PICDEX VERSION 1.01 FREEWARE 1. OVERVIEW Currently Picdex version 1.01 is a freeware application. It was developed using Delphi 3.01 and is used extensively as a foundation in the development of various customized image processing applications. Its strongest feature is the fact that it is a MDI application which allows you to view and manipulate a number of images in one main window. It can be used simply as an image viewer but it also has a number of special features which make it a truly powerful utility.(See section 3) For those of you developing in Delphi who wish to modify this version of Picdex to suit your own requirements the source code is available. (See section 9) 2. INSTALLATION To install simply unzip the PICDEX.ZIP file and double click on the setup.exe file. The install wizard does most of the hard work and once installation is complete you will have the following files on your system: Picdex.exe (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory) Nviewlib.dll (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory) Readme.txt (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory) _deisreg.isr (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory) _isreg32.dll (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory) Delsl1.isu (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory) Picdex.ini (defaults to the C:\Windows) Note you can now delete all the setup and zip files as they are no longer necessary. To uninstall simply go to the windows Settings | Control Panel and activate the Add/Remove Programs application. Proceed with the removal of Picdex. 3. FEATURES Some of the features of Picdex ver 1.01 are briefly summarized here: * MDI application - can load single or multiple images * Collage creation - assemble a number of individual images and save the collage as a single image * Clipboard aware * Can view a variety of image formats * Can playback .AVI video clips * Standard set of controls with hot keys - Next, Previous, Delete, Close, Close All, Save, Save As, Open and plenty more! * Auto fit to screen (Automatically sizes image to fit screen maintaining aspect ratio) * Magnify / Reduce capability (Zoom in and out using linear interpolation or QuickZoom) * Resize image capability (Enter width and height values) * Crop and Paste functionality * Slide show - adjustable timer allows auto display of a directory of images * Windows association of supported image extensions (Associate the PicDex application with the image extension(s) of your choice in the Explorer and then just double click on the file name to activate) * Right click menu of popular commands * Region of Interest (ROI) aware - using the left mouse button demarcate a Region of Interest on the image, any further manipulation of the image i.e. Zoom, Copy etc. will now effect only the demarcated area. * All user settings from the last working session are recalled i.e. Directory, Zoom Factor, JPG quality factor etc. Most of these can be set from the ‘Settings’ menu item. 4. KEYBOARD COMMANDS Besides the main menu and the Right Mouse Click PopUp Menu the following hot keys are available: * F1 - Show About Information * F2 - Save Image * F3 - Load Image(s) * F4 - Save Image As * F5 - Fit Image to Screen * F6 - Crop demarcated area * F7 - Restore original Image * F8 - Move Image to Home position * F9 - Activate Slideshow * F11 - Zoom In (Magnify Image) * F12 - Zoom Out (Reduce Image) * Space bar or up arrow key - Displays next image * BackSpace or down arrow key Displays previous image * Pg Dn | Pg Up | -> | <- - Moves image down,up,right and left respectively * Cntrl + Tab - Toggle between images * Cntrl + Ins - Copy * Shift + Ins - Paste * Del - Delete Image (NB deletes image does not post to Recycle Bin) * Ins - Display next image without closing current image * Alt + F3 - Close Image * Alt + F4 - Exit Application * Alt + F5 - Close All Images * Cntrl + M - Create Collage Canvas (see section 6) * Cntrl + P - Paste to Collage Canvas (see section 6) * Cntrl + I - Invert Image * Cntrl + R - Rotate Image 90 degrees 5. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Picdex has been tested on both Windows 95 and Windows NT 4. Although not necessary Picdex works best in a 800x600 graphics resolution with a Color Palette set at 24 bit True Color. 6. TIPS When using Picdex one can either load a batch of images at once and then toggle through the selection using the Cntrl + Tab keys or select the first image in the directory and hit the space bar to display the next image. Note pressing the space bar first closes the active image and then displays the next image. If you wish to retain the active image press the INS key - this displays the next image with out closing the current image. Using the Windows95 explorer I have associated most image extensions with the Picdex application. This allows one to double click on an image file name in the Explorer and quickly view the image using the Picdex application. ROI - Region Of Interest: Demarcating a region of interest on an image is undertaken simply by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the mouse accordingly. Once you have demarcated an area you can apply one of the available image processing operations to it for example Zoom In, Invert , Rotate etc. This will take effect on the demarcated region. Try the Copy and Paste functions - only the ROI will be pasted to the New Image. Collage Creation: I often come across the situation that I have a number of smaller images that I would like to arrrange on one canvas and save as a single image. For this I have implemented a utility that enables one to create a collage from a number of individual images. To do this select the images that you wish to use in your collage comp- ilation. Then press the Collage Canvas speed button (CC on the ToolBar or look in the main menu under File) in order to create a background canvas on which to paste your individual images.(Note if you go to the settings dialog box you can set the background of the Collage canvas to your preference.) Now use the Cntrl +Tab key to switch to the image of your choice, demarcate an area on this image or just select the whole image and then press the Collage Paste button (CP on the ToolBar or use the PopUp menu). The Collage Canvas now appears and you can position your image anywhere on this canvas by moving the mouse. At the desired location left click the mouse button and the image will be anchored at that location. Continue this process until all the single images have been placed upon the Collage Canvas and then save the collage as a BMP or JPG. Remember to use the Pg Dn , Pg Up , -> , <- to move an image or even the Collage Canvas itself if necessary. 7. FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS A number of enhancements are to be made to this version of Picdex namely : * The collage creation utility will be refined with a lot of additional extras i.e. text insertion, borders etc. * The playback of video clips will be enhanced - better controller * More color image processing operations will be included * Thumbnail creation * Refinement of the slideshow selection * Batch delete/move capability * Help menu Any suggestions will be welcome 8. CREDITS Thanks go to K. Nishita for writing the excellent NviewLib.dll. 9. DEVELOPERS DETAILS Author of Picdex - George Vrahimis Email address - GVR@MSI.IMT.ZA Mail Address - 26 Harry De Stadler Close Fish Hoek 7975 South Africa For those of you who are working in Delphi and wish to adapt this version of Picdex according to your own requirements the complete source code is available at a cost of US$5. Note the decoding of the image formats is done by the NviewLib.dll. If there is a demand for a customized version of Picdex please email me with your request.