V Badge Lite 5.0

Free upgrade at www.cardworkshop.com

To inquire about professional edition, send your email to sales@ace.com.sg

To report bugs or to give suggestions for V Badge Lite, send to vbadge@sina.com

Introduction

Installation

Commands

Appendix

Glossary


Introduction

What is V Badge Lite?

V Badge Lite is a 32-bit application for Windows 95/98 and Windows NT4 application.

This software is very helpful for printing ID cards, business cards and greeting cards, you can also use it to print labels. It will arrange cards for you on the paper automatically. It supports scanners, digital cameras, video capture cards, and OLE object. This version is free for any individual to use as a personal entertainment or utility.

Since this version is free, I will not provide neither technical supports nor any other warranties (however, I would like to see suggestions and bug reports).

Features

Software Features

•	Operate under Microsoft Windows 95/98 and Windows NT operating system

•	Full function -- Include both design and production capability

•	Background pixels removal or cameo effect for signature and photo image

•	Color printouts through color printer -- WYSWIG

Features of Design Module

•	Supports both Landscape or Portrait badge orientation

•	Import image/graphic files as background

•	Unlimited number of logos on card design

•	Useful Drawing tools

•	Unlimited Text in various fonts, sizes and colors

Practical Application

       Using V Badge Lite, you are assured to save a lot of time creating an ID badge system for your organisation. The software has a built-in badge design facility. If you want to have a sophisticated background beyond the capability of the card design facility, you can pre-design it using Photo Design & Production Tools like PhotoStyler, PhotoShop, CorelDraw, etc. V Badge Lite is able to import the background image in Bitmap, Targa, Tiff, and Jpeg format.

Professional Edition

By professional edition, you can input dynamic objects, such as data fields and photo, then the software will create database (MDB format) for you automatically, or connect to your data sources by ODBC, thus you can scroll page by page which related to database records. Partial printing and mag-stripe encoding with ID card printers are only supported by professional version. There are more than 30 different types of barcode in professional edition, including Ean13 and 2D PDF417. Professional edition is not free.

Contact us

To inquire about professional edition, send your email to sales@ace.com.sg

To report bugs or to give suggestions for V Badge Lite, send to vbadge@sina.com


Installation

Run Windows

      V Badge Lite 4.3 is a 32-bit application software, thus, must be installed on Windows 95/98 or Windows NT4. It cannot be install from DOS or Windows 3.x.

System Requirement

•	IBM Compatible Personal Computer Pentium or faster PC

•	64 K color or higher display adapter

•	A mouse or other compatible pointing device

•	8 MB or more RAM on Board (32 MB preferred)

•	5 MB Hard disk space for V Badge software and reasonable amount of storage space for data and operation

•	Microsoft Windows 95/98 or Windows NT4

•	Corel Photo Paint / PhotoShop (Optional)

•	Scanner (Optional)

•	Digital Camera / Video Camera and Video capture card for Camera (Optional)

•	Drivers for video grabber boards, digital cameras, scanners are to be provided by their respective manufacturers (Optional).

Installing V Badge Lite Software

1. Install the hardware key to printer port, plug the printer cable into the back of the hardware key and power up the computer.

2. Insert V Badge 4.3 installation disk  into the floppy drive.

3. From select "Start" then "Run".

4. Enter "A:\Setup" or "B:\Setup" in the Command Line window.

5. Press Enter and follow the instructions on the screen.

6. Exit the installation program upon completion.

Note:

•	It is better to install your printer driver before you use this software.

•	If you select to include camera or scanner, install proper driver before running this software.

Remarks & Recommendation

Capturing by video device

•	If you would like to capture image through Digital Camera or Video Camera, you may install any Video Conferencing & Video Capturing card using MS Video For Windows Driver available in the market. Most of the boards feature jumperless hardware setup and Plug & Play configuration. They do not require a path through cable to connect to VGA card's monitor output to the video capture board. Furthermore, your are not limited to preparatory digital camera, you can connect the Video Conferencing & Video Capturing card with most CCD camera, camcorder, VCR, etc.


badge design
Commands

Tips for quick running

      Click the right button of the mouse on any empty area of design, a Insert menu will let you select a new item which you like to create; You can move and resize item by mouse; An item stays in it's own layer, One click on the item will bring it to the top layer when items are overlapped. Click the right button of the mouse on the item, a popup menu will let you edit it; Alignment: Click the left button on empty area, hold on to drag enclose or across items you would like to align, release button, you’ll see popup alignment commands for items in your rectangle. Use 'Files-Copies', if you want to print multi cards on one sheet.

Primary menu items

File	View	Edit	Item	Insert	Options	Help


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New	Creates a new document.
Open	Opens an existing document.
Save	Saves an opened document using the same file name.
Save As	Saves an opened document to a specified file name.
Badge Password	Set password for a badge file.
Size	Select a printer to define size.
Portrait	Define the orientation of the badge, Portrait or landscape.
Print Setup	Select a printer and printer connection.
Copies	Set the number of copies to be printed.
Print	Print the current document.
Exit	Quit Application and returns to Windows.


File New command
New command (File menu)

      You are free to design and input any information on the badge design as long as they do not violate the software limitation. Design files created with extension of 'cfm'.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+N


File Open command
Open command (File menu)

      When selected, the OPEN dialog box will be called. You may open file in V Badge 4.3 format.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+O


File Save command
Save command (File menu)

       To save a new design, there is no difference whether you choose SAVE or Save As. The Save As dialog box will be called. You may specify the designated disk drive, directory, filename, and extension 'cfm' to save the BADGE you have designed.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+S


File Save As command
Save As command (File menu)

       When you choose Save As, the Save As dialog box appears. Key in a new filename and the extension 'cfm' for the design. You may specify to save the design in any valid directory. If you are saving a file to a new filename, the new file shares the same database with the old file. To create a new database for the new file, set the current database to default by selecting the 'Default' button from 'Connect Database' under 'File' menu.


File password command
Badge Password command (File menu)

      Protect your badge file with a password. Click Badge Password, type a password and its verification when prompt. When you or your co-workers attempt to open the badge file, the software will ask for the password. However, this Badge Password only prevents unauthorised user to open the CFM file.


File Size command resolution
Size command (File menu)

      This command retrieves printing size and resolution from the printer driver that you selected.

      The software needs the printing resolution when getting graphic from a capturing device to give the best output and minimum size of storage. The software will save these paremeters to your harddisk as default value for every time when you create a new card.

      When you are using an ID card printer, because different brand of printers have their own margin settings, so the printing size are slightly different. If you have not selected right printer before design a new card, the software will resize data to fit the card while printing to an ID card printer, in this case, the display of measuring(mm or inch) is not accurate.

      When you are using a laser or ink jet printer, selecting right paper size will let you difine the size of your card. There are list of pre-defined schemes for diferent kind of paper settings, for example, a scheme defined for A4 paper will not appear if you select Letter paper in printer dialog box.

      It is recommended that you set the card size before create a new design for the 1st time or after select a new printer.

* The default card size is credit card size, 86 mm x 54 mm, default resolution is 300DPI.


File Portrait command
Portrait command (File menu)

      You have to define the orientation of the badge before designing the badge. This option allows you to define the orientation of the badge to be in either landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical). To create a badge design in Portrait, mark 'Portrait'. Otherwise, the badge will be in Landscape.


File Print Setup command
Print Setup command (File menu)

      This option allows you to select the desired printer and define the properties for printouts. Please refer to your printer manual for more information.


File Copies command
Copies command (File menu)

      You may define the number of copies of the same card to be printed. Unlike copies setting inside printer setup dialog box, this setting will allow you to print more than one copy on same sheet of paper when you're using laser or ink jet printer.


File Print command
Print command (File menu)

     This option allows you to print the format of the badge image to the selected printer.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+P


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

      A dialog box will prompt to ask if the user want to save the modified design before exit the program. Click the Yes button to save the changes, No button to ignore or Cancel button to remain in CFM without saving the design.


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Show or hide the toolbar.
Status Bar	Show or hide the status bar.
Show Grid	Show or hide the grid.
Show Rulers	Show or hide rulers.


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in Badge Design, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, position and  dimension of the seleted badge item. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


View Grid Command
Show Grid command (View menu)

      These grids help you with the alignment when placing objects, especially when you move a item by keyboard. The density of the grid will depend on the grid size selected under Option menu.


View Rulers Command
Show Rulers command (View menu)

There are 2 rulers beside and under your design area(default position), you can drag them into your design area by mouse. Use Show Rulers command to show or hide rulers.

Also see Metric System


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Undo	Reverse previous editing operation.
Cut	Deletes data from the document and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies data from the document to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes data from the clipboard into the document.
Paste Special	Insert clipboard contents with different format selection.
Paste Link	Pastes from the clipboard a link to data in another application.
Properties	View or change properties of the selected OLE object.
Change Source	Change source of selected link object.
Links	List and edit links to embedded documents.
All	Commands for changing font and color for all items and.alignment.
Nothing Seleted	This menu item will be replaced when a badge item is selected.


Edit Undo command
Undo command (Edit menu)

Use this command to reverse the last editing action, if possible.   The name of the command changes, depending on what the last action was.

Shortcuts

Keys:	CTRL+Z


Edit Cut command
Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the document and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	Del, CTRL+X


Edit Copy command
Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy selected data onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+C


Edit Paste command
Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents. This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+V


Edit Paste Special command
Paste Special command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents with different format selection. This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.


Edit Paste Link command
Paste Link command (Edit menu)

      Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents as an external data source which can be updated in another application. This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

      When the content of the external data source is changed, then the caption in the design will also change accordingly. Example, a caption from clipboard, which was copied from MS Words. The linked object in the destination file is automatically updated when the source file is updated.


Edit Properties command
Properties command (Edit menu)

      Properties will display the object types available. You may convert the property of a caption to one of the suitable object type.


Edit Change Source command

Change Source command (Edit menu)

     You may change the document source linked. This is useful when the source document is being saved to another location.


Edit Link command

Links command (Edit menu)

From the list, you may select to edit or change the object, or break the link between the pasted object and its source.


Edit Font Color Alignment
Popup commands

You can get these commands from main menu ‘File-Edit-All’ for all items on the badge, or click the left button on empty area, hold on to drag enclose or across items you would like to align.

In this popup group you may perform :

Color,

Font ,

Center Horizontally ,

Center Vertically ,

Align Left ,

Align Right ,

Align Top ,

Align Bottom ,

Align Horizontal Centers ,

Align Vertical Centers ,

and Align Automatically on items.


Edit Nothing Selected command background color adjustment
Nothing Select command (Edit menu)

According to the selected item, this menu item is replaced by Field / Text / Drawing / Photo / Signature / Picture / Logo / Object menu group, contains the functions available for the selected badge item. Provides a list of functions available for editing the selected object.

When nothing selected, but a bitmap background exists, this menu item is replaced by Background menu group, you may perform color adjustment on the background.

Hot key:

     right button click on the item will bring a popup menu. double click right button will perform Edit function on the item.


Item menu commands
Item.menu commands

The Item menu offers the following commands:

Font	Set default font.
Color	Set default color.
Rotation	Set default rotation.
Sink	Selected item goes beneath others.
Next	Go to next item.


Item Font command
Font command (Item menu)

      Define the DEFAULT FONT type, style, color, effect and size for text or field captions for current badge design.

       To define the default font, select Font when no caption is selected. "Text" or "Field" will use this Font by default. Subject to printer used, if printing using black wax ribbon is available in your card printer and you wish to print the text in resin black, then select true type font in black for your text or field. For more detail, please refer to your printer manual.


Item Color command
Color command (Item menu)

      Define the DEFAULT COLOR to the objects drawn for current badge design.

      To define the default color, select Color when no caption is selected. "Text", "Field" or "Drawing" will use this color by default.


Item Rotation command
Rotation command (Item menu)

Set DEFAULT ORIENTATION for text or field caption in vertical or horizontal mode for current badge design."Text" or "Field" will use this orientation by default.


Item Sink command
Sink command (Item menu)

      Objects automatically stack in individual layers as you add them to a design template. You see the stacking order when objects overlap the top object covers a portion of objects beneath it. You can move individual objects in a stack. For example, you can move objects up or down within a stack one layer at a time. You can overlap objects when you draw to create different effects. You don't have to draw the bottom object first, you can always move it later.

Hot Key: 'F2'

Note: One simple click on the item will bring it to the top layer when items are overlapped.


Item Next command
Next command (Item menu)

Select next item in badge. When items overlap, you can press F3 to cycle forward through a item until it's selected

Hot Key: 'F3'


Insert menu commands
Insert.menu commands

Input items to your design

Note: Field, Photo and Signature will be save to the database.

The Insert menu offers the following commands:

No Printing	Insert no printing rectangle.
Picture Mask	Insert a mask.
Text	Insert fixed text.
Rectangle	Insert rectangle.
Ellipes	Insert ellipse.
Circle	Insert circle.
Picture	Insert picture which can be captured from scanner or camera.
Logo	Insert a bimap logo from a file.
Object	Insert new ole object.
Bitmap	Insert bitmap as background.
Color	Pick a color for background.
White	choose white as background color.
Scan	Acquire background image from scanner or camera.
Shortcut

      When you click the right button of the mouse on any blank space on your design, Input Menu functions: Field, Text, Photo, Signature, Draw, Picture, Logo and Background are available for selection.


Insert No Printing partial overlay command
No Printing command (Insert menu)

      You can define captions with no printing. No Printing is always on top layer, therefore any area covered by the No Printing caption defined will not be printed. In professional version, This feature is usually required when printing on IC chip card or mag-stripe card. Card printers print an overlay layer to protect printing area, because there is no Windows standard on overlay printing, and not all printer support partial printing, this software support non-overlay on ‘No Printing’ area with some of card printers. No Printing rectangle is always on top.


Insert Picture Mask command
Picture Mask command (Insert menu)

      Picture Mask is a bitmap which hides Picture  under mask’s white pixels and shows under black pixels. The software creates a default 1 bit (black and white) bitmap for mask, you may edit the bitmap or load a index color or true color bitmap in it. Picture Mask is always on top, can be covered only by No Printing rectangle.


Insert Text command
Text command (Insert menu)

      You can add as many lines of text as possible to the design. Defining the orientation can place text horizontally or vertically. To resize the text line by mouse, drag the handle of the caption. For a horizontal text string, to change the spacing but retain the font size, resize caption border by mouse horizontally with releasing mouse button while holding down the <Ctrl> key; to change it to a multi-line format, resize caption border by mouse vertically with releasing mouse button while holding down the <Ctrl> key.

      To print barcode as text, you must have barcode fonts loaded to your Windows Operating System. The text must be enclosed with asterisk "*". That is, to print the word "Welcome" in barcode font, you should key *Welcome* in the TEXT input dialog box, place the text within the badge area, highlight the text, then change the font of the text to barcode font. Similar to barcode, fonts may be printed in composite or resin black depending on your printer's feature and the color you have defined.

     Check ‘barcde’ in dialog box if you like to display it as barcode, the barcode type is Code39. Other types of barcode are only supported by pro-edition.

    You may perform Edit, Color, Font and Rotate on it.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Insert rectangle command
Rectangle command (Insert,Draw menu)

In Drawing sub menu group. This inserts a rectangle, you can size the area of the caption within the frame. The first item drawn will be placed at the bottom and the last one place on top. You may change the placement level of the shape drawn by pointing the shape you wish to bring to the top and clicking the left mouse. There is no option for drawing straight lines. Therefore, the Draw Rectangle function is also used to draw straight line.You may change it's Color.


Insert Ellipse command
Ellipse command (Insert,Draw menu)

In Drawing sub menu group. This inserts an ellipse, you can size the area of the caption within the frame. The first item drawn will be placed at the bottom and the last one place on top. You may change the placement level of the shape drawn by pointing the shape you wish to bring to the top and clicking the left mouse. You may change it's Color.


Insert Circle command
Circle command (Insert,Draw menu)

In Drawing sub menu group. This inserts an ellipse, you can size the area of the caption within the frame. The first item drawn will be placed at the bottom and the last one place on top. You may change the placement level of the shape drawn by pointing the shape you wish to bring to the top and clicking the left mouse. You may change it's Color.


Insert Picture command
Picture command (Insert menu)

      There is no limit to the number of pictures you can put to the design. If you have a printed image and wish to place it in the design, you may input the image using a twain supported scanner or video camera via Video for Windows and place it as a picture. If the background of the image is pure white, you may set the picture background as transparent. At such, the card background will be shown.

You may perform Scan(Input), Load From File, Load From Clipboard, Saturation, RGB, Auto Adjustment, Sharpness, Backgroundand Edit on it.

3 options for it:

•	Transparent: There are 3 different modes for Transparence. ‘Pure White’ mode turns on transparence on pure white pixels of the picture. To drop off the background of the image to pure white, you may use Background or Edit function.

•	Keep Aspect: Use bitmap aspect when resizing the picture.

•	Compress: Compress bitmap (to JPEG data) when saving it to disk.

Note:

It is better to resize it before capturing.

This software saves RGB, CMY, contrast and saturation values as parameters, without affecting bitmap, so you can make color adjustment as many times as you want without losing image quality.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Insert Logo command
Logo command (Insert menu)

      There is no limit to the number of logos. If you have a logo and a slogan, the slogan can be treated as a logo. It is similar to Picture, except that logo has to be loaded from image file. Each time when you want to load a logo, you will be prompt the Open dialog box. Search through the directories until the file containing the logo image is found. Logo can be imported from any of the following format: BMP, JPG, TIF and TGA.

You may edit it to change the bitmap file.

2 options for it:

Transparent: transparent on pure white pixels of the image.

Keep Aspect: Use bitmap aspect when resizing the picture.

Picture  item (Insert menu) is more powerful, instead of Logo, you can use Picture  ‘Load From File’.

Noto:

This software link the logo file to the badge, but dose not save the image data. The logo file is required when displaying and printing.

When you use JPG file, you may lose a part of transparent abilities on the logo, cause by JPEG compression.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:


Insert Ole Object ActiveX active X command
Object command (Insert menu)

     This function is the same as Insert Object in Microsoft Office. With this function, you may insert object like clipart, Microsoft Word Picture, Microsoft Word Document, etc. recognised by Microsoft Office.


Insert Background Bitmap command
Backgroud Bitmap command (Insert,Background menu)

     You can fill the background with white, i.e. no background, basic color available from the color chart, defined color, or import a image / graphic file designed using photo design & production tool like PhotoStyler, PhotoShop, or CorelDraw in format which Microsoft Windows recognise, such as Bitmap, Jpeg, Tiff, Tagar, and PCX. There is also an option to scan the image from hardcopy.


Insert BackGround Color command
Backgroud Color command (Insert,Background menu)

Pick up a color from a dialog box to fill up background.


Insert BackGround White command
Backgroud White command (Insert,Background menu)

Clear the background with white.


Insert BackGround Scan command
Backgroud Scan command (Insert,Background menu)

Scan backgound by your capture device. You may need select a device in Options menu.


Options menu commands
Options.menu commands

The encoding menu offers the following commands.:

Twain	Select twain as capture device.
Twain 32	Select twain 32 as capture device.
VFW CAPTURE	Select Video For Windows capture device.
Compress	Do or do not compress bitmap when saving to disk.
Compress Rate	Input compression ratio.
Grid 0.25mm	Set grid step to 0.25mm.
Grid 0.5mm	Set grid step to 0.5mm.
Grid 1mm	Set grid step to 1mm.
Grid 2mm	Set grid step to 2mm.
Grid 3mm	Set grid step to 3mm.
Grid 4mm	Set grid step to 4mm.
Grid 0.01in	Set grid step to 0.01 inch.
Grid 0.02in	Set grid step to 0.02 inch.
Grid 0.04in	Set grid step to 0.04 inch.
Grid 1/16in	Set grid step to 1/16 inch.
Grid 1/8in	Set grid step to 1/8 inch.
Grid 1/4in	Set grid step to 1/4 inch.


Options Twain Scanner Camera command
Twain command (Options,Capture Device menu)

 Select this if your scanner,cature card or digital camera works with TWAIN driver.

Note: This option does not work on Windows NT.


Options Twain 32 bit Scanner Camera command
Twain 32 command (Options,Capture Device menu)

 Select this if your scanner,cature card or digital camera works with 32-bit TWAIN driver.


Options Video Capture card Camera command
VFW Capture command (Options,Capture Device menu)

 Select this if your cature card or digital camera works with Video For Windows driver.


Options JPG comrepess JPEG command
Compress command (Options,Capture Device menu)

 If marked, the software will compress captured images according to the rate you have set under Compression Rate.


Options Compress Rate command
Compress Rate command (Options,Capture Device menu)

Set the ratio in which you want the images to be compressed.

      The default compression rate is set at 80. If you want to compress the image more, reduce the compression rate. When compression rate is set at 100, then compression will be at minimum. The smaller the parameter, the file size will be smaller, at the same time the quality is poorer.


Options Grid command
Grid 0.25mm command (Options menu)

Grid 0.5mm command (Options menu)

Grid 1mm command (Options menu)

Grid 2mm command (Options menu)

Grid 3mm command (Options menu)

Grid 4mm command (Options menu)

Grid 0.01in command (Options menu)

Grid 0.02in command (Options menu)

Grid 0.04in command (Options menu)

Grid 1/16in command (Options menu)

Grid 1/8in command (Options menu)

Grid 1/4in command (Options menu)

Grid Define the movement of the pointer by setting the grid size.

      This option enables you to define the movement step when you move a item by keyboard. This selection will also affect the grid display on the background if Show Grid under View menu is selected. You can move the selected object by using keyborad kyes: arrows, Home, End, PgUp and PgDn. If you move the item by mouse, movement will not follow the grids.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Help Topics	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


Number
Number Dialog

Input a number.


Print Box

Press button to cancel printing.


photo capture input Command
Scan command

      Depending on the selection in Option menu, this function can use Twain or Video For Windows compatible device to capture image.

      When using Twain, device such as scanner or digital camera and Twain driver are used to scan photos or take pictures for inputting to the record. Before you can capture a photo, you have to select the correct capture device under the Option menu. When you activate Input, it will call the appropriate device window for your application. You can move and resize the clipping rectangle by mouse or keyboard, click OK to transfer the image to the record and display it on screen.Refer to Appendix Twain Device or Twain 32 Device for more information.

      When using Video For Windows, video capture card and Video For Windows driver are required in order to capture image. You can move the clipping rectangle by mouse or keyboard, click OK to transfer the image to the record and display it on screen. Refer to Appendix Video For Windows Device for more information.

Shortcuts

Keys:	F5

Toolbar:


photo input load file Command
Load From File command

Input image from an existing file.Images in Bitmap, Targa, Jpeg or PCX format that are stored in storage devices can be loaded into the database. Despite the photo size you have defined, the photo loaded will keep to its original aspect ratio.


photo load from clipboard Command
Load From Clipboard command

You may load an image copied to the clipboard from any other application software to a record.


photo copy to clipboard Command
Copy To Clipboard command (Photo.menu)

You may copy the photo image of a record to the clipboard for usage in any other application software.


photo saturation contrast adjustment color adjust Command
Saturation command

This is a simple way for you to fine-tune the photograph taken. Adjusts the brightness, contrast and color intensity of the photo for current record. Brightness is the relative brightness or darkness of the color. Contrast is the tonal gradation between the highlights, midtones, and shadows in an image. Saturation is the strength or purity of the color.


photo contrast color adjustment Command red green blue
RGB command

This is a more advance way to adjust the photograph taken. Contrast, Red, Green and Blue adjustment to photo for current record. In RGB mode, various brightness values of red, green and blue light combine to form the colors on the screen. Controlling the intensities of the individual RGB components represents the range of colors in the visible spectrum. When the box indicating Show Map is checked, the RGB map will be shown. The x-axis of the graph represent the original brightness values of the pixels (input levels); the y-axis represents the new brightness values (output levels). The diagonal line that appears by default shows the current relationship between the input and output values. No pixels have been mapped to new values, so all pixels have the identical input and output values. You can adjust the intensities of the individual RGB components of the photo for current record by controlling RGB color value. Unchecked the Show Map box to preview photo output. When you check the box indicating First Color Draft, you can control all RGB components correspondingly by adjusting the Red component.


photo auto adjustment Command white balence
Auto Adjustment command

Automatically adjust the brightness and saturation of the photo based on RGB channel.

This function automatically define the lightest and darkest pixels in each channel as white and black and then redistribute the intermediate pixel values proportionately. In general, the Auto feature gives good results when a simple contrast adjustment is needed to an image with an average distribution of pixel values; however, this feature does not provide the more precise control that can be achieved by adjusting the Levels or Curves controls manually.

This command modifies bitmap bits in photo,software will save modified data in another field of database.


photo sharpness adjustment Command
Sharpness command

This option allows you to sharpen the soft edges to increase clarity or focus of the photo for the current record.

This command modifies bitmap bits in photo, the software saves second copy of image in database for modified bitmap without overwriting original bitmap


photo background edit Command
Background command

      This background function is designed for dropping Picture background for Picture Transparence. Color in the Pour bucket is default as pure white. The color picker picks a background color for auto replacement using Auto key, the background color of the photo will be filled with white. After 'Auto' or 'Pour', you may see some small area(s) stain, on the background which is not white. Set a value for stain, the application program will remove the stains inside the background. The stain is directly proportional with the stain value, i.e. the higher the stain value, the larger the stain area. If the background color is very close to the flesh color, you may find certain area of the face replaced with white. To rectify this problem, use patch.


photo photo processor edit background Command
Picture Edit command

This function edits the current image using all the functions available in photo processing software.

When you double click the right mouse on the photo, the default Windows bitmap editor will be loaded. However, this software 4 needs the editor to be fully compatible to the OLE standard. MS Paint and Corel Photo Paint are recommended. Photoshop (up to version 5.0), PaintShopPro (up to version 3.0), and Ulead ImagePal (up to version 2.0) are not compatible.

This command modifies bitmap bits in photo, the software saves second copy of image in database for modified bitmap without overwriting original bitmap


Appendix

Twain Device

Twain 32 Device

Video For Windows Device


twain 32
Twain Device and Twain32 Device

Primary menu items

Image	OK	Setup	Cancel

Image

[Refresh] If you are using scanner, unlike [Acquire], [Refresh] bypasses the dialog box of the scanner driver. You are able to place multiple photos on the flat-bed scanner and scan them in one goal. Then you may select the photo to input to a record. If you are using digital camera, selecting Refresh will prompt you a screen that does nothing but display the image captured by the camera.

Shortcut	<Spacebar> or <F5>

[Acquire] Every time when you activate Acquire, the device dialog box will appear. Scan or capture as per instructions given in your device's user guides. When you exit from the device window after capturing the photo, the photo captured will be display in the Twain Device Window with the photo frame. The clipping rectangle displayed is in aspect ratio with the frame you have drawn . You may need to move and resize the clipping reactangle to catch the part that you need, then click OK to exit Twain Device Window and transfer the photo to the current record. Moving and resizing can be done by mouse or keyboard. By mouse, drag the rectangle to move, drag the rectangle’s borders to resize. By Keyboard, press arrow keys to move, press ‘+’ or ‘-’ to resize.

The original clipping rectangle’s size is calculated by the software for best printing quality and smaller size of storage, so it is good idea to set your scanner at proper resolution or zoom your camera so that you won’t need to resize the clipping rectangle.

You may scan multiple photo images in a single operation. If 3 photos are scanned, all 3 photo images will be display in the Twain Device window. You may move the photo-frame to the first photo, adjust the frame to contain only the selected photo, then select OK, double click on the frame, or click left and right button of mouse at the same time to add the photo to the current record. Save the record, go to the next record, then select Photo, Input, repeat the above procedure to the second photo. To keep the image in the Twain Device Window for later use, you have to select Keep Image under the Setup menu of Twain Device Window.

[Load from File] (Twain 32 only)Load Image from file in BMP, JPG, TGA, PCX format.

[Rotate] Rotate the scanned or capture image 90 degrees clockwise on each execution.

[Quit] To quit out of Twain Device Window.

The function is to exit from Twain Device Window without transfer image to the badge.

Shortcut	Press <ESC> to cancel work done.

OK

[OK] The function is to exit from Twain Device Window and transfer image to the badge.

Shortcuts:

1. Press <Enter> to confirm work done.

2. Double click mouse button in clip rectangle.

3. Click both Left and Right mouse button together in clip rectangle.

Setup

[Select Source] Select twain device.

If you have more than one Twain Device, you can select the device you are going to use in the operation.

[Keep Image] Keep image frame when leaving capturing interface for next capturing.

       If you would like to keep the image captured in the previous operation, mark this option. Keeping the images in the Twain Device Window allows you to retrieve the images for the next few records before another acquire operation is carry out. If you have 3 photo images captured in a single operation, all 3 photo images will be display in the Twain Device window. Use the photo FRAME to select the photo image you want to put in the current record and confirm the operation by clicking OK. If you Keep Image option is not marked, the buffer will be erased after transferring the image to the record.

[Auto Rotation] Perform an automatic rotation (90 degrees clockwise) right after each image grab from scanner or camera.

      This function is helpful when you use a digital camera to capture a portrait(hold camera vertically).

[Automatic Feeding] (Twain 32 only) Auto Feeding option for scanner.

      This option is only available to scanner with automatic feeder. When this option is enabled, scan performs an automatic feeding on each Acquire operation.

[Reset] Reset the Twain Device Driver when encountered error with Twain Device.

Cancel

[Cancel] To quit out of Twain Device Window.

      The function is to exit from Twain Device Window without transfer image to the badge.

Shortcut	Press <ESC> to cancel work done.


Video Capture Camera
Video For Windows Device

Video	Ok	Setup	Cancel

Video

[Freeze] Freeze the Video Monitor frame.

Shortcut Press <Spacebar> to toggle between Freeze and Unfreeze options.

[Unfreeze] Unfreeze the Video Monitor frame to display the live image.

Shortcut Press <Spacebar> to toggle between Freeze and Unfreeze options.

OK

[OK] Exit from capturing window and transfer image to the badge.

Before this, you may use mouse or arrow keys to move the clipping rectangle.

Shortcut

1. Press <Enter> to confirm work done.

2. Double click mouse button in clip rectangle.

3. Click both Left and Right mouse button together.

Setup

[Video Source] Displays a dialog box in which the user can control the video source.

      The Video Source dialog box might contain controls that select input sources; alter the hue, contrast, brightness of the image; and modify the video quality before digitizing the images into the frame buffer.

[Video Format] Displays a dialog box in which the user can select the video format.

       The Video Format dialog box might be used to select image dimensions and bit depth.

[Video Display] Displays a dialog box in which the user can set or adjust the video output.

       This dialog box might contain controls that affect the hue, contrast, and brightness of the displayed image, as well as key color alignment. Some capture drivers might not support a Video Display dialog box.

[Overlay] Enables or disables overlay mode.

In overlay mode, video is displayed using hardware overlay.

[Video Mirrow] Enables or disables live video mirroring.

Can not active when overlay mode is enabled.

[Clipping Mode] Sets the frame for clipping the image you want to capture.

[White Balance] Purpose of white balance is to enhance the image with white background.

       To obtain the best result, it requires at least 5/1000 portion of white and 5/1000 portion of black. The darkest color nearest to black will be taken as black if black is not available. If your camera comes with white balance setting, then, you should use the white balance setting on your camera as first priority. You can not see the effect on live video. To see the effect before transfering image to badge, freeze video.

[Driver List Menu(s)] Select(if you have installed 2 or more Video For Windows devices) or reconnect the driver.

Cancel
[Cancel] Exit from capturing window without transferring image to the badge.

Shortcut Press <ESC> to cancel work done.


Glossary VFW Video Capture Camera
Glossary

VFW --- Video For Window capturing device.


1, 2 command (File menu)

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last 2 documents you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using this software and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


Help topics (Help menu)

List help topics, contents of online help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of the software.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the software window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


No Help Available

No help is available for this.


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Document Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the document

Restore button


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the document window.  The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the document.  You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the document.


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the this software window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in this software.

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

Click	To

Open a new document. See New.

Open an existing document. See Open.

Saves an opened document using the same file name. See Save.

Print the current document. See Print.

Deletes data from the document and moves it to the clipboard See Cut.

Copies data from the document to the clipboard. See Copy.

Pastes data from the clipboard into the document.See Paste.

Insert fixed text. See Text.

Insert a bimap logo from a file. See Logo .

Insert picture which can be captured from scanner or camera. See Picture .

Context help command. See Context Help .


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Badge Design window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

4 bar panes in the right areas of the status bar display left position, top position, width and height of selected badge item. When nothing selected, 2 panes display the card width and height.


Edit

Edit this.


Color

Change color.


Font

Change font.


Rotation

Change rotation, vertical or horizontal.


Transparence - None

Don’t draw transparently.


Transparence - Pure White

Transparence on pure white parts of this item.


Transparence - Auto Logo

Transparence, automatically detects background in logo mode.


Transparence - Auto Photo

Transparence, automatically detects background in photo mode.


Keep Aspect

Keep aspect after resizing.


center horizontal
Center Horizontally

Centers item(s) horizontally within the card.


center vertical
Center Vertically

Centers item(s) vertically within the card.


alignment left
Align Left

Aligns the left sides of the items.


alignment right
Align Right

Aligns the right sides of the items.


alignment top
Align Top

Aligns top edges of the items.


alignment bottom
Align Bottom

Aligns the bottom edges of the items.


alignment center horizontal
Align Horizontal Centers

Places the items so that their centers line up horizontally.


alignment center vertical
Align Vertical Centers

Places the items so that their centers line up vertically.


alignment automatic
Aligns automatically

Aligns the items automatically.