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Picture Window Tutorial and White Papers

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To copy an Acrobat file to your disk for later viewing, click on the link to the document with the right mouse button and then select a command from the menu that pops up. If you are using Netscape, use the Save Link As command; if you are using Internet Explorer, use the Save Target As command.

Picture Window Tutorial

Tutorial chapter from the Picture Window electronic manual

This document is a copy of the tutorial chapter from the Picture Window electronic manual, formatted for on-screen display. The tutorial is provided here for use with the free evaluation version of Picture Window and to give an idea of what the electronic manual is like.

Tutorial Sample Image

Downloading this image will let you work along with the tutorial. To save a copy on your computer first click on the image to the left -- when the image is finished loading, click on it using the right mouse button and select the Save Picture As item from the menu that pops up.

White Papers

General Background and Technical Articles

		Basics.pdf The Basics of Digital Images This document explains and illustrates digital images, image types, resolution, color, and other important concepts.
		Glossary.pdf Glossary of Digital Imaging Terms This document defines various terms and concepts used in digital imaging.
		Better Prints.pdf Tips for Making Better Prints This document describes a number of techniques for improving the quality of prints made on inkjet or other printers.
		Scan.pdf Scanners and How to Use Them This document is an advanced tutorial on scanning images with Picture Window.
		Resampling.pdf Image Resizing and Resampling Techniques This document is an advanced tutorial on resizing images with Picture Window.
		Astro.pdf Using Picture Window for Astrophotography Several common situations that come up in astrophotography are addressed in this document: Combining two or more exposures to obtain a single image equivalent to one long exposure. Combining black and white photos taken through red, green, and blue filters to produce a color image. Using a short exposure image to bring out highlight detail washed out in a long exposure image (e.g. in a photo of a globular cluster). Creating a mosaic from two or more overlapping images.
		Extending Film Dynamic Range.pdf Extending the Dynamic Range of Film This document describes how to combine an underexposed and an overexposed image of the same subject to create an image with extended dynamic range.
		Velvia vs Provia 100F.pdf Velvia vs. Provia 100F -- A Digital Perspective This document describes the results of tests comparing scanned images from these two films for resolving power, smooth rendition of blue skies, color rendition and exposure latitude.

Color Blindness Test

Go to this page for a quick test of your color vision.

Picture Window's Tools and Transformations

		Advanced Sharpen.pdf Using the Advanced Sharpen Transformation This document is an advanced tutorial on using the advanced sharpen feature first introduced in Picture Window 3.5.
		Color Balance.pdf Color Balancing Techniques This document is an advanced tutorial on color balancing photographs with Picture Window.
		Color Management.pdf Color Management This document is an advanced tutorial on color management in Picture Window Pro.
		Colorize.pdf Colorizing B&W Photos This document is an advanced tutorial on colorizing black and white photos with Picture Window.
		Dodge and Burn.pdf Dodging and Burning This document is an in-depth tutorial describing a number of different techniques for lightening or darkening images with Picture Window.
		Drop Shadows.pdf Creating Drop Shadows This document describes how to use Picture Window to place offset shadows behind text, rectangles and objects with irregular boundaries.
		Histogram.pdf Using Curves and Histograms This document describes and shows you how to use curves and histograms to adjust brightness, contrast and dynamic range, and how to create a variety of special effects.
		Layout.pdf Using the Layout Transformation This document describes and shows you how to use Picture Window's Layout transformation to create album pages, business cards, ad layouts, etc.
		Mask.pdf Creating and Using Masks This document is an advanced tutorial on the mask feature of Picture Window. It also describes how to use mask tools and transformations. It goes details using masks with the Composite transformation to combine images.
		Register and Distort.pdf Registering and Distorting Images This document describes how to use the Composite transformation to register multiple images of the same subject and how to use the multipoint alignment feature in Picture Window Pro to create freehand distortions of images.
		Retouch.pdf Image Retouching Techniques This document is an advanced tutorial on using Picture Window's freehand retouching tools.
		Sharpen.pdf Sharpening Images This document is an advanced tutorial on sharpening images with Picture Window. See also Advanced Sharpen.pdf above.
		Text Effect.pdf Text Effects This document describes a number of techniques for applying text to images and creating special effects based on text.
		Vignette.pdf How to Vignette This document describes a number of techniques for creating vignettes.