This help file contains topics about selected dialog boxes in your PhotoImpact package. You can access these topics through those dialog boxes or by navigating through a main help file associated with one of the PhotoImpact programs.


Add Palette Ramp Sample dialog box

Preview window Displays the selected palette ramp.

Name Enter a name for the palette ramp.

Click OK to save the palette ramp to the Palette library.


Emboss dialog box

Displays an image as a single-color imprint on a solid surface.

Light source Choose the direction of shadows on the image and which parts should appear raised or indented. Light sources from above cause dark areas to look raised. From below, dark areas look indented.

Coating color Click to select a new color for the image.

Depth Set how strong the embossed effect is. Higher settings cause a more pronounced embossed effect.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Gaussian Blur dialog box

Blurs an image by evaluating the color values of all pixels in the image and shifting them towards the most common color in the image.

Variance Choose a higher value to make the image blurrier. As the setting gets higher, the image approaches a single color closely matching the most prevalent color in the image.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Emphasize Edge dialog box
Emphasize Edges dialog box

Increases contrast in an image, making edges more distinct.

Level Choose higher values to produce a clip with harder, more sharply-defined edges.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Blur dialog box

Produces an out-of-focus effect for an image.

Level Select how much you want to blur the image.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Average dialog box

Gives an image a softer look by evaluating the color values of all pixels and moving them toward the average pixel value.

Square size Choose a larger size for a softer picture. As the size gets bigger the focus deteriorates.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Motion Blur dialog box

Blurs an image with an effect similar to when a subject or camera moves when taking a photograph.

Light Source Choose the type of motion desired.

Camera simulates camera movement.

Natural simulates light source movement.

Object simulates subject movement.

Angle Choose the direction of motion.

Moving offset Set how strong the motion appears.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Puzzle dialog box

Breaks an image into squares and rearranges them as if they were sliding-puzzle pieces.

Background color Click to select a new color for the borders of the squares.

Square size Set the size in pixels of each square. If the size does not evenly fit in the image, squares are cropped from the lower right.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Random Click to readjust the effect at random until you find the one you want.


Tile dialog box

Breaks an image into square tiles and shifts them as if they are being placed or removed from the image.

Background color Click to select a new color for the borders of the squares.

Square size Set the size in pixels of each tile. If the size does not evenly fit in the image, squares are cropped from the lower right.

Shift value Set a higher value to randomize the order of the tiles more. A value of zero creates a well organized tiled effect.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Random Click to readjust the effect at random until you find the one you want.


Facet dialog box

Breaks an image into square tiles and shifts them to simulate the appearance of viewing the image through cut glass.

Square size Set the size in pixels of each square. If the size does not evenly fit in the image, squares are cropped from the lower right.

Shift value Set a higher value to randomize the order of the tiles more. This is similar to increasing the size of the cuts in the glass. A value of zero produces almost no change to the original image.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Random Click to readjust the effect at random until you find the one you want.


Warm / Cool dialog box

Add tint to an image producing a warmer or cooler feeling.

Color Choose the tint you wish to apply.

Level Set a higher value to apply a stronger tint. As the level increases the tint becomes more dominant.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette .


Fat / Thin dialog box

Fat expands an image at the center. Thin squeezes compresses an image at the center.

Level Set a higher level to expand (Fat) or compress (Thin) the image more.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette .


Wind / Blast dialog box

These effects create a feeling of a wind blown image. Windy evokes a feeling of a mild to strong wind blowing across the image. Blast is more like gale force winds.

Direction Choose the direction the wind blows.

Moving offset Set a high value to create a stronger wind effect.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Random Click to readjust the effect at random until you find the one you want.


Sharpen dialog box

Makes edges stand out more distinctly in an image.

Level Choose higher to get stronger borders.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette .


Add Noise dialog box

Produces a speckled image.

Distribution Choose Uniform to evenly distribute the noise through the image. Choose Varied to make parts of the image noisier than others.

Variance Increase the variance to create a more speckled effect.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette .


Mosaic dialog box

Blurs the image into blocks by averaging pixel values in each block.

X-axis size Set the width of each square in pixels.

Y-axis size Set the height for each square in pixels.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette .

Square Select Square to make each block a perfect square.

Note: If the block size does evenly fit into the image, the blocks are cropped starting from the lower right corner.


Sphere dialog box

Produces a wide-angle camera lens effect on an image.

Light direction Choose the angle for a light source on the image.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Punch / Pinch dialog box

Punch pushes out the center of an image as if it were being stretched on the outside of a Sphere. Pinch squeezes the center of the image as if it were pushed into the inside of a sphere.

Power Set a high value to make the effect more pronounced.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Whirlpool dialog box

Twists an image into a swirling pattern.

Direction Choose a clockwise or counterclockwise swirl.

Twist degrees Set how much rotation to use. The higher the number, the greater the distortion.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Ripple dialog box

Adds waves to an image as if viewed through water.

Direction Choose Center to create waves start from the center and move out in a circular pattern. Choose Edge for waves that appear to be flowing across the image.

Frequency Choose a high value for more waves.

Amplitude Choose a high value for larger waves.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Watercolor dialog box

Enriches the colors in an image to simulate the appearance of a watercolor painting.

Stroke size Choose Small for short brush strokes. Choose Large for big strokes.

Moisture level Set higher levels to add streaking typical of paints with higher water content.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Unsharp Mask dialog box

Sharpens the image by subtracting an amount determined by the average pixel values in the specified cell size from each pixel in that cell.

Sharpen Factor Set a high factor for stronger contrast.

Aperture Radius Set a low radius to reduce pixelization.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.


Choose Intensity to make the brightness of the image more like the reference.

Choose Saturation to make the richness of the colors more like the reference.

Choose Chrominance to tint the image according to the colors of the reference.


Positive values add to the total, usually causing the image to become lighter. Negative values usually cause darker results.


Stagger dialog box

Creates a wobbly effect for the image.

Direction Choose which way the image wobbles.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Random Click to readjust the effect at random until you find the one you want.


Custom Effect dialog box

Distort image data by remapping pixel locations in a plane. The easiest way to use this filter is to first select a method by clicking on the Samples button. After examining the map, you can fine tune to achieve the effect you want.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Map Drag the curve to squeeze or expand pixels. The left edge of the graph represents the center of the image; the right , all four edges. If the curve is steep, the image will be squeezed; if shallow, expanded.

Show control points Click to place control points on the graph. This may make it easier to draw the desired curve. Enter the number of points you want in the points text box.

In / Out Shows the current and remapped pixel assignments when the mouse is in the Map area.

Methods Click to start with a reference map. The Smooth option takes the current map and smoothes out any sharp changes in the curve. All effects applied are cumulative, that is, the map is not reset before you apply a new effect from the Method list.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Load Use a previously saved matrix file to remap the colors.

Save Saves the current matrix settings to a file for future use in another image.


Custom Filter dialog box

Create custom effects by changing the color values of pixels by weighting them against their surroundings. The easiest way to use this filter is to first select a method by clicking on the Method button. Then, after examining the matrix and other filter settings, you can fine tune it for the effect you want.

Thumbnail Choose a portion of the active image to show in the dialog box preview window.

Add Adds the settings to the EasyPalette.

Matrix Enter a value representing the relative weight a each pixel has when calculating new pixel colors. The center box is the pixel that will actually be changed.

Reset Returns the grid to its unchanged appearance.

Load Use a previously saved matrix file to remap the colors.

Save Saves the current matrix settings to a file for future use in another image.

Test Click to see how the changes in the right preview window on the dialog box. (This is a little faster than pressing the Preview button but not as clear.)

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Samples Click for some sample maps to help you get started.

Symmetry Select an option to help you add factors into the proper places faster.

Divided by Enter a value that will bring the color values for all pixels down to a value that falls between 1 and 256. For best results, this number should be equal to the sum of all factors in the matrix. (If the sum comes out to zero, the factor should be 1.

Offset Set a value to add to each pixel after the matrix calculation. Positive values make the image lighter; negative, darker.

Invert Apply the complimentary colors to those calculated by the filter. For example, all black pixels would become white.


Warping dialog box

Distorts localized regions of an image by allowing you to drag control points.

Sample image Drag the grid to define how to warp the image.

Preview image Shows how the current warping settings will affect the image. (Press the Testing button to update this image.)

Grid size Choose the type of grid to place over the image. A small grid gives you finer control over the changes.

Show control points Check to place control points at the grid intersections. Clear to remove the points. Clearing the points gives you a better view of the original image.

Test See how the changes affect the image in the right preview window in the dialog box. (This is a little faster than pressing the Preview button but not as clear.)

Reset Returns the grid to its unchanged appearance.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.


Thumbnail dialog box

Allows you to choose what appears in the dialog box preview window while applying the filter. This can be useful if you are concerned about a particular region, or to change the magnification in the preview window. It also allows you to choose an image for adding filter settings to the EasyPalette.

Scales the entire image to fit in the preview window.

Selects a portion of the image to show at full size in the preview window.

Selects any part of the image to show in the preview window. PhotoImpact automatically resizes areas larger than the preview window.


Add To / Update EasyPalette dialog box

Saves the current dialog box settings in the EasyPalette  of the EasyPalette for future use.

Preview Window Displays the image that will appear in the EasyPalette .

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

Gallery / Library Select the Gallery or Library you want to save the attributes in.

Tab group Select a tab group within the Gallery or Library.

Recently-used Displays the most recently used Galleries and Libraries.


Palette Ramp Editor dialog box

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

Palette ramp 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 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 around the ring to the desired position.

To change/delete a color on the ring, right-click on the control point and select “Change color” or “Delete”.

To add a color to the ring, click on the area of the ring you wish to add a color to. This opens the Windows color picker. Select a color and click OK to add it to the ring.


PhotoImpact plug-ins

PhotoImpact includes plug-in effects for enhancing your images, plus the Ulead Color Picker, which offers better control for choosing colors to use. Access the Ulead Color Picker by right-clicking on a color box in dialog boxes, or on the Attribute Toolbar of certain tools.

The plug-in effects in PhotoImpact include:

  Charcoal Displays an image with a charcoal-drawn look.

  Colored Pen Softens an image to simulate the look of colored pens.

  Oil Paint Enriches the colors in an image to simulate the appearance of an oil painting.

  Magic Gradient Fills an image with specially designed gradients.

  Kaleidoscope Generates a pattern based on the placement of a reflection in the image.

  Turnpage Curls up a corner of an image, like you’re turning a page.

  Light Creates a focused or diffused beam on an image.

  Artist Texture Creates a custom texture based on a gradient by combining various textures.

  Creative Warp Distorts an image by mirroring and segmenting it.

  Painting Applies painting effects such as Watercolor, Oil Paint and Crayon to an image. You can also apply textures and add a colored tint to the image and create seamlessly tiling backgrounds.

  Particle Applies natural effects such as bubbles, firefly, rain, snow, clouds, smoke, fire and stars.

  Remove Red Eye Removes red from a selected area of the image. While this effect is primarily used to remove the “red eye” effect created by camera flashes, you can also use it to decrease the level of red in any other part of the image.

  Transform Applies brush effects such as Smudge, Pinch, Punch, Sphere, Ripple, Stone, Mirror, Whirlpool, Diffuse and global effects such as Horizontal and Vertical squeeze.

  Type Effect Applies predefined effects such as Gradient, Hole, Glass, Metal, Emboss, Concrete, Sand, Lighting, Fire, Snow, Neon and Seal. These effects can be applied only when there is a selection or object.

  Other plug-ins If you add any compatible third-party plug-ins (such as Kai’s Power Tools), they will also appear in the All submenu and at the bottom of the Effect menu.


Magic Gradient dialog box

Fills an image with specially designed gradients.

Ring palette window Displays the ring palette containing the set and order of colors used in the current magic gradient effect. (The order of the colors starts from the left middle part of the ring which is at 0 degrees and makes a 360 degree turn.)

Edit Click to create your own ring palette.

Reflect control button Reverses the order of the second set of ring palette colors (per two groups) applied in the magic gradient effect.

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 changing the first color of the set. Enter the degree of turn.

Repeat number Define the number of times to repeat the ring palette in the pattern.

Mode Select a pattern to use in the effect. (For some modes, move the pointer to the sample set window and if the pointer changes to a hand shape, you can move the center point of the gradient. Click and drag to the desired center point position.)

Slope Allows you to specify the pattern's direction. Click and drag the red dot to the determine the selected mode's degree of turn.

Frequency Allows you specify the number of times to apply the pattern in the magic gradient effect. Click and drag the pointer to the desired number of patterns.

Amplitude Allows you to specify the length and width of the pattern. Click and drag the pointer to the desired ripple or wavy effect.

Preview Click to see how the changes will affect the actual image before applying them.

Add Adds the custom gradient and settings to the EasyPalette.


  When selected, and the repeat number is set to at least 2, the first set of colors is applied in the regular order and the second set is applied in the same order, reversed. This arrangement is applicable for every two sets of colors.