I set printer/paper parameters. The main screen shows correct paper size & orientation but there are two nicely spaced 6x4 rectangles with diagonal black lines, with a "Freehand" button in between. Where did that stuff come from...I've never used twin 6x4 horizontal - ever"?
Hi Gordo,
Perhaps you have cooled down and can look at the facts.
If that says FREEHAND, you got there by opening some saved LAYOUT. That places you in Freehand mode,.
Look at it this way. In order to move images around on a sheet, whether it is an image or a template, that is freehand. You are manually selecting the locations.
One click on the placement selector puts you back to Optimal spaced. See snap attached
Anyway, I proceeded: clicked the template zebra-dot. In the resulting "Print Properties (6.00x 4.00)" dialog, I click "2 x 3" & get 10 2x3's on the page. I went back & clicked "Custom" and saw the "Special Sizes" dialog, & choose "Enter specific SIZE" and typed in 2 x3 and click "OK", I get 10 2x3 rectangles (vertical).
Perhaps, when there is nothing selected or operational and the last requested print size was 2 x 3, and the selection of page numbe is zero, the page will show as SAMPLE below the preview panel.
Then you will see 10
black sample placements.
The only way you can get 10
RED TEMPLATES is if you had a 10 in number of copies.
Eureka!! I finally stumbled on the fact that the 6x4 horizontal, 10 - 2x3's, etc., etc., graphics layout "gymnastics" is just "eye wash" advertising of what the app can do....UGH; rather than a clean, no distractions drawing board ready for the designer/photographer's layout additions. Seeing that extraneous stuff, the Qimage non-expert likely thinks "I don't want that layout, gotta go back, delete, start over......
Had you followed instructions as I wrote previously:
Turn on Print Orientation locked just to make it easier. (not required)
Click on the zebra button on the template thumbnail. Select 2 x 3. If you don't have that, select custom size and type in 2 x 3
With Optimal Spaced placement selected it pops that baby dead center.
Add an imageand seeing the screen image I attached was RED, there was no way you could mistake a RED TEMPLATE for a black sample rectangle.
I'm coming from years of CAD & PhotoShop.....none of this flashing, automatic graphic possibilities injected into the middle of my graphic layout.
Pissed, Yes! A waste of an hour of my time AND Fred's time as well.
Mike, if you happen to see this rant, is there any merit to it? Or, perhaps you are/have designing an app mostly for folks who have no idea what they want to do.
Thanks, Fred BTW, where does one find "Optimal Spaced Placement" in the program?
Last but not least, that's the major part of the problem; you are completely joined at the hip to Photo Shop, and therefore think anything that is different is wrong!!
Of all things, QU is far less complex to use, and with better quality results (Prints or Image resizing, sharpening and more.....)
To be comfortable and successful with Qimage, you are going to have to drop the theology of Photo Shop, and be willing to take a bit of time to learn a new method.
I once sat in on a class od Photo Shop whose instructor was showing how to make a double border with two colors and two thicknesses.
After, Brush sizes, and Stroke thickness, and color, and placements, 45 minutes went by.
I said that I can do that in Qimage Ultimate in under 30 seconds....
Only a few were willing to believe me and came up to me at the close.
My point is... it isn't wrong just because it differs from Photo Shop.
You did not waste my time. I have nothing to do anyway.
Actually, this discussion is good for all of us.
I re-learned the important reason for people having difficulty getting into Qimage.... "coming from a different program with a different technique."
Stick with it Gordo.
Fred