Contents 1. Welcome ................................................................................. 1 Welcome to PhotoStack .......................................................................3 Key Features .............................................................................................4 Installation.................................................................................................9 2. Importing .............................................................................
Contents 4. Mapping ............................................................................... 51 Mapping ................................................................................................. 53 Geo-Tagging ......................................................................................... 54 Map boundaries (for Smart albums) ............................................. 57 5. Filtering ................................................................................
Contents Uploading to Dropbox .....................................................................109 Creating slideshows ..........................................................................112 Watermarking photos ......................................................................112 8. Additional Information ................................................. 117 Contacting Serif ..................................................................................119 Credits.........................
Welcome
2 Welcome
Welcome 3 Welcome to PhotoStack PhotoStack is the quickest, easiest way to view, sort, enhance and share your photo collection, so you can treasure every photo and make them brilliant. You’ll be able to import, map, adjust, and share, from a main Library view. Significantly faster than other photo managers, PhotoStack automatically sorts your photos so you can quickly access what you want, when you want.
4 Welcome Key Features Before you get started with PhotoStack, we recommend you familiarize yourself with PhotoStack key features. • An intuitive user interface The PhotoStack workspace puts your collection first, with the useful tools you need close by. • Learning Assistant The Learning Assistant starts when you first launch PhotoStack, showing you the latest news and learning resources. Flexible importing • Import photos from anywhere (p.
Welcome 5 View, search and manage your photos • A new home for your photo collection (p. 19) Your PhotoStack Library houses all your photos from different sources in a super-fast collection, with custom thumbnail sizes, single photo view, full screen mode and a slideshow feature. • Quickly view any photos (p. 22) View specific photos from large collections in almost no time just by clicking tags like camera metadata, dates, or ratings and descriptive tags of your own.
6 Welcome • Quick tags (p. 43) Flag photos to keep or discard, to print, and to fix using quick buttons to make larger collections and photo shoots simple to manage. • Archive your photos Back up your collection to an external drive or other media with a simple process for your whole collection, or just new photos added since your last back up. Easy photo editing • One-click photo edits (p.
Welcome 7 • Before-and-after view View a live before-and-after comparison of your edits with a draggable splitter. • Mask areas to limit effects and adjustments (p. 83) Use a smart brush with edge-detection to create areas of a photo to apply effects and adjustments to, or to protect from changes. • Gradient masks (p. 85) Add depth, stylish touches of colour and more with gradient masks that blend the strength your effects and adjustments over height or distance.
8 Welcome • Quick prints and stylish print layouts (p. 102) Print single photos and collections in stylish drag-and-drop print layouts. Edit your layout in a live preview, even make new print layouts of your own. • Easy photo exports (p. 100) Export to a new file or file set, using output presets or your own choice of format, compression, size, and more. • Watermarks (p. 112) Protect your photos with a watermark using a unique watermark builder.
Welcome 9 Installation Installing PhotoStack follows different procedures depending on whether you are installing from disc or via download. 32 or 64-bit PhotoStack installs to respective 32 or 64-bit computers. Installation procedure (from disc) • Insert your purchased disc into your disc drive. o If AutoPlay is enabled on the drive, this automatically starts the Setup Wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions for install.
10 Welcome System Requirements Minimum: • Windows-based PC with CD/DVD drive and mouse • Operating systems: Microsoft Windows® XP SP3 (32 bit) Windows® Vista (32 or 64 bit) Windows® 7 (32 or 64 bit) Windows® 8 (32 or 64 bit) • 512MB RAM (1GB RAM for 64-bit operation) • 361MB free hard disk space • 1024 x 768 monitor resolution Optional: • Windows-compatible printer • Internet account and connection required for accessing online resources and Map view.
Importing
12 Importing
Importing 13 Importing photos Adding photos to PhotoStack simply means opening a "window" to your operating system. The photos will be displayed in the Library but will always remain in their original location while using PhotoStack. PhotoStack lets you: • Add and watch folders already present on your computer disk (see p. 16). • Import photos from a USB device (cameras, flash drives), external hard drive, CD or DVD, copying the photos to your computer (see p. 14).
14 Importing To import individual files from a USB device: Import. 1. From above your workspace, select 2. In the Import Photos dialog, in the From drop-down list, select a source for your files. The Photos window will be populated with photos on the selected device. 3. To exclude photos from import, uncheck the check box on the photo's thumbnail. To select or deselect all the photos in the Photos window in bulk, click Check All or Uncheck All, respectively. 4.
Importing 15 The photos on the device are imported into the PhotoStack Library and are also copied to the folder specified in the Import Photos dialog under Transfer Options. The default specified folder is your Microsoft Windows Pictures folder. If your USB device or external hard drive does not appear in the From drop-down list, ensure it is correctly connected and then, from the From drop-down list, select Refresh Devices.
16 Importing As you're including photos from their original location, the Include Photos option is enabled and, by default, Transfer and Tagging options are greyed out. If you want to copy photos from another local hard drive, enable Import Photos instead of Include Photos. You can then specify your transfer and tagging options. Adding and watching folders Rather than importing individual photos to the Library (see p. 13), you can include specific computer disk folders in PhotoStack.
Importing 17 To include a folder in PhotoStack: 1. On the Organize tab, under the All photos section, click Include folder. 2. In the Browse For Folder dialog, navigate to, then select the folder containing your media files. If you select a folder on a disc or removable drive, you will receive a message asking if you wish to import the photos to PhotoStack. Click Yes to continue to the import process (see p. 13), or click No to cancel the include folder operation. 3. Click OK.
18 Importing
Organizing
20 Organizing
Organizing 21 Managing folders Your folder structure in Windows may be just how you want it. However, PhotoStack makes an easy job of creating and managing folders directly from the Organize tab. You'll then be able to drag and drop photos into your new folders, creating a new Windows folder hierarchy from within PhotoStack. To create a new folder: 1. On the Organize tab, right-click an existing folder name (listed under All photos) and select New Folder from the flyout. 2.
22 Organizing A folder can be created from any folder in PhotoStack, always being created as a subfolder. Once folders are added to PhotoStack (see p. 16) or created, you can manage them in various ways from the same right-click flyout. • Open Folder: Displays the folder and its contents in a standard Windows window. • Rename Folder: Changes the folder's name in PhotoStack and Windows.
Organizing 23 To view your photos in the Library: • Hover the mouse over a thumbnail to see a flyout preview including the file's metadata. • Double-click a thumbnail to see it at the maximum size within the Library. Double-click again to minimize. • Use the Page Down key on your keyboard to move down through the Library or, while in maximize view, move to the next photo. • Use the Page Up key on your keyboard to move up through the Library or, while in maximize view, move to the previous photo.
24 Organizing • The photo can be launched in Serif PhotoPlus (see Editing your photos in PhotoPlus on p. 89)—especially if you want to perform some advanced editing of the photo. Also open your photo in Serif PanoramaPlus (see p. 90) or Serif CraftArtist (see p. 91). Selecting photos Before looking at each of the operations that can be used to manage your photos it’s worthwhile familiarizing yourself with the different options available for selecting thumbnails.
Organizing 25 • Drag select: This can typically be used for selecting more than one thumbnail simultaneously. Click next to a thumbnail, hold your mouse button down and drag over your required thumbnails. Release the mouse button when you're happy with the selection. • To select all displayed photos, use Ctrl+A. • If your photos are grouped (see p. 35), double-click the group's title bar to select all photo thumbnails in that group. Creating albums Albums are a great way of organizing your photos.
26 Organizing PhotoStack albums differ from Smart albums as they are populated manually by various methods and do not have to be based on specific photo properties. For more information on creating automatic albums using photo properties, see Creating smart albums on p. 29. To create an album: 1. (Optional) In the Library, select photo thumbnail(s) (see p. 24). 2. On the Organize tab, from the Albums section, click Create album. 3.
Organizing o 4. 27 To create an album using photos in your Quick album (see p. 28), select Populate album using Quick album. You can also remove the photos from your Quick album simultaneously by selecting the Clear Quick album after creating album option. Click OK. The album is created and added to the Albums section of the Organize tab. To rename an album: 1. Right-click the album name on the Organize tab and select Rename Album. 2. Type in a new album name.
28 Organizing Quick album A Quick album is included in PhotoStack for immediate use. This could be used for temporarily grouping photos (e.g. ready for sharing) or as a precursor to creating a new album. To add a photo to a Quick Album: • In the Library, click in the top-right corner of any photo. The photo is now included in the Quick album (shown in the Organize tab), as indicated by the thumbnail's icon. Photos can be easily removed from the Quick album so it can be used to organize other photos.
Organizing 29 OR Drag an album name, from the Organize tab, over any selected photos. Blue shading will appear around the selected thumbnail(s). Your photos are placed in the selected album. To indicate that photos belong to a named or Quick album, select View>Photo Details>Album. An or icon will appear on the thumbnails, respectively. To remove photos from an album: • Right-click one or more selected thumbnails, and select an album from the Delete from Album flyout submenu.
30 Organizing To create a smart album: 1. On the Organize tab, from the Smart albums section, click Create smart album. 2. In the Create Smart Album dialog, type an Album Name. 3. From the Search Conditions options, select an "AND" or "OR" condition for use with multiple search conditions. 4. From the drop-down list, select a photo property. The adjacent drop-down lists change according to the type of search condition chosen.
Organizing 5. Click Add. The search condition is added to the list box. 6. Repeat from steps 4 and 5 to add further search conditions to the search condition list. 7. Click OK to exit the dialog. 31 The album is created and added to the Smart albums section of the Organize tab.
32 Organizing To edit a smart album: 1. Right-click the album name on the Organize tab and select Edit Album. 2. For renaming, edit the Album Name. 3. To change any search condition, double-click it, edit the upper drop-down lists, and click Update. To delete a smart album: • Right-click the album name on the Organize tab and select Delete Album. You'll be prompted to confirm that you want to delete the album.
Organizing 33 As you organize your photos, each thumbnail may also display overlaid symbols indicating that the photo is: tagged added to an album geo tagged edited in Develop view added to Quick Album This is dependent on View>Photo Details being set to 'All'. To display photo details on thumbnails: • On the View menu, select Photo Details, and choose an option from the menu flyout. OR • To display all photos details, select the 'All' option.
34 Organizing Sorting photos (changing displayed order) The thumbnails displayed in PhotoStack can be sorted using the following sort criteria: • Date Taken (time that photo was taken; from Exif) • File Creation Date (time copied to hard disk) • File Modified Date (time the file was last modified) • Rating • File name • Duration (for audio and video files) The file date and times for the selected photo are displayed in the Metadata tab.
Organizing To reverse thumbnail order: • On the View menu, from the Sort By menu flyout, uncheck Ascending. Grouping photos To help you view your photos in the Library, PhotoStack groups thumbnails together. By default, groups are displayed according to folder name, although PhotoStack allows you to group by a variety of other grouping criteria.
36 Organizing A dark grey title bar indicates the beginning of a new group and also allows you to navigate easily between groups. To navigate between groups: • On the right side of the title bar, click the to the previous or next group, respectively. • On the left side of the title bar: arrows to move o Click the collapse arrow to collapse the group and hide its photos. o Click the expand arrow to expand the group and display its photos.
Organizing • QuickTag: The Quick tags previously assigned to photos. • Music Genre: The genre previously assigned to audio files. • None: Photos are not grouped. 37 To change grouping criteria: • On the View menu, from the Group By menu flyout, select a grouping criteria. To return to automatic grouping, select Auto from the View menu's Group By menu flyout. To change grouping order: • On the View menu, from the Group By menu flyout, uncheck Ascending.
38 Organizing Stacking photos PhotoStack allows you to stack photo thumbnails on top of each other to further organize thumbnails on display. This means your very best photo, or the photo that best represents your stack, can be used. You may want to stack photos together for several reasons: • To group by similar subject matter. • For workflow, where deficient stacked photos can be tagged as "To Fix". • For stacking a generated panorama and its source photos.
Organizing 39 When you import photos from USB devices (see p. 14), PhotoStack allows you to automatically create stacks of photos based on dates/times or duration (see PhotoStack Help). To unstack a selected photo stack: • Select the photo stack, then on the Edit menu, from the Stack menu flyout, select Unstack. To set which photo shows at the top of stack: • From an expanded stack, right-click the photo and select Set Stack Top from the Stack flyout.
40 Organizing Tagging photos Tagging is one of the best ways of organizing your photos as it allows you to identify similar or themed photos regardless of their file name or the folder in which they reside. It also allows you to access one of the most powerful features of PhotoStack—Filter by tag (see p. 64). If photos have been tagged before they are imported to PhotoStack (see p. 13), they will be automatically tagged in PhotoStack.
Organizing OR Drag a tag name, from the Organize tab, over any selected photos. Blue shading will appear around the selected thumbnail(s). Your assigned photos can then be displayed by tag name. See Filter by tag on p. 64. To indicate that photos have been tagged, select View>Photo Details>Tag. An icon will appear on the thumbnails. To remove tags from thumbnails: • Right-click one or more selected thumbnails, select Detach Tag, then select the tag to be removed.
42 Organizing The tag structure is updated to display your new tag. To create a tag hierarchy: You can nest tags within tags for "parent-child" tagging—simply drag one tag onto another. A typical example would be placing year tags under a general annual celebration tag or grouping regular events together. There is no limit to the depth of tagging allowed. Tags can be promoted to a higher level by dragging to a "grandparent" tag or onto the top-level Descriptive tags label. To rename a tag: 1.
Organizing 43 Quick Tags Although Quick tags can be assigned to photos in the same way as Descriptive tags (see p. 43), and allow for similar filtering (see p. 64), they function in a different way. Quick tags are used temporarily to mark photos specifically for further action to be performed on them. For example, you could import a range of photos, filter on the Date taken, then flag photos before you add to album, tag them, rate them, or apply adjustments.
44 Organizing To rate your photos: 1. In the Library, select photo thumbnail(s) (see p. 24). 2. Drag your selection onto a rating level on the Organize tab. Blue shading will appear around the selected rating. OR Drag a rating level, from the Organize tab, over any selected photos. Blue shading will appear around the selected thumbnail(s). OR Press the 1 to 5 key (or 0 as unrated) on your keyboard. To indicate that photos have ratings assigned, select View>Photo Details>Rating. An icon (e.g.
Organizing 45 Changing date and time Most photos have date and time settings associated with them, obtained from your camera's Exif data. The most important setting is the date and time that photo was taken, which is displayed as the Date Taken setting in PhotoStack's Metadata tab. The Date Taken setting can be modified for several reasons. • When on holiday or business, your digital camera’s time zone settings were not adjusted—meaning that the Date Taken setting is incorrect.
46 Organizing 4. In the Date Taken dialog: Date drop-down calendar, select a date. o From the o In the Time input box, type a time or use the arrows to select a time. o Click OK. The time is always displayed as the 24-hr clock.
Organizing 47 To set a relative date: 1. Select Date Taken from the Type drop-down list. 2. Select Relative and then: o To add time, select Add. o To remove time, select Remove. 3. In the Days, Hours, and/or Mins input boxes, type a number by which to adjust your date and/or time. 4. Click OK. The settings in the dialog above will fix photos with an incorrect date and time if a holiday had been taken in Finland (GMT+2 hours) from the UK (GMT).
48 Organizing To set a specific date and time: 1. Select Date Taken from the Type drop-down list. 2. Select Specific. 3. From the 4. In the Time input box, type a time or use the arrows to select a time. 5. Click OK. Date drop-down calendar, select a date. All selected photos are updated to the time stated (e.g. 9:28am on 15 September 1984). This will mean all selected photos will have exactly the same time and date.
Organizing 49 Deleting photos Photos can be deleted at any time—you'll actually be deleting the photo from your computer, so caution should be taken. To delete a photo: 1. In the Library, select photo thumbnail(s) (see p. 24). 2. Press the Delete key (or select Edit>Delete). This method will permanently delete the original file from your computer. You'll get a confirmation message asking if you want to delete your photos from disk.
50 Organizing * When using your digital camera, this EXIF information is associated with your photo irrespective of its file format (RAW, JPG, or otherwise). To display metadata for a selected photo: • Click to display the Metadata tab. The metadata is arranged into name/value fields, of which some are editable, e.g. Date Taken, Tags, Rating, Author, Copyright, and Caption. (Uneditable fields are greyed out.) To modify metadata: • Double-click on one of the above fields and type or paste new text.
Mapping
52 Mapping
Mapping 53 Mapping Map view displays a Google™ map pane in the main area of your workspace. This allows you to navigate your Google map, view Geotagged photos automatically placed on your map (as pins), and then view photos in turn. PhotoStack also lets you manually position nongeo-tagged photos on your map easily. (A) Pan tool, (B) StreetView tool, (C) Zoom buttons/slider, (D) Map, (E) Type toolbar, (F) Photo Geo-Tag pins, (G) Descriptive tag Geo-Tag pins, (H) Photos pane.
54 Mapping To return to the Library, click Library above your workspace. Geo-Tagging Geo-Tagging is the process of adding geographical location data to your photos. The Geo-Tag data is contained within the photo's Exif metadata. There are a few cameras on the market that can automatically add GeoTag data to photos as they are taken—the Latitude and Longitude coordinates are written into the metadata of the respective photos.
Mapping 55 3. Select your photo(s) from the lower pane and drag onto the map. 4. Release the mouse button when you’re happy with the position. Geo-Tagged photos are represented on the map by red pins. Multiple photos will show as a grouping of pins. When a Geo-Tag is represented by a single pin, you can easily reposition it by dragging it to a new location. This is not possible when a group of pins is displayed.
56 Mapping OR • In the lower Photos pane, select one or more photos, right-click and select Delete Geo-Tag. Viewing information and photos Geo-Tagged photos are represented on the map by red pins. Depending on the number of photos associated with the Geo-Tag, and on the zoom level, these may appear as either a single pin or as a group of three pins. To locate Geo-tagged photos on the map: • In the Library or from the Photos pane (Map view), click a thumbnail's Geo-tag icon.
Mapping 57 The information and options provided in the information bubble are slightly different for single photos and multiple photos. Latitude and Longitude co-ordinates are always displayed, as is the option to Delete Geo-Tag(s). Other displayed information may include a photo thumbnail, the number of photos associated with the Geo-Tag location, and the option to view slideshow. Map boundaries (for Smart albums) If you create smart albums (see p.
58 Mapping 5. In the Boundary Name dialog, type a name for your boundary, e.g. Paradise Island, and click OK. 6. (Optional) Repeat the process for additional boundaries by clicking New. Once you've created one or more map boundaries, you can create a smart album (p. 29) from the Organize tab which is restricted to photos taken within those map boundaries.
Filtering
60 Filtering
Filtering 61 Filter by album If you have assigned photos to albums, you can use an album to filter and display only photos within that album. To filter by album: • On the Organize tab, select an album name. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to include more than one adjacent or non-adjacent album in filtering, respectively. Photos assigned to the selected album(s) will be displayed in the Library.
62 Filtering Filter by folder Filter by folder lets you filter by the folders that you previously selected to be included in PhotoStack. To filter photos by folder: • On the Organize tab, select a folder name. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to include more than one adjacent or non-adjacent folder in filtering, respectively. The photos from selected folder(s) are displayed in the Library.
Filtering 63 Filter by date Filter by date lets you filter photos according to when they were taken. Your Date taken times are present in the Organize tab, and are initially collapsed by default. To filter photos by date: 1. On the Organize tab, click the Date taken category's button. 2. Select a date. This is the time that the photo was taken (see Viewing and adding metadata on p. 49).
64 Filtering Filter by tag If you have assigned tags to your photos, you can use a particular tag to display only photos that have that tag assigned to them. In advance of filtering, you can either utilize the tags within added photos, use PhotoStack's preset tags, or create your own user-defined tags (see p. 40). To filter by tag: 1. On the Organize tab, click the Descriptive tags category's expand button (if necessary). 2. Select the tag name.
Filtering 65 Photos with that tag assigned will be displayed in the Library. Preset tags are typically action-based to aid workflow, i.e. Reviewed, To Fix, To Print, and To Share. Not tagged status The Not tagged tag will let you view photos that have no tags assigned. This can be used to separate your "processed" photos from "unprocessed" photos—newly imported photos will often not have assigned tags. As you process your photos you can use the Not tagged tag to check your progress.
66 Filtering Filter by rating Filter by rating lets you display photos that have been assigned a specific "star" rating level. You can equally filter by unrated photos for future rating. Stars have to be assigned to photos in advance, as described in Rating your photos on p. 43. To filter photos by rating: • On the Organize tab, select a rating. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to include more than one adjacent or non-adjacent rating level in filtering, respectively.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating
68 Developing, Adjusting & Creating
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 69 Manipulating photos PhotoStack lets you perform commonly used photo editing operations. It is also highly likely that at some times the photos you've taken haven't turned out as well as expected. Don't worry, you'll be able to quickly correct any photos within PhotoStack to radically improve your end results. Here's a quick summary of operations available.
70 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Applying adjustments Develop view provides an image adjustment environment within PhotoStack which simplifies the often complicated process of image correction. Adjustments overview Develop offers the following key features: • Adjustment presets Apply tonal, colour, lens, and sharpening adjustments using the Presets tab. • Retouching tools Red-eye correction, spot repair, clone, and crop/straighten.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 71 Adjustments Develop view displays your zoomed-in photo next to some adjustmentrelated tabs to help you correct your photo. • Presets tab. Select from a range of categorized presets, without the need for any prior knowledge of adjustment settings. • Adjustments tab. For more professional control, select one or more filters and adjust settings to your custom requirements. • Histogram tab. Use the tab for a "heads-up" of the colours used in your photo.
72 Developing, Adjusting & Creating To apply an adjustment (using a preset): Develop. 1. From above your workspace, click 2. From the Presets tab, scroll the tab to review the categorized adjustment presets. 3. Click a preset thumbnail to apply. To apply an adjustment (using specific adjustments): Develop. 1. From above your workspace, click 2. From the Adjustments tab, scroll down the tab to review each adjustment.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating button. 3. Open a category or adjustment by clicking its 4. Modify the adjustment using sliders, check boxes, graph adjustments, and drop-down menus (you can also enter absolute values into available input boxes). The image will be adjusted automatically to reflect the new settings. Once an adjustment setting is altered, the filter option becomes greyed out ( ).
74 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Resetting and reverting adjustments Develop lets you "undo" changes and revert to an earlier edited version of the photo. To undo your changes: • From the History tab, select a previously applied preset/adjustment entry to which you want to revert back to. If you click 'Root' this will undo all your adjustments.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 75 To revert a photo back to its original: 1. Select the photo thumbnail you want to revert changes on. 2. From the Edit menu, select Revert to Original. Saving adjusted photos PhotoStack is able to save any photo-editing stage to a new photo. Typically, you'd save the most recent photo by selecting the most recent history entry. To save as a newly named photo (while in Develop view): 1. From the History tab, select an applied adjustment/effect entry. 2.
76 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Saving as a new preset If you've found an adjustment, or combination of adjustments, to your liking, you can save it as a preset in the Presets tab for future use. 1. From the Adjustments tab, click adjustment to presets. 2. From the dialog, add a preset Name and either: 3. Select a category from the Category drop-down list. Save current OR Click Add New Category to save the preset to your own custom category, e.g., MyPresets.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 77 Red-eye removal Red eye is caused when the light from the flash of a camera reflects in a subject's eyes the moment a photo is taken. Many modern camera have a special flash mode to help minimize this effect, but don't worry if you've forgotten to switch it on—it's really easy to remove red eye in PhotoStack. To remove red eye: 1. Select the Red-eye tool from the toolbar at the top of the Adjustments tab.
78 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Click and drag to draw a square around the red area. You'll see the red eye disappear as you drag. 3. Resize the selection using the resize handles and move it into position if required. You can delete a selection at any time by clicking Selection on the Adjustments tab. 4. Delete When you're happy, click Apply on the Adjustments tab.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 79 To remove blemishes: 1. Select the Spot-repair tool from the toolbar at the top of the Adjustments tab. Zoom in using the zoom tools at the bottom of the workspace for a better view, if required. 2. (Automatic) Click on the spot or blemish to set a default correction size. OR • (Manual) Set the tool's Size and Opacity, and choose a Type. o Heal - Repair by blending the existing pixels with pixels in the new selection.
80 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Clone Selection You may have photos which appear to be spoiled by a cluttered background or other flaws. Fortunately, you can correctly this easily by copying, or cloning, a section from another area of the photo over the unwanted area. To clone an area: 1. Select the Clone Selection tool from the toolbar at the top of the Adjustments tab. Zoom in using the zoom tools at the bottom of the workspace for a better view, if required. 2.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 4. 81 With your cursor, paint over the area of the photo that you want to remove. The crosshair cursor indicates where you are copying from. You might find that you need to Shift-click to define the pickup area again, for example if the crosshair cursor gets too close to other areas of the photo and you end up copying those by mistake. This is good practice as it also helps reduce repeated patterns. 5. When you're happy, click Apply on the Adjustments tab.
82 Developing, Adjusting & Creating To crop and straighten your photo: 1. Select the Crop & Straighten tool from the toolbar at the top of the Adjustments tab. A rule of thirds grid will appear on your photo. 2. Choose an Aspect Ratio from the drop-down list. OR Drag your photo beneath the grid for manually positioning. Resize it with the resize handles if required. For best results, position the subject of the photo at any of the four intersection points of the grid.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 83 Adjustment masks While in Develop view, masking is used to "paint" regions of your photo to which adjustments are either applied to or protected from. Without masking, any adjustment is applied to all of the photo. Two types of masking are possible in PhotoStack: standard masking (above) and gradient masking (below). The former paints a region to which the adjustment is applied to uniformly (or excluded from).
84 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Each new mask comprises the selected mask region, plus a set of adjustments applied to that mask. You can change the adjustments associated with the mask at a later date. Standard masks To apply a standard mask: Develop at the top of your workspace. 1. Select 2. Click the Adjustments tab at the right of your workspace. 3. Select Create mask from the top of the tab. The Mask entry appears which can be opened by clicking Expand. 4.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 85 o Erase Brush: Check this option if you want to erase areas of your previously drawn mask., e.g. if you want to touch up poorly-painted mask edges. o Live Paint: When checked, as you paint, any adjustment already applied will show on the mask. Otherwise, only the mask is shown. If you enable any adjustment, this option is enabled by default. 5. Using the 6. (Optional) Click the Invert option to invert your mask, i.e.
86 Developing, Adjusting & Creating To apply a gradient mask: Develop at the top of your workspace. 1. Select 2. Click the Adjustments tab at the right of your workspace. 3. Select Gradient mask from the top of the tab. The Gradient entry appears which can be opened by clicking Expand. 4. Click and drag on your photo, from the point you want to start your gradient (e.g., from a horizon line downwards). Release the mouse button, where the gradient will finish.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 7. 87 (Optional) To tilt the mask from horizontal, hover anywhere along the rotation line that intersects the mask marker until you see the cursor, then drag up or down. Alternatively, use the Adjustments tab's Angle slider. 8. Apply your adjustments from the Presets or Adjustments tab, which will make a change to your masked regions. 9. Click on masking. Gradient mask again to deactivate gradient To delete a mask: • In the Gradient settings pane, click Delete.
88 Developing, Adjusting & Creating To add additional masks: • Click New in the Mask or Gradient pane, then apply a new mask region as before, and apply your adjustments. To edit or delete a mask: 1. With the relevant mask tool selected, click on the marker on your mask. 2. Modify your adjustments, or click Delete. mask Selecting/deselecting masks After you create a second mask, two black mask markers will remain on your page.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 89 To flip a selected photo horizontally or vertically: • Select Horizontal Flip or Vertical Flip from the Edit menu's Flip flyout. OR • Right-click and select the equivalent option from the Flip flyout. Editing photos in Serif PhotoPlus If you own Serif PhotoPlus you'll be able to perform professional editing of your photo in PhotoPlus, launched directly from within PhotoStack. To launch and edit a photo in Serif PhotoPlus: 1. Select a photo thumbnail. 2.
90 Developing, Adjusting & Creating Creating panoramas If you have Serif PanoramaPlus installed, you can create seamless panoramas from your photos. To create a panorama: 1. In the Library, select the photos that you want to "stitch" together. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to select adjacent or nonadjacent photos, respectively. 2. From the Edit menu (or via right-click), select Create Panorama. 3. PanoramaPlus opens and your photos are automatically stitched together as a panorama. 4.
Developing, Adjusting & Creating 91 Adding photos to CraftArtist If you have Serif CraftArtist installed, you can start getting creative with your photos by creating one of a choice of CraftArtist projects—your photos will then be available to add to the page. This feature requires CraftArtist version 1.0.5.x (or above). If necessary, please upgrade to the latest version via CraftArtist's Help menu, selecting Check for Update from Web. To add photos to CraftArtist: 1. Select one or more thumbnails.
92 Developing, Adjusting & Creating
Sharing
94 Sharing
Sharing Sharing photos PhotoStack lets you effortlessly share your photos with friends, family, and colleagues in various ways. You'll be able to use various one-click adjustment presets and take advantage of controllable image export quality and watermarking (p. 112), all depending on the sharing method. The following sharing methods are possible. • Export photos to files (see p. 100). • Print photos to your local printer (see p. 102). • Send photos via email (see p. 103).
96 Sharing • Upload your favourite albums and photos to Facebook (see p. 105). • Upload photos to Flickr (see p. 107). • Upload photos to Dropbox online storage (see p. 109).
Sharing 97 The Share dialog Sharing your photos takes place from a single Share dialog in PhotoStack. The dialog is fully optimized for easy sharing. Sharing options Options differ in the Share dialog depending on how you want to share. If you click on any of the above options, the dialog changes to be specific to that type of sharing. Selection of the Upload button provides sharing via Facebook, Flickr, Dropbox, and YouTube (video only).
98 Sharing Choosing items for sharing For any sharing option, you have the ability to share the currently selected photos, all photos in a previously created album, or photos in a Quick album. A Quick album is an excellent way to temporarily collect a set of photos together purely for the purpose of sharing. Sharing-specific options PhotoStack provides options that are specific to the type of sharing required: • For Export Images: export Location creates your exported files in this folder location.
Sharing 99 Depending on the type of sharing (e.g., export, print, email, or upload), the preset thumbnails available may differ. Often, the presets offer only slight variations between each other. Share option Thumbnail example Thumbnail options Export Photo quality options, metadata control, watermark options. Print Multi-picture layouts (using various paper sizes), CDs, passport, and contact sheets. Designer multi-picture layouts.
100 Sharing Sharing Once you've selected your sharing options, in the bottom-right corner of the dialog, click Export, Print, Email, or Upload to start sharing your photos. Exporting to another file format In many situations, you'll want to save a file to one of the standard graphics formats that everyone can access. In PhotoStack, this is known as exporting. Exporting leaves your original file intact, so you can come back and edit it at any time. Exporting images To export an image: 1.
Sharing 101 o Quick Album: Only the items in your Quick Album are exported. o Album: Only the items in your created album are exported. Select the named album from the adjacent drop-down list. If you've chosen to export multiple photos, a thumbnail image of each one will be displayed at the bottom of the Preview pane on the right. Click on a photo to see a larger preview. 5.
102 Sharing Printing For basic printing primarily to desktop printers, PhotoStack's Print feature offers an exciting, comprehensive, and versatile printing solution for your photos. To print an image: 1. (Optional) If printing specific items only, select one or more thumbnails. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to select adjacent or non-adjacent items, respectively. 2. From above your workspace, click 3. From the Share dialog, click 4. Select an Items to Print option. Share. Print.
Sharing 103 The Preview pane on the right will update dynamically each time you select a preset. Depending on your chosen settings, the number of pages may update too. 7. Review your chosen layouts in the Preview pane. Use the arrow buttons to view other pages of your printout, if required. By default, Auto Populate will be selected. Uncheck this checkbox to manually select which photos will be included in your printout.
104 Sharing 3. From the Share dialog, click 4. Select an Items to Email option. Email. • Selection: Includes only the previously selected items to email. • Quick Album: Only the items in your Quick Album are emailed. • Album: Only the items in your created album are emailed. Select the named album from the adjacent drop-down list. 5. By default, Attach to new email message will launch your email program and attach your files to a new message.
Sharing 105 Uploading to Facebook Facebook is a social networking website that enables you to keep in touch with friends, and amongst other things, upload an unlimited number of photos. In PhotoStack, your photos can be shared with friends and family in just a few clicks! A working Facebook login is required to upload your photos. If you don't have a login, visit www.facebook.com and register or do this at upload time! To upload photos to Facebook: 1.
106 Sharing 6. Select a preset thumbnail for the quality and size of photo to be uploaded. Alternatively, create custom sharing settings (see PhotoStack Help). 7. Click Upload at the bottom right of the dialog. 8. In the Facebook Login dialog, log into your Facebook account. Type in your email address and password and click Log in. 9. The Destination Album dialog appears. Once logged on to Facebook this dialog will show immediately after clicking Upload.
Sharing • 107 • Select New Album to create a new Facebook album. Enter a name for your new album in the Name: text box. • Select Existing Album to upload photos to an album that has been created previously in Facebook. Click OK. 10. The photo upload will begin. The progress bar indicates the status of the export and upload processes. Click the icon to cancel any upload currently in progress. When the upload is complete, it closes automatically.
108 Sharing A working Flickr account is required to upload your photos. This can be your Yahoo! ID, or your existing Google or Facebook login details. If you don't have a login ID or account, you can create one the first time you upload your photos. Alternatively, register at www.flickr.com. To upload photos to Flickr: 1. (Optional) If uploading specific items only, select one or more thumbnails. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to select adjacent or non-adjacent items, respectively. 2.
Sharing 109 Once logged in you won't need to enter login details, but you may need to authorize uploads to Flickr from PhotoStack. Follow the instructions in the dialog. 9. When prompted that you may close the window, click Continue at the bottom of the dialog to start the photo upload. The progress bar indicates the status of the export and upload processes. Click the icon to cancel any upload currently in progress. When the upload is complete, it closes automatically.
110 Sharing To upload photos to Dropbox: 1. (Optional) If uploading specific items only, select one or more thumbnails. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to select adjacent or non-adjacent items, respectively. 2. From above your workspace, click 3. From the Share dialog, click 4. Select an Items to Upload option. Share. Upload. • Selection: Includes only the previously selected items in the upload. • Quick Album: Only the items in your Quick Album are uploaded.
Sharing 9. 111 The Dropbox Folders dialog appears. Select a folder from the list or alternatively, use subfolders. Simply select the folder that you wish to be the parent, enter your folder name, and click New Folder. Select the sub-folder before upload. 10. Click OK. 11. The photo upload will begin. The progress bar indicates the status of the export and upload processes. Click the icon to cancel any upload currently in progress. When the upload is complete, it closes automatically.
112 Sharing Creating slideshows All or selected photos can be presented in a simple ready-to-go slideshow. With an attractive panning transition between each photo you can be sure to impress friends and family alike. To create your slideshow: 1. Select one or more thumbnails. Use Shift-click or Ctrl-click to select adjacent or non-adjacent photos, respectively. 2. From the View menu, select Slideshow.
Sharing 113 Adding a watermark To select a watermark preset: Share. 1. On the toolbar above your photo, click 2. At the top of the dialog, choose how you want to share your photos. 3. On the Presets tab, browse the watermark presets available, and then select the one you want to use. The watermark presets available may change depending on the share option you've got selected. 4. Continue sharing your photos as you would normally. Your shared photo(s) will appear with watermarks applied.
114 Sharing To select an alternative watermark: 1. Select the Custom tab. 2. Expand the Watermarks category, then select which watermarks you want to use from the Watermarks available list. 3. Click Add. For more details, see custom watermark settings (see PhotoStack Help). Some watermarks will show as a cross (above), show a padlock symbol, or display the text 'CONFIDENTIAL'. Additionally, some presets allow you to add you own text using watermark placeholders.
Sharing 115 To edit your watermark: 1. In the Share dialog, with your preset selected, select the Custom tab. 2. Click 3. Click Edit Watermarks at the bottom of the window. 4. Select a Watermark on which to base your watermark from the Watermarks list. 5. From the Text section, enable Text, and replace placeholder text in the Text field. to expand the Watermarks category. Apply any text attributes, effects, and add symbols as appropriate.
116 Sharing 6. On the left of the dialog, click Create to save your watermark to use on future photos. 7. Type a name for your new watermark, and click OK. Your watermark will appear in the Watermarks list on the left. 8. Click Close. 9. Now you need to add your watermark to the Watermarks used list. Select it in the Watermarks available list and then click Add. In the Preview pane on the right, your watermark will have been added to your photo.
Additional Information
118 Additional Information
Additional Information 119 Contacting Serif Help with your Product On the web community.serif.com Get answers and ask questions in the Serif community! Type ‘PhotoStack’ to view only PhotoStack questions and answers. Serif Support www.serif.com/support For Serif Account and Customer Service information. Additional Serif information On the web Serif website www.serif.
120 Additional Information Credits This User Guide, and the software described in it, is furnished under an end user License Agreement, which is included with the product. The agreement specifies the permitted and prohibited uses. Trademarks Serif is a registered trademark of Serif (Europe) Ltd. PhotoStack is a trademark of Serif (Europe) Ltd. All Serif product names are trademarks of Serif (Europe) Ltd. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Index
122 Index
Index adding photos to CraftArtist, 91 adjustments, 70 masks, 83 resetting/reverting, 74 reverting photos after, 74 saving, 75 saving presets, 76 albums, 25 creating, 26 populating, 28 Quick, 28 Smart, 29 authors (credits), 49 blemish removal, 78 camera importing from, 14 captions, 49 card reader importing from, 14 CD importing from, 15 cloning, 80 Contacting Serif, 119 copyright, 49 copyrights (product), 120 CraftArtist, 91 credits, 120 crop/straighten, 81 dates changing photo, 45 filtering by, 63 deletin
124 Index managing folders, 21 map boundaries, 57 Map view, 53 mapping, 53 photo info in, 56 masks gradient, 84, 85 multiple, 87 standard, 84 masks (adjustment), 83 metadata, 49 panoramas, 90 path names, 30 PhotoPlus editing in, 89 photos editing, 70 in PhotoPlus, 89 filtering by by unassigned status, 65 manipulating, 69 rating your, 43 pins (mapping), 55 printing, 102 Quick album, 28 Quick tag, 43 rating, 43 filtering by, 66 RAW files, 4 red eye, 77 registration, 3 rotating, 88 selecting, 24 Share, 95 sh
