# Basic Concepts

This section describes the tools and techniques you need to use e-Picture efficiently and effectively. Topics include opening, creating, and saving e-Picture documents and templates, an introduction to the e-Picture work area, and a discussion of the e-Picture panels.

# Setting the opening screen

By default, e-Picture opens displaying the New Document dialog box. You can change the appearance of the opening screen.

To change the opening display:

1 Choose File> Preferences > General & Startup... .

2 Choose an option from the e-Picture start-up menu:

- Create New Document displays the New Document window.
- Open Load File Panel opens your Home folder.drag

# Creating documents

The New Document dialog box lets you create a new document, open a new document using a template, create a new template, or open an existing document. You can have multiple documents open at one time.

When creating a new document, you enter the dimensions and select the background color in the New Document dialog box. The current settings remain in effect until you enter new values.

Note: All e-picture documents have a resolution of 72 dpi.

To create a document:

1 If necessary, choose File> New to display the New Document dialog box.

2 Enter a name for the document.

3 Enter the width and height in pixels.

4 Choose a background color:

- Click Transparent to open a document with no background. Transparency is indicated by a gray and white checkerboard pattern.
- Click White to create a document with a white background.
- Click Custom and double-click the color swatch to display the Color Panel. Drag the sliders or double-click a swatch to choose a color. For more information, see Using the Color panel.

Note: To change the color of the background once the document is created, choose Image> Change Background Color and choose a new color from the Color Panel.

5 Click OK.

# Opening and closing documents

You can open existing e-Picture documents in several ways:

- Click Open in the New Document dialog box, then select the document you want to open.
- Drag and drop the document icon onto the e-Picture application icon.
- Choose File> Open and select the document you want to open.
- Double-click on an e-Picture document.

e-Picture also allows you to import documents in other file formats. See Importing documents.

To switch between open documents:

Click in the document window or choose Window> Documents and choose the document from the list of open documents.

To close a document:

Choose File> Close. All open views of the document are closed.

Note: Clicking the close box closes the individual view of a document. You must use the Close command to close all open views.

# Importing documents

e-Picture imports documents in many of the standard graphics and animation formats. You can also import a sequence of images, for example, you can import images from a 3D modeling program to use in an animation.

Format | Extension | Description
--- | --- | ---
PNG |  |
GIF | .gif |
Animated GIF |  |
JPEG | .jpg |
TIFF | .tif |
Targa |  |
LightWave 3D |  |

Import File Formats

To import a file:

1 Choose File> Import> Image.

2 Select the file you want to open.

To import a sequence:

1 Choose File> Import> Sequence.

2 <<dialog box TBD>>

# Creating and using templates

e-Picture supplies templates that you can customize to create your own documents. You can also make any document into a template. Templates control the height, width, and background color of a document.

To create a document using an existing template:

1 If necessary, choose File> New to display the New Document dialog box.

2 Enter a name for your document.

3 Choose the template from the Template menu.

4 Click OK.

To create your own template:

1 If necessary, choose File> New to display the New Document dialog box.

2 Enter a name for the template.

3 Click New Template.

4 Enter the width and height in pixels.

5 Choose a background color:

- Click Transparent to open a document with no background. Transparency is indicated by a gray and white checkerboard pattern.
- Click White to create a document with a white background.
- Click Custom and double-click the color swatch to display the Color Panel. Drag the sliders or double-click a swatch to choose a color. For more information, see Using the Color panel.

6 Click Open. The new template is added to the template menu. <<TBD>>

To delete a template:

Choose the template from the Template menu in the New Document dialog box and click Delete Template.

# Looking at the e-Picture work area

The e-Picture work area includes the command menus, the canvas area, and several panels that let you create and edit objects, layers, and animation in your e-Picture documents.

# Editing documents

In e-Picture, an image refers to all the open views of a document. You use Image commands to set view mode, canvas size, image size, and background color. Image commands also control the cropping, flipping, and rotation of a document.

## Changing the canvas and image size

In the e-Picture window, the edges of the drawing area, or canvas, are shown by the intersection of two limits. You can change the limits to increase or decrease the canvas size. (Drawing is not limited to within the canvas area. For more information, see Drawing outside the canvas.)

To change the canvas size by dragging:

1 If necessary, unlock the limits by choosing View> Lock Export limits.

2 Select the arrow tool and drag one of the canvas limits.

To change the canvas size to specific dimensions:

1 Choose Image> Canvas Size.

2 Enter the dimensions in the Width and Height boxes.

3 Click a square in the placement box to indicate where to position the existing image on the new canvas. Added canvas appears in the same color as the transparency or background.

## Cropping and resizing an image

When you resize an image, the image scales to fit the new dimensions. Cropping an image deletes the areas outside of the selected area.

To resize an image:

1 Choose Image> Image Size.

2 <<Dialog box TBD>>

To crop an image:

1 Use a selection tool to select the area you want keep.

2 Choose Image> Crop to Selection.

## Changing the background color

The background color of an image is set when you create the document. You can change the background for existing images.

To change the background color:

Choose Image> Change Background Color and select a new color from the Color panel. For more information, see Using the Color panel.

## Flattening and merging images

There will be times when you will want to combine one or more layers in a document, for example, you might need to decrease your file size in order to add additional layers. Merging an image combines all the layers, but the objects retain their individual properties. Flattening an image also combines all the layers but the layers and objects no longer have individual properties. A flattened image is simply a single bitmap.

Warning: Do not flatten images until you are sure you are finished editing them. Saving an image (exporting) in an file format other then e-Picture's .ep format automatically flattens a document.

To merge an image:

Choose Image> Merge Image.

To flatten an image:

Choose Image> Flatten Image.

## Setting view modes

All of the views for a document use the same view mode. By default, documents open in Full View mode, but you can set a different default. See Using views for information on setting individual view options such as magnification and palette.

To set the default opening view mode:

1 Choose File> Preferences >Startup.

2 Choose an view mode from the New Document View Mode menu.

To switch the mode for all views:

1 Choose Image> View Mode and then choose one of the following:

- Full View displays the stroke and fill for all objects.
- Stroke Preview displays the line of the stroke.
- Shape Preview displays an outline of the stroke at the specified width.

# Using views

Each e-Picture document can have up to eight open views. Multiple views are useful, for example, when you want to display an image in different magnifications or with different grids.

When opened, a document appears in Full View view mode, but you can set a different default view mode. To change the default view mode or the current view mode for all open views, see Setting view modes.

To open additional views:

Choose View> New View. A new window opens with the name of the document followed by the view number, for example, My Document: 1.

To switch between views:

Click in the view or choose Window> Viewers and choose the view from the list of open views.

To close a view:

Click the close box or choose View> Close View.

Note: To close all open views, choose File> Close.

To set the Outline option for a view:

Click the Outline box in the lower right corner of the document window or choose View> Outline. The Outline option displays the outline of an object as you pass the cursor over any part of the object.

To set the Overscan option for a view:

Click the Overscan box in the lower right corner of the document window. For more information on using overscan, see Drawing outside the canvas.

## Locking and unlocking the limits

The limits define the edge of the drawing canvas. You can choose to display or hide the limits in each view. You can also choose to allow them to be used for changing the canvas size or to lock them to prevent resizing.

Note: When you change the canvas size in one view, it is changed for all views. Locking the limits means that you cannot change the canvas size by dragging in that specific view.

To display or hide the limits:

Choose View> Export area.

To lock or unlock the limits:

Choose View> Lock Export limits.

## Choosing a palette

Each view can show the image in a different palette. This lets you preview the various palettes that you may use in different browsers.

To change the palette for a view:

Choose View> Palettes and choose a palette option.

Palette | Description
--- | ---
Web216 |
Websnap128 |
Adaptive |
System (BEos) |
System (Macintosh) |
System (Windows) |
Grayscale |
Dithering |

Palette options

To set the view to RGB mode:

Choose View> RGB. This returns the view to 32-bit color.

## Setting rulers, guides and grids

<<Not yet implemented>>

# Magnifying and reducing views

The zoom controls and the zoom tool let you magnify or decrease the display in any view.

To magnify or decrease the display, do one of the following:

- To cycle through the preset magnifications, click the zoom display control in the bottom of the window.
- To increase the magnification to the next preset magnification, click the + zoom control or choose View> Zoom In.
- To decrease the magnification to the next preset magnification, click the - zoom control or choose View> Zoom Out.
- To go directly to a specific preset percentage of magnification, choose from the zoom menu in the bottom left of the document window or choose View> Zoom and choose an option from the menu.
- To increase the magnification in a specific area, click the zoom tool in the toolbox and <<TBD>>
- To make the entire image visible in the window, double-click the hand tool or choose View> Zoom Fit to Window.

To scroll in a magnified view:

Select the hand tool and drag in the window or use the scroll bars.

# Arranging open windows

Each view of a document appears in a separate window. You can easily arrange the display of open windows.

To arrange multiple windows, do one of the following:

- Choose Window> Stack to arrange the windows stacked and cascading from the top left to the bottom right of the screen.
- Choose Window> Tile to display windows edge to edge.
- Choose Window> Tile Vertical to display windows <<??>>

# Working with panels

e-Picture provides several panels to keep frequently used options readily available. You can move, close, and rearrange these panels to provide the best placement for your work patterns. By default, panels appear in the e-Picture format. You can choose to display then in the BeOS format instead.

<<TBD - opening position of panels and if it can be changed>>

To change to BeOS panels:

1 Choose File> Preferences> General & Startup.

2 From the Floating Panels Look menu, choose BeOS Floating Panels.

To display or hide a panel:

Choose the panel name from the Windows menu.

To move a panel:

Drag the panel by its title bar.

To collapse a panel vertically:

Double-click its title bar. Double-click again to open the panel.

To collapse a panel horizontally:

Click the left-pointing triangle at the right edge of the title bar. The panel title bar appears at the edge of the screen with the name visible. To open the panel, click the right-pointing triangle.

# Using the toolbox

The icons in the toolbox represent the tools you use in e-Picture. Click to select a tool. Once a tool is selected, the Tool Inspector changes to display the options for that tool. After you've drawn an object, clicking the object in the Objects panel select it and changes the Tool Inspector to edit mode. For more information, see Selecting objects and Editing with the Tool Inspector.

To move the toolbox:

Drag the toolbox title bar.

To hide the toolbox:

Choose Windows> Toolbox.

# Using the Color panel

When you're drawing or editing objects, you choose colors from the Tool Inspector. When you're choosing background colors or selecting colors for a gradient, you use the Color panel.

Note: The top half of the color box in the Color panel displays the current color; the bottom half displays the nearest web-safe color.

The Color panel uses the same color models found in the Tool Inspector, with the addition of an Extras tab. You use the Extras panel to limit the color selection to web-safe colors. For information on the other color models, see Drawing with a solid color.

# Adjusting monitor gamma

The preference for gamma adjustment lets you calibrate the color balance or your monitor. These setting help you eliminate color casts in your monitor so that the images you create look the same on other monitors and systems.

To adjust the gamma:

1 Make sure your monitor has been on for at least 30 minutes to stabilize the color.

2 Turn off any desktop patterns and change your desktop to a neutral gray so it doesn't interfere with your color perception.

3 Choose File> Preferences> Monitor Gamma Adjustment.

4 Drag the sliders or type in values to adjust the red, green, and blue color channels. To adjust the colors individually, deselect the Link Channels option.

5 Click OK. The new gamma settings take effect the next time your start e-Picture.

# Using plug-in modules

Plug-in modules are software programs developed by other software developers that add features to e-Picture. Some plug-ins come with the program. You can also use plug-ins designed for other programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, with e-Picture.

<<TBD>>

# Setting preferences

A number of program settings are stored in the e-Picture preference file, located in the Home/Configure/Settings/Beatware/e-picture folder. These setting include general display options, startup options, guides and grids options, and Gamma adjustment.

To open a preferences dialog box:

1 Choose File > Preferences and choose the desired preferences from the menu.

2 Select the options you want to change and click OK. Individual preference settings are discussed in their relevant sections.

To restore all preferences to their default settings:

<<TBD>>