Casio Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM User Manual

Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM

User's Guide

HOTALBUM COM Inc.

1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................... 4

2. Using Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM.......................................................................................................... 5

2.1. Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity.....................................................5

2.2. Installing the Software ................................................................................................7

2.2.1. Installing the Software from the Installation CD-ROM ..........................................7

2.2.2. Migration ........................................................................................................10

2.2.3. Installing from a HOT ALBUM Disk that Contains Images ...................................13

2.2.4. Uninstalling Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM...............................................18

2.3. Using the Software for the First Time .......................................................................20

2.3.1. Importing Images Directly from a Memory Card ..................................................20

2.3.2. Importing Images from Other Media....................................................................23

2.4. Main Home Screen Functions ............................................................................32

2.4.1. Importing Images into Photo Pocket...................................................................44

2.4.2. Upgrading and Other Settings ............................................................................51

2.5. Creating a Video CD .................................................................................................54

2.5.1. Selecting a HOT ALBUM Disk or Video CD Disk .......................................55

2.5.2. Selecting Images................................................................................................56

2.5.3. Checking the Order and Orientation of the Images.............................................58

2.5.4. Creating a Title Screen......................................................................................60

2.5.5. Adding Background Music..................................................................................62

2.5.6. Checking Images................................................................................................65

2.5.7. Writing an Album to a Video CD Disk .................................................................67

2.5.8. Image Write Complete Screen............................................................................69

2.5.9. Creating a Disk Case Jacket..............................................................................70

2.5.10. Configuring Print Settings and Printing...............................................................72

2.6. Creating a HOT ALBUM (Secure Save) .....................................................................73

2.6.1. Edit and Create .................................................................................................73

Selecting a HOT ALBUM Disk or Video CD Disk......................................................74

2.6.2. Selecting Images................................................................................................75

2.6.3. Checking the Order and Orientation of the Images.............................................77

2.6.4. Creating a Title Screen......................................................................................79

2.6.5. Inputting Comment Text into an Image...............................................................81

2.6.6. Adding Background Music..................................................................................83

2.6.7. Checking the Images..........................................................................................90

2.6.8. Saving and Album to a HOT ALBUM Disk...........................................................92

2.6.9. Image Write Complete Screen............................................................................94

2.6.10. Creating a Disk Case Jacket..............................................................................95

2.6.11. Configuring Print Settings and Printing...............................................................97

2.6.12. Backing Up Album Contents ..............................................................................98

2.6.13. Temporarily Saving In-progress Edits.................................................................99

2.6.14. Resuming an Editing Operation.........................................................................100

2.7. Copying a HOT ALBUM...........................................................................................102

2.7.1. Writing an Album to a HOT ALBUM Disk..........................................................103

2.7.2. Image Write Complete Screen..........................................................................105

2.7.3. Creating a Disk Case Jacket............................................................................106

2.7.4. Configuring Print Settings and Printing.............................................................108

2.8. Sending an Image as an E-mail Attachment.............................................................109

2.8.1. Selecting Images to Attach to E-mail...............................................................110

2.8.2. Confirming Mail Software Settings ...................................................................112

2.8.3. Sending Mail with Attached Images ..................................................................113

2.9. Printing...................................................................................................................114

2.9.1. Image Printing..................................................................................................116

2.9.2. Layout Printing................................................................................................123

2.9.3. Jacket Printing................................................................................................133

2.10. Ordering Prints .......................................................................................................136

2.10.1. Selecting Images and Specifying the Number of Copies....................................137

2.10.2. Checking the Print Data...................................................................................139

2.10.3. Saving the Order Data .....................................................................................140

2.11. Using the Album View .............................................................................................143

2.11.1. Using the Album View......................................................................................145

2.11.2. Printing the Album View...................................................................................148

2.12. Slideshow ...............................................................................................................149

2.12.1. Modifying Slideshow Settings ...........................................................................151

3. Using HOT ALBUM VIEWER.......................................................................................................................... 156

3.1. Using HOT ALBUM VIEWER....................................................................................156

3.2. Zooming Photos......................................................................................................158

3.3. Viewing a Slideshow................................................................................................159

3.3. Viewing a Slideshow................................................................................................160

3.4. Ordering Prints from a Print Service .......................................................................167

3.5. Copying Photos to a Folder.....................................................................................171

3.6. Saving Photos to a Computer..................................................................................172

4. Viewing HOT ALBUM Disks on a TV Screen ......................................................................................... 174

1. Introduction

HOT ALBUM is a totally new type of album that makes management of your images simple and secure, and lets you recall your images whenever you like. HOT ALBUM makes it possible to expand enjoyment of video images on your computer or on your TV.

HOT ALBUM provides you with the following three digital image management tools.

 Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM*1 Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM lets you transfer images from your digital camera to your computer. It also includes viewing, printing, and automatic e-mail attachment features for quick and simple, yet powerful digital image management.

 HOT ALBUM Disks HOT ALBUM disks let you save albums of digital images, complete with text comments or other editing, and store them externally from your computer. By saving separate copies of your albums on your computer and on disk helps to ensure that images are not lost due to computer problems or because a disk is misplaced. Double-storage of all your important images is highly recommended to protect against accidental deletion or loss. HOT ALBUM disks can be played back on a DVD player*2, and you can even add music to create highly entertaining slideshows of your images.

 HOT ALBUM VIEWER*3 HOT ALBUM VIEWER makes it possible to view images on a HOT ALBUM disk can be viewed even if the computer does not have Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM installed. This means you can give away disks as gift items, without worrying whether the recipient has the proper software.

This User's Guide mainly explains operations using the Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM special HOT ALBUM software.

*1: Installation is supported under Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. *2: Playback is supported on a Video-CD player, DVD player, or DVD recorder that supports

Video-DC (VCD) 2.0. Note, however, that playback may not be possible depending on the particular equipment being used. Visit our website at http://www.ha-hotalbum.com/ for the latest information.

*3: HOT ALBUM VIEWER operation is supported under Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, XP, and Vista.

2. Using Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM

2.1. Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity

The recommended computer system environment for Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM is shown below. As standard Windows software, Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM should operate without any problem under this environment. Note, however, that operational response, image quality, sound quality during audio playback, and other factors depend on the performance and specifications of each particular system. Be sure to contact your system administrator before installing and using this software.

The following describes the capacity of HOT ALBUM disks.

・ Snapshot and Movie Data Maximum Number of Images: 240 (Size of each image is 1 KB to 30 MB.) Regardless of the number of images currently stored on the disk, the total amount of data stored cannot exceed 256 MB. Each movie file can be no large than 256 MB and no longer than 25 minutes.

・ Storage Capacities by Image Size (in Pixels) 2 million pixels (Fine): 220 to 230 3 million pixels (Fine): 140 to 150 5 million pixels (Fine): 90 to 100

2.2. Installing the Software

2.2.1. Installing the Software from the Installation CD-ROM

Place the installation CD-ROM into your computer and the installer will start up automatically.

On the screen that appears, click the [Start] button.

Click to view minimum computer system requirements.

Click to view an explanation about HOT ALBUM.

Read the End User License Agreement and then click the [I Agree] button.

A different screen will appear if you have an older version of HOT ALBUM MY BOX installed on your computer. For more information, see "2.2.3 Upgrading from an Older Version during Installation".

You can specify the drive name of the hard disk where you want to save image data. You can specify a hard disk drive name only if your computer has multiple hard disks, if its hard disk is partitioned into multiple drives, or if it has an external hard disk connected.

The amount of free space available on the A: drive will appear on the display. Select a drive that has at least 2 GB of free space available.

Specify the B: drive and then click [Install].

Important! ・ You will be able to change the specification of the save drive on the Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM version upgrade screen after installation is complete. See "2.5.4 Upgrading and Other Settings" for more information. ・ The software will be installed on your computer's C: drive, even if you specify another drive other than C: for storing images. The C: drive should have at least 2 GB of free space available for use as a work area.

2.2.2. Migration

The following message remains on the display as the software is being installed.

If you have Photo Loader image data stored on your computer, a Data Migration Tool will start up here to migrate the image data to Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM.

If you want to use your previously stored Photo Loader image data with Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM, click [Migrate].

If you want to migrate images later or if you choose not to migrate your existing images, click

[Migrate Later].

When you want to migrate images at any time after installing the software, perform the

following operation on the Windows [Start] menu to start up Data Migration Tool: [All Programs] -> [Casio] -> [Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM] -> [Data Migration Tool].

Clicking [Migrate] will start data migration and display the screen shown below.

At this time you should click a button to specify whether you want to delete the original Photo Loader image data or retain it.

On the screen that appears after data migration is finished, click [Close].

The message shown below appears after installation is completed successfully.

2.2.3. Installing from a HOT ALBUM Disk that Contains Images

The special software also can be installed on your computer from a HOT ALBUM disk to which images and other data has been written by another computer running Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM. Installing the software will copy the images from the HOT ALBUM disk to your computer at the same time.

Placing a HOT ALBUM disk that contains image data into the CD-ROM drive of your computer will launch HOT ALBUM VIEWER automatically. If it does not start automatically, use "My Computer" to navigate to the CD-ROM drive and double click "StartViewer.exe".

On the "HOT ALBUM VIEWER" screen, click [Install Photos and Application].

If your computer already has Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM installed, the button will change to [Save Photos] instead of [Install Photos and Application]. Proceed with the installation and you will be given a change to upgrade to a newer version if required.

See "3. Using HOT ALBUM VIEWER" for more information.

Important! ・ The green button in the lower right corner will not appear if your computer is running Windows 98SE or Windows Me. Installation and image registration are not supported on computers running these operating systems. ・ The software that is installed from a HOT ALBUM disk that contains images is different

(no Data Migration Tool, etc) from that installed from the CD-ROM.

On the screen that appears, click the [Start] button.

Click to view minimum computer system requirements.

Click to view an explanation about HOT ALBUM.

Read the End User License Agreement and then click the [I Agree] button. A different screen will appear if you have an older version of HA MY BOX installed on your computer. For more information, see "2.2.3 Upgrading from an Older Version during Installation".

The amount of free space available on the A: drive will appear on the display. Select a drive that has at least 2 GB of free space available.

Specify the B: drive and then click [Install].

The following message remains on the display as the software is being installed.

The message shown below appears after installation is completed successfully.

2.2.4. Uninstalling Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM

Perform the following operation on the Windows [Start] menu to start up HA Uninstall Tool:

[All Programs] -> [Casio] -> [Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM] -> [Uninstall].

In response to the confirmation message that appears, click [Yes] to uninstall.

Specify whether or not you want also to delete the image data associated with Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM.

Clicking [No] will retain the image data, which will be re-associated with the software the next time you install it.

On the "Maintenance Complete" screen that appears after the uninstall operation is completed normally, click [Finish].

2.3. Using the Software for the First Time

The first thing you need to do after installing Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM is import some images from your digital camera. There are two different methods you can use to import images into HOT ALBUM the first time: importing directly from a memory card and importing from a specified source.

2.3.1. Importing Images Directly from a Memory Card

When Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM is not running, insert the memory card that contains the images into your computer's memory card slot. This will start up Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM and display the screen shown below.

Click the [Import] button to start the import operation.

Important! ・If your computer does not have a memory card slot, use a card reader, card adapter, or some other commercially available device. If the automatic media monitoring feature is turned off, click "Settings and Software Update" on the Home Screen and then select [Monitor] for automatic media monitoring. ・ If the above screen does not appear automatically, perform the procedure under "2.3.2 Importing Images from Other Media".

See "2.5.4 Upgrading and Other Settings" for more information.

Thumbnails of all the images on the detected memory card will appear on the screen. Select the images you want to import. Initially all of the images are selected for import. Click an image to toggle it between selected and unselected. You also can select or deselect multiple images by dragging the mouse pointer across the screen.

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

Shows the number of currently selected images.

Selects/Deselects all of the displayed images.

Important! ・If the detected digital camera, memory card, or folder includes an image type that is not supported by HOT ALBUM, the number of selected images value may be different from the number of images that actually are selected. Unsupported Image Types Unsupported movie files Compressed TIFF format file Snapshot file with a short side resolution of 1 pixels or less Snapshot file with a long side resolution of 5001 pixels or greater Importable but corrupted file See "2.1 Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity".

After selecting the images you want to import, click the [Import] button. This will start import of the images.

A screen appears to let you know when image import is complete.

The imported images are stored in a storage area called "Photo Pocket." For more information, see "2.5.2 Importing Images with Photo Pocket".

The screen shows details about the image import operation. Click the [Next] button.

Important! ・During the import operation, the software checks to make sure that no two images have the same filename, file size, and shooting date. ・The number of images actually input may be lower than the number of images you selected

for import because some images are skipped because they are damaged, because they already exist in memory, etc.

2.3.2. Importing Images from Other Media

Under initial default settings, Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM starts up whenever you double-click the HOT ALBUM icon on your Windows desktop.

The screen shown below will appear if there are no images currently stored in Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM. Click [Start (Import Photos)].

Select where the images you want to import are located. [Digital Camera, Memory Card] [Computer] [CD, DVD] Click the button that corresponds to the location from which you want to import images.

Importing Images from a Digital Camera or Memory Card

Establish a connection between the memory card or digital camera where the images you want to import are located. The media is detected automatically and the software prepares to display the images.

Thumbnails of all the images on the detected digital camera or memory card will appear on the screen. Select the images you want to import. Initially all of the images are selected for import. Click an image to toggle it between selected and unselected. You also can select or deselect multiple images by dragging the mouse pointer across the screen.

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

Shows the number of currently selected images.

Selects/Deselects all of the displayed images.

Important! ・If the detected digital camera, memory card, or folder includes an image type that is not supported by HOT ALBUM, the number of selected images value may be different from the number of images that actually are selected. Unsupported Image Types Unsupported movie file Compressed TIFF format file Snapshot file with a short side resolution of 1 pixels or less Snapshot file with a long side resolution of 5001 pixels or greater Importable but corrupted file See "2.1 Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity".

After selecting the images you want to import, click the [Import] button. This will start import of the images.

Importing Images from a Computer Folder

The folders on your computer's hard disk appear in a tree structure. Select the folder that contains the images you want to import, and thumbnails of the images will appear on the screen.

Select the images you want to import. Initially, none of the images are selected. Click an image to toggle it between selected and unselected. You also can select or deselect multiple images by dragging the mouse pointer across the screen.

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

Selects/Deselects all of the displayed images.

Shows the number of currently selected images.

Important! ・If the detected digital camera, memory card, or folder includes an image type that is not supported by HOT ALBUM, the number of selected images value may be different from the number of images that actually are selected. Unsupported Image Types Unsupported movie file Compressed TIFF format file Snapshot file with a short side resolution of 1 pixels or less Snapshot file with a long side resolution of 5001 pixels or greater Importable but corrupted file See "2.1 Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity".

After selecting the images you want to import, click the [Import] button. This will start import of the images.

Importing Images from a CD or DVD

Set the CD or DVD disk that contains the images you want to import into your computer's disk drive. On the screen that appears, click the [Next] button.

This will display thumbnails of all of the images on the disk. Select the images you want to import. Initially all of the images are selected for import. Click an image to toggle it between selected and unselected. You also can select or deselect multiple images by dragging the mouse pointer across the screen.

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

Shows the number of currently selected images.

Selects/Deselects all of the displayed images.

Important! ・If the detected digital camera, memory card, or folder includes an image type that is not supported by HOT ALBUM, the number of selected images value may be different from the number of images that actually are selected. Unsupported Image Types Unsupported movie file Compressed TIFF format file Snapshot file with a short side resolution of 1 pixels or less Snapshot file with a long side resolution of 5001 pixels or greater Importable but corrupted file See "2.1 Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity".

After selecting the images you want to import, click the [Import] button. This will start import of the images.

A screen appears to let you know when image import is complete.

The imported images are stored in a storage area called "Photo Pocket." For more information, see "2.5.2 Importing Photos into Photo Pocket".

The screen shows details about the image import operation. Click the [Next] button.

Important! ・During the import operation, the software checks to make sure that no two images have the same filename, file size, and shooting date. ・The number of images you selected for import and the number of images stored may be different.

Home Screen

This is the Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM Home Screen. You can use it to create a HOT ALBUM, to print, and to perform a variety of other operations.

2.4. Main Home Screen Functions

You can access Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM functions by clicking the buttons on the Home screen.

Click to view Home Screen help.

Click to view Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM version

information and to configure various settings.

See "2.5.4 Upgrading and Other Settings" for more information.

Click to display HOT ALBUM creating menus. See 2.6 Creating a HOT ALBUM".

Click to display menus for printing album

images, attaching images to mail, etc.

See "Using Images".

Use these buttons to access tools to create

slideshow viewing and image viewing more

enjoyable.

See "2.8 Viewing Images".

Importing Photos into Photo Pocket

Images must be imported into Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM. Imported, unedited images are stored in a storage area called "Photo Pocket."

Use these buttons to select the album type, and to view or delete albums. to view or Selecting the

Viewing and Editing Images

You view images using a list view or an enlarged view. You also can rotate and edit image as required. See "2.5.1 Viewing and Editing Images"

Album Type, Deleting an Album, and Viewing Album Contents

Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM select you select from among four different album types, depending

upon how much you need to use the images in an album.

You can use the Home Screen to view and edit the images in an album.

Click to select large, medium, or small for the thumbnail size.

Displays the album ID< which is a number that associates the album written to a HOT ALBUM disk with the same album on your computer. It also protects photo data from being deleted accidentally. An album ID is not displayed for Photo Pocket.

Shows a list of album photos. Use the scroll bar to scroll up and down.

Select an image by clicking it or a range of images by dragging the mouse pointer, and then click one of the buttons below the image screen to perform an operation.

Use these buttons to select or deselect all of the images.

Click to delete the selected image. Go to "Calendar Screen".

Click to copy the selected image data to the selected location. Go to "Deleting an Image".

Click to zoom the selected image. An image can be used as wallpaper, and comment text can be inserted into an image. Copying Images to Another Location.

Click to rotate a portrait orientation image. Go to "Zooming an Image".

Calendar Screen

The calendar screen shows images in date order, which simplifies searching for an image recorded on a particular date.

Click the [Calendar] button on the Home Screen to display images according to the date they were shot.

This button is disabled if the images are note in date order.

A full month calendar will appear.

Select the month you want to view at the top of the screen, and the applicable full-month calendar will appear in the center.

Click the day whose images you want to view. This will return to the Home Screen, which now will show the images for the day you selected on the calendar.

Months that contain image data are displayed in blue. Clicking a month displays a calendar (or list) for the selected month.

Clicking the [List] button in the lower right corner will switch from the Calendar Screen to a List Screen.

Displays the full-month calendar for the selected month. The image shown for a day for which photo data is available is the first photo that was recorded on that particular day.

Clicking the [List] button in lower right corner of the full-month calendar screen will change to a list type calendar screen.

Select the month you want to view at the top of the screen and the image data for the selected month will appear in a list arranged by date.

Click the day whose images you want to view. This will return to the Home Screen, which now will show the images for the day you selected on the calendar.

Displays up to the first five photos for the dates in the selected month that contain photo data.

 Deleting an Image

You can delete images from the Photo Pocket and an album you are editing as required. In response to the confirmation message that appears, click [Delete Photo] to delete the image.

Important!

・ An image delete operation cannot be undone. ・ Images in a HOT ALBUM that has been written to a HOT ALBUM disk cannot be deleted. This

protects HOT ALBUM contents against accidental deletion.

・ Copying Images to Another Location

Images can be selected and saved in another location. A folder tree that shows the contents of your computers hard disk appear on the display, so you can select the location you want. The image data is stored in a folder that is created automatically at the location you select. The newly created folder will have the name shown on the screen. After all the settings are the way you want, click [Save].

 Zooming an Image

You can zoom an image to make it larger.

Image Information

"Image Information" shows image information that was input using the album view. This

information can be edited here.

"File Properties" shows image information from the digital camera. This information may be lost (not displayed) if the image is edited.

Use the [Prev] and [Next] buttons to scrolls through the images in the album. Use these buttons to scroll through images when multiple

Click to toggle between [Image Information] and [Enter Comment].

Click to zoom to maximum size for the current window.

Click to close this screen and return to the screen under

Click to display the image at actual size (actual pixels). If the entire image does not fit within the window, use the scrolls bars that appear to scroll it.

Comment Text

Use this input palette to insert comment text into an image.

You cannot insert comment text into a Photo Pocket image.

Click to return to the Home Screen.

Click to rotate a portrait orientation image.

[Image Information]/[Enter Comment]

Click to toggle between the two screens.

Wallpaper Settings

Click to make the currently display image your computer monitor's wallpaper image. Comment text cannot be inserted into a wallpaper image.

 Rotating an Image

Images that were recorded in portrait orientation can be rotated so they are displayed using the correct orientation.

Select the images to be rotated.

▼ Before Rotation

Click [Rotate Left] or [Rotate Right].

▼ After Rotation

2.4.1. Importing Images into Photo Pocket

Photo Pocket is an area for temporary storage of images that are imported into Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM. Though there is really no limit on Photo Pocket capacity, it is a good idea to protect important images by putting them into a HOT ALBUM.

Click to select images from Photo Pocket, an album, or your computer, and to edit and album.

Click to import images into Photo Pocket.

Click [Import Photos to Photo Pocket] to start import of images to Photo Pocket. See "2.3.2 Importing Image from other Media" for more information.

Selecting the Album Type, Deleting an Album, and Viewing Album Contents

Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM provides you with three types of albums.

 Editing Album

This is an album created of Pocket Album images or images selected from a folder or some other source, which are being edited by inserting comment text, etc.

 HOT ALBUM This is a secure album that is stored both on a HOT ALBUM disk and on your computer.

 Thumbnail Album This is an album that contains thumbnails only. This type of album makes it possible to store large volumes of images without using up too much disk space. Use this type of album to store thumbnails of images you don't need to view often. Thumbnails can be viewed on a list. Originals are stored on a HOT ALBUM disk.

Click the [Sort by Date] button to display photos by date, regardless of their albums.

Click to modify the album title or date. Go to "Modifying the Title or Date".

Click to delete an album that is no longer needed. Go to "Deleting an Album".

Album Type an Supported Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM Function

Album Type Home Screen Operation

Thumbnail

Photo Pocket Editing Album HOT ALBUM

Album

Edit and Create

Write to Disk

Send Mail

Main Menu

Order Print

Album View

Slideshow

Display Size

display/Manage Images

Delete Image

Digital Camera Print

Layout Print

Jacket Print

○ ○ ○

○

○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○ ○

○

(No Music)

○

(No Music)

○

○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○

○

Copy to Folder

Zoom

Rotate

Sort by Date

Delete

Mange Albums

Album

Re-register Album

Modify Title or Date

Other

Import Images to Photo Pocket

Settings and Software Update

Delete All

Delete Main Image Only

○ ○ ○

○ ○ ○ ○

○

○ ○

○ ○ ○ ○

 Deleting an Album

Albums can be deleted when you no longer need them.

There are two methods you can use to delete an album from a HOT ALBUM: Delete the entire album (which will make it impossible to display the album on your computer), or delete the main image (which maintains the thumbnail).

To replace the main images back into a Thumbnail Album, select the applicable mini album and then click [Restoring images].

Place the HOT ALBUM disk that has the same album ID as the one that appears on the display into the computer's CD-ROM drive. Click [OK] to replace the main images. This will cause the Thumbnail Album symbol to change to a HOT ALBUM symbol.

Click [Back] to return to the Home Screen.

Deleting an Editing Album or a Thumbnail Album completely deletes the album.

Important! An album delete operation cannot be undone.

 Modifying the Title or Date

You can modify the title or date information of a saved album. Such information cannot be changed for a Thumbnail Album

Input the new information and then click [Set].

Important! Though you can modify the title or date information for a HOT ALBUM, you cannot modify the title or date, or the slideshow title that appears when the slideshow is viewed on a computer.

2.4.2. Upgrading and Other Settings

Click [Settings and Software Update] when you want to check the current version of Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM or configure its settings.

Album Save Drive

Change the album save drive setting here. This setting can

be change when your computer's hard disk is partitioned into

multiple drives, or if it has an external hard disk connected.

Clicking this button displays the selectable

▼ Settings and Software Update Screen

Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM Version Information

We are constantly upgrading Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM in order to improve its

functions, to make digital imaging more enjoyable, and to make it operation easier and

more enjoyable. Each time you start up Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM your Internet

connection is used to see if there is a newer version available. You will be notified

whenever there is. You also can check manually by clicking [Check for Updates Online].

CD Drive Settings

These settings specify the CD drive conditions used when creating a HOT ALBUM.

If your computer has multiple CD drives, you can distinguish between a read drive (for

reading image data and music data from a CD) and a write drive.

Normally you should leave the writing speed setting at "Default". In very rare cases, incompatibility between the HOT ALBUM disk and CD drive can result in writing problems. If this happens, try using a slower writing speed.

Screen Skin

Use this setting to change the look of the operation screens.

Skip Screen Display

Photo Loader with HOT

ALBUM has a number of

guidance screens designed to

assist you when you are

performing operations.

After you become accustomed to the operations, you can disable these guidance screens by selecting the "Skip All" check box. To re-enable display of the guidance screens, click the [Show All] button here.

Automatic Media Monitoring

Automatic media monitoring automatically detects when there is a memory card (media) that contains digital camera images whenever Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM is started up, and imports the images. You can select either [Monitor] or [Do not monitor] for this function.

After configuring settings, click the [Back]. A confirmation dialog box will appear asking if you want to save them.

Click [Yes] to save the settings.

2.5. Creating a Video CD

To create a video CD, simply select the images you want to copy to the CD in Photo Pocket or computer folder, edit them as required, and then save them to the disk.

While editing an album, you can temporarily save what you have done up to a certain point and resume work later, if you want.

Click [Edit album/Write to disk].

2.5.1. Selecting a HOT ALBUM Disk or Video CD Disk

You can use the above screen to specify whether you want to create a HOT ALBUM disk or

a Video CD. Under the initial configuration of the software, you can create Video CDs only.

In order to be able to create a HOT ALBUM disk, you will need to purchase the HOT ALBUM write function separately. The following are the features of each type of disk.

・ HOT ALBUM Disk Your images and thumbnail images are stored based on the EVERYPLAY standard. You also can add comment text to album images.

You can add built-in background music to a slideshow, or even import WAV files from music CDs or your computer disk.

HOT ALBUM disk image viewer software (HA Viewer) or Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM also is included with images stored on a HOT ALBUM disk.

Video CD data is also included, which means you can playback from the disk on a DVD player, etc.

・ Video CD Disk This feature lets you write data to a general CD-R disk.

To create a Video CD, simply select the images you want in the Photo Pocket or from a folder on your computer. You can add built-in background music to a slideshow.

2.5.2. Selecting Images

Select the images in Photo Pocket that you want to include in the album. You can select a single image by clicking it, or you can select a range of image by dragging the mouse pointer across a range of images. Clicking a selected image deselects it. Double-clicking an image will enlarge it. Selected images are the ones that have a check mark.

List View

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

You can select a single image by clicking it, or you can select a range of image by dragging the mouse pointer across a range of images.

Click to select all of the images.

Click to de-select all selected images.

Click to return to the Home Screen.

Shows the number of selected images and the data size.

Up to 240 images (or 256 MB) can be selected.

For movies, up to a total playback time of 25 minutes can be selected.

After all of the images you want are selected, click the [Next] button.

Double-click an image to enlarge it. Double-click a movie to play it.

2.5.3. Checking the Order and Orientation of the Images

Check the order and orientation of the images. This is a very important step that determines how your HOT ALBUM slideshow images will appear. Images that were recorded in portrait orientation should be rotated so the bottom of the image is at the bottom of the screen when displayed. Images appear in the slideshow in the order they are selected. You can chance the order of the images as you like at this time. You also can rearrange the images by date order. Click an image or drag across a range of images to select them. To rotate, click [Rotate Left] or [Rotate Right]. To change the order of an image, drag it from its current location to a different location. You can select multiple images to rotate or move them with a single operation.

Click to sort all images by date and time.

Important!

Images are sorted by digital camera Exif information. Proper noting may not be possible if the camera's calendar was not set correctly or if information was modified.

▼ Includes Portrait Orientation Images before Rotation

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

Click to return to the image selection screen.

Click and image or drag the mouse pointer across a range of images to select them.

Click to temporarily save the data you working on and terminate editing.

See "2.6.13 Temporarily Saving In-progress Edits" and "2.6.14 Resuming and Editing Operation".

▼ Includes Portrait Orientation Images after Rotation

Click to delete the selected image(s).

Click to rotate the selected image(s).

After the images are the order and the orientation you want, click [Next].

2.5.4. Creating a Title Screen

You can create a title screen that appears at the beginning of a slideshow. Select the background you want to use, and then input the album title text. You can configure size, type, color, shadowing (on/off), and position settings for the title font.

Important! Title text input is limited to one line of 50 byte characters.

The date the image was shot is displayed automatically using the Exif information of the image, but can be edited if you want. You also can specify non-display for the date.

Click to select a title background.

▼ Before Title Input

Click to return to the screen under "Checking the Order and Orientation of the Images".

Input the title. The date is displayed

automatically based on the digital

camera Exif information, but you can

change it if you want.

Date display can be turned off by clicking the [No Date] button.

Click to temporarily save the data you working on and terminate editing. See "2.6.13 Temporarily Saving In-progress Edits" and "2.6.14 Resuming and Editing Operation".

▼ After Title Input

Use this palette to change the attributes of the title text.

This is a preview of the title screen.

The album ID is an album control number that is generated and assigned automatically when the album is created.

When the title screen is the way you want, click [Next].

2.5.5. Adding Background Music

You can add music to a slideshow so it plays back while the images are being shown.

A slideshow can be played back on a TV screen from a Video-CD using a DVD player (Video-CD ver.2 compatible).

Background Music Performance Time

When playing back on a DVD player, the slide change interval is set automatically to a time that allows optimum viewing, in the range of four to seven seconds. The approximate duration of a slideshow is calculated and displayed based on the number of selected images, and the playback time of movies if any are included in the slideshow.

Note that the displayed slideshow duration is a rough approximation only, intended to give you some idea of the length of background music required.

Important! Background music that is longer than 10 minutes cannot be used.

There is nothing wrong with selecting background music that is shorter or longer than the displayed slideshow duration. If the music is shorter than the displayed slideshow duration, the music will keep repeating until the end of the slideshow is reached, and then fade out. If the music is longer than the displayed slideshow duration, the slideshow will repeat until the end of the music is reached.

Important! When viewing a slideshow on a computer, you can select from among five different slide change intervals.

You can select any one of the following for background. Music that comes with Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM Music on a CD WAV music file

Of course, you can create a slideshow without any music, if you want.

Lists the music in the currently selected source.

Data can be saved temporarily and editing can be terminated, but

doing so does not save background music. Music must be selected

again when you resume editing.

See "2.6.13 Temporarily Saving In-progress Edits" and "2.6.14 Resuming and Editing Operation".

Indicates the approximate slideshow duration

when the album is played on a DVD player.

▼ Add Background Music Screen

Click to return to the previous screen.

Music plays back automatically when selected.

Use these controls to start and stop playback, and to adjust the volume level.

Click a button to select the background music source. You can create a slideshow without any music, if you want.

Shows the currently selected music.

This list shows the music that comes with the software.

Adding Music that comes with Photo Loader with HOT ALBUM

Photo Loader with HOT ALUM comes with a great selection of music that you can use for your slideshows. Simply click the music you want on the list to select it.

List of music that comes with the software.

Shows the currently selected music.

After selecting the music you want, click [Next].

Selecting music (so it is highlighted) and clicking the [Use the selected music] button adds the selected music to the list at the bottom of the screen.

2.5.6. Checking Images

Check the current contents of the Video-CD before storing image data on it.

You can use the preview screen to check the slideshow images and background music.

Important! Though the timing of the slideshow shown in the preview screen is different from the timing when playing back on a DVD player, you can use it to check the images and their order.

Data can be saved temporarily and editing can be terminated, but

doing so does not save background music. Music must be selected

again when you resume editing.

See "2.6.13 Temporarily Saving In-progress Edits" and "2.6.14 Resuming and Editing Operation".

Click to change the size of the thumbnails.

This is a preview screen for checking slideshow images. Comment text is displayed, but slide duration is different from actual playback..

You can check the album images and the order of the slideshow here.

Click to return to the Add Background Music .screen.

Use these controls to start, stop, and fast forward preview play, and to adjust the volume level.

When everything is the way you want, click [Next].

2.5.7. Writing an Album to a Video CD Disk

Open the computer's CD-ROM drive.

Data can be saved temporarily and editing can be terminated, but doing so

does not save background music. Music must be selected again when you

resume editing.

See "2.6.13 Temporarily Saving In-progress Edits" and "2.6.14 Resuming and Editing Operation".

Click to return to the screen under "Checking Images".

Place a blank disk into the CD-ROM drive and then click [Write].

Important! ・ If the selected images include a movie file, you will need to have Windows Media Player 9

or higher and DirectX 9.0 or higher installed on your computer in order to write the move file to a HOT ALBUM disc or to create a video CD.

・ If the selected images include a MOV format move file, you will need to have QuickTime

7.1.3 installed on your computer in order to write the move file to a HOT ALBUM disc or to create a video CD.

Unsupported files cannot be written to a HOT ALBUM disk (Video CD). See "Supported Data Formats" in the table under "Computer System Requirements and Disk Capacity" for more information.

The program will check whether the disk you inserted is a blank disk..

Progress bars will appear on the screen to show you the progress of the data write operation. The time required to complete the data write operation depends on the number of images you selected and the size of each image.

2.5.8. Image Write Complete Screen

The disk will be ejected automatically when the write operation is complete. To ensure proper disk management, you should write the title, date, and album ID on the disk surface.

When writing information on a disk, be sure to write only on the disk label with a soft-tip pen or similar writing instrument.

Returns to the Home Screen.

Now you can create and print an attractive jacket for your disk case. Click [CD Jacket Printing] to begin.

2.5.9. Creating a Disk Case Jacket

First, design the jacket.

・ Select the jacket background. ・ Check and edit the title and date, and change text attributes. ・ Select the cover image and specify whether or not you want an image index on the back.

Click to return to the [Complete screen] screen.

Click a jacket template (background) to select it.

This is a preview of the edits.

Shows the album title and date, which can be

edited.

Disk contents cannot be modified.

Click to return to the [Complete screen] screen.

Everything is the way you want, click [Next].

Use this palette to change the font and color of the title and date.

2.5.10. Configuring Print Settings and Printing

Specify the type of printer you have connected to your computer and configure printer settings.

Click to return to the [Complete screen] screen.

Click to return to the [Select a design] screen.

Use this area to select the printer type and configure print settings.

This is the print image.

After all the settings are the way you want, click [Start Printing]. After printing is complete, click [Return to complete screen].

2.6. Creating a HOT ALBUM (Secure Save)

There are two methods you can use on the Home Screen to create a HOT ALBUM: Edit and Create, and HOT ALBUM Copy.

2.6.1. Edit and Create

Editing involves selecting images from Photo Pocket, a computer folder, or another source for inclusion in the album, and performing such editing functions as inserting comment text to make your slideshows more interesting and enjoyable. You also can write to a blank disk and create a HOT ALBUM. While editing an album, you can temporarily save what you have done up to a certain point and resume work later, if you want.

To start an edit and create operation, click [Edit album Write to disk].

Selecting a HOT ALBUM Disk or Video CD Disk