Filters Menu

Red Eye Reduction

This sub-menu contains functions to repair pictures in which the "red eye" effect is present. The red eye effect is caused when people are photographed (usually at night or in the dark) with flash. The functions under this sub-menu enable you to remove the red eyes from the people photographed in the picture.

Before using the functions in this sub-menu you must select the area on the picture on which you wish to operate the function.

1. Auto Reduction - This function is used to automatically repair the red eye effect. In order to activate the function you must first select the area in which the red eyes appear. The function will locate the places on the selected area in which red eyes appear and will repair them. In cases where the repair is unsatisfactory or where there is a need for more control over the function's operation, use the advanced option.
2. Advanced - A function used to repair the red eye effect which enables wide-ranging control over the manner, level and area of repair. In order to activate the function you must first select the area in which the red eyes appear.

The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:

1. Reduction Slider - With this command it is possible to control the level of repair of red eyes (in percentage relative to the original). Moving the regulator to the right will increase the level of repair while moving it to the left will decrease the level of repair.
2. Red T.H. - With this command it is possible to control the Threshold Value of the red hue on which the function will take effect. As the value decreases, the effect of the function increases over greater areas with the red hue (as the value decreases there will be a better removal of the red eye effect. However, simultaneously, there might be an unwanted effect on areas of red hue which are not necessarily the red eyes).
3. Global T.H. - With this command it is possible to control the Threshold of the areas on which the function will not take effect. The lesser the value is, the greater the effect of the function over areas in the picture. (as the value decreases there will be a better removal of the red eye effect. However, simultaneously, there might be an unwanted effect on areas of red hue which are not necessarily the red eyes).
4. The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.

To get to this sub-menu, select the Filters menu and then select the Red Eye Reduction sub-menu.

Additional option for removing "Red Eye" is using the refiner tool:

Tutorial - Removing "Red Eye" from a picture using the Refiner tool

Reduce Noise

This sub-menu contains functions to repair pictures in which "noise" has been created during the photographing/scanning of the picture. Through the functions it is possible to remove part of these unwanted noises. In order to get the best results it is recommended to use the 3 automatic functions (Auto Reduction, Despeckle & Median Cut) and select the best result out the three. For advanced control over the manner of repair, use the Advanced option.

• Auto Reduction - A function used to repair pictures with noise. The function automatically locates noisy areas on the picture and operates the repair on them.
• Despeckle - This function uses the Despeckle algorithm to remove noise from a picture. The function automatically locates noisy areas on the picture and operates the repair on them.
• Median Cut - This function uses the Median Cut algorithm to remove noise from a picture. The function automatically locates noisy areas on the picture and operates the repair on them.
  Advanced - A function which is used to remove noise from a picture. With this function it is possible to repair pictures which have noise. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Red T.H. Slider - With this command it is possible to control the Threshold Value of the Red Channel, beyond which no repair on noise will be made. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the threshold and cause the repair of noise on many areas on the picture while moving the regulator to the right will decrease the threshold and reduce the areas on which the repair will be made.
  • Green T.H. Slider - With this command it is possible to control the Threshold Value of the Green Channel, beyond which no repair on noise will be made. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the threshold and cause the repair of noise on many areas on the picture while moving the regulator to the right will decrease the threshold and reduce the areas on which the repair will be made.
  • Blue T.H. Slider - With this command it is possible to control the Threshold Value of the Blue Channel, beyond which no repair on noise will be made. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the threshold and cause the repair of noise on many areas on the picture while moving the regulator to the right will decrease the threshold and reduce the areas on which the repair will be made.
  • The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
  • To get to this sub-menu, select the Filters menu and then select the Reduce Noise sub-menu.
    

Sharpen Image

This sub-menu contains functions that enable the sharpening of a blurry picture and in so improving the quality of the picture. The functions under this sub-menu are very useful for repairing blurry pictures.

• Light, Medium & Extreme - Functions which automatically operate the sharpening of a picture. The operation of the automatic functions will cause the sharpening of the picture in a light, medium & extreme manner (accordingly).
• Unsharp Mask - A function which professionally operates the sharpening of a picture. The sharpening of a picture is enacted by emphasizing the extremes (the borderlines between the bright and dark areas), as opposed to the automatic functions in which there is no control over the areas on which the sharpening operation is done (and as a result does not always satisfy the professional eye even though it satisfies most users). With this function it is possible to control the areas on which the function will have affect resulting in a more professional and realistic sharpening. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Threshold Slider -This command defines the scope of the areas that will be affected by the function. The higher this value is (moving the regulator to the right), the more the borderlines in the picture will be affected. The lower this value is (moving the regulator to the left), more areas on the picture will be affected (smoother areas will be affected as well as the borderlines).
  • Level Slider - This command defines the level of sharpening in areas ion which the function will have affect. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the sharpening while moving the regulator to the left will decrease the sharpening.
  • Sigma Slider - This command defines the radius scope of the function's operation. This value decides how wide the edge will be (between the borderlines). Moving the regulator to the right will increase the width of the edge while moving it to the left will decrease it.
  • The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
• Advanced - A function which operates the sharpening of a picture in a way that enables the control over the level of sharpness (the areas which the function will affect are set automatically as opposed to the Unsharp Mask function which enables you to define these areas manually). The function is useful for repairing blurry pictures. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Level Slider - With this command it is possible to control the level of sharpening. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the level of sharpening in a picture while moving the regulator to the left will decrease it.
  • The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
    To get to this sub-menu, select the Filters menu and then select the Sharpen Image sub-menu.
    

Blur Image

This sub-menu contains functions which enable you to create different effects of blurring and softening of a picture.

• Soften, Soften More - Functions used to automatically soften a picture. The operation of the automatic functions will cause the softening of a picture in a light and medium degree, respectively.
• Light Blur, Medium Blur & Extreme Blur - Functions used to automatically blur a picture. The operation of the automatic functions will cause the blurring of a picture in a light, medium & extreme degree, respectively.
• Custom - A function used to create the effect of blurring in a picture which enables the control over the level of blurring. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Level Slider - With this command it is possible to control the level of blurring. Moving the regulator to the right will cause more blurring in the picture while moving it to the left will cause less.
  • The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
• Wind Blur - A function which causes the effect of blurring on a picture similar to that caused when taking a photograph of a moving object or from a moving object (such as the blurring caused when taking a picture from a car that is moving quickly or that of a moving train, etc.). The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Angle Slider - With this command it is possible to control the angle of movement. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the angle while moving it to the left will decrease it.
  • Frequency Slider - With this command it is possible to control the frequency (i.e. the velocity) of the movement. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the frequency (i.e. the velocity) while moving it to the left will decrease it.
  • Level Slider - With this command it is possible to control the level of movement. Moving the regulator to the right will increase the movement while moving it to the left will decrease it.
    The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
• Gaussian Blur - A function which operates the effect of a Gaussian blur on the picture. The Gaussian blur mainly blurs the middle and border areas in a picture (the middle areas are the areas in a picture where sharp transitions of brightness are noted), blurring less the smooth areas. As a result, a unique blurring effect is created which does not hinder the distinguishing details of a picture as would occur in a regular blur. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Sigma Slider - With this command it is possible to control the areas that will be blurred in a picture. Moving the regulator to the right will cause an increase in the blurring of the borderline areas while moving the regulator to the left will cause an increase in the blurring of the middle areas.
  • The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
• Unfocus - A function which operates the effect of blurring on a picture similar to the effect caused by taking a picture when the camera's lens is out of focus. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Level Slider - With this command it is possible to control the level of blurring. Moving the regulator to the right will cause more blurring in the picture while moving it to the left will cause less.
  • The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
  • To get to this sub-menu, select the Filters menu and then select the Blur Image sub-menu.
    

Edges Filter

A function used for finding and emphasizing the edges (the borderlines between the bright and dark areas) of a picture. This function is extremely useful when wishing to create works (especially illustrations and drawings) that are based on photographs. For example, when you want to create an illustration based on a photograph you must activate the filter. After activating the filter, the borderlines of the photograph will appear (similar to the illustrations in a children's drawing book). Now it is possible to color in the areas within the borderlines and in so receiving an impressive illustration based on the photograph. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:

1. Filter Type Dropdown Box - In this box it is possible to select the type of filter that will be used for constructing the borderlines of the picture.
2. The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
3. In order to activate the function press on the Edges Filter sub-menu under the Filters menu.

Morphing Filters

A function that enables the operation of 4 different effects on the picture: the effect of a picture taken through a lens covered with water Droplets and another 3 different drawing effects. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:

1. Filter Type Dropdown Box - In this box it is possible to select one of 4 that create the effects. The first filter (Maximum filter), creates the effect of a picture that was taken through a lens covered with water droplets. The other 3 filters create different drawing effects.
2. The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.
3. In order to activate the function press on the Edges Filter sub-menu under the Filters menu.

Custom Filter

• Custom Filter - A very important function which allows the user to create new filters which do not exist in the program. With this function you can create new filters and by doing so broadening yourselves the capabilities of the program. A filter is an object which enables filtering and the amplification of spatial frequencies in a picture. By doing so, it enables many important operations such as the sharpening and blurring of a picture, the location of a picture's edges (borderlines) and much more. The function's dialog box has a number of commands which enable the control of the function's operations:
  • Custom Filter List - A box containing the list of all the filters saved. In order to activate a certain filter, you must select it.
  • New Button - A button used to create a new filter. Pressing the button will open the Create New Filter dialog box.
  • Edit Button - A button used to edit a filter selected from the filters list. Pressing this button will open the filter selected from the list for editing. In order to edit a certain filter, you must first select it then press the button.
  • Delete Button - A button used to delete a filter selected from the filters list. Pressing this button will delete the filter selected from the list.
  • New/Edit Filter Dialog Box - With this screen you can create new filters and edit existing filters.
• Filter Name - The name of the filter as it will be saved in the program. If a filter with this name already exists, it will be replaced (by the new filer).
• Apply Filter - A given number defining the number of times that a filter will be activated on a picture.
  7 * 7 Matrix (Kernel) - A matrix defining the filter itself. The filtering operation is a mathematical process named convolution. The operation is performed between the picture and the matrix. The filter's matrix decides, in effect, the scope of the spatial frequencies that will undergo filtering and/or amplification. For example, in case the blurring of a picture is desired there is a need to lower the high spatial frequencies. In the case of sharpening a picture there is a need to raise these (the high) frequencies (which will bring about the emphasis of the borderlines and a clearer picture).
  Divisor - A fixed divisor in the filter's output.
  • Auto Button - Pressing this button will cause the automatic calculation of the Divisor's best value.
  • Bias - A fixed value added to the filter's output.
  • Save Button - Pressing this button will cause the save of the filter/changes made to the filter.
  • Cancel Button - Pressing this button will cause the cancellation of the filter's save/changes made to the filter.
  • Reset Button - Pressing this button will cause the deletion of the current matrix values and will replace them with the default values.

The mathematical operation of the filter is depicted as follows:

• Output = (Picture [Convolution] Filter Matrix) / Divisor + Bias
• The dialog box also has the following joint commands: OK Button, Preview Button, Cancel Button, Help Button, Advanced Button (Opacity Slider, Blend Mode Dropdown, Normal Button), Auto Preview Checkbox, and the Use Texture Checkbox.