Software Reference FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs by Hasselblad Imacon 2 © 2004 Hasselblad A/S. All rights reserved. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs, Part No 70030035 revision 1.0. The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Hasselblad A/S. Hasselblad A/S assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual. Hasselblad A/S assumes no responsibility or liability for loss or damage incurred during or as a result of using Hasselblad software or products. Hasselblad, Imacon, FlexColor, Flextight, FlexFrame and Ixpress are trademarks of Hasselblad A/S. Adobe and Adobe Photoshop are trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. Macintosh, Mac OS, ColorSync, and FireWire are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Printed in Denmark. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs Table of Contents 3 Table of Contents Introduction 7 7 7 7 8 10 13 13 14 16 17 18 18 19 21 21 21 23 24 24 26 26 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 What's in this Manual Software compatibility FlexColor under Mac OS and Windows System Requirements The 3f File Format FlexColor Menus The FlexColor Menu The File Menu The Edit Menu The Modify Menu The View Menu The Maintenance Menu The Window Menu The Main FlexColor Window Introduction Capture and Save Tools Color and Exposure Analysis Tools Corrections Controls Size Controls Zoom Controls Orientation Controls Other Controls Overlay The Preview The Setup Window Introduction The FlexColor Setup Philosophy Managing Setups Advanced Setup Management continues... Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 4 Table of Contents ...continued General Tab Contrast Tab Texture Tab CC (Color Correction) Tab Auto Tab Dot Tab ColorSync or ICM Tab 32 35 36 37 39 40 41 47 47 47 47 50 51 52 55 55 56 61 61 61 62 62 62 63 69 71 71 71 74 75 75 75 The Preferences Window Introduction Scanner Tab Camera Tab 3f Tab Output Profiles Tab General FlexColor Settings FlexColor ICC Profiles Generic ICC Output Profiles Editing ColorSync Color Profiles The Thumbnails Window Introduction Opening the Thumbnails Window Selecting a Thumbnails Folder Files and Formats Saving Crop and Imaging Settings Using the Thumbnails Window Printing the Thumbnails Ixpress Contents Window Introduction Using the Ixpress Contents Window Transferring Images The Info Window Introduction Using the Info Window Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs Table of Contents 5 The Exposure Window Introduction Using the Exposure window Setting the Exposure Custom White Calibration 79 79 79 80 81 83 83 83 84 85 85 87 87 88 89 89 91 93 93 94 96 98 99 99 99 99 101 101 102 105 105 106 The Color Info Window Introduction Reading Values in the Color Info Window Setting Fixed Sample Points Active and Reload Buttons Introduction The Gradations Window Introduction Using the Sliders Using the Gradations Color Picker Using the Curve Setting the Threshold for Lineart Captures The Histogram Window Introduction The Histogram Display The Histogram Color Pickers Neutralizing Colors Selective Color Correction Introduction Opening the Color Correction Window Using the Color Correction Window The Texture Window The Detail Window Introduction Using the Texture Window Introduction Using the Detail Window Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 6 Table of Contents The Live Video Window Introduction Live Video Window Tools 107 107 108 111 111 113 113 The Tasks Window Appendix Background save from 3f Keyboard Shortcuts Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs Introduction What's in this Manual 7 Introduction What's in this Manual This manual provides a menu-by-menu, screen-by-screen listing of controls and settings available with FlexColor. Topics include: · · · · · · · · · Summaries of all menu commands Description of the 3f file format Information about rotating and mirroring images Image management from the Thumbnails Window Full details of all tab sheets in the Setup window Full details of the Preferences window Instructions for editing ColorSyncTM profiles Brightness and contrast control with the Gradations window Advanced highlight and shadow settings with the Histogram window, including color neutralization and control · Advanced color control with the Color Correction window · Sharpening images with the Texture window Software compatibility The FlexColor software works with the entire range of Ixpress and FlexFrame digital camera backs and all Flextight scanners except for the Flextight 4800. FlexColor under Mac OS and Windows The CD that came with your digital camera system includes versions of FlexColor for both Macintosh and Windows-based systems. The interface is nearly identical on both platforms, with mostly superficial differences to conform with the interface guidelines of the two systems. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 8 Introduction System Requirements Nearly all of the screen captures shown in this manual were taken from Mac OS X. Windows users will notice the following differences: · In the Setup window, the color management tab is called ICM instead of ColorSyncTM. · The menus are located at the top of the main FlexColor window instead of at the top of the screen. System Requirements IBM PC-Compatibles · Minimum 233 MHz processor. · Windows 2000 or XP. · System RAM 512 MB or more recommended - when performing micro step captures we recommend at least 1.5 GB. Ixpress 528C will not function with less than 2 GB. · Screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels with true colors (24 bits). · Mouse or other pointing device. · FireWire interface or SCSI Interface. · Minimum available hard disk space of 10 GB Macintosh · Minimum Power PC processor. · Mac OS X ver. 10.2.1 or later. · System RAM 512 MB or more recommended - when performing micro step captures we recommend at least 1 GB. · Screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels with true colors (24 bits). · FireWire interface or SCSI interface. · Minimum available hard disk space of 10 GB. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs Introduction System Requirements 9 OS X Requirements OS X V 10.2.1 or later is required. We recommend updating to the latest release available. Devices can be connected by either SCSI or FireWire. Please note that if you are connecting a SCSI device through a SCSI to FireWire device it will be represented as a FireWire device - that is the bus number in the device window will be 9. To be recognized by OS X, devices connected to a standard SCSI adapter must be present when booting the Mac. A SCSI device connected via a SCSI to FireWire adapter will be recognized when the adapter is plugged in. The SCSI device itself must be turned on before connecting the adapter to FireWire or rebooting. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 10 Introduction The 3f File Format The 3f File Format When using the Scan 3f function (for scanners) or capturing an image with a digital camera back, FlexColor stores the image in the unique 3f (flexible file format). The 3f file is an extended TIFF-file containing · · · · · Raw 16-bit image data A complete history of applied settings High quality preview image Custom icons and previews visible in the Finder. Meta-data (including IPTC tags) to support an image database. In short this means that when you have scanned or captured your image, you can crop, resize and color correct an unlimited number of times afterwards. You can easily integrate to databases, have fast previews in a number of applications and always be able to re-create the quality you need - all this from the same 3f file. Image Archiving & Availability Because a 3f file preserves all of the details captured by your scanner or camera, it is perfect for archiving. Then, for each new job, you will work with the 3f image in FlexColor and export it to create a new TIFF file in which your settings are applied - the only change made to the 3f file will be the addition of a new history record of the settings you used. By making the 3f files available over your network, you will enable operators at any workstation to open an image in FlexColor and apply cropping, correction and conversion just as though they were working directly on the scanner or camera. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs Introduction The 3f File Format 11 Editing 3f Files FlexColor holds all tools required for making standard image correction of the 3f files. If you need to apply pixel-editing to your image, FlexColor has a special plug-in for Photoshop. When installing FlexColor, this plug-in will be installed in the appropriate plug-in folder if Photoshop is already installed. Please note that you will permanently alter your original scanning or capture data when you save using the plug-in. To use your images in other image-editing and DTP applications, you must apply the required settings and then save them as TIFF files. TIFF is a standard format that is supported by the vast majority of imaging and DTP programs. IPTC Tags The International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) defines a standard used in the press industry for exchanging meta-information in news content, including images. The standard associates an object with its description within the same file. You can embed all kinds of information in your images, such as a caption, the place you took it, the date and even keywords and categories etc. In FlexColor you are able to apply a number of IPTC-tags to your 3f files. See "The Info Window" on page 65 for details. An extra copy of the IPTC data is stored in the Adobe Image Resource tag to enable Extensis Portfolio and other applications extracting metadata with QuickTime to read the keywords stored in the standard IPTC tag. Many aspects of managing your images are made easier using the IPTC standard. Many software programs already exist for doing this, including Adobe Photoshop. It's the standard used by professional news agencies worldwide, and it's just as useful for others. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 12 Introduction Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs FlexColor Menus The FlexColor Menu 13 FlexColor Menus FlexColor commands are available via a standard menu bar. Each of them is described briefly below. Note that most menu entries also list a keyboard shortcut to the right of the entry. Try to remember and use these shortcuts to speed up your work. The FlexColor Menu Except for the Preferences entry the FlexColor menu functions are standard for all applications. · Preferences: Opens the Preferences window, which enables you to make general flash and shutter settings for your current camera model, select an application for viewing final images, and typing some default information for the 3f files. See "The Preferences Window" on page 47 for more information. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 14 FlexColor Menus The File Menu The File Menu The File menu includes entries that initiate image captures and make settings for FlexColor. · Capture: Captures an image using your current settings and saves it as a 3f file (see page 10 for details). A preview of the image will be displayed in main FlexColor window right away, though rendering of the image will continue in the background for several seconds afterwards. You will not be able to view the image in full resolution until the rendering is finished, though you can make other types of settings. All setting are previewed using the full 16-bit color depth to display results. standard TIFF file. All current crop, mode, color and imageenhancement settings will be applied to the saved image. · Save: Saves the image currently shown in the FlexColor window as a · Close: Closes the currently selected window if possible. · Setup: Opens the Setup window, in which most of the basic settings for an image capture can be made, saved and loaded. See "The Setup Window" on page 29 for more information. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs FlexColor Menus The File Menu 15 · Devices: Opens the Devices window. The window lists all connected devices allowing you to select which camera or scanner device you want to work with. Click on the one you prefer and click the Select button. If you have only a single scanner or camera connected this device is automatically chosen. The numbers just to the right of the scanner or camera icon in the list (ex. 0-5) refers to the Bus no. (0) and the SCSI address (5). · Get Info: Opens an Info window, which contains various information about the currently selected image. See "The Info Window" on page 65 for a detailed description. · Page Setup.../Print... : Enables you to print the contents of the Thumbnails window. Make sure you have selected the view by clicking on an image in the window, then select Print. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 16 FlexColor Menus The Edit Menu The Edit Menu The Edit menu contains entries that enable you to undo multiple actions that you have made while making settings in FlexColor. It also enables you to cut, copy and paste text in various windows. · Undo: Reverses your most-recent actions - for example, a crop area · Redo: Reapplies the last action that you cancelled using the Undo command. modification or a change in the Setup window. You are able to step back through a long series of actions. · Cut: If you have selected some text in a text field, then this command removes the text and saves it on a system-wide virtual clipboard. · · · · Copy: Saves the selected text on the clipboard without removing it. Paste: Places a copy of the text on the clipboard at the insertion point. Clear: Removes all text from the clipboard. Select All: Selects all of the text contained in the field in which the insertion point is standing. In the Thumbnails window, this selects all of the icons in the window (see "The Thumbnails Window" on page 61). · Deselect: Removes the cropping of the currently shown image. · Show Clipboard: displays the current contents of the clipboard. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs FlexColor Menus The Modify Menu 17 The Modify Menu The Modify menu gives you quick short cuts to functions that are also available from within the modify dialog in the Thumbnails window (see page 61 for details). You have the possibility to select a number of files and choose Process from the Modify menu. This will add a corresponding number of processing tasks to the list in the Task window and processing of those files will take place in the background. Processing tasks will not be interrupted by new image captures. Batch Modify When using the Batch Modify... function to add settings from current settings the cropping will be maintained in the added settings. If the images in question have different sizes the cropping will be scaled accordingly. Neutralization presets You have the ability to save and reuse named neutralization presets. This feature is also accessible from the Modify dialog in the Thumbnails window (see page 67 for details). Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 18 FlexColor Menus The View Menu The View Menu The View menu exposes some of the "secret" short cuts that relate to the control of grid, overlay and crop mask and to zooming and selection of images. The Soft Proof feature combines the ICC color profile of your monitor with the profiles of your camera back and output device to provide a simulation of the output colors on your screen. Enable this only when you are sure about the specific output device you are using. If you are making a general-purpose RGB capture, then keep this feature unselected. A small s to the right of the Color Info area in the main FlexColor window indicates that Soft Proof is enabled. The Hide Tools item lets you hide all tool windows. The Maintenance Menu The Maintenance menu is not available when you use FlexColor with a digital camera back. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs FlexColor Menus The Window Menu 19 The Window Menu The Window menu opens and closes each of the image settings windows available with FlexColor. Each window that is currently open shows a check mark to the left of its name. For more information about each of these windows, see the appropriate section later in this manual: Gradations window . . . . . . . . . see page 87. Histogram window . . . . . . . . . . see page 93. Color Correction window . . . . see page 99. Texture window . . . . . . . . . . . see page 101. Detail window . . . . . . . . . . . . . see page 105. Exposure window . . . . . . . . . . . see page 79. Thumbnails window . . . . . . . . see page 61. Color Info window . . . . . . . . . . see page 83. Live Video window . . . . . . . . see page 107. Tasks window . . . . . . . . . . . . . see page 111. NOTE! The Batch Scan entry is not available when you use FlexColor with a digital camera back. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 20 FlexColor Menus Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Main FlexColor Window Introduction 21 The Main FlexColor Window Introduction The main FlexColor window displays your preview images and provides access to most of the image capturing and editing functions available with FlexColor. Capture and Save Tools Capture Captures an image using your current settings. A preview of the image will be displayed in the main FlexColor window right away. All settings are previewed using the full 16-bit color depth to display results. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 22 The Main FlexColor Window Capture and Save Tools Save Saves the image currently shown in the FlexColor window as a standard TIFF file. All current crop, mode, color and image-enhancement settings will be applied to the saved image. The save task is added to the list in the Tasks window (see page 111 for details) and the actual save task will take place in the background Previous/Next Image Buttons: Use these buttons to select previous or next image from the thumbnails folder. Ixpress Contents Button: Opens the Ixpress Contents window displaying thumbnails of all images currently stored on the Image Bank's hard disk. Thumbnails Button: Opens the Thumbnails window, which displays thumbnail images of all of the images saved in the current folder. See "The Thumbnails Window" on page 61 for more information. Setup Use this pop-up menu to choose between any of the currently available setups. A small + will appear to the right of the menu to indicate when you have made custom changes that affect the setup but have not been saved. Use this pop-up menu to choose the type of capture you want to make (preview, single-shot, multi-shot or micro-step). This setting mirrors the Type setting on the General tab of the Setup window. See "General Tab" on page 32 for more information. Use this pop-up menu to set the capture mode (RGB, RGB 16 bit, Grayscale, Grayscale 16 bit, Lineart, or CMYK). This setting mirrors the Mode setting on the General tab of the Setup window. See "General Tab" on page 32 for more information. Type Mode Keyboard shortcuts See "Appendix" on page 113 for related keyboard shortcuts. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Main FlexColor Window Color and Exposure Analysis Tools 23 Color and Exposure Analysis Tools Exposure button Exposure-level indicator Neutralize color picker Soft Proof enabled Red, green and blue pixel values f-stop pixel value Color Info button Use the exposure-level indicator to get a rough idea of how bright your picture is. Ideally, it should be near the top of the green area, but without entering into the red area, which indicates an overexposure. The indicator turns yellow to indicate a probably bad exposure and turns white to indicate a good exposure. Only the part of the image that is inside of your crop area is measured by this tool, which means that the measurement will change when you modify the crop area. The various pixel value displays give you the f-stop and/or color values for the pixel currently under the mouse pointer in the preview. Use this tool to evaluate the exposure in particular areas of the captured image. When you are shooting in RGB mode, then you can read values for each of the three colors and the f-stop brightness, as shown above. However, if you are shooting to CMYK, then CMYK pixel values are shown, and no f-stop value appears. Use the Color Info window to read CMYK and f-stop values simultaneously (see below). The Neutralize color picker helps you to obtain a neutral color balance in your image (see "Neutralizing Colors" on page 98 for details). Next to the information displays are two buttons, which will open windows that give you even more information and control. These are: Exposure Button: Click this button to open the Exposure window, which enables you to assess your exposure, set camera aperture, exposure time and ISO sensitivity, and make a black calibration. See "The Exposure Window" on page 79 for more information. Color Info Button: Click this button to read pixel values from several points in the preview image. See "The Color Info Window" on page 65 for more information. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 24 The Main FlexColor Window Corrections Controls Corrections Controls Gradation Button: Opens/closes the Gradations window. See "The Gradations Window" on page 87 for more information. Histogram Button: Opens/closes the Histogram window. See "The Histogram Window" on page 93 for more information. Color Correction Button: Opens/closes the Color Correction window. See "Selective Color Correction" on page 99 for more information. Texture Button: Opens/closes the Texture window. See "The Texture Window" on page 101 for more information. Auto Button: Click this button to apply automatic settings for highlight and shadow points based on the histogram of your image. Reload Button: Click on this button to return all correction windows (Gradations, Histogram, Color Correction, and Texture) to the settings saved with the current setup. Size Controls Width The measured width of the output image. The units used are set on the General tab of the Setup window. See "General Tab" on page 32 for more information. The measured height of the output image. The units used are set on the General tab of the Setup window. See "General Tab" on page 32 for more information. The level of magnification applied when the image is saved. The Width and Height settings will update to reflect the setting you make here. Note that if you choose a setting other than 100%, then FlexColor will interpolate the image to fit the size you specify. The file size of the final image file. This is affected by the Width, Height, Zoom, and PPI settings. It is possible to type a desired output file size. This will adjust the zoom percentage correspondingly (max. 200%). Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs Height Zoom Size The Main FlexColor Window Size Controls 25 PPI The output resolution of the final image. The Width and Height settings will update to reflect the setting you make here. Lock Button: The lock button enables you to lock the output width and height settings. When the lock is closed, then the output width and height will not change when you modify the crop area by dragging one of its corners, and the proportion of height to width will be maintained. Click on the lock to toggle its setting. Crop Button: Usually this button is gray, which indicates that the crop tool is active. When the crop tool is active, you are able to click and drag on the preview image to create and manipulate the crop area. However, some tools, such as the color pickers, change the cursor so that it selects colors instead of defining a crop area. When one of these tools is active, the crop button is white. To return to the crop tool, click on the crop button. Note the following points about working with the crop and size tools: · When you work with the digital camera, you will typically know the target output dimensions and resolution. If so, first enter the dimensions in the Height and Width fields and choose the output resolution from the PPI pop-up menu. Then click on the lock icon so that it is closed (this will lock your height and width settings). You are now able to click and drag the crop area to define the composition of your image - the Zoom value automatically tracks your changes without changing the height, width, or PPI of your output image. Click and hold over one corner of the area you wish to capture and drag the cursor away to outline the area. Release the mouse button to select the area. click and drag the area. Release the button to drop the area again. · To set the crop area, place the mouse cursor over the preview image. · To move the crop area, place the mouse cursor inside the outline, then · To resize the crop area, place the mouse cursor over one of the sides or corners. The cursor will change into a double sided arrow. Click and drag the side or corner to stretch or shrink the area. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 26 The Main FlexColor Window Zoom Controls Zoom Controls Zoom Out: Click this button to make the preview image smaller. Zoom In: Click this button to make the preview image larger. Fit to Window: Click this button to resize the preview to fit the window. Detail: Click this button to open the Detail window. Use this window to show details of the image and/or a strongly magnified view of the preview image for reading color values of a specific pixel in your image. See "The Detail Window" on page 105 for more information. Keyboard shortcuts See "Appendix" on page 113 for related keyboard shortcuts. Orientation Controls Rotate Buttons: If you choose to shoot with the camera back in portrait mode, then your subjects will be rotated so that they appears sideways in relation to the FlexColor preview window. If this annoys you, the use the rotate buttons to rotate the image in 90° steps in either direction. Both the preview and the final image will be rotated. Mirror Button: Mirrors the preview and final image. Orientation Icon: Shows the current rotation/mirroring in relation to the captured image. Keyboard shortcuts See "Appendix" on page 113 for related keyboard shortcuts. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Main FlexColor Window Other Controls 27 Other Controls Grab tool: Holding down space activates the grab tool allowing you to drag the contents of the preview window around. Crop mask button: Masks off the area outside the current cropping. Overlay Button: Switches on and off the display of an overlay over the image in the preview window. Activating this button without actually having added an overlay image will display a message describing this. See page 28 for details about adding an overlay to the image. Opacity slider: This slider occurs below the overlay button while the overlay is active. The slider gives you full control of the overlay image transparency. Grid Button: Adds a grid over the preview and live video window. The grid can be useful for aligning objects in your setup. Holding down the option key while clicking the button opens the Grid options window: Here you are able to define the number and color of the lines in the grid. The number of lines is per the smallest image dimension (width or height). Scrolling The scroll wheel on your mouse can be used in the preview window hold down option key to scroll sideways. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 28 The Main FlexColor Window Overlay Overlay It is possible to add an overlay to the preview and live video windows to help with aligning your setup. All the standard image file types such as TIFF, JPEG, GIF, and PNG can be used. The Mac version supports PNG-files with alpha channels giving you full control of the image transparency. To add the overlay simply drag the image file into the preview window, or alternatively if you option-click the Overlay button you are given the possibility of browsing for the overlay image instead of dragging it into place. Once in place you can click and drag the overlay image around to align it correctly and you can resize it by clicking the borders and dragging. Clicking the Overlay button (see page 27) will turn the overlay on/off. The Preview FlexColor has been designed with the philosophy that when creating digital images, it is best to judge image quality with your eyes, not based on point measurements and color lookup tables. This is why we have drawn so much attention to the screen calibration procedure in the tutorial, and why we have integrated ICC color profiles to maintain the color accuracy you see on your screen all the way to print. To make it easy for you to see and use the preview, FlexColor provides a large 16-bit image with a zoom function and magnifier window. Because your monitor can only show 8-bit colors, FlexColor calculates a new 8-bit image from the 16-bit information each time you apply a highlight, shadow, gradation, or color setting. This creates a very accurate preview image. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window Introduction 29 The Setup Window Introduction The Setup window shows many settings that affect the image and the way in which the other tools in the FlexColor application work. All of the settings displayed in the window can be saved and loaded from your hard disk. To open the Setup window, type cmd-U or select Setup from the File menu. Many of the settings, such as sharpness, gradation, and color correction, are available individually through tool buttons in the main FlexColor window. All settings you make using the individual tools are also applied to the Setup window, and vice versa. The Setup window is divided into several tab sheets to help you find the setting you want to make. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 30 The Setup Window The FlexColor Setup Philosophy The FlexColor Setup Philosophy In the traditional prepress environment, where photographs are captured on film and then scanned, the professional scanner operator requires extensive education and experience to make all of the settings required to obtain good results. The operator examines each original and, applying his or her experience, enters a "best guess" of what all the settings should be for that particular type of original. Then the operator checks the preview and makes fine tuning adjustments. However, when shooting directly to digital, the photographer needs to be able to make these same decisions. FlexColor simplifies this process by enabling you to save a library of setups that you use most frequently. Nearly all FlexColor settings, including all settings in the Setup, Gradations, Histogram, and Texture windows, are saved in each setup file. Each time you make a capture, select the closest setup from the Setup menu, define the crop, click on the Auto button, and you are 98 to 100% of the way to a perfect image capture (provided that you have neutralized the colors of your image - see "Neutralizing Colors" on page 98 for details). FlexColor is delivered with several generic setups to get you started quickly. Use the Setup pop-up menu to choose a setup that is appropriate for your original. The name of each setup indicates its intended use. Start by using the generic setups. If you want to develop your own setup library, begin with the closest of the available generic setups, modify it, and save it with a new name. Managing Setups To create a new setup, click on the New button. A window will appear in which you can name the new setup. All of the settings currently applied in the Setup, Gradations, Histogram, and Texture windows will be saved in the new file. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window Advanced Setup Management 31 To rename the currently loaded setup, click on the Rename button. A window will appear in which you can rename the setup. After you have made changes to the current setup, save them by clicking on the Save button in the Setup window. To delete the current setup, thereby removing it from the Setup pop-up menus, click on Delete. NOTE! The generic setups that ship with FlexColor are locked so that you can not accidentally modify, rename or delete them. If you want to modify a generic setup, then select the setup from the Setup pop-up menu, make modifications, then click on New to save your new setup with a new name. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 32 The Setup Window General Tab General Tab The General tab of the Setup window affects the general behavior of the interface and identifies the setup file currently loaded. Mode Provides a pop-up menu for choosing the color space used when you save an image as a TIFF file. The following options are available: · RGB: stores final images as standard 8-bit RGB TIFF files. · RGB 16-bit: stores final images as 16-bit TIFF files. This preserves the · Grayscale: creates grayscale images, such as black and white full color resolution captured by the camera back, but creates larger files that many applications cannot read. photographs. Grayscale files are smaller than color files, so use this mode if your originals or final publications are in black and white. To obtain a grayscale result, FlexColor combines information from all three RGB color channels. ICC profiles have no effect when you capture images using this mode. preserves the full tonal range captured by the camera back. To obtain a grayscale result, FlexColor combines information from all three RGB color channels. · Grayscale 16-bit: stores final images as 16-bit grayscale TIFF files. This Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window General Tab 33 · Lineart: creates 1-bit images in which each pixel is either 100% black or 100% white. These files are even smaller than grayscale images. Use this mode if your originals are, for example, pen and ink drawings. To adjust the threshold at which the input will jump to either black or white, use the Gradations window. See "Setting the Threshold for Lineart Captures" on page 91 for more information. ICC profiles have no effect when you use this mode. profile to create CMYK images directly from FlexColor. See "ColorSync or ICM Tab" on page 41 for more information about ICC profiles. · CMYK: creates print-ready color images. You must set up an ICC Type Use this pop-up menu to choose which type of capture to take. You have the following options: · Preview: makes a single capture and applies minimal processing. This type of capture appears most quickly on your screen. Use it to check your exposure and composition and to make initial neutralization settings. Preview captures are not saved and are not good enough for production because they are not fully rendered. · Single Shot: makes a single capture and applies full processing. If you are capturing images of people, animals, flowing water, or other moving objects, or if you are capturing from a hand-held camera, then you must use single-shot mode. Single shot images are fully rendered and processed so they take slightly longer than previews, but the results are of production quality. captured twice for extra sharpness) and then combines them into a single, high-resolution image. If you are capturing images of unmoving objects, such as room interiors, studio sets or product shots, then you can use multi-shot mode. Images taken in multi-shot mode will be sharper and contain more detail than single-shot images. Multi-shot images will also stand up to greater enlargement later in production. captures. This creates a high-resolution image (FlexFrame 3020 = 4000 x 6000 pixels, FlexFrame/Ixpress 384 = 8000 x 8000 pixels, and Ixpress 528C = 8000 x 10800 pixels) and digital files of up to 144 MB, 384 MB, and 528 MB respectively. Micro-step images will stand up to even greater enlargement than multi-shot images. · Multi Shot: makes four captures (one for each color, but with green · Micro Step: extends the multi-shot functionality by making a total of 16 Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 34 The Setup Window General Tab Resolution PPI Defines the resolution of the output image. Set this value according to the requirements for your printed output. Most high-quality color work uses 300 ppi. Newspapers typically use less (150 to 200 ppi). On-screen display, such as for the web, requires only 72 ppi. See "Size Controls" on page 24 for more information about PPI and image sizing. Zoom The level of magnification applied when the image is saved. See "Size Controls" on page 24 for more information about zooming and image sizing. ISO Enables you to select between sensitivities of ISO 50 or 100. If you are using an Ixpress camera back, you will be able to select between ISO 200 and 400 as well. This setting will also be reflected in the Exposure Window (see page 79). Mirror If your original is a mirror image, or if you want to create a mirrored image from the original, then place a check in this box. To keep the image as captured, make sure this box is not checked. Enhanced shadow detail Activates an algorithm that delivers more details in the shadow areas. This function is active by default and should only be deselected for images with a very narrow dynamic range or for images with an unusually high amount of color information in dark areas. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window Contrast Tab 35 Contrast Tab The settings on the Contrast tab sheet are exactly the same as in the Gradations window (available from the Window menu). Changes made here in the Setup window will also change the settings in that window, and vice versa. See "The Gradations Window" on page 87 for more information about these settings. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 36 The Setup Window Texture Tab Texture Tab The settings in the Texture tab reflect those made in the Texture window (available from the Window menu). For more information about unsharp masking, see "The Texture Window" on page 101. Color % These three fields (Red, Green, and Blue) control the amount of sharpening effect applied in each color channel. Normally, you should leave them set to 100 each, which applies sharpening equally to all channels. In some cases, you may be able to reduce the effect of noise by applying less sharpening to one channel (typically the blue channel). You can also use these settings to create special effects. Apply Mark this check box to apply the unsharp mask filter to all images. Remove the check to disable the filter. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window CC (Color Correction) Tab 37 CC (Color Correction) Tab The CC tab contains a color correction chart, which enables you to alter the way input colors are mapped onto the output colors. It can be used to remove or add color cast, or to create stronger colors in your images. The matrix contains the same settings as the Color Correction window (available from the Window menu), and displays all of the settings you have made using that window. In many cases, it will be easier for you to make adjustments using the Color Correction window instead. See "Selective Color Correction" on page 99 for more information. However, the matrix shown here gives a better overview of all of the color correction settings for the current setup. To activate the color correction, mark the Apply check box. To disable the color correction settings, remove the mark from this box. Click on the box to toggle the mark. To modify the amount of any one color component in the image, click on the button next to the target color along the top of the matrix. Then use the up and down buttons for each component color along the left side of the matrix to add or remove that component from the target color. Alternatively, you can click on any of the fields in the matrix and edit the value with your keyboard. To modify the saturation in the entire image, use the Saturation up and down buttons or input field. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 38 The Setup Window CC (Color Correction) Tab To reduce the amount of magenta: R G B C M Y R 0 4 0 0 -4 0 G 0 4 0 0 -4 0 B 0 4 0 0 -4 0 C 0 4 0 0 -4 0 M 0 4 0 0 -4 0 Y 0 4 0 0 -4 0 Neutral red More green in all colors Neutral Blue Neutral Cyan Less Magenta in all colors Neutral yellow A full explanation on all of the applications of this tool would be complex and beyond the scope of this manual. If you would like to know more about color mapping, please speak with your printer or consult the electronic prepress section of your local library or book store. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window Auto Tab 39 Auto Tab The Auto tab sheet has percentage settings for both Shadow and Highlight. When you use the Auto button, the FlexColor application computes what it thinks the highlight and/or shadow values should be based on the histogram of your image. It then modifies the values by the percentages that you set here to find the final setting. The percentage is applied to the difference between the highlight and shadow settings. For example, if the Auto % for Highlight is set to 2 and you use the auto function on an image in which the highlight might normally be 200, then FlexColor will assign a highlight value of 196 (provided the shadow value was zero). If you find that you frequently need to adjust the highlight or shadow values to be tighter than the auto function normally chooses, then use a positive setting here. Positive settings will result in a relative increase in the contrast. You are able to set negative values for the Auto % settings. This will make the automatic controls use less extreme settings for highlight and shadow than normal. For example, if the Auto % for Highlight were set to -2, and you use the auto function on an image in which the highlight might normally be 200, then FlexColor will assign a highlight value of 204 (provided the shadow value were zero). This setting will enable you to preserve more details at the extremes of the tonal range than you otherwise would if the highlight point were set lower. For more information about working with highlight and shadow points, see "The Histogram Window" on page 93. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 40 The Setup Window Dot Tab Dot Tab These settings affect the output of the image brightnesses. Normally, the output will be a maximum (255) at the brightest (highlight) point and minimum (0) at the darkest (shadow) point for each color. However, this can sometimes cause trouble for the printing presses, especially when too much ink is applied for the paper to dry quickly enough. Printers often request that images be prepared to lie within certain limits. The settings on this tab sheet limit output at the extremes at each color. Speak to your printer for advice about how to set these values. The values in the three (RGB) columns control the maximum (for highlight) or minimum (for shadow). For RGB color, 8-bit values (0 to 255) are shown for each color. The Endpoints pop-up menu determines how the values for the color columns will be assigned when the input values exceed the defined limits. They work as follows: Cut-off: All values beyond the limit will remain at the limit. Round-off: All values beyond the limit will be spread out evenly between the limit and the maximum (0 or 255). Force max: All values beyond the limit will be forced to the maximum (0 or 255). Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window ColorSync or ICM Tab 41 ColorSync or ICM Tab ICC color profiles define the color response of each device in your system. FlexColor uses these profiles to make calibrated, accurate, and high-quality color separations from your images. Under Mac OS, ICC profiles are controlled by Apples ColorSync technology and the setup tab for selecting ICC profiles in FlexColor is called ColorSyncTM. Under Windows, ICC technology is referred to as "ICM" (which stands for "Image Color Management") and the tab for selecting ICC profiles in FlexColor is called ICM. The Ixpress digital camera backs and most monitors and output devices include ICC profiles, which will help to make sure that the colors in your original are maintained and that colors you see on your screen will be accurately reproduced on paper. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 42 The Setup Window ColorSync or ICM Tab For more information about using ICC profiles, see the online help for your operating system. For information about Apples ColorSyncTM technology, check Apple's web site at: http://www.colorsync.apple.com and/or http://www.apple.com. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window ColorSync or ICM Tab 43 Input (Mac) This pop-up menu shows a list of input ICC profiles installed on your system. When selecting an input profile it is possible to choose a "Device Default Profile", enabling you to define a setting that will always use the currently selected device profile for the current device. To do this select the second item in the input profile menu - it will be titled Device:, where is the name of the default profile for the current device. To change the default profile simply click the Change button located to the right of the input profile menu. This will lead you to the ColorSync Utility application. Here you simply select the Devices view which gives you a list of registered devices. After selecting your camera or scanner in the list you can either assign a new default profile or switch back to factory default. The standard settings installed all use the device default profile. The primary benefit of this feature is that you can now switch to your own custom input profile without having to edit any of your existing settings. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 44 The Setup Window ColorSync or ICM Tab Input (PC) Functionality is basically the same as for Mac except that clicking the Change button will open the Scanners and Cameras control panel which shows the list of connected devices. Here you can select properties for your device(s) which will bring up a dialog box from where (e.g. Color Management tab) you can change the color management e.g. the list of attached profile(s). Please note that FlexColor will always choose the first profile found in the list if more than one are present. RGB This pop-up menu lists all of the RGB profiles currently installed on your system. Choose a profile that represents the color space in which you work. (If you are using Adobe Photoshop, you can choose the space used by Photoshop). To see which space is used by Photoshop, start Photoshop and choose Edit -> Color Settings. The Color Settings window appears (see the Getting Started... manual for more information about using this window). In this example the RGB working space is the ICC profile Adobe RGB (1998). If you choose an RGB color space (ex. Adobe RGB 1998) you should check both the Convert and Embed Profile fields on the ColorSync or ICM Tab. When selecting the default output profile for RGB, FlexColor will use the output profile as specified on the Output Profiles tab in the Preferences window - see page 51 for details. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Setup Window ColorSync or ICM Tab 45 CMYK This pop-up menu lists all of the output profiles currently installed on your system. Choose the profile specific for your output device, or select the closest of the generic profiles supplied with FlexColor. See "Generic ICC Output Profiles" on page 55 for more information about the generic profiles. When selecting the default output profile for CMYK, FlexColor will use the output profile as specified on the Output Profiles tab in the Preferences window - see page 51 for details. Edit The Edit button appears only if you are using the Mac OS version of FlexColor. Click on this button to edit the output profile. Use this feature only if you are an advanced user, or on the advice of your printer. For more information about editing ColorSync profiles, see "Editing ColorSync Color Profiles" on page 56. Gray FlexColor offers full ICC support even when saving images in grayscale. To do so simply check the required Embed and Convert options, and if you have checked Convert you also need to select a grayscale output profile from the menu. Please note that you do not need to select a different input profile when in grayscale mode, as a suitable grayscale input profile is automatically generated based on the currently selected RGB input profile. When selecting the default output profile for Grayscale, FlexColor will use the output profile as specified on the Output Profiles tab in the Preferences window - see page 51 for details. Embed Profile Mark this checkbox to embed a profile with your saved image. The embedded profile will always match the content of the file. If conversion is active the embedded profile will be the output profile corresponding to the current capture mode setting - either the RGB or the CMYK profile. If the convert checkbox is not checked the embedded profile will be the current input profile. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 46 The Setup Window ColorSync or ICM Tab Convert If this checkbox is marked data will be converted according to the current settings of input and output profile. Otherwise the output files will contain data without any ICC corrections applied. Softproof Mark this checkbox to see an on-screen representation of the colors expected from your output device. It combines the output profile with the monitor profile selected for your system to create a simulation of the output colors. See the Getting Started... manual for instructions on how to set up a monitor profile for you system and for advice about using the Softproof feature. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Preferences Window Introduction 47 The Preferences Window Introduction The Preferences window contains several miscellaneous settings that control the general functions of the camera back and the software. The Preferences window settings are universal for the FlexColor application, they are not saved with the other settings in the setup files. To open the window, select Preferences from the FlexColor menu. Scanner Tab For scanners only! Camera Tab The Camera tab holds the following settings for your current device: Model FlexColor must know which kind of camera body you are using so that it can control the camera correctly. Choose your camera body from the Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 48 The Preferences Window Camera Tab Model pop-up menu before you start taking pictures for the first time and each time you change the type of camera body that you are using with the camera back. To set the Model list to show only cameras compatible with your current camera back, mark the Show recommended only check box. If you are using an unlisted camera body, then chose Generic. In this case, you may need to experiment a bit with the Shutter delay setting to optimize your results (see below). Shutter Delay When you click on the Capture button in FlexColor, a short amount of time elapses between the moment you issue the expose command and the moment the flash is fired. The camera body needs to allow some time for its internal mechanics to, for example, move the mirror and open the shutter. FlexColor must know this time so that it can correctly synchronize the shutter, flash and CCD exposure. The shutter delay time is different for each camera back model. The delay is set automatically when you choose a camera body from the Model pop-up menu. However, you must set this manually when you choose the Generic setting. NOTE! Even when working with a specific camera body, you are able to adjust the shutter delay time manually if necessary. The value is resettable by clicking the Default button. Under normal circumstances you simply choose the preferred camera from the drop down menu. You could however experience that your camera does not perform correctly using the default shutter delay, causing colors to slide or other unwanted effects. This is due to a timing error in the camera different from the factory setting. To correct this you are enabled to alter the default shutter delay settings. If you experience problems start by increasing the delay quite a bit, for example 100 ms. Then decrease the shutter delay in small steps until your image looks right. This way you will find the correct synchronization for your selected camera. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs The Preferences Window Camera Tab 49 Flash Delay When you use one of the multi-exposure modes, FlexColor will instruct the camera back to make the captures as quickly as possible, allowing time for the image data to download after each capture. If your flash system requires extra time beyond this to be ready to flash again, then enter the required minimum charge time (in seconds) in the Flash delay field. Process and store full image when saving Check this if you want to avoid updating the 3f files with the processed info when saving from these. In this case processing will only be done for the actual cropped area and your unprocessed 3f file will stay small and unprocessed. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs 50 The Preferences Window 3f Tab 3f Tab When you make a capture, the image is saved as a 3f file in the currently selected folder. The 3f file can contain various information about the file, as described in "The 3f File Format" on page 10 earlier in this manual. Scan Size These settings are only relevant when using FlexColor with a scanner device. Default Info Prior to taking a number of captures where you want to add the same name and copyright information to all of the shots, you can type this information in the Byline and Copyright fields. Later when opening the Info window for one or more of the captures, this information will show up in the corresponding fields here. See "The Info Window" on page 65 for references. Software Reference - FlexColor 4.0 for Camera Backs