Preferences

Auto Open Sibling Image

This option instructs Maskerade to search for a matching, or 'sibling' file immediately after the user opens the first source image. See 'Opening Files' in 'Using Maskerade' for more information.

Auto Build Final Image

This option instructs Maskerade to automatically begin the masking process when the Final Image tab is selected. The follwing requirements must be met before masking begins:

Link Image Scrolling

This option links together the scrolling and zooming of each tab. When the image in one tab is scrolled and zoomed to a particular view, the images in the other tabs are scrolled and zoomed to match the first tab's view. When you switch from one tab to another, the images will be in the same positions.

Dither Display

This option causes images to be dithered in the display on computers that cannot display 'Millions Of Colors' (24 bit graphics). This option is useful if Maskerade is being used on a computer such as a PowerBook with an 8-bit or 16-bit display because it effectively increases the number of shades of colors that can be seen on-screen.

Note:
This option has no effect on the input or output of images. Files are read and saved and all Maskerade calculations are performed at the specified color depth of the source files. This option only affects the display of the images on-screen.

Background Points

This option selects the method that will be used to relocate the background points set during the last masking session. It is intended to save time when doing multiple images that share the same background, such as those acquired during a large studio shoot of tabletop items.

The 'Discard Previous' option causes the previous background points to be discarded. It is necessary to set two new points before masking will begin.

The 'Keep Absolute Positions' option causes the background points to be kept in the same absolute positions that they were in the previous session. This is useful if all of the images to be masked are the same size and dimensions, and the appropriate background point locations are the same in all images.

The 'Keep Relative Positions' option causes the background points to be moved to the same relative locations in the new session as they were in the previous session. This is useful if the pairs of images to be masked are not all of the same size or proportions. For example, if the first pair of images have a portrait orientation and the points are set in the top left and bottom right corners, and the second pair of images have a landscape orientation, the points will be kept relative to the top left and bottom right corners as they were in the first pair of images.

Note:
You should not rely on the automatic relocation of the background points to choose the proper point locations for you. A well masked image requires proper identification of the background color and lighting gradient by the operator. It is not an automated process.

Composite Animation

This option determines the relative saturation and lightness of the colors used in the 'Animated Composite' preview option.

Use Gamma

This option is an expert setting. Most graphic manipulation packages ignore the effects of gamma during their calculations which result in incorrect results. You have the option of setting the source image gamma and output device gamma individually im Maskerade.

The 'Source Gamma' is the gamma of the two source images. It is assumed that the gamma of the two images is the same because it would be inappropriate to use images acquired through two different techniques that have different gamma responses.

The 'Output Gamma' is the gamma of the output device.

The minimum allowed gamma is .25 and the maximum allowed gamma is 3.0. If you do not know the gamma of the source images, or you do not know the gamma of the output display or device, turn this option off. When this setting is turned off, a linear gamma of 1.0 is used for both source and output.

Delete Registration

This button will delete the current user registration, allowing you to re-register the application. You will need to quit the application and re-launch it in order to enter your new information. This feature is most relevant when you have been running the application as a demo and you need to remove the demo registration and enter the registration information for a purchased license.

Output Resolution

This option selects the resolution that the Final Image will be saved at. The 'Same As Image 1' causes the Final Image to be saved at the same resolution as the image in the Image #1 tab. The 'Preset Value' option causes the Final Image to be saved at the resolution specified in the text box. The minimum resolution is 1 dpi and the maximum resolution is 4096 dpi.

Output Color Layer

This option determines whether or not an additional background color layer is saved in a Photoshop file. The 'Same As Preview' option saves a layer of the same color as seen in the Final Image tab. The 'Preset Color' option saves a layer of the same color as specified in the color well.

To change the preset color, click on the color well to open the color picker.

Output Transparency As

This option determines how transparency is written to a Photoshop file. The 'Layer Transparency' option saves the final image as a normal, transparent Photoshop layer. This method is easiest to edit with the eraser tool, but it is more difficult to "tweak the mask" when done this way. The 'Layer Mask' option saves transparency into a layer mask. This is the easiest method to tweak the mask by using the curves or levels command, or by painting onto the layer mask using the paintbrush.

Include Source Image 1 & Include Source Image 2

This option determines whether source image 1 and/or 2 are also written into the Photoshop output file as additional layers. This option is for your convenience to store an archival copy of the original images in the final image file to eliminate the need to keep the original separate files.

Photoshop 2.5 Compatible File

This option saves an additional flattened version of the image into the file for compatibility with old versions of Photoshop. This option can substantially increase file sizes, so it is not recommended for files to be used with newer versions of Photoshop.