User manual ACDSEE ACDSEE 5.0

© ACD Systems Ltd. 2002, 2001, 2000 All rights reserved. Printed and bound in the U.S.A. Table of contents ACD Systems at the hub of Digital Imaging 1 Chapter 1 Welcome to ACDSee Getting started Minimum system requirements Installing and uninstalling Starting ACDSee Starting ACDSee from the Taskbar Notification area Changing the default start folder Associating a file format with ACDSee 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 Chapter 2 Learning the basics The Browser user interface Browser toolbar buttons File list toolbar buttons Navigation toolbar buttons The Viewer user interface Viewer toolbar buttons 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 Chapter 3 Personalizing ACDSee Customizing the Browser Selecting a layout for the Browser user interface Saving your own user interface profile Displaying the Browser's tabbed pages Displaying the Preview pane Displaying the Browser status bar or path box Displaying the toolbars in the Browser Customizing the Viewer Displaying the toolbar or status bar in the Viewer Changing the size and position of the Viewer Changing the background color of the Viewer Customizing ACDSee toolbars Adding or removing a toolbar button Rearranging buttons on the toolbar Adding or removing a separator on the toolbar Turning the toolbar button labels on and off 17 17 18 19 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 22 23 23 23 23 24 iii Chapter 4 Using the Files pane The Files, View, and Properties tabbed pages The Files tabbed page The View tabbed page Viewing an image on the View tabbed page The Properties tabbed page About the ACDInTouch tabbed page About the ACDInTouch service The File list Filtering items Highlighting file types Refreshing the File list Generating a File listing File list view modes Selecting a File List view mode Customizing the Details view mode Sorting files in the File list Sorting files by column headers Creating, changing, and deleting a custom file order Selecting files Automatically selecting new files Selecting files sequentially Using thumbnails in the File list Displaying file information in Thumbnails view mode Showing thumbnails on folders in the File list About thumbnail overlay icons Displaying overlay icons on thumbnails Adjusting the size of the thumbnails Scanning and processing file information 25 26 26 26 26 26 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 32 32 33 34 34 35 36 36 36 37 37 37 37 38 39 40 Chapter 5 Organizing your files About Folders About Albums Creating an album Adding image shortcuts to an album Renaming an album About Photo Discs Adding a photo disc Updating a photo disc Deleting a photo disc Using ACDSee tools with photo discs About Calendars Displaying your files by date 41 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 44 45 45 46 46 iv Navigating to a specific date Selecting a calendar date type Changing the start of the week Changing the calendar clock format About Categories Creating a category Viewing a category Renaming a category Deleting a category Assigning your files to a category Removing your files from a category About Favorites Creating a Favorites shortcut Creating a shortcut with the Create Shortcut tool Renaming or deleting a Favorites shortcut About Searching Search options Advanced search options Using patterns to search for files 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 50 51 51 52 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 Chapter 6 Managing your files Deleting files Deleting a file or folder in the Browser Deleting a file in the Viewer Using the Recycle bin when deleting files Copy, cut, and paste Copying and moving files Cutting files Pasting files Copying an image Acquiring an image from the Clipboard Replacing a file Renaming a file or folder Renaming a group of files or folders Converting an image to another file format Folders Creating a folder Deleting a folder Properties Viewing the properties of a file Viewing a file's date and time properties Changing the date and time properties of a file 59 59 59 59 60 61 61 61 62 62 62 63 64 64 66 67 67 67 68 68 68 68 v Chapter 7 Using the database Adding items to the database Adding notes to a file Adding keywords to a file Adding an author to a file Setting the database date Adding a file description Adding a file description in Details view mode Adding the same description to a group of files Editing metadata Cataloging files in the database Maintaining the database About maintaining the database Database maintenance buttons Optimizing the entire database Removing orphan folders Removing information and thumbnails Removing thumbnails Performing advanced database tasks Changing the binding of a folder Exporting database information Importing database information About quarantined files Automatically caching thumbnails Moving the database to a new location Converting an older ACDSee database 71 71 72 72 72 73 73 74 74 75 75 77 77 77 78 78 78 79 80 80 81 81 82 82 83 83 Chapter 8 Viewing your images Displaying images Open an image in the Viewer Opening a group of images in the Viewer Viewing images in full-screen mode Displaying images using the entire screen Returning to the Browser from the Viewer Setting an image as the desktop wallpaper Displaying the previous wallpaper Zooming in or out on an image in the Viewer Automatically shrinking or enlarging images Zoom options table Panning an image Increasing/decreasing the speed when panning Selecting part of an image Zooming in on the selected area 85 85 85 86 86 86 87 87 88 89 90 91 92 92 93 93 vi Copying the selected area Printing the selected area Saving the selected area as a new image Setting the selected area as the desktop wallpaper Performing advanced viewing tasks Optimizing image display quality Viewing multiple page images Disabling animated images 93 94 94 95 96 96 96 97 Chapter 9 Creating slide shows Creating a slide show from the Browser Creating a slide show from the Viewer Stopping a slide show Automatically running a slide show Adding and removing captions Removing captions Synchronizing to a folder 99 99 101 102 102 103 103 104 Chapter 10 Using the Media window System requirements for the Media window Supported file formats for the Media window Playing files in the Media window Opening video or audio files About the Play control buttons Adjusting the volume while playing a file Adjusting the default volume Adjusting the speaker balance Playing part of a video or audio file Zooming in and out of videos Customizing the Media window Changing the View mode Selecting the default window size and position Setting Play options Editing files in the Media window Copying a frame to the Clipboard Selecting part of a video or audio file Extracting a video frame from a file Extracting a selection of frames from a file Extracting all the frames from a file 105 105 105 106 106 106 107 107 107 107 108 109 109 109 110 111 111 111 111 112 112 vii Chapter 11 Editing your images Resizing an image Resize by percentage Resizing an image using dimensions Pixel resize options and resulting action Resizing recommendations Rotating an image Flipping an image Adjusting the exposure of one or more images in the Browser Adding audio to an image Recording audio Editing your images with an image editor Adding an image editor to ACDSee Selecting a default image editor 113 113 113 115 116 118 119 121 123 125 125 127 127 127 Chapter 12 Acquiring images Digital cameras USB Mass Storage device Acquiring images on your camera using TWAIN Acquiring images using Digital camera plug-ins Selecting a digital camera plug-in Browsing images on your camera using a plug-in Downloading images on your camera to your computer Taking pictures with your camera from ACDSee Scanning images Taking a screen capture 129 129 129 130 131 131 131 132 132 134 135 Chapter 13 Printing your images Printing options Printing from the Browser Printing from the Viewer Printing part of an image Printing from Windows Explorer with ACDSee Selecting printer options Selecting image position and size when printing Adding a caption when printing an image Adding a header or footer when printing an image 137 137 137 138 138 139 140 140 142 142 viii Chapter 14 Using ACDSee plug-ins About ACDSee plug-ins Accessing the Plug-in Settings dialog box Viewing plug-in properties Disabling a plug-in and changing their order Disabling a plug-in Changing plug-in order Sharing your images using SendPixTM SendPix buttons Configuring SendPix Configuring the address book Sending images Manipulating images in an album Adding descriptions to images in an album Creating and printing contact sheets Finding duplicate files Deleting and renaming files Sending images using e-mail Configuring the E-mail plug-in Configuring the address book Sending e-mail Attaching images Advanced options Using the HTML Album Generator plug-in Creating an album Adjusting settings Generating files Creating an archive 143 143 144 144 145 145 145 146 146 147 148 149 149 150 151 152 153 155 155 156 157 157 158 159 159 159 161 162 Chapter 15 Using ACD FotoCanvas Lite Creating and opening images Using the Quick Start dialog box Zooming and panning an image Zooming an image Zooming an image to best fit Viewing the actual size of an image Panning 165 166 166 167 167 167 167 167 Chapter 16 Learning the basics 169 ix Chapter 17 Personalizing ACD FotoCanvas Lite Adjusting windows Selecting window size and position Resizing the image canvas Displaying toolbars and options bars Customizing FotoCanvas Lite toolbars 173 173 173 174 174 174 Chapter 18 Using colors Selecting a color depth About the Color Palette Editing the Color Palette 175 175 176 176 Chapter 19 Manipulating images Undoing and redoing changes Undoing and redoing multiple changes Copying and pasting an image Copying an image to the Clipboard Pasting an image Pasting a new image Resizing an image About Resample filters Resize recommendations Flipping and rotating an image 177 177 177 178 178 178 178 179 179 180 181 Chapter 20 Using tools Using the Adjust tools Light levels Exposure Auto levels HSL values RGB values Using the Drawing tools Cropping an image Removing red-eye from an image 183 183 183 184 185 185 186 187 187 188 Chapter 21 Using filters Blurring an image Blurring an image with Gaussian Blur Sharpening an image Adjusting the hue and saturation of an image 189 190 190 191 192 x Crosshatching an image Despeckling an image Detecting edges in an image Embossing an image Creating a negative of an image Creating an oil painting Creating a pencil drawing of an image Adding a sepia hue to an image 193 193 194 195 196 197 198 198 Chapter 22 Saving images Saving multiple page images 199 199 Appendix 1: Contacting ACD Systems Technical support Feedback 200 200 200 Appendix 2: ACDSee supported file formats Appendix 3: Media window supported file formats Appendix 4: Digital camera support Appendix 5: System administrator options Command line arguments DDE interface Using shell commands 201 205 207 208 208 209 212 Glossary Browser keyboard shortcuts Viewer keyboard shortcuts Viewer mouse shortcuts ACD FotoCanvas Lite keyboard shortcuts Index 213 220 223 225 226 229 xi ACD Systems at the hub of Digital Imaging Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, ACD Systems designs, develops and markets digital imaging and corporate communications software that meets the needs of home and professional users. Millions of consumers and more than 33,000 corporate clients use our flagship product ACDSee. To serve our global customers well, our Web content is available in 12 languages along with many of our products for PC and Macintosh. ACD Systems continues to capitalize on the explosive growth in the use of digital images via cameras, scanners, PDAs and the Internet. We have strong strategic alliances with value added resellers (VARs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), retailers, software publishers and distributors throughout North America and worldwide. Plus, our unique platform model and Software Development Kit (SDK) lets third parties offer their own imaging solutions through our software. 1 1 Chapter 1 Welcome to ACDSee Congratulations on choosing ACDSee - the world's #1 digital imaging software. ACDSee is a comprehensive application ideal for acquiring, organizing, viewing, enhancing and sharing your images. With the image Browser, you can efficiently acquire images from digital cameras and scanners, find, organize and preview images and media files. There are over 50 multimedia file formats supported. A full-featured image Viewer quickly generates a high-quality display of your image. You can run slide shows, play embedded audio, and display multiple page images. Video and audio files can be played in the Media window. Also, ACDSee has a wide variety of image editing tools that you can use to create, edit and touch-up your digital images. Tools, such as Red-eye reduction, crop, sharpen, convert to sepia tones, emboss, are available for you to enhance and correct images. There are several tools such as exposure adjustment, convert, resize, rename, rotate and mirror, that can be performed on multiple files at the same time. The new user interface is designed for quick access to tools and there are many customization features. Screen layout, the order of images, toolbar display, and many options can be customized to suit your preferences. ACDSee continues to be a fast and easy-to-use image management package that everyone from novices to professionals can use and enjoy. 3 Getting started This chapter guides you through the installation process and provides you with information about minimum system requirements, installing, uninstalling, and starting ACDSee. Minimum system requirements To browse and view your images and videos, and listen to your audio files with ACDSee, it is necessary that your system include the following components: Hardware Pentium class processor 64 MB RAM 40 MB free hard disk drive space Software Windows® 98 (Second Edition for non-English operating systems), ME, NT 4.0 Service Pack 6, 2000, XP Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0.2 256-color or higher display adapter DirectX 8.0* for Media Window DirectX support GhostScript 7 - for Adobe PDF support .0 QuickTimeTM 6.0* for Media Window QuickTime support For improved performance, we recommend a system that exceeds these requirements. *To download DirectX and QuickTime, please visit our Web site at: www.ACDSYSTEMS.com/english/support/acdsee50-install.htm 4 Installing and uninstalling You can install from a CD or an executable downloaded from the Internet. To install ACDSee from a CD-ROM: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive. Click the Start button and click Run | Browse. Select the CD drive in the Look in drop-down box. Select Setup.exe. Click Open. Click OK to run the installation. Follow the instructions in the Install wizard. To install ACDSee from an executable file: 1. 2. Double-click the executable file. Click Next to start the install process. Follow the instructions in the Install wizard. To uninstall ACDSee from your system: 1. 2. 3. 4. From the Start menu, click Settings | Control Panel. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. Select ACDSee 5.0. Click Change/Remove. Follow the instructions in the Uninstall wizard. After you install ACDSee on your computer, an application icon is placed on the desktop and in the Start menu. Starting ACDSee After you install ACDSee on your computer, an application icon is placed on the desktop and in the Start menu. You can also associate files so that ACDSee opens when you double-click a file from Windows® ExplorerTM. To start ACDSee, do one of the following: · · Double-click the ACDSee icon on the desktop. Click Start | ACD Systems, and select ACDSee. You can start ACDSee from the Taskbar Notification area if you select the option to continue running ACDSee in the Taskbar Notification area after you exit the program. 5 Starting ACDSee from the Taskbar Notification area You can configure ACDSee to run in the Taskbar Notification area after you exit the program. To run ACDSee from the Taskbar Notification area: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click Tools | Options. In the Options dialog box, click Browser. On the Browser page, select the Show icon in Taskbar Notification area check box. Select the Continue running in Taskbar Notification area on exit check box. Click OK. To open ACDSee from the Taskbar Notification area: Double-click the ACDSee icon. Changing the default start folder When you open ACDSee, the program browses a folder that is specified in the Options dialog box. You can select another folder, or you can have ACDSee use the folder that was browsed when the previous ACDSee session closed. To change the default start folder: 1. 2. 3. Click Tools | Options. In the Options dialog box, click Browser. On the Browser page, select one of the following two options: · Folder from previous session: This option uses the folder that was browsed when the previous ACDSee session closed. · Specific folder: This option uses a folder that you specify. To select a folder, click the Browse button, select a new folder, and click OK. Click OK. 4. 6 Associating a file format with ACDSee You can associate supported file formats with ACDSee. When you open a file that is associated with ACDSee from Windows Explorer, ACDSee is opened and automatically displays the file in the Viewer. To associate supported file formats with ACDSee: 1. 2. Click Tools | File Associations. Do each of the following: · Click the Image Files tab and select the check boxes beside the image file formats that you want ACDSee to support. · Click the Archives tab and select the check boxes beside the archive file formats that you want ACDSee to support. Click OK. 3. 7