Table of Contents What is Virtual Painter?...1 Seeing is Believing...1 About this Guide...4 System Requirements...5 Installing Virtual Painter 4...5 Registering Your Software...7 Getting Help and Technical Support...7 Accessing the Virtual Painter 4 Filters...8 Getting to Know the Virtual Painter 4 Dialog...9 Applying a Virtual Painter 4 Filter to a Photo...9 Selecting a Filter...10 Selecting a Material...13 Making Filter Adjustments...15 Using Virtual Painter 4 A Tutorial...20
Virtual Painter 4 Getting Started Guide What is Virtual Painter? Virtual Painter is a collection of 16 filters that allow you to create digital paintings from your digital photos. installing the Virtual Painter software (via the CD or the downloaded file), you can access the filters just like you would any other Paint Shop Pro filter. Applying a filter to your photo is easy: choose the filter, choose the canvas material, make filter adjustments, and then click the OK button. In less than a minute you can create unique, interesting, and eye-catching digital paintings. Seeing Is Believing Shown below and on the next three pages are examples of each Virtual Painter 4 filter. Watercolor Oil Painting 1
Gouache Color Pencil Pastel Rectangles 2
Triangles Impasto Pointillism Silk Screen 3
Collage Drawing About this Guide The information in this guide is specific to using Virtual Painter 4 with Jasc Paint Shop Pro. If you are installing these plug-in filters for use in another image editing application that supports Adobe compatible filters, refer to that host application s Help system or other software documentation for installation and usage instructions. 4
System Requirements installing Virtual Painter 4, ensure your computer meets or exceeds the following requirements: Windows 98 / NT4 SP6a / 2000 / ME / XP Pentium or equivalent processor (Pentium II or better recommended) 32 Mbytes RAM (64 Mbytes or more recommended) 7 Mbytes free hard disk space 8-bit/256 color display adapter at 800 x 600 resolution (24-bit at higher resolution recommended) Jasc Paint Shop Pro or another image editing application that supports Adobe compatible plug-in filters Installing Virtual Painter 4 Follow the instructions below to install Virtual Painter 4 from the CD or from the electronic software download (ESD). From the CD: Insert the Virtual Painter 4 CD into your computer s CD/DVD drive. a brief pause, the Install Shield Wizard will start up. From the ESD: downloading the Virtual Painter 4 ESD file (called vpr4esd.exe) from Jasc s Web site, double click the file. a brief pause, the Install Shield Wizard will start up. 5
1. Click Next to begin the installation process. 2. When you get to the Custom Setup page of the installation Wizard, you ll see that, by default, the filters will be installed to Paint Shop Pro s Plug-ins folder. Do one of the following: If you are installing the filters for use with Paint Shop Pro, simply click Next to proceed to the next Wizard page. If you want to install the filters in a different folder (because, for example, you re not using Paint Shop Pro), click the Change button to the right of the listed path and then navigate to the desired installation folder. When you return to the Custom Setup Wizard page, click Next. 6
3. When you get to the Ready to Install the Program page of the installation Wizard, click Install to place the Virtual Painter 4 files onto your computer. Registering Your Software When the Virtual Painter 4 installation is completed, you ll have the option of registering your copy over the Internet. We strongly encourage you to do this as registration entitles you to free Jasc technical support, as well as upgrade notifications and other important information. Getting Help and Technical Support Using the Online Help Virtual Painter 4 includes its own Help system (it is separate from the Paint Shop Pro Help system). To access the Virtual Painter Help system, click the Help button on any Virtual Painter 4 dialog. Contacting Jasc Software Technical Support If the Virtual Painter 4 Help system does not provide the assistance you need, contact Jasc Software using any of the following methods: 7
Contact Method Address or Number E-mail techsup@jasc.com Web site http://www.jasc.com/support Technical Support telephone (952) 930-9171 Customer Service telephone (800) 622-2793 Fax (952) 930-9172 Mail Jasc Software, Inc. 7905 Fuller Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344-2697 USA Accessing the Virtual Painter 4 Filters With an image open, choose Effects > Plug-ins > Virtual Painter > Virtual Painter 4. The Virtual Painter 4 dialog appears. The dialog is somewhat like its own application running inside Paint Shop Pro. 8
Get to Know the Virtual Painter 4 Dialog The graphic below points out the main elements of the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. Applying a Virtual Painter 4 Filter to a Photo Here are the basic steps required to apply a filter to a photo. 1. In Paint Shop Pro, open the photo to which you want to apply a Virtual Painter filter. 2. Choose Effects > Plug-ins > Virtual Painter > Virtual Painter 4. The Virtual Painter 4 dialog, shown above, will appear. A thumbnail of your original photo appears on the right side of the dialog, and a larger preview (with the current filter applied) appears on the easel. 3. Choose a filter in one of two ways: Select Filter button: Click the Select Filter button. This displays the Filter dialog, where you can see a preview of the image with each filter. A filter description appears on the right side of the dialog. 9
Filter menu: Choose the desired filter from the Filter menu. 4. Choose a background material (texture) in one of two ways: Select Material button: Click the Select Material button. This displays the Material dialog, where you can see a sample of each material, as well as select from one of many print sizes. Material menu: Choose the desired material from the Material menu. Be aware, however, that you cannot set the filter s Print size option in the Material menu; this can only be done in the Material dialog. 5. If necessary, adjust the way in which the filter is applied to your photo in one of two ways: Adjust Technique button: Click the Adjust Technique button. This displays the Adjust dialog, allowing you to set five filter parameters. Adjust menu: From the Adjust menu, choose the parameter and its associated setting. 6. Click OK to close the Virtual Painter 4 dialog, apply the filter, and return to Paint Shop Pro. Selecting a Filter You can select a filter for your image by clicking the Select Filter button, or by choosing the desired filter from the Filter menu. 10
Clicking the Select Filter Button 1. In the Virtual Painter 4 dialog (shown on a previous page), click the Select Filter button located on the dialog s right side. The Filter dialog appears, displaying a small preview of the original image with each filter applied. 2. Hold the cursor over any filter preview to display details about that filter. 3. To select a filter, click the desired preview box. This closes the Filter dialog and returns you to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. The selected filter will be shown in the preview. 4. To close the Filter dialog without making any changes, click the Cancel button in the dialog s lower right corner, or click the Close button in the upper right corner of the dialog s title bar. 5. To view the Help information about filter selection, click the Help button in the dialog s lower right corner. 11
Note: To view larger previews of each filter as they are applied to your original image, resize the Filter dialog by dragging its edges. You can also click the Maximize button (located in the upper right corner of the dialog s title bar) to fill your entire screen. Using the Filter Menu 1. In the Virtual Painter 4 dialog (shown on a previous page), click the Filter menu. 2. Click the desired filter from the list. This closes the Filter dialog and returns you to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. The selected filter will be shown in the preview. 12
Selecting a Material The Virtual Painter materials are essentially background textures onto which your filter will be applied. You can select a material for your image by clicking the Select Material button, or by choosing the desired material from the Material menu. Clicking the Select Material Button 1. In the Virtual Painter 4 dialog (shown on a previous page), click the Select Material button located on the dialog s right side. The Material dialog appears, displaying a small preview of each material. 2. Hold the cursor over any material preview to display its name. 3. choosing a material, you may want to set the desired Print size from the drop list on the dialog s right side. In most cases, choosing Screen produces quality output. But be aware of the following points: The drop list contains a wide variety of sizes. For example, if you intend to print on postcard-size paper, choose Postcard. 13
If you select Master, the resolution will be whatever is set in the master application (Paint Shop Pro). Virtual Painter creates paintings at the optimum resolution for the chosen output size. 4. To select a material, click the desired preview box. This closes the Material dialog and returns you to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. The selected material will be shown in the preview. 5. To close the Material dialog without making any changes, click the Cancel button in the dialog s lower right corner, or click the Close button in the upper right corner of the dialog s title bar. 6. To view the Help information about material selection, click the Help button in the dialog s lower right corner. Note: To view larger previews of each material, resize the Material dialog by dragging its edges. You can also click the Maximize button (located in the upper right corner of the dialog s title bar) to fill your entire screen. Using the Material Menu 1. In the Virtual Painter 4 dialog (shown on a previous page), click the Material menu. 14
2. Click the desired material from the list. This closes the Filter dialog and returns you to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. The selected material will be shown in the preview. Note: You can only set the Print size option via the Materials dialog as described in the previous section. Making Filter Adjustments Virtual Painter allows you to adjust five properties of the current filter. Each of the five properties can be set to three degrees of expression in Easy mode or to a more precise range of expression in Expert mode. Any set of adjustments can be saved for use on subsequent images. You can make filter adjustments either through the Adjust dialog (displayed by clicking the Adjust Technique button), or through the Adjust menu. 15
Easy Mode vs. Expert Mode By default, adjustments are made in Easy mode, which consists of three settings: Normal, Subtle, and Intense. Here is an example: For more precise adjustments, switch to Expert mode by clicking the Easy/Expert mode toggle button located along the bottom of the Adjust dialog: Expert mode allows you to set any property from a value of 0 (least amount of adjustment) to 100 (greatest amount of adjustment). Here is an example: Note: The Easy mode s Subtle setting is equal to a setting of 10 in Expert mode, Normal is equal to 50, and Intense is equal to 90. 16
Clicking the Adjust Technique Button 1. In the Virtual Painter 4 dialog (shown on a previous page), click the Adjust Technique button located on the dialog s right side. The Adjust dialog appears, displaying a preview of the image with the current filter and material applied. 2. On the right side of the dialog there are five properties you can adjust: Material: sets the degree to which the background texture is applied. Rendering: sets the degree of rendering for the overall effect. Coloration: sets the intensity of the colors. Deformation: sets the degree to which image elements are deformed. 17
Focus: sets the degree of differentiation between the perceived subject of the image and the image background. (Refer to step 4 for details on manual focus points.) If you re in Easy mode (refer to the Easy Mode vs. Expert Mode section above), click the drop list for each property and choose the desired option (your options are Subtle, Normal, or Intense). If you re in Expert mode, drag the slider to the desired level of adjustment. 3. Optionally, you can enhance the effect of properties set to Intense (or to 90 or higher in Expert mode) by creating your own focus points around a desired portion of the image. To create a focus point: Move the cursor into the Adjust dialog s image preview area the cursor shape changes to a pen; Hold down the left mouse button and drag around the desired areas (you can create up to eight focus points); When you release the mouse button, the shape will snap to an ellipse, and the area inside the ellipse will be a focus point; Using the mouse you can move, stretch, shrink, and rotate the ellipse as needed; To remove a focus point, drag it outside the preview area and release the mouse button when the Trash bin icon appears. 4. To save a set of adjustments for subsequent use on another image: 18
Click the Save button located along the bottom of the Adjust dialog; In the standard Save As dialog that appears, navigate to where you d like to save the settings file; In the File name field, type a name for the settings file and then click Save. This returns you to the Adjust dialog. 5. To go ahead with the adjustments, click the OK button. This closes the Adjust dialog and returns you to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. 6. To close the Adjust dialog without making any changes, click the Cancel button in the dialog s lower right corner, or click the Close button in the upper right corner of the dialog s title bar. 7. To view the Help information about filter adjustments, click the Help button in the dialog s lower right corner. Applying a Saved Set of Adjustments To apply a saved set of adjustments to another image: 1. Click the Open button located along the bottom of the Adjust dialog. 2. In the standard Open dialog that appears, navigate to where the settings file resides. 3. Double click the settings file, or highlight it and then click Open. This returns you to the Adjust dialog and instantly applies the settings. 19
Using the Adjust Menu 1. In the Virtual Painter 4 dialog (shown on a previous page), click the Material menu. 2. Click the desired adjustment property from the list, and then click the desired setting from the submenu as shown above. Note: Using the Adjust menu only allows for the three Easy mode adjustments. Refer to the section Easy Mode vs. Expert Mode above for more information. Using Virtual Painter 4 A Tutorial In this basic tutorial, you will open an image and apply a Virtual Painter 4 filter. Open the Image 1. In Paint Shop Pro, choose File > Open, or click the Open button on the Standard toolbar. 2. Navigate to Paint Shop Pro s Sample Images folder and open the image Flower.jpg. 20
Start Up Virtual Painter 4 3. Choose Effects > Plug-ins > Virtual Painter > Virtual Painter 4. The Virtual Painter 4 dialog appears with the flower image shown in the dialog s preview easel with the most recent (or default) filter, material, and adjustment settings applied. Choose a Filter 4. In the Virtual Painter dialog, click the Select Filter button. This displays the Filter dialog. 5. Click the Drawing preview. This takes you back to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog, where you ll now see this filter applied on the image preview easel. Choose a Material 6. Click the Select Material button. This displays the Material dialog. 7. Click the Canvas (Fine) material preview. This takes you back to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog, where you ll 21
now see this material applied on the image preview easel. Adjust the Filter Settings 8. Click the Adjust Technique button. This displays the Adjust dialog. Using the dialog s Easy mode, make the following filter property settings: Set Material to Subtle. Set Rendering to Subtle. Set Colors to Intense. Set Deformation to Normal. Set Focus to Intense. 9. Click OK to apply these adjustments and return to the Virtual Painter 4 dialog. Apply the Filter and Close Virtual Painter 4 10. You are ready to apply the Virtual Painter 4 filter to the image. To do so, click OK. This returns you to Paint Shop Pro. The Flower image should now look like this: 22