Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I was thinking out loud that many are long time Qimage users, many are new to Qimage, and there are many reading this that ask, What is a Qimage?

Many people think (and it is) that Qimage is the best printing software on the planet, but what else can it do?

So I am attaching, (as a start) something to whet the appetite, hoping that other users will submit some more appetite whetters, and hopefully, some respondents that will ask, Hey just what I was looking to create.  How do I do that?

In this post, there's a cockeyed pair of images which can be placed on the page with other making a collage, a scrapbook, a coffee table conversation album, greeting cards, etc.
Done easily in Qimage.
This should be fun and something to learn for each of us.

Fred

Here is another (attached) that makes use of the Cutout/Frame feature.
This is an elaborate "frame" and something I don't often do. It depends on your on taste and the situation where the image will be used.
I must say, that it does require some external graphics program to make the cutout/frame image but it is possible to combine effects within Qimage. The one shown is a combination of the inner, bevel effect with the outer black frame.
Terry.

Frankly, a little complex and techie for me, but some of you might be into the frames and cutouts.
I am aiming at the new people who are trying Qimage demo, or have recently purchased Qimage.

I take the more simplistic route..  :D :-*

How about making something like this:

Fred

That's a nice place you've got there Fred, where is it ?

or this:

It might be some sheik's palace, but it sure isn't mine.
 :P :-X

Ok, here's a simple exercise that I run into a lot, mainly because of being disorganized.  ::)
I want to print 10 8 x 10s and have the 10 images all set to print in Qimage. I slowly get up and walk the 5 feet to the closet where I keep my paper...  ???
That's good planning, Fred. I only have 6 sheets left in the pack. ::)

I better make 5 x 7 instead... they are proofs anyway, and at my discretion.
Easy to change those 10 ready to print 8 x 10s to 5 x 7s.

Right click on the file names in the queue, the box just below the thumbnails, and click Select All.
Can also R click on the larger preview panel top right area.
Now just click the size list and click on 5 x 7.
They all changed, 2 on a sheet; and if you were in Optimal Spaced placemet, all comes out even and neat.

Fred

Terry I must ask,

Making your cards is it hard to have the inside of the card line-up with the outside of the card.
I print the outside of the card .. flip paper .. print the inside .. sometimes the text is off center big time >:(

Ya Me

I make cards in one run through the printer.
I make the opposite side reversed so when folded it is right side up.
Never can swear that any printer will register the paper exactly the same on pass two.
Fred

Terry

If a person doesn't have a program to make those Cutout/frame.
Where can a person find them?
Do they need to be a certain size and formatt?

Ya Me

Like Fred, registration is never perfect but there are some things that I've done that help.

• 1. Make a test print on an ordinary piece of paper and then "nudge" (arrow keys), the image positions in Qimage Full Page Editor to compensate for consistent errors. Re-check with a test print
• 2. Design the card such that any registration errors are less noticeable; eg use a border around an image, use a fade cutout to make the image edge vague. Thus, when the card is trimmed, there's something to play with on both sides
• Regarding text alignment, I usually link it to an image or template; then text has a more positive datum for location

I think number 1 is the most important. Attached is screen snap of a loaded template for a card. Each double sided sheet made 2 cards and on some versions extra images were used for inside and on the back, hence the empty template positions.
Note too some text is upside down - it comes right in the end  ;)
Terry.

There are some supplied with the Qimage program. Use the batch filter with an image to see what they are. Most are Cutouts (mask the image). Frames surround the image - it's all in the file name, see Help.
The standard format is 1000x1000 pixels as a minimum size. Qimage stretches the cutout or frame image to fit the photo image. This means, that in some cases, the short sides or a frame are thicker than the long sides. This is easily overcome by making the frame rectangular (say 1000x 1333px) to roughly match the aspect ratio of the image.
Sorry if that's all a bit techie,   ::) have a play with the ones already in Qimage to get the idea of how they work.

Over time, I have made or acquired extra cutouts and frames and I'm happy to share them. If you send me a message with your e-mail address, I can e-mail them to you as an attachment.
Perhaps I could make a special gallery on PBase, give me a few days  8)
Terry.

Sorry about the "a bit techie" thing."
I really meant offerings to ne people.
When some one asks for a HOW DO YOU DO IT, then your expertise is welcomed and certainly not too techie for the person that asked as well others that are equally interested..
Apologize for my heavy hand.

Fred

Terry in regards to your post « Reply #9 on: August 15, 2009, 03:08:02 PM »

Silly me .. I can see now. ;D ;D
Thanks for posting Christmas card(0001).jpg attachment.
I won't even try .. to tell you how I've been trying to do a card with text inside the card.

You explained it very well. :)
I have saved this posting to my favorites so I can follow it step by step.

Thanks Very Much

Ya Me

Now I remember reading it. :-[
The way you just explained it I think I understand it a little bit better.

If I share my address .. you won't get fresh with me will you?;D

That is so nice of you to share. You take all the time you need.

Thanks
Ya Me

Fred

You may have a heavy hand.
But I think you have a very light stick :D :D

Ya Me

Warning, 8x10 is not directly proportional to 5x7.  You must change settings to ether let QI crop (unacceptable for a proof) or re-size to fit, leaving som white around it (preferred).

Seth,
I think you missed the whole point of my post.
It had nothing at all to do with commercial proof sizes, or aspect ratio of 8 x 10 being different from 5 x 7.

It had to do with an example of how easily Qimage will allow you to change the print size of a bunch of images all at one time.

Fred

Hi Fred-

Actually, I read your posts and saw they were directed at new or demo users.  In that vein, I was just adding information lest they think it was an automatic crop, etc.  The beauty of it is the control and options we do have.

Seth

Here's one  :)
You may have noticed in some of my attachments above, that the image file name is in the format of a date and a number, the number being that given by the camera.
Qimage did that!  ???
It has a feature which enables you to download images from your camera memory card, to any folder,existing or new, of your choice, and auto re-name them in the process.
I always re-name to include the image date followed by the original camera number. It makes the file name far more meaningful.  :P

Remember too, that you can use the auto rename function on any batch on selected images, you don't have the use a date. EG. enter "My Town " and Q  will rename a batch "My Town (0001)", "My Town (0002)" .... etc.

See attached screen snap of my image download re-name settings.
Terry

Terry

Sorry it took me so long to post.

Just what to say thanks for sharing the cutouts and frames.
They are really great!
That was so nice of you :)

Thanks Again
Ya Me

"No worries"  ;)
One of these day's I intend to make a little catalogue of them all showing them applied to an image. I could then weed out the duff ones.
You could do that if you like  ;D
Terry.

Hello Terry and Fred,

Just got round to reading this thread. I guess the word challenge has been keeping me away!!

What weight of paper do you use for your folded cards. I'm pretty committed to Ilford Smooth Pearl and it's 290gm.

I'm happy to get some lighter paper in for Christmas, etc - and in fact now you make the suggestion, I could start home producing the nice little notelets I have been buying from Moo.com

Tony

Hi Tony,
The examples shown in reply #3 above were printed on Ilford Smooth Heavyweight Matte, 200gm.
Reply #9 shows how they were laid out on A4 to get 2xA5  on each sheet. A5 folded is about as big as you'd want to go with the 200gm paper.
Because I've wanted cards printed on the inside too, I seem to be stuck with the size limit of A5 folded.
I have tried 290gm plain card, but the gauge is larger than 290gm Ilford Smooth Pearl and it would not reliably go through my R800 printer, even with the thick paper setting on.
I don't think I could use the Ilford Smooth Pearl for double sided printing; when I've printed on the wrong side accidentally, the pigment ink does not dry.
Terry.

Hello Tony,
Been a long while!
I will leave you in Terry's capable hands.
At least you chaps talk to each other in mms and cms.   ??? ::) :P :D

But Terry .. your the Master :)

If you don't mind me asking what program do you use to make you cutouts & frames?
They are very nice an clean.

Ya Me

 :-\I guess I'm a little thick. I just don't get how to do a card from scratch. I would like to print some cards with a picture on the front with some type underneath it, open the card and have some text (and possibly a smaller picture) on the right hand side. I use an Epson2200. I process my pictures (for the most part) in Capture NX2. I could convert to jpg. I wonder if anyone would be so kind as to give me step by step instruction on how to layout in Qimage so I can just drop whatever picture I want on the front and possibly a smaller one on the inside of the card. The text would be a permanent part of the layout. Do I have to use double sided paper? Do I have to run it through the printer twice? How do you allow for alignment? Do you leave excess on the margins so after you fold you then cut so it is aligned?

Thanks,


Mike

It took me a while it get it right and visualise what it should look like on the printed page.
Have a look at my earlier posts #3 and #9. The latter shows you what the template would look like for printing 2 cards on 1 sheet, double sided. On each side there's a back and a front to make the 2 cards.
The red hatched rectangles are the templates, use the template that is at the end of every set of thumbs, treat it just like an image. Save the page as a Layout but use it from Custom/Layout.
I used Ilford double sided smooth heavyweight matte.
Yes unless your printer has automatic duplex printing. When doing it manually, take care to turn the page over in the right way. The example shown was turned end to end.
See my post #9 which gives some tips on getting the front to back alignment as good as possible.
I used Qimage printed Edges/Guidelines and cut before folding. I sometimes have to do a small trim if the fold was not quite right. You could try leaving excess, fold and then do a final trim.

Thanks Terry,

My supplier had that Ilford double sided 200 gm paper.

I'll get a box and start experimenting.

Have a good weekend folks.

Tony

Terry,
Are you telling me that in reply 26 that the left side prints on one side of the paper and right side prints on the other? If so I guess I don't understand how it does that. It looks to me that the picture on the front of the card is on the upper right and the greeting on the inside of the card is on the lower left. Is that correct? If so do you print the upper right and then flip the paper and run it through again to print the lower left or am I just making way too much of this. I've tried reading the help and tried to follow what you said but I am lost. Sorry for being so dense. (and thanks for trying to help me out)

Mike

Sorry if things are not clear  :-[
Referring to reply #3 and the attachment (click to enlarge), the top half of the page is the front and back of one card where the fold line is just to left of the picture, i.e. the vertical centre line of the whole page. The bottom half of the page is the inside of the second card, left and right hand parts. Again the fold line is the vertical centre line.

The best way to understand this is to do what I did originally, do a rough sketch on a piece of A4 paper.
Sketch what you see in #3 attachment and make sure the text is upside down as shown. Turn the piece of paper over, bottom to top and do the sketch again, exactly the same as the #3 attachment.
Now, cut the paper in half, horizontally, across the page (short dimension cut).
You should now have 2 dummy cards ready to fold, a picture on the front, blue text on left inside page, red text on right inside page and small blue text at the bottom of the back side.

This is a lot of words to try & describe this (I need a Video cam and a YouTube account), but playing with sketches & scrap paper is the best way to understand what I've done.
Best of luck, come back again if it's still not clear.
Terry.

 :D :D :D

Terry,

Thank you so much for your patience. I will be trying the paper test tomorrow and I'm sure it will work fine. This is a great place with very understanding people trying to help those of us trying something new. I really appreciate it.

Mike

This is what I was trying to do.

1. Print image on face of card
2. Flip paper  ..  print the text  ..  for inside of card
3. Fold card  ..  there would be just 1 fold

I have trouble getting the text centered  (or where I want it)  inside the card.
You can buy card stock for cards, that have a crease already on it.
I'll buy it when it is on sale. I'm cheap ;D ;D

But Terrys way does work on full size paper.

Ya Me