Page 2 - Support; Idea and Concept: Harald Heim
Copyright © 2012-2014 by Harald Heim & The Plugin Site Support Web site: http://thepluginsite.com E-mail: http://www.thepluginsite.com/about/contact.htm User Forum: http://www.thepluginsite.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=26 Credits Idea and Concept: Harald Heim Framework Code: Harald Heim, Alex Hunte...
Page 3 - Contents; ColorStyler Manual
Contents 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Description............................................................................................................................1...
Page 5 - Introduction; Description; Overview
1 Introduction 1.1 Description ColorStyler provides impressive photo effects, recreates traditional color film effects and gives your photos a specialstyle. It features more than 20 effect types and 600 presets as well as plenty of masking options for applying the effect toonly selected areas of a p...
Page 6 - Compatibility; Adobe Lightroom
1.2 Compatibility ColorStyler works under Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 (32-bit & 64-bit) and MacOS X (10.4 and higher). ColorStylersupports RGB images with 8-bit and 16-bit per channel. The Standalone Version for Windows runs on its own and does not need another application. For details on itss...
Page 9 - Supported Image Formats; Saving
1.3 Supported Image Formats The Standalone/Lightroom version supports the following image formats: Saving JPEG (8-bit/channel only) • TIFF (8-bit and 16-bit/channel) • PNG (8-bit and 16-bit/channel) • PSD (8-bit/channel only) • Opening BMP (8-bit/channel only) • Camera RAW including DNG (16-bit/chan...
Page 12 - Installation; Installing the Plugin Version under Windows; Method 1: Using Plugin Installer
1.4 Installation 1.4.1 Installing the Plugin Version under Windows Method 1: Using Plugin Installer After running the installer and choosing your installation language keep clicking the Next button. At some point during theinstallation you will arrive at the "Choose Destination Location" dia...
Page 14 - Installation in Lightroom 1.x under Windows
1.4.4 Installation in Lightroom 1.x under Windows While the installation automatically adds ColorStyler to Version 2 and higher of Lightroom, Version 1 of Lightroom requiresmanual installation as described below. Please note that of Lightroom 1.x only supports one external editor, which meansthat yo...
Page 15 - Product Launch; Running the Plugin
1.5 Product Launch 1.5.1 Running the Plugin Run your image processing application of choice, e.g. Photoshop, and open an image file. To launch ColorStyler pleaseopen the menu that leads to the plugin filters (e.g. the Filter menu in Photoshop and Elements, the Image > Plug-ins menuin Paint Shop P...
Page 17 - General Usage; The Main Dialog; Changing the Window Size
1.6 General Usage This page describes ColorStyler's general features, most of these features are the same in all PhotoWiz products. If youare familiar with these features you can move on to the next section of the manual. 1.6.1 The Main Dialog Changing the Window Size Under Windows you can move the ...
Page 18 - The Main Tab Control
In the top left corner above the preview you can see a menu bar with different menu items. Click on them to display theappropriate menu. For more information see the Menu Bar page . Preview Tab Control There are three tab buttons above the preview box called Preview 1, Preview 2 and Preview 3. These...
Page 19 - Sliders; The Bottom Tab Control; Preview Check Box and Progress Bar; Zoom
Sliders Sliders are one of the most important types of controls. They can be used to select a certain value within a specific valuerange. You can drag the slider button with the mouse (or arrow keys or mouse wheel), enter a numerical value in the textbox at the right hand side of the slider bar, cli...
Page 22 - Standalone/Lightroom Features; Opening Images
1.7 Standalone/Lightroom Features This section discusses the features that are only available in the Standalone and Lightroom versions of ColorStyler. 1.7.1 Opening Images The Lightroom version of ColorStyler does not let you open any images. You need to select the images in Lightroombefore running ...
Page 23 - RAW Settings
1.7.2 RAW Settings When opening camera RAW files with the Standalone version, the Options dialog shows up by default. If you do not wantthat, please activate the "Don't Display" check box. You can then still change these settings from the File menu. You canalso access this dialog from the Sa...
Page 26 - Color Management
You can also choose image formats and options (see Save Options above), an output folder and a suffix that will beappended to the file name. Clicking on the Choose button displays a folder selection dialog, which also offers an option forcreating new folders. If you only want to convert the image(s)...
Page 27 - Metadata and Auto Rotation
1. Your monitor supports a color space other than sRGB and you have set the appropriate profile at Start > Control Panel> Display > Settings > Advanced > Color Management. For example, if your monitor is an Adobe RGB monitor and youhave set the Adobe RGB profile at the mentioned locat...
Page 28 - Step By Step Guide
1.8 Step By Step Guide 1.8.1 Sample Workflow 1 (Easy Mode) 1. Run ColorStyler. 2. If you are not already in Easy Mode , use the Mode combo box to switch to it. 3. Click on the Reset button to deactivate any existing effects. 4. Scroll down the preset list and have a look at the various presets. To e...
Page 32 - General Features; The Menu Bar
2 General Features 2.1 The Menu Bar ColorStyler's menu bar is located between the Preview tab button and the tool icons above the preview. The ColorStylerplugin offers four menus. The Standalone version provides an additional File menu, which is discussed on the Standalone/Lightroom Features page. T...
Page 35 - The Cross Tool
The slider or curve point, which you change while dragging, is selected depending on the mode of the eye dropper tooland the clicked pixels in the preview. To select one of these modes hold down the mouse button over the eyedropper icona bit longer than usual. Then a menu for choosing one of these f...
Page 36 - The Brush Tool
2.2.4 The Brush Tool The brush tool lets you draw brush strokes on the preview for defining which image areas will be affected by ColorStylerand which only partially or not at all. To activate the brush tool click on the brush icon above the preview. In this case thetab sheet with the brush controls...
Page 37 - The Split View Tool; The Reset Button
to apply the current settings and lock the last brush stroke. You can then change the settings for the next brush strokewithout modifying the last one. If you do not like your last brush stroke, you can remove it with the Remove button. The Mask bar allows to switch off masking and draw normal brush...
Page 39 - Help
2.4 The Bottom Tab Sheets 2.4.1 Help The Help sheet is located at the right bottom of the ColorStyler window. This feature was built in to make it easier forbeginners to get started and makes it possible to use ColorStyler without having to refer to the manual. When you moveyour mouse over a certain...
Page 40 - Prefs; On Start Up; Language
When moving the mouse over the preview, the color below the cursor is shown in the color box of the Info tab sheet.Additionally the color is shown as RGB and HSL values. The x and y values represent the image coordinates of the pixelwhose color is shown. For images with 16-bit/channel the color valu...
Page 42 - Instant Preview
Anti-Aliased Curve With the Anti-Aliased Curve check box activated the curve on the Main tab sheet looks thicker and smoother. Otherwise it is drawn as a sharper but jagged 1-pixel line. Instant Preview If the Instant Preview check box is activated, the preview is updated while you drag a slider. In...
Page 43 - Histo Tab Sheet; Controls
2.5 Histo Tab Sheet ColorStyler offers various types of histograms. Basically histograms don't show anything you can't see in the image itself ifyou know where to look and look really closely. But histograms have the advantage that they are more structured than theimage itself, so they let you recog...
Page 44 - RGB Histogram
RGB Histogram You can use the RGB histogram to see if there are blown highlights or cutoff shadows in an image. Blown highlights canbe identified by a high spike on the right side whereas cutoff shadows are represented by a high spike on the left side.The higher and wider the spike is, the more info...
Page 47 - Smart Filtering
2.6 Smart Filtering Smart filtering means that you can readjust the settings of a filter without undoing previous operations, reopening theoriginal image or creating a new layer. It currently only works in Photoshop CS3 and higher. Before you can apply ColorStyler as a smart filter, you have to turn...
Page 48 - Batch Processing; Batch Processing in Photoshop; Recording an action with ColorStyler:
2.7 Batch Processing 2.7.1 Batch Processing in Photoshop Photoshop offers a Batch feature on its File > Automate menu. This feature lets you batch process a series of images withthe help of a Photoshop action. So if you want to batch process images in Photoshop you only need to record an actionth...
Page 49 - Batch processing a series of images with ColorStyler:
Batch processing a series of images with ColorStyler: 1. Open one of the images from the image series. 2. Select File > Automate > Batch. 3. In the Batch dialog make sure that your ColorStyler action is selected. 4. Set the other batch options and click OK to run it. You can record a new actio...
Page 50 - Batch Processing in Paint Shop Pro; Recording a PSP script with ColorStyler:
2.7.2 Batch Processing in Paint Shop Pro Paint Shop Pro (Version 8 and higher) offers a Process feature on the File > Batch menu for batch processing a series ofimages with the help of a PSP script. Recording such a script is quite easy. Recording a PSP script with ColorStyler: 1. Open an image i...
Page 51 - Batch Processing in Other Applications
4. Set the other batch options and click on the Start button to run it. You need to record a new script for every ColorStyler effect that you want to apply during batch processing. You can create a collection of scripts with various ColorStyler effects and use these scripts as you need. If you want ...
Page 52 - Key Shortcuts; CTRL and Z
2.8 Key Shortcuts ColorStyler lets you use a few key shortcuts for performing certain tasks. Advanced users prefer using key shortcuts asthey help to achieve some tasks much faster. Please note: If the input focus is in the preset list you can use the A to Z keys to choose the next preset that start...
Page 53 - If you are using a German keyboard layout:; Shift and Ö
If you are using a German keyboard layout: Ö Increase the brush size # Decrease the brush size Shift and Ö Increase the brush hardness Shift and # Decrease the brush hardness ColorStyler Manual 49
Page 54 - Effect Controls; Modes; Modes Workflow; Easy Mode
3 Effect Controls 3.1 Modes ColorStyler features four modes: Easy Mode, Quick Edit Mode, Photography Mode and Advanced Mode. Easy Modeoffers a list of presets and displays one or more controls for further adjusting the effect of the preset. Quick Edit Modeprovides several controls for adjusting the ...
Page 55 - Quick Edit Mode; Photography Mode
If you right click on the preset list you will see a menu with the names of all effects of the preset. Clicking on one of theseitems displays the effect controls in Advanced Mode. For more information see the Preset tab sheet page. 3.1.3 Quick Edit Mode Quick Mode offers sliders for general and sele...
Page 56 - Advanced Mode
Photography mode consists only of presets that are sorted into a dozen combo boxes. Each combo box offers many itemsfor adding a predefined effect, a so-called preset, to the image. This way you can add up multiple effects at the same timeto an image. The presets of one combo box override each other...
Page 57 - Presets Tab Sheet; The Preset List
3.2 Presets Tab Sheet The Presets tab sheet lets you select among five hundred presets sorted into more than 20 groups. When the Combinecheck box is activated, you can also combine presets for even more choices. 3.2.1 The Preset List The preset list occupies the main part of the Preset tab sheet. It...
Page 58 - Adjusting the Preset List
3.2.2 Adjusting the Preset List Clicking the arrow-down button above the preset list displays a menu with options for opening and saving presets and foradjusting the look of the preset list. The Thumbnail, Icons and List options let you choose between different list modes. The Thumbnails option appl...
Page 59 - Opening and Saving Presets
3.2.3 Opening and Saving Presets Apart from the preset list option on the arrow-down menu of the Preset tab sheet there are also options for opening andsaving presets. ColorStyler supports two types of preset files. CSP files are native ColorStyler files that can contain all of ColorStyler'seffect s...
Page 61 - Collapsing Preset Groups and Making the Preset List Larger
3.2.6 Collapsing Preset Groups and Making the Preset List Larger The -/+ button is only available if the combo box is set to "Show All". It lets you collapse and expand all preset groups.After collapsing all groups you can expand individual groups by clicking the group header. If you only ha...
Page 62 - Main Tab Sheet; The Curve Diagram
3.3 Main Tab Sheet The Main tab sheet contains a curve tool and sliders for adjusting the brightness, contrast, color and saturation of thewhole image. Click on the sub tab bar at the top of the tab sheet to switch between different control groups. The arrow-down buttondisplays a menu with various p...
Page 64 - RGB
The Intensity slider increases or decreases amplitude of the curve and the intensity of the controls on the Color sub tab.It influences both the black curve as well as the other sliders below the curve. Slider values below zero make the redoutput curve move towards the base line thus decreasing the ...
Page 65 - Saturation
The Exposure slider works similarly to the Color slider, but creates a more extreme effect. 3.3.5 Saturation The Saturation sub tab can be used to change the saturation of the image. Normally a certain saturation value is transformed into another saturation value according to the curve. If you activ...
Page 66 - Select Tab Sheet; Tonal Controls
3.4 Select Tab Sheet The Select tab sheet of Advanced Mode offers two sets of controls for selectively adjusting the brightness, contrast, hueand saturation of image areas that have a certain color in the original image. These controls can help to fine-tune theresult of the general adjustment on the...
Page 67 - Color Controls
3.4.2 Color Controls With the Controls combo box set to "Color" you will see eight color boxes at the top of the tab sheet. Each of these colorboxes has six sliders assigned to them. Clicking on a color box displays the sliders that belong to it. So while the Tonalcontrols apply a selected t...
Page 68 - FX1 Tab Sheet; Filter; Color Warmth
3.5 FX1 Tab Sheet The Colorize tab sheet of Advanced Mode offers effects for colorizing the image, adjusting its contrast and for addingcolor gradient and neutral gradient effects. It simulates traditional lens filters as well as supplies special color effects. Click on the sub tab bar at the top of...
Page 69 - Colorshift
3.5.2 Colorshift The Colorshift effect creates drastic color changes by remixing the color channels. The Type combo box offers differenteffect types. The Classic option produces less saturated color shift effects and misses the three bottom sliders. TheEnhanced option allows more versatile effects w...
Page 70 - Grad
3.5.3 Grad The Grad effect applies a colored gradient to the image. You can choose the type of gradient that you want from theGradient combo box. You can choose between a linear and circular gradient and between one, two or three colors. Twocolors means that one color will start from the top of the ...
Page 72 - FX2 Tab Sheet; Diffusion
3.6 FX2 Tab Sheet The FX2 tab sheet offers even more effects for enhancing the look of the image. There are diffusion, glow, vignette,paper, grain and frame effects. Click on the sub tab bar at the top of the tab sheet to switch between different control groups. The arrow-down buttondisplays a menu ...
Page 73 - Halo; Glow; Vignette
3.6.2 Halo The Halo sub tab offers two effects that cover some parts of the image with a color layer with soft borders. Glow The Glow effect makes certain image areas glow with a certain color. This color is white by default, but you can alsochange it by clicking in the color box. The Intensity slid...
Page 74 - Detail; Paper
3.6.3 Detail Paper The Paper effect increases the local contrast of the image pixels, which simulates printing on more glossy paper. TheIntensity slider activates the effect and amplifies it. The Gloss slider controls how wide the spreading of the effect is.Lower slider values reveal more details in...
Page 75 - Frame
3.6.4 Frame The Frame effect adds rectangular or square frames around the image. The frame is placed inside the image, so it hidesa part of it. The Frame consists of three elements: outside, middle border and inside. The Outside slider sets the size of the outerframe part, the Border slider adjusts ...
Page 76 - Mask Tab Sheet; Brush; The Method Combo Box
3.7 Mask Tab Sheet The Mask tab sheet of Advanced Mode offers control for the brush tool, various tonal and gradient-based masking optionsas well as options for adjusting the overall ColorStyler effect. Click on the sub tab bar at the top of the tab sheet to switch between different control groups. ...
Page 77 - Tonal Masking
Tonal Masking The Tonal method contains three options for creating masks based on brightness, color and saturation values of the image. You can use all three groups at the same time or only one. Each group contains an Invert slider, which makesmasked areas unmasked and vice versa. The Brightness gro...
Page 79 - Fade
3.7.3 Fade The controls on the Fade sub tab have an influence on all other effects in ColorStyler. It is the final processing step that isperformed after all other effects. Unlike the Fade command in Photoshop, these controls also allow you to amplify theeffect and not only fade it. The Main Intensi...
Page 80 - Copyright © 2012-2013 by Harald Heim & The Plugin Site
Copyright © 2012-2013 by Harald Heim & The Plugin Site ColorStyler Manual 76