With ColorStation™ and Graytation™ you have the right tools to create beautiful artwork, enhance and edit your digitized images, scans, Kodak photo CD, Clip art…. with ease.
Morover, The HQP® (High Quality Printing) commands will automatically enhance the output of your printer.
Colorstation handles 256 colours and greys.
GrayStation handles greys only.
• Colorstation requirements : Color Macintosh (68020 processor and above), 1M RAM available, system 6.0.7 and later, Power PC compatible.
• Graystation requirements : All Macintosh, 1M RAM available, system 6.0.7 and later, Power PC compatible.
Using the tool Palette
• Colour palette : click the colour or the grey you want to select from the colour palette.
• Pencil : draws dots, curves and lines of 1 pixel. Press the shift key to draw straight lines.
• Brush : draws curves of variable thickness. The paint is opaque.
- Press the shift key to draw straight lines.
- Double-click the icon to set the brush thickness.
• Paint bucket : spreads opaque paint on the clicked point and on all adjacent points having similar tones, depending on the tolerance setting.
Double-click the icon to set the tolerance from O to 100 % :
- 0% : paint spreads on adjacent pixels having exactly the same colour.
- 100% : paint spreads on adjacent pixels of any colour.
• Paint brush : draws and paints.The paint is transparent and programmable.
Double-click the icon to set the Paint brush :
- radius from 2 to 25 pixels
- opacity on bright and dark tones from 0 to 15
- edge to be sharp or blurred (blended with the background).
• Air brush : paints a fine grained paint.
Double-click the icon to set the Air brush :
- radius from 2 to 25 pixels
- flow from 1 to 10 according to your Macintosh speed.
- density from 1 (week) to 3 (strong).
- Natural or Regular flow
• Eraser : its dimension depends on the zoom's value
Double-click the eraser to erase the whole image.
• Lasso : creates selections of any shape.
Double-click the Lasso to select the whole image.
• Line tool : draws lines of variable size. The paint is opaque.
Press the shift key to draw straight lines.
Double-click the icon to set the horizontal and vertical thickness from 1 to 64 pixels.
• Oval tool : draws empty or filled oval or circular shapes. The paint is opaque.
Press the shift key to draw circles.
Double-click the icon to set the horizontal and vertical thickness of the outline from 1 to 64 pixels.
• Rectangle tool : draws empty or filled rectangular or square shapes. The paint is opaque.
Press the shift key to draw circles.
Double-click the icon to set the horizontal and vertical thickness of the outline from 1 to 64 pixels.
• Text editor : adds text on your image.
Double-click the icon to set text attributs : Font, Size (TrueType), Alignment, Spacing, Justification, Styles… with previsualization of the choice. You can change the text colour or attribute while editng.
To edit another bloc, click there with the shift key pressed.
• Tone Picker : takes a colour directly from the image.
Note :You can use the tone picker with all the painting tools by simply pressing the "Option" key.
• Magic wand : creates automatically selections of areas having more or less similar colours or brightness. It is very useful for image editing and retouching.
Double-click the icon to set :
- variance from 0 to 100 %.
0% : the magic wand selects all adjacent pixels having exactly the same colour or brightness.
100% : the magic wand selects all adjacent pixels.
- sensitivity to light or color
- smoothing of the selection outline.
• Rectangular selection : defines selections 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.
4 Predefined formats are suggested. Double-click the icon to choose one or to define a WxH constraint.
• Magnifying glass : enlarges or reduces (with the “Option” key pressed) the image . It has two display modes :
- "Simple view" with one view on the image.
- "Double view" with two views on the image for more confortable retouching. A click on the box indicating the magnifying strength gives you direct access to the possible magnifying rates.
HQP® : High Quality Printing
HQP is an advanced image treatment technology that is included in your software.
HQP analyses your image and automatically sets its best contrast, brightness and colour values.
HQP can print 7 to 19 different variations of your image for accurate and easy correction (see contact sheet)
HQP offers a one stroke printer calibration (see printer calibration)
HQP adapts your image to your printer charcteristics.
The result is : THE BEST POSSIBLE PRINTS, EASILY.
Using the HQP menu
• Printer setup : opens a dialog box that allows you to define and calibrate your printer in order to optimize its performances.
- Automatic recognition : if you choose this option, your printer can be automatically recognised and its name and characteristics displayed. For this to succeed, your printer must be in the printer list. You can consult and complete this list by activating the "Manual settings" option.
- Manual settings : This option allows you to manually enter your printer characteristics and name if they are not included in the printer list.
- Manual adjustment : The local menu gives access to the list of recognizable printers. If you have a different one, use the “Manual adjustment” option to enter its name and characteristics. Please refer to your printer's manual for these characteristics.
Printer Calibration
1- Press the “Test charts” button to print 20-37 test charts that will help you calibrate easily your printer.
2- Look at the calibration charts printed.
For greys calibration choose the chart that contains the richest greyscales ranging from white to black.
For colour calibration, choose the purest grey chart, this is the one that will eliminate any dominant colour.
You can also compare the charts to the reference displayed on your screen .
3- Enter the number of the chosen chart in the “Calibration" text box.
Your printer is calibrated.
- HQP Image : opens the HQP image setup window.
• Copy HQP : copy an image or a selection with the HQP format. This allows you to paste it directly into any other file. (page layout, word processor…).
• Export HQP : exports an image or a selection with the HQP format. This allows you to import it directly into any other file.
• Copy / Export format : opens a dialog box that allows you to select a specific printer and the PICT format adapted to the host application.
• Same as "Printer Setup" : choose this option to use the same printer settings as that of the printer selected in the "Printer setup…" dialog.
• Manual settings : use the manual settings if you are going to print on another printer than the one selected with your chooser. These settings allow you to define the Copy/Export printer characteristics. The local menu gives access to the list of recognizable printers. If you have a different printer, use the “Manual adjustment” option to enter its name and characteristics (see the “Printer setup…” section above).
• PICT1 / PICT2 : you can choose the PICT type supported by the host application. PICT2 is generally the best format (supports colour). The display may be dark with certain applications but the printing will still be of high quality.
• Contact sheet : prints 7 to 19 variantes of your image. Each one has different colours (C/M/J) or brightness and contrast values depending on your choice. This allows you to easily identify the best correction values.
Enter these values in the HQP image setup window.
• HQP Image setup : opens a dialog box that allows you to refine the image for best HQP printing.
The default settings are the HQP automatic contrast and brightness corrections values (50).
- HQP corrections : automatically give to your image optimal settings in order to achieve the best prints.
- Manual corrections : after printing a contact sheet to overide the HQP automatic settings .
- Use the Neutral option to print without any correction.
- Dominant color : if active, this filter will eliminate any dominant colour in the image.
- Smooth outline : if active, this filter smooths the outlines of the image.
- Photocopy master : this option allows you to print a photocopy master which can be duplicated without loss of quality.
- Scale : the printing scale is set by default to print the image at scale 1. Reducing the image size enhances the printing quality.
*** ALL HQP IMAGES WILL BE SLASHED WITH THIS DEMO VERSION ***
Using the File menu
• New image : Opens a dialog box that enables you to create a new image
You can create and display simultaneously up to 4 images.
- Dimensions : The text boxes indicate the width and the height of the new image in pixels, inches or centimeters. You can create images of different sizes. You can choose a predefined format among the 4 formats proposed or enter the dimensions you want.
The width and height of the new image can be linked by a fixed ratio. The small chain indicates the presence of the link. This link is activated by selecting "Maintain proportions".
- Contents : choose
Empty : to draw and paint on a white "sheet"
Clipboard : to paste the contents of the clipboard in the center of the new image
Screen copy : to transform all or part of your screen into an image.
- Palette : choose
16 or 256 colors : for colour painting and image colorization
16 or 256 grays : for retouching and printing in greyscales
Screen colors : for screen copies.
• Open image : allows you to open an image. The application reads PICT files without any extension. To read other file formats, you must use the Claris XTND interface.
Claris XTND interface
This software reads and writes PICT files. However you can open other image formats like TIFF, GIF… by using the Claris™ XTND interface.
Put the Claris folder supplied with the program in your system folder and put the translators you may need in it.
You will find these translators with Claris™ softwares like MacDraw ™, ClarisWorks™…
Note : If you have a Logitech Scanman 32 you can directly scan your images into GrayStation and ColorStation.
To do that :
- put the "Scanman XTND-F" extension is in the Claris™ or the Extension folder of your System folder
- Start GrayStation or ColorStation
- Choose "Open" from the "File" menu
- Double-click on the "Scanman XTND-F" file
- You can directly scan now.
• Open with palette : allows you to open tne image with a specific palette or variety of colours.
- 16 or 256 system colors : for colour painting and image colorization
- 16 or 256 grays : for retouching and printing in greyscales
- Black and white : to convert to black & white mode
- Image colors : to open an image with its native colours. It is the best mode for high quality colour display and printing.
Note : This mode is very useful for converting 16 bit and 24 bit images into high quality 8 bits images which occupy much less space (up to 10 times less).
• Close : to close the active window. With the "Option" key pressed, you can close all the application windows.
• Save : to save image modifications (NOT AVAILABLE WITH DEMO VERSION)
• Save as : to save a new image (NOT AVAILABLE WITH DEMO VERSION)
• Image info : displays all informations concerning the image.
• Print format : to set the page format.
• Page setup : allows you to preview, resize and position the image on the page.
- Frame : Draws a thin black frame around the image.
- File name : Prints the image name under the image.
- Scale : Reduces the printed dimensions and thus sharpens the image. The default scale value prints the image with its original dimensions.
- Center : places the image at the center of the page.
• Print HQP : prints your image (HQP IMAGE WILL BE SLASHED)
• Preferences :
- Image icon : you can choose between two icon representations of your image: the icon of the application or a miniature of the image.
- Units : choose the unit you prefer, inches, pixels or centimeters.
- Opening palette : sets the by default colour palette with which your image will be opened.
- Conversion mode : The colours conversion of an image can be achieved by "Diffusion" for a better reproduction of the image or by "Threshold" for special effects.
• Brush activity : the brush needs relatively large memory to function. If you have little RAM memory available for the application, choose the option "part of image".
• Tool sound : activates the tools sound if turned on.
• Tools palette : opens the images with their toolbox if turned on.
• Black border : the border space around the image will be black if the option is selected, or gray if it is not.
• Dialog box at opening "New image…" : if this checkbox is clicked, the "New image" dialog box will be displayed after starting the application. If not, the "Open" dialog box will be displayed.
Using the Edit menu
Use the "Edit" menu to set, manipulate and exchange images or selections in the application itself or with other applications.
• Cancel : cancels the last operation.
• Cut : cuts the selected part of an image and puts it in the clipboard. (NOT AVAILABLE WITH DEMO VERSION)
• Copy : copies the selected part of an image and puts it in the clipboard. (NOT AVAILABLE WITH DEMO VERSION)
• Paste : pastes the contents of the clipboard on the image center if no selection is made and inside the selection if a selection is made.
• Clear : erases the selected part of the image and replaces it by a blank.
• Crop : selects one part of an image and deletes the rest of it. Define the desired part of image with the "rectangular selection" tool then choose "Crop".
• Resize : resizes the image according to the dimensions of the defined selection. Image proportions are maintained. Define the new size of the image with the "rectangular selection" tool then choose "Resize".
Note : Press the "Option" key simoultaneously to resize without respecting the image proportions.
• Image colors :
use the appropriate controls to correct the image. The corrections will be displayed on the right image.
Press the "Neutral " button to restore the original values.
Press the " OK" button to apply the modifications to the image.
Using the Tools menu
Use the "Tools" menu to select tools which are not displayed and to perform certain operations on the image.
• Paint image (or selection) : paints automatically the image (or a selection) with the paint brush. The settings used are those of the paint brush.
• Tool setting : lets you fix the settings of the chosen tool.
Note : A double-click on the tool icon also gives direct access to its settings.
• Toolbox : allows you to choose a tool. Practical when the toolbox is not displayed.
• Flip Horizontal - Flip vertical - Rotate : performe flipping and rotation operations on your image or on a rectangular selection if there is one.
• Permanent palette : displays the tones palette permanently. No second view of the image can be displayed. (see "View" menu).
Using the Selection menu
Use the "Selection" menu to create and perform certain operations on selections and outlines.
• Complement : selects all parts of the image other than the current selection. Useful for selecting a complex shape from a uniform background.
• Fringe : allows you to make a fringe and to define its width in pixels. useful for creating frames, thick outlines…
• Spread : If you make a selection with the magic wand, this command will extend the selected area by automatically increasing the magic wand variance value.
• Generalize : selects all the parts of the image having the same colour or light characteristics as that of the selected portion. Useful for modifying a color or a brightness value…
• Create outline : transforms the paint made with the ellipse, circle, rectangle, square, text, pencil and brush tools into a selection outline. Practical for painting a shape or a text for exemple with the paint brush or the air brush.
• Save outline : saves the current outline in a library and makes it available at any time.
• Choose outline : proposes all saved outlines from the outline library.
• Previous outline : displays the previous outline.
• Hide outline : hides the outline but keeps it active. Use this command if the selection outline bothers you while working.
• Select all : Selects all the image.
• Deselect all : Cancels any selection on the image.
Using the View menu
Use the "View" menu to choose the display conditions of the image.
• Enlarge : enlarges the image by a factor of 2. The image cannot be enlarged by more than a factor of 16.
• Reduce : reduces the image by a factor of 2. The image cannot be reduced by more than a factor of 8.
• Magnifying glass : activates the magnifying glass. It enlarges or, with the "Option" key pressed, reduces the image by a factor of 2.
• Simple View : displays one view of the image.
• Double view : displays 2 views of the image, one enlarged and the other at full scale, for comfortable retouching.
• Without toolbox : removes the toolbox in order to display the image at full screen.You can choose the tools from the "Tools" menu.
• White grid : displays a white grid on the image which helps you see the pixels of a dark area. The image must be enlarged by a minimum factor of 8.
• No grid : removes the grid.
• Black grid : Displays a black grid on the image which helps you see the pixels of a bright area. The image must be enlarged by a minimum factor of 8.
• Next window : when many images are displayed simultaneously, this command allows you to go from one image to another without having to click on their window.
