Copyright: Copyright (c) 1996, Ulead Systems, Inc.


This help file is for Ulead PhotoImpact with WebExtensions version. To access this file, choose the "Background Designer" or "Button Designer" commands from the Web Menu and press F1 or press the help button in their associated dialog boxes


Background Designer

Allows you to create unique textured images ideally suited for use as backgrounds for web pages.

  Creating backgrounds: Custom Magic

  Creating backgrounds: Textures

  Creating backgrounds: Logos


Simple Each side of the button consists of only one color.

Depth Each side of the button can consist of two different colors. This can give buttons the appearance of greater depth.

Recessed Each side of the button can consist of three different colors. This can give buttons the appearance of having a rim around them.

Image Each side of the button consists of color-enhanced portions of the current image. This gives the entire image a beveled look.


Background Designer dialog box

Allows you to create unique patterns for backgrounds on web pages or other presentation materials.

Generate a new tile Check to create a new image containing one tile of the new texture. You can then save this image for your background. Always select this when designing a texture for a web page.

Apply on image Check to apply the texture to the currently active image.

Cell size Determine how big the base tile for the pattern tile will be.

Palette ramp Displays the range of colors to include in the pattern.

Hue shift Click inside the color strip to shift the Palette ramp towards that hue.

Ring Rotate the starting point for the Palette ramp.

Edit Palette Click to change the Palette ramp colors. You can also choose from a series of other predefined ramps.

Background type Choose a pattern to set the tone for how the texture is created.

Schema Choose how you want the variations between colors to appear. Note: Some of the choices may not be well suited for tileable textures.

Frequency, Density, & Amplitude Adjusting these settings affects how much the actual pattern created varies from that selected pattern in the Background type. As you approach 1, (0 for amplitude), the pattern more closely matches the selected pattern.

Lighten Increase the value to produce a more faded background. Lower the setting to enhance shadows in the pattern.

Preview Window Shows a thumbnail view of the pattern you are creating.

Preview Check Apply on image and click Preview to see how the texture will look.

Add Click to add the settings for this dialog box to the My Gallery.

  Creating backgrounds: Custom Magic

  Creating backgrounds: Textures

  Creating backgrounds: Logos


Zero (0) represents starting at the left horizontal position. Increasing the value rotates the starting point clockwise.


In general, the maximum number of pixels you should use for an image intended for a background is 10,000 (ex. 100 x 100) for GIFs and 40,000 (ex. 200 x 200) for JPEGs.


Palette Ramp Editor dialog box

Contains pre-defined ring palettes and allows you to edit or design ring palettes.

Ring palette & control points window Displays the currently selected ring palette and its order control points.

Hue shift control Adjusts the hue in the ring palette without changing the saturation and brightness. Click and drag the index in the color hue bar or enter the desired hue value.

Ring control Rotates the color ring affecting the start and the end color. Enter the degree of turn.

Add Inserts a newly defined ring palette to the library.

Palette library Contains the pre-defined ring palettes. Click to select a ring palette to display in the ring palette window.


Allows you to reorder, change, add, or delete colors from the selected ring palette.

To edit the ring's color order, click and drag the control point of the color to move around the ring to the desired location.

To change/delete a selected ring's color, right mouse click on the control point and choose "Change color" or "Delete."

To add a new color, click on the ring area where you wish to add a color to open the Windows color option. Select the desired color and click OK to add it to the ring palette.


Preview

Shows how PhotoImpact will change the image if you accept the current filter settings. The Preview Options window appears at the lower right corner offering these options:

OK Accept the change and continue editing.

Cancel Don't apply this filter to the image and return to editing.

Undo / Redo Compare before and after affects on the image.

Continue Return to the filter dialog box to adjust the settings more.


Add Sample dialog box

Saves the current dialog box settings in the My Gallery of the Easy Palette for future use.

Preview Window Shows the image that will appear in the My Gallery.

Name Enter a name for this filter setting that will remind you of what it does or when to use it.


Button Designer

Allows you to quickly create rectangular 3-dimensional buttons for navigation aids on web pages. You may use any True Color, indexed-color, or grayscale image or selection as a source for the button's face.

  Creating buttons: Rectangular


Button Designer dialog box

Create 3D buttons quickly and conveniently with the Button Designer.

Style Click a style that most closely illustrates the type of button you wish to create.

Direction Select Outward to expand the size of the image to create the button. Select Inward to constrain the size of the button to the current image or selection dimensions.

Options Determine the size, color, and other attributes for the button border.

Mirror Check Mirror to keep the top and left edge and the right and bottom edge sizes synchronized with each other. Clear to set the size of each edge independently.

Width Set the width of the selected edge.

Transparency Set how much of the original image should show through the button border.

Colors / Controls Depending on the type of button, choose the colors to use for button borders or adjust other color attributes.

Preview window Shows an example of how your button will look. If the image is larger than the preview window, PhotoImpact automatically resizes it to fit. Otherwise the image appears at its actual size.

Quick samples Choose from preset button settings to create a button with a single click. You can always fine tune the settings if you wish.

Add Click to add the settings for this dialog box to the My Gallery.

  Creating buttons: Rectangular