devenh
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« on: February 19, 2013, 06:13:53 PM » |
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I'm a long time QI user that just upgraded to Ultimate from Studio. Here are a few feature requests in no particular order. I would not be surprised if some of these requests are already supported and I just haven't discovered them  1. Ability to nudge the crop with the cursor keys. When I add an image to the queue and Ctrl+E, the only way to control the zoom and crop placement is with the cursor. Sometimes this does not allow fine enough control. Using the cursor keys to move the crop and the + and - keys to change the zoom would be helpful. 2. Save the state of Apply the filter to ALL images in the queue in the Enhancement/Filter Application dialog box. For my workflow, I almost always want to apply the filter to all the images. Why can't the dialog box retain the last setting? Better yet, why not remove the Scope choices and change the two existing buttons from Ok and Cancel to Apply Current, Apply All, and Cancel? 3. Cutout Preview directory navigator only shows drives, not Libraries, Homegroup, and User folders. Also, a directory selected in the Cutout Preview is not retained. I would like the directory selected to become the default (rather than \ProgramData\ddisoftware\Qimage\cutouts). 4. Opacity and blending mode options for cutouts. I use cutouts for my copyright. I prefer them to the Copyright/Signature option because cutouts are scaled. With cutouts I have to create a set for landscape and portrait orientation (otherwise the scaling gets ugly). I also have to create cutouts of varying brightness to suit the target image (i.e. font opacity of 10, 15, 20, 25, 33, 50, 75, and 100). It sure would be great if I could create just one cutout and be able to set its opacity in QI. A blending mode option a nice addition too. 5. Ability to edit sets of printer setup files. I have about a dozen printer setup files which specify different paper sizes. All other properties are the same. In Studio my Interpolation method was Hybrid SE. With Ultimate it is Fusion. But to update all my printer settings I have to manually recall each one, change the setting, save the changes, and repeat, and repeat, and ... I did look into the prn and pr1 files hoping they were plain text and I could edit them, but they are not plain text. There should be a better way. Thanks, Deven |
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Fred A
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« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2013, 07:33:14 PM » |
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2. Save the state of Apply the filter to ALL images in the queue in the Enhancement/Filter Application dialog box. For my workflow, I almost always want to apply the filter to all the images. Why can't the dialog box retain the last setting? Better yet, why not remove the Scope choices and change the two existing buttons from Ok and Cancel to Apply Current, Apply All, and Cancel?
3. Cutout Preview directory navigator only shows drives, not Libraries, Homegroup, and User folders. Also, a directory selected in the Cutout Preview is not retained. I would like the directory selected to become the default (rather than \ProgramData\ddisoftware\Qimage\cutouts).
4. Opacity and blending mode options for cutouts. I use cutouts for my copyright. I prefer them to the Copyright/Signature option because cutouts are scaled. With cutouts I have to create a set for landscape and portrait orientation (otherwise the scaling gets ugly). I also have to create cutouts of varying brightness to suit the target image (i.e. font opacity of 10, 15, 20, 25, 33, 50, 75, and 100). It sure would be great if I could create just one cutout and be able to set its opacity in QI. A blending mode option a nice addition too.
5. Ability to edit sets of printer setup files. I have about a dozen printer setup files which specify different paper sizes. All other properties are the same. In Studio my Interpolation method was Hybrid SE. With Ultimate it is Fusion. But to update all my printer settings I have to manually recall each one, change the setting, save the changes, and repeat, and repeat, and ... I did look into the prn and pr1 files hoping they were plain text and I could edit them, but they are not plain text. There should be a better way.
Thanks,
Deven Hi Deven, I'm a bit surprised that having used Qimage for so many years, that you didn't know that: #2 is already there and always has been. #3 No Point! Cutouts are rebuilt from the Cutout folder. Why Libraries? If you imported some or made some, just place them into the Cutout folder. #4 You can already do most of what you want... you can fade to a particular opacity, and fade to color... Terry will give you a better reply soon. He is up on those. #5 Those files are in plain text. Pure ASCII that open in NOTEPAD But simply open your old saved printer setup and change Hybrid to Fusion with 2 clicks. Then resave. You just do this as you come across it. You don't have to do all at once. If you want to EDIT the print files, you can. The Fusion is saved as a NUMBER! I can't remember which line it is, but you can easily find it. Trial and error. Your #1 looks like it might fly! All up to Mike. Fred |
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Terry-M
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« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2013, 08:09:39 PM » |
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Hi Deven, 1. Ability to nudge the crop with the cursor keys. When I add an image to the queue and Ctrl+E, the only way to control the zoom and crop placement is with the cursor. Sometimes this does not allow fine enough control. Using the cursor keys to move the crop and the + and - keys to change the zoom would be helpful. Are you using the High Precision Crop screen, that is pretty good as it is full screen? It's accessed on the Crop tab with the magnifier icon with a + sign. Terry will give you a better reply soon. He is up on those. You seem to be au fait with cutouts but you do need a specific cutout for each opacity required. Mike would need to answer your question on #4 Terry |
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devenh
Newbie
Posts: 19
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« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2013, 09:04:56 PM » |
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Thanks for the reply. #2 is already there and always has been.
This may be case where my description was lacking I assume what you are referring to is the ability to save the setting to a filter. If so, then yes, I knew this. What I meant is that each time the dialog box is brought up it has the same default of saving the settings for only the Current image. What I am suggesting is that if I check the All image option that this setting be persistent so that the next time the dialog box pops up it retains that setting. If you are suggesting this is how your version of QI works, then some setting on my system needs to be fixed. #3 No Point! Cutouts are rebuilt from the Cutout folder. Why Libraries? If you imported some or made some, just place them into the Cutout folder.
I would prefer to avoid putting them in the Cutout folder because I am trying to place all my configuration files in Dropbox on the cloud. This approach automatically backs everything up and makes it easy to share setting between a laptop and a desktop. It also makes it much easier when reinstalling software after on OS reinstall. Elsewhere in QI you can so this. The default directory for printer settings can be updated, so why not for cutouts? #4 You can already do most of what you want... you can fade to a particular opacity, and fade to color... Terry will give you a better reply soon. He is up on those.
I look forward to finding out how to do this! #5 Those files are in plain text. Pure ASCII that open in NOTEPAD
But simply open your old saved printer setup and change Hybrid to Fusion with 2 clicks. Then resave. You just do this as you come across it. You don't have to do all at once.
If you want to EDIT the print files, you can. The Fusion is saved as a NUMBER!
I can't remember which line it is, but you can easily find it.
Trial and error.
Looks like I only tried to open the PRT file which is binary. The PR1 file is plain text, but the format is not very user friendly. Adopting an XML format for these configuration files would make them much more readable. And the example I described was deliberately simple, perhaps too simple. What if I move my printer from \\Server1\Epson3880 to \\Server2\Epson3880? I would have to cycle through each QI printer configuration file and change it. As far as I can tell, the printer info is not in the PR1 file so this takes the Notepad option off the table. If the configurations were saved in an XML file, then I could open them all in an advanced text editor (e.g. Notepad++) and do a global search and replace -- pretty painless. Deven |
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devenh
Newbie
Posts: 19
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« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2013, 09:16:42 PM » |
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Terry,
Regarding the High Precision Crop tool, I guess my first reaction is why is there a need for it? Why doesn't the regular crop tool work well enough?
To state it a bit differently, why not make the regular crop tool so good that there is no need for a High Precision tool?
For instance, why can't the regular crop tool be maximized to fill the screen? (Well, technically you can maximize it, but why don't the controls gracefully resize to take advantage of the larger screen?) If it could, would there be a need for High Precision?
Even if you do you High Precision, it is mouse based which sort of works against "high precision." And even in High Precision the image does not fill up the screen on a large monitor.
Deven
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Fred A
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« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2013, 09:22:05 PM » |
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What I meant is that each time the dialog box is brought up it has the same default of saving the settings for only the Current image. What I am suggesting is that if I check the All image option that this setting be persistent so that the next time the dialog box pops up it retains that setting.
It's in the dialogue box. There's a dot for APPLY the filter to all images in the queue. The rest: I have no way to help you. Fred |
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Terry-M
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« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2013, 09:24:53 PM » |
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Regarding the High Precision Crop tool, I guess my first reaction is why is there a need for it? Why doesn't the regular crop tool work well enough? I think we are talking at cross purposes. There are 2 types of cropping in Qimage (always has been): image cropping and print cropping. I was referring to print cropping where the image is small on the crop tab and tha is where the precision option is available. Yup, there are limitations when using a mouse. Terry |
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Terry-M
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« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2013, 09:45:30 PM » |
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I would prefer to avoid putting them in the Cutout folder because I am trying to place all my configuration files in Dropbox on the cloud. I like my "cloud" to be down to earth, dedicated backup drives sitting on my desk: fast reliable and they belong to me  They are also updated automatically to a schedule of my choice. I do have to be at home to synch with my laptop via the network though. I look forward to finding out how to do this! Cutouts: It's all in the Help under Cutouts. Terry |
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devenh
Newbie
Posts: 19
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« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2013, 11:02:12 PM » |
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Terry, Regarding the cloud, in case you are not familiar with Dropbox, it creates a Library on your PC (like My Music) and you save or read files from that folder. So the file reside on your system and Dropbox automatically copies them into the cloud and syncs them with any other linked PCs. Thus the file you edit or the photo you save in your Dropbox folder automatically gets copied onto any linked PC. Regarding Cutout opacity, I must be quite dim as when I search for help in QI I find nothing helpful (there is Example 24 in "Learning by Example," but it doesn't mention opacity). In the online help I can find http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/help/function.htm#cutouts, but again no mention of opacity. So, if you would be so kind, could you point me to the help page that explains how to control opacity? Thanks, Deven |
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devenh
Newbie
Posts: 19
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« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2013, 11:31:25 PM » |
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Terry,
Yes, I saw that page and I see no mention of opacity.
Maybe I haven't described my question adequately.
I do understand how to adjust the opacity of the cutout as described in the online help. If I want something to be gray, just create a cutout that sets the RGB values to 128, 128, 128.
Here's my question: If my cutout contains my copyright (e.g. (c) Deven) and the text color is white (255,255,255), is there a way to tell QI to blend it in such a way that the result is gray?
So the way I understand it now is that to adjust the opacity of the text I have to create a new cutout for each shade I want. I'm hoping to find an easier path where there is just one white cutout and a slider somewhere in QI where I can adjust the opacity.
Thanks for your patience!
Deven
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Terry-M
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« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2013, 10:09:42 AM » |
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Yes, I saw that page and I see no mention of opacity. But Transparency is mentioned,same thing the other way round isn't it? First to clarify: So the way I understand it now is that to adjust the opacity of the text I have to create a new cutout for each shade I want. Yes, that is the case but if you are nifty with your graphics program, create a master file and then modify the RGB values of the text for different transparency values and export each as a Cutout image file. Create a set, I doubt whether more that about 4 or 6 would be required, for use. If I want something to be gray, just create a cutout that sets the RGB values to 128, 128, 128. Assuming you are referring to the text, no that is not correct. RGB value that are a pure grey (0,0,0 to 255,255,255) produce transparency so 128,128,128 is semi-transparent. Ei. the image will show through the text. Because the default is "fade to white", it will look grey but also semi-transparent. To make the text grey, it's colour must be set a little off from the pure value, eg. 126,128,128, or any colour you like providing it's not a pure grey. Another neat thing you can do is make transparent text and tint it with a simple modification to the file name. So file: "Signature_transp.tiff" changed to "Signature_transp[250,250,0].tiff" will give a yellow tinted result but still be transparent because the text is a pure grey. Some samples attached below. 1. is made with the text as a yellow 255,238,0 2. is transparent text set at 50,50,50: Sig cutout-transp50.tiff 3. is same as 2 but with file name modified to give yellow tint: Sig cutout-transp50[200,200,0].tiff 4. is transparent text set at 150,150,150 with a pink tint: Sig cutout-transp150[175,110,140].tiff NB. For anyone else reading this, it is about basic cutout design techniques where a cutout is being used for a signature. The "Signature" feature of QU is a little different. Terry PS. I've attached downsized versions of the cutout images on the next post so you can see more or less what they look like. |
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« Last Edit: February 20, 2013, 10:14:13 AM by Terry-M »
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Terry-M
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« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2013, 10:15:34 AM » |
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I've attached downsized versions of the cutout images on the next post so you can see more or less what they look like. See below. Terry |
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devenh
Newbie
Posts: 19
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« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2013, 04:21:49 PM » |
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Terry,
Again, thanks for the detailed reply.
Yes, the help does talk about transparency and for our purposes here, that is pretty much the same as opacity. I use the term opacity because that is the term used in Photoshop layers.
For my copyrights I want the underlying layer to show through, so my font "color" is always a gray value (e.g. RGB 128,128,128).
Nevertheless, it seems that there is no way to control within QI the intensity of the transparency/opacity of the cutout other that creating a set of cutouts that were created with different transparency levels.
Again, what I am requesting is the ability of QI to take a cutout like a signature (e.g. black background (0,0,0) and white text (255,255,255)) and to be able to vary the transparency/opacity. With this feature, I could set the transparency to 50% and each RGB value in the cutout would be multiplied by 0.5 (e.g. background would still be (0,0,0), text color would be (128,128,128)).
Deven
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Mack
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« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2013, 07:21:14 PM » |
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I'll add #6 to the above "Feature Requests."
6. Make the "Cancel Printing" button (rightmost of the three) "Cancel AND Clean out the Windows printer queue as well" so one does not have the printer automatically resume printing on a Restart, or Windows to resume where it left off and keep printing once turned off and back on. Going into Control Panel > Devices & Printers > Selecting whatever printer might be holding onto a file to print > and clearing it of remaining jobs (often the same one) is a total pain! I just want it to Stop Printing! if I hit the "Cancel" icon. Something stuck in that queue is a nightmare and often slow to get it to cleaned out completely too.
Wasting paper on a Windows printer queue that holds (or even "Saves") a image file and tries again later after I have hit the "QI Cancel button" gets expensive at $5 a sheet. Windows 8-64 gets persistent on saving stuff in that printer queue if I cancel out a job. Cancel should "CANCEL" and not resume/restart later on.
Mack
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