Regensburg, 23. May 2000


PhotoTiger is a program for editing digital photos and pictures.

To run PhotoTiger you need a PC with OS/2 Warp 4
Graphics:	Required: 8 bit Color (16 bit recommended)
            Required resolution 800*600 pixel (1280*1024 recommended)
Memory:     Required: 32MB RAM (64MB recommended)
            And a lot of free swapspace on the harddisk.
CPU:        Required: 386 (586 recommended)


PhotoTiger supports 1, 8, and 24 bit pictures. PhotoTiger can load and save pictures in the following file formats:
- BMP (1, 8, 24 bits)
- JPEG (8, 24 bits)
- IMG (1 bits)
- PNG (1,8,24 bits)
- PNM (1,8,24 bits, only loading)

Most of the tools and actions in PhotoTiger need 8 bit gray or 24 bit color pictures. If you want to edit a 1 bit or a 8 bit color picture, PhotoTiger has to convert it.

PhotoTiger supports passive Drag and Drop. You can drag a picture file into the main window or into a picture window. If PhotoTiger is able to load the picture file, a new picture window will be created.

To run PhotoTiger, you only need the file PHOTO251.EXE. You can copy the program file on your harddisk wherever you want. PhotoTiger writes a configuration file on your harddisk. In this file all parameters of PhotoTiger will be saved. The configuration file is saved in the same folder in which the program file lays.
If this folder is write protected, the configuration file can not be saved. In this case, you can give PhotoTiger an alternative configuration folder in a start parameter:
-CONFIGPATH pathOfTheAlternativeConfigFolder
Example: PHOTO251.EXE -CONFIGPATH d:\tmp

If you want PhotoTiger to load a picture automatically after the program start, you can give PhotoTiger the path of the picture in a start parameter:
Example: PHOTO251.EXE e:\pictures\tiger.bmp

PhotoTiger supports two languages: German and English. At the first start of PhotoTiger, you will be asked which language you want to use. Your choice will be saved in the configuration file. If you want to change the language of PhotoTiger, you can set the language in the Settings Dialog. 
An other way to change the language is to specify the language in a start parameter: 
Start parameter for using German language:
-DEUTSCH
Start parameter for using English language:
-ENGLISH



PhotoTiger is shareware. That means that you may use and evaluate PhotoTiger for a period of 30 days, before you decide if you want to buy the program or not. You can register PhotoTiger for 30 US$ or DM 50,-.
There are two ways of registering PhotoTiger:
1. Send the registration fee in cash to:

     Michael Moegn
     Hochwartstrasse 8
     93053 Regensburg
     Germany

2. Register through BMT Micro. Please read REGISTER.BMT for further 
   information.

For questions, bugs or if you have suggestions for improvements, send a mail to one of the following email addresses:

     info@phototiger.com
     info@phototiger.de

Sending an email to me, please don't forget to add your email address and the version number of your PhotoTiger. You can find the version number at the bottom of the main window.

You can find the latest version of PhotoTiger at:

     http://www.phototiger.com
     http://www.phototiger.de

Or at BMT Micro:
     http://www.bmtmicro.com

The author makes NO WARRANTY or representation, either express or implied, with respect to this software, its quality, accuracy, merchantability, or fitness for particular purpose. This software is provided 'AS IS', and you, its user, assume the entire risk as to its quality and accuracy.

This software is copyright (C) 1996-2000, Michael Moegn.
PhotoTiger is a registered trademark.
All rights reserved.

This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group.




PhotoTiger 2.5x modifications and innovations: 


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Text 
Better anitalias effect. 

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Create picture overview. 
Load all pictures of a path and create an 'Overview Picture'. 
Within an 'Overview Picture' the new 'Link' mouse tool can be used to load pictures by clicking on the picture tiles. To keep the link information, an 'Overview Picture' must be saved in JPEG format. 

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Link mouse tool 
Use this new mouse tool to load a picture by clicking on a picture tile within an 'Overview Picture'. Use main menu 'File' menu item 'Create picture overview...' to create an 'Overview Picture'. To keep the link information, an 'Overview Picture' must be saved in JPEG format. 

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Free Stamp 
Now a stamp can be created using picture AND mask data. A so created Stamp uses the mask data for transparency. 

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JPEG Animation Parameters 
The parameters are used to animate a tiled picture using 'PhotoTiger Animation'. After setting the parameters you can save the tiled picture in JPEG format. The parameters will be saved within the picture file. Then start 'PhotoTiger Animation' programm to animate the saved picture. A tiled picture is made out of several small pictures. These small picture are set into the tiled picture like tiles on a wall. 'PhotoTiger Animation' shows the single picture tiles one after the other. Doing this, the single pictures become a little movie. The effect is nearly the same like a thumb cinema. 'PhotoTiger Animation' is available for OS/2 and Windows (95,98,NT).


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PhotoTiger 2.3x modifications and innovations:


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Scanning

The probably largest modification at PhotoTiger 2.3x is the improved user interface for the control of scanners. It is now possible to scan a preview picture and select therein an area which should be scanned. To scan with PhotoTiger you need an external scanning program e.g. Sane. Beside OS/2 command line programs REXX programs also DOS, Windows and OS/2 PM programs can be used for scanning. The mode of operation is alike with all program types. PhotoTiger starts the external scanning program. The program does the scan job, writes the scanned picture to hard disk and is terminated thereafter. PhotoTiger is informed about the end of the scanning program and loads the scanned picture. To scan with PhotoTiger, first the parameters of the  external scanning program must be set. To do this press the 'Settings..' button in the Scanning Dialog. Read then first the help text in the scroll view in the lower right of the dialog. For additional help every control supports you with a detailed bubble help
Before you begin with scanning in PhotoTiger, you should test your external scanning program without PhotoTiger. Only if this functions without problems, you should begin with scanning out of PhotoTiger. For further information please have a look the appropriate bubble help assistance in the dialog. 


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Rotate picture

Apart from the rotating pictures by manual input of an angle of rotation, pictures can be rotated now also using the mouse. A line can be set, which should represent the new horizontal of the picture.
For this the dialog 'Rotate Picture' was removed from the menu 'Actions' and a new mouse tool 'Rotate Picture' was created.
Usage: Select the new mouse tool. Move mouse into the picture window. Press mouse button and draw a line. Release the mouse button and the angle of rotation will be shown in the dialog of the mouse tool. There, or using the picture window menu 'Actions' submenu 'Rotate' the rotation of the picture can be started. Positive angles mean a counterclockwise rotation. With the line function one can do very fast and simply rotation correction of scanned pictures.


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Gradation

Phototiger now offers the possibility for color level manipulation. In the 'Actions' menu of the picture window you can find a new menu entry 'Gradation... '. Select it to open the 'Gradation' dialog.
The 'Gradation' dialog is for all types of picture except the 1 bit black and white pictures. The curve in the dialog represents the relationship from input value to output value. For grey pictures a single curve is available. With colored pictures 4 curves are available, per one for the three channels red, green and blue and a curve, which modify all three channels at the same time. Apart from color corrections, also fast easy contrast and brightness changes can be done.
In the preview area you can see the results of your work. Use the mouse to select a highlight and/or a shadow point in the preview. Adjust shadow: Select darkest point in the preview picture while pressing Strg-key and mouse button. Highlight adjustment: Select brightest point in the preview picture while pressing Shift-key and mouse button. Setting highlight and shadow will cause a change of gradation curves. On color pictures only the red, green and blue curve will be changed and the common curve (RGB) remains unchanged.
For further information please have a look the appropriate bubble help assistance in the dialog. 


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Filter

In the picture window menu 'Actions' you can find a new submenu 'Filter' with some pixel filters. These filters can be applied with 24 bits color pictures or with 8 bits grey pictures. The filters are based on a 3*3 or on a 5*5 matrix. Beside the sharpening and smoothen filters there is still some more filters, just use them to see the effects.

The effects of the filters can be controlled still by two adjustments: 
1. Using the mask layer. 
You can use a mask to protect parts of a picture from being modified. Each picture window containing a 24 bit color picture or a 8 bit grey picture contains also a mask layer. After loading or creating a picture, the mask is empty and has a protective effect (mask value 255). The mask layer has always the same size as the picture layer. In the parameter area of the tool bar, or in the picture window menu 'Mask' it can be determined whether the mask is visible and whether the mask should protect the picture (Respect mask).
If you do not want apply a filter action to the whole picture, you can use a mask to protect those areas in the picture which should be unchanged. So e.g. only the foreground of a picture can be sharpened, while the background, protected by a mask, remains unchanged. Or the effect of a filter can be weakened, as a weak mask (e.g. mask value 128) is put over the picture.
Additionally the mask itself can be processed by the filter functions. E.g. an existing mask with hard edges can be made 'soft' with the Smoothen filter.

2. Using the HSB channels (Hue, Saturation, Brightness. Only available with 24 bits color pictures)
The HSB channels do not really exist, only during certain phases of operation the channels are temporarily produced. Under normal conditions all three buttons H, S and B should be pressed at the parameter area of the tool bar. This means that all three channels can be modified. One or two of the channels can be switched off. E.g. if the S and the B button are not pressed, you can apply a filter only to the hue channel of the picture.

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Print Pages

PhotoTiger now can do a multi page output to a printer. This is uesful if you want to send more then one picture to a fax. For this a new printing dialog exists, you can reach it over the main window menu 'Picture', menu entry 'Print Pages...'.
In the 'Print pages' dialog you can select the pictures you want to print. Moreover you can set the sequence of printing and some printing parameters. Each picture is printed on its own page. For further information please have a look the appropriate bubble help assistance in the dialog.

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Recent files

In the main window menu 'File' the 10 recent used files are listed. If you want to open one of these files, select the appropriate menu entry. The behavior of the 'Recent files' can be controlled using a special dialog. Select menu entry 'Recent files...' to open the dialog.
For further information please have a look the appropriate bubble help assistance in the dialog and menu.



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Create file icon

PhotoTiger can now create file icons for saved pictures. The file icon is stored in the extended attributes of the file. In the dialog 'File options', you can reach it in the main window menu 'Settings', can be set if a file icon should be produced automatically on saving pictures. And you can set the size of icon to be created. Additionally you can create a file icon for a already saved file using the picture window menu 'Picture', menu entry 'Create file icon'. You can do this only with pictures being already connected to hard disk, because to create a file icon a valid file path is needed.
For further information please have a look the appropriate bubble help assistance in the dialog and menu.


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Lasso, select all

Use menu entry 'Select all' which can be found in the picture window menu 'Lasso', to create a lasso containing the whole picture. Aa already existing lasso will be replaced.

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Close all windows

Use menu entry 'Close All Windows' which can be found in the main window menu 'Window', to close all picture windows. All unsaved data will be lost.


