Xerox ElixiGraphics for Xerox User Guide

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ElixiGraphics User Guide

Publication # 720P22833 June 1999 Version 4.00

Elixir Technologies Corporation P.O. Box 1559 Ojai, CA 93024

Publication #720P22833 June 1999

Version 4.00 Printed in the United States of America

Xerox®, 2700, 3700, 4045, 4050, 4075, 4135, 4235, 4650, 4700, 4850, 4890, 8700, 8790, 9700, 9790, XES, UDK, FRM, FSL, VIPP and all Xerox products mentioned in this publication are trademarks of Xerox Corporation.

Trademarks and Service Marks/Company: Bitstream/Bitstream, Inc. Elixir/Elixir Technologies Corporation HP, LaserJet II/Hewlett Packard Company IBM, Personal Computer AT, PS/2, and all IBM products mentioned in this publication/International Business Machines MS-DOS, Microsoft Mouse, Windows/Microsoft Corporation Sigma L-View/Sigma Designs, Inc. Wyse/Wyse Technology

All other product names and trade names used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Copyright protection claimed includes all forms and matters of copyrightable material and information now allowed by statutory or judicial law or hereinafter granted, including without limitation, material generated from the software programs which are displayed on the screen such as icons, screen display looks, etc.

Changes are periodically made to this document. Changes, technical inaccuracies, and typographic errors will be corrected in subsequent editions.

Notes and cautions

The following notes and cautions apply to ElixiGraphics.

ATM outline font support

ElixiFont now supports ATM outline fonts.

System display colors

If you experience memory problems while editing images, first check your system information by selecting [System Info] from the System menu. The System Information dialog box displays with information about the currently loaded file.

Image size

The value listed for "Number of colors" in this dialog box refers to the number of colors your monitor is set to display. To resolve any memory problems, you can change your setup to display 16 colors. If your display is already set for 16 colors, you should increase the amount of RAM on your PC.

New image sizes are now available when creating a new image: Legal, 11 x 17 inches, A3, and Other (custom sizes).

Elixir HP driver

The Elixir HP driver is no longer available when proof printing from ElixiGraphics. You can proof print using your Windows HP PCL or PostScript driver, however.

Table of contents

Notes and cautions

1. Introduction 1-1

Customer support 1-1 ElixiGraphics environment 1-2 Who should use this guide 1-3 Conventions 1-3

Display conventions 1-3

Typographical conventions 1-3 On-line help 1-4 Organization of this Guide 1-6 Starting ElixiGraphics 1-7

Exiting ElixiGraphics 1-8

2. ElixiGraphics basics 2-1

Overview 2-1 ElixiGraphics and other Elixir products 2-2 ElixiGraphics features 2-3

Overview of features 2-3

Menu bars 2-4 Toolbox 2-5 Toolbar 2-7 Message area 2-8

Using ElixiGraphics 2-8

Configuring the system 2-9

Usage switches 2-9

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Configurable colors 2-10 System information 2-12 Reset to defaults 2-12

Save configuration 2-12 Loading an existing image 2-12 Displaying image attributes 2-15 Editing and saving an image 2-16 Creating a new image 2-17 Resetting an image 2-19 Refreshing the screen 2-19 Proof-printing an image 2-19 Additional features 2-21

3. Displaying and drawing an image 3-1

Displaying an image 3-1

View settings 3-2

Magnifying an image 3-2

Reducing an image 3-4

Using the drawing tools 3-5

FG button 3-5 BG button 3-5 Pattern button 3-6 GO button 3-6 Border width 3-6 Border style 3-7 Line 3-7 Curve 3-10 Box 3-12 Ellipse/Circle 3-14 Polyline/Polygon 3-16 Pencil 3-18 Brush 3-19 Airbrush 3-21 Floodfill 3-22

vi ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Eraser/Replacer 3-25 Text tool 3-26

Transform tool 3-27 Drawing modes 3-27 Drawing patterns 3-28

Editing patterns 3-29

4. Manipulating imagesand image areas 4-1

Procedures 4-2

Moving 4-3

Copying 4-4

Saving 4-4 Transforming images and image areas 4-4

Resize 4-5

Rotate 4-6

Mirror 4-8

Distort 4-9

Clear 4-10

Reverse 4-11

Shift 4-12

Halftone 4-13

Outline 4-14

Darken 4-15

Lighten 4-16

Filter 4-18

Import and Export 4-19 Copying to and from the Clipboard 4-19

Copying to the Clipboard 4-19

Pasting from the Clipboard 4-20

5. Using text and clip art 5-1

Entering text 5-1

Specifying text properties 5-4 Clip art 5-10

Importing clip art 5-11

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Converting an image to a font 5-13

Creating clip art 5-14 Tiling an image 5-17 Creating a font from image portions 5-20

6. Additional features 6-1

Ruler 6-1 Merging an image into another image 6-2 Expanding/contracting an image 6-4 Creating a screen version 6-4 Converting an image to a form template 6-5 Breakup image 6-5

A. Working with highlight colors A-1

Highlight color image composition A-1 Applying highlight color shading patterns A-2

Editing highlight color shad-

ing patterns A-4 Editing in black and highlight color planes A-6 Converting a color image to black-and-white A-6

Using the [Color System] option A-7 Using the CLR2BW utility A-7

B. Keyboard shortcuts B-1

C. DOS directories C-1

D. Conversion chart D-1

Glossary GLOSSARY-1

Index INDEX-1

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1. Introduction

ElixiGraphics is a full-feature, Windows-based, bitmap editor that allows you to create and edit Elixir-format graphics.

Depending on the toolset you selected in the ElixiSys Desktop, ElixiGraphics allows you to edit or create black-and-white, highlight color, and full-color Elixirformat graphics.

ElixiGraphics provides the environment and drawing tools normally found on dedicated graphics workstations.

Combined with the ElixiSys Desktop (described in the "ElixiGraphics environment" section of this chapter), ElixiGraphics provides powerful features to support your Xerox high-speed laser printing systems.

If you are familiar with GEM versions of ElixiGraphics, you will find the Windows-based version contains the functionality of the GEM versions plus added features, including a new interface. If you have never used ElixiGraphics before, you will find ElixiGraphics highly intuitive and easy to use.

Customer support

Elixir customer support centers provide telephone technical assistance for Elixir users during business hours.

If you have purchased your Elixir product directly from Xerox Corporation then you should contact the Xerox customer support center telephone number provided by Xerox.

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INTRODUCTION

If you have purchased your Elixir product directly from Elixir Technologies then contact one of the support center hotlines.

See the Elixir Getting Started Guide for information about contacting your support center.

ElixiGraphics environment

ElixiGraphics is designed to work with the ElixiSys Desktop, a Windows-based desktop. The ElixiSys Desktop simplifies file conversions and management by presenting the user with icons which can be manipulated with simple mouse drag-and-drop techniques (refer to the ElixiSys Desktop User Guide for more information).

Other Elixir products that you can use with the ElixiSys Desktop are:

ElixiForm, which is a Windows-based WYSIWYG forms creation package that creates boilerplate forms for conversion to Xerox-format source or object data streams. Graphics files created with ElixiGraphics can be used on ElixiForm forms.

ElixiFont, a sophisticated Windows-based font editor that you can use to create or edit Elixirformat fonts which you can then convert to Xerox and other format fonts. Black-and-white graphics files created with ElixiGraphics can be converted to Elixir fonts by tiling them so that each tile represents a character in the font.

This guide is intended for users familiar with Xerox graphics resources.

Knowledge of Windows and DOS, especially navigation through directory and subdirectory structures and file operations is also required.

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Who should use this guide

This guide is intended for users familiar with Xerox graphics resources.

Knowledge of Windows and DOS, especially navigation through directory and subdirectory structures and file operations is also required.

Conventions

This section describes the display and typographical conventions.

Display conventions

ElixiGraphics adheres to Microsoft Windows conventions for using menus, menu commands, dialog boxes, command buttons, icons and a mouse. See your Windows manual for more information.

INTRODUCTION

Typographical conventions

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this guide:

Keystrokes are shown enclosed in < > (angle brackets). For example, <Enter>.

Key combinations are denoted by a plus sign between keys. For example, <Shift> + <F1> indicates to simultaneously press the <Shift> and the <F1> keys.

Menu titles are shown in bold. Menu options are enclosed in [ ] (square brackets). For example,

Pull down the File menu and select [Load].

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INTRODUCTION

On-line help

Commands, options, actions, and parameters that require description are shown in bold followed on the next line by the description. For example:

Delete

Deletes the selected characters. Steps in a procedure are shown in numbered bold

paragraphs. For example

1. Pull down the Window menu and select [Tile].

Comments relating to a step (such as this paragraph) are shown in regular text following the bold paragraph.

ElixiGraphics uses the Microsoft Windows Help program to provide on-line help for all functions.

For more information about Windows Help, select the [How to Use Help] option in the Help menu, or see your Microsoft Windows documentation.

The Help files included with ElixiGraphics include graphics which were created using screen drivers with large fonts. If you use a screen driver with small fonts, the Help file graphics may not display clearly. For optimum graphics display, use a screen driver that uses large fonts.

You can display on-line help in the following ways:

Bubble help

Click on an icon with the right mouse button to view its properties (if applicable) or to display "bubble help." Bubble help is a short description of the icon function that displays in a bubble extending from the icon.

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INTRODUCTION

Quick help

Enable the quick help function by selecting the [Show Quick Help] option in the Preferences dialog box. When you move the screen pointer over and icon on the screen, a short description of the icon function displays in the Message area of the screen. During certain operations a message about the function you are performing also displays in the Message area. You can disable quick help if you prefer to see these operational messages.

Context sensitive Help

To use this function, press <F1>. The Help table of contents displays.

Help menu

Select [Help] from the ElixiGraphics menu bar and select one of the displayed topics.

Dialog box Help

Click on the [Help] button in a dialog box to view an associated Help topic. Under Windows 95 and Windows NT, right-click on a dialog box option to display an associated Help topic.

Help pop-ups and jumps

Within Help topic text, words or phrases underlined in green are pop-ups or jumps. When you click on a pop-up topic, a box displays within the current Help topic with additional information. When you click on a jump, a different, associated Help topic displays.

Help Hypergraphics

Hypergraphics are special graphics within Help files that contain "hot spots". Hot spots are either pop-up topics or jumps. Hypergraphics in Elixir Help are most commonly dialog boxes with option hot spots (pop-up definitions), Toolboxes with tool hot spots (topic jumps), and menus with option hot spots (topic jumps or pop-up definitions).

Move the cursor over a hypergraphic until a hand displays, then click on this hot spot to display a pop-up topic, or a "jump". To close a pop-up topic, click the mouse button. To return to the original Help topic from a jump, click on <Back> in the Help file menu.

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INTRODUCTION

Organization of this Guide

This User Guide is organized as follows: Chapter 1, "Introduction," is a brief overview of Elixi-

Graphics software and documentation. Chapter 2, "ElixiGraphics basics," describes how Elixi-

Graphics fits in with your Xerox printing system and with other Elixir products. Basic information required for using ElixiGraphics to create an image is described in this chapter along with pointers to other chapters and appendices for additional information.

Chapter 3, "Displaying and drawing an image," describes how a loaded image displays at various magnifications, how large images are displayed, and how to use the drawing tools displayed at the left of the ElixiGraphics screen.

Chapter 4, "Manipulating images and image areas," describes operations you can perform on the entire image or on marked areas in an image.

Chapter 5, "Using text and clip art," describes how you can bring in text from fonts and how to create fonts from images (by tiling the image) or image portions (by cutting areas into a font). The concept of "clip art", Elixir-format fonts containing image portions, is introduced in this chapter.

Chapter 6, "Additional features," contains descriptions of features that are not directly related to drawing images but are included as supports for using ElixiGraphics (for example, ruler and grid display and merging images).

Appendix A, "Working with highlight colors," describes how to use the highlight color features of ElixiGraphics (for HighLight Plus, or Option users only).

Appendix B, "Keyboard shortcuts," lists keyboard shortcuts for ElixiGraphics operations.

Appendix C, "DOS directories," lists the directories used in ElixiGraphics operations.

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Appendix D, "Conversion chart," contains a chart showing supported formats for Graphics conversions.

Glossary Index

Starting ElixiGraphics

To start ElixiGraphics from the Elixir Desktop: Open (double-click on) the ElixiGraphics icon at the

right of the Desktop. The ElixiGraphics window (shown in the following fig-

ure) displays.

Close button

INTRODUCTION

Figure 1-1. ElixiGraphics window

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 1-7

INTRODUCTION

Alternatively, with the Elixir Desktop displayed, open the Graphics folder, then open the Elixir Graphics folder and double click on a graphics file. The ElixiGraphics window (shown above) displays with the graphics file loaded and displayed at the center of the screen.

Exiting ElixiGraphics

To exit ElixiGraphics, pull down the

menu and se-

File

lect [Exit] (or press <Alt> + <X>, or <Alt> + <F4>), or double-click on the Close button.

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Overview

2. ElixiGraphics basics

This chapter presents an overview of ElixiGraphics and brief instructions on how to use it. This chapter also includes references to other chapters in this user guide that include detailed information.

PC-based graphics packages can create and edit images in two ways: in bit-mapped format where all graphics elements created are stored as a collection of dots, or in vector format where image elements are stored mathematically. ElixiGraphics edits images in bit-mapped format.

Other PC-based bitmap graphics formats include Xerox IMG and LGO, PCX, BMP, and TIFF.

Converters in the Elixir Desktop enable you to import LGO, IMG, PCX, BMP, and TIFF images and convert them to Elixir format. When in Elixir format, you can use ElixiGraphics to edit the images. Afterwards, you can reconvert your edited images back to the original format or to Xerox LGO, IMG, PCX, BMP, TIFF, or Elixir font formats (see the following figure).

IMG LGO

ELIXIGRAPHICS

IMG

Figure 2-1. Importing/exporting ElixiGraphics images

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-1

LGO PCX/TIFF/BMP

PCX/TIFF/BMP

FONT

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

See the ElixiSys Desktop User Guide for more information about converting files.

ElixiGraphics and other Elixir products

The Elixir Suite for Xerox products are designed to interconnect. The following paragraphs describe examples of this interconnectivity.

Any scanner that generates PCX or TIFF (Group 4) formats can be used from the Elixir Desktop. The Elixir Desktop can then convert the files to Elixir format for use in ElixiGraphics.

ElixiGraphics enables you to create fonts directly from graphics by tiling the graphic into equal rectangles, each of which corresponds to a character in the font (see the "Using text and clip art" chapter). These fonts can be imported and edited in ElixiFont and then converted to Xerox format and printed on any Xerox printer.

You can use the Elixir Desktop to convert a Xerox font into Elixir format, and then import the font and place it in an image using ElixiGraphics.

A powerful feature of ElixiGraphics is the inclusion of clip art libraries which are managed by ElixiFont and used in large graphics projects (see the "Using text and clip art" chapter).

Graphics created using ElixiGraphics can be used in ElixiForm to enhance the appearance of a form. You can use ElixiGraphics to copy forms from other sources as follows: You can scan an existing paper form into an image file (for example, PCX or TIFF), convert the image to Elixir format, and use the Elixir graphic as a template in ElixiForm to be traced over to create a new Elixir form (see the "Additional features" chapter).

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ElixiGraphics features

The ElixiGraphics window is shown in the following figure. A blank Work area displays at the center. The Work area menu bar displays above the Work area, and the ElixiGraphics menu bar displays at the top of the screen. The ElixiGraphics window also displays a Toolbox, and Toolbar. The menu bars, Toolbox, and Toolbar are described in the following sections.

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Toolbox Toolbar

Message

area

Work area

menu bar

Work area

ElixiGraphics menu bar

Figure 2-2. ElixiGraphics window

Overview of features

This section gives an overview of ElixiGraphics features and refers you to the chapters where features are explained in detail.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-3

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Menu bars

The ElixiGraphics menu bar contains the following menus:

System

The options in this menu allow you to configure ElixiGraphics, as described in the "Configuring the system" section of this chapter.

Window

The options in this menu allow you to use the Microsoft Windows Multiple Document Interface (see the "Loading an existing image" section of this chapter, or your Microsoft Windows User's Guide for details), and to toggle between displaying and hiding the Toolbox (see the "Toolbox" section of this chapter).

Help

This menu allows you to access the on-line help features described in the "Introduction" chapter.

The Work area menu bar contains the following menus:

File

The options in this menu allow you to load, create, print, and save images, and exit ElixiGraphics. In addition, there are options for merging an image into an existing image, resetting an image to the last save state, and saving an image area. tions are described in this chapter, the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter, and the "Additional features" chapter.

menu opera-

File

Edit

The options in this menu allow you to cut and paste to the Windows clipboard, copy a screen area, and delete all drawings in an image area. In addition, this menu contains the undo and redo features described in the "Toolbar" section of this chapter.

Edit

menu operations are described in the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter.

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Toolbox

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Image

The options in this menu allow you to view image attributes, expand or contract an image, set the stretch mode when reducing images, and refresh the screen. In addition, this menu allows you to access the Extra Operations sub-menu which is described in the "Additional features" chapter. Image menu operations are described in this chapter, the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter, and the "Additional features" chapter.

Tool and Transform

These menus correspond to the Toolbox options described in the "Toolbox" section of this chapter.

The following figure displays the ElixiGraphics toolbox.

Tools header

Drawing tools

Message panel

Tool options

Foreground/Background

Preview panel

Go button

Pattern button

Figure 2-3. ElixiGraphics toolbox

The drawing tools at the top of the Toolbox represent the tools for drawing and editing images or image areas and importing text and clip art. If the Work area is maximized, the Toolbox displays on top of the Work area.

To use a drawing tool, select the appropriate tool in the Toolbox or select the tool from the

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-5

Tool

menu.

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

The drawing tools are described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

The Transform tool is used to apply transformations, such as resizing or half-toning, to whole images or image areas and is described in the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter.

You can set the tool options by clicking on icons in the Toolbox. Setting options for a drawing tool is described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

The Message panel provides a short description of any selected tool in the Toolbox.

The Preview panel allows you to preview the option settings for a drawing tool before you perform any drawing operations.

You can toggle between hiding and showing the Toolbox by pulling down the Window menu and selecting [Tools] or by pressing <F10>. To move the Toolbox, click on the Tools header and drag the Toolbox to the desired location.

The [Go] button is used to apply the transformations described in the "Manipulating images and image area" chapter.

Pattern button

This button shows the current shading pattern when drawing in color or black-and-white. Clicking on this button allows you to apply the shading patterns described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

Highlight color users have the additional option of applying the shading patterns described in the "Working with highlight colors" appendix.

FG/BG

The [FG] (foreground) button allows you to select the color of your drawing tool.

The [BG] (background) button allows you to set a background color when performing some of the transformation and drawing operations described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter and the

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Toolbar

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

"Manipulating images and image areas" chapter. The [BG] button also allows you to set a background color when creating a new image. See the "Creating a new image" section of this chapter for more information.

If you are a Black and White or highlight color user, click on the [FG] or [BG] button until the color you want is displayed.

If you are a full-color user, click on the [FG] or [BG] button and double-click on a color from the window that displays.

The following figure displays the Toolbar.

Digital ruler

Magnification/ Reduction

Undo/Redo

Drawing modes

Grid

Figure 2-4. ElixiGraphics Toolbar.

The Toolbar icons provide the following drawing supports for the drawing tools:

Digital ruler

This tool allows you to display the position of a drawing such as a line, circle, or box relative to the image area, or to display the height and width of a drawing while using certain drawing tools. This tool is described in the "Additional features" chapter.

Magnification/Reduction

This tool allows you to magnify or reduce an image and is described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

Undo/Redo

The Undo/Redo feature allows you to reverse actions in ElixiGraphics if the [Number of Undo Levels] option in the Preferences dialog box is set to one or more levels. See the "Usage switches" section in this chapter for more information.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-7

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

To undo an operation, click on the Undo icon in the Toolbar or pull down the Edit menu and select [Undo]. You can also use the <Ctrl> + <Z> fast keys.

To redo an operation that was undone using the Undo feature, click on the Redo icon in the Toolbar or pull down the Edit menu and select [Redo]. You can also use the <Shift> + <Ctrl> + <Z> fast keys.

Drawing modes

These icons (from left to right) allow you to access the opaque, transparent, and reverse drawing modes described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

Grid

This icon allows you to toggle on a grid when displaying magnified views of 8x or more.

Message area

The Message area is split into two sections. The left section displays the type of image loaded in the Work area, and operational and error messages. The right section provides a description of an icon when you place your cursor over it.

Using ElixiGraphics

This section provides a brief overview of how to use ElixiGraphics, including information about configuring ElixiGraphics when you first start using it. If you have never used ElixiGraphics, you may want to read all of this section. In it, you will be referred to other chapters in this User Guide which provide more detailed information.

Configuring the system

ElixiGraphics allows you to configure your system and then save the configuration.

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Usage switches

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Pull down the

System

menu and select [Usage

Switches] to display the Preferences dialog box.

Figure 2-5. Preferences dialog box

Save state on exit

Select this option if you want to save the menu and option settings when you exit an image.

Show quick help

Select this option to see the quick help messages described in the "Introduction" chapter.

Confirm file overwrites

Select this option if you want to be prompted before overwriting a file.

Confirm leaving unsaved work

Select this option if you want to be prompted to save your work before exiting ElixiGraphics.

Use Elixir font selector

Select this option if you want to use the Elixir Font Selector when you select fonts for your text. The Elixir Font Selector allows you to select non-default font widths.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-9

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Deselect this option if you want to use the Windows Font Selector when you select fonts for your text. The Windows Font Selector allows you to select only Windows default fonts.

See the "Using text and clip art" chapter for more information.

Keyboard mapping

Select the [Keyboard Mapping] option:

Select [None] to use Windows ANSI mapping. If you select this option you must have screen fonts mapped to Windows ANSI mappings.

Select [ANSI to OEM] to remap ANSI keystrokes to DOS mappings.

Select [KMP] to translate keystrokes using customized tables. In most cases, if you chose the appropriate Country Keyboard Map and Default Code Page during installation, you can use this option.

Number of undo levels

Select the number of actions or levels (between 1 and

32) that ElixiGraphics can reverse when you use the [Undo] option.

Xerox catalog name

This option is for highlight color users only. Select the catalog for your printer: [XEROX] or [XEROX1].

Configurable colors

The Configurable Colors dialog box allows you to change the color of the grid lines and the locator box. (See the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter for a description of the grid lines and locator box.)

To display the Configurable Colors dialog box, pull down the

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System

menu and select [Colors].

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Figure 2-6. Configurable Colors dialog box

The current colors for the grid lines and locator box are displayed. To change the colors of either the grid lines or locator box, click on the corresponding [Edit] button to display the Color RGB Editor dialog box.

Figure 2-7. Color RGB Editor dialog box

RGB values are Red, Green, and Blue color components that combine to create a color. Use the right and left arrows next to each color, or click inside the corresponding box, to specify a component value between 0 and 255. The Result window displays the results of mixing Red, Green, and Blue color components.

When you accept your changes by clicking on [OK], your grid lines or locator box displays in the color shown in the Results box.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-11

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

System information

For information regarding your current Windows screen driver, memory, and disk space available, pull down the pressing <Alt> + <F5>. The System Information dialog box displays.

Figure 2-8. System Information dialog box

Reset to defaults

System

menu and select [System Info], or

If you change the configuration settings while using ElixiGraphics, you can reset to the default configuration by pulling down the System menu and selecting [Reset to defaults].

Save configuration

To save current menu and option settings, pull down the System menu and select [Save Configuration] before exiting an image.

Loading an existing image

ElixiGraphics allows you to load up to two images at one time.

With the ElixiGraphics main screen displayed, load an existing image as follows:

1. Pull down the File menu and select [Load] or

press <F8>.

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ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

The Load Image dialog box displays with an alphabetical list of all available images. If you elected to install them, the names of demonstration files are listed. These are Elixir-format .LP3 files in drive:\ELIXIR\PICS\PRINTER. To display .BMP images, select [.BMP] from the window at the bottom of the dialog box.

Figure 2-9. Load Image dialog box.

If there are more files than can be displayed, use the scroll bar to move through the list.

2. Select an image file.

The file displays in the Work area and the file name displays in the Work area menu bar. The following figure shows the demonstration file STARS.LP3 displayed.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-13

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

3. To load another image, pull down the Window

Figure 2-10. Loaded file

menu and select [Another Image] to re-display the Load Image dialog box.

4. Select an image.

You now have two images loaded in two separate windows.

5. Pull down the Window menu and select one of

the following:

[Cascade] displays the images in two separate overlapping windows.

[Horiz. tile] displays the images side by side. [Vert. tile] displays one image above the

other.

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Displaying image attributes

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

To display the image attributes, pull down the

Image

menu and select [Attributes] or press <F2>. The Image Attributes dialog box displays.

Figure 2-11. Image Attributes dialog box

The Image Attributes dialog box displays the following information: width, height, name, resolution, color system, format, image memory size and memory available. If the image is a highlight color image, the highlight color being used also displays.

You can select a different resolution only when using the image in other applications, for example when using Elixir Desktop converters to convert the file to other formats. Note that the image resolution of the converted file must be supported by the target printer. The resolution also affects the size of the image when importing it into ElixiForm: the higher the resolution, the smaller the image on the form.

The [Color System] option allows you to convert a loaded image to [Black & White], [Highlight Color], or [Full Color], depending on the image you have loaded and the color system your printer supports.

The following information applies to HighLight Color users only:

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-15

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

When your color system is set to [HighLight Color], the [HighLight Color] option displays and allows you to change the current highlight color by pulling down the list and selecting another color.

If the currently loaded image is a highlight color image, the [Swap Color Planes] option displays. Click on this option to switch the highlight color plane and the black plane.

For more information about HighLight Color, see the "Working with highlight colors" appendix.

Editing and saving an image

ElixiGraphics allows you to edit up to two images at one time.

To edit a displayed image:

Use the edit/drawing tools in the Toolbox. The edit/drawing tools are described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

Use the Transform tool to transform a whole image or image area. See the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter for more information.

After making changes to an image you can do the following:

Pull down the

menu and select [Save] (or

File

press <Ctrl> + <S>) to save your changes to the current file. To save your changes to a new file pull down the

menu and select [Save as] (or

File

press <F7>). The Save Image dialog box displays which allows you to specify a new file name.

Pull down the

menu and select [Undo], or

Edit

click on the Undo icon in the Toolbar, to undo the last edit or transform operation.

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Pull down the Edit menu and select [Redo], or click on the Redo icon in the Toolbar, to re-insert the changes you made before you selected [Undo].

Pull down the File menu and select [Reset] to delete any changes made since loading or saving the file.

Pull down the Edit menu and select [Delete], or press <Del>, to delete everything in the Work area.

Creating a new image

To create a new image:

1. Click on [BG] to select the color of the background.

2. Click on [FG] to select the color of the drawing tool.

3. Pull down the File menu and select [New] or press F9.

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Figure 2-12. Image Attributes dialog box options

The Image Attributes box displays the following options:

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ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Width

Specify the width of the new image in dots. Note that ElixiGraphics rounds image widths up to

the nearest multiple of eight dots.

Height

Specify the height of the new image in dots.

Name

Specify a name for the image. The default name is UNTITLED.LP3.

Standard Sizes

Select [Letter] to create an 8.5 x 11 image, [11x17] to create an 11 x 17 image, [A3] to create a European legal-size image, or [A4] to create a European letter-size image.

Resolution

Select [200], [240], [300], [480], [600], [1200], or [1440] dpi resolution.

Color System

Select the color system for the image you want to create: [Black & White], [Highlight Color] or [Full Color].

Format

Select a format for the new image: [.LP3] or [.BMP].

Highlight Color

This option is for highlight color users only. When the [Color System] option is set to [Highlight Color], specify [RED], [GREEN], or [BLUE].

When using an ElixiGraphics image in ElixiForm, the highlight color set in the ElixiForm application overrides the ElixiGraphics image highlight color.

You can change the ElixiForm highlight color at the highlight color printer console.

4. Click on [OK] and use the drawing tools to create a new image.

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Resetting an image

When you reset an image, you clear all edits since the last save operation. To reset an image, pull down the

menu and select [Reset].

File

Refreshing the screen

If a Windows operation leaves "snow" on the screen, you can use the [Refresh View] option to redisplay the image bitmap from memory onto the screen. Pull down the Image menu and select [Refresh View].

Proof-printing an image

When you are ready to proof print your image, pull down the File menu and select [Print] or press <Ctrl> + <Shift> + <F10>. The Print dialog box displays.

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Figure 2-13. Print dialog box

The Print dialog box contains the following options:

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ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

Printer

Choose your printer as a PCL 4 or compatible, Xerox 4045 or Xerox 2700/4045 printer.

Elixir software has been tested with HP Windows printer drivers for proof printing. Other printer drivers are not supported and may produce unpredictable results when used with Elixir software.

PCL 4 considerations

PCL 4 printers print a maximum page size of 8 x

10.33 inches. If your graphics' boundaries fill an 8.5 x

11 inches page, the outer margins of your image will not print on a PCL 4 printer.

For accurate positioning, shift the print image on the page using the [Page Shift] option in the Print dialog box.

Orientation

Select the orientation for your page, [Landscape] or [Portrait].

Page shift

Select [Page Shift] to shift your proof printer output horizontally or vertically by the number of dots specified.

[Xshift] moves your image horizontally and [Yshift] moves your image vertically.

Use a negative shift value to shift the printed output to the left or down, and a positive value to shift the printed output to the right or up.

For a PCL 4 or compatible printer, the normal or centered image value is [Xshift] = -60.

Copies

Select the number of copies you want to print.

Use printer resolution

Select this option to print your image using the current printer resolution. If you do not select this option, your image is printed using the image resolution.

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Print to file

When [Print to File] is selected, ElixiGraphics outputs a print file to the drive:\ELIXIR\PRINTS\HPPRINT\ directory with a .PRN extension.

Autogen output name

When you select the [Print to File] option, the [Autogen Output Name] option also displays. If you select this option, ElixiGraphics automatically outputs the print (.PRN) files with the same stem name as the Elixir (.ELX) file. If you do not select this option, the Print To File dialog box displays after you click on [OK]. Enter the stem name for the file, up to eight characters.

Additional features

The preceding sections provide a brief overview of how to use ElixiGraphics. The following chapters provide detailed information about ElixiGraphics drawing\editing tools and features.

ELIXIGRAPHICS BASICS

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 2-21

3. Displaying and

This chapter describes how to load and display an image and how to use the drawing tools.

Displaying an image

When you load an image in ElixiGraphics the image displays in the Work area.

drawing an image

Fig 3-1. Displaying an image in the Work area

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

The image is bound by a gray, uneditable region. However, the image can be enlarged to extend into the gray area as described in the "Additional features" chapter.

A message displays in the message area identifying the color mode of the loaded file: [Black-and-White], [Highlight Color], or [Full Color].

Note that the square border around the image is not part of the image.

View settings

This section describes how to display a magnified view or a reduced view of an image using the Zoom icon in the Toolbar. The Magnification window displays the current magnification level of an image.

Magnifying an image

Click on the up arrow in the Zoom icon (or press the <+> key on the numeric keypad) to magnify the center of the image and to display it in a window to the left of the Work area.

The magnification factor displays in the Magnification window. The default magnification factor is 1x. Use the up arrow, or press the [+], to increase the magnification factor to 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, or 32x magnification.

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Scroll bars

Locator Box

Figure 3-2. Magnified view

The magnified area in the left window is defined by the Locator Box in the right window. Click inside the Locator Box and drag it to magnify a different area of the image. To change the color of the Locator Box, see the "ElixiGraphics basics" chapter.

Alternatively, you can use the arrow keys or the scroll bars to move around and display different portions of the image.

Click on the Grid icon in the Toolbar to display the grid. The grid displays only at magnifications of 8x or higher.

All drawing tools described in the following sections work in magnified view.

Note that displaying an image at a magnification factor of 16X or more may cause your system to become unstable.

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Reducing an image

Before building a reduced view of an image, select a Stretch mode. Stretch mode affects the way an image displays when it is reduced. To select a Stretch mode, pull down the Mode]. Select one of the following options:

[Color on Color] preserves black, white, and color pixels when an image is reduced and is probably the best mode for performing image reductions.

[Black on White] preserves black pixels at the expense of white pixels when an image is reduced.

[White on Black] preserves white pixels at the expense of black pixels when an image is reduced.

To display a reduced view of an image, click on the down arrow in the Zoom icon or press the <-> key on the numeric keypad.

Initially, the image displays at print size (PRN) which allows you to preview an image at actual size.

Click on the down arrow again to display the image at

-2x, -4x, and -8x reduction factors.

Image

menu and select [Stretch

This feature is especially useful when you want to fit a large image into the Work area.

Note that you cannot edit an image in a reduced view.

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Using the drawing tools

The drawing tools display at the top of the Toolbox and drawing options display in the Toolbar.

To use a drawing tool, select it from the Toolbox or from the Tool menu. In the figure on the left, the Line tool is selected.

You can select options for your drawing tools. The drawing tool you select determines the options available in the Toolbox. Drawing tool options are described in the following sections.

All drawing operations are performed by clicking and dragging the mouse in the Work area.

Note that you can use all the tools described in this section in the magnified view mode described earlier in this chapter.

FG button

The [FG] button allows you to select the color of a drawing tool as black, white or color, depending on the color mode selected for your image.

DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

If you are creating a black and white or highlight color image, select a color by clicking on the [FG] button until it displays the color you want.

If you are a full-color user, the Choose Foreground Color dialog box displays when you click on the [FG] button. Double-click on the color you want to use.

BG button

The [BG] button allows you to set the background color when creating a new image, entering text, and performing some of the transformation operations described in the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter. The [BG] button also allows you to set the color of a fill when drawing filled shapes, as described in appropriate sections of this chapter.

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If you are creating a black and white or highlight color image, click on the [BG] button until it displays the background color you want.

If you are a full-color user, the Choose Background Color dialog box displays when you click on the [BG] button. Double-click on the color you want to use.

Pattern button

The currently-loaded pattern displays in the Pattern button. Click on the Pattern button to display the Pattern window from which you can load a shading pattern described in the "Drawing patterns" section of this chapter.

If you are a highlight color user, you can also choose one of the highlight color shading patterns described in the "Working with highlight colors" appendix. Click on [High...] to display the highlight color shading patterns.

If you are a full-color user, you can also choose one of the colors from the full-color palette. Click on [Full...] and select a color from the pattern window.

GO button

Use the [Go] button to apply the transformation operations described in the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter.

Border width

The up and down arrows in the Toolbox are used to set the border width of lines, shapes, brush and pencil tips, and the eraser.

To set the border width, click on the up arrow to increase the width, or on the down arrow to decrease the width. The border width displays in the numeric display box next to the up and down arrows.

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Border style

Line

DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

You can also change the current value by backspacing over it and entering a new value. Alternatively, you can click once in the numeric display box and specify the lowest border width value by <Ctrl> - clicking in the box, or the highest border width value by <Shift> clicking in the box.

Select [Solid], [Dashed], or [Dotted] borders when drawing lines or shapes.

The Line tool allows you to draw single, connected, or radial lines.

Line options

Figure 3-3. Line options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

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Line direction

Select the line direction: [Horizontal], [Vertical], [Both], or [Free].

Select [Horizontal] to draw a line in the horizontal direction only.

Select [Vertical] to draw a line in the vertical direction only.

If you are drawing connected lines and want to scroll around the image, the line will stay connected to the last point. This feature enables you to draw long lines across large images which do not fit in the Work area.

Select [Both] to draw a line in the horizontal or vertical directions, depending on mouse movement.

Select [Free] to draw a line in any direction, including diagonal.

Line beginning and end style

Select the line beginning (top row) and end style (bottom row). Select [Square], [Round], or [Mitered] for each end of your line. Line beginning and end styles are most apparent at line widths of 10 or above.

Note that the [Mitered] option is available with diagonal lines only.

The following figure illustrates the effects of [Square], [Round], and [Mitered] ends.

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Figure 3-4. Line end examples

Line style

Select [Single], [Connected], or [Radial].

Select [Single] to draw a single line between mouse clicks.

Select [Connected] to connect lines between successive mouse clicks, until you select another line style or drawing tool.

Select [Radial] to create lines that radiate from a single point. This option applies to [Free] direction lines only.

Note that the [Undo] option is not available for radial lines.

You can change the line properties while drawing a line. You can also use different line widths while drawing a line as shown in the following figure.

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Figure 3-5. Connected lines with different widths

Curve

The Curve tool draws sections of circles or ellipses. Connecting curves together enables you to produce high quality line art.

Curve options

Figure 3-6. Curve options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Curve type

Select [Quarter Circle] to use sections of circles to draw curves or select [Quarter Ellipse] to use sections of ellipses to draw curves.

Curve direction

Select [Horizontal], [Vertical], or [Any].

Select [Horizontal] to draw the curve horizontally.

Select [Vertical] to draw the curve vertically. Select [Any] to draw the curve in any

direction.

Curve style Select [Single], [Connected], or [Radial].

Select [Single] to draw curves one at a time. Select [Connected] to connect curves be-

tween successive mouse clicks until you select another curve mode or drawing tool.

Select [Radial] to create curves continuously from one point.

The following figure shows examples of curves in the three different modes.

Note: The [Undo] option is not available for radial curves.

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Figure 3-7. Curve examples

Box

The Box tool allows you to draw hollow or filled squares or rectangles with squared or rounded corners. The width of the box border is determined by the [Border Width] option.

Box options

Corner radius options

Figure 3-8. Box options

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Box shape

Select to draw a [Square] or [Rectangle].

Box corners

Select [Square] or [Rounded] corners.

Box type

Select [Hollow] or [Filled]. If you select [Filled], the box fills with the fill pattern or color displayed in the Pattern window.

Corner radius

Select [Custom] or [Maximum].

Select [Custom] to set the width and height dimensions of rounded corners using the up and down arrows next to the Width and Height boxes.

Select [Maximum] to draw a square or rectangle with rounded corners of equal height and width dimensions.

The following figure shows examples of boxes.

Figure 3-9. Box examples

Note that square boxes appear distorted on the screen when the screen aspect ratio is not 1:1. However, these boxes print correctly.

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Ellipse/Circle

The hollow or filled Ellipse/Circle tool allows you to draw hollow or filled circles and ellipses. The width of the circle or ellipse border is determined by the [Border Width] option.

Ellipse/Circle options

Figure 3-10. Ellipse/Circle options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Circle/Ellipse shape

Select to draw a [Circle] or [Ellipse].

Ellipse/Circle origin

Select [Center] or [Upper Left Quadrant].

Select [Center] to draw a circle from the center outward, where the anchor point is the circle/ellipse center.

Select [Upper Left Quadrant] to draw an ellipse or circle that expands outward with one quadrant of the circle or ellipse remaining anchored in the starting position. This method allows you to place the shape more precisely in relation to another object.

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Ellipse/Circle segment

Select one or more of the four segments to display that segment of a circle or ellipse.

Ellipse/Circle type

Select [Hollow] or [Filled]. Selecting [Filled] draws circles and ellipses with the fill pattern displayed in the Pattern window.

Figure 3-11. Circle and ellipse examples

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Polyline/Polygon

The Polyline tool draws polylines or filled and unfilled polygons.

To draw a polyline or polygon, move the screen pointer into the Work area, click in the image to start drawing, and keep moving and clicking to draw the line segments of the polyline or polygon. To end a polyline or polygon, double-click the left mouse button.

Polyline options

Figure 3-12. Polyline/Polygon options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Polyline/Polygon

Select [Open] or [Closed].

Select [Open] to draw a polyline. Select [Closed] to draw a polygon.

Polyline/Polygon direction

Select [Horizontal & Vertical] or [Free] line segments.

Select [Horizontal & Vertical] to draw lines that snap to horizontal or vertical lines.

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Select [Free] to draw lines in any direction.

Polygon fill mode

Select [All] or [Alternate] fill mode.

Select [All] to fill the entire polygon with the pattern or color displayed in the Pattern window.

Select [Alternate] to only fill areas that are accessible from the outside of the polygon by crossing an odd number of lines.

Figure 3-13. Alternate polyline

Polyline/Polygon type

Select to draw a [Hollow] or [Filled] polygon. Selecting [Filled] draws polygons with the fill pattern or

color displayed in the Pattern window. Note that the border of the polygon is black only if you

select black using the [FG] button.

Figure 3-14. Polygon examples

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Pencil

The Pencil tool draws a continuous line in black or white. Highlight color and full-color users have the additional option of drawing in color.

Pencil options

Figure 3-15. Pencil options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Pencil tip

Select [Square] or [Rounded].

Select [Square] to draw individual dots or a continuous line with squared ends.

Select [Rounded] to draw individual dots or a continuous line with rounded ends.

For high-precision work in magnified view, you should use the Pencil tool with a drawing width of [1].

Note that to see the difference between a [Square] and [Rounded] pencil tip, select a border width of five dots or more.

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Brush

DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

The Brush tool paints continuous square or circular dots, or in a series of horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines, depending on the drawing mode you select. Click and drag the brush tip to generate a shape.

The Brush tool paints in black, white, or the currentlyselected fill pattern.

Highlight-color and full-color users have the additional option of drawing in color.

Brush options

Figure 3-16. Brush options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Basic brush tips

Select a [Square] or [Rounded] brush tip.

Select [Square] to paint continuous square dots.

Select [Rounded] to paint continuous circular dots.

Special brush tips

Select [Horizontal], [Vertical], [Diagonal Right], or [Diagonal Left].

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Select [Horizontal] to paint a series of continuous horizontal lines.

Select [Vertical] to paint a series of continuous vertical lines.

Select [Diagonal Right] to paint a series of continuous diagonal lines that slant to the right.

Select [Diagonal Left] to paint a series of continuous diagonal lines that slant to the left.

The following figure is an example of the effect of the [Horizontal], [Vertical], [Diagonal Right], and [Diagonal Left] brush tips.

To achieve a continuous painting action, draw slowly so that brush tips overlap.

Figure 3-17. Samples of brush drawing

Brush type

Select [Dots] or [Pattern].

Select [Dots] to paint in black, white or color. Select [Pattern] to paint with the pattern or

color displayed in the Pattern window.

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Airbrush

DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

The Airbrush tool simulates the effect of an airbrush by "spraying" dots or patterns on the image.

To "spray", press and hold the mouse button.

Airbrush options

Figure 3-18. Airbrush options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Spray type

Select [Dots] or [Pattern].

Select [Dots] to spray black, white or color dots.

Select [Pattern] to spray with the pattern or color displayed in the Pattern window.

Area Width/Height

The [Area Height] and [Area Width] options set the dimensions of the spray area (the area in which dots are randomly sprayed). You may want to experiment with thin spray areas (for example, width: 6, height: 15 to 99) first.

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DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Use the up and down arrows in the [Area Height] and [Area Width] options to set the size of the spray in dots. Alternatively, click in the box and enter a value.

Spot characteristics

Use the up and down arrows in the [Spot Size] and [Spot Border] options to set values in dots. Alternatively, click in any of the boxes and enter a value.

The [Spot Size] option determines the size of the spots the Airbrush sprays. As some Xerox printers cannot print single dots, you should select a spot size of 2 or larger for correct printing.

The [Spot Border] option determines the border width of the spots. You can use this feature to create special effects. For example, try a spot size of [9] with a border of [1], and paint using a gray tone pattern.

Figure 3-19. Airbrushing examples

Floodfill

The Floodfill tool allows you to fill an area bound by the current foreground color, or fill an area already having the current foreground color. You can use the current background color or pattern as floodfill.

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Note that this function may not work correctly if ElixiGraphics is running under the Windows 95 operating system, or if the image is 64 KB or larger.

Floodfill options

Figure 3-20. Floodfill options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Floodfill mode

Select [Interior] or [Solid].

Select [Interior] to fill an area bound by the current foreground color with the current pattern or the background color, depending on your [Floodfill Type] selection.

Select [Solid] to fill areas having the current foreground color with the current pattern or the background color, depending on your [Floodfill Type] selection.

Floodfill type

Select [Color] or [Pattern].

Select [Color] to fill an area with the current background color displayed in the [BG] button.

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Select [Pattern] to fill an area with the current pattern.

The following figure shows the beach flood-filled with a brick pattern.

Fig 3-21. Floodfill example

Note that if an area is already filled, you can replace that area with another pattern or color only if the area is defined by a border color that is different from the fill color or pattern.

For example, if you have a shape with a highlight color border, and a black and white pattern fill, you can replace the black and white pattern with another black and white pattern, solid black or solid white. However, if the shape border is black or white, you can not replace the black and white pattern because the border color is the same as the pattern color.

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Eraser/Replacer

DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Use the Eraser/Replacer tool to clear portions of an image to white, black, color, or the current pattern.

Eraser options

Figure 3-22. Eraser options

Select from the following options in the Toolbox:

Eraser mode

Select [Stretchy Box] or [Moving Box].

Select [Stretchy Box] to erase using a rectangular box in the image area. Press and hold the mouse button to start drawing the box then, as you move the mouse, the box stretches and erases the area contained in the box.

Select [Moving Box] to display a square with the dimensions set in the [Border Width] option. While holding down the mouse button, drag the pointer. The area covered by the square is erased.

Eraser direction

If [Moving Box] is selected, select [Horizontal], [Vertical], [Both], or [Free].

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Select [Horizontal] to erase in a horizontal direction only.

Select [Vertical] to erase in a vertical direction only.

Select [Both] to erase in a horizontal and vertical direction only.

Select [Free] to erase in any direction.

Pixel replacement

Select [All] or [Color replace].

Select [All] to clear the whole area with the current background color, or pattern if the [Eraser/Replacer Type] option is set to [Pattern].

Select [Color Replace] to replace sections having the current foreground color with the current background color, or pattern if the [Eraser/Replacer Type] option is set to [Pattern].

Eraser/Replacer type

Select to [Erase with BG Color] or [Erase with Pattern].

Select [Erase with BG Color] to erase/replace with the current background color.

Select [Erase with Pattern] to erase/replace with the current pattern or color.

Text tool

The Text tool allows you to import clip art images and to insert text in your images. Using the Text tool is described in the "Using text and clip art" chapter.

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Transform tool

The Transform tool is used for copying, moving, creating clip art, and for transforming an image or a marked image area. Using the Transform tool is described in the "Manipulating images and image areas" and "Using text and clip art" chapters.

Drawing modes

You can select the drawing mode option from the Toolbar. These options affect all drawing tools.

The three options are (from left to right) [Replace] (opaque), [Transparent] and [Reverse]. The following figure shows the effect of superimposing a filled rectangle using (from top to bottom) the [Replace], [Transparent], and [Reverse] options.

The drawing modes work for copy operations and all the drawing tools except the Eraser.

DISPLAYING AND DRAWING AN IMAGE

Figure 3-23. Drawing modes

In replace (opaque) mode, drawing over another shape replaces the shape underneath.

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In transparent mode, drawing does not erase any shapes underneath.

In reverse mode, drawing reverses the color of the shapes underneath.

Drawing patterns

Click on the Pattern button to display the Pattern window. The window displays a number of pre-defined black and white shading patterns.

To select from the full-color window, click on [Full].

To select highlight color shading patterns, click on [High]. See the "Working with highlight colors" appendix for more information.

Select a pattern from the Pattern window by clicking on it. The pattern displays in the Pattern window and is available for use with the appropriate drawing tools described earlier in this chapter.

Placing the cursor over a pattern displays the name in the Pattern name box.

To close the Pattern window, double-click on the Close button.

To move the Pattern window, click on the Pattern header and drag the menu to the desired location.

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Close button

Patterns

Editing patterns

Pattern name box

Pattern header

Figure 3-24. Black-and-White Pattern window

To edit the currently selected shading pattern, click on the Pattern button using the right mouse button. The Shading Pattern window displays from which you can edit the current pattern.

If you want to edit a highlight color shading pattern, see the "Working with highlight colors" appendix.

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Figure 3-25. Shading Pattern window

The right side of the window shows the pattern at normal magnification. The left side of the window displays a magnified image of the pattern bitmap.

The edit area is within an 8 x 8 dot grid at the center of the magnified bitmap area.

When you edit a black-and-white shading pattern and save your changes, the changes are saved to memory only, they are not saved to your hard disk. To store the edited bitmap with other program settings, you can save the current configuration by pulling down the System menu and selecting [Save Configuration].

Although you can use all the drawing tools to edit the pattern bitmap, it is easiest to use the Pencil tool with a width of one for precision editing.

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You can also apply the transformation operations described in the "Manipulating images and image areas" chapter to a pattern bitmap.

You can edit a pattern bitmap in black or white by selecting black or white with the [FG] button.

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4. Manipulating images and image areas

ElixiGraphics includes features that allow you to manipulate (transform) a loaded image or a marked rectangular area within a loaded image.

You can perform the following transformation operations on the whole image: move, resize, rotate, mirror, distort, clear, reverse, shift, halftone, outline, darken, lighten, filter, or copy to and from the Windows Clipboard.

You can perform the following transformation operations on an area in an image: all the above operations plus moving, copying, and saving marked areas in the image.

The import and export functions allow you to create or use clip art images. These functions are described in the "Using text and clip art" chapter.

All the transformation operations described above are performed using options in the Transform menu or the Transform toolbox, except copying to and from the Clipboard which is performed using options in the Edit menu.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Click on Transform icon to display the

Transform toolbox &

options.

Select a transformation operation from the Transform toolbox or menu

Figure 4-1. Select a transformation

Procedures

To move, copy, transform, cut, paste or save an image area, you must first mark the area. To do this, select the Transform tool, and then drag the mouse in the image area. A dashed box displays around the marked area. The marked area can then be moved, copied, transformed, cut, paste or saved using the procedures described in the following sections of this chapter.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Mark an area

Figure 4-2. Marking an area

You do not have to mark an area if you are copying, moving, transforming, cutting, pasting or saving a whole image.

Moving

The move operation allows you to move a marked area to another area, leaving a blank space in place of the marked area.

To move an area, click in the marked area (the screen pointer changes to a hand) and drag the mouse. The area attaches to the screen pointer. Release the mouse button to place the area in a new location. A blank space is left in place of the marked area.

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Copying

The copy operation allows you to make single or multiple copies, leaving the original image or marked area in place.

To make a single copy, <Ctrl>-click in the marked area (the screen pointer changes to a hand) and drag the mouse. Release the mouse button to place the area.

To create multiple copies, repeat the procedure.

Saving

To save a marked area as an Elixir (.LP3) or Bitmap (.BMP) image, pull down the File menu and select [Save Area]. The Save Area into Image dialog box displays allowing you to specify a file name for the marked area.

The new image file is written to the drive:\ELIXIR\PICS\PRINTER directory.

Transforming images and image areas

To transform an image area, select one of the Transform operations described in the following sections. Click on the [Go] button after marking an area and selecting the desired transformation options.

If you are transforming an entire image, simply click on the [Go] button without marking an area. Alternatively, pull down the Edit menu and choose [Select All] to outline the entire image and then click on the [Go] button to apply the transformation. To deselect the image, pull down the Edit menu and choose [Unselect] (or press <Ctrl> + <A> to toggle between selecting and unselecting an image).

Successively click on the [Go] button to reapply transformations.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-4

Resize

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

You can also transform an image area "on the fly" while moving or copying the area by using the appropriate <Ctrl>-fast key combination. All transformations except the Resize, Clear, and Shift transformations can operate in this manner.

Note that the current Toolbox option settings for a transformation are applied when using this method.

See the "Keyboard shortcuts" appendix for a list of the transformation fast keys you can use "on the fly."

This operation allows you to resize an image or image area up or down in independent horizontal and vertical percentages which you specify by clicking on the up or down arrows in the [% In Horizontal] or [% In Vertical] options. Alternatively, click in the box next to the up and down arrows and enter a different percentage.

Click on [Go] to apply the Resize option

Specify a horizontal or vertical resize

Figure 4-3. Resize options

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

If you are upsizing image areas, make sure you have enough space on the right and below the image area to place the resized area.

Figure 4-4. Resizing examples

Better results (less distortion) are obtained by resizing in one step rather than repeatedly resizing.

The maximum horizontal and vertical resize value is 1000%, and the minimum horizontal and vertical resize value is 10%.

Rotate

This operation allows you to rotate an image or image area clockwise or counter-clockwise in 90 degree increments, or 180 degrees.

Select [Clockwise], [Counterclockwise], or [180 degrees] as the rotation direction.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Click on the Go button to apply a Rotate option

Specify a direction

Figure 4-5. Rotating options

If you are rotating image areas, make sure you have enough space on the right and below the image area, as the image is rotated into this area.

The following figure shows the effect of rotating in the [180 degrees] direction.

Figure 4-6. Rotating example

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Mirror

This operation allows you to flip an image or image area in horizontal or vertical directions.

Select the [Horizontal] or [Vertical] option to specify the direction in which you want the image flipped.

Click on the Go button to apply a Mirror option

Specify horizontal or vertical mirroring

Figure 4-7. Mirroring options

The following figure shows horizontal mirroring.

Figure 4-8. Mirroring examples

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-8

Distort

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

This operation allows you to distort an image or image area in any direction.

Distortion is specified by direction and number of pixels. If you slant the area 28 pixels to the right, the top row of the area will be distorted to the right by 28 pixels. Each successive row will be distorted less until the last row is not distorted at all.

A benefit to this operation is that through combinations of distortions to the right and upward or to the left and downward, you can perform arbitrary bitmap rotations.

Click on [Go] to apply a Distort option

Specify direction and the number of pixels

Figure 4-9. Distorting options

The following figure shows an example of distortion.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Figure 4-10. Distort example

Clear

This operation allows you to mark an area in the image and then clear that area or the area outside the marked area to the current background color.

Select [Inside Area] to clear the marked area, or select [Outside Area] to clear the image outside the marked area.

Click on [Go] to apply a Clear option

Specify clearing inside or outside an area

Figure 4-11. Clearing options

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-10

Reverse

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

If a large image is loaded, only the part of the image that displays in the current window will be cleared.

The following figure shows the effect of clearing outside an image area.

Figure 4-12. Clearing outside an area

This operation changes all black dots in an image or marked area to white, and all white dots in the area to black.

This operation does not require you to set options in the Toolbox. Simply click on the [Go] button to perform the operation.

Figure 4-13. Reversing example

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Shift

This operation allows you to precisely move an image area or the whole image with respect to its borders.

Select a direction to shift using the up, down, left, or right arrow, and set the number of pixels you want the image to shift.

Specify whether you want a [Normal] or [Circular] shift. [Normal] replaces the area that was moved with the current background color. [Circular] begins replacing the area that was moved with a new version of the image with each click of the [Go] button.

Click on the Go button to apply a Shift option

Specify shift direction, number pixels, and shift type (Normal or Circular).

Figure 4-26. Shift options The following figure shows an example of a circular

shift with the bigcat logo.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-12

Halftone

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Figure 4-14. Circular shift example

This operation allows you to apply line or shading patterns to whole images or image areas.

You can apply halftoning as horizontal, vertical, and slanted (45° and 135°) lines, or as a shading pattern.

Select [Lines] when applying lines for halftoning. The [Width] and [Separation] options control the width and frequency of lines on the screen, thus varying the lines per inch of the halftone.

The color of the halftoning lines is the current foreground color which you can set by clicking on the [FG] button.

If using a shading pattern to halftone, select [Pattern] and load the desired shading pattern as described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Figure 4-15. Halftone options

The following figure shows the effect of applying halftoning to the individual characters of the Xerox logo.

Click on the Go button

to apply a Halftone option

Specify Pattern or Lines

Specify line type

Specify Width & Separation

Figure 4-16. Halftone examples

You can apply different halftone screens to the same area repeatedly to achieve different effects.

Outline

This operation enables you to produce an outlined (hollow) version of an image or image area.

Select the width of the outline from the Toolbox.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Click on the Go button to apply an Outline option

Specify outline width

Figure 4-17. Outline options

Note that some Xerox printers cannot print lines with a width of one dot. If printing on Xerox printers, you should use 2-dot outlining.

Figure 4-18. Outline example

Darken

This operation allows you to darken an image or image area by adding one or more pixels next to existing pixels in the image.

Specify the number of pixels and the direction in which you want pixels added.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Figure 4-19. Darken options

Click on the Go button to apply a Darken option

Specify a direction and the number of dots

Figure 4-20. Darkening example

Lighten

This operation allows you to lighten an image or image area. Each black area in the image or image area is contracted by the number of pixels and the direction specified in the Toolbox.

Note that you cannot reverse a lighten operation using the [Darken] option, however, you can use the [Undo] option to restore the pre-lightened image.

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Click on the Go button to apply a Lighten option

Specify the side and the number of dots

Figure 4-21. Lightening options

Figure 4-22. Lightening example

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-17

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Filter

This operation allows you to apply up to six filtering algorithms to an image or image area.

Figure 4-23. Filter options

Click on the Go button to apply a Filter option

Apply filtering algorithims

The following figure shows the features you can filter: sharp corners, hanging or "ragged" dots, and single bits. Filtering a sharp corner removes the corner dot.

Figure 4-24. Filtering

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-18

To clean up rough edges on black and white signatures and logos, apply all six filtering algorithms by selecting each one in the Toolbox.

The following figure shows the effect of applying all filters to a halftone image area. The effect is to apply more contrast to the image.

Import and Export

The Import and Export transform operations are described in the "Using text and clip art" chapter.

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Figure 4-25. Filtering example

Copying to and from the Clipboard

You can copy an image or marked area to and from the Windows Clipboard using the Edit menu.

Copying to the Clipboard

When copying to the Windows Clipboard, pull down the press <Ctrl> + <X> for [Cut], or <Ctrl> + <C> for [Copy]).

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-19

menu and select either [Cut] or [Copy] (or

Edit

Selecting [Cut] leaves a blank space in the marked area.

MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

Selecting [Copy] places the image in the Clipboard without changing the original image.

You can also copy an area to the Windows Clipboard using the [Copy Screen Area] option. To use this option you must have the screen area you want to copy visible. Use the [Copy Screen Area] option as follows:

1. Pull down the Edit menu and select [Copy Screen Area].

The cursor changes to a hand pointer.

2. Place the finger tip of the hand pointer at the top left corner of the area you want to copy, and drag the mouse to the bottom right corner of the area.

A temporary box is drawn around the area.

3. Release the mouse button to copy the area to the Windows Clipboard.

The message "Block copied to Clipboard" displays in the Message area.

Pasting from the Clipboard

If you want to paste an image to a specific area, you must first select the Transform tool and mark the area where you want the image pasted.

You must also pull down the paste mode from the

Set Paste Mode

menu and select a

Edit

sub-menu:

Select [Not Clipped] to paste the image in the marked area at the actual size. If the image is larger than the marked area, the image extends beyond the marked area.

Select [Clipped to Area] to paste the image in the marked area. If the image is larger than the marked area, only part of the image displays in the marked area.

Select [Fit to Area] to paste the image in a marked area. If the image is larger than the

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MANIPULATING IMAGES AND IMAGE AREAS

marked area, the image is reduced so that it fits in the marked area.

To paste an image from the Clipboard to a marked area, pull down the Edit menu and select [Paste] (or press <Ctrl> + <V>).

If you do not mark an area, the image is pasted in the top left corner of the Work area.

Note for highlight color users: Color images in the Windows Clipboard are stored as full color images. When pasting a full color image onto a highlight color image, the highlight color image may become polluted with full color characteristics which may cause unpredictable results when printing.

To prevent this from occurring, pull down the Image menu and select [Filter Colors] after pasting a color image from the Windows Clipboard on a highlight color image. This step ensures that your image remains a highlight color image and prints correctly on your proof-printer.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 4-21

5. Using text and clip art

This chapter describes the following:

Entering text

ElixiGraphics allows you to enter text into an image area using Windows alpha-numeric TrueType fonts, ATM fonts, or Elixir-format fonts. Note that as ElixiGraphics is a bit-mapped image editor, the text can only be edited while placing it in the image. Once it is placed, it can only be edited as a bitmap using the drawing tools described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

How to enter text into an image. Using and creating clip art. How to tile an image into a font. How to cut and convert an image area to a char-

acter in a font.

If you plan to use Elixir-format fonts, make sure they are installed in the \ELIXIR\FONTS\ELIXIR directory. Some fonts are installed in this directory during installation.

If you are using the Elixir Desktop, you can also generate Elixir fonts from outline fonts by using the Elixir Font Factory supplied with the desktop. See the Elixi- Font User Guide for more information about Elixir fonts and the ElixiSys Desktop User Guide for information about generating fonts with the EFont Factory.

You can also use the Elixir Desktop to convert Xeroxformat fonts to Elixir-format fonts for use in ElixiGraphics.

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

You insert text into an image by entering text from the keyboard and selecting text properties from the Text toolbox.

To display the Text toolbox, select the Text tool in the Toolbox or select [Text] from the Tool menu. The Text toolbox displays.

Font Selection icon

Text properties

Font window

Elixir soft keyboard button

Preview selected font

Figure 5-1. Text toolbox

The Text toolbox allows you to select text properties and displays the current Windows or Elixir-format font in the Font window.

To enter text, click in the Work area. The Enter New Text dialog box displays.

Figure 5-2. Enter New Text dialog box

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

Enter characters from the keyboard using the <Backspace> key or <Delete> key to edit text, and using <Ctrl> + <Enter> to insert a carriage return (CR). Click on [OK] to display the text in the Work area with a box around it if you selected [Box Text], or a crosshair pointer if you selected [Free Text]. See the "Specifying text properties" section of this chapter for a description of the [Box Text] and [Free Text] options.

When the text displays with a box around it or a crosshair pointer next to it, the text is in blend text mode. Blend text mode allows you to edit the text, and position it anywhere in the Work area.

You can also enter characters from the Soft Keyboard while in blend text mode. Select the Soft Keyboard to open it, then click on the desired characters. The characters display at the end of the text you entered with the standard keyboard. Ensure that the box around your text is large enough to view these additional characters.

Figure 5-3. Box and Crosshair pointer

To position the text when in blend text mode, move the cursor inside the box or crosshair pointer until the cursor changes to a hand, then click and drag the mouse to move the text to the desired location. Release the mouse button to position the text.

Figure 5-4. Cursor changes to a hand

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

To edit the text when in blend text mode, move the cursor inside the box or crosshair pointer until the cursor changes to a hand, then click on the right mouse button to display the Change Text dialog box. Edit the text and click on [OK] to accept your changes.

Once you are sure of where you want your text positioned, place the text by clicking outside the text block and selecting [Cancel] from the Enter New Text dialog box, or by selecting another drawing tool. Once text is placed, you can only edit it as a bitmap using the drawing tools described in the "Displaying and drawing an image" chapter.

Specifying text properties

Specify text properties by clicking on the options in the Text toolbox.

Font type

This option allows you to select [Windows] to use Windows fonts (including symbolic fonts such as WingDings), or [Elixir] to use Elixir fonts. Note that you can only load an Elixir-format font into ElixiGraphics if you have a screen version of the font. See your ElixiSys Desktop User Guide for information about generating a screen version of a font.

To use Windows fonts:

1. Select the [Windows] option.

2. Click on the [Font Selection] button.

The dialog box that displays depends on the [Use Elixir Font Selector] option in the Preferences dialog box. (See the "ElixiGraphics basics" chapter for more information about the Preferences dialog box.)

If the [Use Elixir Font Selector] option is not selected, the Font dialog box displays allowing you to select a font name, style, size and script type from the fonts you have available within Windows.

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

Figure 5-5. Font dialog box If the [Use Elixir Font Selector] option is se-

lected, the Choose Font dialog box displays allowing you to select the font name, style, height and width.

Figure 5-6. Choose Font dialog box

3. Select the font you want to use and click on [OK].

To use Elixir fonts:

1. Select the [Elixir] option.

The Load Font dialog box displays the Elixirformat fonts currently available in the drive:\ELIXIR\FONTS\ELIXIR directory.

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

Note that if an Elixir-format font is already loaded, click on the [Font Selection] button to display the Load Font dialog box.

The Load Font dialog box also displays ElixiGraphics clip art fonts (described later in this chapter). To avoid confusion, ElixiGraphics clip art fonts are prefixed with a caret (^).

2. Select an Elixir-format font and click on [OK] to load the font.

The currently loaded font displays in the Font window.

You can view an Elixir-format font before entering it in the Work area by selecting the [Soft Keyboard] option. See the "Specifying text properties" section for more information.

Note that you cannot enter grayed out or "null" characters in a font.

To close the window, click on the [Soft Keyboard] button again.

Text boundaries

Select to enter [Box Text] or [Free Text]. Box text is bound by columns. If you select the [Box

Text] option, you must also select the [Wrap Text] option (described later in this section) and define the column.

To define a column:

1. Select the [Box Text] and [Wrap text] option.

2. Click and drag the mouse in the Work area.

A column displays in the Work area.

3. Release the mouse button when the column is the correct size.

The Enter Text dialog box displays.

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4. Type the text in the Enter Text window and click on [OK].

The text displays inside the column.

5. To resize the column, click and drag any of the handles.

Free text is not bound by columns; only by the width of the image.

To use the [Free Text] option:

1. Click in the Work area.

The Enter Text dialog box displays.

2. Enter text and click on [OK].

The text displays as a continuous text string in the image area .

Note that you can switch between [Box Text] and [Free Text] until the text has been placed. However, if the [Wrap Text] option is deselected when entering free text and you toggle to [Box Text], the [Wrap Text option is not automatically activated. To activate [Wrap Text] in this situation, select the [Wrap Text] option and click inside the column.

Text Baseline Rotation

Select the text rotation: [Left to Right], [Bottom to Top], [Upside Down], or [Top to Bottom].

Note that due to Windows limitations, not all fonts can be rotated. If a font does not rotate, select a different font and try the rotate operation again.

Text Justification

You can justify text when the [Wrap Text] and [Box Text] options are selected. Specify the justification for each text block: [Left Justified], [Center Justified], [Right Justified], or [Full Justified].

Text Positioning

When the [Wrap Text] and [Box Text] options are selected, specify the vertical positioning of the boxed text: [Top], [Center], or [Bottom].

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

You can use this option with [Text Justification] and [Box Text] to place the text in twelve positions within the box.

Note that this option is not available if you have the [Box Text] option selected for a Windows font type.

FG and BG buttons

Click on the [FG] button to toggle between entering black, white or color text.

Click on the [BG] button to toggle between entering text on a black, white or color background.

Font Selection

Select this option to bring up the Windows or Elixir font selection dialog box to select a font to load.

Soft Keyboard

Select this option when an Elixir font is loaded, to display the Elixir font in a window below the Work area. at the correct size in proportion to the image.

Figure 5-7. Displaying an Elixir font

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

Use the scroll bar or <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys to scroll through the font.

If you are in blend text mode, you can enter text from the soft keyboard by clicking on individual characters.

Wrap Text

Selecting this option toggles between setting [Wrap Text] on or off. When you select [Wrap Text], any text you enter is bound in the box you define in the [Box Text] option.

Intercharacter Spacing (for Windows fonts only)

Intercharacter spacing allows you to justify text by adding or deleting spaces between characters.

Enter a value in the [Intercharacter Spacing] option by using the up and down arrows next to the box, or clicking in the box and entering a new value.

As you increase the value, the spacing between characters increases. As you decrease the value, the spacing between characters decreases.

Drawing Mode

You can enter text using [Replace], [Transparent] or [Reverse] mode by selecting the appropriate icon in the Toolbar. The following figure shows examples of entering text in the three drawing modes.

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USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

Figure 5-8. Entering text in an image

Clip art

ElixiGraphics clip art is a collection of images stored as characters in Elixir-format fonts. You can think of each font as a "library" of related clip art. Because the clip art is an Elixir-format font, you can convert it to Xerox printer format and print the clip art as characters on the Xerox printer.

You can import clip art into your image from an existing clip art library, or you can create your own clip art library. See the following sections for more information.

To avoid confusion with normal fonts, ElixiGraphics clip art file names are prefixed with a caret (^). During installation, some clip art fonts are written to the \ELIXIR\FONTS\ELIXIR directory.

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Importing clip art

USING TEXT AND CLIP ART

This section describes how to import clips from an existing clip art (font) library and place them in an image.

Refer to the following figure when importing a clip art item into a displayed image.

Clip art library button

Load button

Figure 5-9. Importing clip art options

To import a clip art item into a displayed image:

1. Pull down the Transform menu and select [Import] or select the Import tool in the Transform toolbox.

2. Click on the [Clip Art Library] button.

3. Click on the [Load] button to display the Load Clipart Library dialog box with all the currently-available clip art libraries (fonts) in the drive:\ELIXIR\FONTS\ELIXIR directory.

4. Select a library to display the first "page" of clips in the library and click on [OK].

5. Position the cursor over a clip art item until the clip art cell is highlighted then press the mouse button.

ELIXIGRAPHICS USER GUIDE 5-11

Xerox ElixiGraphics for Xerox User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual