Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Mike's Software => Qimage Ultimate => Topic started by: billj on April 26, 2021, 10:55:57 PM



Title: flt file line meanings
Post by: billj on April 26, 2021, 10:55:57 PM
Is there a template or other document that I can go to to see what the various line entries in *.flt files are controlling? Is the format different for the pre-defined filters and the .flt files generated in the file directory with the image(s)? They seem to be slightly different. Can an .flt file generated for an image be used as a global filter?


Title: Re: flt file line meanings
Post by: Fred A on April 27, 2021, 07:45:09 AM
Quote
Is there a template or other document that I can go to to see what the various line entries in *.flt files are controlling? Is the format different for the pre-defined filters and the .flt files generated in the file directory with the image(s)? They seem to be slightly different. Can an .flt file generated for an image be used as a global filter?
This is easy but many faceted.
1) Just hover the mouse pointer over the thumb file name as long as it is red or purple, and you will see the filters in use.
1a) You can also right click the thumbnail and select Remove Filters and you can then selectively choose to remove all or one.

The Predefined filters are essentially the same except that some simple ones are premade for you, and/or you can make your own, and save it to be used as a  filter you like.
For example, I like to use a FADE OVAL cutout a lot to cover background clutter. In the Editor, I selected my fade oval and using FILE menu, saved it as a predefined filter with a name.
The neat part is that I can right click on any thumbnail image, select PRE DEFINED FILTERs and apply it from there.

2) Global filters:  Tricky.   It will be applied as a single filter as you print, but any other filters you associated  with that image will be ignored.
Use sparingly as the help file advises.
Hope this helps.
Fred


Title: Re: flt file line meanings
Post by: billj on April 27, 2021, 05:57:07 PM
Thank you Fred, but that didn't answer my question: Is there a template or other document that I can go to to see what the various line entries in *.flt files are controlling? That is the main question for me. I would like to understand what all the entries are controlling.

One related question - how do you enter a comment in the *.flt files? Would they be preceded with a "#" or "/" or some other character?

I am using a global filter to fine-tune my custom printer profile, and would want it applied to all prints on that particular printer. I don't do any editing or filtering on individual images, other than basic crops in QI, and I expect all files to be printed as visualized in my post-processing workflow, which is basically either via LightRoom, PhotoShop or CorelPainter. It would be a lot easier if I knew what the various numbers mean.


Title: Re: flt file line meanings
Post by: admin on April 27, 2021, 07:08:41 PM
The flt files are not user-editable.  For what you want to do, it would make sense to just save printer setups.  Activate the print filter you want to use and then save the printer setup: for example if you've created a curves filter for Luster paper, save "Epson-P600-Premium-Luster-Curves".  Then when you load that printer setup, the print filter is recalled as part of the printer setup.

Regards,
Mike


Title: Re: flt file line meanings
Post by: billj on April 29, 2021, 06:23:29 PM
Thanks Mike - that's good suggestion about using printer setups. I'll try that.

As for the flt files not being user-editable, I assume you actually mean they are not meant to be. I have made my own by modifying some of the parameters in a text editor, and saving them into the filters directory under a new name, and used them successfully for several years now. But I sure would like to know the ins-and-outs of the flt file structure.