Contents
Help Contents

It is recommended that you acquaint yourself with Color Pilot Plug-in by viewing the scenario in the Your first step topic.

•	Introduction

•	System requirements

•	Your first step

•	Tools

•	Menu

•	Collection of reference colors

•	Color correction parameters

•	Operation with reference colors

•	Operation with reference white, gray and black

•	Reference color editing

•	White and black points editing

•	Language

•	Tips

•	Uninstallation

•	Our developments

•	Ordering Information

•	Technical support


Introduction

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Color Pilot Plug-in is designed for easy color correction of images originating from a digital camera or scanner.

Color Pilot Plug-in uses Technology of color correction with a reference color™ that:

•	Allows you to control color correction in a natural “language of color”;

•	Frees you from having to match the characteristics of "color channels";

•	Allows you to use successful colors from other images for color correction of your image;

•	Helps you to attain a level of experience (using a collection of colors) that allows consistency and good results;

•	Frees you from having to study color systems.

We sell a license for using Technology of color correction with a reference color™.

To attention of the manufacturers of digital cameras: Technology of color correction can be built in a digital camera because the technology does not make high demands for a monitor and does not require a difficult interface.

Our contacts: invent@colorpilot.com


System requirements

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•	x86-based personal computer (486 minimum)

•	Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME

•	Adobe Photoshop 3.x (or higher)

•	Adobe PhotoDeluxe

•	Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 (or higher)

•	Paint Shop Pro 6 (or higher)

•	mouse

•	no less than 16 MB application RAM

•	600 KB hard disk space

•	Video System Supporting 65K Colors

the plug-in allows to process RGB and CMYK images.


Your first step

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Color Pilot Plug-in has self-showing examples which can be run from the Examples menu. Examples work with images supplied with Color Pilot Plug-in.

It is recommended that you acquaint yourself with Color Pilot Plug-in by viewing the self-showing examples according to the following methods:

1) in your graphic software open an image mentioned in the menu item from the Color Pilot Plug-in installation directory;

2) start Color Pilot Plug-in;

3) start a corresponding example from the Examples menu;

4) view the example;

5) start the example again and stop it at any moment you want by pressing ESC;

6) continue the example yourself.

See the list of examples and images to them in Examples and their images.

To acquaint yourself with Technology of color correction with a reference color™ more detailed, it is recommended that you do the following:

1) download the freshest version of Color Pilot from our Web-site: http://www.colorpilot.com/

2) view self-showing examples from the Examples menu.

Color Pilot also has the same principles of operation and has self-showing examples which show how the technology works. After viewing these examples, you can easier master Color Pilot Plug-in.

If you have any questions, then after having registered, you will be able to use Technical support via email: support@colorpilot.com

Before starting examples, it is recommended that you adjust your monitor’s brightness and contrast so that image colors are saturated enough and hues are easy discernible.

Sources of the images used in the examples from the Examples menu:

  the Sun1.jpg, Sun2.jpg and Sun3.jpg images were made by the Olympus 800 camera.

All initial images are presented in their initial state made by a digital camera or scanner, i.e., the images had no additional processing.


Examples and their images

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Images supplied with Color Pilot Plug-in are stored in the Color Pilot Plug-in installation directory.

Example 1: The use of reference color for brightness expansion

Image: Sun1.jpg

Example 2: The use of reference color for color correction

Image: Sun2.jpg

Example 3: The use of color correction experience

Image: Sun3.jpg


Tools

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 - the zoom tool allows you to magnify and reduce your view of an image. To use the zoom tool:

1) Position the cursor on the image, and click to zoom in or Alt+click to zoom out.

2) Hold down the left mouse button and drag to select the part of the image you want to magnify.

 - the hand tool lets you scroll through an image that does not fit in the window.

 - the eyedropper tool lets you sample colors from a pixel of an image.

 - the zoom in tool lets you magnify your view of an image by clicking the left mouse button.

 - this button lets you set an image scale to 1:1. This button displays also the current view scale of an image.

 - the zoom out tool lets you reduce your view of an image by clicking the left mouse button.

 - this tool lets you select a reference white region; the powerful using "gathers" a paint from a sheet of paper (economizes inks of a jet printer). You amplify the using of the reference white when you:

1) select a darker region as the reference white;

2) select a deeper level of color correction (see Color correction parameters).

 - this tool lets you select a reference gray region. You use the reference gray to eliminate a color background.

 - this tool lets you select a reference black region; the powerful using " pours" a paint onto a sheet of paper (increases consumption of jet printer inks). You amplify the using of the reference black when you:

1) select a brighter region as the reference black;

2) select a deeper level of color correction (see Color correction parameters).

 - this tool lets you select a reference color region. This tool works in combination to Collection of reference colors.

 - this tool lets you delete an active region.

 - this tool lets you delete all selected regions.

 - this tool lets you to extract a new color from an image and add it to the collection (see Collection of reference colors);

 - these tools realize the Undo/Redo function.

 - these tools realize the Experience function.

 (under the initial image) - this tool lets you to use the left image as the processed image and pass it to your graphic application (e.g. Photoshop).

 (under the processed image) - this tool lets you to use the processed image as an initial one to continue color correction with the processed image.

 - this tool lets you start the processing.

See also

Operation with reference colors

Operation with reference white, gray and black


Menu

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Registration

You use this menu item to open the Registration dialog box in which you can enter your registration code.

Examples

List of Examples: to start an example, select the corresponding menu item.

Open Example: you use this menu item to open an example to be played.

Help

Your first step: you use this menu command to start the Help system and display the Your first step topic.

Contents: you use this menu command to start the Help system and display its contents.

Our developments: you use this menu command to start the Help system and display the Our developments topic.

Ordering information: you use this menu command to start the Help system and display the Ordering Information topic.

Technical support: you use this menu command to start the Help system and display the Technical support topic.

Language: you use this menu command to open the Language dialog.


Collection of reference colors

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The collection contains colors which can be used in color correction with a reference color ( [image]). At any moment one of the colors in the collection is active. It is marked by a pushed button.

Before color correction you select a reference color on the image. At color correction the reference color "aims" to the color-aim. The color-aim consists of two components: color and brightness, and is formed depending on a state of the switch in the Color point (region) box (the switch is above the collection):

color: color of the color-aim is derived from the active color in the collection and brightness of the color-aim is from the reference color;

color & brightness: as the color-aim the active color is used (i.e. its color and brightness). The brightness of reference color regions selected on the image is skipped.

The collection can contain colors of various supported color systems (see System requirements). It is convenient to have separate collection-files for different color systems.

You use this tool to switch over Color Pilot Plug-in to the mode of adding in the collection a new color selected from an image. This tool can be used in two cases:

1) add a successful color to the collection;

2) the collection has not a suitable color. Color correction has the following scenario in this case:

a) the color in the initial image you do not like is added to the collection;

b) then the color is edited in a desired direction (the Edit button, see below);

c) this color is used as a reference color when color correction.

To select a region with a color:

1) position the cursor on the image part of a desired color, click the left mouse button and drag it to select a rectangle;

2) release the left mouse button.

Add...: click the Add button to add a new color to the collection. When clicking this item the Reference color editing dialog box appears.

Edit...: the difference of the Edit button from the Add button is that the active color is replaced by the edited one.

Delete: click the Delete button to delete the active color from the collection.

Open...: you click the Open button to open a new collection of reference colors. This item is unavailable in the unregistered version.

Save as...: you click the Save as button to save a current collection in a new file. This item is unavailable in the unregistered version.

Color Pilot Plug-in has an "active" collection that is automatically loaded at the plug-in's start and in which all changes made in the collection are saved when you exit the plug-in. When you run Color Pilot Plug-in for the first time, the ColPilot.col collection with a standard set of colors is created which becomes active. From now on a collection opened by means of the Open button or saved by means of the Save as button will be used as an active one.


Color correction parameters

(in this topic the brightness of point and  hue terms are synonyms)

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Level

This option sets the color correction depth of bright and dark hues of the image.

Color Pilot Plug-in has its own notion about color correction and tends always to it, which, in common case, defines a hardly noticeable difference between the processed images at different levels of color correction (except none) in the mode of automatic color correction.

Colors of points do not change at the none level of color correction.

It is recommended that you set the soft level of color correction in the mode of automatic color correction. If this level of color correction is too intense, use the supersoft level of color correction.

Levels of color correction are actively used at the operation with reference colors.

White point (region)

White point parameters influence the result of the processing if a reference white region ( [image]) has been selected or the Auto-correction option is checked.

The White point parameters are the aim for white hues.

White hues are indicated by the user (by selecting a reference white region) or determined by the program automatically (if the Auto-correction option is checked).

Formation of the aim for white hues depends on characteristics of the "white point" selected in the list and the state of the color/ color & brightness switch:

color: to form the aim a color of the "white point" selected in the list is used and its brightness is derived from the reference white;

color & brightness: to form the aim its both color and brightness are derived from the "white point" selected in the list.

You can select any "white point" in the list. You can also edit the list in the special dialog box opened by the Edit button.

Black point (region)

Black point parameters influence the result of the processing if a reference black region ( [image]) has been selected or the Auto-correction option is checked.

The Black point parameters are the aim for black hues.

Black hues are indicated by the user (by selecting a reference black region) or determined by the program automatically (if the Auto-correction option is checked).

Formation of the aim for black hues depends on characteristics of the " black point" selected in the list and the state of the color/ color & brightness switch:

color: to form the aim a color of the " black point" selected in the list is used and its brightness is derived from the reference black;

color & brightness: to form the aim its both color and brightness are derived from the " black point" selected in the list.

You can select any " black point" in the list. You can also edit the list in the special dialog box opened by the Edit button.

When the white and black points are in the color & brightness state, you can realize a rigid control of color correction with the help of reference white and black colors. In other cases the result of color correction is a joint creativity of the user and program. You can get a negative image at the indicated state of the options if you select a darker region as reference white and a brighter region as reference black.


Operation with reference colors

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If we have an image with an incorrect color transition, then one can assume that colors of all objects are contorted under the same rule.

If we know an exact color of some object, then having calculated a transition function to the correct color for this object we can apply the same transition function to all other objects of the image. As a result, the color transition must become more correct.

Indicating an exact (correct) color is called "selecting a reference color" in Color Pilot Plug-in.

One can indicate the following reference colors:

 - reference white;

 - reference gray;

 - reference black;

 - reference color.

The reference colors are indicated by selecting corresponding reference regions. You can select reference regions on the initial image and on its magnified part. In order to select a reference region:

1) click the left mouse button and drag it to select a rectangular region;

2) release the left mouse button.

As a result a rectangular with a label in the upper-left corner is drawn on the image. Different kinds of reference regions have different symbols on the label:

W - a reference white region;

G - a reference gray region;

B - a reference white region;

Number - a reference color region.

The reference regions can be deleted with the help of the commands in the pop-up menu opened by the right mouse button or the following tools:

 - click this button to delete an active region.

 - click this button to delete all regions.

An active region is marked by a thicker frame. In order to make a region active do the following:

1) position the cursor on the label of the region you want to make active;

2) click the left mouse button on this label.

See also

Your first step

Operation with reference white, gray and black


Operation with reference white, gray and black

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The reference white and black colors can be determined automatically by the program or indicated by the user.

The user indicate a reference color by selecting a reference region on the initial image with the help of the following tools:

 - this tool lets you select a reference white region; the powerful using "gathers" a paint from a sheet of paper (economizes inks of a jet printer). You amplify the using of the reference white when you:

1) select a darker region as the reference white;

2) select a deeper level of color correction (see Color correction parameters).

 - this tool lets you select a reference gray region. You use the reference gray to eliminate a color background. If there is an object in the image that must be gray, but it has some color background you should select a reference gray region on this object.

 - this tool lets you select a reference black region; the powerful using "pours" a paint onto a sheet of paper (increases consumption of jet printer inks). You amplify the using of the reference black when you:

1) select a brighter region as the reference black;

2) select a deeper level of color correction(see Color correction parameters).

Determined white and black colors aim to become correspondingly white and black points (see Color correction parameters).

The general rule of operation with reference colors is that the less colors the initial image contains, the deeper level of color correction and the stronger usage of reference colors are necessary.

When you correct photos, it is more convenient to indicate a reference white only because "all cats are gray by night" and therefore it is more difficult for the user to identify a black color. As a rule, the program manages better the search of a reference black. If some typical colors in the processed image do not satisfy you (e.g. complexion) then it is recommended to use reference colors from the Collection.

Rules of selecting a reference white region at various levels of color correction.

Color correction levels are supersoft and soft:

the selected region can contain any number of pixels which must become light-gray or white in the processed image.

Color correction level is middle:

most of pixels in the selected region must become light-gray or white in the processed image.

Color correction level is deep:

all pixels in the selected region must become light-gray or white in the processed image.

The selected region must not contain pixels which must have a color or a dark hue in the processed image.

Rules of selecting a reference black region at various levels of color correction.

Color correction level are supersoft and soft:

the selected region can contain any number of pixels which must become dark-gray or black in the processed image.

Color correction level is middle:

most of pixels in the selected region must become dark-gray or black in the processed image.

Color correction level is deep:

all pixels in the selected region must become dark-gray or black in the processed image.

The selected region must not contain pixels which must have a color or a bright hue in the processed image.

When the color correction level is deep, selected regions must not contain equal and crossing values of pixels as a reference white and black. One cannot assign two contrary values to the same point.


Reference color editing

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The Reference color editing dialog box is intended for adding a new color to the collection or editing an existent active color.

To open this dialog box click the Add or Edit button (see Collection of reference colors). The difference of these buttons is that after clicking the Add button you may set a color in any supported color system. After clicking the Edit button you may edit a color in its initial color system only.

Color system

The switch allows to set one of the color systems. When switching from one color system in another there is a transformation of a current color that is implemented with the use of the Photoshop transformation function.


White and black points editing

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The White (black) points dialog box is intended for adding in and deleting from the list a white (black) point.

To open this dialog box click the Edit button in the White point (Black point) section.

Color system

The switch allows to set one of the color systems. When switching from one color system in another there is a transformation of a current color that is implemented with the use of the Photoshop transformation function.

Add

Click the Add button to add the current color in the list of points.

Delete

Click the Delete button to delete a point selected in the list. Points marked as "standard" cannot be deleted.

OK

Click the OK button to close the dialog box and save all changes made in the list. If the current color has not been added in the list, it will be added.

Cancel

Click the Cancel button to close the dialog box without saving any changes.


Undo/Redo function

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The Undo/Redo function allows you to get to any step of color correction. Each step of color correction is fixed by the [image] button replaced under the processed image.

List of processed images fixed by the [image] button. Image 0 is the initial image received from Photoshop. You can choose any of the images by selecting it in the list.

To return to the previous step of color correction, click the Back button.

To view the next step of color correction you viewed before clicking the Back button, click the Forward button.


Experience function

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The Experience function allows you to store and use your color correction experience. You can store your successful correction to apply it later to a new image.

List of saved expierences.

Apply

Click this button to apply the currently selected experience from the list to the image.

Save

Click this button to save your current correction.

Edit

Click this button to open a dialog box for editing the list of experiences.

Each experience has its Title and Commentary which you can enter before saving and edit later.


Language

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You can make Color Pilot Plug-in speak on your own language!

Select the Help | Language menu to open the Language Dialog. Using the drop-down box, select the language file to be used (usually the name of this file is equal to the name of the language, and the extension is ini). When the selection will be made, you’ll see the “true” name of this language at the right.

If your language is not listed here you can create the required file yourself. It is quite simple: just use the English.ini (located in the <Adobe Photoshop filter-plugins directory\Color Pilot> directory) as a template; translate all words and sentences from English to the language of your choice. The file has to be saved with the name yourlanguage.ini (e.g. esperanto.ini).

Just three notes.

1) Don’t translate in English.ini the lines – [Message] and [Language]. These are the “standard” headers which should not be changed. The line “Language=English” contains the name of the language where you can write the name of your language (e.g. “Language=Esperanto”).

2) Try to keep the sentences as short as they appear in English version – otherwise, they probably will not fit in the dialog boxes; in some cases, the program may even crash if some messages will be too long.

3) Don’t change the things like %s or %d – these are the format specifiers.

By the way, don’t forget to inform us that you’ve made a new international version – we’ll include this file into the next version of Color Pilot Plug-in. If you’ll contact us prior to starting the translation (to be sure that you’re the onliest person who is doing this work), you can get the free registration!


Tips

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Color Pilot Plug-in has its own, rather strong, notion of color correction. So if our program cannot completely solve your problems and you want to continue a manual processing in an other program, it is recommended that you get the basis with the help of our program - automatically processed image. When getting the basis, set the following parameters of color correction:

Level

White: soft

Black: soft

Auto-correction: checked

You should select parameters of the White and Black points proceeding from your problem.

Thus, you will always have the same initial point. Moving equally from this point, you will achieve close results to different input images. It is recommended that you note down your "movement" to have a possibility to reiterate successful attempts.


Uninstallation

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Launch the Add/Remove Programs applet out of the Control Panel, highlight the application name, and click on the Add/Remove... push button. Windows will launch the uninstaller.


Our developments

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Programs for color correction

Color Pilot™      $29.95

http://www.colorpilot.com/en/pilot.html

Color Pilot is designed for making color corrections of images originating from a digital camera or scanner in quick and easy way. The principle of the program operation is based on using reference colors. The sense of this approach can be expressed by the following: “If you do not like the color, tell the program what it should be”. We believe this approach is natural and can be adopted by both a professional and a novice in color correction. Color Pilot has the Panorama function, which enables one to stitch images. It allows creating panoramic images. More details...

Color Pilot Plug-in™      $29.95

http://www.colorpilot.com/en/plugin.html

Color Pilot Plug-in is specifically designed for the quick and easy color correction of images directly within Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PhotoDeluxe, Corel PHOTO-PAINT or Paint Shop Pro. The plug-in uses the Technology of color correction with a reference color™. The plug-in is easily mastered, and includes built-in color correction examples. More details...

Software for document preparation

Form Pilot™      $29.99

http://www.colorpilot.com/en/typewriter.html

Specially designed for filling in paper forms (of any type) on your computer. It makes typewriters obsolete! You can fill in your form and send it by fax without printing it on paper. Our cartoon character will lead you through using Form Pilot step by step, as Form Pilot works for you. You will love its convenience!

Program for color recognition

MagicMap™      FREEWARE

http://www.colorpilot.com/en/magicmap.html

Specifically designed for preparing raster image like maps for archiving, vectorization or direct plotting. More details...

Latest news on our developments you can find on our web-site: http://www.colorpilot.com/

Please send your comments, suggestions and bug reports to: support@colorpilot.com


 What is Color Pilot™

Contents> Our developments>

Color Pilot is designed for making color corrections of images originating from a digital camera or scanner in an easy and quick way. Color Pilot uses Technology of color correction with a reference color™ that allows you:

•	to control color correction in a natural "language of color".

•	to collect the experience (in the color collection);

•	frees you from having to match the characteristics of "color channels";

•	frees you from the headache that you get when you think about "Should I decrease or increase? By what percentage? 5% or 15%? What characteristics should I change and how?" these questions often appears when you use programs which are based on the usual technology of color correction.

Functions:

•	color correction with a reference white, black, gray and color;

•	collection of reference colors for the correction;

•	layer color correction;

•	repeat of the processing;

•	the program can demonstrate itself by means of the built-in color correction Examples;

•	simultaneous printing all the opened images on a single page;

•	panorama for stitching any number of images;

•	framing;

•	image rotation;

•	image resize;

•	image resolution;

•	conversion of a 24 bit image to grayscale.


What Is Color Pilot Plug-in
 What is  Color Pilot Plug-in™

Contents> Our developments>

Color Pilot Plug-in is specifically designed for the quick and easy color correction of images directly within Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint. The plug-in's intuitive interface allows color correction using the natural language of color. The user is freed from the complex study of color systems and freed from having to match the characteristics of "color channels". Color Pilot Plug-in can help anyone attain excellent results using a user-created collection of reference colors.

Functions:

•	color correction with a reference white, black, gray and color;

•	collection of reference colors for the correction;

•	multi-level Undo/Redo function;

•	you can store and use your color correction experience;

•	white and black points editing;

•	the program can demonstrate itself by means of the built-in color correction Examples.


MagicMap
 MagicMap™ - program for color recognition

Contents> Our developments>

Practical geographic, topographic and other kind of maps made on paper mediums have very limited quantity of colors (as a rule, no more than 6) having some notational information. However, over 10000 colors are produced while scanning. It results in very big file sizes, poor quality of printing on a plotter, vectorization problems...

MagicMap is  a powerful tool to prepare raster image files for archiving (transformation of maps, plans, designs from a paper form to an electronic one), vectorization or direct plotting. The task of taking only a necessary information from a map can be easily fulfilled: isobars, rivers, forests, roads, etc.

MagicMap is easily mastered.

MagicMap’s features:

•	at the program’s input - an image of 24 or 8 bit, TIFF;

•	at the program’s output - up to 16 layers which can be stored in TIFF, 4 bit;

•	input image size is unlimited;

•	adjustment of a color recognition range;

•	the binding function enables to improve borders between nearest (relative) colors;

•	automatic assignment of unrecognized (not pointed) colors to the white layer;

•	possibility of a quick trial transformation of  a limited image part;

•	possibility of saving user’s  actions in a project file;

•	possibility of painting a layer with a color from an initial image;

•	possibility of easy changing any layer’s color and saving different combinations of layers in a file;

•	easy positioning of images on the same sheet of paper when printing repeatedly.


Ordering Information

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Color Pilot Plug-in 2.25

You can register your copy of Color Pilot Plug-in via RegNow registration service using your credit card. The registration fee is $29.95 only. You can register on-line, using fax, toll-free phone or by check. Money orders are also accepted. For more information see the file order.txt.

On the Internet, go to the order page:

https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=2038-3

If you don't have convenient Web access, the next best way to order Color Pilot Plug-in is by fax (also using the credit card) or phone (toll-free). In addition, you can send us the check. The order form template, fax & phone numbers, and mailing address are in the file order.frm.

Be sure to give us the correct e-mail address when filling the order form; if you’ll make a mistake when typing it, we’ll be unable to send you your registration code.

On payment approval, we'll send you the registration code. If you do not receive the registration code within 1-2 business days after paying, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@collorpilot.com!!!


Technical support

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If you have a problem with Color Pilot Plug-in and noting else helps, please contact technical support staff at: support@collorpilot.com

Please inform us about the following:

•	Color Pilot Plug-in version

•	Adobe Photoshop/Corel PHOTO-PAINT version

•	Color Pilot Plug-in registration code and your name

•	where did you get Color Pilot Plug-in (http or ftp site)

•	Windows 95/98/NT version (including service packs and other fixes installed), US or international, OEM or not

•	description of your problem (as much information as possible to retrieve the problem)

We’ll try to help you as fast as possible, usually in one or two business days.

If you have any comments or suggestions for the next releases, please feel free to post them to us.