Tutorial: AKVIS HDRFactory

Workspace of the Program

AKVIS HDRFactory can work independently as a standalone program or as a plug-in to a photo editor.

To call the AKVIS HDRFactory plug-in, open an image in the photo editor, and then choose the command AKVIS –> HDRFactory from the filter menu. In Adobe Photoshop choose Filter –> AKVIS –> HDRFactory; and in Corel Paint Shop Photo Pro choose Effects –> Plugins -> AKVIS –> HDRFactory.

To launch the standalone version of AKVIS HDRFactory follow these steps:

• On a Windows computer:

  - In the main menu: press Start and select the command AKVIS – HDRFactory from the pop up menu.

  - Using the program's shortcut on the Desktop: put the cursor on the icon for AKVIS HDRFactory and double-click it with the left mouse button.

• On a Macintosh computer:

  - Using Finder: select the folder Applications on the sidebar of the Finder window, select the application AKVIS HDRFactory and double-click it.

The AKVIS HDRFactory workspace looks like this:

The left part of the program's window is taken by the Image Window with two tabs: Before and After. In the Before tab the original image is shown, while in the After tab you can see the processed image. You can switch between the windows by clicking on a tab with the left mouse button.

You can select how Image Window and Before/After tabs will be shown by adjusting the View Modes in the bottom part of the left panel.

In the upper part of the program's window you can see the Control Panel. You can hide/show the Control Panel by clicking on the small triangle button (in the middle of the panel). The minimized panel will be shown when moving the cursor over it. You can use the Lock the Control Panel option (in the Preferences) to prevent changes and keep the panel visible all time.

• The button opens the home page of AKVIS HDRFactory.
• The button opens an image or series of shots for processing. The hot-keys for the command are Ctrl+O on Windows, +O on Macintosh.

  In the standalone version right mouse click on this button displays the list of recent files (single images or HDR-sets). You can change the number of recent documents in the program's Preferences.

• The button (only in the standalone version) saves an image to the disk. The hot-keys are Ctrl+S on Windows, +S on Macintosh.
• The button (only in the standalone version) opens the print dialog. The hot-keys are Ctrl+P on Windows, +P on Macintosh.
• The buttons and (only in the standalone version) let you rotate an image left or right by 90^o. The hot-keys are Ctrl+, (to the left) and Ctrl+. (to the right) on Windows, +, and +. on Mac.
• The button / shows/hides the selection made with the Ghost Removal tool .
• The button cancels the last operation made with and tools. It is possible to cancel several operations in a row. The hotkey for the command is Ctrl+Z on Windows, +Z on Mac.
• The button returns the last cancelled operation. It is possible to return several operations in a row. The hotkey for the command is Ctrl+Y on Windows, +Y on Mac.

Hint: The buttons / , and are active only when working with a series of shots (HDRI).

• The button (only in the plugin version) applies the result to the image and closes the plugin.
• The button calls information about the program and opens the registration window.
• The button calls the Help files. The hot-key is F1.
• The button calls the Preferences dialog box for changing the program's options.

If several images are opened, their thumbnails are shown under the Image Window. The Before tab of the Image Window displays the image, which is now selected (highlighted in blue). To display a different image, left-click on its thumbnail under the Image Window.

The check-box near the thumbnail indicates if the image will be used when generating the HDR-image. Deactivate the check-box near the image with a left-click, if you do not want to use it when creating the HDR-image.

Тo the left of the Image Window there is a Toolbar with the following buttons:

• The button activates the Ghost Removal tool to process the resulting HDR image. You can ajust the tool's options (a diameter and a source image) in a pop up window which appears when right-clicking on the image.
• The button activates Eraser tool which helps to edit selection made by the tool.

  Attention! The and tools may be used in the After tab, under Home Deluxe/Business licenses only.

Additional tools:

• The button activates the Hand tool, which allows you to scroll the image when it does not fit within the Image Window at the desired scale. To use it click on the button, bring the cursor over the image, and while keeping the left mouse button pressed move in the desired direction.
• The button activates the Zoom tool, which changes the image's scale. To zoom in left click on the image. To zoom out right click on the image.

And below, there are three buttons which control how the Image Window looks like.

Navigate and scale the image using the Navigator. In the Navigator you can see the reduced copy of the image. The red frame shows the part of the image that is now visible in the Image Window; the areas outside the frame will be shaded. Drag the frame to make other parts of the image visible. To move the frame, bring the cursor inside the frame, press the left mouse button and, keeping it pressed, move the frame in the Navigator.

Additionally, you can move the image in the Image Window with the scroll bars or by holding down the space bar, then holding down the left mouse button while moving the mouse. The mouse's scroll wheel can move the image up and down, and holding Ctrl ( in Macintosh) – while using the scroll wheel will move the image left and right. Holding Alt (Option in Macintosh) will scale the image. Right-click on the scroll bar to activate the quick navigation menu.

Use the slider or the buttons and to scale the image in the Image Window. When you click on the button or move the slider to the right, the image scale increases. When you click on the button or move the slider to the left, the image scale reduces.

You can also change the image scale by entering a new coefficient into the scale field and pressing the button Enter (Return in Macintosh). Frequently used scale coefficients can be found in a drop-down menu.

You can use hot-keys to change the image scale + and Ctrl++ (++ in Macintosh) to increase the image scale and - and Ctrl+- (+- in Macintosh) to reduce the scale.

Below the Navigator is the Settings Panel where you can adjust settings.

In the Presets field you can save favorite settings as a preset to use them in the future. When you launch the program, it uses the settings of the last used preset.

Under the Settings Panel you can see Hints for the parameters and buttons when you hover over them with the cursor. You can choose where the hints will be shown or hide them in the program's Preferences.

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