Epson 500 User Manual

A B

IMPORTANT NOTICE

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Further, this publication and features described herein are subject to change without notice.

TRADEMARKS

EPSON is a registered trademark of SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION PhotoPC 500, PhotoPix, PhotoSpan, EPSON Stylus, EPSON PhotoPC 500

imaging software, and EPSON Photo! TWAIN are trademarks of Epson America, Inc.

General notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. EPSON disclaims any and all rights in those marks.

A NOTE CONCERNING RESPONSIBLE USE OF

COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS

Like photocopiers, digital cameras can be misused by improper photographing of copyrighted material. Although Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 (Title 17, United States Code), the “fair use” doctrine, permits limited copying in certain circumstances, those circumstances may not be as broad as some people assume. Unless you have the advice of a knowledgeable attorney, be responsible and respectful by not photographing published material without the permission of the copyright holder.

Introduction

our new EPSON PhotoPC 500TM is an advanced,

Yeasy-to-use digital camera that captures clear and

attractive images. PhotoPC 500 comes with everything you need to quickly load your photos into the computer and then transform them into great-looking pictures to place in your documents. Here are just a few of the things you can do with your new, versatile camera:

❙ Add color and visual appeal to your newsletters, flyers,

and brochures.

❙ Use your pictures in slide show presentations. ❙ Make photo calendars and greeting cards for work and

for play.

❙ Use the optional EPSON PhotoPix

display images you have captured.

LCD Monitor to

Introduction 1

PhotoPC 500 Features

PhotoPC 500 is a complete system for capturing digital images, and includes the following features:

❙ Base unit with 2MB internal flash memory that holds

up to 30 high-resolution or 60 standard-resolution images

❙ Sierra



Print ArtistTM for creating calendars, banners,

and other cool projects.

The Optional EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor

An exciting accessory to use with your PhotoPC 500 is the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor. It offers the following advanced features:

❙ 24-bit color image capture ❙ Built-in flash with auto, manual, and red-eye reduction

settings

❙ Self-timer ❙ Automatic shut-off to save batteries ❙ Cable for transferring photos to your computer

Your camera comes with the PhotoPC 500 Software pack, which includes the following useful applications:

❙ EPSON PhotoPC 500 Imaging Software for

downloading, organizing, editing, and enhancing your pictures

❙ The EPSON Photo!

transferring your pictures to the computer and changing the settings on the camera

TWAIN and Utility Driver for

2 Introduction

❙ Playback of all the pictures stored in the camera ❙ Close-up picture mode ❙ Selectable image erasing ❙ Brightness adjustment for outdoor use ❙ Slide show of all your pictures ❙ Multi mode for viewing several images at once ❙ Real Time live preview so you can see the exact picture

before you snap the shutter

For more information about the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor, see Chapter 11.

Other Optional Accessories

EPSON also offers these accessories for the PhotoPC 500:

❙ 2MB and 4MB PhotoSpan

expanding the storage capacity of your PhotoPC 500

❙ AC adapter for use with any electrical outlet

You can also use standard 37 mm video camcorder lenses and filters available from leading suppliers, such as Tiffen Manufacturing Corp.

memory modules for

❙ Microsoft

3.11 (or later), Windows 95 (or later), Windows NT version 3.5 (or later)



Windows 3.1, Windows for WorkgroupsTM

Where to Get Help

EPSON provides customer support and service through a network of authorized EPSON Customer Care Centers. Dial (800) 922-8911 for the nearest location or for the following services:

Minimum System Requirements

To transfer images to your computer and edit them, make sure your system meets these minimum requirements:

❙ IBM ❙ Serial port with standard RS-232C interface ❙ VGA viewing screen with at least 256-color display ❙ 8MB RAM (with Windows NT

❙ At least 25MB free hard disk space ❙ Mouse or other pointing device ❙ CD-ROM drive



-compatible PC with 486 or higher processor

, at least 16MB is

required)

❙ Fax-on-demand access to EPSON’s technical

information library

❙ Literature on current and new products ❙ The location of your nearest Authorized EPSON

Reseller or Customer Care Center

❙ Technical information on installation, configuration,

and operation of EPSON products

❙ Customer relations.

For answers to commonly asked questions about EPSON products 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call EPSON Sound Advice at (800) 442-2110

Introduction 3

You can purchase manuals, accessories, or parts from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.

If you need help using software with an EPSON product, see the documentation for that program for technical support information.

Electronic Support Services

You can access helpful tips, specifications, DIP switch or jumper settings, drivers, FAQs, sample files, application notes, and EPSON product bulletins 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, using a modem and one of the on line services below.

World Wide Web

From the Internet, you can reach EPSON’s home page at http://www.epson.com.

EPSON Internet FTP Site

If you have Internet FTP capability, use your Web browser (or other software for FTP downloading) to log onto ftp.epson.com with the user name anonymous and your e-mail address as the password.

EPSON Download Service

You can call the EPSON Download Service BBS at (800) 442-2007. Set your communications software to 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. Modem speed can be up to

28.8 Kbps.

EPSON Fax-on-Demand Service

You can access EPSON’s technical information library by calling (800) 442-2110 or (800) 922-8911 and selecting the appropriate phone option. You must provide a return fax number to use Fax-on-Demand.

EPSON Forum on CompuServe

Members of CompuServe can type GO EPSON at the menu prompt to reach CompuServe’s Epson America Forum. As an owner of an EPSON product, you are eligible for a free introductory CompuServe membership, which entitles you to an introductory credit and your own user ID and password. To take advantage of this offer in the U.S. or Canada, call (800) 848-8199 and ask for representative #529.



4 Introduction

Registration

Please take a minute to fill out the registration card for the PhotoPC 500 digital camera and mail it back to us. This enables you to receive special information on accessories, new products, and software upgrades. You’ll get immediate attention if you have a problem with your PhotoPC 500.

❙ To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the

camera’s cover or open any of the compartments except as instructed in this User’s Guide.

❙ Do not insert objects through any openings. ❙ To prevent fire or electric shock, do not expose the

camera to rain or moisture.

Software Support

If you’ve tried the on-screen help and you still have questions, call the number for the application you need help with:

❙ EPSON Photo! TWAIN driver (800) 822-8911 ❙ PhotoPC 500 imaging software (800) 822-8911 ❙ Sierra Print Artist (206) 644-4343

See the inside back cover for information about additional support services for your software.

Safety Instructions

Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. Also follow all warnings and instructions marked on the camera.

❙ To prevent fire or explosion, do not use the camera

where inflammable or volatile gas is stored.

❙ Do not use outdoors during a thunderstorm. ❙ If the camera shows unusual signs such as noise, odor,

or smoke, turn it off immediately. Remove the batteries and/or disconnect the AC adapter, and unplug the AC adapter from the electrical outlet.

❙ Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaners. Wipe off dust

with a clean, dry cloth.

❙ To avoid damage to the optics of the camera, do not

expose the lens to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

❙ To prevent possible eye injury, do not take flash

pictures of faces at close range.

Introduction 5

❙ Do not store the camera or its optional accessories near

sources of bright light, direct sunlight, high humidity, heat, excessive dirt or dust, or where they will be exposed to strong vibrations or magnetic fields.

❙ Avoid sudden temperature changes, which can cause

moisture to condense on the camera. Keep the camera in a case or bag if you need to move it from a cold environment to a warm one. Allow time for the camera and its optional accessories to adjust to temperature changes before using them.

❙ Use only the types of power sources listed in this User’s

Guide.

cord or plug is damaged; if liquid has entered the camera; if the camera has been dropped or its exterior has been damaged; if the camera or its optional accessories do not operate normally or exhibit a distinct change in performance.

❙ Adjust only those controls that are covered by the

operating instructions.

❙ If the liquid crystal solution contained in the camera’s

control panel or in the screen on the optional EPSON photo LCD Monitor leaks out and gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water.

❙ Do not use a frayed or damaged power cord. ❙ If you use an extension cord with the optional AC

adapter, make sure the total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make sure the total of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

❙ Remove batteries and/or unplug the camera and the

AC adapter and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: If the power

6 Introduction

If you plan to use the camera and its optional accessories in Germany, observe the following:

❙ To provide adequate short-circuit protection and over-

current protection for the products, the building installation must be protected by a 16 amp circuit breaker.

❙ Bei Anschluß des Produkts an die Stromversorgung

muß sichergestellt werden, daß die Gebädeinstallation mit einem 16 A-Überstromschalter abgesichert ist.

handstrap

PhotoPC 500 software

Getting Started

camera

batteries

Mac adapter cable

PhotoPC500 cable

his chapter helps you get ready to use your new

TPhotoPC 500. It covers the following:

❙ Unpacking your PhotoPC 500 ❙ Getting to know the camera ❙ Removing the plastic film ❙ Installing the batteries ❙ Attaching the hand strap ❙ Installing your PhotoPC 500 software

Unpacking Your PhotoPC 500

The PhotoPC 500 includes all the parts shown to the left. You will need everything but the Mac adapter cable. If you purchased the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor, see page 11-2 for instructions on unpacking it.

Getting Started 1-1

Getting to Know the Camera

After you unpack your PhotoPC 500, take a few minutes to get to know its features.

green ready light

red standby light

control panel

shutter button

timer light

memory cover

memory cover lock

power switch

1-2 Getting Started

front view

viewfinder

lens

flash

port cover

LCD cover

back view

port cover

tripod screw opening

hand strap holder

battery cover

battery cover lock

bottom view

Removing the Plastic Film

To protect the camera from scratches, some parts have been covered with plastic film, as shown in the gray areas below. Peel off the plastic film before you use your camera.

plastic film

Getting Started 1-3

Installing Batteries

Your PhotoPC 500 comes with four AA alkaline batteries. Make sure the camera is turned off, and follow these steps to insert the batteries:

1 Using a fingernail or a small screwdriver, slide the

battery cover lock in the direction of the arrow and hold it in that position while lifting up the battery cover door.

battery cover

battery cover lock

battery compartment

2 Insert all four batteries into the compartment,

positioning the + and - ends as marked in the compartment and shown in the following illustration.

1-4 Getting Started

3 Close the battery cover, making sure that it snaps in

place.

Handling Batteries

When your PhotoPC 500 batteries wear out, you can replace them with any of the following:

❙ Single-use AA alkaline batteries ❙ Single-use AA lithium batteries (longest life)

❙ Rechargeable AA Ni-Cad batteries ❙ Rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries

If you have the optional PhotoPix LCD Monitor, we recommend that you use lithium or rechargeable batteries. Alkaline batteries have a shorter life when used with the monitor.

WARNING To avoid the danger of fire or explosion, do not mix different types of batteries. Do not allow the battery contacts to touch metal objects such as coins or keys, which could short out the battery’s circuits.

Note the following when handling batteries:

❙ Do not use manganese batteries. ❙ Replace all four batteries at the same time ❙ Do not drop, puncture, disassemble, or mutilate

batteries. Do not get them wet or expose them to fire.

❙ When the camera is not used for long periods of time,

remove the batteries and store them at a low temperature in a dry location.

Getting Started 1-5

❙ Dispose of used batteries according to the battery

manufacturer’s instructions and in compliance with all applicable laws. Contact your local government agency for information about battery recycling and disposal.

❙ If you use rechargeable Ni-Cad or Ni-MH batteries,

replace them with four fully charged batteries. If you find that your batteries run out faster after you recharge them a few times, make sure you discharge them completely before recharging.

Attaching the Hand Strap

To attach the hand strap, loop the strap around the holder on the side of the camera as shown below.

memory module cover (back piece)

hand strap holder

1-6 Getting Started

Installing Your PhotoPC 500 Software

The PhotoPC 500 comes with everything you need to transfer your pictures to the computer, edit your images, and insert them into documents. You can also send your images over the The included CD-ROM has these three applications: EPSON PhotoPC 500 imaging software, EPSON Photo! TWAIN driver and utility software, and Sierra Print Artist.

Follow these steps to install your software from the CD-ROM:

1 Insert the PhotoPC 500 CD into your CD-ROM drive.

2 From Windows 95 or Windows NT, 4.0 click the start

button, and then click Run.

From the Windows 3.1 or the Windows NT, 3.51 Program Manager screen, choose Run from the file menu.

internet and turn them into screen-savers.

5 Make sure PhotoPC 500 is checked, along with the

EPSON Photo! driver and Sierra Print Artist if you want to install it.

6 Click Install and follow the instructions on the screen

to complete the installation.

NOTE Don’t restart Windows until all the software programs have been installed.

You now have the following new program groups (or folders):

❙ PhotoPC 500 (PhotoPC 500 imaging software and

EPSON Photo! TWAIN driver)

❙ Sierra (Print Artist)

3 In the dialog box, type: D:\INSTALL. If your CD-ROM

drive is not drive D, substitute the correct letter.

4 Click OK. You see the main installation screen.

Getting Started 1-7

Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera

aking pictures with PhotoPC 500 is similar to

Tusing a traditional “point and shoot” camera. This

chapter shows you everything you need to know, including the following information:

❙ Turning the camera on and off ❙ Saving power with auto shut-off ❙ Using the control panel ❙ Checking the battery icon ❙ Snapping the shutter ❙ Taking close-up pictures ❙ Adjusting settings ❙ Erasing pictures ❙ Checking the picture counter

Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera 2-1

A B

Turning the Camera On and Off

To turn the camera on, simply slide the power switch to the ON position. The lens cover opens and the control panel on the top of the camera lights up. The red standby light on the back of the camera flashes for a few seconds. When it stops flashing, the green ready light is on and the camera is ready to take pictures.

control panel

green ready light

red standby light

Saving Power with Auto Shut-off

If you wait more than 60 seconds before taking a picture, the camera turns off automatically to save battery power. To turn the camera back on, either slide the power switch to OFF, then ON, or press the shutter button. You will have to press the shutter button a second time to take a picture.

Using the Control Panel

The control panel keeps track of how many pictures you’ve taken and provides important information about the status of your batteries and the camera’s current settings.

power switch

To turn off the camera, slide the power switch to the OFF position. The lens cover closes and the control panel turns off.

2-2 Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera

resolution mode

pictures remaining

self-timer

pictures taken

battery level indicator

erase last image

flash mode

Checking the Battery Icon

Before you take pictures, check the battery icon on the control panel. The icon shows how much battery power you have left, in the following stages:

2 Look straight through the viewfinder and center your

subject. Make sure that the entire image you want in the picture is within the viewfinder’s yellow frame.

3 Slowly press the shutter button.

Full battery power (or AC adapter in use)

Battery power is decreasing

Battery power low (time to buy new batteries)

Battery power is almost out

Change batteries

You should use the battery icon only as a guide to estimate remaining power. Several factors can affect battery life, including the surrounding temperature and the type of batteries you use. Low temperatures (especially below 50 °F) weaken your batteries.

Snapping the Shutter

Follow these steps to take a picture:

1 Turn the camera on and wait until the green ready

light comes on.

4 Hold the camera still until it beeps and the red standby

light starts flashing.

green ready light

viewfinder

The flashing red light indicates that the camera has captured the image and is processing it. (If you try to press the shutter button again, you’ll hear an “error” beep.)

red standby light

shutter button

Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera 2-3

A B

When the red light stops flashing, the image is saved. Saved images remain in memory for up to a year, even when the camera is turned off and the batteries are removed.

For instructions for using the LCD monitor in Macro mode, see page 11-12. For instructions on using a camcorder lens, see page A-7.

You can take another picture when the red standby light stops flashing and the green ready light is on. If the red light flashes longer each time you take a picture, your batteries are getting weaker.

NOTE Remember that the camera shuts off automatically after 60 seconds. To turn the camera back on, either slide the power switch to OFF, then ON, or press the shutter button to turn on the camera. You will have to press the shutter button again to take a picture.

Taking Close-up Pictures

You should be at least 2 feet (60 cm) away from the subject you are photographing. If you want to take pictures at a closer range, you should use the PhotoPix LCD Monitor in Macro mode or a 37 mm video camcorder close-up lens.

If you use a close-up or “macro” lens for a camcorder, the viewfinder does not give you an accurate representation of your picture. You may want to connect the camera to your computer and view your close-up images on the screen before you capture them. See page 5-5 for information on viewing and taking pictures from your computer.

You can take flash pictures within a range of 1.5 to 10 feet.

TIP When you’re taking pictures outdoors, make sure the sun is at your back. In very bright light (at the beach or in snow, for example), your pictures may come out too light. You can use an ND filter to reduce the light. See page A-7 for information.

2-4 Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera

Adjusting Settings

You can adjust the following three settings on PhotoPC 500 using the control panel buttons on top of the camera:

❙ Flash ❙ Resolution ❙ Timer

Flash and resolution settings remain in effect even after you turn off the camera.

Flash

PhotoPC 500’s built-in flash has four settings as listed below, which are effective within a range of 1.5 feet (Macro mode with PhotoPix LCD monitor) to 10 feet. Press the flash control button to cycle from one setting to another.

Auto

AUTO

Red-eye Reduction

The flash goes off automatically whenever it’s needed for adequate lighting (factory setting).

The flash blinks on and off rapidly and then goes off. This prevents the light from shining directly off the subject’s pupils and making them appear red. Use this setting when you take pictures of people or animals and you want the flash to go off automatically.

resolution timer

NOTE The controls return to their factory settings when you remove or change the batteries.

flash

erase

Flash Off

The flash is disabled, even when adequate lighting is not available. Use this setting for special effects, or where flash photography is prohibited.

Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera 2-5

A B

Forced Flash

The flash goes off with every picture you take. Use this setting to compensate for backlighting; for example, when you are facing the sun.

Resolution

PhotoPC 500 has two resolution settings, high and standard. Press the resolution button to switch from one setting to the other. The settings appear on the control panel.

High resolution

Camera captures images at 640 × 480 pixels. Your pictures include more detail, but the camera only holds 30 pictures (factory setting).

Standard resolution

Camera captures images at 320 × 240 pixels. The

camera holds 60 pictures, but the image size is smaller and contains less detail when enlarged.

You can switch freely between the two settings and store both standard and high resolution pictures in the camera. The camera’s capacity varies accordingly. This is because a high resolution image uses twice as much memory as a

standard resolution image. For example, the camera holds 48 pictures if you take 12 at high resolution and 36 at low resolution.

TIP Choose high resolution if you want “snapshot”-size or larger pictures. Standard resolution is sufficient for “wallet”-size pictures.

The following examples show the same image captured at standard and high resolution.

2-6 Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera

Standard resolution image

320 × 240 pixels

High resolution image

640 × 480 pixels

Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera 2-7

Timer

Setting the timer creates a 10-second delay between the time you press the shutter button and the time that the camera actually captures the image. This allows you to take a picture of yourself. The timer icon on the control panel flashes when you use the timer.

Follow these steps to take a picture with the timer:

1 Secure the camera on a flat surface or on a tripod. (See

page A-7 for information on attaching the camera to a tripod.)

2 Turn on the camera and wait until the red standby

light stops flashing.

4 Press the shutter button. The red timer light on the

front of the camera comes on and stays on for 7 seconds. Then it flashes three times.

timer button

red timer light

3 Press the timer button. The timer icon on the control

panel flashes.

2-8 Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera

The camera beeps when the image is captured. The red standby light on the back of the camera flashes as PhotoPC 500 processes the image. When the red light stops flashing and the green ready light comes on, the timer is off and you can take another picture.

Erasing Pictures

If you don’t want to keep the last picture you took, you can erase it from the camera’s memory. Using a small pointed object such as a pencil, press the erase button on the top of the camera. The erase icon on the control panel flashes when you press the button.

If you have the optional LCD monitor, you can use this button to selectively erase any picture on the camera. See page 11-7 for more information.

TIP You can also erase all the pictures in the camera’s memory. While holding down the erase button, press the timer button. The erase icon flashes until all the pictures are deleted.

Checking the Picture Counter

The large number in the center of the control panel shows how many pictures you have taken. The smaller number on the left below the resolution mode shows how many additional pictures you can take.

pictures remaining pictures taken

After a few seconds, the last picture you took is erased from the camera’s memory. The picture counter (number of pictures taken) decreases by one. You can continue pressing the button to erase more pictures, if you want.

A B

Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera 2-9

The number of pictures remaining depends on your resolution settings. A high resolution image uses twice the amount of memory in your camera that a standard resolution image uses. Therefore, if you switch between standard and high resolution, the number of pictures remaining changes. For example, if the number of pictures remaining is 4 at high resolution, it changes to 8 if you switch to standard resolution.

When the camera’s memory is full, the number of pictures remaining is 0. The green ready light on the back of the camera goes off, the red standby light remains on, and you can’t press the shutter button. You need to connect the camera to your computer and transfer the pictures. Then you can erase the images and start taking pictures again.

2-10 Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera

Connecting to Your Computer

hen you’re finished taking pictures you can

W connect the camera to your computer and transfer

the images. This chapter covers the following:

❙ Connecting PhotoPC 500 to your computer ❙ Connecting with the optional LCD monitor ❙ Setting up the camera connection ❙ Adjusting auto shut-off ❙ Setting the camera’s clock

Connecting PhotoPC 500 to the Computer

Make sure you do the following before you start:

❙ Locate the serial cable that came with your camera. ❙ Make sure the camera has finished processing.

❙ If you have the optional AC adapter, use it when you

connect the camera to your computer. See page A-5 for instructions on using the AC adapter with the camera.

NOTES

❙ The AC adapter should be available where you bought your

PhotoPC 500. See page A-2 for information on ordering an AC adapter through EPSON.

❙ If you have a 25-pin serial port, you can use a 9- to 25-pin

adapter with your cable connector. See page A-8 for instructions.

Connecting to Your Computer 3-1

Follow the steps below to connect the camera to the computer:

1 Locate a serial port on the back of your computer. You

may have two serial ports labeled COM1 and COM2, or the ports may be labeled with icons.

3 Locate the port cover on the side of the camera. Press

on the arrows and slide the cover up to open it.

2 Line up the serial connector on the cable with one of

the serial ports on your computer, and insert the connector. Then tighten the screws.

screws

serial port

serial connector

3-2 Connecting to Your Computer

arrows

4 Line up the arrow on the cable connector with the

notch on the camera’s serial port. Then insert the connector.

serial port

notch

arrow

5 Turn on the camera and your computer system. A line

appears at the bottom of the picture counter on the camera’s control panel.

NOTE When the camera is connected to your computer, you can’t use any of the control buttons or the shutter button on the camera. You can only operate these features through the computer.

The auto shut-off feature remains in effect when the camera is connected to your computer, but shut-off takes place after 5 minutes of inactivity instead of 60 seconds. To turn the camera back on, slide the power switch OFF and ON again, or use EPSON Photo! to turn on the camera by clicking the Controls tab, Setup tab, or Start tab. You can adjust the auto shut-off time by following the instructions on page 3-6.

line

Connecting to Your Computer 3-3

Connecting with the Optional LCD Monitor

If you want to connect the camera to the computer while the optional EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor is attached, follow these steps:

1 Tilt the bottom of the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor up

to expose the port cover as shown.

EPSON

port cover

2 Follow the steps on page 3-1 to connect the camera to

the computer.

If the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor is on when you connect the camera to the computer, it will turn itself off.

Setting Up the Camera Connection

Now that you have connected the PhotoPC 500 to your computer, you can use the EPSON Photo! software to adjust the connection speed and port setting, if necessary. You can also see information about your camera displayed on the Setup screen.

Testing the Camera Connection

If the software displays a message in the status box indicating that the camera is not connected, follow these steps to test the connection:

1 Double-click the EPSON Photo! icon in the PhotoPC 500

program group.

3-4 Connecting to Your Computer

EPSON Photo! opens with the following screen:

camera information and ID

If the camera is connected, the screen displays the camera’s information and ID.

2 If EPSON Photo! does not detect the connection, try the

following:

3 To check the connection after making any

adjustments, click the Setup tab. The Setup screen appears.

Setup tab

click to test connection

❙ Check the cables to make sure they are securely

attached.

❙ Check to make sure the camera has not shut off

automatically.

Connecting to Your Computer 3-5

4 Click the Test Connection button. If you see the

camera information as shown on the previous page, the camera connection is complete. If you see an error message, you may need to change your port and speed settings.

Adjusting Port Settings

You can manually change the port or communication speed if EPSON Photo! is unable to detect the camera or download photos. Follow these steps:

1 Open the Setup screen as described on page 3-4.

2 Click the arrow to change the port setting. You can

choose Auto, COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4.

NOTE In most cases, it is best to leave the Port setting on Auto because EPSON Photo! can detect the location of the camera automatically. When you change the port setting, you lose the connection between the camera and your computer.

If possible, you should keep the camera connected to the COM1 or COM2 port on the computer.

If you have a serial device connected to one port and an internal modem on the other, you can try COM3 or COM4. If you get an error message, see page 12-3 for more information.

3 Click the arrow to change the speed setting.

NOTE EPSON Photo! automatically chooses the fastest speed that works with your operating system. This may actually be too fast for the configuration of your port. If you get an error message while trying to download photos, you may need to choose a slower speed. For more information see page 12-4.

4 When you are finished, click OK.

3-6 Connecting to Your Computer

Adjusting Auto Shut-off

You can adjust the time the camera takes to shut off when it is connected to the computer. Follow these steps:

NOTE The auto shut-off time can only be changed while it is connected to the computer. When the camera is not attached, the auto shut-off time is 60 seconds.

1 Connect the camera to the computer and open the

Setup screen as described earlier in this chapter.

camera’s time and date

2 Click the arrow to select an auto shut-off time.

click to change auto shut-off time

You can choose 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 minutes for auto shut-off. The default is 5 minutes, so if you are afraid of running down your batteries, you might want to shorten this period.

Connecting to Your Computer 3-7

click to set the camera’s clock

Setting the Camera’s Clock

PhotoPC 500 can record the time and date of your photos automatically. When you transfer the pictures to the computer, you can see exactly when each one was taken.

In order to have the time and date recorded, you need to set the camera’s clock from the computer. The PhotoPC 500 clock will continue to keep time accurately until you replace the batteries; at that point you will have to connect the camera to your computer again and reset the clock.

Follow these steps to set the camera’s clock:

You see a screen like the one below:

click arrows to change time and date

click to use computer’s settings

1 Connect the camera to the computer and open the

Setup screen as described earlier in this chapter.

The Time and Date boxes show the current settings of your camera’s internal clock.

2 Click the Set Time button.

3-8 Connecting to Your Computer

3 Click the Copy From Computer button to set the

camera to the computer’s date and time.

You can also click the arrows to change the setting or type the numbers for the time and date in the boxes.

4 When you are done, click OK. EPSON Photo! updates

the time and date in your camera.

Downloading Pictures

hen you are ready to transfer your images to your

W computer, read this chapter to find out which

download method best suits your needs. This chapter describes the following:

❙ PhotoPC 500 imaging software transfer ❙ Additional download methods

PhotoPC 500 Imaging Software Transfer

The EPSON PhotoPC 500 imaging software allows you to transfer photos and download them directly into an electronic photo album. You can open the pictures from the album for organizing, editing, enhancing, and printing.

A B

Downloading Pictures 4-1

Follow these steps to download pictures with your PhotoPC 500 imaging software:

1 Make sure your camera is connected to the computer

and turned on, as described in Chapter 3.

2 Double-click the PhotoPC 500 icon in the PhotoPC 500

program group. PhotoPC 500 asks you to select a project:

If you select New Album, PhotoPC 500 asks you to name the album.

5 Type in a name for the album and click OK.

PhotoPC500 asks you to select a source.

6 Make sure Epson Digital Camera is highlighted and

click Select. The EPSON Photo! Start screen appears.

Camera tab

Open

Acquire

Album

Slide Show

Template

Go to work area

Exit PhotoPC 500

3 Click the Acquire button. PhotoPC 500 asks you to

select an album for organizing your downloaded images.

4 Select an album from the Album menu or select New

Album and click Select.

4-2 Downloading Pictures

7 Click the Camera tab. If you already know which

pictures you want to transfer by their image numbers, or if you want to transfer all the pictures, you do not need to wait for all the thumbnails to appear before you transfer images. If you do not know the image numbers, wait a few moments for the thumbnails to appear.

8 Select the photo you want to transfer, or select multiple

photos by holding down the Control or Shift key and clicking on the photos you want. To select all the photos, click the Select All button.

NOTE This transfer allows you to use the frame photo and high-quality options. The high-quality option resizes your high-resolution photo to 8.4” × 6.3” or your standard resolution image to 4.2” × 3.2,” but it does not actually increase the resolution. The enlarged photo will not look as good as the original, especially when printed. This mode also slows down the transfer time and creates larger file. The frame option adds a permanent frame to your image. This feature reduces the size of your image. For information on selecting frames for the frame photo option, see Chapter 5.

status area

click to select all the photos

click to transfer photos

9 Click the Get Selected Photos button. The status area

displays your progress as the images are transferred.

10 Click Close when all your pictures are transferred.

You see the images as thumbnails in your new PhotoPC 500 album. You can edit the images by opening them as described on page 6-5.

11 Save the album by clicking the Save button.

Downloading Pictures 4-3

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Additional Download Methods

Besides using the PhotoPC 500 imaging software, there are six additional methods for transferring images to the computer. Read the descriptions below to decide which one you may want to use.

NOTE Some methods allow you to use the frame photo and high-quality options. The high-quality option resizes your high-resolution photo to 8.4” × 6.3” or your standard resolution image to 4.2” × 3.2,” but it does not actually increase the resolution. The enlarged photo will not look as good as the original, especially when printed. This mode also slows down the transfer time and creates larger file. The frame option adds a permanent frame to your image. This feature reduces the size of your image. For information on selecting frames for the frame photo option, see Chapter 5.

TWAIN Transfer

You can use any TWAIN-compliant application, such as Adobe Photoshop or the PhotoPC 500 imaging software, to transfer images to your computer without saving them in

albums. The images are opened in the work area and you can save them as individual files, or add them to albums later. (See page 4-5.)

Direct Hard Drive Transfer

You can use EPSON Photo! as a stand-alone utility application to download your pictures quickly and directly to the hard drive. The file names in this method are long, so you’ll need to find your pictures by their thumbnails. If you want an easier method of organizing your files, you should use the PhotoPC 500 transfer method, described on page 4-1. (See page 4-7 for instructions.)

Export Photo Transfer

You can use the EPSON Photo!. export photo transfer feature to save the image in any of four file types as you transfer it to the computer. This transfer also lets you add a permanent frame to the image. (See page 4-11.)

4-4 Downloading Pictures

Insert Object Transfer

You can download an image directly from the camera into



Microsoft Word or PowerPoint that supports OLE (object linking and embedding) 2.0by inserting it as an object. (See page 4-12.)

or any other application

Drag and Drop Transfer

You should check your system’s configuration before you use drag and drop. This method works best on fast systems that have a large amount of RAM. Your system also needs a screen resolution of greater than 640 × 480. Drag and drop allows you to grab a thumbnail from the EPSON Photo! Camera screen and drop the image directly into your document. (See page 4-13.)

NOTE If you choose either the insert object transfer or the drag and drop transfer, you may also want to save the file in a PhotoPC 500 album as described on page 4-1. These methods allow the picture to appear in your document, but do not save it as a separate file.

Acquiring Images with TWAIN Programs

Follow these steps to acquire photos from the camera using

TWAIN-compliant programs such as Adobe Photoshop or PhotoPC 500 imaging software. These steps are based on these two programs, so your software may have different commands or menus. See your software’s help or documentation for more information.

1 Open your application. Make sure the camera is

connected to your computer and turned on.

2 Click Select TWAIN Source (or Select Source) in the

File menu.

3 Select Epson Digital Camera as the TWAIN source.

Downloading Pictures 4-5

4 Select EPS JPEG Acquire (or Acquire) from the File

menu.

5 Click the Camera tab and go to the Camera screen.

The EPSON Photo! Start screen appears.

4-6 Downloading Pictures

selected photo

click to transfer photos

click to select all the photos

6 Select the picture you want to use, or hold down the

Control or Shift key and select multiple pictures. Click Select All to transfer all the pictures.

NOTE If you want to put a permanent frame on your photo, click the Frame Photo box. If you have not selected a frame style yet, click the Frames tab and turn to page 5-8 for instructions on selecting a frame. Adding a frame reduces the size of your image and increases the transfer time.

7 Click the Get Selected Photos button. The status area

displays the progress as the images are transferred. Then EPSON Photo! closes and you see your images in the work area.

Transferring Images Directly to the Hard Drive

You can transfer all your pictures to the hard drive or preview and select pictures to transfer with a few simple steps.

Transferring All Images

If you want to load all your pictures directly onto the hard drive, follow these steps:

From the Windows 3.1 or Windows NT 3.5 program manager, double click the PhotoPC 500 program group.

2 Double-click the EPSON Photo! icon.

The EPSON Photo! Start screen appears:

click to download images

1 In Windows 95 or Windows NT, 4.0 click Start, point to

Programs, and then select PhotoPC 500.

Downloading Pictures 4-7

3 Click the Save to Folder button.

In Windows 95, the Browse for Folder dialog box appears.

In Windows 3.1, the Choose Folder dialog box appears.

4 Select a folder for your photos.

If you want to create a new folder, select the directory you want to place the folder in. Click the New Folder button. Type the name of the new folder in the dialog box and click OK. Then select the new folder.

5 Click OK. The status area displays your progress as the

images are transferred to the hard drive.

4-8 Downloading Pictures

6 The images are saved in JPEG format. You can view

them on the Files screen as described on page 5-6.

Transferring Selected Images

You can preview and select the images you download by following these steps:

1 Open EPSON Photo! as described on the previous page.

2 Click the Camera tab to view the Camera screen. It

takes a few moments for the thumbnails of your images to appear.

3 Click a thumbnail to select an image you want to

download. To select more than one image, hold down the Shift key or Control key and click the photos you want.

4 Follow steps 3 to 5 on page 4-8 to transfer the images

you have selected.

Camera tab

selected image

click to transfer selected image(s)

Downloading Pictures 4-9

Reading File Names

EPSON Photo! uses the time, date, and photo number for your images’ names. The format for these names is explained below:

Windows 95 and Windows NT follow this naming format:

PhotoPC Monday, September 23, 1996 1008 AM 7.jpg

File names in Windows 3.1 follow this format:

MMDDNNNN.JPG

MM = month DD = date NNNN = image number JPG = JPEG file extension

file source (PhotoPC500)

date

4-10 Downloading Pictures

time

image number

file extension (JPG)

month (September)

date (21st)

image number (picture 8)

file extension jpg (jpeg)

Exporting Images

If your software application is not TWAIN compliant and you want to download your photos in format that it recognizes, you can use EPSON Photo! as a stand-alone utility program to export your files in any of four file types.

1 Open your EPSON Photo! software and click the

Camera tab to open the Camera screen.

2 Click the picture you want to export.

The selected photo is highlighted in yellow and blue and the Export Selected Photo button is active.

3 Click the Export Selected Photo button. The Save As

dialog box appears.

selected picture

click to export photo

click to select all photos

Downloading Pictures 4-11

4 Select the file type for the image from the Save File as

Type pull-down menu. You can save your image in any of the following formats:

❙ Bitmap: BMP, DIB ❙ JPEG ❙ PCX

5 Type in a name for your file.

6 Choose the directory where you want to save the file

and click OK.

2 Make sure your camera is connected to the computer

and turned on as described in Chapter 3.

3 Select Object from the Insert menu. You see a list of

sources.

NOTE You cannot open or edit the exported photos in EPSON Photo!. Use PhotoPC 500 or another application to view or edit the exported images.

Inserting Images as Objects with OLE

You can use your images in applications that support OLE (object linking and embedding) 2.0 or higher. Follow these steps to insert a photo as an object:

1 Open the document you are inserting the picture in.

4-12 Downloading Pictures

4 Select Epson Digital Camera as the Source and click OK.

The EPSON Photo! Start screen appears.

5 Click the Camera tab to view the Camera screen.

6 Click the image you want to insert. It is highlighted in

yellow and blue.

7 Click Get Selected Photo. The image appears in your

document.

Using Drag and Drop

If your application supports OLE (object linking and embedding) 2.0 or higher you can use this method to transfer your pictures from your camera into your documents. Follow these steps:

NOTE You can only use drag and drop if your screen resolution is greater than 640 × 480 pixels. Some applications do not support the millions of colors in your Photo PC 500 images. If you drag and drop your picture into one of these programs and it appears blotchy, try transferring your picture into PhotoPC 500 and changing the image mode to indexed, 256 colors as described on page 7-10. Then import or cut and paste the image into the application as explained in Chapter 9.

1 Open the document you want to place a picture in.

2 Make sure the camera is connected to your computer

and turned on as described in Chapter 3.

4 Click the center of the image you want to insert and

drag it to your document, holding down the button on your mouse while you drag.

5 Release the button of your mouse when the object is

placed in the document where you want it. The image appears in your document.

3 Open EPSON Photo! and click the Camera tab to view

the Camera screen.

Downloading Pictures 4-13

4-14 Downloading Pictures

Using the Camera with Your Computer

ou can adjust the camera controls from your

Ycomputer just as you would by using the control

panel. You can even take a picture from the computer while viewing a live preview of your subject, which works well when you are taking portrait photos or close-ups with a macro lens. This chapter includes the following information about using the camera with your computer:

❙ Using the camera controls ❙ Erasing pictures from your camera ❙ Setting the shutter speed ❙ Taking pictures from the computer ❙ Using file folders ❙ Setting up frames for your photos

Using the Camera Controls

When the camera is connected to your computer, you cannot adjust the controls on the camera’s control panel. Instead, you can use EPSON Photo! by following these steps:

1 Make sure the camera is connected to your computer

and turned on, as described in Chapter 3.

2 In Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 click Start, point to

Programs, then select PhotoPC 500.

From the Windows 3.1 or Windows NT 3.5 Program Manager, double-click the PhotoPC 500 program group.

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Using the Camera with Your Computer 5-1

The Start screen appears:

3 Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen,

shown to the right.

The control panel lets you do the following:

❙ Check the battery icon to see how much power is

left in the camera.

❙ Change the flash and resolution settings just as

you do on the camera by clicking on the arrows and highlighting the settings you want to use.

5-2 Using the Camera with Your Computer

See page 2-2 for more information on using the camera’s controls.

Erasing Pictures from Your Camera

After you have viewed your pictures and transferred them to your computer, you can erase them from your camera using either the Camera screen or the Controls screen.

Erasing Photos from the Camera Screen

Follow these steps to erase photos from the camera using the Camera screen:

1 Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1.

3 If you want to erase all of your photos, click Select All.

If you want to erase one of your photos, click the photo to select it. Select more than one by holding the Control or Shift key and clicking the images you want.

2 Click the Camera tab to view the Camera screen.

selected photo

click to select all photos

click to erase photos

4 Click Erase Photos. A message box appears asking to

confirm your selection.

5 Click Yes to erase the photos in your camera or click No

to cancel.

Erasing Photos from the Controls Screen

Follow these steps:

1 Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1.

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Using the Camera with Your Computer 5-3

2 Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen.

Setting the Shutter Speed

When the camera is connected to the computer, you can use the Controls screen to adjust the shutter speed. Slower shutter speeds allow more light to strike the lens; faster speeds allow you to take “stop-action” pictures of moving subjects. Shutter speed settings remain in effect only while the camera is connected to your computer. The camera adjusts the speed automatically when it is not connected.

NOTE When you adjust the shutter speed manually, you can’t use the camera’s flash.

click to erase last photo

click to change shutter speed

click to erase all photos

3 Under Erase Photos, click All to erase all the photos or

click Last to erase the last image that you captured.

A message box asks you to confirm your selection.

4 Click Yes to erase the photos or No to cancel.

5 Click Close when you are finished.

5-4 Using the Camera with Your Computer

Follow these steps to adjust the shutter speed:

1 Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1.

2 Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen

3 Select the shutter speed you want to use from the

Shutter Speed pull down menu.

The camera uses the shutter speed you select as long as it is connected to the computer.

Taking Pictures from the Computer

You can take pictures while you are controlling the camera from your computer. This allows you to see a live preview of your subject and get the perfect shot. Follow these steps:

1 Connect the camera to the computer as described in

Chapter 3.

2 Position the camera facing the subject. Using a tripod

will give you the most control when setting up your shots. See page A-7 for instructions.

3 Turn on both your camera and your computer system.

4 Double-click the EPSON Photo! icon.

5 Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen.

click to start live preview

click to stop live preview

click to adjust preview time

click to take a picture

6 Press the Start button under Preview to display the

image on the screen.

7 You may need to move the camera or the subject until

you see the image you want to capture in the window. The image is updated every eight to ten seconds, depending on your communication speed.

Using the Camera with Your Computer 5-5

A B

NOTE The Live Preview has an auto-stop timer that shuts the preview off after a short time to save batteries. You can adjust this time by clicking the button and highlighting the time you want to use. If the timer stops the preview, just press Start and the image will appear again.

8 When you see the image you want to capture on the

screen, press the Take a Picture button to snap the shutter.

9 Click Stop to stop the preview. Transfer your picture to

the computer as described in Chapter 4 and turn off the camera.

Using File Folders

EPSON Photo! allows you to view and erase picture files and their information. The file folders are useful for finding pictures you have transferred using the export photo method, described on page 4-11 or the direct hard drive transfer, described on page 4-7.

Viewing Files in Folders

Follow these steps to view thumbnails of files in folders:

1 Open the EPSON Photo! software as described on page

5-1. Click the Files tab to view the Files screen.

The default folder is EPSON\Photo!\Photos.

2 If your photos are not on the screen, click Browse and

select the folder where your photos are located. Your images will appear as miniature “thumbnails” in the boxes on the screen.

5-6 Using the Camera with Your Computer

3 Use the arrows to scroll through additional images.

Displaying File Information

Follow these steps to see information about the images you have saved in folders:

Erasing Files from Your Hard Drive

Follow these steps to erase image files stored on your hard drive:

1 Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1.

1 Open the folder where your image file is located.

2 Select the image you want to see information for. (The

selected photo is highlighted with yellow and blue.)

3 Click the Photo Info button to view the selected photo’s

information. If the information is available, you see the date, time, shutter speed, flash mode, and image resolution displayed.

NOTE You can also view image information by clicking a thumbnail with the right mouse button.

2 Click the Files tab to view the Files screen.

3 Select the photo you want to erase or select multiple

photos by holding down the Control or Shift key and clicking on the pictures. To select all the photos, click the Select All button.

The selected images are highlighted in blue.

4 Click the Erase Files button. A message appears asking

you to confirm the deletion.

5 Click Yes to erase the image files or click No to cancel.

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Using the Camera with Your Computer 5-7

Setting Up Frames for Your Photos

You can set up permanent frames to add to your images with EPSON Photo!. Follow these steps:

1 Open your EPSON Photo! software. Click the Frames tab

to open the Frames screen.

2 Click on the frame style you would like to use. A

preview appears in the window.

3 If you want to change the color of the frame or the

matte, click Frame Color or Matte Color.

click to

frames tab

edit colors

5-8 Using the Camera with Your Computer

frame preview

click boxes to select frame type

The following screen appears:

A preview of your color appears in the Color/Solid window.

click boxes to select color

click for new colors

4 Select the color you want and click OK.

5 If you want to define your own color, click Define

Custom Colors to view the color palette, as shown on

the right.

❙ Move the crosshairs to select a color. ❙ Move the arrow on the light/dark scale to make

the color darker or lighter.

❙ Type in numbers to adjust the hue, saturation,

luminescence, red, green, and blue values for the color.

6 Click Add to Custom Colors to add your selected color.

Your new color appears in a box under Custom Colors.

7 Select your new color and click OK. The frame or matte

appears in your selected color.

selection crosshairs

color preview

click to add color

adjust light/dark

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Using the Camera with Your Computer 5-9

5-10 Using the Camera with Your Computer

Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500

ou can use PhotoPC 500 to organize all the

Ypictures you take with your camera. This chapter

describes how to use the PhotoPC 500 features in the following sections:

❙ Transferring saved images to albums ❙ Working with your albums ❙ Sorting your albums ❙ Opening image files ❙ Printing your pictures ❙ Saving your pictures ❙ Viewing your album as a slide show ❙ Using your album as a screen saver

Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500 6-1

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Transferring Saved Images to Albums

If you didn’t acquire your photos with PhotoPC 500, you can still open the images you downloaded with your EPSON Photo! software and save them in albums. Follow these steps:

1 In Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, click Start, point to

Programs, and then point to PhotoPC 500 to open the

application.

From the Windows 3.1 or Windows NT 3.5 Program Manager, double-click the PhotoPC 500 icon in the PhotoPC 500 group to start the application. PhotoPC 500 asks you to select a project.

The Album opens as shown:

click to select an album

click to add a file

3 Click the down arrow to select a different album or

select New Album to create a new album.

2 Click the Album button to open one of your

albums or to create a new album.

6-2 Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500

4 Click the Add button to add one of your image

files.

The Add Thumbnails dialog box appears.

Working With Your Albums

PhotoPC 500 Albums store and display your images, just like the photo albums used for printed snapshots. You can organize your pictures by subject matter or date, or in any way you want. Albums let you view miniature “thumbnail” versions of your images, along with image information.

1 To open your album, click the Album button

or choose Open Album from the File menu.

5 Select a file to add to your album and click OK. The

image appears in your album.

6 Click the Save button to save your album . If

you chose New Album, the Save New Album dialog box appears.

7 Type a name for the album and click OK.

2 The Album window appears, with miniature

“thumbnail” representations of your image or images, as shown on the next page.

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Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500 6-3

❙ Click and drag a thumbnail to rearrange the

images in the album.

❙ Click the Acquire button and follow the steps

on page 4-1 to download photos directly to your album.

❙ Click an image and click the Delete button

to remove it from the album. The image file itself is not affected.

❙ Print out the whole set of thumbnails by clicking

the Print button.

3 Enter a description for the album (up to 36 characters)

in the description box, if you want.

❙ Click an image to select it. The Information box

displays image file information.

❙ Double-click a thumbnail to open the image. ❙ To add pictures, click the Add button

and choose the image or images you want.

❙ Click the down arrow at the top of the screen to

see a different album or create a new album.

6-4 Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500

4 Click the Save button to save your album.

5 If you’re finished working with albums, click the Exit

button .

Sorting Your Albums

PhotoPC 500 gives you several methods for sorting the images in your albums. You can sort them by file name, file size, file type, file date, or description. Follow these steps to organize your photos:

1 Open the album you want to sort.

2 Click the Sort button.

The Sort dialog box appears as shown on the right.

3 Select the sort method you want to use.

4 If you want the images to appear in reverse order (Z to

A instead of A to Z, for example), click the Reverse Order box.

5 Click OK when you are finished. The images appear in

the order you have selected.

click to reverse order

Opening Image Files

With the PhotoPC 500 imaging software, you can have several images open at the same time (depending on your computer’s memory), each in its own window. The window’s title bar is highlighted if it contains the active image (the one you’re currently working on). You can even open the same image in two windows; this lets you experiment while you keep the original picture in view.

You can open an image using either the Album button or the Open button.

Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500 6-5

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Opening an Image in an Album

When you use albums, you can see small thumbnail versions of your pictures. You can easily choose the image you want, even if you don’t remember the file name. Follow these steps:

1 Click the Album button or choose Open Album

from the File menu. The Album window appears, as shown to the right.

2 Double-click the thumbnail to open the image you

want.

3 If the picture you want to open is in a different album,

click the Album arrow at the top of the window and choose a different album.

4 When you have finished opening the images you want

to work with, close the Album window. Your images appear in the PhotoPC 500 workspace where you can edit them.

6-6 Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500

Opening an Image with the Open Button

If you want to open an image that’s not in an album, you can use the Open button. Follow these steps:

1 Click the Open button . The Open dialog box

appears.

2 Choose the image file you want to open. The

PhotoPC 500 imaging software lets you open the following types of image files:

❙ BMP ❙ TGA ❙ TIF ❙ JPG ❙ PCX ❙ PCD ❙ GIF

NOTE For more information on image file formats, see page 6-8.

Printing Your Pictures

When you want to print out your image, follow these steps:

1 Open the image you want to print.

2 Click the Print button or choose Print from the

File menu. The Print dialog box appears:

3 If you want to place a title or caption below the

picture, type it in the Description box.

4 Enter the number of copies you want to print. (This

option is available only if your printer supports it.)

Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500 6-7

5 If you want to change the position of your image on

the page, move the picture in the window.

6 Use the Hori-centered and Vert-centered checkboxes

to indicate if you want to center your image on the page horizontally, vertically, or both.

7 Drag the slider if you want the printed image to be

larger or smaller than the original image.

NOTE The resolution automatically increases if you reduce the size and decreases if you enlarge it.

8 Click OK when you’re ready to print.

Saving Your Pictures

Follow these steps to save a picture in the PhotoPC 500 imaging software:

1 Click the Save button or choose Save As from the

File menu.

The first time you save your image file, the Save As dialog box appears:

2 Choose the drive and directory where you want to

save the file, or leave it in the default location (C:\PhotoPC5\Photos).

3 Choose the file type. The PhotoPC 500 imaging

software lets you choose from five file formats. Each format has a different internal structure and use:

❙ JPG. JPEG is the default format and produces small,

compressed files. When you save in this format, the screen displays a slider that allows you to choose a degree of compression. For best quality, choose 100 percent.

6-8 Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500

❙ BMP. This is the “native” format for Windows

bitmap files. This format is the best for importing files into other Windows applications.

❙ TIF. TIFF files can be used on many types of

systems.

❙ PCX. The PCX format lets you use your pictures in

many Windows and DOS programs.

❙ TGA. Targa files were originally designed for

specialized hardware and software.

4 Type a name for the file and click OK.

2 Click the down arrow and choose the album you want

to use.

3 When you leave the Transition Effect box checked,

PhotoPC 500 displays various fades and dissolves between images. If you don’t want these effects, click the Transition Effect box to remove the check.

click to select album

leave checked to view effects

Viewing Your Album as a Slide Show

You can turn any album into a slide show that you can share with friends, co-workers, and family members. For instructions on how to create an album, see pages 4-1 and 6-2.

Follow these steps to turn your album into a slide show:

1 Click the Slide Show button . You see the Slide

Show dialog box (shown below).

leave checked to continuously play slide show

enter time between images

4 When you leave the Auto Loops box checked,

PhotoPC 500 plays the slide show continuously (until you press Esc). To play the slide show only once, click the Auto Loops box to remove the checkmark.

Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500 6-9

A B

5 Enter the number of seconds you want to see each

image.

If you’re using Windows 3.1, double-click Desktop. You see the Screen Saver dialog box.

6 Click OK to start the show. You can press Esc to exit the

show at any time.

Using an Album as a Screen Saver

A screen saver is like a slide show that plays whenever your computer is idle for more than a few minutes. You use the Windows Control Panel to turn an album into a screen saver.

NOTE If you need help creating a screen saver, see your Windows documentation.

Follow these steps:

1 Open the Windows Control Panel.

2 If you’re using Windows 95, select Display, and then

click the Screen Saver tab.

3 Click the Screen Saver Name down-arrow to display

the list, and choose PhotoPC 500 Slide Show.

4 Click Settings or Setup.

5 Choose the album you want to use, and set the other

options if you want. Click OK when you’re finished.

6 Set the Wait or Delay time.

7 Click Preview or Test if you want to see a sample of

your screen saver.

8 Click OK when the screen saver is set up the way you

want.

6-10 Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500

Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

our PhotoPC 500 imaging software lets you edit

Y your images to improve their composition, size, or

appearance. You can crop edges you don’t want, copy and paste parts of one image into another one, or convert the image type so you can print it in black and white or use it in an application. This chapter includes instructions for:

❙ Viewing images and image information ❙ Selecting part of your image ❙ Cutting, Copying, and Pasting ❙ Cropping ❙ Resizing ❙ Rotating ❙ Flipping an image or selection ❙ Converting image types

Viewing Images and Image Information

To get a close-up look at part of your open image, you can use the Zoom tool or Zoom In command on the View menu. You can also use the View menu to display information about your image and to hide the Tools Bar and Status Bar on your PhotoPC 500 screen.

NOTE You are not actually changing the image size when you zoom in. If you want to change the size, use the Resize tool or the Image Size command on the Edit menu. See page 7-7 for instructions.

Zooming In and Out with the Zoom Tool

Follow these steps to get a close-up look at your image and then return to your original view.

1 Click the Zoom tool .

Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 7-1

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2 Click the left mouse button on the part of your image

that you want to see in detail.

The image is magnified to twice its size.

3 Continue clicking to increase the magnification. You

can increase it up to 16 times its original size.

4 To decrease the magnification, click the right mouse

button on the image. You can continue to click the right mouse button to zoom out even more.

7-2 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

Using the Zoom Commands in the View Menu

Follow these steps to zoom in and out on your image from the View menu:

1 Choose Zoom In or Zoom Out from the View menu.

You see a list of magnification ratios:

2 Choose the degree of magnification or reduction you

want.

Viewing Image Information

Choose Image Information from the View menu to display an information box like the one below.

❙ Select the units you want to use for displaying the

image’s dimensions. You can select pixels, inches, or centimeters.

❙ Click Histogram to display a graph like the one below:

The histogram shows the brightness of the overall image and each of the three color channels (red, green, and blue) that make up the image. The vertical axis of the graph

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Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 7-3

represents the number of pixels. The horizontal axis represents the brightness level, from the darkest pixels at the left to the brightest pixels at the right.

Click OK when you’re finished with each information box.

Selecting Part of Your Image

Selecting or masking a portion of your image allows you to make changes that affect only that portion. The rest of the image isn’t affected.

NOTE When you enhance an image, change its size, or convert it to another file type, PhotoPC 500 shows your changes in the Image Information box. The histogram reflects changes in brightness and contrast, hue and saturation, tone, and sharpening or blurring.

Hiding the Tools Bar and Status Bar

To create more space for displaying images on your PhotoPC 500 screen, you can hide the Tools bar or Status bar. Follow these steps:

1 From the View menu, choose Show Tools Bar or Show

Status Bar. The checkmark disappears from the menu.

2 To restore the Tools or Status Bar, choose Show Tools

Bar or Show Status Bar again. The checkmark

reappears.

7-4 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

Using a Selection Mask

When using a selection mask, you can choose the Discard command on the Edit menu to cancel all changes made to the selected area. This lets you experiment freely, knowing you can undo a series of changes quickly and easily.

Follow these steps to select a part of your image:

1 Click the Select tool.

2 Click and drag the mouse to select the part of the

image you want.

When you release the mouse button, an “animated” rectangle surrounds the selected area:

NOTE After you select an area, you can use many of the PhotoPC 500 menu commands and tools to work on the area. For example, you can use the Crop, Resize, and Rotate tools. See pages 7-6 to 7-8 for more information about cropping, resizing, and rotating.

Once you have added a selection mask, you can work with it by following these procedures:

❙ To move the selected area, click and drag inside the

area. The selection “floats” on top of the original image.

❙ To decrease the size of a selection or change its shape,

press Ctrl while you select part of the already selected area.

❙ To remove the selection mask, click anywhere outside

it, or press the Delete key. If the entire image is selected, click the Crop tool and then click the image to remove the selection mask.

❙ To cancel all changes made to the selected area and

remove the selection mask, choose Discard from the Edit menu. But be careful! This works only while the

selection is “active.”

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Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 7-5

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting

You can use the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands on the Edit menu with a selected area of an image or an entire image. The Paste as New command lets you create a new image file from an image on the clipboard.

❙ Choose Cut from the Edit menu to remove the selected

area (or the entire image if there is no selection). A white “hole” appears where you made the cut. PhotoPC 500 places the cut-out area on the Windows Clipboard.

❙ Choose Paste as New to create a new file from an

image on the Clipboard. PhotoPC 500 displays the new image file in its own window, and you can save it or add it to an album.

Cropping

Cropping an image is the opposite of cutting; instead of removing the selected area, cropping removes everything outside the area. Follow these steps:

1 Click the Crop tool.

❙ Choose Copy from the Edit menu to place a copy of the

selected area (or the entire image if there is no selection) on the Windows Clipboard. The original image is not affected.

❙ Choose Paste from the Edit menu to paste an image

from the Clipboard into the active image. You can drag the pasted area with your mouse if you want to move it.

7-6 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

2 Click and drag to select the part of the image you want

to keep. When you release the mouse button, an animated rectangle surrounds the selected area.

3 Click outside the selected area if you change your

mind or want to start over. When you move the mouse pointer inside the selection, it turns into a pair of scissors. Click inside the selection to “cut away” the rest of the picture.

Resizing

You can use the Resize tool to enlarge or reduce a selected part of an image. Then you can use the resized area like any other selection—by cutting, copying, or pasting it, and so on. To change the size of an entire image, use the Image

Size command on the Edit menu.

Resizing a Selection

Follow these steps:

1 Click the Resize tool.

2 Click and drag on the part of the image you want to

resize. When you release the mouse button, an “animated” rectangle surrounds the selected area.

3 Click and drag a corner of the selection to change its

size. The selected area “floats” on top of the original image; you can move it by clicking inside the selection and dragging it with your mouse.

4 To remove the selection mask, click the Crop tool and

then click the image outside of the selection.

Resizing an Image

When you change the size of an image, you have several choices to make:

❙ You can keep the aspect ratio (height-to-width

proportion) of the original or change it.

❙ You can set an exact size for the image’s height or

width (or both) in pixels. Or, you can set a percentage of enlargement or reduction.

❙ You can change the image’s resolution (up to 1200 dpi

or more, depending on your computer’s memory).

Follow these steps to resize an image:

1 Choose Image Size from the Edit menu. A dialog box

like the one on the next page appears.

2 Click to uncheck Keep Aspect Ratio if you want to

change the height-to-width proportion. Leave it checked if you want to keep the proportion.

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Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 7-7

3 Enter new values for the size or percentage of

enlargement or reduction.

4 Enter a value for the image’s resolution (dots per inch).

PhotoPC 500 will keep the image the same size and interpolate a higher resolution.

5 Click OK to apply your changes to the image.

NOTE To maintain image quality when printing, you should try increasing the resolution when you enlarge an image. For example, if you scale a picture by 300 percent (3 times larger), you should increase the resolution from 152 dpi to 456dpi.

Rotating

You can use the Rotate tool to tilt or turn a selected part of an image. To rotate an entire image to the exact degree you want, use the Rotate command on the Edit menu.

Rotating a Selection

Follow these steps:

1 Click the Rotate tool.

2 Click and select the part of the image you want to

rotate. When you release the mouse button, an “animated” rectangle surrounds the selected area.

7-8 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

3 Click and drag a corner of the selection to rotate it. The

selected area “floats” on top of the original image; you can move it by clicking inside the selection and dragging it with your mouse.

4 To remove the selection mask, click another tool such

as the Select tool or the Crop tool and then click the image outside of the selection.

Rotating an Entire Image

You can use the Rotate command on the Edit menu to rotate either a selected area or an entire image. With this command, you can even set the exact degree of rotation. Follow these steps:

1 Choose Rotate from the Edit menu. The following list

of choices appears:

2 Choose the angle you want, or choose Degree to

display the Rotate dialog box, shown on the next page.

Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 7-9

3 Enter the exact degree of rotation in the box or drag

the dial.

4 Click OK to rotate the image.

Flipping an Image or Selection

You can use the Flip command on the Edit menu to reverse or “turn over” a selected area or an entire image. This is useful for applications such as printing a T-shirt transfer.

Follow these steps:

1 Select the area you want to flip, or make sure no area is

selected if you want to flip the entire image.

2 Choose Flip from the Edit menu, and then select

Horizontally or Vertically. Your image or selection is

flipped.

3 If you flipped a selected area, click the Crop tool and

then click the image outside of the selection to remove the mask.

original

flipped

Converting Image Types

Converting images gives you the maximum flexibility for editing, displaying, and printing your pictures. Keep in mind that changing an image’s data type is permanent.

7-10 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

The image may lose information when it is changed to a different type, so you should always keep your original file and use the Save As command to create the converted file.

Five image data types are available on the Convert menu:

❙ 1-bit black-and-white

This type of image is like a drawing with no shades of gray. You must convert black-and-white images to grayscale if you want to use PhotoPC 500 enhancements or special effects.

❙ 8-bit grayscale

This type of image contains 256 shades of gray, like a black-and-white photograph. You can use most PhotoPC 500 tools and commands with grayscale images. If you want to print a color image with a black-and-white printer, you should convert it to

grayscale first. This makes the image file smaller (in KB) and faster to process.

❙ 4-bit indexed 16-color

Some older VGA monitors and software applications can display only 16 colors. Use this data type for images that may be viewed on low-resolution systems or used with older software.

❙ 8-bit indexed 256-color

Some Super VGA monitors and software can display only 256 colors. Use this data type for the best image quality on low-resolution systems or with some software applications.

NOTE PhotoPC 500 special effects and some other features don’t work on indexed color images.

❙ 24-bit RGB True Color (over 16 million colors)

This type of image provides the most accurate color and gives you the most options for editing and enhancing in PhotoPC 500. You can convert your

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Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 7-11

indexed color image to this type for editing purposes. The image will appear the same, but you will be able to use all of the PhotoPC 500 features with it.

Below is an example of an image that was originally converted from 24-bit color to 8-bit grayscale and then to 1-bit black-and-white.

8-bit grayscale 1-bit black-and-white

See page 6-7 for information on printing your converted images.

7-12 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500

Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

ou can fine-tune your images and create unusual

Y results using the special effects available in your

PhotoPC 500 software. This chapter describes the following:

❙ Using enhancement tools and special effects ❙ Adjusting brightness and contrast ❙ Adjusting hue and saturation ❙ Setting tone adjustment ❙ Sharpening images ❙ Blurring images ❙ Using special effects ❙ Using the matte template ❙ Using the calendar template

Using Enhancement Tools and Special Effects

In the PhotoPC 500 workshop, there are several options for enhancing your images and for adding special effects. All of the tools for enhancing and adding special effects follow similar procedures. Follow these guidelines when using these features in PhotoPC 500:

❙ Slide the control to the right to increase the effect or

enhancement you are using.

❙ Slide the control to the left to decrease the effect or

enhancement you are using.

❙ If you want to see a specific area of your image

enlarged in the Before and After windows, click the Pan Mode box.

Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-1

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❙ If you want to cancel any enhancement or special

effect, you can choose Undo from the Edit menu at any time, even after you click OK.

NOTE To use the enhancements or special effects, your images must be in either the grayscale or 24-bit color data type. See page 7-10 for information on converting images to these types.

Adjusting Brightness and Contrast

You can adjust the brightness and contrast of an entire image or a selected part of an image. Follow these steps:

1 Select the area you want to change, or make sure no

area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

The Brightness and Contrast dialog box appears:

2 Click the Brightness button or choose Brightness

and Contrast from the Enhance menu.

3 Select the color channel you want to adjust. To adjust

the brightness and contrast of all the colors, select RGB.

8-2 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

4 Slide the Brightness control right to lighten the image,

or left to darken it.

5 Slide the Contrast control right to increase contrast, or

left to decrease it.

6 Click OK when you are finished.

NOTE You can make similar enhancements, with finer control, by choosing Tone Adjustment from the Enhance menu. See page 8-4 for more information.

Adjusting Hue and Saturation

Hue and saturation describe the color values and intensity of an image. Picture a color wheel like the one you used in art class, with all the colors of the rainbow arranged in a circle. When you change the hue of an image, all the colors are shifted by the same degree around the circle.

You can adjust the hue and saturation of a selected area or an entire image. Follow these steps:

1 Select the area you want to change, or make sure no

area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

2 Click the Hue tool or choose Hue and

Saturation from the Enhance menu.

3 The Hue and Saturation dialog box appears:

4 Slide the Hue control right or left to modify colors.

Sliding it all the way to either side shifts the colors 180 degrees around the color wheel.

5 Slide the Saturation control right to increase intensity,

or left to decrease it.

6 Click OK when you’re finished.

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Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-3

Setting Tone Adjustment

The Tone Adjustment option works like Brightness and Contrast, but it gives you more control. You can adjust the brightness of three tone ranges in your image or selection: the highlights, the midtones, and the shadow areas.

Follow these steps to set tone adjustment:

1 Select the area you want to change, or make sure no

area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

2 Choose Tone Adjustment from the Enhance menu. The

Tone Adjustment dialog box appears.

❙ The mapping curve, which initially looks like a straight

line, shows the tone adjustments you make. The horizontal axis represents the original brightness level (from the dark on the left to the bright on the right), and the vertical axis represents the new brightness level.

❙ The histogram represents the brightness of the image

or selected area. The horizontal axis represents the brightness level (from the dark on the left to light on the right), and the vertical axis represents the number of pixels.

8-4 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

3 Click Auto to have PhotoPC 500 make the tone

adjustment automatically. You can see the mapping curve change to reflect the modified image.

4 Slide the Highlight control right to expand the

highlight area. This also increases contrast in the midtones. Slide the control left to reduce the highlight area and darken the image.

5 Slide the Midtone control right to lighten the midtones

or left to darken these areas. Adjusting the midtones (also known as gamma value) does not affect the highlights or shadows.

6 Slide the Shadow control right to reduce the shadow

area and lighten the image. Slide it left to expand the shadow area and darken the image. This also increases contrast in the midtones.

7 Click OK when you’re finished.

Follow these steps:

1 Select the area you want to change, or make sure no

area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

2 Click the Sharpen button or choose Sharpen from

the Enhance menu.

The Sharpen dialog box appears:

Sharpening

You can use the Sharpen tool to give your image a more focused look, with clearer edges.

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Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-5

3 Slide the control to increase or decrease the sharpening

effect.

4 Click OK when you’re finished.

Blurring

You can use the Blur tool to give your image a softer, less focused effect. Follow these steps:

1 Select the area you want to change, or make sure no

area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

2 Click the Blur button or choose Blur from the

Enhance menu. You see the blur dialog box.

3 Slide the control to increase or decrease the softening

effect.

4 Click OK when you’re finished.

8-6 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

Using Special Effects

PhotoPC 500 special effects let you transform your images. You can create abstract or surrealistic art, design wild and colorful patterns, or turn portraits into caricatures. The best way to learn about using special effects is to experiment— so have fun with them!

Follow these steps:

1 Select the area you want to transform, or make sure no

area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

2 Click the Effects browser button or choose

Browser from the Effects menu. The Effects Browser dialog box appears, as shown on the right.

3 Choose the effect you want.

4 Slide the intensity control to increase or decrease the

intensity of the special effect.

5 Click OK when you’re finished, examples of some of the

effects are shown on the next page.

For even more unusual results, try combining two or more of the effects listed below.

Painting Wrinkle Cone Sketch 3D Grid Sphere Film Grain Mosaic Whirlpool Splash Emboss Spiral Melting Motion Blur Cylinder Ripple Fisheye Ribbon

Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-7

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Fisheye

Emboss

Wrinkle

Whirlpool

Mosaic

8-8 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

Ribbon

Sketch

Ripple

Using the Matte Template

You can use the Template feature to create a framed picture with personalized text. Choose from 9 attractive backgrounds to design your printout.

NOTE Before you use the Template feature, make sure your printer is set up correctly. (You must have a printer driver installed to use a Template.) Choose Printer Setup from the File menu to check the



settings. The Paper option for EPSON Stylus to 8 1/2 × 11, centered. See your printer documentation if you need more information.

Follow these steps to get started:

1 Click the Template button.

printers should be set

double-click to change background

double-click to add image

click to select orientation

The Template dialog box appears.

double-click to add text

click arrows or slide bar to change image

keep checked to add frame

type number of copies

If you have an image open, it appears in the dialog box window.

Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-9

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2 Click the down arrow to select Matte, if it’s not already

selected.

3 If your screen is not displaying the image you want to

use, double-click the gray rectangle or existing picture. A file selection dialog box appears.

NOTE Your picture takes longer to print with a colored or patterned background.

Follow these steps to add a background:

4 Select your picture file and click OK. The image

appears in the center of the page.

5 Choose Portrait or Landscape page orientation.

6 Drag the slider if you want to change the size of the

image.

7 When you leave the Draw Frame box checked,

PhotoPC 500 draws a line around your picture. If you don’t want a line around the picture, click Draw Frame to remove the checkmark.

8 Click and drag your image to place it where you want.

Adding Background

You can add a custom color background to your picture or choose from 9 patterned backgrounds.

8-10 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

1 Double-click the background. The Template

Background dialog box appears:

2 Click the down arrow to choose a color or a pattern.

If you click one of the pattern names (such as Birthday Party or Sports), the pattern appears in the window, behind your picture.

3 To choose a color, select Color on the list of pattern

names, and then click the Change Color button. The Color dialog box appears:

4 Click one of the basic or custom colors, or click Define

Custom Colors. (See page 5-9 for information about

defining a custom color.)

Now you can add some text, or just print your framed picture. See page 8-13 for printing instructions.

NOTE The PhotoPC 500 imaging software creates your matted picture with opaque layers. The background is the bottom layer, your picture is the middle layer, and any text you add is the top layer. You can even have the text print on top of your picture. Feel free to experiment to get the effect you want.

Adding Text

You can add one or two blocks of text to your matted picture, designed any way you want. Follow these steps:

1 Double-click one of the text boxes. The Edit Text dialog

box appears:

5 Click OK twice. The color you choose appears in the

Template window, behind your picture.

Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-11

2 Type your text. If you have more than one line of text,

press Enter to start a new line. (Although text appears to wrap automatically as you type, it wraps on your printout only if you press Enter.)

3 Click Font. The Select Font dialog box appears:

4 Choose your font, style, size, color and any effects you

want. The Sample box shows you how your printed text will look. Remember that the text prints over the background you select. If the background is dark, you should choose a light color for the text.

5 Click OK when you’re finished.

7 If you want two blocks of text on your page, repeat

steps 1 through 6 for the other block of text.

You can drag the blocks around the screen to place them where you want.

Here’s what a finished matte template might look like on your screen:

6 Click OK again on the Edit Text box when you’re

finished typing your text.

8-12 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

Printing Your Matted Picture

When you finish designing your matted picture, you can print it. Follow these steps:

1 Enter the number of copies you want to print. (This

option is available only if your printer supports it.)

2 Click Print.

3 When you’re finished, click Exit.

While PhotoPC 500 is open, you can reuse the template with another image and background, and different text. Just click the Template button and start creating.

Using the Calendar Template

You can create a personalized calendar using a different picture for each month. Then you can add a colored or patterned background, a title or caption, and design the dates in any size, color, and style you want.

Follow these steps:

1 Click the Template button. The Template dialog

box appears. If you have an image open, it appears in the window.

2 Click the down arrow to select Calendar, if it’s not

already selected.

click and drag photo, text, and calendar boxes to move around on template

3 If the screen doesn’t display the image you want,

double-click the gray rectangle or existing picture. A file selection dialog box appears.

4 Select your picture file and click OK. The image

appears in the center of the page.

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Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-13

5 Choose the Portrait or Landscape page orientation.

Follow these steps:

6 Drag the slider if you want to change the size of the

image.

7 When you leave the Draw Frame box checked,

PhotoPC 500 draws a line around your picture. If you don’t want a line around the picture, click Draw Frame to remove the checkmark.

8 Drag your image if you want to change its position on

the page.

Adding Background and Designing the Dates

You can add a custom-color background to your calendar and choose from 9 patterned backgrounds. Then you select the month and year, and design the date portion.

NOTE PhotoPC 500 creates your calendar with opaque layers. The background is the bottom layer, your picture is the middle layer, and the dates are the top layer. If you add text, it appears on top of all other layers. You can experiment with these elements to get the effect you want.

1 Follow the steps on page 8-10 to add a colored or

patterned background.

2 Double-click the calendar month displayed on the

Template screen. The Edit Calendar dialog box appears:

3 Click the down arrows and select the month and year

you want.

4 Click Font. The Select Font dialog box appears, as

shown on page 8-12.

Choose your font, style, size, color, and any effects you want. The larger the font, the more space the dates occupy on the page. The Sample box shows you how your printed dates will look.

8-14 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

Remember that the dates are printed over the background you select (or over your picture, if you want). If the background is dark, you should choose a light color for the dates.

5 Click OK when you’re finished.

6 Click OK again on the Edit Calendar box. The dates

appear on the page with your image.

7 Drag the date box to position it where you want.

Adding Text and Printing the Calendar

When you finish designing the picture and dates, you can add a title or caption, and then print your calendar page. Follow these steps:

1 Follow the steps under “Adding Text” on page 8-11 to

add a title or caption. (The calendar has only one text box.) When you’re finished with the text, you see something like the following on your screen:

You’re ready to print.

2 Enter the number of copies you want to print. (This

option is available only if your printer supports it.)

3 Click Print.

4 Click Exit when you’re finished.

Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 8-15

After you complete the first calendar page, you can continue with the next month and make a calendar for the whole year. Or you can create a new calendar page each month.

8-16 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500

Inserting Pictures into Documents

hen your images are saved in albums or on your

Whard drive, you can insert them in your documents

by copying and pasting, or importing them. You can use your pictures in applications such as word processors, presentation programs, database managers, spreadsheets, page layout and desktop publishing packages. This chapter explains how in the following sections:

❙ Inserting pictures with Windows 95 ❙ Inserting pictures with Windows 3.1 ❙ Using copy and paste to insert a picture

NOTE You can also transfer images directly from the camera into documents with drag and drop or by inserting them as objects as described on page 4-5.

Inserting Pictures into Documents 9-1

NOTE If you want to change a picture before you insert it, you can use the Photo PC 500 imaging software to crop, rotate, resize, or make other types of enhancements. (After you insert your picture, you can use your application to change the size and position of your picture.) For more information on using the PhotoPC 500 imaging software, see Chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8.

Inserting Pictures with Windows 95

Follow these steps to insert your PhotoPC 500 pictures with Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0:

1 Open the document you want to add a picture to in

your application.

2 Select the point where you want to insert your picture.

3 Select Picture from the Insert menu. (In some

applications you may need to select a different command, such as Import, which is often found in the File menu.) An Insert Picture dialog box appears:

4 Find the file you want to insert. Most of your pictures

are probably in C:\PHOTOPC5\PHOTOS. In some applications, such as Microsoft Word 7.0, you see a preview of your picture.

9-2 Inserting Pictures into Documents

NOTE You can conduct a search to find your file in many applications designed for Windows 95. You can search by file name, type, text or property associated with the file, or the day your file was last modified. You can also conduct an advanced search. See your application’s documentation or help for more information.

5 Click OK to insert your picture. The picture appears in

your document

6 Add a frame, if you want, so you can move your

picture around on the page and resize it if necessary.

Inserting Pictures into Documents 9-3

Inserting Pictures with Windows 3.1

In Windows 3.1, Microsoft Word and other applications are often unable to recognize the JPEG format that the camera uses to capture your pictures. Convert your picture to a Tiff or bitmap file in PhotoPC 500 as described on page 6-8 or export your photo in the bitmap format as described on page 4-11. Then, follow these steps to insert your converted PhotoPC 500 pictures into documents using applications in Windows 3.1:

1 Open the document in your application.

The Insert Picture dialog box appears:

2 Select the area of your document where you want to

place the picture.

3 Select Picture from the Insert menu. (In some

applications you may need to select another command such as Import, which you can usually find in the File menu.)

9-4 Inserting Pictures into Documents

4 Find the file you want to insert. Most of your pictures

are probably in C:\PHOTOPC5\PHOTOS. If you converted the file, look for the file in the directory where you saved it. In some applications, such as Microsoft Word, you see a preview of your picture.

NOTE You can conduct a search for your file in many Windows applications. See your application’s documentation for more information on conducting a search.

5 Click OK.

The picture appears in your document:

Using Copy and Paste to Insert a Picture

Follow these steps to insert a PhotoPC 500 picture into your document using Copy and Paste:

1 Open your image in PhotoPC 500 or other image-

editing application.

2 Click the picture (or choose Select All) to make sure it is

selected.

3 Select Copy from the Edit menu.

4 Start your word processor or other application and

open the document where you want to use the picture.

5 Choose Paste or Paste Special from the Edit menu. A

copy of the picture appears in your document.

Inserting Pictures into Documents 9-5

Epson 500 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

PhotoPC 500 Features

Where to Get Help

Minimum System Requirements

Registration

Safety Instructions

Unpacking Your PhotoPC 500

Getting to Know the Camera

Removing the Plastic Film

Installing Batteries

Attaching the Hand Strap

Installing Your PhotoPC 500 Software

Turning the Camera On and Off

Using the Control Panel

Checking the Battery Icon

Snapping the Shutter

Taking Close-up Pictures

Adjusting Settings

Checking the Picture Counter

Setting Up the Camera Connection

Adjusting Auto Shut-off

PhotoPC 500 Imaging Software Transfer

Additional Download Methods

Using the Camera Controls

Erasing Pictures from Your Camera

Setting the Shutter Speed

Taking Pictures from the Computer

Using File Folders

Setting Up Frames for Your Photos

Transferring Saved Images to Albums

Working With Your Albums

Opening Image Files

Printing Your Pictures

Saving Your Pictures

Viewing Your Album as a Slide Show

Using an Album as a Screen Saver

Viewing Images and Image Information

Selecting Part of Your Image

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting

Cropping

Resizing

Rotating

Flipping an Image or Selection

Converting Image Types

Using Enhancement Tools and Special Effects

Adjusting Brightness and Contrast

Adjusting Hue and Saturation

Setting Tone Adjustment

Sharpening

Blurring

Using Special Effects

Using the Matte Template

Using the Calendar Template

Inserting Pictures with Windows 95

Inserting Pictures with Windows 3.1

Using Copy and Paste to Insert a Picture