User Manual for. Version: copyright by PHOENIX Showcontroller GmbH & Co.KG - Boris Bollinger GERMANY

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1 User Manual fr Versin: cpyright by PHOENIX Shwcntrller GmbH & C.KG - Bris Bllinger GERMANY

2 What s New Versin 2.0 This versin mainly aims t imprve the wrkflw and the utput f the raster image cnversin. The changes include: Rewrked raster image prcessing Image pre-prcessing functins mved frm Trace int Retuch page All image preprcessing visible in the Image preview mde New clr reductin algrithms Median Cut (imprved frm the previus versin) Octree K-Means clr clustering in RBG and Lab mde Detail/Nise reductin cntrl with full preview Image smthing based n Bilateral Filtering algrithm alws t smth the image while retaining the imprtang features Clr inversin replaced by intensity inversin Line fitting ptins in trace page cmbined int tw simple t use sliders Detail ptins still available in the advanced page Edge detectin mde added fr B&W image tracing Applicatin Speedup Applicatin nw incrprates sfisticated caching t prvide a faster feedback when parameters are changed Varius small imprvements in the ptimizatin engine including Dark lines brightening (available in the Advanced Optimizatin dialg) Seite 2

Applicatin Screen Applicatin screen is divided int three sectins. At the left side there is the list f cnverter tabs, each presenting parameters fr a specific cnversin step.

3 Applicatin Screen Applicatin screen is divided int three sectins. At the left side there is the list f cnverter tabs, each presenting parameters fr a specific cnversin step. The current (highlighted) tab is shw in the main area n the right. A tab can be directly selected frm the list r using the navigatin buttns in the bttm sectin. Bttm sectin cntains fllwing buttns: Back and Next Select previus r the next tab in the wizard Quit Terminates the applicatin Preview Opens the preview windw. Aut Update Triggers autmatic update in the preview windw. If selected, any change in a parameter is autmaticaly reflected in the preview windw. Nte: Fr cmplex images, this setting can have a negative impact n the respnsiveness f the applicatin. Seite 3

When the applicatin is started Select Input tab is presented t a user. This tab allws selecting input files that will be prcessed by the applicatin.

4 When the applicatin is started Select Input tab is presented t a user. This tab allws selecting input files that will be prcessed by the applicatin. Select Input Tab First tab lets the user t select the files that will be prcessed in this cnversin. Add Files Open a dialg fr selecting files. It is pssible t select multiple files fr ne cnversin. Add Flder Open a dialg fr flder selectin. Adds all files supprted by the cnverted frm the selected directry. Clear Clears current selectin Imprt Settings This dialg allws yu t select clr palette fr De3 files. This image frmat des cntain nly the clr indexes, nt the actual clr infrmatin. Palette must be therefre supplied externally. Retuch Tab This tab cntrls parameters fr filters that can be applied t raster images befre the Trace stage. Adjustments in these parameters can greatly imprve the quality f the traced utput. Seite 4

Reduce Clrs This ptin enables the clr reductin algrithm. Reducing the number f clrs can imprve the cntur detectin. Set t 0 t disable the clr reductin r specify the desired number f clrs.

5 Reduce Clrs This ptin enables the clr reductin algrithm. Reducing the number f clrs can imprve the cntur detectin. Set t 0 t disable the clr reductin r specify the desired number f clrs. The applicatin prvides different reducing algrithms: Median Cut Octree K-Means clr clustering in RBG mde K-Means clr clustering in Lab mde Each algrithm might give a slightly different selectin f clrs fr every picture. Backgrund Clr Backgrund clr is essential infrmatin fr the image tracing. Usually the applicatin can crrectly detect it. Hwever it is pssible t specify it manually when needed. Reduce Features This sectin cntrls the algrithms that smthen and clean up the raster image f nise and distrtins that might result in a t cmplex r therwise imprperly traced image. First tw sliders cntrl despeckling algrithm. The aim is t smthen areas where nise it nticeable while leaving cmplex areas (thse with significant features) intact. The first slider Seite 5

6 cntrls the amunt f the nise t be remved, while the ther slider cntrls the size f features that shuld be kept. Smth slider affects the pwer f smthing filter. This filter blurs ut the neighbring pixels t reduce verall detail f the image. A bilateral filter is used which has strnger effect n plane areas while preserving detail alng the edges. Cntrast, Saturatin, Brightness As the name suggests, these filters adjust the cmmn image parameters. Cntrast slider allws strengthening r weakening the differences between highlighted and dark areas. Saturatin cntrls the in intensity f clrs and even allws turning the image int B&W. Brightness cntrls the verall intensity f the picture Threshld Filter This filter effectively remves the areas f the picture that has intensity abve r belw the specified threshld. Inverse checkbx cntrls the directin. Invert Intensity When selected, the intensity f all pixels in the in the picture will be inverted. Dark pixel will becme bright while bright pixels will be prprtinally darkened. Trace Tab Optins n this tab cntrl the tracing prcess f the raster images. Algrithms that are applied in this stage attempt t extract vectr base infrmatin frm the raster image. T d s, the image is searched fr cnturs, edges and similar features. When these features are fund an apprximatin prcess maps standard gemetric primitives like lines and splines. Seite 6

Tracing Mde This ptin specifies whether the vectr apprximatin will be placed arund the edges f a fund cntur (effectively frming tw lines arund every edge) r the line can be placed t g thrugh the

7 Tracing Mde This ptin specifies whether the vectr apprximatin will be placed arund the edges f a fund cntur (effectively frming tw lines arund every edge) r the line can be placed t g thrugh the center f the cntur. The last ptin enables the edge detectin algrithm. The detectr is using Canny edge detectr. In this mde the cnverter will prduce B&W image. Fitting Alng the tracing prcess the applicatin generates a set f lines r curves alng the image features. The imprtant part f this prcess is a decisin when t create a crner between tw curves. T many crners result in a well fit vectr representatin, but it may als be t cmplex (in terms f pint cunt) and highlight the imperfectins in the raster image. A fever crners may bring the exact ppsite situatin, when the vectr image is missing the imprtant details f the riginal picture. Once the set f crner pints is defined, the cnverter needs t generate curves that will fit the detected cnturs between crners. Similarly t the ther ptins there is a balance between the exact fitting and the resulting cmplexity. Bth sliders adjust several parameters at nce in few basic steps. It is pssible t fine-tune these parameters in the Advanced dialg. Seite 7

8 Edge Detectin When the Edge detectr mde is used, tw basic parameters are used t cntrl its behavir. First slider cntrls the threshld fr accepting a newly fund edge, while the ther is used when deciding whether t cntinue tracing f an edge t the next pixel r nt. This tracing mde wrks better with sfter preprcessing ptins. Therefre it is suggested t disable clr reductin filter and t use nly smthing filter frm the retuch page. Reset Pressing this buttn will reset all the parameters t the default values. Advanced Optins This dialg prvides sme additinal ptins fr fine-tuning the tracing result. Crners This grup f ptins cntrls the cnditins fr finding crners. Crner is a sharp cnnectin pint between tw splines. Optins here cntrl the threshlds in degrees, number f adjacent pixels t be cnsidered when calculating the angle. In additin it is pssible t cmbine neighbring pixels int ne crner. Seite 8

9 Fitting This sectin cntrls the hw precise will be a cntur fund in the picture apprximated by splines and lines. Similarly t ther parameters this settings needs t be tuned fr the actual picture t get the best balance between fitting and the resulting cmplexity. Errr threshld specifies the maximum deviatin in pixels frm the cntur. Line distance errr and Line curvature errr define the minimum curvature f an arc t be cnsidered a straight line. Iteratin parameter specifies the number f lps that the algrithm will take t find the fitting. Mre iteratin can yield better results, but the cmputatin time will increase accrdingly. Optimize Tab When the vectr representatin f the input file is created either by tracing f a raster picture r by decding a vectr image, it is cnverted t a laser path. During this cnversin, varius ptimizatins are applied t imprve the verall result. Basic ptins are present directly n the wizard tab; mre advance feature can be seen in the advance settings. Clr Palette Only standard ILDA palette is currently supprted. Seite 9

Max Pints This parameter specifies the maximum number f pints n each exprted frame. The applicatin emplys several strategies t achieve this cunt even fr the larger scenes.

10 Max Pints This parameter specifies the maximum number f pints n each exprted frame. The applicatin emplys several strategies t achieve this cunt even fr the larger scenes. At first it tries t remve artificially added anchr pints. If nt sufficient, curves are rendered with a lwer precisin. In case these attempts fail, the frame is simply truncated t the specified amunt. Line Selectin A laser ray cannt reasnable draw an interir f shapes. Every shape is therefre displayed nly as an utline. Line selectin is used t give preference t either brder f fill clr f the rendered shape. Cnsider this square: It has green interir and blue brder. If Prefere Fill is selected, it will be rendered as green. On the ther hand Prefere Outline is selected, it will be blue. The ptin is applicable nly t shapes that have bth fill and utline infrmatin. Otherwise the engine will use the data that is available. Optimize Path This buttn enables algrithms that ptimize the drawing path f laser by rerdering visible segments. Simplify Segments When this ptins is enabled, engine is allwed t remve sme pints frm the input data in rder t decrease the ttal number f pints in the frame. The algrithm can identify thse pint that have the least cntributin t the image detail and remve them first. Anchrs Due t physical limitatins f the laser scanners, it is benefitial t insert a additinal pints as sme key places t limit the pssible defrmatin caused by fast scanner mvement. This ptin enables this feature. Overlays An input image might cntain varius parts/shapes that veraly each ther. Withut verlay prcessing, all these shapes are rendered independently, resulting t an quite unnatural lk. If this Seite 10

11 ptin is enabled, the prgram calculates verlaps between parts and simulates the real-life lk by cutting parts that are nt suppsed t be visible. In additin, this ptin als enables the usage f the verlay mask (which is accessible frm the preview windw). Pint Density This glbal ptins cntrls the default distance between pints in the resulting image. The actual distance can vary dependin the n image, ptimizatins applied and etc. Reset Pressing this buttn will set all the ptimizatin parameters t default values. Seite 11

12 Advanced Optins Advanced ptins dialg allws yu t fine-tune the actual cnversin prcess. The dialg is divided t several sectins, each dealing with a different part f the prcessing. Exprt Single Clr If set, the animatin will be rendered in n predefined clr Exprt RGB Clr Table This ptin has n effect fr PHO exprt. Fr ILDA exprt it adds the RGB sectin t the result file. Seite 12

13 Path Optimizatin The applicatin includes a special algrithm t ptimize the laser fly path by rearranging the visible lines s that the cumulated length f blanked lines is minimal. The algrithm is nt deterministic; therefre it might yield different results each time it is used. The quality slider can be used t adjust the rati between quality and the length f prcessing. Higher quality might yield slightly better results at the cst f prlnged exprt times Jin Nearby Segments This ptin cntrls whether the adjacent segments shuld be merged tgether. Hidden Line Clring This ptin enables a prcessing that can handle the situatin when a black/hidden line is crssing a filled shape. The algrithm is nly experimental and might nt always give gd results. Therefre it is disabled by default. Enable ClipBx When enabled an artificial rectangle is drawn alng the frame brders. As the effect the filled shapes that run utside f the rendering regin are crrectly terminated. Pint Distance Same as the parameter in the main ptimizatin tab. In additin it is pssible t separately define the pint distance fr visible and blank lines Enhance Dark Lines It is quite cmmn that a picture that is being cnverted has sme black r very dark lines. While they might be perfectly visible n a bright backgrund when presented n a screen, they will becme invisible in the laser presentatin. This ptin allws raising the intensity f these lines up t an acceptable level. T disable this ptimizatin, set the value t 0. Anchr Settings T imprve the visual quality f laser drawn image artificial pints are added t varius parts f the laser path. These pints are called anchr pints. Seite 13

14 The picture shws varius parts f the laser fly path. Anchr pints can be added t the beginning f a line, t the ending and at the sharp line crners. Line beginning Blank pints slider specifies number f blanked pints added t the start f a visible line. Blanked pints are fllwed by visible anchr pints. These pints are added t stabilize the laser scanners befre the visible line is shwn. Line ending Similarly t the line beginning, anchr pints can be added t the line ending. Again bth visible and blanked pints are added. Line crners Specifies the angle threshld between tw cnnected lines which frms a crner. Anchr pints can be added t this lcatin t imprve the laser rendering. Exprt Tab The ptins in the last tab cntrl the frmat f exprted animatin. It is pssible t specify either directry r a filename fr the animatin. Seite 14

Multiframe PHO files Each input file will be exprted t a single multi-frame laser animatin Multiple single frame PHO files Every frame will be exprted t a separate file Cmbined PHO animatin Result

15 Multiframe PHO files Each input file will be exprted t a single multi-frame laser animatin Multiple single frame PHO files Every frame will be exprted t a separate file Cmbined PHO animatin Result frm all input files will be merged int a single laser animatin Exprt! Press this buttn t start the actual cnversin. Preview Windw Live preview windw allws seeing the result in varius stages f prcessing withut having t g thrugh the whle exprt prcess. Seite 15

16 Refresh When Aut Update is nt selected, Refresh buttn can be used t refresh the cntent f the preview windw. Preview Type Since the cnversin is perfrmed in several step, the preview windws allws t see the intermediate results fr each significant stage. Image Available nly fr raster inputs, shws the raster image with all the Retuch adjustments applied. Raw Frame Displays the vectr image befre any f the ptimizatins are applied Prcessed Frame (unlimited) Displays the image after all ptimizatin steps, befre the pint reductin is applied. Prcessed Frame (limited) Displays the final image. Seite 16

17 Pint Slider When the slider is nt in the zer psitin, preview shws nly the parts f the image up t the speficied pint. It is useful fr checking the laser fly path. Shw Blank Lines When enabled, hidden lines will be displayed. Shw Pints Highlights the pints n the laser path. File Select the input file t be shwn in the preview windw Frame Select the animatin frame. Overlay Mask Tlbx Buttns n the left side allw t draw an verlay mask ver the picturet remve sme parts frm the exprted animatin. In freehand mde, the mask is cnfirmed by right muse buttn. Seite 17

INSTALLING CCRQINVOICE

INSTALLING CCRQINVOICE Thank yu fr selecting CCRQInvice. This dcument prvides a quick review f hw t install CCRQInvice. Detailed instructins can be fund in the prgram manual. While this may seem like a