IMAGEADJUSTER™

Color Correct TIFF Images inside QuarkXPress

OVERVIEW

ImageAdjuster is an XTension that allows you color correct TIFF images inside QuarkXPress by creating and modify adjustment layers. Correction of Grayscale, RGB or CMYK TIFF images can now be easily accomplished inside QuarkXPress with ImageAdjuster. Color corrections made through ImageAduster do not alter or change the original TIFF image, but rather add an adjustment layer to the image. The adjustment layer can then be edited for further corrections, or reverted to its original form.

TIFF images that have been generated by ImageAdjuster contain adjustment layers that can be edited in Adobe Photoshop 6.0 or greater. Editing files containing the color adjustment layers from ImageAdjuster will bring all the changes into a composite image and flatten the layers.

With ImageAdjuster you can apply the following color adjustment(s) to an image: ImageAdjuster enables you to create and apply your own color corrections through adjustment layers or select from many of the several predefined sets. To apply color correction to an image, follow these general steps.

To apply a preset adjustment
• Choose View•• Show ImageAdjuster.
• Select the TIFF image in your document that you wish to apply the correction to the adjustment layer.
• Select the color adjustment in the

ImageAdjuster palette and select Apply from the fly out menu, or double click on the set name in the list. This will apply the predefined color adjust- ment(s) set to your image. The new TIFF image will be placed in your document.

To apply a custom color adjustment

• With a Grayscale, RGB or CMYK TIFF image selected, choose New... from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu.

• Levels
• Curves
• Color Balance
• Brightness/Contrast
• Hue/Saturation
• Selective Color
• Channel Mixer
• Invert
• Threshold
• Posterize

INSTALLING IMAGEADJUSTER

The ImageAdjuster installer lets you install a full-functioning version or a demo version. The XTension is automatically placed in the XTension folder inside your QuarkXPress folder. After the installation, be sure to store the ALAP CD in a safe place.

Macintosh Installation

1 Insert the ALAP CD.

2 Open the ImageAdjuster folder and double-click the ImageAdjuster Installer icon.

3 When the installation splash screen displays, click Continue.

4 If you agree to the Software License and Limited Warrant Agreement, click Accept.

5 Click Install. If the installer cannot locate QuarkXPress 4.1 or finds more than one copy of the software, it asks you to locate the copy to use with ImageAdjuster.

6 A dialog box asks for your name, organization, and serial number. Enter the required information and click OK.

When the installation process is complete, a message appears indicating that the installation was successful.

7 Click Quit to exit the installer and return to the Finder.

Windows Installation

1 Insert the ALAP CD.

2 Open the ImageAdjuster folder and double-click the ImageAdjuster Installer icon.

3 When the installation splash screen displays, click Next.

4 Follow the instructions on screen. When prompted for product registration, enter your name, organization, and serial number.

THE IMAGEADJUSTER INTERFACE

ImageAdjuster adds a palette, a Preferences dialog box, and an About Box to QuarkXPress.

ImageAdjuster Palette

The ImageAdjuster palette allows you to apply saved color adjustment layer(s) to an image without having to open the ImageAdjuster dialog box. To open the palette, choose View•• Show ImageAdjuster.

ImageAdjuster Preferences

There are three options available for updating the modifications made to a TIFF image:

• Add to Original TIFF Image
• New TIFF Image in Same Location
• Always Prompt for Location

ImageAdjuster Dialog Box

The ImageAdjuster dialog box lets add, remove, modify, show, hide, change blending mode and opacity value for color adjustment layers applied to the TIFF image. These color adjustment layers are then added to the selected image.

About ImageAdjuster

The About ImageAdjuster command (in the Help menu) displays a dialog box with links to a lowly apprentice production’s website and to technical support. Click anywhere on the dialog box to close it.

USING THE IMAGEADJUSTER PRESET PALETTE

The ImageAdjuster palette enables you to adjust an image or apply a previously saved set of color adjustments to other images.

ImageAdjuster ships with 12 fully editable color adjustment set(s). These pre-sets can be restored to original settings by importing the file named Sample Adjustments.adx. For Macintosh, they can be installed from the ImageAdjuster Installer and are placed in a folder called ImageAdjuster Sets found within your QuarkXPress -> XTension folder. For Windows the files are automatically installed in the QuarkXPress -> ALAP folder.

Seven additional fully editable set(s) are also contained in the file named More Sample ImageAdjuster Set.ADX.

Applying a Set from the Palette

To apply a saved Set(s), follow these steps:

1 Select a picture box in your document that contains a TIFF image you wish to apply a color adjustment.

2 Select a Set in the ImageAdjuster palette and choose Apply from the fly-out menu, or double click on the set name in the list.

A color adjustment layer will be added to the TIFF image reflecting the adjustment(s) made. The TIFF image will be automatically updated in your QuarkXPress document.

Removing an Applied Set

ImageAdjuster has a default set called No Adjustment. This set will remove all color adjustments within the image.

Editing a Set

To edit a set, follow these steps:

1 Select a picture box in your document that contains a TIFF image.

2 Select the set you wish to edit in the ImageAdjuster palette.

3 Choose Edit... from the fly-out menu or on the Mac: Option-Click; Windows: Alt-Click.

4 Edit the color adjustment layer(s).

5 When you have completed your color adjustments select OK to save the changes.

Creating a New Color Adjustment

To create a custom color adjustment layer for the selected image, follow these steps:

1 Select a picture box in your document that contains a TIFF image you wish to edit.

2 Choose New... from the fly-out menu.

The ImageAdjuster dialog box displayed will enable to you add or modify any color adjustment layers(s) in the selected image.

3 Enter a Set Name in the Name window.

4 Changes can be applied to the adjustment layer either by using the Set Folder or Adjustment Icon.

5 When you have completed your color adjustments select OK to save the changes.

Deleting a Saved Set

To Delete a set, select the set to be deleted and choose Delete from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu. There is no undo or warning message when deleting sets. Be sure that you have selected the correct set(s) to be deleted.

Renaming a Saved Set

To rename a saved preset, select the set to be renamed and choose Rename Set... from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu. Enter the new name and click OK.

Duplicating a Saved Set

To duplicate a set, select the set to be duplicated and choose Duplicate... from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu. The duplicated set will be named “Copy of original name”. The duplicate set can then be edited to make modifications.

Note: Duplicate... is available when a picture box containing a TIFF and a set are selected.

Sharing Sets with Other Users

You and other ImageAdjuster users can share sets by importing and exporting them.

To export sets

1 Select the sets to be exported. Shift+click to select continuous presets; C+click Mac or CTRL+CLICK Windows to select discontinuous presets.

2 Select Export... from the ImageAdjuster palette.

3 Use the directory dialog box to select a location for the file, enter a name in the Export as field and click Save.

The option Append File Extension is needed if you will be sharing sets over different platforms.

To import sets

1 Choose Import... from the ImageAdjuster palette.

2 Use the directory dialog box to locate and select the file and click Open.

ImageAdjuster Preferences

There are three options available for updating the modifications made to the TIFF image. They are:

• Add to Original TIFF Image This option will overwrite the original image with the changes.

• New TIFF Image in Same Location Choosing this option will duplicate the original TIFF image appending a numerical value to the file name.

• Always Prompt for Location This option will bring up the standard save dialog box enabling you to enter a file name and location.

To open preferences, choose Edit • Preferences • ImageAdjuster.

Sets and Image Color Modes

Sets can be saved from RGB, CMYK and Grayscale images and applied to other images in your document in other color modes. However, there are a few adjustment layers that can not be applied to certain color mode images.

An error message will be displayed when applying a set to an image that contains a color adjustment that is unsupported for the image type. In this case, duplicate the preset and delete the unsupported adjustment layer.

USING THE IMAGEADJUSTER DIALOG

The ImageAdjuster Dialog enables you to add, remove or modify color adjustment(s) for an image. Adjustments that have been saved with the image will appear in the adjustment list. A blending calculation and an opacity value can be applied to the color adjustment layer.

Adding a Color Adjustment Layer

To add a color adjustment layer, click on the Adjustment icon . A pop-up menu will be displayed showing available adjustments for the image. Grayed out items means they are not available for that image color mode.

After selecting the desired adjustment, a dialog box will be displayed showing you the attributes for that adjustment.

In this example, a Levels adjustment has been added to this image. A Levels dialog box will display the available controls. Make the desired changes and click OK.

Rename a Color Adjustment Layer

To rename an adjustment layer:

1 Select the color adjustment layer in the list.

2 Select Rename... from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu.

3 Enter the new name and click OK.

Delete a Color Adjustment Layer

To delete a color adjustment layer:

1 Select the color adjustment layer in the list.

2 Select Delete... from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu or click on the Trash icon located at the bottom of the list.

To select a contiguous range, Shift-click on the adjustment name. To select a discontiguous range, C-click on the layer name.

Duplicate a Color Adjustment Layer

To duplicate a color adjustment layer:

1 Select the color adjustment layer in the list.

2 Select Duplicate... from the ImageAdjuster options fly out menu A duplicate adjustment will be added.

Blending Color Adjustment Layers

A pop-up menu lets you control how pixels in the selected layer interact with pixels in all the layers below it. (Layers are listed from top to bottom in the palette, with the highest layer at the very top and the background layer at the bottom. However, the background layer but does not appear in the list.)

The blend options produce special effects. To change the blending mode:

1 Select the color adjustment layer in the list.

Note: Only one layer can be selected.

2 Click the blend mode menu (top left) to display the blending options.

3 Select a different option from the menu.

Modifying Layer Opacity

A menu and field let you control the transparency of pixels on the selected layer. You can specify a transparency from 0% (transparent) to 100% (opaque) in increments of 1%. To change opacity:

1 Select the adjustment layer in the list.

Note: Only one layer can be selected.

2 Enter a new value in the Opacity field, or select a percentage from the pop-up.

Showing and Hiding Layers

Adjustments that are showing display on- screen and print; layers that are hidden do not display on-screen or print. You can hide any layer, excluding the background layer.

• To hide a layer, click the Eye icon .

• To show a layer, click the empty box to the left of the name.

Saving a Set

ImageAdjuster enables you to save the current layer list as a set. This set can then be applied to other images. To save a set:

1 Select a picture box in your document that contains a TIFF image you wish to save adjustment as a set.

2 Choose New... from the fly-out menu.

3 Add the color adjustment layer(s).

4 Enter a Set Name.

5 Click OK.

This set will be available in the ImageAdjuster palette. Images that have been applied a set will be displayed in the ImageAdjuster palette with bold type.

IMAGE ADJUSTMENTS

The ImageAdjuster dialog box enables you to add, remove or modify image layer adjustments. Each adjustment has a dialog box, if applicable, that enables you to make modifications to the image. For instance: changing the highlight, midtones and shadow points, color correcting for hue and/or saturation, changing the color balance of an image, even applying special effects like a posterization can all be accomplished with ImageAdjuster. These color adjustments are applied to the TIFF image as added color adjustment layers. Based on the ImageAdjuster Preference setting, the original file is effected by added color adjustment layers. The original image data is never modified, enabling additional modifications to be made at any time.

Saving/Loading Color Adjustments

Color adjustments can be saved as an external file. This file can then be imported into another workstation using ImageAdjuster or imported into the color adjustment in Adobe Photoshop 6.0 or greater.

To save a color adjustments

1 After building the desired color adjustment, Click the Save... button.

2 Use the directory dialog box to select a location for the file, then enter a name in the Save setting in: field. Click Save.

To load a color adjustment

1 Choose Import... from the color adjustment dialog box.

2 Use the directory dialog box to locate and select the file.

3 Click Open to load the color adjustment settings.

Levels

The Levels dialog box lets you correct the tonal range and color balance of an image. The histogram is a visual representation of the intensity level of the images highlight, midtone, and shadow values.

Adjustments to Highlight and Shadow values can be made by modifying either Input Levels or Output Levels.

Histograms can be viewed in composite mode, which represent the luminosity pixel values of an image, or by channel, which represents the distribution of pixel values for the image in a particular channel.

CMYK images are converted to RGB when a histogram is built, however any adjustments made to the images are saved to the CMYK channels.

When modifications are made to the primary channel, all channels will be affected. If you need to make changes to specific channels, for example making a change to the Cyan channel only, select the Cyan channel from the Channel pop-up menu. Any modifications will now be applied to the Cyan channel only.

To reset changes you may have made to the Levels dialog box, hold down the Option key, the Cancel button will change to Reset. Click Reset to restore the default level values for this image.

A Preview option is available that will enable you to see the levels effect being made to the image.

Using Input Levels to adjust Highlight, Midtone, and Shadows There are two ways in which level color adjustments can be made to an image:

• Using the control sliders
• Enter numerical values

Using the Control Sliders

The slider adjustment control on the right side of the histogram adjusts the highlights of the image. The slider control on the left side of the histogram adjusts the shadows of the image. Positioning the slider close to the first area of pixels in the histogram will increase the tonal range of the image.

The center control slider will change the midtone range without dramatically altering the highlights and shadows.

Entering Numerical Values

Adjustment values can also be made numerically by entering values in any of the available edit fields.

For example, if an image has a tonal range of 0-220, and you want to increase the contrast, drag the Input Levels white triangle to 220. Pixels with values of 220 and higher (in each channel) will be mapped to 255; pixels with values below 220 are mapped to corresponding lighter values. This will overall lighten the image while increasing the contrast in highlight areas.

Using Output Levels to adjust Highlight and Shadows

There are two ways in which output level adjustments can be made to an image:

• Using the control sliders
• Enter numerical values

Using the Control Sliders

The slider adjustment control on the right side of the histogram maps the highlights of the image. The slider control on the left side of the histogram maps the shadows of the image.

Drag the black and white Output Levels sliders to define new shadow and highlight values.

Entering Numerical Values

Color adjustment values can also be made numerically by entering values in any of the available edit fields.

Curves

The Curves dialog box lets you correct the tonal range by mapping input/output values for highlight, midtone, and shadow values.

Curves can be applied globally to all channels of the image, or by selecting the appropriate channel from the Channel pop-up menu through the color adjustment layer.

The horizontal axis of the graph represents Input Value, the original pixel value; the vertical axis represents the Output Value. The default curve is a diagonal line, where all pixels have identical Input and Output values.

For RGB images: Curves display values from 0 to 255, with shadows on the left. For CMYK and Grayscale images, Curves display percentages from 0 to 100, with highlights on the left.

To reset changes you may have made to the Curves dialog box, hold down the Option key, the Cancel button will change to Reset. Click Reset to restore the default level values for this image.

If Preview is checked, a new image will be displayed in the preview window while changes are made.

Using Curves to adjust Highlight, Midtone, and Shadows

There are two ways in which Curves applied to color adjustment layers can be applied to an image:

• Using the control points
• Enter numerical values

To adjust Highlight/Midtone/Shadows using control points:

1 To add a control point, click the mouse within the graph. A control point will be added to the graph enabling you to make a curve adjustment. To delete a control point, drag the point off of the curve graph.

2 Drag the control point to the desired position within the graph. The output value will update to reflect the position of the control point.

3 Click Preview if unchecked.

4 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

To adjust Highlight/Midtone/Shadows using numerical values:

1 To add a point numerically, click the mouse within the graph. A control point will be added to the graph enabling you to make a curve adjustment. To delete a control point, drag the point off of the curve graph.

2 Enter the desired Input and Output value in the edit fields.

3 Click Preview if unchecked.

4 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Color Balance

Color Balance adjustments will change the overall color mixture in your image. This can be used to make generalized color corrections.

To use a Color Balance adjustment:

1 Add a Color Balance adjustment to your image.

2 Select Shadows, Midtones, or Highlights for the tonal range to focus on. To prevent changing the luminosity values in the image, select Preserve Luminosity. This will then maintain the tonal balance in the image.

3 Click Preview if unchecked.

4 Dragging a slider towards a color will increase the color while dragging away from a color will decrease the color in an image. The values above the color bars range from -100 to +100.

5 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Brightness/Contrast

The Brightness/Contrast command will enable you to make a global tonal range change to an image.

To adjust for Brightness/Contrast:

1 Add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment to your image.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Drag the control slides until the desired effect is achieved or enter a value in the appropriate edit field. Dragging to the left decreases the effect while to the right increases the effect. Values range from -100 to +100.

Note: Brightness/Contrast adjustments do not function like Levels or Curves where input pixels values are mapped to new output pixels values. This adjustment will effect every pixel value in your image and is not recommended for high-end output as loss of detail in the image may result.

Hue/Saturation

The Hue/Saturation adjustment enables you to adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness of the entire image or individual colors in an image. Two color bars will be displayed. The upper color bar shows colors before the adjustment; the lower bar shows colors after the adjustment.

To adjust all colors:

1 Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment to your image.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Select Master to adjust all colors at once.

4 Enter a value or drag the sliders for Hue, Saturation and Lightness until the colors appear as you want

5 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

To adjust selective colors:

1 Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment to your image.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Select one of the preset colors to adjust.

4 An slider appears between the color bars which can be used to edit hue ranges.

Hue: Values range from -180 to +180.

Saturation: Values range from -100 to

+100. Dragging the slider to the right increases saturation, while dragging to the left decreases saturation.

For Lightness, values can range from -100 to +100. Dragging the slider to the right increases lightness, while dragging to the left decreases lightness.

5 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

To create a monotone effect:

1 Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Select Colorize. The image is converted to a default hue of zero (0), saturation of 25, and lightness of zero (0).

4 Use the Hue control slider to select a new color and the Saturation and Lightness control sliders to adjust the saturation and lightness.

5 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Selective Color

The Selective Color adjustment can be used to increase or decrease the amount of process colors in your image. Selective Color uses CMYK controls to correct an image, however this adjustment can be used on RGB images as well.

To use the Selective Color adjustment:

1 Add a Selective Color adjustment to your image.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Choose the color you want to adjust from the Colors menu. Colors include Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue plus Whites, Neutrals, and Blacks.

4 Drag the sliders to increase or decrease the components in the selected color.

5 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Method Options:

Relative will change the amount amount by its percentage of the total.

Example: Increasing a 50% pixel value by 10% will add 5% (10% of 50% = 5%) for a total of 55%.

Absolute will change the color amount in absolute values.

Example: Increasing a 50% pixel value by 10% will add 10% for a total of 60%.

Channel Mixer

The Channel Mixer adjustment enables you to modify a color channel (Output Channel) using a mix of the current color channels (Source Channels). With this command, you can do the following:

• Make color adjustments easily.
• Create high-quality grayscale image.
• Create high-quality sepia-tones.
• Swap or duplicate channels.

To use the Channel Mixer adjustment:

1 Add a Channel Mixer adjustment to your image.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Choose the Output Channel in which to blend one or more Source Channels.

4 Drag a control slider to the left will decrease the channel's contribution to the output channel while dragging to the right will increase it. You can also enter a numerical value in the text field. Values range from -200% and +200%. Entering a negative value will invert the source channel before adding it to the output channel.

5 The Constant option adds a channel of varying opacity to the output channel-- negative values act as a black channel, positive values act as a white channel.

6 The Monochrome option will apply the same settings to all the output channels, resulting in a color image that contains only gray values.

7 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Invert

The Invert command will invert all colors in an image. This command might be useful to make a positive from a scanned black-and- white negative.

To invert an image:

1 Add the Invert adjustment to your image.

There is no dialog box for this adjustment. All Image pixels are inverted.

Threshold

The Threshold command will convert the selected image to a black-and-white image. This converted image is a high contrast image. There are no pixel values between 0 and 255. Pixels are either white or black.

The Threshold Level sets the mapping point to how the image is converted to black-and- white. Pixels values to the right of the threshold are converted to white; pixel values to the left of the threshold are converted to black.

To convert images to black and white:

1 Add a Threshold adjustment to your image in the ImageAdjuster dialog box.

A histogram based on luminance will be displayed.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Drag the control slider until you achieve the desired effect.

4 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

To identify highlights and shadows:

1 Add a Threshold adjustment to your image in the ImageAdjuster dialog box. A histogram based on luminance will be displayed.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 To locate image highlight areas - drag the control slider to the far right until the image becomes solid black. Slowly drag the control slider to the left until white areas appear in the image.

4 To locate image shadow areas - drag the control slider to the far left until the image becomes solid white. Slowly drag the control slider to the right until black areas appear in the image. You have now located the Highlight and Shadow areas of your image.

5 Click Cancel to close the Threshold dialog box without applying these changes to your image.

Posterize

The Posterize adjustment enables you to specify the total number of tonal levels for each channel in an image. Pixels will then be mapped to the closest level.

Entering three levels in an RGB image will yield nine colors, three for red, three for green, and three for blue.

To use the Posterize command:

1 Add a Posterize adjustment to your image in the ImageAdjuster dialog box.

2 Click Preview if unchecked.

3 Enter the desired number levels.

4 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Color Fill

The color fill option enables you to specify an overall fill color.

To add a color fill:

1 Add a color fill adjustment to your image in the ImageAdjuster dialog box.

2 Specify the color in the color picker.

3 Click OK to accept changes or Cancel to close the dialog box without applying changes to the image.

Note: By default, color adjustment layers are added with the Normal blend option selected. Select a different blend option and/or opacity value to achieve the desired effect.

HELPFUL HINTS

Contextual Menus

For Macintosh, control-clicking on a set name in the ImageAdjuster palette will display available options from the flyout menu.

For Windows, a right mouse button click on a set name in the ImageAdjuster palette will display available options from the flyout menu.

©2003 A LOWLY APPRENTICE PRODUCTION, INC.