This software distribution contains version 1.1 of the MegaGrabberｪ PlugIn, PixelTools 5.0 software for operation as a "Plug-In" module for Adobe PhotoShop and other compatible applications. The MegaGrabber PlugIn software includes the PixelTools 5.0 Driver and the MegaGrabber PlugIn. This Plug-In should work with any application software which supports version 3.0 or later of the Adobe specification for Plug-In modules.
Specifically, the components of this release are:
1) The "PT50Init" file which contains the PixelTools 5.0 Driver. This file goes into your System Folder. The driver allows other software to control the PixelTools boards.
2) The "MegaGrabber PlugIn" file. This is a "Plug-In" for Adobe PhotoShop as defined by Adobe, Inc. This plug-in supports the MegaGrabber board, one of the PixelTools family of boards. This board interfaces to the Kodak MegaPlus camera, a high-resolution grayscale camera, to give images of 1320 by 1035 pixels.
Installation
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The PixelTools 5.0 Driver is installed at startup by the PT50Init file. Copy the PT50Init file into your System Folder and restart your Mac. Each time the Mac is started, the PT50Init file will run automatically and install the PixelTools 5.0 driver.
The MegaGrabber PlugIn should be copied into the folder used to store all plug-ins for PhotoShop. This folder will usually be called "PhotoShop Plug-Ins", but could be named anything as long as it contains the PhotoShop Preferences file (usually named "PS Prefs").
Usage
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To use the MegaGrabber PlugIn, just select "MegaGrabber..." from PhotoShop's File->Acquire menu. A dialog box will appear which allows you to control the MegaGrabber board. The only controls available allow you to select the operating mode for the camera, to set the exposure time for the camera, to initiate/terminate display of a live image, to scroll the image in the dialog live window, to activate an acquisition, and to cancel the dialog with no changes.
The camera modes are described in camera documentation and in the documentation for the MegaGrabber board. Consult that documentation for more information. Most users will probably use Mode 7. In this mode, the exposure time is controlled from the dialog and acquisitions are performed one at a time by the Plug-In.
With the camera mode set to 7, the scroll bar for exposure time allows you to control the time the shutter is left open on the camera when an image is acquired The range for the exposure time is as shown in the dialog box, i.e., 270-8847090 microseconds, or 0.270 to 8847 milliseconds, or 0.000270 to 8.847 seconds.
Use the Display Live button to initiate display of a live image. While displaying a live image, you may use the Scroll bars to scroll the digitized image within the display rectangle of the dialog box. The camera mode and exposure time functions of the dialog are available when live display is active.
When you are ready to acquire an image into PhotoShop, just press the Acquire button. The image will be grabbed into the MegaGrabber and passed to PhotoShop. The image will then be available for any desired processing with PhotoShop. If you wish to exit without acquiring an image, just press the Cancel button. When you acquire an image, all of your last selections in the dialog box are saved. Then, when you later invoke the plug-in again, your previous selections will be restored.
