Axis Technology PackshotCreator 3D User manual

PackshotCreator 3D
User guide
© 2011 PackshotCreator - Sysnext
All rights reserved.

Table of contents
Chapter 1 : Getting started
User interface
Animation creation interface
Options
Image management
Annotation tools
Calibrating the machine
Chapter 2 : Taking pictures
Chapter 3 : Creating 360° animations
Capturing 360° images
Annotating images
Editing images
Exporting images
Sending images
Generating Flash animations
Generating HTML5 + Javascript animations
Generating animated Gifs
Chapter 4 : Creating 3D animations
Capturing images
Generating Flash animations
Generating HTML5 + Javascript animations
Chapter 5 : Retouching images
Command bar
Editing features
Chapter 6 : Creating custom sequences
Chapter 7 : Continuous rotation
Chapter 8 : Image import
Chapter 9 : Authoring 360
Chapter 10 : Care and maintenance
Chapter 11 : Product registration and warranty
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Chapter 1 : Getting started
The PackshotCreator solutions allow any collaborator in a company to create in-house professional, shadow-free
and color-accurate pictures and animations of their products. These pictures and animations can then be used for
all print and web supports.
Gives you the possibility to turn the lightbox and the digital camera on and off.
This feature allows you to preview each camera position by controlling the 90° camera shooting rail,
the camera tilt and the 360° turntable.
When the Preview button is pushed, the camera switches to Preview Mode and objects inside of the
lightbox appear in real-time in the Viewing Window of your screen.
The Preview mode enables you to move your product, zoom in / out, crop or rotate the picture to
meet your needs.
Note: Pressing the Preview button in Preview mode re-focuses the camera.
This feature allows you to control the camera’s optical zoom to zoom in or zoom out on items inside
the box.
Quick Zoom out/in allows you to go at the maximum or minimum zoom level.
This feature is used to remove unwanted portions of a picture, cut images to a desired size or to
enlarge a portion of the image.
To crop an image, press the Crop button and resize or move the cropping frame that appears in the
Preview Window. Cropping does not take effect until clicking Snap.
User interface
Shooting functionalities
ON/OFF button
3D animation
creation
Options
Thumbnail
window
Viewing
window
Image
editing tools
Program
link
Image
retouching
Save for web
3D positioning
Real-time preview
Zoom +/-
Image cropping
Capture
On/Off
Position
Preview
Camera settings
Zoom
Crop

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Gives you the possibility to turn the lightbox and the digital camera on and off.
Viewing window
Thumbnail window
Automatic and advanced modes
Saving Custom
Camera Settings
Camera settings
Automatic or
Manual Focus
mode
Landscape and
Macro mode
(not for SLR
option)
Pressing this button is the same as pressing the shutter button on your camera.
The picture will be taken and the original image will automatically be saved in the PackshotCreator
temp folder for viewing and processing.
When clicking on the Preview button,
the product in the lightbox will appear
in real-time in the software viewing
window.
The Thumbnail Window displays thumbnails of all the original
pictures previously taken with the PackshotCreator.
To view an image, simply click on the thumbnail you want.
Note: A maximum of 100 images can be stored in the Thumbnail
Window. If the image number exceeds 100, a warning message
will appear and you will have to save/delete an image before a
new picture can be created.
When the user clicks on the Preview button in Advanced Mode, the Camera Settings window will
appear:
After clicking on Snap, the product
picture will appear on the screen.
Photo
Chapter 1 : Getting started
Manual camera settings can be saved and imported for re-use.
To import or save a set of camera settings, click on the Save Tools icon on the Camera Settings
interface. The following screen will appear:
Saving Custom
Camera
Settings

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Pressing Save allows you to name and save the settings in a file.
Once saved, the filename will appear in the pull down menu.
To load previously saved camera settings
Simply select them from the pull down menu.
To export saved camera settings
Click the Export button and select the settings you wish to export.
Exported camera setting files can be saved anywhere on your computer and will have a .csi file
extension – ‘csi’ stands for ‘Camera Settings Information’.
To import saved camera settings
Importing previously exported camera settings is simple. Click the Import button and select the
camera setting file you wish to import.
The following window will appear:
You can chose either the Automatic Focus mode (AF) or Manual Focus mode (MF).
On Manual Focus, the software will ask you to determine the main focus spot on the image. It can
be determined for the whole serie of pictures or picture by picture.
Focus
AF
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The 3D function allows the user to create interactive 360° or 3D Flash, HTML5 and Gif animations.
The software guides the user to establish the image capture settings (file size, resolution, speed and
rotation direction) and to automatically take a specific number of images as an object rotates.
To get started, click on the 3D button. The 3D Creator screen will appear:
3D
Animation creation interface
Image
capture
commands
The image viewing window
The
thumbnail
and image
manage-
ment area
Image capture commands:
The user chooses whether to start creating an animation, start creating a custom sequence animation, have the
turntable rotate, import images from their computer to create animations or prepare images for the PackshotViewer
software (contact us for more information).
The image viewing window:
Created animations are displayed in this window.
Viewing functions include: stop, play, zoom, fit to screen or actual size display as well as controlling the speed at
which the animation swaps frames.
For Flash and HTML5 files, depending on how the animation was created, the user can control the animation with his
mouse or with the standard file player buttons.
The thumbnail and image management area:
Area where animation files created with the software are temporarily stored. They can be selected for viewing, sent to
others via email, deleted, saved and copied to other locations on the computer or network.
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This function allows the user to define the settings for several software features.
Options
Light info
The light information feature keeps track of how long
the light bulbs in the lightbox have been on. When you
switch bulbs you can reset the counter to zero.
Image quality option
The Image Quality window allows you to generate Jpg
or Raw files.
You can also chose the level of compression of the jpg
file and its resolution (Large, Medium, Small).
Creating a watermark
A watermark protects your images from being copied
or stolen. This feature digitally superimposes your logo
or another image over the main object in the picture.
All watermarks are images.
To create a watermark:
Select Create Watermark in the Options menu.
Press the Load Image button to the load the image
you want to use as the watermark.
Note: the image you intend to use as a watermark
must be a 24-bit bitmap (.bmp) file and at least 700
pixels wide or tall.
Determine the transparency of the overall watermark
image. A higher degree of transparency means the
watermark will be less obvious.
Note : your watermark must be on a white
background.
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Select the watermark location.
Click Preview to see what the watermark will look like on a real image.
Save the watermark and give it a file name.
To apply a watermark on an image:
Apply your selected watermark by checking the Apply Watermark box when saving your file, sending, or direct
image exporting.
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Auto power off
The Auto Power Off dialog allows you to control the
PackshotCreator automatic power off function.
This function is enabled by default and will shut the
system down after 10 minutes of non-use. I
Send option
This feature is used to choose the file format in which
images will be sent from the PackshotCreator software
through the Send button.
Two sending options exist: EBX image files or JPG
image files.
The EBX format is PackshotCreator’s proprietary
format and can be opened only with a PackshotCreator
compatible system. We recommend you use the JPG
format only.
Program link
The PackshotCreator software integrates image editing tools. However, if you want to use advanced tools for image
editing or if you are used to working with a specific software, the program link function allows the user to link the
PackshotCreator software with another application.
Select the image from the image bank and click on the Program Link button.
To set the application to be linked to the PackshotCreator software, click on the Information button and select
Program Link.
The following screen will appear.
Direct image export
The Direct Image Export feature allows users to quickly take pictures and have them automatically saved to a specific
folder.
When Direct Image Export is turned on, all pictures taken with the PackshotCreator software will be automatically
saved according to the settings specified in the Direct Image Export option.
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This feature allows the user to select
how he views and crops items in
Preview Mode.
Two types of grids are available:
• The crosshair grid points the center
of the viewing area.
• The hatch grid can assist users to
create images that are exactly the same
size.
Two crop shapes are available:
• The rectangle is the default shape
and allows you to create any shape
you like by dragging the crop markers.
Grabbing the corners allows you to
adjust the crop markers faster.
• The Square crop option allows you
to always crop/take pictures that are
perfect squares.
• Custom ratio allows you to define a
fixed width and height for all your image
croppings.
The rotation angle when you preview
the rotation can also be determined.
Preview options
Note: the images will only briefly show on your monitor screen and will
not be stored in the thumbnail tray of the PackshotCreator software. You
will need to view the images through a different image viewing software
program.
To setup the direct image export feature:
Click on Direct Image Export.
To determine the size of the image to be saved:
Select Resize or click on the Resize button. You will enter either the desired
width or height of the image(s) to be saved. You can resize images by either
Pixels or Document size (in points, inches or centimeters).
To chose a name for a serie of pictures:
Simply click on the Rename button and type an image name and a naming
index (number extension) that will be used when batch saving.
To set the image resolution:
Click on the Resolution button and select either: 72dpi (typically used for
web), 150dpi or 300dpi (ideal for printing high-quality images).
You can also chose the destinatino folder. Click on Browse and select the
file where you want your pictures to be saved.
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Setting the integrated FTP client allows
the user to directly transfer pictures to a
network location.
Once set, you will have to check the
Transfer to FTP checkbox when you
save pictures or animations.
FTP settings
This section of the user interface is used for file management and it contains the following functions:
Image management
Allows user to quickly select or deselect all images in the Thumbnail Window by placing a check
mark in the thumbnail checkbox.
Images must be selected before they can be printed, sent, saved, deleted or sent to the Save for
web area.
The Save As feature can be used to save one
or several images at the same time.
To save images to the hard drive, select them
in the Thumbnail Window and press Save
As.
Images can be saved in EBX, JPG or Tiff.
When saving images in the JPG file format,
you can choose the quality of the picture
and either you want to apply a watermark or
transfer the file to a FTP server.
Renaming: To save multiple JPG images,
PackshotCreator will automatically assign a
number for the image. The number index will
start from 1 if no other number is defined.
Users can change the file name and number
by clicking Rename. The following window
will appear:
Select all/
Deselect all
Save as
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Resizing: You can also save one or several JPG images at a specific
size by assigning a width or height. To do so, click on Resize.
PackshotCreator will automatically resize the JPG files by scale.
Image quality options : the user can select a low, medium or high
image quality for his JPG files.
Apply watermark: by selecting Apply watermark, if there is an active
watermark in the Options/Create Watermark area, a watermark will be
added to the image or images being saved.
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To delete an image from in the Thumbnail Window, select it and press Delete.
To delete all of the images in the Thumbnail Window, press Select All then Delete.
After pressing Delete, a confirmation window will appear.
To print an image you have captured, select the image(s) in the Thumbnail Window and press Print.
Pressing Print brings out the Print Dialog Window where you can select different printing settings.
The Program Link function allows you to automatically send images taken with the PackshotCreator
to your favorite image editing application.
Select an image(s) from the Thumbnail View then click the Program Link icon. PackshotCreator
software automatically sends and opens the selected images inside the application associated with
the button.
You can choose the the application to be linked in the Option setting section.
This feature offers you the ability to perform editing tasks on the pictures you take. Select the
picture(s) and click on the Editing button to display the Editing interface screen.
The following screen will appear:
For more information about the editing features of the software, please see p. 28.
Delete
Print
Program Link
Editing
Command bar Viewing window
Editing toolsThumbnails
Chapter 1 : Getting started

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The Save for web function enables users to easily edit and save images for web use.
To optimize the pictures for web, choose the image(s) in the Thumbnail Window then press the Save
for web button.
The folllowing window will appear:
Save for web
Brightness and contrast
This function allows you to adjust image brightness and contrast.
Use the Brightness and Contrast sliders to increase or decrease image values.
Crop
This function allows you to cut certain elements out of an image. When you click the Crop button, a frame will appear
within the image.
Simply click and drag the frame to the size you require then click Apply to confirm. To crop a perfect square, hold
the SHIFT key down and drag the crop markers.
Color Saturation
This function allows you to adjust color saturation. Use the slider to increase or decrease image color saturation.
Image Size
This function allows you to adjust the dimensions of an image in pixels or inches. You can change the size of an image
using pixels, inches or percentages.
Simply enter a value for height and/or width. The image will be automatically rescaled.
Rename
This function allows you to rename one or more images.
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Save
Clicking the Save button calls the JPG option window to the screen. Saving files in the Save for web section
automatically set JPG images at 72dpi. You can also adjust the image quality as well as resize and rename the
images currently being saved.
Check the Radio buttons to determine JPG image quality.
Checking Apply Watermark will add the watermark
currently active in the Options or will Create Watermark
area of the program to the image or images being saved.
Checking Also Transfer to FTP allows you to transfer the
file directly through the integrated FTP client.
Click Resize All, to save multiple JPG images at a specific
size.
Click Rename All to rename all of the images currently
being saved.
Browse
Use the Browse button to save the file in at specific folder.
When more than one image has been selected, the PackshotCreator software will automatically put a number behind
the name.
Note: Images saved using Save As and Save for web will differ. The Save for web feature can be used only to save
JPG images at 72dpi. Save As gives the full range of saving options and features.
Annotation tools allow you to add texts and forms directly on your image.
Annotation tools
Once an annotation has been made with the
Pen or Text function, the pointer is used to
select, move or delete the annotations.
To select an object, click on it with your
mouse.
When an object is selected, it will be
highlighted as shown below. To move a
selected object, simply click and drag.
To delete an object, select it then press the
Delete key on your keyboard.
Pointer
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Pressing Draw gives you the ability to make lines, boxes, circles, etc., on the image displayed in the
Viewing Window.
Users can select desired pen sizes and colors by right clicking on the Draw icon and selecting
Properties.
Pressing the Text button allows you to write on or annotate the image in the Viewing window.
To select font type or text size, right click on the Text button and select Properties. This will call the
Windows font selection window to the screen.
If you zoom in on an image and only a portion of the image is shown in the viewing area, you can use
the Hand tool to drag the image and view other areas that are not currently visible.
Allows you to magnify or reduce the image view shown on your screen.
Clicking the 1:1 button allows you to view the image at actual size.
Draw
Text
Hand
Zoom in/out
1:1
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Clicking Fit to Screen button scales the image in the PackshotCreator Viewer to fit the window size.
Rectangle:
Clicking the Rectangle tool allows you to draw formal rectangles on the image. Please note that if
you hold down the Shift key while the rectangle tool is selected, you can draw a perfect square.
Circle:
Clicking the Circle tool allows you to draw circles and ovals on the image. Please note that if you hold
down the Shift key while the circle tool is selected, you can draw perfect circles.
Arrow:
Clicking the Arrow tool allows you to draw straight arrows with the desired color and thickness on
the image in the viewing window.
Line:
Clicking the Line tool allows you to draw straight lines with the desired color and thickness on the
image in the viewing window.
Fit on the
screen
Forms
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When you first use the PackshotCreator 3D, you have to set the camera lens so that it always point to the center of
the 360° turntable.
Such operation is quite simple but should be made with care. You can of course redo this operation later if needed.
On the preview screen, make sure the camera point at the center of the turntable, whatever its position on the
shooting rail is. If necessary, adjust the camera angle through the software.
Chapter 1 : Getting started
Calibrating the machine

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Chapter 2 : Taking pictures
Place the object to be shot inside the lightbox.
Use the PackshotCreator software interface to Preview, Zoom In/Out, Crop or
Rotate the image.
Click on Position to select the angle of shooting. You can control the turntable
position, the row position and the camera tilt. Click on the circle to select the
position or use the arrows to adjust the position.
The camera will automatically go to the select position and will allow you to preview
the image.
Re-click on Position to close the small Position window.
You can manually control the camera’s shutter speed, aperture and flash.
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Press Snap to take the picture.
The image will automatically be sent to the PC and appear in the Image Viewing window where it can be annotated
and processed .
When previewing and capturing pictures in Manual Mode
(MF), the software will ask you to define the focus spot
on your picture.
You can also control the camera’s optical zoom manually.
Determine the focus spot using the arrows then click on
Preview/Photo.
You can apply these parameters to one single shot or to
the whole serie of images.

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Chapter 3 : Creating 360° animations
Click on the 3D button. The 3D Creator screen will appear.
Click on the Create 3D Animations.
Capturing 360° animations
Press the Rotate 360 button and watch the item spin 360° to confirm that it does not wobble around its center nor
goes over the cropping. If it does, change its position and press Rotate 360 again to confirm.
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Click on Advanced to check the preview of each rotation
angle.
You can also define the sense of rotation, the number of
frames composing the animation and the angle of preview.
Click on OK to confirm.
Then click on Next.