Availability of filters and menus
Image adjustment
Selection tools
Tool pallet
Text insertion
Merging images
Image dissolves
Red eye reduction
Selecting a transparent color
Import formats and transparency
Export formats
Automation
PhotoMasque Module
External modules
Keyboard shortcuts
Registration
Appendix

Availability of filters and menus

The filters in certain menus are available only in 16 million colors without the transparency option
because most of them recompute and modify the colors. For example, they are disabled for GIF
images and images in indexed colors mode. If you do not have access to these menu item filters,
perform the following operations:

• Select the menu item "Image / Transparent color" (in situation of an image with a transparent color)
  then click on the option "Disable transparency"
• Select the menu item "Image / Mode / RGB color"

Image adjustment

The buttons on the tool bar make it possible to make precision adjustments of the luminosity,
contrast and saturation of colors. If your image is too dark or too clear, you must first carry out
a corresponding gamma correction using the menu or buttons.

Selection tools

PhotoFiltre has two types of selection. The first type gathers the automatic forms (rectangle,
ellipse, triangle, rhombus). The second type corresponds to the lasso modes and polygon.
They both allow defining a form personalized by drawing contour or by a succession of lines.
Each selection can be safeguarded in a file to be re-used later on via the "Selection" menu.

The menu tem "Edit / Stroke and fill" makes it possible to draw and fill these forms in the image.
You can also apply symmetries and rotations to the selection using the menu
"Selection / Transformation".

Some forms of preset selections (stars, arrows...) are available on my web site.


Tool pallet

This consists of drawing tools such as the pipette (color sampler), scrolling tool, line tool, fill tool,
spray tool, paintbrush, advanced paintbrush, blur tool and clone stamp.

PhotoFiltre uses standard shapes (circles and squares of various sizes) but also more varied forms
(oblique line, sheet, star...)

Most of these functions are available only in 16 million colors mode.

Text insertion

The text module uses several parameters which modify the appearance of the result. For 90
degrees or -90 degrees text rotation, it's better to use menu "Edit / Transform" if your system
doesn't manage smoothing (Win95 and Win98). You can also create mirror effects with the
horizontal or vertical symmetry functions, available in this same menu. Certain options such as
outer bevel and blur optimize results when using a larger text size.

As long as the text is not validated (menu item "Edit / Validate text") you can move it with the
mouse and modify it (double-click or select the menu item "Edit / Text options").

Merging images

Here are steps to easily merge images :
• Open the two images
• Copy one of two images (CTRL+C)
• Switch to the other image
• Select "Edit / Paste special / Assemble" and choose the position for the clipboard contents

You can use this method to place images end to end in order to create a panorama.

Image dissolves

To do an image dissolve, simply :
• Open the two images
• Copy the smaller image into the larger
• Select the menu item "Edit / Paste options" and modify opacity
• Position the paste
• Select the menu item "Edit / Validate paste"
• Select the part of the resulting image which you want to preserve
• Select the menu item "Image / Crop"

Red eye reduction

• Begin by zooming on the image in order to be able to select the pupil easily
  (values of 400% or 800% should work)

• Select the red part of the pupil and use filter "Grayscale" or "Adjust / Color balance" to decrease
  the red component. "Adjust / Gamma correction" applied to the red layer can also give a good result.
  In all cases, preferably use a circular selection shape or  the lasso selection tool.

• Repeat the process on the second pupil

Selecting a transparent color

Transparency is only available in indexed colors mode, so to define a transparency color, follow
these steps :
• Select the menu item "Image / Mode / Indexed color"
• Convert the image to and indexed color format by choosing a suitable number of colors from the list.
• Select the menu item "Image / Transparency color"
• While the "Transparent color" window is open, select the color to be transparent by clicking on it in
  the image by using the pipette (the cursor changes to the pipette automatically while doing this)


Import formats and transparency

PhotoFiltre supports the most widespread formats, however transparency is available only for
the following :
• GIF images
• PNG images in indexed colors mode
• Icons

Export formats

All formats do not support indexed colors mode nor transparency. Here a summary table :

If you defined a color of transparency, the GIF format will be recommended to you by default
when you save.

Automation

The menu item "Tools / Automate / Batch" makes it possible to carry out a succession of operations
in an automatic way to a batch or a selection of files.

"Files" tab

• Select the files source and the output destination
• Select the export format
• You can rename the files in sequence (optional)
• A reduction of the number of colors and adjustment of image quality (depending on image
  output format) are also available
• By checking "Custom selection", it's possible to carry out a manual selection of the images
  to be treated

"Image" tab

All the options are optional.
The option "Canvas size" is a little complex. It makes it possible to add blank space around your
image by imposing a width and/or a height increase. The calculation of the width and height will be
automatic if you leave a zero value (to add only one shade for example).

"Adjust" tab

Allows you to adjustment bases (brightness, contrast, saturation, gamma).
All the options are optional.
To convert a series of images into level of gray, adjust saturation at least (-100%).

"Filter" tab

Allows to apply some preset filters.
All the options are optional.

"Transform" tab

Allows to carry out rotations and flips.
All the options are optional.

"Action" tab

Start the process and display report.
To cancel the process, press Escape key and wait until the program returns. This action can take
one or several seconds depending on your computer's speed. In this tab, you can also save your
parameters.

PhotoMasque module

This module is available in 16 million colors only (RGB mode) via the menu "Filter / PhotoMasque".
It makes it possible to carry out effects of advanced contour and transparency using preset masks.
To learn some more about this modulen click here.


External modules

PhotoFiltre manages several type of external modules. Each type is placed in a dedicated menu.
The files are with the format "pfl" (PhotoFiltre Library) and must be installed in the "Plugins" folder.

Filter modules
Available only for images in 16 million colors mode without transparency and apply to the selection
of the image in progress. They are listed under the menu "Filter / Plug-in".

Image modules
May be limited by the number of colors and the transparency, and apply to the whole image in
progress. They are listed under the menu "Image / Plug-in".

Importation modules
Allow importation of various formats and are always available (with or without image).
They are listed under the menu "File / Import".

Exportation modules
Allow export of the image in progress to various formats.
They are listed under the menu "File / Export".

Tool modules
Intended for functions which cannot be classified in the types above.
They are listed under the menu "Tools / Plug-in".

Keyboard shortcuts

Others

Tools

Selection, past and text

(*) Arrows keys (UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT)
The ALT key can be used in combination with the arrow keys to modify the size of selection.

Adjusting image view

Navigation keys (in the current image folder)

Image Manager

Registration

PhotoFiltre is free for private use, noncommercial or educational (including non-profit organizations).
Any commercial or professional use requires registration (see the methods on the site or contact
me by e-mail).


Appendix

You will find several PhotoFiltre tutorials by consulting my web site. The site also contains other
utilities such as "Reflet" which makes it possible to generate animations simulating the reflection
of an image in water.