User Manual
Tips and Tricks
Create a transparent watermark for Watermark Studio using the free GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
Watermark Strength and Copy Protection
User Manual - Index
| 1. | Add Files and Folders |
| 2. | Watermark |
| 2.1 | Select Watermark |
| 2.2 | Watermark Image Manipulations |
| 2.2.1 | Make Transparent |
| 2.2.2 | Flip and Rotate |
| 2.2.3 | Invert |
| 2.3 | Watermark Position and Border Gap |
| 2.4 | Watermark Opacity and Size |
| 2.5 | Preview Watermark |
| 3. | Text |
| 3.1 | Add Custom Text |
| 3.2 | Import Custom Text |
| 4. | Output |
| 4.1 | Output-Folder |
| 4.2 | Image-Format |
| 4.3 | Output-Size |
| A | Service and Support |
| B | Purchase Watermark Studio |
| C | Unlock Watermark Studio Evaluation Version using your License Key |
Arclab Watermark Studio copyright Arclab Software This software uses the FreeImage open source image library. See http://freeimage.sourceforge.net for details. FreeImage is used under the (FIPL), version (1.0). |
1. Add Files and Folders
Add Files and Folders for processing:
- Click on "Add Files" to add one or multiple image files.
- Click on "Add Folder" to add all images files within a folder and all its subfolders.
- Click on "Remove File" to remove the selected files from the selection.
The info section shows a summary of your selected files.
2. Watermark
2.1 Select Watermark
The program includes several watermarks, which could be selected from the drop-down menu, but its also possible to use a custom watermark. The custom watermark could be any image file, e.g. an image in .PNG image file format.
Important: If you create the watermark image with an image editor, that supports layer then the edges will look smoother by saving the image as .PNG image with alpha-layer tranparency. (32 bit image with alpha-tranparency)
2.2 Watermark Image Manipulations
2.2.1 Make Transparent
In this sample we load a simple Bitmap (bmp) watermark image, which has a blue background.
Important: If you create the watermark image with an
image editor, that supports layer then you can avoid
these steps and the edges will look smoother by saving
the image as .PNG image with alpha-layer tranparency.
(32 bit image with alpha-tranparency)
We want to remove the blue background on the watermark
to make it transparent.
Its very easy: Click on "Make Transparent" and
the following dialog will open:
Most of the time the background color is identical to
the first pixel (top-left-pixel), but its also possible
to enter the RGB value directly.
Sometimes there are edges, which are softed using
anti-aliasing.
Add a tolerance to reduce the edge effect.
The result of the "Make Transparent" function
will look like:
2.2.2 Flip and Rotate
The program also contains basic functions to flip and rotate the watermark. Its important, that the width and height of the image is the same, otherwise its possible that parts of the image will be cut-out.
2.2.3 Invert
Click on "Invert" to invert the image. In the current sample, the "ARCLAB.COM" was inverted from black to white.
2.3 Watermark Position and Border Gap
The watermark could be placed on serveral positions:
- Centered Watermark
- Four Corners
- Four Corners + Center
- Floodfill
- Top-Left Watermark
- Top-Center Watermark
- Top-Right Watermark
- Left Watermark
- Right Watermark
- Bottom-Left Watermark
- Bottom-Center Watermark
- Bottom-Right Watermark
The "Border Gap" lets you specify the space
between the x/y border of the source image and the
watermark.
This setting is unused when using "Centered
Watermark" or "Floodfill".
2.4 Watermark Opacity and Size
The watermark will be resized in relation to the
source image. e.g. if the source image has a size of
3000x2000 pixel and the watermark should be 10%, then
the size of the watermark in the source image will be
300x200 pixel.
If you have selected "Floodfill" as
"Position", then the size of the watermark
will reduce the number of watermark-mosaics in the
source image.
e.g.
The opacity defines if the source image should
shine-through the watermark.
A high opacity means the watermark lets less of the
source image shine-through.
Low Opacity:
High Opacity:
2.5 Preview Watermark
The preview function allows you to preview the selected watermark and options with your source images (e.g. your photos) selected in the section "Files".
Click on the arrows < > to browse through your images.
3. Text
Arclab Watermark Studio also allows to add text
directly to the image without using a graphic watermark
or even a combination of image watermark and text.
The text could be formated using the fonts installed on
your system in any color and style.
3.1 Add Custom Text
The section text allows you to add a custom text. The text could be the same for all images or different for each image.
Select the image and click on <NONE> to edit
the text directly.
Alternative:
Enter the text in the edit field below and click on
"Update" to update the selected image only.
Click on "Update All" to use the entered
text for all images.
Click on "Reset All" to remove the text from
all images.
3.2 Import Custom Text
Click on "Import Custom Text" to open the
import dialog.
The program can import most information stored in the
images (EXIF, IPTC, jpeg comments), filename and
number.
Please enter the placeholders and additional text in the
edit line below.
The text can be combined as required, e.g. #filenumber#
- #filename# copyright 2010
4. Output
The evaluation (demo) version will add an additional
watermark to the output image.
This additional watermark will not be included in the
licensed (unlocked) version.
Please specify the Ouput-Options (Folder, Format,
Size) and click on "Start" to start the
image processing.
4.1 Output-Folder
Click on "..." to specify the output folder
for the watermarked images or click on "Replace
source images and make a backup of the original
files" to backup and overwrite the source files.
The <Source> mode is useful if you want to process
images from different locations or if you want to
process folders with subfolders. The backup images are
copies of the original images (in the same folder) with
the extension .bak. If the backup file already exists or
the program cannot create the backup files, then the
image wil be skipped.
Important:
Please note, that there is no undo function, so its
recommended to make a work-copy of the folder/images
before.
The .bak images are not removed by the program.
Check the "Rename Images" option if you want
to rename the images. The file prefix (e.g. IMG) will be
followed by a 5 digit image number. The extension will
be generated automatically based on the selected format.
4.2 Image-Format
Please select the image format and quality.
The program supports:
- JPEG Image Format (*.jpg)
- Portable Network Graphics (*.png)
- Windows Bitmap (*.bmp)
- Tagged Image File Format (*.tif)
- Graphics Interchange Format (*.gif) (256 colors)
If you have selected the JPEG format (default
format), then you can specify the quality.
The default quality is 80%, which produces a good output
quality. The higher the JPEG quality the bigger the file
size.
4.3 Output-Size
Select the output size (image size) in pixel or check
the option "Keep original size".
If you have selected to resize the image, then the
program will resize all images to the selected width and
height, but it will always preserver the aspect ratio.
e.g. a 4:3 image will not be resized to 5:4 or 16:9
The program supports different resize algorythm:
- Box (fast, simple)
- Bi-Cubic (advanced, smooth output)
- Bi-Linear (good output) (default setting)
- Bi-Spline (very smooth output)
