Landscape Design Features

New
The New command allows you to create a new project file. To create a new project file, you must first bring in a background image or canvas.

There are two methods of obtaining the background image or canvas. You may acquire an image from a device such as a digital camera or scanner, or you may import an image from a file such as a Windows Bitmap (*.bmp), JPEG (*.jpg) or Portable Network Graphic (*.png). To acquire an image from a digital camera or scanner, you must have the TWAIN compatible device and software installed on your computer.

Open
The Open command opens an existing Photoscapes™ project file. Only one project file may be open at a time. The project name appears in the Title Bar of the dialog box. You can quickly open an existing project file by clicking the Open icon in the Photoscapes™ Toolbar.

Close
The Close command allows you to shut or close an existing Photoscapes™ project file prior to exiting the program or opening a new project file.

Save
The Save command allows you to save an existing Photoscapes™ project file under the current descriptive file name, drive and directory. Saving the project file does not combine any objects with the background image or canvas. You will always be able to select, move, or size any objects on the design. Changes made with the Clone Canvas or Paint Canvas commands will be combined with the canvas.

Save
The Save command allows you to save an existing Photoscapes™ project file under the current descriptive file name, drive and directory.

Export Image
The Export Image command allows to you export a Photoscapes™ project file to one of several different image file formats such as a Windows Bitmap (*.bmp), JPEG (*.jpg), Portable Network Graphic (*.png), or TIFF (*.tif). Exporting an image is not the same as saving a Photoscapes™ project file. If you export an image to another file format, the image will appear the same, however, you will not be able to move any objects on the image, nor will you be able to calculate a material list from the image. Exporting the project file to an image file will not overwrite or damage your original Photoscapes™ project.

Material List
The Material List command will count all objects on the design screen. You can select any of the text in the Material List dialog box using the mouse. You can copy the selected text by pressing the Ctrl + C keys. This will place the text on the Windows™ clipboard. You can then paste the contents of the clipboard into another program such as a word processor or spreadsheet program for modification. Refer to the documentation provided with your word processor or spreadsheet program for additional information.

Print Preview
The Print Preview command will allow you to view your design as it will appear after sending it to the selected printing device. You can adjust the printer setup options from within the Print Preview dialog box. The preview screen displays the position and size of your image on the paper. You can change the size of the image or reposition the image on the sheet of paper.

Print
The Print command allows you to print a design created by Photoscapes™.

Exit
The Exit command will allow you to quit Photoscapes™ and return to Microsoft® Windows™.

Undo / Redo
The Undo command allows you to undo the last command performed to correct mistakes you may have made. The Redo command restores the previous Undo command. You may Undo or Redo up to ten previous commands or actions.

Cut / Copy / Paste
Use the Cut command to remove the selected object(s) from the design screen. Use the Copy command to copy the selected object(s) on the design screen. These commands do not place the image(s) on the clipboard. However, the image(s) can be replaced using the Paste command.

Delete
Use the Delete command to remove the selected object(s) from the design screen, or if no objects are selected, to paint the current region with the Paper Color.

Refresh Canvas
The Refresh Canvas command will allow you to regenerate or redraw the design screen.

Zoom In / Zoom Out
The Zoom In command makes the design and objects appear larger on the screen. The Zoom Out command makes the design and objects appear smaller on the screen. It does not affect the actual size or scale of the objects in the design.

If you have a scroll button on your mouse, you can quickly zoom in or out by rolling the scroll button up or down.

Zoom All
The Zoom All command returns the design from its current zoom level to its original size.

Pan
The Pan command is used to move or slide the design around on the screen.

If you have a scroll button on your mouse, you can quickly pan the design by pressing an holding down the scroll button. Drag the design to a new location and release the scroll button.

Canvas Thumbnail
The Canvas Thumbnail command will place an original image of the canvas on the design screen. This tool is useful for showing a "before" and "after" picture on the same design screen.

Show/Hide Object Placement
The Object Placement dialog box allows you to place images onto the design screen. The dialog box may be placed at any location on the design screen. You may have one, four or nine images to represent each object listed in the dialog box.

You may limit the number of objects appearing in the list by selecting a plant Palette. In addition, you may sort the plants in the list by Common or Botanical names.

Show/Hide Image Sprayer

The Image Sprayer dialog box allows you to "spray" images onto the design screen or erase portions of sprayed images. The dialog box may be placed at any location on the design screen. You may sort the plants in the list by Common or Botanical names.

Show/Hide Tools
With the Lighting Mode in the Off position, the Tools dialog box allows you to select and modify images on the design screen. You may also use tools for selecting regions of the screen to fill with materials, colors or objects. Additional tools exist allowing you to draw lines, circles, squares, text and more.

Lighting Mode On
With the Lighting Mode in the On position, the Tools dialog box allows you to select the tools necessary for creating accent lighting designs. You can adjust the canvas darkness and place different types of lighting effects.

Set Canvas Width
The Set Canvas Width command will allow you to estimate the distance from one side of the image to the another at a selected location. As objects are placed on the canvas or background, they are scaled based on the mature height setting in the Objects Database and the width of the canvas.

Flip Horizontally / Flip Vertically
The Flip Horizontally or Flip Vertically commands allow you to flip the background image or canvas on the screen. Once objects are placed on the canvas, the flip commands are no longer enabled.

Rotate
The Rotate command rotates the background image or canvas. Once objects are placed on the canvas, the Rotate command is no longer enabled.

Effects
The Effects command will allow you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation, or to sharpen the background image or canvas.

Move Commands
Each object is placed on its own layer. The first object placed on the design screen is automatically placed on layer one. The second object is placed on layer two, and so on. You can position an object in front or in back of another object by changing the layer order.

Flip Horizontally / Flip Vertically
The Flip Horizontally or Flip Vertically commands allow you to flip the selected objects on the design screen.

Combine With Background

The Combine With Background command allows you to combine the selected objects with the background image or canvas. It may be necessary to combine an object with the canvas to allow for use during the cloning process.

Effects
The Effects command will allow you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation, or to sharpen the selected objects(s).

Grow
The Grow commands will increase or decrease the size of certain objects on the design screen. The growth factor is determined by the width of the canvas and the height specifications for each object in the database. Preset growth selections are as follows:

1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Maturity

Create Shadow
The Create Shadow command will allow you to add shadows to selected objects. The initial location and appearance of the shadow is set in the Tools dialog box on the Create Shadow tab. You can adjust the transparency of the shadow and the order in which it appears in relation to other objects on the design. You may apply shadows to more than one object at a time.

Label Object
The Label Object command allows you to select a single object and place a text description of the object on the design screen.

Region commands are normally used to outline an area to be filled with an object such as grass, brick, or mulch, or to be painted with a solid or transparent color. You may also use the commands when creating regions to appear transparent when turning photographs into new objects to use in the design process.

Draw Rectangular Region
Use the Draw Rectangular Region command to draw a rectangular region area on the background image or canvas. Once a region exists, you may fill the area with a selected object or color.

Draw Elliptical Region
Use the Draw Elliptical Region command to draw a circular or elliptical region area on the background image or canvas.

Draw Polygon Region
Use the Draw Polygon Region command to draw an irregular shaped region area on the background image or canvas.

Region Color Wand

The Region Color Wand allows you to select adjacent colors for creating a region. The first point that you select is the base color. Depending on the Color Tolerance setting, the base color and all adjacent colors falling within the specified tolerance range are selected as a part of the region.

Paint Region

The Paint Region allows you to paint a region on the background image or canvas with a brush. This tool is normally used to add or subtract from an existing region.

Color Region

The Color Region allows you to select colors on the design screen for creating a region. The first point that you select is the base color. Depending on the Color Tolerance setting, the base color and all colors falling within the specified tolerance range on the entire background image or canvas are selected as a part of the region.

Delete Region

Once you have made use of the current regions on the background image or canvas, you may want to remove or delete them.

Invert Region

Use the Invert Region command to reverse the current region area on the background image or canvas.

Fill Region from Selection
The Fill Region from Selection command allows you to place materials or objects within a created region. This command may be used to fill turf areas with grass, shrub areas with mulch, or sidewalks and driveways with pavers. In addition, you may use this command to place trees or shrubs partially behind a house and more.

Fill Region with Color
The Fill Region with Color command allows you to paint a created region with a solid or transparent color. This command may be used to paint a house.

Crop Canvas to Region
The Crop Canvas to Region command will cut the background image or canvas down to the size of the created region. The image is always cropped to a rectangular shape. If a region is created using a region command other than the Draw Rectangular Region, the program will calculate the maximum height and width of the region and crop the image to that size. This command is best used to remove unwanted areas from the perimeter of the canvas.

Clone Canvas
The Clone Canvas command lets you copy a portion of the background image or canvas onto another part of the same image. You set the source location or the area you wish to copy, and then "clone it" by painting over the destination area. You can also set the size of the source and destination boxes. The cloning tool is normally used to remove unwanted portions of the canvas prior to starting a new design.

If an object or fill material such as shrubs, trees or grass will cover the unwanted portion of the canvas, it may not be necessary to clone the unwanted area. Simply cover the area with a new object or fill material.

The cloning process usually takes place before objects are placed on the design screen. However, if you clone an area after placing objects, the objects will be removed from the design screen during the cloning process. The objects will be returned to the screen upon exiting the Clone Canvas command.

To fix the source location so that it does not move during the cloning process, enable the Stamp Mode checkbox.

Paint Canvas
The Paint Canvas command allows you to paint the background image or canvas with a solid or transparent color.

Draw Polyline
The Draw Polyline command allows you to draw a line or polygon by setting two or more points on the design screen.

Draw Ellipse
The Draw Ellipse command allows you to draw a circle or ellipse on the design screen.

Draw Rectangle
The Draw Rectangle command allows you to draw a square or rectangle on the design screen.

Draw Text
The Draw Text command allows you to place a line of text on the design screen. You can adjust the font style, size and characteristics as necessary.

Objects Database
The Objects Database command will allow you to edit a database of object selections based on the chosen type category. You can enter the object name, insert images to represent the object, and enter the growth settings for plant objects.

Object Palettes Database

Since there are so many different object selections in the database, it is sometimes easier to place some of the selections into smaller subgroups. We call these subgroups Object Palettes. For example, you may want to create a palette of plant material for use only in commercial installations. You may create separate palettes for residential, tropical, desert settings and more.

You may assign each object in the databases to one or more palettes. When you choose a palette in the Object Placement or Image Sprayer dialog box, the program will only display the objects assigned to the selected palette. This limits the number of objects and makes the selection process easier.

There is no limit to the number of palettes you may create.

Contents and Index
The Contents and Index command displays an index of all help screens and allows you to view the screen of your choice. You can quickly access help at anytime by pressing the F1 key on the keyboard.

About Photoscapes™
The About Photoscapes™ command displays the version of Photoscapes™ you are using, the serial number, copyright information, and more.