Think of Collage as a page-layout program for images. All the features that you would expect to find in a page-layout program can be found within Collage. And because of its innovative proxy system, you can lay out these high-resolution images more quickly than in Adobe Photoshop.
• To begin demo, double click on Collage Image Club Demo icon.
The Interface
One of the most powerful features of Collage is its interface. You’ll see right off the bat that the interface looks very much like a page layout program. Note the object-oriented tools; the Information Palette which gives you numerical feedback; the canvas which is surrounded by a pasteboard; and the rulers along the side. If you know PageMaker or Quark XPress, you’ll learn Collage in minutes. It was designed specifically with th e features you are already accustomed to, making it easy and straight-forward to use.
Placing Elements on the Canvas
Because Collage uses screen-resolution ‘proxies’ of high-resolution images, when you move an image on the screen, the redraw is very quick. Collage has created screen-resolution stand-ins of the high-res files. What does that mean? Bottom line: Speed. As you can see here, you can work much faster during the layout process with these very large images using Collage’s proxy system, and spend a lot less time waiting for the progress bar. When you’re ready to render your image, it uses the high-resolution originals to create the final composite image.
• Drag the following files out of the element palette to their proper location on the canvas:
• “Bottom” to bottom left.
• “Right” to bottom right.
• “Left” to top left.
• “Top” to top right.
• “Silver Foil” to center.
• If you turn on Snap to Guides in the Edit menu, your elements will "snap" into place.
Live Masks
One of the key components of making digital compositions is using masks, also known as ‘alpha channels.’ In Collage, to use the alpha channel of an image created in Photoshop, all you have to do is simply select an element and click the Mask button. Once you have activated the mask for an element, Collage will automatically composite it using the masking information. You don’t have to worry about the mask anymore, and can manipulate this element around on the canvas as much as you want.
• Shift select the first four backgrounds (Bottom, Right, Left, Top) either by selecting them on the canvas or on the element palette.
• Click the mask button on the lower left of the info palette. The masks will activate.
• Notice how fast the screen redraw thanks to Collage’s proxy system.
Object-Oriented Tools
One of the most important aspects of working with Collage is its object-oriented toolset. What’s the benefit of an object-oriented toolset? Let’s say you rotate and skew an object. In a traditional image editing program like Photoshop, the object would have been resampled twice, meaning that if you want to experiment with different values, you lose image quality every time you perform those functions.
In Collage, simply enter new values, and the image changes to reflect those values without ever affecting the original. You can enter as many rotation values as you want, and never destroy the quality of the original image. This gives you true freedom to experiment and explore.
• Drag the onto the canvas. Turn its mask on.
• Use the Rotation Tool to rotate the “Woman With CD”. Notice how quickly she redraws. Undo.
• Use the Skew Tool to skew the “Woman With CD”. Notice how quickly she redraws. Undo.
Layering Controls
As you build a composition, you can see that some images hide others.
At any time, you can adjust the layering order of your composition. You’ll notice that each element has a number next to it in the Element Palette. This number signifies the elements location in the layering order, with 1 being at the top. To adjust this order, all you have to do is click and drag the element in the Element Palette to a different location, and Collage automatically rearranges the layering order. No matter how you manipulate the composition in Collage, you have true freedom to experiment with the layout as often as you want.
• Resize the “Woman With CD” element. Grab and drag and of the handles to increase or decrease its size. In this case, reduce her size so that it is a little larger than the white circle in the center.
• Now select the “Woman With CD” from the element palette and drag it to the bottom of the list, thus rearranging the order of the elements.
Alignment Functions
In keeping with the page-layout metaphor, Collage has the ability to align objects automatically. For example, if you want to align two elements directly on top of each other, all you have to do is use the Shift key to select both of them at the same time, then choose Align... from the Element menu. In this dialog, you have different options for both Vertical and Horizontal alignment. Collage automatically takes these two objects and aligns them together. Collage also has guides, a very standard page-layout feature. You use them exactly as you would in PageMaker or XPress.
• Option drag or select Duplicate from the Edit menu to create a second “Woman With CD”.
• Make sure both elements are selected and choose Align from the Element menu.
• Set to “Align Middle” for both vertical and horizontal pop-up menus.
• Hit OK.
• Delete second “Woman With CD” element.
Grouping
Another powerful layout feature found in Collage is Grouping. Grouping is necessary if you want to maintain relative positioning between objects. One would expect to find this feature in a page-layout program, and since Collage is a page-layout program for images, you’ll find it in Collage as well. With both images selected, all you have to do is choose Group from the Element menu, and Collage now treats both images as one, ensuring that as you move one around on screen, the other moves with it.
• For example: drag the “ObjectGear” and “LetterPress” CD elements onto the canvas.
• Shift select both elements and turn on their masks.
• From the Element menu select Group. The two elements will now move around together.
Methods & Opacity
Not only does Collage have powerful layout features, but it also supports many special effects to manipulate imagery. One of these effects is the Method. Collage methods are similar in function to Calculations found in Photoshop. To use a method, simply select an image, then change the method in the pop-up menu on the Information Palette. This produces a variety of color effects as the images are composited together. Another effect is blending. Each element in Collage has an opacity value. If you want an image to blend with the layers underneath it, simply enter different opacity values.
• Select an element such as “Woman With CD”.
• Choose different transfer methods, like Add, Difference or Screen from the Method pop-up menu.
• When done, reset the method to Copy.
Automatic Drop Shadows
By far, one of Collage’s coolest effects is its automatic drop shadow. Everyone knows how difficult it is to create soft drop shadows in painting programs. In Collage, this effect is reduced to a simple click of the mouse. Select an element, then bring up the Effects Palette. Turn the Shadow on, then adjust its location with the grabber hand. You can also set the opacity of the shadow and softness. Then apply the effect. Collage automatically generates a soft drop shadow for you. On top of this, you can move, rotate, or manipulate the element as many times as you want, and Collage will always update the shadow properly. Try doing this in other programs.
• Drag the “Cover Title” element onto the canvas and place against the left side of the canvas. Turn on its mask.
• From the Windows menu select the effects palette.
• Turn on shadow and drag the shadow around the checkerboard to a position you like.
• Hit the APPLY button. See how fast a drop shadow is applied to the “Cover Title”.
• Enter 75% for the shadow’s opacity.
• Enter 0.075 for the softness value.
• Hit the APPLY button.
• The drop shadow will move and rotate with any element it is applied to. Experiment with applying the drop shadow or feather feature to any element, then drag and rotate around the screen. Watch the shadow or feather effect update quickly and automatically.
Creating Text
Collage also has the ability to generate type. Simply click the Text Tool and click on the canvas to bring up the Text Dialog. Collage can use TrueType or Type 1 fonts.
Enter some text. Choose a font, choose a point size, then choose a color. Then hit OK. Collage will automatically rasterize that text into an element. And if you ever need to resize the text, simply scale it, and Collage will re-rasterize the type from the outlines to the new size. On top of this, just like any other object in Collage, you can apply shadows to text. Finally, Collage allows you to edit the text at any time you want. You are never committed to a design choice in Collage. You can always change your mind.
• Click the Text Tool and click on the canvas.
• In the text dialog, enter some text, like “Collage 2.0” and choose a font.
• Set the point size to somewhere around 80.
• Set the color of the text to white.
• Hit the ENTER button.
• Apply a shadow to the text.
• Scale the text.
• Double-click the text element and delete the “2.0” from the text.
• Hit OK.
Rendering Images
When you are ready for a high-resolution composite, all you have to do is go to the Render Image dialog. In this dialog, you can set the target of the image to whatever you want. This is very powerful because you may want to render a low-res For Placement Only (FPO) version of the composition. You can then print these FPOs to a dye-sub color printer, or put it into the layout and make sure you get approval for the project before making the high-resolution version. (We all know how clients love to change things at the last minute.) When final approval has been received, return to the Render Image dialog, enter the final resolution, and let Collage build the composite image for you. Collage will then use the originals to create a high-resolution version of exactly what you see on screen.
In Conclusion
So, there you have it. Collage is the first program to bring high-end compositing power previously only found in high-end software, an innovative proxy system that provides you with dramatic speed increases, and an easy-to- use interface, in one application for very little money. Thousands of professional artists are using Collage today to enhance their work and increase their productivity. You can too.
