Image Editing

Editing can be done in either a Standard or an Expanded image. On the right is the JacqCAD MASTER^® tool palette, and these editing tools will be familiar to anyone who has used other Macintosh graphics applications. The functionality of these tools has been enhanced with the specific needs of textile designers in mind.

• Selection Tools

  At the top of the palette are the selection tools. The user can select from the outside or the center of an area in the image. When making a selection from the center of a area, it is possible to specify the exact size of the selection in ends and picks, and the exact location of the selection in ends and picks. Pressing the shift key while making a selection allows the user to select a square or circular area. The polygon tool and the lasso tool allow the user to create selections of any shape. The wand tools allow the user to make selections based on colors in the image. Once an area has been selected, pressing the control key will allow the user to add to the selection, and pressing the option key will allow the user to subtract from the selection. Users can easily adjust the size of a selection in one pixel increments.

• Measurement Tool

  The measurement tool has an option that allows the user to display rulers along the left and bottom edges of the image.

• Navigation Tools

  Hand tool - The user can move the image on the screen, and this is useful when working with large images.
  Zoom tool - The user can zoom out to see the entire image, or zoom in to focus on a specific area.

• Drawing and Painting Tools

  Eraser - allows the user to paint with the background color.

  Pencil - gives the user the ability to draw one pixel at a time, and the "Fat Pencil" option allows the user to draw an unbroken line.

  Airbrush - customizable. Double clicking the airbrush tool brings up a dialog box to allow the user to create the settings for the airbrush tool. The user can specify the width and heighth of the airbrush and the droplet size. A fixed flow rate can be specified,or for users who have pressure sensitive drawing tablets, a pressure flow rate can be specified. The airbrush can be aligned to a grid, and it is possible to paint with a solid color, a brush pattern, a specified mix of the foreground and background colors, or with a gradient.

  Paint Brush - also customizable.

  Brush Shapes:
  • Screen - 16x16
  • Oval - user specifies width and height up to 64 x 64
  • Rectangle - user specifies width and height up to 64 x 64
  • Custom - user specifies width and height up to 64 x 64
  
  
  Brush Types:
  • Solid Color
  • 8 x 8 pattern - The user can select from the 256 8 x 8 patterns that JacqCAD MASTER^®   contains.
  • Tiled - based on a selection in the image. Can be used to easily create repeat designs or complex borders.
  • Weave - The user can select a weave from a weave library or customize a weave.
  • Stamp - based on a selection in the image
  • Substitution - The user can change a color, or group of colors, to another color while painting an area.
  • Selection - The user can create a selection by painting an area in the image.
  
  The 6 larger blocks of color under the foreground and background colors represent 6 easily accessible brushes that can be customized by double clicking. If the paint brush is in use, the user can change from one paint brush to another by simply clicking in the tool palette.

  Text Tool - The user can select the font, point size, and line spacing of the text, as well as choose a style of bold, italic, outline, underline, or shadow, and a text alignment of left, right or center.

  Paint Bucket - The user can fill an area with a solid color or a pattern.

  Eyedropper - The user can select a color from the image or from the color swatches in the tool palette.

  Line tool - The user can specify the width and heighth of the pixels that form the line.

• Color Swatches

  This area of the tool palette displays 14 colors from the color palette of the image. This allows designers quick access to colors needed for editing. By pressing the command key and clicking on a color chip, the user can replace that color with another color in the palette. Under the color swatches, the foreground and background colors are displayed in the tool palette. Clicking on the asterisks above and below the foreground and background colors will cause those colors to flash in the image, so they can be located easily.

• Keyboard Equivalents

  In the upper left corner above each tool is the keyboard equivalent for that tool. By pressing a single key, the user can quickly and easily change tools while editing.