Datacolor
Decorate User’s Guide
Datacolor Decorate User’s Guide (Part No. 4220-0931M December, 2004) All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this format. However, should any errors be detected, Datacolor appreciates your efforts to notify us of these oversights. Changes are periodically made to this information and are incorporated into forthcoming versions. Datacolor reserves the right to make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or program(s) described in this material at any time. Copyright © 1996-2004 Datacolor. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This material may not be reproduced or duplicated, in whole or in part, with the express written permission of Datacolor. Microsoft®, MS-DOS®, and Microsoft Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To obtain information on local agents, contact either of the offices listed below, or visit our website at www.datacolor.com. United States Lawrenceville, NJ Telephone: 1 (609) 924 2189 Fax: 1 (609) 895 7472
Switzerland Dietlikon Telephone: Fax:
(41) 1 835 3711 (41) 1 835 3820
Contents Introduction ................................................................ 1 About This Guide ............................................................ 1 System Requirements..................................................... 1
Color Coordinator ...................................................... 3 About Color Coordinator ................................................. 3 Getting Started ................................................................ 3 Measuring a Sample ....................................................... 4 Selecting the Color Scheme Type .................................. 5 Color Coordinator Results............................................... 6 The Color Wheel ............................................................. 7
Decorate ...................................................................... 9 About Decorate ............................................................... 9 Buttons on the Decorate Window ....................................10
Selecting an Image ....................................................... 10 Selecting a Color........................................................... 11 Painting the Image ........................................................ 12 Other Options................................................................ 13 Find Color........................................................................13 Other Fandecks...............................................................13 Remember This Scheme.................................................14 Toggle Schemes .............................................................15 Print .................................................................................15 Undo................................................................................15 Select New Picture ..........................................................15 Exit ..................................................................................15
Decorate Photo Editor................................................... 15 Editing Procedure............................................................15 Getting Started ................................................................16 Toolbars and Menus........................................................17 Main Toolbar ............................................................17 Editing Toolbar .........................................................18 Menus ......................................................................19 Creating a New Image—An Example ..............................20
Decorate User's Guide
Contents · i
Determining the Number of Panels ..........................21 Creating the Panels..................................................22 Naming the Panels ...................................................24 Masking the Panels ..................................................25 Tips for Panel Masking.............................................27 Additional Masking Tools .........................................28 Switching to the Next Panel .....................................30 Adding a Panel .........................................................30 Deleting a Panel .......................................................30 Saving the Project ....................................................31 Finishing/Painting Your New Picture ........................31 Editing the Picture ....................................................32
Appendix ................................................................... 33 Color Scheme Types..................................................... 33 Conservative Color Schemes ..........................................33 Monochromatic.........................................................33 Simple Analogous Very Subtle.................................33 Simple Analogous Subtle .........................................33 Monochromatic Analog Warm ..................................34 Monochromatic Analog Cool ....................................34 Bold Color Schemes........................................................34 Simple Analogous Bold ............................................34 Tetrad.......................................................................34 Mixed Analogous Bold Warm ...................................35 Mixed Analogous Bold Cool .....................................35 Standard Color Schemes ................................................35 Simple Analogous ....................................................35 Mixed Analogous Subtle Warm ................................35 Mixed Analogous Subtle Cool ..................................36 Mixed Analogous Warm ...........................................36 Mixed Analogous Cool .............................................36 Emphasizing Color Schemes ..........................................36 Contrasting Monochromatic .....................................36 Photography Tips ............................................................37 Exterior Images ........................................................37 Interior Images .........................................................37
Index .......................................................................... 39
ii · Contents
Decorate User's Guide
Introduction About This Guide This guide details the setup and operation of Datacolor Decorate, which can be added to Paintmaker POS Systems. Datacolor Decorate is accessed from another program module, Datacolor Color Coordinator, and uses color information provided by the Coordinator. The operation of Datacolor Color Coordinator is also covered in detail in this guide. NOTE See the Paintmaker documentation for instructions to operate the standard Paintmaker POS program. These two modules transform Paintmaker into a powerful design tool. Datacolor Color Coordinator suggests coordinating colors that can be combined with the target color selected, to complete a color scheme. Datacolor Decorate provides a library of images, interior and exterior, formatted into groups of objects that can be colored, using the color suggestions from the Coordinator. This allows the user to experiment with different color schemes to achieve a specific design result. The final colors selected can be formulated using the product line offered in the POS location.
System Requirements Below are the minimum requirements for running the Datacolor Decorate software: Operating System
Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP
Monitor
True-Color Capable
Video Card
True Color Capable
Decorate User's Guide
About This Guide · 1
This page intentionally left blank.
2 · System Requirements
Decorate User's Guide
Color Coordinator About Color Coordinator Datacolor Color Coordinator is a powerful tool that allows the customer to complete the design process without leaving the store. Based on the starting color selected by the customer, the Color Coordinator suggests a series a of colors that can be combined with the selected color in a design setting. It includes a choice of color scheme “types” that enables the customer to see a wide range of effects that can be achieved, depending on the customer’s preference.
Getting Started Coordinator can be accessed from the Paintmaker main screen:
Decorate User's Guide
About Color Coordinator · 3
You must provide a starting color. This can come from one of three sources: •
A measurement of a physical sample (click on Make a Color Scheme).
•
Any formula created in the Paintmaker software. See also Datacolor Paintmaker documentation for instructions to generate a formula.
Measuring a Sample 1.
If you have a physical sample to use as the basis for the Color Coordinator, click on Make a Color Scheme. The window below displays:
2.
Place the sample at the instrument port and click the Measure button. When the measurement is completed, the window below displays:
4 · Measuring a Sample
Decorate User's Guide
NOTE You can also retrieve a color from a formula book, a customer record or a competitor’s fan deck to use with Datacolor Color Coordinator. See the Paintmaker documentation for instructions.
Selecting the Color Scheme Type Once you have selected a color as a starting point, the program has several approaches to select the coordinating colors. 1.
You must select a color scheme type. Click in the radio button next to the color scheme type preferred.
Within a color scheme type, there are several choices that further refine the design requirements. These include whether the selections should be limited to a single hue, should favor a “warm” or “cool” palette, etc. The example below lists all of the variations for the Conservative Color Scheme type:
The coordinating color suggestions are displayed as color patches in the lower half of the window. NOTE Conservative Color Schemes, Monochromatic is the default selection. When you open the Coordinator option, the program immediately begins processing this request.
Decorate User's Guide
Selecting the Color Scheme Type · 5
Color Coordinator Results Below is an example of the results. The results will include at least two color suggestions in addition to the starting color.
The right and left arrows over the color patches toggle forward and backward through all of the schemes available in the color scheme type. In the example above, you would be able to toggle through all of the schemes included in the Conservative Color Schemes group. NOTE If you choose a monochromatic scheme, you will only receive 2 coordinating color suggestions. All other schemes will provide 4 coordinating colors: Below is an example: Monochromatic Scheme Results
6 · Color Coordinator Results
Other Scheme Results
Decorate User's Guide
The Color Wheel The colors are also located on a color wheel. The numbers on the wheel refer to the color patches. This locates the colors in relation to one another based on their hue. NOTE Hue refers to actual color of the sample (e.g., whether it is red, yellow, blue, green, etc.).
. The number of samples displayed, and their location around the color wheel depend on the color scheme selected. See Appendix, Color Scheme Types for an explanation of each choice available. In a Monochromatic color scheme, the wheel may only include a single sample. “Monochromatic” refers to a single color hue and in this scheme type, the Coordinator looks for colors that are very close in hue. Sometimes you may only see 2 samples identified on the wheel, and in others the wheel may only include a single sample as the shown below:
Monochromatic example
Decorate User's Guide
The Color Wheel · 7
Conservative Color Scheme, Monochromatic is the safest of color schemes. When selected, the program will only return two color suggestions. In a Standard color scheme, the suggested colors are typically located on the same side of the wheel as the standard, but offer a choice of hues:
Standard example
In a Bold scheme, the suggested colors are typically located on the same side of the wheel as the standard, but cover a wider range of hues than the Standard schemes.
Bold example
In an Emphasizing color scheme, the suggested colors will include colors that are located opposite from the main color on the color wheel:
Emphasizing example
These represent colors that contrast with the main color.
8 · The Color Wheel
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate About Decorate Decorate is an add-on option to Paintmaker, which allows you to experiment by painting an image with colors provided by the Coordinator. You can see the results of the color scheme you have developed before you actually start painting. Decorate includes a library of both interior and exterior images. The images are separated into regions, allowing you to paint individual objects in the image with different colors. Datacolor Decorate includes a Photo Editor that allows you to add images to the library and format them for painting. NOTE You must run the Datacolor Color Coordinator to access Decorate. 1.
Click the Decorate icon on the Color Coordinator window. The window refreshes, displaying six images.
Decorate User's Guide
About Decorate · 9
Buttons on the Decorate Window •
Interiors. Displays interior images.
•
Exteriors. Displays exterior images.
•
Slide Bar. There are several pages of images available for both exterior and interior designs. In the example above, there are 7 pages of interior images. Use the slide bar below the images to view all of the pages. NOTE There is no Exit or Back button on this window. Press the ESC key to return to Paintmaker.
•
Import New. Imports a new image into the Decorate library. This opens the Decorate Photo Editor. See Decorate Photo Editor for instructions to use this option.
Selecting an Image When you find an image you want to work with, simply click on it. The screen will refresh, and the image you have selected will be enlarged.
10 · Selecting an Image
Decorate User's Guide
Selecting a Color The lower left section of the screen displays a color palette that you can use to color the image. When this window opens, the color patches displayed represent the original color selected or measured, and the suggestions from the Color Coordinator. This group of 3-6 colors becomes the Datacolor Coordinate fandeck.
NOTE You can expand this color palette using the Find Color and Other Fandeck options described in the Other Options section. Current Colour. Displays the name of the active color. •
To change the active color, click in one of the color patches displayed. The Current Colour field will update to reflect the change.
Decorate User's Guide
Selecting a Color · 11
Painting the Image Each image is separated into several regions. You can color a region with the selected color one of two ways: 1.
Point and click on the area of the picture you want to color, or…
2.
Click on the down arrow in the region field, and select the region to be colored.
In the example below, the bedspread is colored with Royal Touch.
When you have painted a region using either option, the region field will be updated to display the color used in the region. In each example above, the color of the bedspread has been changed to Royal Touch.
NOTES You can save several versions of the image using different color schemes, using the Remember this Scheme option described in the Other Options section. You can toggle between several schemes using the Toggle Schemes option described in the Other Options section.
12 · Painting the Image
Decorate User's Guide
Other Options The lower right corner of the window provides additional design functions:
Find Color You can search for a different color by name. When selected, a keyboard displays:
You can use the computer keyboard or the virtual keyboard on the screen to enter the name in the red field. NOTE This option will search through the current fandeck. If it does not find a match, it will search through all of the fandecks on the system until it finds a match. It stops when it finds the first match.
Other Fandecks You can select a different fandeck as a source of colors. This option lists all fandecks stored on the system.
NOTE The fandeck called Datacolor Color Coordinate contains the colors selected by the Color Coordinator.
Decorate User's Guide
Other Options · 13
•
Fandeck Color Display. When a different fandeck is selected, the first color in the fandeck is displayed.
All variations of the color selected are displayed. Click in the block for the color you want to use. Vertical Scroll Bar. The color display is designed to display 5 rows of colors. If additional variations are available for the color, use the vertical scroll bar to view the remaining choices. •
Color View. At the bottom of the color card is a slide bar.
Move the cursor over the bar to view different colors in the deck, and select one. The color you have selected will be displayed in the Current Colour field. To restore the original color coordinate selections, select Other Fandecks/Datacolor Coordinate.
Remember This Scheme Saves the colors selected for the regions in the picture. NOTES This option saves different schemes used for the same image. It does NOT save different images. The image is only saved for the current session. If you select a new image, or exit the Decorate program module, all of the schemes stored will be deleted. To clear all of the color selections from the image after you have saved it. Select Undo. You may have to reselect this option multiple times to remove all of the colors in the image.
14 · Other Options
Decorate User's Guide
Toggle Schemes If you have selected Remember This Scheme, you can toggle between the schemes you have saved during the current session.
Print Sends the image to the printer connected to the system.
Undo Clears the last color you have assigned to a region in the picture. You can select this multiple times to remove all color assignments.
Select New Picture This button is used to change the image you are using. It returns to page 1 of the images.
Exit Closes Decorate and returns the user to Color Coordinator.
Decorate Photo Editor The Decorate Photo Editor allows the user to import an image into the system for repainting. An image file (JPG or BMP) is opened, separated into components or “panels”, and saved as a .CSE file that can be opened in Decorate, and painted. The Datacolor Decorate editor accepts either .BMP or .JPG file types as source files. These files will be needed before the editing process begins. They can normally be found as the output of a digital camera or scanner.
Editing Procedure Your ultimate goal is to “separate” the picture into different sections (called panels), each of which can be painted a different color. This is accomplished through a series of steps outlined below: 1.
Create a Project File.
2.
Determine the Number of Panels.
3.
Create the Panels.
4.
Name the Panels.
5.
Mask the Panels.
6.
Switch to the Next Panel and repeat step 5.
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 15
7.
Change the Number of Panels if necessary.
8.
Save the Project.
When the editing is completed, you will have a picture ready for use by the Datacolor Decorate viewer. You will be able to change the color of any of the panels you created, while retaining the shadowing and texture inherent to the picture.
Getting Started 1.
From the Datacolor Decorate window, select the Import New button.
The following window displays:
16 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
This is the editor screen where you will separate the image into components, or groups of objects. 2.
Click on File, New and open a .JPG or .BMP file. The image will appear in the Editor window:
Toolbars and Menus The Decorate Editor screen includes drop-down menus and toolbars. When an image is imported, toolbars at the top of the window become active:
NOTE If you hover over an icon on any toolbar, a brief description of the function will appear.
Main Toolbar The Main Toolbar gives access to standard Windows operations. Many of these functions are also found on the File Menu and Edit Menu.
Import a New picture for editing. Open an existing project .CSE file for changes. Save current project. Save As… Saves current project under a different name.
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 17
Email the current project to another person. Delete the current panel (not typically used). Copy the current panel (not typically used). Paste the current panel (not typically used). Undo the last operation (frequently used). Redo the last undone operation. Zoom. Magnifies an area of the current picture. This is a useful tool in doing fine detail work. Click the right mouse key to zoom out. Displays the About window giving copyright and version information from Datacolor and its partners.
Editing Toolbar This toolbar includes the tools you will use to create and define your panels.
NOTE Unlike the Main Toolbar, some of the functions included on this toolbar are not found on the drop-down menus. Pencil Control. Allows the user to fill in individual pixels in a panel. When used with a right mouse click, it works as an eraser, removing pixels from the mask. Line Control. Draws a straight line from one mouse click to the next. Holding down the shift key allows the line to be extended beyond two points to connect multiple points in succession. It is useful for outlining large areas. Continuous Line Control. Acts similar to the Line control, except that it continues to draw the line without holding down the shift key. This is especially handy when drawing around complex shapes. To finish the continuous line control, completely enclose an object, finishing where you started. You may also finish by clicking on the pencil tool, or clicking the right mouse key where you want the line control to end. Empty Box Control. Draws an empty rectangle on the screen. Click once in the upper left hand corner, then again
18 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
in the lower right hand corner to complete the rectangle. Filled Box Control. Draws a filled rectangle on the screen. Otherwise, it works like the Empty Box control. Fill Control. Used to fill an area for a panel. After outlining a panel, you will use this tool to fill in the panel. Edge Detect Fill Control. Used to fill an area without outlining the panel. It detects the edges by looking for a color shift in the picture. This tool is useful only when there are large differences in colors between objects, and glare and shadow effects do not cause objects to blend together. Delete Panel Control. Used to delete a panel previously created. Add Panel Control. Used to create a new panel. It is used to separate the picture into components to be colored. For instance, in an interior setting, the floor would be one panel, and the walls would be another. Trim, window treatments, ceiling, etc. can be made into separate panels. For each area to be separated, you will use the Add Panel control to create a panel. Next Panel Control. Toggles the software to the next panel in the panel list. The panel that is now active will be lighter blue while the inactive panels will be darker blue. Previous Panel Control. Toggles backward through the list of panels. Panel Properties Control. Displays the properties dialog box which allows you to manage your panels. Brush Control. Allows you to change the color of the panel to see the results. The colors are selected using the Palette control. Palette Control. Allows you to select a color to temporarily paint a panel. This gives you a quick preview of how the panel looks colored.
Menus
File
Decorate User's Guide
The File Menu includes system file commands, such as import a New picture, Open an existing project, Exiting the software, and Saving the current project.
Decorate Photo Editor · 19
Edit
The Edit Menu includes standard windows options such as Cut, Copy, and Paste. It also includes the Undo, and Redo options that are helpful in the editing process.
View
The View Menu controls which toolbars are displayed. This should be left as is. (The Perspective Toolbar will not be used for your operations.)
Render
The Render Menu will not be used.
Panel
The Panel Menu includes options that are on the Editing toolbar, including the access to the panel properties window.
Perspective
The Perspective Menu will not be used.
Photo
The Photo Menu will not be used.
Window
The Window Menu is a standard Windows menu including options to switch between open projects, and to arrange your open project windows.
Help
The Help Menu displays details (About) regarding the program version.
Creating a New Image—An Example The Datacolor Decorate Photo Editor accepts either .BMP or .JPG file types. These can normally be found as the output of a digital camera or scanner. 1.
You can access the hard drive or removable media such as a CD to retrieve the image. Copy the image to the hard drive, or place the CD the drive.
2.
Select File Menu, New to launch the new file dialog box.
20 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
3.
Browse to the JPG or BMP file you wish to edit. Highlight the file and click the Open button. The image will be displayed in the window. Below is an example:
NOTE When you use the New function to open a new JPG or BMP file, a Datacolor Decorate .CSE project file is automatically created.
Determining the Number of Panels The next step is to decide how many panels to create. A panel is a subgrouping of several objects in the image that would typically have the same color. Look carefully at the image to decide how many different design elements exist that could be given a different color. These are not limited to painted items, but can include other objects such as carpeting, art, towels, blinds, etc. In the bathroom pictured above, the basic elements could include the following: Ceramics (sink, bathtub, toilet)
Drapes
Floor
Trim
Walls
Decorations
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 21
Within each element, try to anticipate the number of objects that may require distinct colors: •
The toilet seat would probably need to be a separate panel, because it would likely be a different color from the toilet itself.
•
There is a stained glass panel in the window. You may or may not need the ability to change the colors of the individual panes.
Each of these distinctions should be added to the number of different painted areas you have identified. This is your total number of panels needed.
Creating the Panels 1.
Click on Panel Menu Properties, or the Properties Control icon on the toolbar to open the Panel Properties window.
2.
Click the Lock all button, and put a check mark in the Show names check box. This will open the Panel names window.
22 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
By default, the program automatically creates one panel, “(001) ?”. You can create additional panels as needed. 3.
Click the Add Panel Control correct number of panels.
repeatedly until you have the
NOTE You can add or delete panels at any time. However, it is best to consider this carefully before you begin, to better organize the process.
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 23
Naming the Panels The panel name is used by the Decorate program module to identify particular elements of the image to be painted:
You should change the default panel names to a name that identifies the object(s) isolated in the panel. 1.
In the Panel names window, navigate to the panel to be renamed and highlight it.
2.
Switch back to the Panel window, which should still be open. Click in the Surface name text box, delete the “?” and type the name of the panel you wish to create. Repeat this process for each of the panels. Below is an example of the panel names that you could create:
24 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
NOTES To navigate to a specific panel, you can use the Next Panel and Previous Panel controls on the toolbar. You can also click on the panel number/name in the Panel names window. When selecting a panel name, keep in mind that you will be using it in Datacolor Decorate to identify the color of specific objects/regions of the image.
Masking the Panels Once the panels are created, the next step is to identify the elements common to a particular panel. This is called “masking”. In this process you identify all of the objects in the scene that should be grouped together. When “painted” in Decorate, they will all be assigned the same color. 1.
Select the first panel you wish to mask. The picture to be edited is displayed in the work area of the window. There are several tools you can used to define your panels in this window.
2.
Outline the objects common to the panel. For example, if you have created a “fixtures” panel, you will outline the fixtures for the sink, toilet and tub.
or Continuous Line The Line commonly used for this task.
controls are the tools most
NOTE It may be helpful to use the Zoom button to zoom in on the picture for easier line drawing.
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 25
3.
Fill the outlined objects. Select Panel Menu, Fill or the Fill control icon on the toolbar. Click anywhere within the outlined area and the entire area will turn light blue indicating it is filled.
NOTE We recommend that you save your work after completing each panel. This will insure that you do not lose all of the work if there is any type of program or system problem. See the section Save the Project for instructions.
Troubleshooting the Fill Function - Incomplete Outline If you select the Fill option, and areas other than the outlined area are filled, the area to be filled was not entirely enclosed. In the example below, the tub fixture has been outlined.
Below is the result of selecting Fill for the tub fixtures:
26 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
In this example, the area was not outlined properly, although it is not readily apparent. Individual pixels were excluded when the Line tool was used. button to undo the fill and correct the outlining Click the Undo process. In this case the Magnification and Pencil tools will help you to identify the pixels excluded.
Tips for Panel Masking Below are two problems that commonly occur when you are trying to mask the panels in the image. •
Edges of another panel do not constitute a boundary. The fill area will only be extended to the boundaries drawn in the active panel. If a boundary is not completed, the entire picture will fill except for previously defined panels For example, you may begin with a panel defining the walls. The next panel created is a ceiling panel. However, in the ceiling panel the border between the ceiling and wall was not defined. When Fill is selected for the Ceiling Panel, everything (e.g. the floor, etc.) except the wall becomes part of the ceiling panel. This is probably not the intended result. Solution. To correct this problem, return to the original wall panel, and draw a border slightly within the wall panel. This will create the lower boundary for the ceiling
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 27
•
Edges of a picture do constitute boundaries. You must make sure you draw right to the edge of the image. Missing the edge even by one pixel creates an incomplete outline, causing the fill process to fill the entire screen.
Additional Masking Tools •
Edge Detect Fill Control. Uses RGB (Red/Green/Blue) or HSL (Hue/Saturation/Lightness) values to identify and outline different objects in an image. NOTE Identifying the correct parameter settings is the key to working successfully with the Edge Detect tool. The “correct” parameters vary from picture to picture depending on surrounding colors, glare, and shadowing. This tool is most effective when the user is very familiar with RGB or HSL value ranges. Using the Line and Pencil tools usually produces a successful result for those users not familiar with RGB/HSL values. 1.
Click on the Edge Detect button on the toolbar. The Edge Detect window is displayed.
This window allows you to set the parameters the Edge Detect Fill control will use in detecting edges. By default, the software is set up to detect edges based on RGB values (Red, Green, and Blue components of projected color), •
R/G/B. Enter a value for each of the three color primaries (Red, Green, Blue) that identifies an “edge”. The minimum difference value accepted is 0. This means that any change at all in that parameter, would be detected as an edge. The maximum detection value is 255, meaning that even the largest variances (for instance black to white) would NOT be detected as an edge. In practice, you would generally use fairly small values for these parameters.
28 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
•
Use HSL. Changes the scale to detect differences based on Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity. A check enables the HSL system.
•
Progressive. Instructs the program to detect differences from one pixel to the next. Below is an example of the logic applied when this tool is used. Here are imaginary values for 6 adjacent pixels: 64
67
68
66
69
70
−
The pixel that was active when the Fill Control was enabled had a value of 70.
−
When Progressive is disabled, all of the pixels with a value of less than 65 or greater than 75 are identified as an edge.
−
When Progressive is enabled, the program would compare the value of the current pixel to the last pixel. If the last pixel had a value of 68, then the current pixel would have to have a value less than 63 or greater than 73 to be identified as an edge. NOTE Use the Pencil tool to fill in pixels incorrectly excluded by the Edge Detect Fill tool.
Identifying the correct parameter settings is the key to working successfully with the Edge Detect Progressive Tool. The “correct” parameters vary from picture to picture, depending on surrounding colors, glare, and shadowing. This tool is most effective when the user is very familiar with RGB or HSL value ranges. Using the Line and Pencil tools usually produces a successful result for those users not familiar with RGB/HSL values. Pencil Control. Any remaining fine work can be done one pixel at a time using this control. It can either add pixels to the mask (left mouse click) or remove them (right mouse click). The size of this tool can be adjusted by changing the Tool size in the Panel window.
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 29
Switching to the Next Panel Once you have finished masking the first panel, move to the next one. You will notice the panel you were editing turns from a light blue to a darker blue.
The darker (blue) trim area in this example was masked in a previously created panel. The lighter floor area is defined in the current panel.
Adding a Panel If you find that there is another panel you wish to add while in the process of editing, you may do so at any time using the same procedure you used to create the original panels: 1.
Click on the Add Panel control to create the new panel.
2.
Use the Next Panel or Previous Panel controls to navigate to it. You can also click on the newly created panel in the Panel names window to highlight the new panel.
3.
In the Panel properties window, enter the new Surface Name.
Deleting a Panel If you created a panel you no longer want, or made a mistake creating a panel that undo will not correct, you can delete the panel. WARNING The Delete Panel operation cannot be undone. Be sure you want to delete the active panel and that you have the right panel selected before deleting. You may also want to save the project before deleting. See Save the Project for more information.
30 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
1.
Navigate to the panel name you wish to delete using the Next Panel or Previous Panel controls.
2.
In the Panel names window, click on the panel name to highlight..
3.
After verifying that this is the panel to be deleted,, click the Delete Panel control to delete the panel.
Saving the Project When you have completed masking all of your panels or want to save your work so far, you will use one of two save options, Save, or Save As. The Save options can be accessed from the File Menu, or by clicking on the Save or Save As buttons on the main toolbar. Using Save will save the file under the current project name. Save As will allow you to save the project under a different name using the Windows Save dialog box. NOTE When you use the New function to open a new JPG or BMP file, it is immediately saved as a Datacolor Decorate (.CSE) project file. It is stored in the same directory as the source file, and the same name is assigned. The only different is the file extension (.CSE).
Finishing/Painting Your New Picture Once you have completed the masking process and saved it, you are ready to paint the picture in the Datacolor Decorate viewer. Simply exit the Datacolor Decorate editor and your picture will be immediately presented to you in the Datacolor Decorate viewer. Below is the final picture created in the example covered earlier:
You can change the colors of the room or building using the tools of the Datacolor Decorate viewer.
Decorate User's Guide
Decorate Photo Editor · 31
NOTE This picture will only be available in the Decorate viewer for the current session. If you close the Decorate option, and then open it at a later time, this image will not appear in the library of images. You must access the Photo Editor again, and then open the image to make it available for painting.
Editing the Picture If you need to access this picture at a later time for display or editing purposes: 1.
Click on the Import New function.
2.
Use the Open command to open the .CSE project you wish to view/edit.
3.
When you exit the editor, the picture will again be presented to you in the viewer.
32 · Decorate Photo Editor
Decorate User's Guide
Appendix Color Scheme Types Conservative Color Schemes
Monochromatic This is the safest of color schemes. It is based on different shades of the same color, and can be achieved effectively with almost any target color. Use this scheme if you want to add continuity to a room. It does a particularly good job making small spaces appear larger when a lighter color is used as the dominant color.
Simple Analogous Very Subtle An Analogous color scheme selects colors close to one another on the color wheel, selecting colors of a similar hue but in varying intensities, to give a more energetic effect. It is important to vary the intensities and to use the colors in varying amounts, to keep the room from appearing static. Simple Analogous Very Subtle is a safe choice, using colors with very similar hues for a unifying effect.
Simple Analogous Subtle This scheme offers a slight wider color variation than Simple Analogous Very Subtle.
Decorate User's Guide
Color Scheme Types · 33
Monochromatic Analog Warm A Warm Monochromatic Analog is a simple and safe color scheme designed to give a harmonious effect to a room, and adding a warming and energetic effect.
Monochromatic Analog Cool A Cool Monochromatic Analog is a simple and safe color scheme designed to give a harmonious effect.
Bold Color Schemes
Simple Analogous Bold An Analogous color scheme selects colors close to one another on the color wheel, selecting colors of a similar hue but in varying intensities to give a more energetic effect. It is important to use varying intensities, and to use the colors in varying amounts to keep the room from appearing static. The Bold Analog strives to make a statement, using well blended but significantly different colors. When done using appropriate amounts, the Bold Analogous will retain a unifying effect while adding a sense of panache.
Tetrad A Tetradic color scheme is the boldest of color schemes. It selects three colors of various lightness and intensity, which are equidistant from one another on the color wheel. When done in subtle shades, and in different amounts, a tetrad can produce a lively effect. A room decorated using a tetradic scheme makes a bold, attention-getting statement. Use care with this scheme as it can also produce a jarring effect. To avoid this, vary the amount of each color used, using one color predominantly with the other two serving as slight accents. A tetrad works best when the target color is very light. If the target color is dark and you wish to be safe, chose a different scheme or lighter shades of the colors recommended.
34 · Color Scheme Types
Decorate User's Guide
Mixed Analogous Bold Warm A Mixed Analog is similar to a simple analog except that the change in hue between the target color and the accent colors is not constant. A Mixed Analog scheme strives to maintain the harmony of the scheme while reducing the potentially static effect of a Simple Analog. Mixed Analog is a better choice when the amount of color used for the dominant and accent colors cannot be varied significantly. This scheme emphasizes warm colors, adding a warming and energetic effect to the setting.
Mixed Analogous Bold Cool This scheme differs from the Mixed Analogous Bold Warm in that it selects colors that add a tranquil, calming effect to the setting.
Standard Color Schemes
Simple Analogous An Analogous color scheme selects colors close to one another on the color wheel, selecting colors of a similar hue, but in varying intensities to create an energetic effect. It is important to use varying intensities and to use the colors in varying amounts to keep the room from appearing static. The Simple Analog is the most basic analog scheme. It provides a unifying effect with a touch of flair.
Mixed Analogous Subtle Warm A Mixed Analog is similar to a simple analog except that the change in hue between the target color and accent colors is not constant. A Mixed Analog scheme strives to maintain the harmony of the scheme while reducing the potentially static effect of a Simple Analog. This makes Mixed Analogs a better choice when the amount of color used for the target and accent colors cannot be varied significantly. The Subtle Warm Mixed Analog varies slightly from a standard Simple Analog, trying to add warmth and energy to the room.
Decorate User's Guide
Color Scheme Types · 35
Mixed Analogous Subtle Cool A Mixed Analog differs from a simple analog in that the change in hue between the target color and the accent colors is not constant. A Mixed Analog scheme strives to maintain the harmony of the scheme while reducing the potentially static effect of a Simple Analog. This makes Mixed Analogs a better choice when the amount of color used for the target and accent colors cannot be varied significantly. The Subtle Cool Mixed Analog varies only slightly from a standard Simple Analog. It tries to make the room tranquil, but not static.
Mixed Analogous Warm A Mixed Analog differs from a simple analog in that the change in hue between the target color and the accent colors is not constant. A Mixed Analog scheme strives to maintain the harmony of the scheme while reducing the potentially static effect of a Simple Analog. This makes Mixed Analogs a better choice when the amount of color used for the target and accent colors cannot be varied significantly. A standard Warm Mixed analog offers a larger variation between the hues of the two analogs than does the Mixed Analog Subtle Warm, allowing one of the colors to accent the other two. It is safer than contrasts, but can still be used to highlight particular areas or items in an area. In the warm version, the shifted analog tends to add energy to the space.
Mixed Analogous Cool A standard Cool Mixed Analog offers a larger variation between the hues of the two analogs than does the Mixed Analog Subtle Cool, allowing one of the colors to accent the other two. It is safer than contrasts, but can still be used to highlight particular areas or items in an area. In the cool version, the shifted analog tends to add tranquility to the space.
Emphasizing Color Schemes Contrasting Monochromatic A Contrasting Monochromatic color scheme differs from a monochromatic scheme because one of the colors in the scheme directly contrasts with the hue of the other two. This contrasting color can be used to emphasize an area or object in the room. For example, you can draw attention to an attractive feature such as a ledge or molding by painting it in the contrasting color.
36 · Color Scheme Types
Decorate User's Guide
Photography Tips The types of photos used with the editor determine whether you produce high quality images that are easy to edit, or lower quality images, that are difficult to edit. Below are some tips for photographing images to be used in the editor.
Exterior Images •
Lighting. The best lighting conditions for exterior image photography place the sun behind, or to the side of the photographer. This will ensure that when colors are applied to the edited image, they will look as close to the actual colors as possible. This is best achieved at midday. The photograph should not be taken with the sun behind the structure being photographed as this will cause underexposure and make editing difficult.
•
Camera Angle. Hold the camera as near to vertical as possible, to ensure walls and edges are vertical in the photograph. This speeds the editing process.
•
Composition. Try to get as close to the subject of the photograph as possible. Fill the image frame with the building. This will produce a higher resolution image, which will result in better resolution and color.
•
Clutter. If possible, set up the photograph so that the picture has as few obstructions in front of the structure as possible. Items in the picture such as trees, shrubs, vehicles, and people increase the editing time.
Interior Images In general, interior images are much more difficult to photograph than exterior shots. This is because the room is often not big enough to position the camera at a great enough distance to obtain a good general view. Also using a built-in flash can cause harsh reflective lighting effects. •
Lighting. If possible, use a camera that has an adjustable flash system. This enables the light to be diffused by a neutral surface, such as the ceiling, providing more uniform lighting. If you are using a flash, take shots from a number of different angles. This bleaches out the detail in the room. Also, allowing indirect sunlight into the room will provide a better overall picture.
Decorate User's Guide
Color Scheme Types · 37
•
Composition. If the room is too small to obtain all the detail that is needed for eventual visualization of color schemes, try taking a picture that combines all of the design elements of interest (such as carpet, woodwork, walls, and window treatment) even if the entire room cannot be photographed. This will allow the effect of the different design elements together to be visualized.
•
Clutter. Minimizing clutter can facilitate the editing of the photo. If possible, set up the photograph to minimize any objects that are oddly-shaped, or obstruct the scene you are trying to capture. Items such as plants are best moved out of the picture. However, items important to your overall color scheme, such as furniture or artwork, should be left in the picture. They affect the overall impression of the room and color scheme.
38 · Color Scheme Types
Decorate User's Guide
Index
A About, 18
B Bold Color Schemes, 34 Brush Control, 19
C Camera Angle, 37 Clutter, 37, 38 Color Coordinator, 3 Color Coordinator Results, 6 Color Display, 14 Color Scheme Type, 5 Color Scheme Types, 33 Color Selection, 11 Color View, 14 Color Wheel, 7 Composition, 37, 38 Conservative Color Schemes, 33 Continuous Line Control, 18 Contrasting Monochromatic, 36 Copy, 18
D Decorate, 9 Decorate Window, 10 Delete, 18 Delete Panel Control, 19
E Edge Detect Fill Control, 19, 28 Edit, 20 Editing Procedure, 15 Editing Toolbar, 18 Email, 18 Emphasizing Color Schemes, 36 Empty Box Control, 18 Exit, 15 Exterior Images, 37 Exteriors, 10
F File, 19 Fill Control, 19 Filled Box Control, 19 Find Color, 13
H Help, 20
I Image Painting, 12 Image Selection, 10 Import New, 10 Interior Images, 37 Interiors, 10
L Lighting, 37
Decorate User's Guide
Contents · 39
Line Control, 18
M Magnify, 18 Masking Tools, 28 Menus, 17 Mixed Analogous Bold Cool, 35 Mixed Analogous Bold Warm, 35 Mixed Analogous Cool, 36 Mixed Analogous Subtle Cool, 36 Mixed Analogous Subtle Warm, 35 Mixed Analogous Warm, 36 Monitor, 1 Monochromatic, 33 Monochromatic Analog Cool, 34 Monochromatic Analog Warm, 34
N New, 17 New Image, 20 New Picture Selection, 15 Next Panel Control, 19 Number of Panels, 21
O Open, 17 Operating System, 1 Options, 13 Other Fandecks, 13
P Palette Control, 19 Panel, 20 Panel Masking, 27 Panel Properties Control, 19 Panels Adding, 30 Creating, 22 Deleting, 30 Masking, 25 Naming, 24 Switching to next, 30 Paste, 18 Pencil Control, 18, 29 Perspective, 20
40 Index
Photo, 20 Photo Editor, 9, 15 Photography, 37 Picture Editing, 32 Previous Panel Control, 19 Print, 15 Progressive, 29
R R/G/B, 28 Redo, 18 Render, 20
S Sample Measuring, 4 Save, 17 Save As, 17 Saving, 31 Scheme Toggle, 15 Simple Analogous, 35 Simple Analogous Bold, 34 Simple Analogous Subtle, 33 Simple Analogous Very Subtle, 33 Slide Bar, 10 Standard Color Schemes, 35 System Requirements, 1
T Tetrad, 34 Toolbars, 17
U Undo, 15, 18 Use HSL, 29
V Vertical Scroll Bar, 14 Video Card, 1 View, 20
W Window, 20
Decorate User's Guide
