Copyright: Copyright (c) 1997 by Ulead Systems, Inc.


This is the What's This? Help (context-sensitive) file for Ulead SmartSaver. To access topics in this help file, you can either right-click on an item of interest and select What's This? or simply click the question mark button located at the upper-right hand corner of the displayed dialog box or program window.


This is how your image looks before optimizing. Use the image in this frame as a reference to decide whether the image in the Compressed image frame to its right is acceptable. Click  [image]  or  [image]  to zoom in or out on the image. Click  [image] to zoom to the actual size.


This is how your image will look when optimized. Compare it to the image in the Uncompressed image frame to its left to see the difference. Click  [image]  or  [image]  to zoom in or out on the image. Click  [image] to zoom to the actual size.

Tip Click [image] to see a full screen view of the image at its actual size. Press Esc to return to the dialog box.


This image shows the differences between the uncompressed and compressed images. Use it to get a better idea of where changes occur during optimization. Darker shadows indicate more significant distortions in the processed image.

Tip Right click on this image and choose "Distortion Scale Factor" to enhance the distortion image. This makes low levels of distortion more apparent.


Zoom in on the image. If, after zooming in, the entire image cannot fit in a preview frame, click and drag the image to focus on the area you wish to see.


Zoom out on the image. If the entire image cannot fit in a preview frame, click and drag the image to focus on the area you wish to see.


Resize the image to its actual size. If, after resizing, the entire image cannot fit in a preview frame, click and drag the image to focus on the area you wish to see.


Resize the image so that it all fits inside a frame.


Check to show the Distortion image frame. The image in the Distortion image frame shows areas where significant changes between the uncompressed and compressed images occur. The Original and Optimized image frames become narrower to make room for the Distortion image frame.

Clear to hide the Distortion image frame. The Original and Optimized image frames expand, so you can see more of the image.


Check to automatically update the image in the Compressed image frame any time you change a setting. This may slow down the program as it needs to perform more frequent calculations.


Update the Compressed image frame according to the current dialog box settings.


Select which type of JPEG image file to create:

Progressive Create an image that gradually comes into focus as it opens. This creates a smaller file. However, some web browsers may not be able to display these images properly.

Standard Create an image that will be compatible with all JPEG browsers. Images saved as Standard JPEGs tend to be larger than progressive images.

Standard Optimized Create the smallest possible image using a non-progressive compression mode. Sometimes using this mode can create files smaller than those using progressive compression.


Not Used

Change the subsampling and preprocessing options for the optimized image.

Tip See the Subsampling and Preprocessing topics in the SmartSaver Help for explanations of subsampling and preprocessing, and how to set them.


Control how much you want to compress the image. Lower settings, (left), produce smaller file sizes, but more original image information is distorted. Higher settings, (right), retain more original data, but result in larger file sizes. As a rule, start with a quality setting of 60.

Tip Never exceed a quality setting of 95. File size increases dramatically above this setting and the improvement in quality is rarely noticeable.


Save the optimized image using the current dialog box settings. The Save As dialog box opens for you to assign a name and location for the file.


Close the dialog box without saving or changing the image.


Open the SmartSaver program Help. From here you can obtain instruction, guidance, and background information about using SmartSaver and imaging for the web.


Open a dialog box where you can automatically generate up to thirty tests with different settings. SmartSaver adds each setting and its image to the History list for instant recall.


View the image for the next smaller file size in the History list.


Show a menu with commands for opening the History list, adding the current settings to the list, or emptying the list.


View the image for the next larger file size in the History list.


Show the Options menu. It contains commands for optimizing the image by specifying file size (JPEG only), obtaining original image statistics, viewing the online help, and other commands.


Centers the image in the preview frames.


Shows a full screen view of the compressed image at its actual size. This gives you a clear idea of how the image will appear in a web browser when it is too big to fit in the image frame. Use the arrow keys to move the image around. Press Esc to return to the dialog box.


Select which color channel to focus on when measuring the distortion.

Check RGB to use all color channels for the evaluation

Check R to focus on the Red channel

Check G to  focus on the Green channel

Check B to  focus on the Blue channel

Check Y to focus on the chrominance


Enhance the image shown in the Distortion frame to show changes more clearly.

Check 1 to see the true distortion

Check 2 to multiply the distortion in the Distortion frame by 2. (50% distortion is black)

Check 4 to multiply the distortion  4. (25% distortion is black)

Check 8 to multiply the distortion by 8. (12.5% distortion is black)

Check 16 to multiply the distortion by 8. (6.25% distortion is black)

Tip See the Distortion topic in the SmartSaver Help for an explanation and examples of different distortion settings.


Select how accurately each pixel in the original image should be evaluated when optimizing:

Select 4-1-1 for the smallest possible file size. (Default setting)

Select 4-2-2 for good accuracy and good compression.

Select None for the most accurate reproduction and larger file size.

Tip See the Subsampling topic in the SmartSaver Help for an explanation of subsampling.


Blur the image slightly to enhance compression. There are two reasons for doing this:

Indexed color images Smoothing indexed color images reduces adverse affects due to dithering. If you are converting a GIF image to JPEG, you should always smooth the image first using the highest possible setting that allows you to retain the detail you desire.

Backgrounds Images with large indistinct backgrounds, such as the sky or ocean can be smoothed to enhance compression. In general, the loss of detail due to smoothing will be minor compared to the added compression.


Add the current settings and the associated image to the History list for future reference.


Load the compressed image for these settings into the dialog box.


Empty the History list of all its current entries.


Type the value for the highest quality image you want for the optimized image. Remember that as quality increases so does file size.

Tip  Do not specify a quality higher than 95 because file size will increase dramatically with limited improvement in image quality.


Type the value for the lowest acceptable quality. Remember that lower quality settings produce smaller image files.

Tip  As you optimize more images, you will get a feel for the best settings. In the beginning, try a setting of 30 - 40.


Check and specify how many samples you want SmartSaver to place in the History list.


Open a dialog box where you can specify the maximum allowable distortion for the optimized image.


Open a dialog box where you can specify the largest allowable file size for the optimized image in bytes or as a percentage of the original file size.


Open a help file with information about obtaining the full version of this and other Ulead products.


Open the SmartSaver program Help Contents dialog box. From there you can obtain information on how to use SmartSaver, and to gain better understanding about optimizing images for web pages.


Click to see copyright, version, and other proprietary information about SmartSaver.


Click to open a dialog box with size and other attribute information about the image you wish to optimize.


Type the desired file size for the optimized image file here. Do not use decimals. If you wish to specify a more precise file size, change the setting of the Units box to bytes.

Note: Due to limitations and other uncontrollable variables during the compression process, there may be a small difference between the size you specify and the actual size for the optimized image file.


Select Bytes or KBytes depending on the desired measurement for the Desired file size box.


Type a percentage of the original file size for the desired compressed file size.

Note: Due to limitations and other uncontrollable variables during the compression process, there may be a small difference between the size you specify and the actual size for the optimized image file.


Select the type of palette to use for your optimized image:

Optimized Creates a unique palette based on the colors present in the original image. This usually produces the most faithful reproduction.

Netscape Navigator Creates the optimized image using the standard colors found in the color palette used by Netscape Navigator. This guarantees how your image will look when viewed in Netscape.

Internet Explorer Creates the optimized image using the standard colors found in the color palette used by Microsoft Internet Explorer. This guarantees how your image will look when viewed in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Palette file Allows you to load a previously saved custom palette for the image.

Tip: For a better understanding of palettes and how to use them, see the Palettes section of the Ulead SmartSaver help file.


Select the method for portraying colors in the optimized image:

Diffusion Uses patterns of colors to simulate colors not in the palette. This usually best for converting true-color images to indexed color images with the greatest accuracy.

Pattern An alternative method if diffusion produces a "noisy" image and None is too blotchy.

None Directly substitutes each pixel in the original image with the closest matching color in the palette. This produces the smallest possible file and is the best choice for optimizing images that already use an indexed color palette.


Select to slightly blur the image before optimizing. Often the blurring is hardly noticeable, and the resulting file is smaller.

Tip: Set the smoothing to 0 if your image contains text.


Specify the total number of indexed colors contained in the color palette. Smaller indexes result in smaller files.

Note: For a better understanding of determining palette sizes, see Color Reduction in the Ulead SmartSaver online help.


Check to create an interlaced GIF image when you save the optimized image. This makes the file a little bit bigger but enables people to get a good idea of how the image looks faster when viewed in many web browsers.


Specify how to determine which parts of the image appear transparent.

None Select if you do not want the image to be transparent.

Pick Colors Use the mouse and click in the Original image frame to select colors you want to be transparent. (Press the Alt key and click to make a color that is currently transparent solid.)

Mask  Use an existing selection or channel (Photoshop only)  to isolate the area you want to keep visible from the transparent area.

Import Mask Use another image file as a mask to determine the transparent and visible areas.

Note: For detailed information about creating transparent GIF's, PNG's or even JPG's see Transparency in the Ulead GIF/JPEG SmartSaver help.


Check to make the transparent area visible and the visible area transparent.


Click to set a color to appear in the Optimized image frame to represent areas that will appear transparent in web pages.


Click to undo the last change you made to the transparent setting.


Click to reapply a change to the transparent setting that you undid.


Click to restore the transparent settings to the way they were for the original image.


The location and name of the image file selected defining the transparent area. Click Open to select a different image.


Click to Open the Open dialog box. From there you can find and select the file to use for defining the transparent area.


Save the current palette for future use with other indexed color images.


This is the help file for the What's This help topics in Ulead SmartSaver. You can only access information in this document by using the right mouse button to request help on sections of the Ulead SmartSaver dialog boxes. If you need help using Ulead SmartSaver,  [image]:


Enter the amount of distortion you want to allow in the optimized image.


The total number of tests contained in the history list.


This window shows all tests loaded into the history list during the current Ulead SmartSaver session.

To load the settings for a listed test, select the test and click Select.


Load the selected test in the history list into the Optimize Image dialog box.


Enlarge the History dialog box to show the optimized image for the selected test settings.


Close the image frame.


This is the optimized image for the selected test in the History list.


Toggle between showing both the Uncompressed and Compressed image frames and only showing the Compressed image frame.


Check and specify the difference between settings for each test performed. Smaller differences result in more tests and take longer to complete.


Type the maximum number of colors you wish to include in the image. Remember, more colors means a larger file.


Type the minimum number of colors you wish to use for the image. As you reduce the size of the palette the file size shrinks, but the image becomes more pixelated.

Tip  For Photographic images, try 64 as the lower limit. For icons and computer-drawn images, try 16.


Check and specify how many samples you want SmartSaver to place in the History list.


This is the name and location of the selected palette file for optimizing the image.


The new file size for this image will be larger than the original if you use the current settings to save.


JPEG SmartSaver

Opens the Ulead JPEG SmartSaver. Here you can instantly see how changing JPEG compression settings will affect your image before saving.


GIF SmartSaver

Opens the Ulead GIF SmartSaver. Here you can instantly see how changing GIF compression settings, including customizing the palette colors and size will affect your image before saving.


Quit Ulead SmartSaver without creating or saving a new image file.


Specify an image that you intend to tile as the background of the web page you intend to include the image you are optimizing on. When you click preview  [image]  This image will be tiled behind the optimized image.


Select how you wish to blend your image into the background.

None Do not use the soft or feathered edge of the selection area when determining the transparent area.

Pattern Create a patterned transparent area in the soft or feathered portion of the selection area.

Diffusion Create a diffused transparent area in the soft or feathered portion of the selection area.

Note:  Selecting Pattern or Diffusion is only effective on images larger than 100 x 100 pixels.


Check this option to include pixels adjacent to the selected color.


Enter the range of similar color values to select when choosing a transparent color and the adjacent color pixels surrounding it.


Undoes the last color selection for transparency.


Redoes the last color selection for transparency.


Resets the image in the Uncompressed preview pane back to its original appearance.


Defines how the mask is blended with the original image to create transparent and visible areas.

None - the default, leaving the mask as is.

Threshold - defines the number of colors used in blending the mask with the original image.

Pattern - blends the mask with the original image using the Pattern dithering method.

Diffusion - blends the mask with the original image using the Diffusion dithering method.


Displays the filename of the image currently being used as a mask. Click the Open button to locate a different file.


Opens the Browse dialog box allowing you to search for a new file to use as a mask.


Blends the most common color in the original image with the mask, to make the transition between transparent and visible regions more smooth.


Sets the background "see-through" color to white.


Sets the background "see-through" color to black.


Sets the background "see-through" color to a custom, user selected color.


Sets the background "see-through" region to that of an image file.


Displays the filename and path of the currently selected image file.


Click the Browse button to locate a new image to use as the current background.


Click the Resample button to adjust the image's width and height.


Click the Crop button to remove portions of the image and, in doing so, resize it.


Select to open the source images and optimize them to the selected file format (GIF, JPEG, or PNG).


Select to open the source images and optimize them to the selected file format (GIF, JPEG, or PNG).


Optimize all the image files contained in the selected folder.


Click to search for other folders.


Select to scan all the folders within the parent folder and include the image files contained in them in the optimization process.


Click to open the Image Types dialog box for selecting the file formats of images to include when scanning for images to optimize.


Select to individually choose the image files to optimize.


Click to open the Select Files dialog box for creating a list of image files to optimize.


Displays the current number of files you have included in the list of images to optimize.


Select to maintain the relationship between the width and height of the original image when resizing.


Adjust the original image or images' dimension to the specified value before starting the optimization process.


Use this unit of measure in determining how to adjust the dimensions of the image relative to the specified width and height values.


Click to open the appropriate Ulead SmartSaver program window and be able to start setting the optimization options.


Click to close the Ulead SmartSaver program.


Click to access help for this dialog box.


Click to display information about this version of Ulead SmartSaver you have and also find out how you can contact us.


Select to resize the image or images before the actual optimization process.


Enter a value to use in determining how visible the background is when using a mask. The value specified here produces a wide range of effects in the blending process because of the its relationship with other settings.For more smoother blending between transparent and visible regions, select the Enable background blending using Background settings option.


Select this option only if edge blending of the original image against the background still produces unsatisfactory result after trying different settings. This option will determine for you the best color to use for edge blending.


Use this box to select a filter to compress your PNG file. Each filter is a different method of compression and they will have different effects on the file size.


Select this option to enable image interlacing. Interlacing allows the image to load progressively or in stages over the Internet. This will increase the file size a little.


Select this option to use an alpha channel mask.


Select this option to SmartSave true color images, or convert your image to true color.


Select this option to SmartSave 256 index color images, or convert your image to indexed color.


Select this option to SmartSave gray scale images, or convert your image to gray scale.


Click to open a palette dialog box and save your palette as a .pal file.


Select this option to SmartSave an image already saved on the clipboard from another application.


Click this tab to select the mask options for a JPEG file.


Click this tab to select the background options for a JPEG file.


Click this tab to select the JPEG options.


Click this box to choose a background color from a palette.


Click this tab to select the mask options for a PNG file.


Click this tab to select the background options for a PNG file.


Click this tab to select the PNG options.


Click this tab to choose GIF palette options.


Click this tab to select the mask options for a GIF file.


Click this tab to select the background options for a GIF file.


Click this tab to select the GIF options.


Click this tab to choose PNG palette options.


This is the number of colors, or cells, in the image.


The index is the number, or position of the selected color in the palette.


These numbers represent the value of the three colors which make up the selected cell color in an RGB index color image. RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue, and they vary from 0-255. A bright red would be 255,0,0 meaning red has the highest value and there is no green or blue in this particular color. 0,0,0 is black and 255,255,255 is white.


Click this to switch to GIF SmartSaver or convert a file to GIF.


Click this to switch to JPG SmartSaver or convert a file to JPG.


Click this to switch to PNG SmartSaver or convert a file to PNG.


Select to open the source images and optimize them to the selected file format (GIF, JPEG, or PNG).


Select to open an image from the clipboard into SmartSaver.


This box contains information about the Indexed Color palette of your image.

The cells at top reflect the order and colors in the image.

The numbers at the bottom contain information about the currently selected cell. RGB stands for red, green and blue color values between 0 and 255. The hex values are repressented in the parenthesis to the right of the RGB values.

The Transparent color index is the number of the cell that contains your transparent color.


Saves your palette to a *.pal file for use with other images.


Select a type of filter to enhance compression.


Select to make the PNG file interlaced for progressive downloading (increases file size).


Select to use an Alpha channel (or mask) for edge blending or transparency (only for True color or grayscale images with an imported mask).


Select to compress the file in a True color format.


Select to compress the file in an Indexed color format.


Select to compress the file in a Gray scale format.


Click to switch to GIF SmartSaver.


Click to switch to JPG SmartSaver.


Click to switch to PNG SmartSaver.


Click to change the color palette file (*.pal) used in the image file.