using Claris XTND, sufficient free RAM equivalent to the size of the image must be available.
To find out the available RAM value, choose Memory space from the Edit menu.
Working efficiently
The file size is an important parameter that will affect the overall time of your image editing. The larger the files, the higher their resolution, the larger (in Kb) they are, the longer the calculation time will be.
Make sure you have the right image size and resolution from the beginning. All these parameters are fully detailed in the Image retouching and HQP High Quality Printing guides.
Another important parameter is the RAM allocated to the program. The factory setting is 2.5 Mb. Increasing the allocated RAM can reduce the transfers to hard disc and thus increase the speed of your software. To find out the optimum RAM value for the opened image(s), choose Memory space from the Edit menu.
File Menu
New image... :
Opens a dialogue box that enables you to create a new image (see Resize in the Image menu for more details).
Open... :
allows you to open an image or several images simultaneously.
PhotoFix™ Browser :
launches the browser application supplied with your software.
Close :
closes the active window. With the "Option" key pressed, you can close all the application windows.
Save : (Not available in dem version)
saves the image modifications
Save as... :
saves the image modifications as a new image
Acquire :
to acquire images using the plug-ins of external acquisition devices or software like scanners, special decompression software… Please see the Memory Preferences later.
Export :
to export images in special formats using external plug-ins like CMYK separation (option), compression software…
Page setup... :
general settings of your page parameters : paper size, layout, scale, orientation…
Page format... :
allows you to preview, resize and position the image on the page.
HQP Corrections… :
opens a dialogue box that allows you to refine the image for best HQP printing.
HQP Auto : automatically gives optimum settings
to your image.
Manual : overides the automatic HQP settings
None : prints with no correction.
Dominant colour : filters any dominant colour in the image. Click to activate.
Smooth outline : smooths the outlines of the printed image.. Click to activate.
Photocopy master : prints a photocopy master
which can be duplicated with no loss of quality.
Scale : the printing scale is set by default at 100% to print the image at scale 1. Reducing the image size in this dialogue can enhance the printing quality.
Printer : opens the Printer settings dialogue which allows you to select and calibrate your printer.
Preferences... :
Preferences- General :
Unit : choose the unit you prefer, inches, pixels or centimetres. It will be displayed in the Infos palette.
Image icon : you can choose between two icon representations of your image: the icon of the program or a miniature of the image.
Default palette : sets the default colour palette with which your image will be opened.
Tools sound : activates the tools sound if turned on.
Black background : the border space around the image will be black if the option is selected, or gray if it is not.
Preferences - Memory :
Scratch disk/folder : you can select the disk and the folder on which the program will place its temporary and back-up files. The default setting is the Temporary items folder.
It is preferable not to use this folder if you wish to use the Quit special and automatic saving options.
. Save opened images when Quit special : this option will allow you :
1- to quit the program very quickly without saving your images and re-open them later in a few seconds regardless of their size.
This is very practical when you are working with limited RAM configuration, or when you quit knowing that you will continue working on these same images later.
2- to create an automatic back-up copy of your images.
In case of power failure or system crash, you can recover all your work.
Plug-ins folder : You can select the folder containing the Plug-ins you use (Acquisition, Export and filters) anywhere on your hard disc or any other external disc. The default setting is the program folder
Multiple Undos : you can choose the number of undos you wish to have from 0 (limits the time the software accesses the disc) to 32. The default is 8.
Quit :
quits the program.
If you activate the Save opened images when Quit Special option in the Memory Preferences, you will be able to :
1- quit the program very quickly without saving your images and re-open them later in a few seconds regardless of their size.
This is very practical when you are working with limited RAM configuration, or when you quit knowing that you will continue working on these same images later.
2- have an automatic back-up copy of your images.
In case of power failure or system crash, you can recover all your work.
Edit Menu
Undo :
cancels the last operation(s).
Redo :
restores the last operation(s).
Cut :
cuts the selected part of an image and places it in the clipboard.
Copy :
copies the selected part of an image and places it in the clipboard.
Paste :
pastes the contents of the clipboard on the image. If a selection is made, the clipboard contents will be pasted inside the selection.
Clear :
erases the selected part of the image and replaces it with the current background colour.
Memory space… :
displays useful information about the RAM and disc space.
Application memory : indicates the available and required RAM for the opened images
Scratch disc space : indicates the space occupied by the opened images, by the undo files and the remaining free disc space.
Erase multiple undos files : erases the saved multiple undos to free some disc space.
Tool settings… : gives access to the settings of the selected tool.
Note : A double-click on the tool icon also gives direct access to its settings (See the Tools palette).
Copy (selection) HQP :
copy an image or a selection with the HQP format. This allows you to paste it directly into any other document (page layout, word processor…) and retain the HQP settings.
Export HQP… :
exports an image or a selection with the HQP format. This allows you to import it later into any other document and retain the HQP settings.
Copy/Export Format… :
opens a dialogue box that allows you to select a specific printer and the PICT format adapted to the target application.
Print variants… : prints 7 to 19, large or small, colour or black and white miniatures of your image.
Each one has different colours (C/M/Y) or Brightness and Contrast values depending on your choice. This allows you to easily identify the best correction values.
Printer settings… :
Automatic recognition : the program can recognise the printer selected with the chooser if it is in the program printers list
HQP MENU (Prints will have a line through the centre in dem version)
Undo :
cancels the last operation(s).
Redo :
restores the last operation(s).
Cut :
cuts the selected part of an image and places it in the clipboard.
Copy :
copies the selected part of an image and places it in the clipboard.
Paste :
pastes the contents of the clipboard on the image. If a selection is made, the clipboard contents will be pasted inside the selection.
Clear :
erases the selected part of the image and replaces it with the current background colour.
Memory space… :
displays useful information about the RAM and disc space.
Application memory : indicates the available and required RAM for the opened images
Scratch disc space : indicates the space occupied by the opened images, by the undo files and the remaining free disc space.
Erase multiple undos files : erases the saved multiple undos to free some disc space.
Tool settings… : gives access to the settings of the selected tool.
Note : A double-click on the tool icon also gives direct access to its settings (See also the Tools palette).
Copy (selection) HQP :
copy an image or a selection with the HQP format. This allows you to paste it directly into any other document (page layout, word processor…) and retain the HQP settings.
Export HQP… :
exports an image or a selection with the HQP format. This allows you to import it later into any other document and retain the HQP settings.
Copy/Export Format… :
opens a dialogue box that allows you to select a specific printer and the PICT format adapted to the target application.
Print variants… : prints 7 to 19, large or small, colour or black and white miniatures of your image.
Each one has different colours (C/M/Y) or Brightness and Contrast values depending on your choice. This allows you to easily identify the best correction values.
Printer settings… :
Automatic recognition : the program can recognise the printer selected with the chooser if it is in the program printers list
Manual choice : this option allows you to manually enter your printer characteristics and name if it is not included in the program printers list.
Manual settings : The local menu under the Manual choice option gives access to the list of the recognized printers. If you have a different printer, use the Manual settings option to enter its name and characteristics. Please refer to your printer's manual for these characteristics. (see the HQP guide for more details).
Add… : allows you to enter the name of the new printer. It will be associated to the characteristics you have chosen.
Note : Before adding a new printer, you must select it with the chooser. After adding it to the list, its driver Page setup and Print dialogues will be displayed. You can set these dialogues or just press OK to leave the default printer driver options.
Remove : clears the selected printer from the list.
Printer calibration : Press the Print test charts button to print 20-37 test charts that will allow to you easily calibrate your printer (see HQP guide for more details).
HQP Corrections … : opens the HQP corrections dialogue.
Remember that all HQP corrections are saved with the image and will be applied to the printer without altering the original.
Image Menu
Settings :
Negative :
inverts image colours.
Corrections… :
allows you to set image brightness, contrast and colours.
Blur, Blur a lot, Sharpen, Sharpen a lot : internal filters available in the RGB and grayscale modes.
Mode :
shows and changes the image palette colours : RGB, indexed, grayscale or bitmap. The image mode is also available in the infos palette (see infos palette)
Separate RGB layers :
separates the image into 3 different layers (windows) corresponding to the Red, Green and Blue colours. You can correct, edit and save each (colour) layer and load it into the image. The loaded layer will replace the original one.
Load RGB layer… :
applies the modifications made to the layers on the image (see the Image retouching guide for more details).
Flip - Rotate :
apply to the whole image or to the active selection(s).
Free Rotation… :
you can enter the rotation angle in degrees with a precision of 1/100 of a degree (see also the rotation tool in the Tools palette).
Crop :
keeps the selected part of an image and deletes the rest of it. Define the desired part of image with the Rectangular selection tool then choose Crop (see also the cropping tool in the Tools palette).
Resize… :
allows you to modify the image or the canvas (work area) size.
Keep- proportions : any change in one dimension (height for example) will modify the other (width in this case) in the same proportions so as not to distort the image
Keep - file size : any change in the dimensions of the image will modify its resolution and vice versa keeping the image weight (memory space) constant in Kb.
Filter Menu (Not available in dem version)
This menu allows you to use external third parties Photoshop™ type plug-in filters like Kaïs’ PT™, Aldus® Gallery Effects™, andromeda™ etc…
To use, select the Plug-ins folder in the Preferences - Memory dialogue as explained earlier.
The Filter menu will become active (black) and the filters recognized and available from the menu.
Warning : Plug-ins in nested folders will not recognized.
Note : The program is shipped without filters, therefore it is normal for the Filter item in the menu bar to be inactive (grey).
For more information about filters, please consult your dealer or the above mentioned companies.
Selection Menu
Inverse:
selects the complementary part of the image.
Border... :
lets you define a border for the active selection. Useful for creating frames and to paint outlines.
Grow :
increases the tolerance of the magic wand. The number of selected pixels consequentially increases and the selection grows.
Similar :
selects all the pixels of the image having similar colour or light characteristics as that of the selected point. Useful for modifying the colour or brightness of part of an image.
Feather/Transparency… :
Feather : sets the number of transition pixels around the selection edge which will be feathered. Useful for montage with melted edges.
Opacity : sets the opacity (or inversely transparency) of the selection contents.
Separate mask :
creates a bitmap or greyscale image (depending on your selection type) corresponding to the active mask. The mask can be fully edited like any other image.
Load mask… :
after separating and possibly editing a mask, you can load the mask into any image and use it to edit this image using this mask
Float/Defloat :
Choose Float to duplicate the selected portion of the image. This will allow you to retouch it and move it without altering the original image The Defloat command will integrate the floating selection into the image.
Hide/Show edges :
Hiding the selection edges allows precise retouching on the selection borders and more accurate display of the selection modifications
Deselect :
deactivates all active selections.
Selects all :
selects the whole image.
View Menu
Zoom in :
enlarges the image by a factor of 2. The image can be enlarged by a factor of 16.
Zoom out :
reduces the image by a factor of 2. The image can be reduced by a factor of 16.
Adjust window :
adjusts the window size to that of the displayed image.
Show/Hide Colours :
displays or hides the Colours palette
Show/Hide infos :
displays or hides the Infos palette
Show/Hide Tools :
displays or hides the Tools palette
Next window :
when many images are displayed simultaneously, this command allows you to go from one image to another without having to click on the window.
You can also activate a window by selecting the image name from the menu
Tools Palette
Magic wand :
clicking on the image automatically defines selection areas having more or less similar colours or brightness. It is very useful for image editing and retouching.
Double-click on the Magic wand icon to set :
Tolerance (sensitivity) from 0 to 100 %. 0% : the magic wand selects all adjacent pixels having exactly the same colour or brightness. 100% : the magic wand selects adjacent pixels even if they have very different colour or brightness.
Sensitivity to light or to colour.
Smoothing of the selection outline.
Lasso :
defines selection areas of any shape.
Double-click the lasso to select the whole image.
Rectangular selection :
defines selection areas of rectangular shape. You can also use the rectangular selection tool to crop and resize your image. To do that, draw a selection then choose Crop or Resize from the Edit menu.
Four Predefined formats are suggested :
Clipboard : useful to paste while resizing the contents of the clipboard Passport photo : useful to extract a portrait format from a picture Postcard : useful to obtain a postcard format
A4 : gives an A4 format.
Oval selection :
defines selection areas of oval shape.
P.S. : For the 3 described manual selection tools, pressing:
Shift key adds a selection to the existing one Command key subtracts a selection from the existing one. (a + or - sign appear near the selection tool).
Crop tool :
removes unwanted parts of an image. To use it, select the area you want to save. The cursor changes to a pair of scissors. You can fine tune your selection by moving its corners. Then click once inside the selection to crop.
Straighten/Rotate tool :
Clicking on the icon will show two perpendicular axis with a circular centre on your image.
You can click and drag the centre of the axis which represents the rotation point. (The cursor is a cross)
You can also click and drag on one of the axis to align it with the desired vertical or horizontal reference or to simply define the desired rotation angle. (Cursor is semi circle with arrowed ends) Moving the cursor changes the angle. Moving the cursor away from the axis produces:
Straighten : The cursor changes to a straighten tool shape. Click to Straighten the image.(rotates in opposite direction)
Rotate : . Press the option key. The cursor changes to a rotation tool shape. Click to rotate the image to the angle and in the direction chosen.
(This can also be achieved via rotation options under the image menu bar)
(Please note: In the full version now shipping, the free rotation is the default setting. Straightening is achieved by holding the option key)
Line tool :
draws lines of variable size.
Press the shift key to have a vertical, horizontal or 45° angle constraint.
Rectangle tool :
draws empty or filled, rectangular (or square with the shift key pressed) shapes.
Oval tool :
draws empty or filled, oval (or circular with the shift key pressed) shapes.
You can set the horizontal and vertical thickness of these three drawing tools by double-clicking on their icon.
Text :
adds text on your image.
To use it, click once on the text icon and then on the image. You will be able to set the text attributes : Font, Size, Alignment, Spacing, Justification, Styles… with a preview of your choice.
Pencil :
draws dots, curves and lines. Press the shift key to draw horizontal or vertical straight lines.
Double click on the pencil icon to set its diameter.
Radius from 1 to 50 pixels Opacity on bright and dark tones - Edge : sharp or blurred (blended with the background).
Paint bucket :
spreads the foreground colour on the clicked point and on all surrounding pixels having a similar colour, depending on the tolerance setting.
Double-click on the icon to set the tolerance from 0 to 100 % :
0% : the paint spreads on the adjacent pixels having exactly the same colour. 100% : the paint spreads on adjacent pixels even if they have a different colour.
Eraser :
replaces the undesired parts of an image with the background colour.
Double-click on the icon to erase the whole image or the contents of a selection.
Airbrush :
sprays a fine grained programmable paint.
Double-click the icon to set the Airbrush :
Radius from 1 to 50 pixels Flow from 1 to 10 according to your Macintosh speed. Density from 1 (weak) to 3 (strong).
Natural flow : sprays paint as long as you click on the mouse. The faster you move the mouse over an area, the lighter the paint. Regular flow : sprays paint of equal thickness on all areas regardless of the time the button his held down.
Clone tool :
The clone tool allows you to clone (create identical pixels) a part of an image in a very fine and melted way. You can also use the clone tool to remove a scratch or some dust from your image. To select the portion of image to be cloned, click first on a reference point (where you want to clone from) with the option key pressed. The small arrow on the bottom of the clone tool will become white and this reference point will be the first cloned point. Now, leave the option key and click and drag your mouse. You will clone the pixels that are beside the reference point, exactly in the same way that you are moving your mouse.
Double click on the clone tool to modify its settings :
Radius : sets the size of the covering Density : sets the opacity. For all settings, the longer you press on the mouse, the more opaque the covering will be Clone alignment : if inactive, you will always begin cloning from the original reference point even if you click several times on different parts of the image. If active, the next time you clone, you will begin cloning the point which is as displaced from the reference point as the new clicking point is from the first one. The cloning is aligned. This is best understood by trying it for yourself.
Gradient tool :
allows you to apply graduated colours or effects to your backgrounds and masks. Click and drag on your image to set the gradient region and angle. The two gradient colours are the foreground and the background colours. A preview of the gradient effect is displayed on the top right of the Colours palette.
Tone picker :
picks a colour directly from the image.
P.S.: the Tone picker is available with all painting tools by pressing the alt/opt key.
Zoom tool :
magnifies (Zoom in) or reduces (Zoom out), with the alt/opt key pressed, the view of the whole image.
Hand tool :
moves the image in any direction to view an area that is outside the window.
P.S. the Hand tool is available with all other tools by pressing the space bar.
Infos Palette
The PhotoFix™ information system allows you, at all times, to view and modify the most important image parameters thanks to its exclusive Information for Action™ interface
W x H :
image width and height in the unit chosen in the General - Preferences and also in pixels.
h - v :
horizontal and vertical position of the cursor displayed in the same units as the dimensions.
Format :
displays the image format and compression. i.e. Tiff LZW…
Image mode :
displays and modifies the image (colour) mode.
HQP/HQP Export Printer :
displays and modifies the selected printer for direct printing or for the HQP Export files.
Selection :
displays the dimensions of any active selection on the image in the same units as those of the image.
Colours Palette
The Colour Palette associated to an image represents the number of colours this image contains or can contain. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) images are 32 bits, 16.7 million colours. It is the richest but heaviest (largest) image mode. Indexed (or system) palette is 8 bits 256 colours. This mode may be sufficient for low-end colour inkjet printers
Grayscale images are 8 bits 256 greys. This mode is the best compromise for greyscale printing. Bitmap palette is in black and white.
After choosing a colour, you can darken or lighten it it using this control.
inverts foreground and background colours
resets black at the foreground and white at the background.
You can select a colour directly from the colour wheel or by setting its RGB values with the RGB controls (three horizontal bars). You can also use the system colour wheel (available when you double click on the current colour rectangle) or choose a colour directly from the image using the Tone Picker.
preview of the gradient tool effect by blending the foreground and background colours.You can pick any intermediate colour with the cursor.
You can also blend up to 4 colours using the rectangular blending surface which is at the bottom of the Colour palette. Pick and store colours from the colour wheel or from the image.
this reservoir lets you store up to 8 custom colours. When you open an image, the default colours are its 8 main colours You can store and pick your colours using the cursor and the alt/option key.
Indexed palette and Indexed mode :
You can convert an RGB image to an indexed mode if you want to save some space
The conversion can be done in several ways.
Choose 8 bits Adaptive palette for better quality.
2 bits (4 colours) and 4 bits (16 colours) are alternatives of poorer quality but they give lighter images.
The Adaptive Palette is closer to the original image colours than the standard 256 colours System palette.
The indexed palette allows you to do some advanced colour editing features described in your Image Retouching Guide.
Window
Information for Action™. This is the philosophy of the PhotoFix™ informative interface.
PhotoFix™ has been engineered to give you maximum ease of use and to increase your efficiency.
All the current information needed is displayed in the infos palette
All currently modified parameters are available and locally modifiable.
View scale is displayed in the bottom left corner of the window. It can be directly modified to any other value from /16 to x16 by clicking on it.
Resolution is also a parameter we often change to adapt to our printer. The image resolution is displayed on the bottom right hand corner of the window and can be modified locally to any other preset or custom value (with constant image size) by clicking on it. Other option opens the Resize dialogue.
Size (weight) is also valuable information. It is displayed in Kb. or in Mb. to the right of the Resolution.
