Overview

The Album feature of ProDesktop allows the user to apply different materials to components of the design and change the colours of background and materials.

Photo Album is based upon an existing design which needs to be open.

The Photo Album can be rotated and zoomed in and out in the same manner as a design.

When you have finished a project and you want to be sure that all the files needed are saved, it is possible save all files required from the Album.

Add a New Image

• open the design you wish to use in the photo album

• create a new photo album using - file menu - new - photo album

• create a new image using - image menu - new image

• select the design which you opened

• the selected design will open in the Photo Album window

Apply a material

• select the component tool
• open the materials window

• left mouse click on a material from the list

• hold the mouse button and drag to the design
  • the cursor will turn to a pot
• when the pot selects the compontent release the mouse button

• click the update button

• the result should change to the selected material

Changing material Colour

• use the component tool to select the part requiring colour change
• right mouse click on the component (match head in this case)
• select Set Materials Properties from the list

• click on Set Color

• select the colour required

• click on the update button

• the component will take on the new properties
  • red head in this case

Setting the background

Setting the background can greatly enhance your design. Try different colours and styles.

• From the Image menu select Image Properties

• From the background list select the type required
• Plain



• set the color
• click OK

 

• Graduated



• set the top color
• set the bottom color
• click OK

 

• Clouds - ProDesktops cloud background

 

• No other options are available
• click OK

 

• Custom - select from a list of BMP images OR create your own
  • create your own BMP image 640 x 480 pixels OR
  • use existing backgrounds
  • click the browse button

 



• locate the file

 



• click the Open button to confirm your choice
• Click OK

 

• Update the Photo Album

Lighting and Lens

Changing the settings for lighting can have a dramatic effect upon your design.

Experiment with these settings to achieve the best results

To change the lighting and lens settings:

• from the Image menu select Image Properties
• click on the Studio tab
• select the settings you require

  

• click the OK button
• Update the Photo Album

Applying a decal

Any bitmaped image can be applied to a surface

To apply a decal:

• Prepare the image and save as a bitmaped image in the Bitmaps folder as shown below

  

• Use the surface tool to select the face
• right mouse click on the surface and select Apply Decal

  

• choose the bitmap file to be used for the decal
• choose the file to be used to determine transparency of image
  • NOTE use a red coloured file for opaque (download a suitable file 376 bytes)
  • 50% red for 50% transparent
• click OK

• use the handles to resize the image to fit the surface
  • NOTE the image can overhang the surface to maintain proportions

   

• move the mouse over the the anchor at the centre to rotate the image if necessary

• Update the Photo Album

Saving the Album

To save your work

• From the File menu select Save
  • NOTE - you may need to Update the Photo Album

   

• Locate the folder and name the file
• Click the Save button

Saving all files

To save all the files needed for your Album

• From the File menu select Save Copy As
  • NOTE - you may need to Update the Photo Album

   

• Click the Yes button to save all the files

• Locate the folder and name the file
  • NOTE it may be necessary to add the name for a new folder to the end of the Name box

• Click the OK button

• If a new folder was required, click OK to create it and save the files