Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I love Qimage and have been using it for several years.

I welcome assistance with the following queries to streamline my workflow.

I use pre-prepared templates (A5, A4, A3 and A2) landscape and portrait. These templates make use of metadata objects to include such items as date/time, location, copyright, title, etc..(Various sizes, locations, etc).  These have evolved over years and very happy with results.

I would like to significantly reduce the number of repetitive clicks while using Qimage  combined with other elements of my workflow.

Question 1.

How can I start Qimage so it always starts with a predefined template, printer, paper, landscape / portrait, print profile, sharpening and interpolation set.  The Key part of this question is that I would like to start each session with my default and most used Qimage print template.

Question2.
Can I start Qimage so that it loads images from a specific folder into the print que at start up. [ I do not want to use the same que each time, such as a default print que], but to be able to specify the input print que (or source of the print que) at program launch.  If this feature was available I could write scripts to automate my use of Qimage.


Question 3 / Feature Request.
I would love to be able to place a few  custom icons on the toolbar where I can set specific templates per icon.  This would be a major timesaver and improve QC and overall efficiency. Any ideas how I could achieve this.

Question 4 / Feature Request.
I would also like a button which would allow me with a single click to clear the print que but retain the current template. (I have read elsewhere on the forum re right click whch I will check out). I can do this with multiple clicks, would like one click.

My end game is to select images from Lightroom, right click to "Edit in Qimage", select original images and have these images automatically placed into my default print template with all key defaults set. (I use a variety of Raw Conversion tools but Lightroom to maintain my studio workstation and travel laptop and synch between both). All printing done from the workstation.

This is my first post.  Pls advise if I should post questions like this as a collected group or one by one in future.

Best regards.

Qimage opens with whatever set-up was last used but not if it was a template layout as far as I can see.
You can save and recall Print Set-ups which cover all of the above except an actual template layout. You might want to check out saving/recalling as a JOB, but just the Settings (not images); that option is always given.

Q2 and:
A partial answer was given on this a few days ago in a post, see http://ddisoftware.com/tech/qimage/lightroom-qimage/ the 5th post on that thread.

Do check out the right click; Qimage has a full set of context menus. When you clear the Queue, you are asked to if about continuing with the same template-layout, click yes. There are also keyboard short cuts availble too, it helps to let go of that mouse sometimes  ;)

To some extent this is an "old chestnut". Mike responded on similar requests by introducing the Menu Cheater button where most, if not all menu items that were low down in a hierarchy, could be accessed with one click.
To me it seems unreasonable to expect that one persons preferences for special buttons are catered for.
Terry.

It seems reasonable to ME for that request.  For everyone that requests it there are probably 10 more that have kept silent.

Look at the top screen and see how members there are here.  How many hundreds (or thousands) of other users are NOT here.

Even if a fraction of forum members wanted their own special buttons to suit their particular workflow, it would become unmanageable. I would think Mike has to balance the program features with the needs of ALL users and what HE sees as the way forward in it's development.
For those who don't belong to this forum,  I can only assume they are happy with things as they are.

Two other things occur to me: first, Mike is very responsive to user comments about Qimage improvements, way beyond what you'd get from most other image programs.
Secondly, if this program is an important tool in anyone's work flow, learn to use it, know what is in the context menus, learn the keyboard shortcuts.
Terry.

Maybe I was presumptuous saying this, I should let Mike answer for himself  :-[
Terry.

I think it would be more practical to be able to change to a layout using the Print Size list - I would like to be able to add layouts to the list using the 'Size Tool' button.

Brian

Feedback and comments to-date appreciated.  8)

Re. Buttons.
I understand that it is impossible to meet every individual request for custom buttons.  I suggested buttons to solve my problem becasue of the amount of screen real estate now available on large monitors command line.  Nirvana would exist if we could configure our own buttons. [Right click on say 3 custom buttons to select a command or a template]

My underlying challenge  would be solved by allowing a default template to be specified at start up time (via a start up sub command eg D:/Qimage.exe /template ..... the same as DOS commands) and making it easier to change a template than the current  process. I will expand on this later when I get home and  simulate / document my current sequence of steps required to change from one template to another.  [Note.. I cannot use the open template command using the open button, as this should only be used if changing the format of the template]  It is quite possible there is a better sequence than what I currently use and those with superior knowledge / experience may be able to show me the way.

I acknowledge Mike is responsive to requests which improve the overall product for everone.

I will study all responses in more detail, in a few hours time,  when I return to base and then post a more specific message to describe the process I would like to improve.

Re Reference to another thread (Qimage as a 3rd party in Lightroom and use of a nominated printing folder).

Thanks for the feedback.  I have already set up Qimage as a 3rd party application and can get it to deliver images into the print que in Qimage [if I opt not to create copies or use raw as source and have a template pre-loaded]. This is very useful. I would still like to improve usability of templates within Qimage.

I do not wish to use a dedicated monitored printing directory at the moment, as I already have a very good filing structure for all of my images and do not want to have the headache of managing another collection of files (ie remember to delete previous, overwriting files with same name, etc.). The real reason not to use a  temp directory is that I file / save every print job for archival purposes and like to be able to re-print using the source image from its structured filing location for a future reprint if necessary (ie another very good feature of Qimage).

Change Template or Select Template.

These are the steps I perform to Select or Change a Template (*.TPL)

Click on Custom size bar.            This provides a list of custom sizes incl "Custom".
Click on Custom option.              This displays the special sizes dialogue.
Select Layout. This initiates the process to select a predefined page layout.

I am now in an Open file Dialogue, where I can select a Page Set.
Select the correct *.TPL file.

Of course, if the page size of the new layout is changed, I have to go through the process of changing page size on the print dialogue first (rather than accepting new settings …size and orientation… from the new template).

If someone could suggest a more efficient procedure for selecting or changing templates I would be eternally grateful.

I have been advised previously not to use the "Recall Button" as this should not be used to establish a new template into the print que.

So ideally I would love a button which would allow me select my most often used or "default" template.
The next best thing would be a template button which would bring straight to the dialogue where I could select a template from my library of templates (like the recall button). Selecting a template ideally would re-set paper size and orientation.

These suggestions are generic in nature and not focused on a unique button just for my workflow.  Looking forward to any suggestions or comments.

This is my way, and works perfectly every time.
I have two choices.
1) I do File, Recall, and "P" and select my printer setup with the size paper and profile and orientation all set to go.
2) then I do your routine using Custom and predefined layouts.

Mode 2)
Just save the job instead of the template alone. Saving it as a JOB, (optional with or without images) will permit you to open that job later, and have it all.
The printer setup, the templates, all the settings, profiles, resolution; everything.
You do this by clicking FILE SAVE, then click the "J" button and name the save.

Hope that gives you an idea.
Fred

Just for reference, it takes me 10 seconds to do that including opening the layout.

In addition to Fred's suggestions, which are probably better that using a template, especially mode 2, you need a template for each page size/orientation.
Again, I hope this is of help too, try all the existing features that same time.
Terry.

Fred / Terry.  Great feedback. I will explore further. Thanks.

Just an additional tip... (Forgive me if I am telling you something you already knwo)
You can create your own templates by using the template thumbnail in any and various sizes. You can even place floating text on the templates like your "Photo by ABC" and the filename.
When you save that as a template. you save that with the sizes of prints, with your floating text, and the location on the page of the prints. You can move them around on the page and save that.
Fred

I see where you are going.  Basically, an Action button like Photoshop, et al.

Seth,
IMHO, a click of FILE, RECALL, and select the JOB to recall, is one helluva an Action button.  8)

Fred

That is not an "Action;" it is a sequence.  I thought you were familiar with Photoshop.

I just wanted gnits to know someone understood what he was saying.

Me?  Photoshop? Familiar?
You must be joking!   ???

No one knows less about PS than I.
I have never bought a PS or a CS in my life. ::)

Fred

Other software, like MS Office, call it a "macro", the automatic execution of a sequence of program operations.
I assume you can record an action In PS like you can a macro in Office. I know you can edit a recorded macro too.
Terry.

Terry-

Yep. Give it a name, turn on record, do what you want, hit stop.  And, can assign key combos if you you want. Next time click and watch.

DO we need it in a printing program like QI?  Probably not.

Fred,

Thanks for the feedback.  I would position myself as an advanced user of templates , but do not pretend to think that I totally grasp all the nuances of Qimage. I have a series of templates made which cover A5,A4,A3,A2 (landscape and portrait) with multiple meta data components, developed over a few years.

Photography is a hobby, but an important hobby. I have a heavy commercial IT background and strive to permanently improve workflow. I am proud of what I photograph and especially print  and use Qimage to volume print 50 plus A4 images (with metadata) after a trip or individual A2 sized fine art sets.

I started this discussion because I was keen to streamline my workflow from Lightroom to Qimage and bypass the Lightroom printing engine (as we know, does not compete with Qimage).

I have discovered thru this forum how to export selected images from Lightroom directly to a template in Qimage. Fantastic. [I just need to make sure Qimage has been started and printer and template settings in place].

I feel all the functionality to deal with templates in Qimage is there. As confirmed by others (once the routine is established) that it should not take more than ten seconds and multiple clicks to get the desired (and highly productive result).  I also feel (again because  the functionality is already there) that a few tweaks could improve this even further; namely

•    Allow a default template (or job) be loaded at start. [Very useful for people who use template /job based printing, no impact if you don't. Could be a DOS like parameter]

•    Make it easier (ie reduced clicks) to change / select a new template / job.

I have got some very good suggestions already from this discussion re use of printer set up parameters (which I never considered before) and job setup without an imbedded image.  This gives me a very workable setup and some suggestions to explore further (and will).

Despite this, I would like  Mike to consider my bullet points as possible enhancements.

I am not hung up on buttons specifically as a solution or proposing the development of a macro language. (A bridge too far).  I do think there is potential long term to allow people link a single (existing) command or template/job file to a few custom buttons.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Interesting proposal.
In the Custom box, at the bottom, there's a toggle selection that offers the user the choice of making his opening entry temporary or permanent.
The one for Layout grays out.
I know there is a good reason for that, but I just cannot remember what it was.
Maybe that would work for you. Maybe, if there were side effects to doing that, it could be activated in preferences.

Best I can think of....
Mike will probably straighten me out later.

 :o
Fred

I tried to use the Permanent option, but could not activate, as per your experience.

Food for thought.

Actually, you would be asking the programmer to change a lot of code to save you two mouse clicks.
As I think about it, that's not a fair deal.  ::)
Then  comes Mr. digi who has a different workflow,and he wants one click.
You can see the slippery slope we would be approaching!   :(

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Fred

Fred

It may be just a few clicks, but if you use a lot of layouts in a production environment they soon add up. I still think that a feasible solution would be to be able to add layouts to the the print size menu using the Size Tool button.

Brian

I could say have you tried asking the Lightroom programmers to reduce the number of clicks in their program, but of course, we don’t expect such things from the “big name” software companies.  ;)

What I will say is that when analysing a process, it is good to step back and look at the “big picture” and the main chunks of it.
You could remove a complete chunk in your work flow by processing the raw files in Qimage and not using another, separate, converter. This would reduce the number of files because you can then print from raw and reduce the number of clicks because Q-SE raw processing & refinement is simple and smart.
If you’ve not tried it, then I suggest you do: that is my challenge to you  ;D
OK., I know some users like to do fancy stuff in an editor but if that is not the norm or 16bit editing is not required, the Q-SE raw is the way to go and there is still the option of further refinement with Qimage filters.
Terry.

Terry,
I have to second your post with weight.
I never shot raw until Mike made Qimage accept raw, and even then, "My Jpgs were great", was my mantra.
Then I began to timidly shoot Raw + JPG (in case)   
Now with a little knowledge and Qimage Studio, I was really getting better results because I had better control over my hot spots and shadows.
Finally dumped the JPGs, and I shoot in the Raw only now. (No peeking!)

Then came the evolution of QSE to do fill light in an easy fashion so Raw images could be optimized for lighting as well as one click White Balance.
Next was the post on the Qimage web page showing Qimage Studio rendition of a Raw image compared to LR and the original.
My socks were knocked off!

All this done in under 30 seconds! No twiddling and tweaking at this point.
I say that to remind you (but you know) and others, that the batch filter screen still remains available for your tweaking; e.g cropping the image, cutouts, sepia, and asst predefined filters, curves and Levels.... and on and on.. should you feel compelled to do more.

At this point, it is rare that I use the non destructive filters in Qimage at all except for a cutout. That in itself is a testament to the output of the Raw coverage that Qimage SE affords.
You heard of a Smoker that was converted to a Non-Smoker? I am a JPGER converted to a NON-JPGER to RAW.
 ;D Nothing worse than those people. ;)
Fred

1. I do not want to get into a Qimage / Adobe debate. I prefer to respect the point of view that all product developers have a bigger wish list and more demands than they have resources. I very much respect that current quality and maturity of Qimage and Mike's vision and contribution.

2. I do not want to get into a debate about which raw converter is best. I use several. I have always shot raw plus small jpg and only process raw. I was using Capture One before Lightroom or Adobe raw conversion ever existed. I do use Qimage templates extensively and to me they are a major boost to productivity and Quality Control.

3. Please ignore any previous remarks about buttons (a distraction ...introduced by myself as a possible solution... a long long long term nice to have).

My inital query was to gain from the collected wisdom of this forum.
a. Was there a way to have a default template / job loaded at startup.
b. Was there any easier way  to change from one template to another.

I have gleaned some very useful feedback already , which I am already putting to good use.

I would like Mike to consider these enhancement requests for some future development.

These requests are absolutely generic in nature. I believe this will save me a lot of times and reduce mistakes. I also feel it will benefit others.


In the meantime, I have work arounds. I printed over 100 A4 pages last night without a glitch.

That's good to hear, but don't "work arounds" apply to program bugs and none are actually apparent in this case.  :o
Terry.

No  debate at all, my friend.
The thread was supposed to be loosely woven around how I use my Qimage and how people use apps in their workflow.
It's the old: Whatever floats your boat, reply that prevails.

I was trying to relate the chain of events that led *me* to a better digital experience as an evolution in time.

Sorry if I came across the wrong way.
Fred

Brian Price sums up the real world situation in his first sentence below.



I will leave it to people with internal product knowledge to suggest the best technical solution. Brian's suggestion has legs.

I am not reporting any bugs, just a simple suggestion.

I'm not telling my answer to that  ;D
Terry.

There is another answer you know.
Instead of trying to get teh Qimage author to  rework Qimage to better interface with Lightroom, one could ask Lighttroom to purchase the Qimage print engine.
That would be equally effective.  ::) :-\
 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Fred

There is another option (but I have done a bad job previously of trying to explain this to Mike in a direct email. Let me try again).

If Mike developed a Qimage plug-in for Lightroom !!!!!!

Before people go crazy with this idea, let me expand a little bit.

Imagine a Qimage  Export Plug-In for Lightroom which allowed the user to;

a. Select images (raw or tiff or jpg)....standard Lightroom functionality
b. Select from Qimage a template or job or printer set up.

Hit the Export button in Lightroom.

Boom.......Qimage opens up with all of the selected images already populated in a  Qimage que, with templates and printer settings in place. Nirvana.

The advantage of the Plug-In structure is that it would allow Mike to open up a dialogue box to select required parameters to send to Qimage (ie template or job or printer or size). This creates Qimage inside of Lightroom.

This would achieve the streamlined workflow I was looking for earlier.

Now pause to consider the following.

Mike does not have to develop the plug-in.   He has it already developed and it works (if you use the 3rd party application feature of Lightroom. I am now using this feature every day. All Mike  needs to do is package it into a plug in using the available Lightroom SDK. I was afraid to try the 3rd pary application bit before, but picked up how to on this forum. It works a treat.

What are the advantages for Mike.

He can now market a Lightroom Plug In.
He can sell a Lightroom plug-in... so garner real revenue.
He could decide to make it a feature of say the Studio Version to add value to Studio version sales.
He could use it as a marketing  tool for Qimage.
Open up the massive global Lightroom market to Qimage, so extra Qimage sales.
He has the plug-in already, it just needs to be packaged as a plug-in.

I monitor most of the Lightroom blogs and discussions. Let me be the first to say that Lightroom has strengths, but also considerable weaknesses. I can give you a long list as I am very familiar with the tool for volume use. Specifically, there  is major grief with the short comings in the Lightroom Print Module, so there is a market for real printing functionality that would work seamlessly with Lightroom. Qimage is that product.

What are the advantages for Qimage users.
No change if you do not use Lightroom.
No change if you do not use jobs or templates.
Major gains in workflow if you use Lightroom and love Qimage.

There are overlaps in both products (eg Raw/Printing), but there is also massive synergies (ie there not mutually exclusive).

Let me step back now for a while. I am very interested in the response.

There are some things already in the cross-hairs that will make things easier.  Ability to have layouts in the size dropdown is one of them.  That's one of those things that has sunk to the bottom of the barrel and hasn't bubble back up from there because people rarely ever request that feature.

Mike

Actually, Terry, that is NOT a true statement. Chris Cox and several of the other Adobe programmers both get onto and monitor the Photoshop discussion lists.  AND, they take things back as I have seen some show up in updates/upgrades.

Nikon and Canon do likewise.



Fred-
I, too, have an IT background in a former life.  Although not a programmer, (I hate it but respect) I was a Systems Engineer in both the IBM and Apple side.  Your statement may or may not be correct, but how do you know how much code it would take?  It depends what language it is done in; and, it may bhe just a boilerplate insertion.

Seth

Ditto.

I don't intend to get into a QI/Adobe contest, any more than I like PC/MAC battles.

I have always said that QI and PS are two different animals.  I tell MANY more people they need to be using QI for printing.

"Fill light" in QI was recently changed from "Gamma," which is what it is.  However, it is not a cure all.  Learning to use the midtone slider in Levels is just as important to image quality since Gamma alone can do some deadly things.

Those not using selective dodging, burning, local tone adjustment, History Brush, etc. are losing some options.  (NO, Mike, I am NOT asking for those in QI!)  Photomatrix (though I do not own it) has its place for HDRI also.  One does not reach nirvana (if it's reachable) with any of these programs alone.  Anyone without any experience with another product really has no credibility talking about that product.  IMHO, saying that any one of these programs is the end to a means is nuts.   

Anybody that thinks good enough is good enough is not REALLY producing the best quality.

I have no intention of making Qimage, an application that already has vastly more printing functionality than Lightroom, subservient to Lightroom and therefore bound by its many limitations.  This would be a poor business decision for many reasons, but these should be enough:

• Qimage gets much of its functionality from the fact that it is its own application, can browse/organize jobs, thumbnails, albums, etc.  Crippling Qimage by making it a "back end" for an interface that simply wasn't designed for efficient batch processing would remove one of the biggest benefits of Qimage.
• Qimage is already bound by Windows limitations such as RAM.  Now you want to limit it further by loading a memory hog on top of it.
• Adobe doesn't support my programming language in their SDK.
• Fiddling with plug-in code will amount to almost as much work as porting Qimage to another language.  I know many people who won't want me to spend my time trying to figure out how to nurse an Adobe product with my code, taking valuable time from real development.
• As others have pointed out, you can already send photos from Lightroom to Qimage and get the full functionality of Qimage without being limited by a third party SDK.

Honestly, Adobe is just starting to dabble in some of the things I did a decade ago like non-destructive filters, output sharpening, batch importing and renaming, etc. so staying the course and not getting mired up in smaller distractions makes sense.  A lot of people are looking for a way to batch process/print photos for a reasonable price.  There are two target audiences for Qimage.  The people who have already paid $700 for PhotoShop, $300 for Lightroom, and hundreds more on print sharpening plugins don't mind paying another $89.95 to get the best print output and printing options available.  On the other hand, for the non-pros who don't want to spend $300 on a glorified raw converter that can't print (I say that because that's how many of the non-pros use it), Qimage is an attractive option as well.

Bottom line: Being a one man show has it's advantages and disadvantages.  The advantage is that I get to stay on top of things and provide better service.  The down side is that I don't have time to dabble in the "lesser" things that might make some income like plugins.  I have to stick with the biggest hitters and right now, that's still a standalone program.

Mike

I support Mike's position. LR's print module is trying to play catchup.

Amen.

Although I am not a phone of Lightroom (cumbersome!) I do just as you say with CS3.  I still use the full editor for final "tweaks" such as color shift, contrast, some levels adjustments, etc.  It's a life saver.


IMO, QI is a complemental program to PS.

I am glad you will stay the course.

My objective in starting the thread was to find a more efficient way to process templates.

My specific focus was to be able to

• Start Qimage with a default template (ie one I select )

• More easily change from one template to another with the min no of clicks.

As is normal  in any thread, we have veered in a few directions incl (raw / jpg), (Adobe / Qimage) and then into (Qimage +/-, plug-ins etc).

I would like to close this discussion with the comments that I feel Mike understands my request, I have got and use some very good suggestions, the idea of using the size button has been suggested and may be an option and look forward to ongoing evolution of the product.

Yours sincerely.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have ask this question before on yahoo groups, but didn't really get any way to work it out.
The problem is I have a hp z3100 and using 24 inch paper, I have created a 11x24 page(for ease of handling in the cutter), but would like to be able to put more than one predefined layout on the page. When I try this it automatically creates a second page, which is a pain. feeding 8x10 sheets on this is out of the question. I don't have an 11inch roll either but probably should. Are there any work arounds, I have tried creating my own layouts but it is such a hassle to get the little boxes all lined up.

I can't help with your main question but:
You can use the arrow keys when in the Full Page Editor and CTRL Arrow will align a print or template with another on the page.
Terry.

A most interesting thread, discussed amicably and sensibly.  Thank you all
John