User manual ACDSEE PRO 2.5

The complete toolbox for photographers. User Guide Notice of Liability The information in this document is distributed on an "As Is" basis, without any representation or warranty of any kind whether express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability, title or fitness for a particular purpose or use. While every precaution was taken in the preparation of this document, neither the author nor ACD Systems shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly in connection with the use or inability to use the instructions contained in this document. ACD Systems reserves the right to make changes to this document without notice. Copyright and Trademark Notices ACDSee Pro Software and documentation was designed, programmed and is Copyright © 20052008 ACD Systems International Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Unauthorized duplication strictly prohibited. ACD, ACDSee and ACDSee logo are trademarks of ACD Systems International Inc. or its subsidiaries and may be registered in Canada, the United States, European Union, Japan or certain other jurisdictions. Adobe, Acrobat, Photoshop, PostScript and XMP are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Apple, Macintosh and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Paint Shop Pro is a trademark or registered trademark of Corel Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in Canada, the United States and/or other countries. DirectX, Internet Explorer Microsoft, Windows, Windows logo, Windows Media, Windows Vista and Windows Vista Start button are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks, products and company names are the property of their respective owners. Third Party Software Licenses This Software also contains software of ACD Systems suppliers which is used in accordance with the notices reproduced below. This product includes DNG technology under license by Adobe Systems Incorporated. More information may be found at: http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html. All rights reserved. Xalan and Xerces libraries are licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License") You may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0. Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License. This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. TIFF support based on LibTIFF, Copyright (c) 1988-1997 Sam Leffler, Copyright (c) 1991-1997 Silicon Graphics, Inc. This notice must appear in all copies of the Software and related documentation. The names of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SAM LEFFLER OR SILICON GRAPHICS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE. MPEG 1 Codec is copyright MainConcept 2008. The MainConcept logo and the 'Codec By' logo are registered trademarks and MainConcept is a trademark of MainConcept AG or any of its subsidiaries. Portions utilize Microsoft Windows Media Technologies. Copyright (c) 1999-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved CD/DVD recording software developed under license from Padus, Inc. ­ http://www.padus.com Copyright 1996-2007 Padus, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This software contains portions of imaging code owned and copyrighted by Pegasus Imaging Corp., Tampa FL, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Contents Chapter 1: Getting started ................................................................ 1 Welcome to ACDSee Pro 2.5 .................................................................................... 1 What's new in ACDSee Pro Photo Manager 2.5 ........................................................... 1 Improved Digital Asset Management ...................................................................... 1 Greater Flexibility in Editing ................................................................................. 4 Improved Usability .............................................................................................. 5 Starting ACDSee Pro 2.5 ......................................................................................... 6 About the ACDSee user interface .............................................................................. 6 The Browser....................................................................................................... 7 The Viewer ........................................................................................................ 7 Edit Mode .......................................................................................................... 7 Using the Browser .................................................................................................. 7 About Browser panes .......................................................................................... 8 Working with Browser panes ................................................................................ 9 Moving panes ..................................................................................................... 9 Docking panes .................................................................................................... 9 Stacking panes ................................................................................................. 10 Resizing panes ................................................................................................. 10 Resetting the Browser layout .............................................................................. 10 Using the Viewer .................................................................................................. 11 Viewing images in full screen mode ..................................................................... 12 Using the Viewer panes ..................................................................................... 12 Returning to the Browser ................................................................................... 12 Using Edit Mode ................................................................................................... 13 Editing images ................................................................................................. 13 Working in Edit Mode ........................................................................................ 13 Closing Edit Mode ............................................................................................. 15 Importing files with ACDSee .................................................................................. 16 About removable devices ................................................................................... 16 Organizing and managing files in ACDSee ................................................................ 17 Searching with ACDSee ......................................................................................... 17 Sharing images with ACDSee ................................................................................. 17 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide System requirements............................................................................................ 18 Getting help.......................................................................................................... 18 Using the Quick Start Guide ................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2: Importing photos .......................................................... 21 About the Device Detector ..................................................................................... 21 Importing photos from a device ............................................................................. 21 Importing photos from a scanner (TWAIN) ............................................................... 27 Importing photos using Windows Image Acquisition .................................................. 28 Importing photos from a CD or DVD ....................................................................... 28 Importing photos from a mobile phone .................................................................... 29 Creating a renaming template ................................................................................ 29 Taking a screen capture ........................................................................................ 31 Chapter 3: Browsing ....................................................................... 33 Browsing files in the File List pane .......................................................................... 33 Sections of the File List pane .............................................................................. 33 Maximizing the File List pane .............................................................................. 34 Using the Windows Explorer right-click menu ........................................................ 34 Browsing using the Folders pane ............................................................................ 34 Selecting multiple folders ................................................................................... 35 Creating and managing folders ........................................................................... 35 Browsing files by date or event .............................................................................. 36 Adding descriptions and thumbnails in Events view ................................................ 37 Browsing favorite files .......................................................................................... 38 Creating a shortcut ........................................................................................... 38 Creating a new folder ........................................................................................ 38 Deleting a shortcut or folder ............................................................................... 38 Browsing RAW files ............................................................................................... 38 Changing view modes ........................................................................................... 39 Customizing the Details view mode ..................................................................... 39 Filtering files ....................................................................................................... 40 Grouping files ...................................................................................................... 41 Navigating through groups in the File List ............................................................. 41 Removing groups from the File List ..................................................................... 42 vi Contents Selecting files in one or more groups ................................................................... 42 Sorting files ........................................................................................................ 42 Sorting files using column headers ...................................................................... 43 Custom sorting files .......................................................................................... 43 Selecting files ...................................................................................................... 43 Previewing images ............................................................................................... 44 Comparing images ............................................................................................... 44 Gathering images in the Image Basket .................................................................... 47 Chapter 4: Viewing ......................................................................... 49 Zooming ............................................................................................................... 49 Setting the zoom level .......................................................................................... 49 Automatically shrinking or enlarging images ............................................................ 49 Displaying a thumbnail of a magnified image............................................................ 51 Panning a magnified image .................................................................................... 51 Using Pan Lock ................................................................................................. 51 Magnifying specific areas of an image ..................................................................... 51 Viewing and configuring a slide show ...................................................................... 52 Running an Auto slide show ................................................................................... 55 Example One.................................................................................................... 56 Example Two ................................................................................................... 56 Viewing images with Auto Advance ......................................................................... 58 Displaying text on images in the Viewer .................................................................. 58 Hiding image text ............................................................................................. 59 Viewing RAW images ............................................................................................ 60 Synchronizing the Viewer to a folder ....................................................................... 60 Viewing offline images .......................................................................................... 61 Rebinding Photo Discs ....................................................................................... 61 Using ACDSee Quick View ..................................................................................... 62 Viewing images in another application ..................................................................... 63 Creating a desktop screen saver ............................................................................. 64 Setting an image as the desktop wallpaper .............................................................. 65 Creating a desktop slide show ................................................................................ 66 Using the ACDSee Showroom slide show controls .................................................. 66 vii ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Viewing and using brush files ................................................................................. 67 Chapter 5: Editing........................................................................... 69 Using the undo/redo system .................................................................................. 69 Previewing changes to images ............................................................................... 69 Resizing an image ................................................................................................ 69 Rotating an image ................................................................................................ 71 Flipping an image ................................................................................................. 71 Cropping an image ............................................................................................... 72 Resizing the crop window ................................................................................... 72 Using selections ................................................................................................... 73 The selection tools ............................................................................................ 73 Combining the tools .......................................................................................... 74 Applying edits or effects to selections...................................................................... 77 Using Blend Modes and Opacity .............................................................................. 77 Opacity ........................................................................................................... 78 Blend modes .................................................................................................... 78 Using the Color dialog box ..................................................................................... 79 The color grids ................................................................................................. 80 The color palette and slider ................................................................................ 80 Selecting and adjusting colors ............................................................................ 80 Selecting part of an image ..................................................................................... 80 Adding text to an image ........................................................................................ 81 Adding a watermark to an image ............................................................................ 83 Saving edited files and restoring originals ................................................................ 83 Saving tool settings .............................................................................................. 85 Pixel resize options and resulting action .................................................................. 85 About blend modes .............................................................................................. 87 Repairing images .................................................................................................. 88 Removing flaws ................................................................................................... 88 Reducing red-eye ................................................................................................. 89 Straightening crooked photos ................................................................................ 90 Correcting perspective distortion ............................................................................ 90 Correcting barrel, pincushion, and fisheye distortion ................................................. 91 viii Contents Adjusting image light levels .................................................................................. 92 Adjusting Levels automatically ............................................................................... 92 Adjusting image Exposure ..................................................................................... 92 A brief technical explanation of eV....................................................................... 93 Adjusting shadows and highlights ........................................................................... 93 Using the Basics tab .......................................................................................... 94 Using the Light EQ tab ....................................................................................... 95 Using the Advanced tab ..................................................................................... 96 Adjusting image Levels ........................................................................................ 100 Adjusting brightness curves .................................................................................. 101 Adjusting image color ......................................................................................... 102 Using the Histogram ............................................................................................ 102 Applying Auto Color ............................................................................................. 102 Removing a color cast .......................................................................................... 103 Changing image color depth ................................................................................. 103 Changing HSL values ........................................................................................... 104 Changing RGB values ........................................................................................... 104 Creating a gray scale image (Channel Mixer)........................................................... 105 In the Viewer .................................................................................................. 105 In Edit Mode - Channel Mixer ............................................................................. 105 Sharpening and blurring an image ...................................................................... 106 Using the Sharpness tool...................................................................................... 106 Using the Unsharp Mask tool ................................................................................. 106 Blurring an image ............................................................................................... 107 Adding and removing image noise ...................................................................... 108 About noise and noise reduction ............................................................................ 108 Removing noise from an image ............................................................................. 108 Adding noise to an image ..................................................................................... 109 Batch editing ...................................................................................................... 110 About batch editing ............................................................................................. 110 Converting multiple images to another file format .................................................... 111 Rotating or flipping multiple images ....................................................................... 111 Resizing multiple images ...................................................................................... 113 Adjusting exposure for multiple images .................................................................. 114 ix ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Changing the color profiles of multiple images ......................................................... 115 Using the Batch Processor .................................................................................... 116 Batch Processor Rotate options ............................................................................. 119 Batch Processor crop options ................................................................................ 120 Batch Processor resize options .............................................................................. 120 Batch Processor color options ............................................................................... 122 Batch Processor Channel Mixer options ................................................................... 123 Batch Processor Sepia.......................................................................................... 124 Batch Processor exposure options .......................................................................... 124 Batch Processor Shadows/Highlights options ........................................................... 126 Batch Processor Noise Removal options .................................................................. 126 Batch Processor Sharpening options....................................................................... 127 Batch Processor Vignette options ........................................................................... 128 Batch Processor Text Overlay options ..................................................................... 130 Batch Processor Watermark options ....................................................................... 132 RAW image processing ....................................................................................... 133 About RAW image processing ................................................................................ 133 Processing a RAW image ...................................................................................... 133 Zoom controls and Histogram ............................................................................ 135 RAW Processing options .................................................................................... 135 Exporting a RAW image to multiple formats and resolutions ...................................... 141 Renaming options ............................................................................................ 142 Processing a batch of RAW images ......................................................................... 142 Sharing RAW processing settings ........................................................................... 143 Removing RAW processing settings ........................................................................ 143 Editing RAW images ............................................................................................ 144 Applying special effects filters ............................................................................ 144 About special effect filters .................................................................................... 144 Applying a Bathroom Window effect ....................................................................... 144 Applying a Blinds effect ........................................................................................ 145 Applying a Bulge effect ........................................................................................ 146 Applying a Colored Edges effect ............................................................................ 146 Applying a Contours effect.................................................................................... 147 Applying a Crayon Drawing effect .......................................................................... 148 x Contents Applying a Crosshatch effect ................................................................................. 148 Applying a Dauber effect ...................................................................................... 148 Applying an Edge Detect effect.............................................................................. 149 Applying an Emboss effect .................................................................................... 149 Applying a Furry Edges effect ................................................................................ 150 Applying a Glowing Edges effect ............................................................................ 151 Applying a Granite effect ...................................................................................... 151 Applying a Mirror effect ........................................................................................ 152 Applying a Negative effect .................................................................................... 152 Applying an Oil Paint effect ................................................................................... 152 Applying the Old effect......................................................................................... 153 Applying an Outline effect .................................................................................... 153 Applying a Pencil Drawing effect ............................................................................ 154 Applying a Pixel Explosion effect............................................................................ 154 Applying a Pixelate effect ..................................................................................... 155 Applying a Posterize effect ................................................................................... 155 Applying a Radial Waves effect .............................................................................. 155 Applying a Rain effect .......................................................................................... 156 Applying a Ripple effect ....................................................................................... 157 Applying a Scattered Tiles effect............................................................................ 158 Applying a Sepia effect ........................................................................................ 158 Applying a Sheet Metal effect ................................................................................ 158 Applying a Shift effect.......................................................................................... 159 Applying a Slant effect ......................................................................................... 160 Applying a Sobel effect ........................................................................................ 160 Applying a Solarize effect ..................................................................................... 161 Applying a Stained Glass effect ............................................................................. 161 Applying a Sunspot effect ..................................................................................... 162 Applying a Swirl effect ......................................................................................... 162 Applying the Threshold effect ................................................................................ 163 Applying a Topographic Map effect ......................................................................... 164 Adding a Vignette................................................................................................ 164 Applying a Water effect ........................................................................................ 166 Applying a Water Drops effect ............................................................................... 166 xi ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Applying a Waves effect ....................................................................................... 167 Applying a Weave effect ....................................................................................... 168 Applying a Wind effect ......................................................................................... 168 Creating a custom special effect filter ..................................................................... 169 Chapter 6: Organizing ................................................................... 171 Organizing with the Organize pane ........................................................................ 171 Categories ...................................................................................................... 171 Ratings .......................................................................................................... 171 Auto Categories ............................................................................................... 171 Saved Searches ............................................................................................... 171 Special Items .................................................................................................. 172 The ACDSee database and embedded data .......................................................... 172 Easy-Select bars .............................................................................................. 173 Match All Match Any ......................................................................................... 173 Copying and moving files ..................................................................................... 174 Copying images .................................................................................................. 175 Pasting files and folders ....................................................................................... 175 Replacing or overwriting files ................................................................................ 175 Renaming a file or folder ...................................................................................... 176 Storing files in private folders ............................................................................... 176 Renaming multiple files ........................................................................................ 178 Tagging images .................................................................................................. 180 Creating categories ............................................................................................. 181 Assigning categories and ratings ........................................................................... 182 Removing files from categories or ratings ............................................................ 183 Creating and assigning keywords ........................................................................... 183 Adding database, EXIF, and IPTC information to multiple files.................................... 184 Removing IPTC keywords and supplemental categories ............................................. 185 Changing the date and time properties of images .................................................... 186 Viewing file properties in the Viewer ...................................................................... 187 Using the Properties pane..................................................................................... 187 Properties pane areas ....................................................................................... 187 File tab........................................................................................................... 188 xii Contents Embedding database information in files ............................................................. 188 Backing up your files to another computer .............................................................. 189 Updating or deleting a synchronization ................................................................ 189 Running a saved synchronization ....................................................................... 190 Managing database information .......................................................................... 190 About the ACDSee database ................................................................................. 190 Embedding database information in files ............................................................. 191 Retrieving database information embedded in files: .............................................. 192 Excluding folders from the database ...................................................................... 192 Cataloging files in the database ............................................................................. 192 Converting an older database ............................................................................... 193 Importing database information ............................................................................ 194 Importing file information from other sources .......................................................... 194 Importing Photo Discs ...................................................................................... 194 Importing albums ............................................................................................ 195 Working with descript.ion files ........................................................................... 195 Exporting database information ............................................................................. 195 Generating file lists ............................................................................................. 196 Backing up your database .................................................................................... 197 Database backup tips and strategies ...................................................................... 198 Backup schedule .............................................................................................. 198 Backup location ............................................................................................... 198 Backup size .................................................................................................... 198 Restoring database information from a backup ........................................................ 199 Maintaining the database ..................................................................................... 199 Database content icons ..................................................................................... 199 Optimizing the database ...................................................................................... 200 Rebuilding thumbnails ......................................................................................... 200 Quarantined files................................................................................................. 201 Creating and assigning keywords ........................................................................... 201 Mapping drives for an incoming database ............................................................... 202 Searching ........................................................................................................... 202 Using the Quick Search bar .................................................................................. 202 Using the Search pane ......................................................................................... 203 xiii ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Search pane areas ........................................................................................... 203 Properties area ................................................................................................ 205 Searching with file name patterns.......................................................................... 205 Using selective browsing ...................................................................................... 206 Setting selective browsing criteria ...................................................................... 206 Tips for selective browsing ................................................................................ 207 Hiding the Selective Browsing pane .................................................................... 207 Searching with auto categories ............................................................................. 207 Identifying commonly used search categories ...................................................... 208 Refining your auto category search .................................................................... 208 Finding duplicate files .......................................................................................... 209 Finding images quickly ......................................................................................... 210 Chapter 7: Sharing ....................................................................... 211 E-mailing images ................................................................................................ 211 Sharing slide shows and screen savers ................................................................... 212 Creating a PDF ................................................................................................... 213 Burning a CD or DVD ........................................................................................... 213 Creating video files and VCDs ............................................................................... 215 Creating an HTML album ...................................................................................... 215 Uploading images to photo Web sites ..................................................................... 217 Authorizing ..................................................................................................... 217 New Services .................................................................................................. 217 Creating a contact sheet ...................................................................................... 218 Creating archives of your files ............................................................................... 219 Extracting archived (.zip) files ............................................................................... 220 Publishing images to TiVo ..................................................................................... 220 Creating a SendPix album .................................................................................... 221 Creating a PowerPoint presentation ....................................................................... 221 Playing ............................................................................................................... 222 Playing audio and video files ................................................................................. 222 Automatically playing audio and video files .......................................................... 223 The Media toolbar ............................................................................................ 223 Selecting part of a media file ................................................................................ 224 xiv Contents Saving video frames as images ............................................................................. 224 Adding or editing image audio ............................................................................... 225 Recording audio to an image ............................................................................. 225 Chapter 8: Printing ....................................................................... 227 Printing images in ACDSee ................................................................................... 227 Setting printer options ......................................................................................... 228 Setting image size and positioning ......................................................................... 229 Adding text to pages ........................................................................................... 230 Setting contact sheet printing options .................................................................... 230 Creating custom print layouts ............................................................................... 231 Chapter 9: Customizing ................................................................ 233 Setting options ................................................................................................... 233 Setting the General options .................................................................................. 233 Setting Browser options ....................................................................................... 234 Setting the Quick Search options ........................................................................... 235 Setting File List pane options ................................................................................ 235 Setting the Thumbnail Info options ........................................................................ 237 Setting the Thumbnail Style options ....................................................................... 239 Setting the Details View options ............................................................................ 240 Setting the Preview pane options........................................................................... 240 Setting the Folders pane options ........................................................................... 241 Setting the Organize pane options ......................................................................... 242 Setting the Calendar pane options ......................................................................... 242 Setting the CD/DVD Management options ............................................................... 243 Setting the Properties Pane options ....................................................................... 244 Setting File Management options ........................................................................... 244 Setting the Color Management options ................................................................... 245 Setting file options for the Adjust Image Exposure tool ............................................. 246 Setting the Database options ................................................................................ 247 Setting Viewer options ......................................................................................... 249 Setting the Viewer Display options ......................................................................... 250 Setting RAW Image Preview options ...................................................................... 251 Setting ACDSee Showroom options ........................................................................ 252 xv ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Setting ACDSee Quick View options ....................................................................... 253 Setting JPEG options ........................................................................................... 254 Setting resized file options ................................................................................... 255 Setting rotated and flipped file options ................................................................... 256 Customizing and configuring .............................................................................. 257 Creating custom Browser layouts........................................................................... 257 Auto-hiding panes and panels ............................................................................... 257 Using the Custom tab in the Properties pane ........................................................... 258 Using the Task Pane ............................................................................................ 258 Using the Context Sensitive toolbar ....................................................................... 259 Customizing toolbars ........................................................................................... 259 Displaying and hiding toolbars ........................................................................... 259 Customizing toolbar contents............................................................................. 259 Resetting toolbars ............................................................................................ 261 Customizing the Edit Panel ................................................................................... 261 Configuring image editors .................................................................................... 261 Customizing keyboard shortcuts ............................................................................ 262 Plug-ins .............................................................................................................. 263 Working with plug-ins .......................................................................................... 263 Types of plug-ins: ............................................................................................ 263 Managing plug-ins ............................................................................................... 264 Disabling a plug-in ........................................................................................... 264 Changing the plug-in order................................................................................ 264 Viewing plug-in properties and getting help ............................................................ 265 Appendices ................................................................................... 267 Shortcuts ............................................................................................................ 267 Browser keyboard shortcuts.................................................................................. 267 Viewer keyboard shortcuts ................................................................................... 270 Viewer mouse shortcuts ....................................................................................... 274 Calendar Pane shortcuts ....................................................................................... 275 Calendar pane shortcuts ................................................................................... 275 File formats ........................................................................................................ 276 Supported file formats ......................................................................................... 276 xvi Contents Image formats ................................................................................................ 276 Archive formats ............................................................................................... 276 Video and audio formats ................................................................................... 276 Supported RAW formats ....................................................................................... 281 Registering and Associating files ............................................................................ 282 For Microsoft XP .............................................................................................. 282 For Microsoft Windows Vista .............................................................................. 283 Glossary ....................................................................................... 285 Index ........................................................................................... 299 xvii Chapter 1: Getting started Welcome to ACDSee Pro 2.5 Welcome to ACDSee Pro 2.5, and congratulations on choosing the industry-leading digital photo management software. ACDSee is the essential application for importing, organizing, viewing, enhancing, and sharing your digital photos and other media files. ACDSee's Browser imports photos from your camera to your computer, categorizes and rates your files, and manages photo collections of any size - from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand. Choose to view thumbnail previews of any size, or use a detailed list of file properties to sort your files. Can't find a particular photo? No problem - ACDSee includes a variety of powerful searching tools and a Compare Images feature to eliminate duplicates. ACDSee's full-featured image viewer and media player quickly generates high-quality displays of your images and media files. You can run slide shows, play embedded audio, and display multiple-page images in any of the more than 50 image and multimedia file formats. Also, ACDSee includes a wide variety of image editing tools you can use to create, edit, and touch-up your digital images. Use tools such as red-eye reduction, crop, sharpen, blur, and photo repair to enhance or correct your images. Image management tools, such as exposure adjustment, convert, resize, rename, and rotate, can be performed on multiple files at the same time. The user interface is completely customizable, and provides quick access to tools and features. You can customize the screen layout, the order of images, toolbar display, and many other options to suit your preferences. ACDSee contains extensive context-sensitive Help to assist you as you move through the application. ACDSee is a fast, powerful, and easy-to-use image management system that everyone from beginners to professionals can use and enjoy. What's new in ACDSee Pro Photo Manager 2.5 Improved Digital Asset Management Organize up front With the new Import Photos feature, organize your photos as you import them from your camera, card reader, CD/DVD, or other storage device. Save time by setting categories, ratings, EXIF, IPTC, etc., as you import new images. Simultaneously rename, auto-rotate, delete, set destination and create backup copies. Accelerate your workflow by importing from multiple devices at once, and continue working in ACDSee Pro 2.5 as your imports complete. 1 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Embed all your metadata Improve portability and protect the data in your ACDSee metadata fields, including categories, keywords and ratings, by embedding them in your images' XMP fields. Easily share your ACDSee metadata with other ACDSee users. Flexibly move images around your system and between computers. You can even embed data in file formats that don't include IPTC or EXIF fields, including PNG and GIF. 2 Chapter 1: Getting Started Save time with Saved Searches Use ACDSee Pro 2.5's Search Pane to build complex searches based on folder name, file name, location, and metadata. Now, save time by storing your complex search criteria for future use with the simple Saved Searches feature and re-run a saved search in one click from the Organize pane. View more images with UNICODE Experience improved portability of images with ACDSee Pro 2.5's UNICODE environment. View images with file names or metadata that include characters which are not part of your local system's language settings. 3 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Greater Flexibility in Editing Protect your original images Get creative with your pixel-level editing with peace of mind. ACDSee Pro 2.5 now saves a copy of your original image the first time you edit it. Restore your original at any time, even after multiple editing sessions. Frame your photos Add a finishing touch to your photo with a custom border, drop shadow or edge effect. 4 Chapter 1: Getting Started Improved Usability Show off your photos Try the new and improved Auto Slide Show feature, now including options to add Pan & Zoom, Black & White, and Sepia effects, and play your slideshow to MP3s Set your preferences Configure ACDSee Pro 2.5 when and where you like with the improved Quick Start Guide. Use the Quick Start Guide to set your default start folder, browser display scheme, catalog your files, and import your existing ACDSee database all in one place, or exit it to start using the application right away. 5 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Starting ACDSee Pro 2.5 After you install ACDSee on your computer, an application icon appears on the desktop and in the Start menu. To start ACDSee: Do one of the following: x x Double-click the ACDSee icon on the desktop. Click Start| ACD Systems | ACDSee Pro 2.5 2009. About the ACDSee user interface The ACDSee user interface provides easy access to the various tools and features you can use to browse, view, edit, and manage your photos and media files. ACDSee consists of three main parts: the Browser, the Viewer, and Edit Mode. 6 Chapter 1: Getting Started The Browser The ACDSee Browser is the main browsing and managing component of the user interface, and is what you see when you start ACDSee using the shortcut icon on your desktop. In the Browser, you can find, move, preview, and sort your files, and access organization and sharing tools. The Browser consists of 12 panes, most of which can be closed when not in use. The File List pane is always visible, and displays the contents of the current folder, the results of your latest search, or the files in your database that match your filtering criteria. A status bar at the bottom of the Browser window displays information about the currently selected file, folder, or category. The Browser also features two toolbars: the main toolbar, which provides shortcuts to commonly-used commands, and the context-sensitive toolbar, which provides different shortcuts depending on what is currently selected in the Browser. You can open and close panes, move them to different areas of your screen, and stack them on other panes or dock them to the edge of the Browser. Most panes also have additional options you can set to further customize their behavior and appearance. The Viewer The ACDSee Viewer plays media files and displays images in full resolution, one at a time. You can also open panes in the Viewer to view image properties, display areas of an image at varying magnifications, or examine detailed color information. You can open the Viewer directly by double-clicking an associated file type in Windows Explorer, and you can use the Viewer to flip quickly between all of the images in a folder. The Viewer contains a toolbar with shortcuts to commonly-used commands, and a status bar at the bottom of the Viewer window, which displays information about the current image or media file. Edit Mode You can open your images in ACDSee's Edit Mode to adjust or enhance them using the editing tools and effects. Edit Mode displays the available tools on the Edit Panel, a customizable menu that can be closed or hidden when not in use. Clicking the name of a tool on the menu opens that tool in the Edit Panel, where you can adjust the settings to edit or enhance your image. The Edit Mode also contains a status bar, which displays information about the image you are editing. Using the Browser With the ACDSee Browser, you can browse, sort, manage, manipulate, and share your files and images. You can combine different tools and panes to perform sophisticated searching and filtering operations, and view thumbnail previews of images and media files. The Browser panes are fully customizable, and can be moved, resized, hidden, docked, or closed. You can also stack the panes together for easy reference and accessibility, and to maximize your screen space. 7 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide About Browser panes The ACDSee Browser consists of the following panes: File List This pane displays the contents of the currently selected folder, the results of your latest search, or the files and folders that match your selective browsing criteria. The File List pane is always visible, and cannot be hidden or closed. You can customize the File List pane by changing the way the files are displayed, or the size of the thumbnails. This pane displays the directory structure of your computer, much like the directory tree in Windows Explorer. You can use the Folders pane to browse through the folders and display their contents in the File List pane. You can also display the contents of multiple folders in the File List by clicking the Easy Select box opposite each folder, on the left side of the pane. This pane displays a calendar that you can use to organize and browse your files according to their associated dates. For more information about the Calendar pane, as well as a description of the toolbar buttons, see Using the Calendar pane. This pane stores shortcuts to your favourite images, files, folders or even applications. Dragging an image, file, or folder into the Favorites pane creates a shortcut to the original without affecting it in any way. This pane provides access to ACDSee's powerful search utility. You can specify the type of search you want to perform, and enter your search criteria into the fields provided in the Search pane. You can also save a search and give it a name. Saved searches are listed on the Search pane and the Organize pane. On the Search pane, can select Saved searches from the drop-down list to run again. On the Organize pane, Saved Searches are listed below Auto Categories, where you can run them again by clicking once on the Saved Search name. Preview This pane displays a thumbnail preview and histogram of any image or media file currently selected in the File List pane. You can adjust the size of the thumbnail by resizing the Preview pane, and also specify whether you want the Preview pane to play media files or just display the first frame. This pane combines input from the Folders, Organize, and Calendar panes to limit the list of files in the File List pane to those that match a specific set of criteria. You can include or exclude files by adjusting the different criteria in the Selective Browsing pane. This pane lists the categories, auto categories, ratings and saved searches to help you sort and manage your files. You can also use the Special Items area in the Organize pane to quickly view all of the images on your computer, or see any uncategorized files in the current folder. This pane displays menus of commonly-used buttons and commands from the menus and toolbars. The menus change dynamically based on your current location and selections in ACDSee. Folders Calendar Favorites Search Selective Browsing Organize Task 8 Chapter 1: Getting Started Properties This pane displays file properties and database information for any file or folder you select in the File List pane. You can use the Properties pane to view and edit database information for your files, and the EXIF metadata included in digital photos. While browsing through your files and folders, you can place images in the Image Basket to hold them temporarily. You can then edit, print, or share those images without moving them all into a single folder. This pane provides the tools you need to group and organize files and then burn them to CDs and DVDs from within ACDSee. Image Basket Burn Basket Working with Browser panes You can open and close panes in the Browser to suit your preferences, and move, float, or stack any of the panes to customize the layout of the Browser window. To open or close a Browser pane: Click View and select the pane you want to open or close. Moving panes You can move a pane from a docked or floating position to a new location. You can move one pane at a time, or several stacked panes. To move a pane: 1. 2. 3. Drag the pane's title bar and hold your mouse pointer over any of the arrows of the Docking Compass. When the shaded marquee displays the position of the pane you want, release the mouse button. To return a pane to its previous location, double-click its title bar. To move a docked or floating pane: Do one of the following: x x Drag the pane's tab to a new location. Only one pane moves. Drag the pane's title bar to a new location. Any panes stacked beneath it also move. Docking panes When you select a pane in the Browser, the Docking Compass activates to help you place the pane precisely. The Docking Compass consists of an outer and inner ring of arrows. When you hold your mouse pointer over any of the arrows, a shaded marquee displays the potential position of the pane. 9 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide To dock a pane in the Browser window: 1. 2. 3. Drag the pane's title bar or tab to activate the Docking Compass. To dock a pane around the outer edge of the Browser window, hold your mouse pointer over any of the outer arrows of the Docking Compass, and then release the mouse button. To dock a pane around the outer edge of the File List pane, or another Browser pane, hold your mouse pointer over the inner arrows of the Docking compass, and then release the mouse button. Stacking panes You can stack panes and reorder their tabs to suit your needs. To stack panes: 1. Do one of the following: x x 2. 3. Drag one pane's title bar onto the title bar of another pane until the shaded marquee appears, and then release the mouse button. Drag one pane inside another, hold your mouse pointer over the center of the Docking Compass, and then release the mouse button. To reorder the panes, drag a tab to the left or right in the tab order. To separate a tabbed pane, drag the pane's tab to another location on the screen. Resizing panes You can resize all the panes in the browser, whether they are docked or floating. To resize a docked pane: 1. 2. Hold your mouse pointer over the edge of the pane until the pointer changes to arrows and lines. Drag the edge of the pane to the size you want. To resize a floating pane: Hold your mouse pointer over the edge or corner of the pane and then drag the pane to the size you want. Resetting the Browser layout You can return all of the Browser panes to their default positions at any time. To reset the Browser layout: Click View | Reset Layout. 10 Chapter 1: Getting Started Using the Viewer You can use the Viewer to display your images and media files using their actual dimensions or at a variety of magnifications. You can also display a group of images in sequential order. The Viewer window contains four main areas: x Viewer toolbar: Located at the top of the Viewer and below the menu bar, the Viewer toolbar provides shortcut buttons to commonly-used tools and commands, such as the zoom and scroll tools. You can set the options on the toolbar to show or hide the toolbar, and to use large or small icons. Editing toolbar: Located on the left side of the Viewer, the Editing toolbar provides shortcuts to the editing tools available in ACDSee's Edit Mode. View area: This is the main Viewer area, which displays the current image or media file. You can customize the Viewer window, and zoom in or out on your images and media files. Status bar: Located at the bottom of the View area, the Status bar displays information and properties for the current image or media file. It also displays overlay icons for rating and tagging that you can click to edit. x x x The Viewer can also display the Properties pane to show database, EXIF, and IPTC information about the image or file. The Viewer also has the Navigator, Magnifying Glass and Histogram panes, each of which show detailed image information. To open an image or media file in the Viewer: In the File List pane, do one of the following: x x x Select a file and press Enter. Double-click a file. Right-click an image or media file, and then select View. To open a group of images in the Viewer: 1. 2. 3. In the File List pane, select a group of images. Press Enter. To navigate through the images, do the following: x x To view the next image in the sequence, click View | Next Image. To view the previous image in the sequence, click View | Previous Image. By default, the Viewer displays all of the files in a folder. You can customize the Viewer to display only those files that you select in the File List pane. 11 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Viewing images in full screen mode You can use the entire screen of your monitor to display images. In full screen mode, the window borders, menu bar, status bar, and toolbars are hidden, and only the image is visible. If you want to always view your images in full screen mode, you can set this option as the default for the Viewer. To view images in full screen mode: 1. 2. 3. Open an image, or a group of images, in the Viewer. Click View | Full Screen. Right-click the image to access the Viewer tools and options via a shortcut menu. To exit full screen mode: Do one of the following: x x Press the F key. Right-click the image and select View | Full Screen. Using the Viewer panes To open the Viewer panes: 1. 2. Open an image in the Viewer. Do one of the following: x x x x Click View | Histogram to display the histogram for the image. Click View | Magnifying glass to magnify the area of the image under your cursor. Click View | Navigator to display a thumbnail overview of a magnified image. Click View | Properties to display file, database, EXIF, or IPTC information about the image. Returning to the Browser You can close the Viewer window and return to the Browser at any time. To return to the Browser from the Viewer window: Do one of the following: x x x x x Press Esc. Press Enter. Double-click the image. Click File | Browse. Click the Browse button on the toolbar. 12 Chapter 1: Getting Started Using Edit Mode Editing images ACDSee includes a powerful, yet easy-to-use image editor with an array of useful tools to help reduce red-eye in digital images, remove an unwanted color cast, apply special effects, and much more. You can also edit and enhance your images by adjusting the light and color levels, cropping images that are too large, rotating or flipping images that are incorrectly aligned, and adjusting sharpness. When you are finished editing, you can preview your changes, and then save your images in over 10 different file formats. You can use the Edit Mode to edit and enhance your images, or you can configure ACDSee to open and work with a variety of editing applications, such as ACD Photo Editor. To open an image in Edit Mode: Do one of the following: x x x In the Browser, select an image and click Tools | Open In Editor, and then select Edit Mode. In the Viewer, click Modify, and then select Edit Mode. In the Viewer, click Modify | Edit Mode and then select the name of the tool you want to apply to your image. Edit Mode will open directly to that tool. To edit an image in another image editing application: Do one of the following: x x In the Browser, click Tools | Open in Editor, and then select the editing application you want to use. In the Viewer, click Modify | Open in Editor, and then select the editing application you want to use. For more information about editing in other applications, such as Canvas or ACD Photo Editor, see Configuring image editors. Working in Edit Mode In Edit Mode, the right side of your screen displays the Edit Panel, which provides access to all of the editing tools and effects. Click a name in the Edit Panel to open that tool and use it to edit your image. The Edit Panel contains extensive context-sensitive Help to assist you as you move through the application -- click the Help button at any time to view a Help file page specific to that tool. At the top of the screen, just below the Edit Mode toolbar, are the Current, Saved, and Preview tabs. You can select these tabs at any time to compare your original image with the edited version, and preview your editing choices before saving them to your hard drive. The Edit Mode toolbar provides access to commonly used commands and zooming controls. 13 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Edit Mode toolbar Finished Editing Save As Restore Original Closes Edit Mode, after prompting you to save any unsaved changes, and returns you to the Viewer. Opens the Save Image As dialog box so you can save your changes as a new image. Restores the original version of the file that was saved automatically the first time you edited the file. Displays the previous image in your selection. Displays the next image in your selection. Increases the magnification of the current image. Reduces the magnification of the current image. Opens a menu of zoom options. Opens the Print dialog box. Opens the Help file. Changes the blend mode of the original and edited images. Each blend mode combines the pixels in the image above and below in unique ways to get very different effects. Changes the opacity of the edited image so that less or more of any editing, or effect is visible. Previous Image Next Image Zoom In Zoom Out Zoom Menu Print Help Blend modes Opacity 14 Chapter 1: Getting Started Zoom controls While editing an image, you can adjust the magnification with the Edit Mode Zoom controls, located in the top-right corner of the Edit Mode. Histogram Displays the histogram preview for the current image. The histogram preview shows the luminosity and red, green, and blue color channels of the photo. You can see each channel alone or in combination. Keeping the histogram open is particularly useful when adjusting exposure, as the histogram reflects all adjustments as you make them. Returns the current image to its actual size. Reduces the image to fit within the Edit Mode area. Displays a thumbnail preview of the current image. Click and drag across the thumbnail to select an image area. This feature is most useful at higher magnifications. Increases the size of the image if you drag to the right, decreases the size if you drag to the left. Displays a list of zoom sizes for you to select. Actual Size Fit Image Navigator Zoom slider Zoom dropdown list You can make fine adjustments to any of the sliders in Edit Mode by placing the cursor over the slider and moving the mouse wheel one click forward or back. Closing Edit Mode You can close the Edit Mode window and return to the Viewer or Browser at any time. To close Edit Mode: Do one of the following: x x Click the Finished Editing button on the toolbar. Press Esc. If you are currently working with a tool, the Finished Editing button may be disabled. Close the tool first, and then click Finished Editing to return to the Browser or Viewer. 15 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Importing files with ACDSee You can use ACDSee to download images from devices like your digital camera, flash drives, CD/DVDs, scanners, mobile phones, or other removable devices. You can also use the Import | From Disk option to import files from a network, and any kind of disk or drive that can be mapped, while preserving the original folders and subfolders. You can also use ACDSee to capture images of your screen and save them as files. When you connect your digital camera or other device to your computer, ACDSee detects it automatically with the Device Detector, and prompts you to choose one of the following: x Import files with ACDSee: Select this option and click OK to open the Import dialog box. You can then select settings to rename, backup, and place the files. You can save your import settings and give them a name so that you can re-use them later. You can also create advanced settings for import dates and RAW + JPEG options if your cameral takes both file formats. You can also create a give a name to a file renaming templates to use with specific kinds of files or projects. Do nothing: Select this option and click OK if you don't want to import photos using ACDSee, or if you want to simply copy and paste the photos from the device using ACDSee. Save setting and do not prompt again in the future: If you select this option, any choices you make in this dialog box, are set permanently unless you later open the Device Detector from the Task bar and change the options. For example, if you select Do nothing, and also select the Save Settings option, it closes the Device Detector until you change the settings manually. x x About removable devices With ACDSee, there are several ways to obtain images from your digital camera, scanner, or memory card. For more information about how your device communicates with your computer, please consult your device's Help file or manual. Some different types of removable devices are: x USB Removable device: removable devices include memory cards that you can attach to your computer using a USB card reader, camera memory cards that insert directly into slots on the computer, or flash drives. USB removable devices are detected by your computer and are shown in the structure as a removable drive. Windows Image Acquisition (WIA): cameras and scanners that use Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) drivers to communicate with the computer. Some cameras, including Canon cameras, use WIA. If your camera uses WIA, in ACDSee, select File | Import | Using Windows Image Acquisition to open the Import From dialog. TWAIN: cameras and scanners that use the TWAIN interface. TWAIN-supported devices use TWAIN drivers that you must install on your computer to communicate with the device. For more information about drivers, and whether or not your device uses TWAIN, please consult your device's Help file. You require DirectX 9.0 and QuickTime to copy and view audio or video files. x x 16 Chapter 1: Getting Started Organizing and managing files in ACDSee In addition to its browsing, viewing, and editing capabilities, ACDSee features integrated management tools you can use to organize and sort your images and media files. These tools include batch functions (tools that can alter or adjust multiple files at the same time), category and rating systems, and a powerful database to hold all of your important image information. You can use ACDSee's batch functions to rename, resize, rotate, add EXIF information, and adjust the exposure of a single image, a group of images, or the contents of an entire folder all at once. With the category and rating systems, you can create a virtual folder structure, and use it to find related images and media files with a single click. ACDSee displays file properties and image information in an easily accessible Properties pane that you can use to directly add and edit file information, including metadata and database content. You can add an author, description, notes, and keywords to your files, and adjust the category and rating assignments at the same time. Searching with ACDSee ACDSee includes a number of ways to search your computer for files and folders. You can use the Search pane to search by file name, keywords, or image properties. You can create advanced searches to locate files that fall within a date or rating range and then save and name the search to use later. You can also use the Duplicate Finder to locate and manage identical files. For simpler searches, you can use the Quick Search bar to quickly locate files and folders, or search the database for specific names and keywords. You can also customize the Quick Search bar to only search for specific items or certain parts of the database. Also, you can use the Organize pane to quickly locate and list all images on your hard drive, or to locate any files in a folder that have not been categorized. If you are working with larger image collections, you can use Selective Browsing to specify broad or narrow criteria for the images you want to display in the File List pane. Sharing images with ACDSee ACDSee makes it easy to share your images with friends and family. You can e-mail images right out of the File List, post images on the Internet with ACD Systems' secure SendPix servers, and create your own Web pages with the HTML Album plug-in. ACDSee includes a Burn Basket pane, to help you burn your images safely onto a disc. You can also create slide shows and screen savers that you can give to anyone with a computer -- they don't need ACDSee to view them. You can even publish your images to your TiVo, and view them on your television screen. 17 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide System requirements To browse and view your images and videos, and listen to your audio files with ACDSee, your system must include the following components: Minimum Hardware Pentium III® / AMD Athlon processor or equivalent 512 MB RAM 100 MB free hard drive space High Color display adapter at 1024x768 Recommended Pentium® 4 / AMD Athlon XP processor or equivalent 1GB RAM 1 GB free hard drive space High Color display adapter at 1280 x 1024 CD/DVD burner Software Windows® XP Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.0.0 Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0* - for Microsoft DirectX file format support, and for creating slide shows, screen savers, and VCDs Windows® XP, Vista TM Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0.0 Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0* - for Microsoft DirectX file format support, and for creating slide shows, screen savers, and VCDs QuickTimeTM 6.0* - for QuickTime file format support. TiVo® Desktop Software* - to publish photos to TiVo Ghostscript® 8.0* - for PDF support Windows MediaTM Player 9.0 or later* *To download these components, please visit our Web site. Getting help Using the Quick Start Guide When you first start ACDSee, the Quick Start Guide opens to provides you easy access to tutorials, user guides, video demos the knowledge base, support and the ACDSee community. The Quick Start Guide also contains a set of links on the left side that you can click to get a tour of the main features in ACDSee or set some important preferences like which folder to open each time you start the application, the color scheme and some database options. 18 Chapter 1: Getting Started To close the Quick Start: Uncheck the Always show at start-up option in the bottom left corner of the dialog box. To re-open the Quick Start Guide: On the Menu bar, click Help | Quick Start Guide. To use the Quick Start Guide for quick access to more information: 1. Click on any of the following links on the Welcome page: x x x x x x 2. tutorials: opens the Product Support and Resources page where you can download a .PDF tutorials about features in the ACDSee Pro 2.5. user guide: opens the Product Support and Resources page where you can download a .PDF of the ACDSee Pro 2.5 User Guide. video demos: opens the Product Support and Resources page where you can see video demos on key features. ACDSee Knowledge base: opens the Product Support and Resources page where you can search the knowledge base. support: opens the Support page where you can contact technical support. ACDSee Community: opens the Web page where you can join the forums and interact with other ACDSee users. Click the links on the left side of the Quick Start Guide for a high-level tour of the main features in ACDSee Pro 2.5. To set preferences: 1. 2. Click the links below Set Preferences to select which folder to open at start-up, choose a color scheme, and set reminders to backup your database. To catalogue all your files so that the file information is safely stored in ACDSee's database, select the Catalog Files link, and then the click Catalog button. 19 Chapter 2: Importing photos About the Device Detector You can use the ACDSee Device Detector when you import files stored on your camera, removable drives, scanner, or CD/DVDs and display them using ACDSee. By default, the Device Detector is on when you install ACDSee and it automatically detects any device when you connect it to your computer. If you turn the Device Detector off, you can restart by clicking the icon in the Taskbar Notification area or on the Menu bar in ACDSee. To start Device Detector: Click File | Import, and then select ACDSee Device Detector. After you start the ACDSee Device Detector, it runs in the background and displays a camera icon in the Taskbar Notification area. When you plug a camera or other device into your computer, the Device Detector detects the connection, the icon changes color, and either prompts you to specify what you would like to do with your files, or automatically launches the Import From dialog box in ACDSee. ACDSee Device Detector replaces the Windows XP AutoPlay feature. To resume using the AutoPlay functionality, close the ACDSee Device Detector. When you insert a CD or DVD into your CD-ROM drive, or attach a removable drive, mass storage, or Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) device to your computer, the Device Detector senses it. Such devices may include cameras, card readers, Web cams, and scanners. If your device does not have a TWAIN or WIA driver installed, or is not a mass storage device, or if there are no files on your device, ACDSee Device Detector will not be able to detect it. For more detailed information about using the Device Detector, click the Device Detector camera icon in the Taskbar Notification area and select Help. Importing photos from a device ACDSee's Import From dialog gives you multiple options for importing your files from cameras, card readers, flash drives, and other mass storage devices. If you want to simply import files with a few clicks, you can. Or you can select from several options to streamline your workflow and perform multiple tasks with each import. In the Import From dialog, you can view the thumbnails of the files on the device by their date or file type. You can change the size of the thumbnails to make it easier to select those you want to import or leave on the device, and then view only those you have selected. You can also choose the destination folder or subfolders for the files, create a backup set of files as you import, and rename the files during the import process, automatically rotating them if your camera has this option. Advanced settings give you options to change the date you want to use, and where to place RAW and JPEG files if your camera creates both file formats. You can even organize your files as you import by adding categories, and database information like keywords, captions, author, and EXIF or IPTC data. ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Then you can save all these settings as a preset to use or adapt later. If your camera connects to the computer as a removable drive, you can also simply copy photos directly from the File List and Folders pane because ACDSee detects and displays the removable device in the Folders pane. If you are not sure how your camera connects to your computer, please see About removable devices in Importing photos with ACDSee. Some cameras, for example, Canon, use Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) to communicate with a computer. Some scanners use TWAIN to connect to a computer. If your devices use these protocols, you need to import by clicking Using Windows Image Acquisition or From Scanner (TWAIN) on the Import menu. To download photos using the Import From dialog: 1. 2. Connect your camera or device to the computer. Make sure your camera is turned on, and the cable is properly connected to your computer. Do one of the following: x x x x x 3. 4. 5. If the Device Detector is on, and detects the device, select Import files and then OK, when the ACDSee Device Detector dialog box opens. If you have more than one device connected to your computer, select the device you want to use from the list, and then click OK. On the Menu bar, click File | Import | From Device. If your device uses WIA, click File | Import | Using Windows Image Acquisition. Press Alt + G on the keyboard. In the Import From dialog, select from the import options as described below. Click Import. To browse your imported photos, click Yes when the Import Complete dialog displays. You may require Direct X 9.0 and QuickTime to download audio and video files from your camera. For more information, please see System requirements. Import From options View files View by Date Displays all the files grouped by the dates they were created. To deselect a single date, click the check box beside one or more dates. To deselect all dates, click All Dates. Displays all the files grouped by the their file type. To deselect a single file type, click the check box beside one or more file type. To deselect all file types, click All files types. View by File Type 22 Chapter 2: Importing Photos View all Displays all the thumbnails of the files on the device. Displays only the files selected for import. Displays the number of files currently selected for importing. Adjusts the size of the thumbnails as you drag the slider left (enlarges) or right (shrinks). Displays the names of recently-used import settings to use again, or you can select one of the following: x x x Current: uses the current settings to import. Last used: uses the import settings from the last import. None: clears all the current import settings. View selected Files selected for import Zoom slider Choose Import Settings Import settings drop-down list Save import settings Saves all the current import settings with a name so that you can use them again. To save (or edit) import settings, select the Save icon and type in new name (or re-save existing settings). The new name for the import settings appears in the drop-down list. Delete import settings Deletes the saved import settings currently selected in the Import settings drop-down list. Displays the names of recently-used destinations to use again, or you can select one of the following: 1. 2. Last used: uses the destination from the last import. None: clears all the current destination settings. Choose Destination Destination drop-down list Place in subfolders Subfolders drop-down list Displays the following pre-defined subfolder options to select: x Single folder by name: creates a new subfolder with the name you type into the Name field, which activates when you select this option. All the files are placed into a folder with the new name. Single folder today's date: x 23 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide creates one folder using today's date as the name and places all the files into the folder. x Nested folder - today's date: creates a series of nested folders, one below the other, based on today's date and on the format you select in the Format field, which activates when you select this option. The folders are created as the sample shows and all the files are placed in the lowest folder. x Nested folder - file's date: creates multiple sets of nested folders based on the files' dates and on the format you select in the Format field, which activates when you select this option. The folders are created as the sample shows and the files are imported into the lowest folders on each date. x Preserve folder names: preserves existing folder names when you use the From Disk option to import. For example, if you have a flash drive or CD containing images in a complex set of subfolders, the whole folder tree is imported intact. 24 Chapter 2: Importing Photos Format Displays date format options for the Nested folder options (see above). Displays a sample of the nested folders that will be created using the current settings (see above). Creates a backup set of files using an exact duplicate of the subfolders you have selected under Place in subfolders. If you can also do one of the following: x Click Browse and then navigate to an existing folder to use as a backup destination. Click Browse and then Make New Folder to create a new folder as a backup destination. Any Organize settings (ACD Database, EXIF, or IPTC data) will not be added to this backup copy when you import. Existing file metadata is included in the backup copy. Sample Backup to Backup destination drop-down list x Rename files to Rename template drop-down list Renames each file as it imports according these predefined renaming templates: x Date/time - filename: creates each file name using the file date and time the file was created plus the original filename. Date/time: creates each file name using the file date and the time it was created. Camera - sequence number: creates each file name using the camera name and a sequential number starting at one. Date/time - sequence number: creates each file name using the file date and the time it was created plus a sequential number starting at one. Camera - filename: creates each file name using the camera name and the original file name. x x x x When you create and save your own renaming templates, they also appear in this list for you to select. 25 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Edit Opens the Rename Templates dialog box where you can create and save your own renaming templates. Automatically Rotates your images automatically if your camera creates the information rotate images needed for this option to work. Delete items from the source after import Advanced Deletes items from the device after they are imported. Opens the Advanced Import Options dialog where you can change the date settings for files and specify where to place RAW and JPEG files. To set the ACDSee database, use one of the following as the file date: x x x Exif date: uses the EXIF date embedded in the image by the camera. File modified date: uses the date the file was last modified. Specific date: uses the date you select by clicking the in the calendar drop-down arrow x . To specify where to place RAW+JPEG files select one of the following: Place both in chosen destination folder: places RAW and JPEG files in the folder you have selected under Choose destination on the Import From dialog. Place JPEG in subfolder: places the RAW files in the folder you have selected under Choose destination on the Import From dialog. Then creates a new subfolder with the name you type into the Subfolder name field, which activates when you select this option. All the JPEG files are placed into the new subfolder. Place RAW in subfolder: places the JPEG files in the folder you have selected under Choose destination on the Import From dialog. Then creates a new subfolder with the name you type into the Subfolder name field, which activates when you select this option. All the RAW files are placed into the new subfolder. Displays the names of recently-used organize settings to use again. You can also select one of the following: x x Last used: uses the organize settings from the last import. None: clears all the current organize settings. x x Organize settings Organize settings drop-down list 26 Chapter 2: Importing Photos Save organize settings Saves all the current organize settings so that to re-use later. To edit saved settings, select the Save icon, and then type in a new name for the organize settings, or save over existing organize settings. The new name for the organize settings appears in the drop-down list. Delete organize settings Deletes the saved import settings currently selected in the Import settings drop-down list. Adds any information you type into to the following fields to the ACDSee database as each file is imported: x x x x Author Notes Tagged Keywords Metadata tab ACD Database Opens the Keyword Picker dialog where you can select existing keywords. EXIF Adds any information you type into to ACDSee to the EXIF information of each imported file. Adds any information you type into the following fields to the IPTC information of each imported file. IPTC Categories tab Assigns the imported files to any category you select on this tab. You can select multiple categories. Importing photos from a scanner (TWAIN) ACDSee's Get Photos Wizard guides you through the process of downloading files from your scanner if it uses TWAIN. You can preview the images you want to download, and specify a location for them on your hard drive. To use the Get Photos Wizard, your scanner needs to use Windows Imaging Acquisition or TWAIN. If you are not sure how your scanner connects to your computer, please see About removable devices. To download photos from a scanner: 1. 2. Connect your scanner to your computer. Make sure your scanner is turned on, and the cable is properly connected to your computer. Click File | Import | From Scanner (TWAIN). 27 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide 3. On the Source Device page, select TWAIN. In the Device list, select the specific name of the scanner from which to download your files. Click Next when you are ready to continue. On the File Format Options page, select a file format to save your images. You can click the Options button to select any file-specific options available for your chosen format. Note that not every file format has additional options. Click Next when you are ready to continue. Finally, on the Output Options page, specify whether you want to rename your imported images using a name template, and where to place them on your hard drive. When you are ready, click Next to copy your images. Select Browse to your images if you want to view the files in the Browser, and click Finish to return to ACDSee. 4. 5. 6. Importing photos using Windows Image Acquisition Some cameras and scanners use Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) drivers to communicate with the computer. If your camera uses WIA (some Canon cameras for example) in ACDSee, select the File | Import | Using Windows Image Acquisition option to open the Import From dialog. If your device does not have a WIA driver installed, ACDSee Device Detector will not be able to detect it. To import using the Windows Image Acquisition: 1. 2. 3. 4. Connect the device to your computer. Click File | Import | Using Windows Image Acquisition. In the Import From dialog, select from the import options, and then click Import. To browse your imported photos, click Yes when the Import Complete dialog displays. Importing photos from a CD or DVD You can download photos from a CD or DVD using the Import From dialog, or the Folders pane. Before you import photos, you can browse to the CD and view them just like any other folder and then simply copy and paste them into a new location. If you use the Import From dialog, you can set the subfolder options to import complex folder structures intact, including all the folder names. You can also organize your files as you import them, as well as create a duplicate backup folder, simultaneously. 28 Chapter 2: Importing Photos To import photos from a CD or DVD: 1. 2. Insert the CD or DVD into the drive. Do one of the following: x x x 3. 4. If the Device Detector is on, and detects the CD, select Import files and then OK, when the ACDSee Device Detector dialog box opens. If you have more than one CD or DVD drive connected to your computer, select the device you want to use, and then click OK. On the Menu bar, click File | Import | From CD/DVD. In the Import From dialog, select the import from options you want to use, and then click Import. To browse your imported photos, click Yes when the Import Complete dialog displays. Importing photos from a mobile phone ACDSee's Mobile Phone Acquire Wizard will guide you through the process of downloading images from your mobile phone folder. To download photos from your mobile phone: 1. 2. Click File | Import, and then select From Mobile Phone Folder. On the Welcome page, select the location of your mobile phone folder, and where you want to place the images on your hard drive. You can select options to place images in a dated subfolder, and to remove the files from your device once they are on your hard drive. Click Next when you are ready to continue. On the Downloaded Images page, preview your downloaded images. Click Next when you are ready to place the images on your hard drive. 3. Creating a renaming template On the Import From dialog box, you can create, name, and save a template that gives each file a unique name as they are imported and placed on your hard drive. You can then re-use the template each time you import photos. Renaming templates can have a numerical sequence, custom text, and file-specific information in each new file name. You can create and save different renaming templates for different sorts of files. For example, you could have a different renaming template for a different camera, or a different type of file. To create a renaming template: 1. 2. On the Import From dialog select Rename files to. From the drop-down list, select one of the following system templates: x x x Date/Time - File name: renames the files using the date and time each file was created and the original file name. Date/Time: renames the files using the date and time each file was created. Camera - sequence number: renames the files using the camera name and a sequential number. 29 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide x x 3. 4. 5. Date/time - sequence number: renames the files using the date and time each file was created and a sequential number. Camera-filename: renames the files with the name of the camera and each file's original name. To create your own renaming template, or add to a system template, click Edit. In the Rename Templates dialog, select from the options as described in the table below. Click OK. Rename Templates options System template dropdown list New rename template Click the drop-down list to select a different pre-defined system template. Click to open the New Rename Template dialog box where you can type in a name for your own renaming template. Give the renaming template a name that clearly identifies how you plan to use the template, or what kind of information the name will contain. For example, Camera name_photographer. When you click Save, the name of your new template is added to the dropdown list of system templates. Delete Deletes the renaming template currently selected in the drop-down list unless it is a pre-defined system template, which cannot be deleted. Use this field to create the renaming template. You can type in the photographer's name and an underscore between each element of the template to make it easier to read. Use the following placeholders to ensure that each filename is unique: x x Insert an * . When your files are renamed, the * will be replaced by the original file name. Insert a #. When your files are renamed, each # will be replaced by a sequential number. If you have a large number of files, insert several ##s. For example, if you enter ###, the first file renamed will be numbered 001, the next 002, and so on. If you have over 1000 files, insert ####. Insert a metadata placeholder < > and the data inside these brackets is replaced with whatever data you have chosen. For example, if you choose , the model of the camera is inserted into each file name. Rename Template x Insert Metadata Sample Click to open the Choose Properties dialog, where you can select from a long list of metadata to insert into your template. As you type, or add placeholders in the Rename Template field, the same updates to show you a sample of how renaming template will look. 30 Chapter 2: Importing Photos Taking a screen capture You can use the ACDSee Screen Capture utility to create images from different areas of your screen. You can select what areas to capture, how you want to perform the capture, and where to store the captured image. To take a screen capture: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Click Tools | Screen Capture. In the Source area of the Screen Capture dialog box, identify the part of the screen you want to capture. See the table below for a description of the Source options. If you want to include your mouse pointer in the output image, select the Include mouse cursor check box. In the Destination area, identify where you want to place the output image. In the Initiate capture area, identify how you want to take the screen capture. Click Start to launch the screen capture tool. An icon appears in the Taskbar Notification area. Prepare your screen to show the area you want to capture, and then follow the steps that appear in the bubble above the Screen Capture icon. To exit the Screen Capture utility without taking a screen capture, right-click the Screen Capture icon, and then select Exit Screen Capture. Screen Capture options Source options Desktop Window Current monitor Entire window Content only Region Fixed size Captures an image of the entire area displayed on the screen. Captures an image of the entire active window. Captures an image of the window contents (does not include the frame or title bar). Captures an image of a fixed area on the screen. Click the drop-down button and select a dimension setting or select Custom, and enter the dimension in pixels. Selected region Captures a selected area of the screen. Click and drag your mouse pointer to surround the area you want to capture. Captures an image of sections of the window. For example, a toolbar or button. Captures selected menu commands. Object Child window Menu under cursor 31 ACDSee Pro 2.5 - User Guide Destination options Clipboard File Editor Initiate Capture options Hot key Designates a keystroke combination to trigger the screen capture. To set the Hot Key, press a key or combination of keys (e.g., Ctrl + S) on the keyboard; do not type in the box. Timer Takes a screen capture after a designated period. Choose enough time to set up your desktop or window for the screen capture. The maximum setting is 60 seconds. Places a copy of the image on the Clipboard. From the Clipboard you can paste the image in a new location. Displays the Save dialog box to save the file; you can specify location, format, and file name. Opens the captured image in the default editor. 32