Getting started

If you have a registered FilterOptix, make sure to register first: How to register

This tutorial explains the basic of using FilterOptix. After reading this tutorial you will be able to use predefined filters on your pictures.

• Starting FilterOptix
• Introduction to the user interface
• Selecting a preset
• Changing filter settings
• Rendering to the image

Starting FilterOptix

To start FilterOptix, you must open or create a picture in RGB, grayscale or duotone color mode in 8-bit or 16-bit color depth.
A JPEG image is always a good place to start. Not all graphics applications will support all color modes and color depths but RGB color mode and 8-bit color depth is usable for all supported graphics applications.

How to FilterOptix depends on which graphics application you're using. Pictured here is Photoshop. Most graphics applications will have a menu or submenu labeled "Filter(s)" and in it you'll find the "FilterOptix" option in the "VanDerLee" category.

Introduction to the user interface

After starting FilterOptix, you'll see the following window.

This window contains everything you need to control FilterOptix. The window is divided into a number of different areas, labeled in the picture with red numbers.

1. Preview (1)
   Here you can see what the picture looks like with the effect applied.
   Learn more about the preview area here: Using the preview.
2. Presets (2)
   Here you can select filters created earlier.
   Learn more about using presets here: Using presets.
3. Main controls (3)
   Use the main controls to change how the filter looks. At the top of this area are a number of tabs, as shown here. You can click on any of the tabs to select them. Each tab has it's own set of controls which will appear in the rest of the area.

   
    

   • Filter
     These controls let you rotate, move and scale the filter as well as set the amount of focus for it.
   • Edit
     Use the edit controls to change presets or create new filters.
   • Options
     With the options, you can change the way FilterOptix works and looks.
     Learn more about the available options here: Options reference.

   Only three tabs are pictured though a fourth (labeled "Register") may appear if you are not yet registered, after registration this tab will disappear.

4. Button bar (4)
   The controls found in the button bar let you manage settings files, get help and exit FilterOptix.

At the bottom of the window is also a toolbar which may at times display useful information.
While making the preview, the toolbar shows a progress bar which will disappear again after the preview is finished.

Selecting a preset

The first time you start FilterOptix, a default filter will be loaded by default. You can see this filter in the preview.
You'll probably want to use another filter though. FilterOptix comes with a large number of predefined filters, called "presets". You can find these presets at the top-right part of the window.

The presets are order in a grid, with each preset having a small thumbnail preview of the effect. To select a preset, clic anywhere on the square thumbnail of the preset you want to use. If you can't find the filter you want, you can use the scrollbar at the right side of the presets to scroll through all filters.

The preset thumbnails also contain a short abbreviation of their names at the bottom-right of each thumbnail and if you hover over a thumbnail you will see the full name of the preset at the bottom of the window, in the status bar.

Later on you will learn how to manage the presets; adding new presets, removing presets, re-ordering, adding presets created by others and sharing your own presets.

Changing filter settings

Now you can change a few aspects of the filter that specifically for the picture you are working on. These are called the "Filter settings" and can be found in the Filters tab. This is somewhat similar to real-life; if you see the "presets" in FilterOptix as being the filters you attach to the lens of your photo camera, the filter settings are basic manipulations like the rotation of the filter and the level of movement (when using a modular system in real-life).

The following In FilterOptix you can control the following filter settings:

• Rotation
• Level
• Scale
• Focus

You can do this using the sliders (1), the outside of the dial (2) to change rotation and the inside (3) to change the level.

Rendering to the image

Now press the button and the filter will be rendered to the picture. It may take a while depending on the complexity of the filter and the size of the picture but will generally finish in a number of seconds. If it takes longer, you will see a progress bar which accurately indicates how much time lasts.

FilterOptix v1.0 manual - Copyright © 2008 VanDerLee. All rights reserved.