USER MANUAL 13
44601 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538, USA Tel: +1.510.440.9901 • Fax: +1.510.440.1270 • www.arcsoft. com Copyright © 2008 ArcSoft, Inc. All rights reserved. ArcSoft, the ArcSoft logo, and ArcSoft Media Impression are registered trademarks of ArcSoft, Inc. in the United States. All other product and companies named herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
About ArcSoft ArcSoft, Inc. is an industry leading software developer of multimedia technologies and applications across desktop and embedded platforms. Working closely with major OEM manufacturers, ArcSoft offers a full line of imaging and video solutions that enhance the features, performance, and user experience of mobile phones, digital cameras, optical drives, personal computers, and consumer electronics devices.
Table of Contents About ArcSoft...............................................3 1. Introduction............................................6 1.1 Installation..................................7 1.2 System Requirements...................8 1.3 Key Features..............................10 2. Start Page.........................................13 2.1 Media Browser.............................14 3. Media Types......................................18 3.1 Pictures......................................18 3.
Chapter 1: Introduction 1. Introduction Installation System Requirements Key Features This Introduction covers the installation and system requirements and provides a list of the key features of Media Impression. The rest of the user manual covers how to use the user interface, how to manage and import specific media files, and how to create a movie and use the webcam. There is also a chapter that covers the program’s menus and commands.
Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 1. 2. 3. 4. Installation Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. The installer should start automatically. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. When prompted, enter the license key located on the sleeve in which your software cd came in. Take note as to where the program is installing, and where it can be found in the Start menu. Note: If the installer does not start automatically, you will need to run it manually: 1.
Chapter 1: Introduction 1.2 System Requirements Minimum System RequirementsFor dows: For Windows: OS - Windows 2000/XP/Vista CPU - Intel Pentium 3 1 GHz or equivalent Memory - 512 MB RAM (256 MB recommended) Hard disk space - 300 MB available hard disk space Display - 16-bit color monitor at 800 x 600 or higher Other - Apple QuickTime(R) 7.0 or higher recommended - Microsoft DirectX 9.0 or higher - Microsoft Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher For Mac: OS - Mac OS x 10.3, 10.4, 10.
Chapter 1: Introduction Memory - 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended) Hard disk space - 300 MB free hard disk space Display - 16-bit color monitor at 800 x 600 or higher Graphics - Apple QuickTime(R) 6.
Chapter 1: Introduction 1.
Chapter 1: Introduction • Automatically detect plugging and unplugging of memory cards and DSCs • Automatically fix red-eye, correct picture orientation, and tag files on import • Capture images from video files Capture video from webcams 6
Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome to ArcSoft MediaImpression™, a fun and powerful management tool for your media files. Easily create and share projects featuring your photo, video, and music files. Edit, enhance and add creative effects to your photos. Create your own movies or photo slideshows, complete with soundtrack. Upload your files easily to YouTube™! Or share them with friends or family through simple email attachments, photo sharing sites, or archive to a CD/DVD disc.
Chapter 2: Start Page 2. Start Page This chapter covers what you will find in the start page of MediaImpression. For an explanation of each option on the main screen, mouse over the option and a description will appear. There are two ways of starting to use MediaImpression: by Media Type or by action. By Media Type You can start by selecting the type of the media files you want to view and edit. The program launches the Media Browser for this type of media file.
Chapter 2: Start Page 2.1 Media Browser The Media Browser occupies the largest section of the main screen. It consists of two sections: 2.11 Views Appears on the left side of the Media Browser. Views provide tools and options for you to locate, examine, and organize your media files. The first time you use the program, Folders is the primary view. The Folders view displays your files based on their location on your hard drive. 2.12 Preview Area Appears in the center section of the Media Browser.
Chapter 2: Start Page The Views provide tools for you to locate, examine, and organize your media files. The types of media files you view are determined by the Categories drop-down list. To change the type of the media files you want to view, select from the Categories drop-down list. The first time you use the program, Folders is the primary view. At the bottom of the Folders view, click on the icons below the folders view for more available views.
Chapter 2: Start Page MediaImpression is designed to be easily expandable as your multimedia needs grow and change. In the Configure Browser dialog, you can choose to have the program check for other plug-ins (views, actions, etc.) that may be available. Click the new plug-in names to learn more about them, or to download trial versions. Click to activate the trial versions if you would like to purchase the plug-ins from the ArcSoft eStore.
Chapter 2: Start Page • Batch Rename Launches the Batch Rename dialog box which enables you to quickly and easily rename many media files at once. Attach Rating: Enables you to attach a rating to or unrate the selected media files in the Preview area. Attach Tags: Enables you to attach a tag to the selected media files in the Preview area. Delete: Sends the selected media files to the recycle bin. Group by: Organizes the media files into different categories in the Preview Area.
Chapter 3: Media Types 3. Media Types The following media types are available: Pictures, Music, Video, and All Media. Each media type has a views and a preview window. At the bottom is a selection of specific actions related to that category. 3.1 Pictures In the Pictures window you will see the action menu on the bottom. At anytime, you may select an action from that list. The Program’s Action buttons appear below the Media Browser.
Chapter 3: Media Types To manage photos: 1. 2. Select the picture you would like to work with from the display area. Select the action you would like to apply to the picture from the list of icons below the display area. A pop up window will appear for that particular action. See chapter 4 for an explanation of each action. 3.2 Music To manage or play music files: 1. Select the music file you would like to play or manage. 2.
Chapter 3: Media Types 3.3 Video To manage or play video files: 1. Select the video files from the display area or browse using the pull-down menu. 2. Select the action from the ones listed below the display area that are available.
Chapter 3: Media Types 3.4 All Media To manage or play music files: 1. Select the music file you would like to play or manage. 2. Either select an action from the ones listed below the display area or use the buttons to play, stop, etc. your music file.
Chapter 4: Actions 4. Actions There are actions in MediaImpression that you may choose from in the start page. The available actions will vary depending on how you choose to configure these. The available options can be found in the form of icons below the screen as well as in the right-click menu. They differ depending on the category of media file selected in the Media Browser. They include: Import To access the import window, click on the Import icon on the start page.
Chapter 4: Actions • • • • Exclude files that have already been imported - Do not import the files that have been imported from the device. Rotate photo automatically - Rotate imported photo files automatically during the importing. Fix red-eye automatically - Automatically find and fix all red-eyes. Attach a tag - Tag each file as you import it. Select the tag from the list or create a new tag.
Chapter 4: Actions 5. Click "OK" to start importing. A similar window such as this one will appear with your own selected files: Make Movie In the Make Movie module, you can quickly and easily produce professional-looking movies featuring your own photo and video files. Note: If the Media Browser category is set to My Pictures or All Media Files, this action appears under the Edit module. To make a movie: 1.
Chapter 4: Actions • Click ‘Rotate Left/Right’ to rotate the selected photo or video file in your movie. • Click ‘Title & Credits’ to customize the title and credits with your own text. • Click ‘Add Music’ to select audio files and add background music to your movie. • Click ‘Add Logo’ to select a logo image and add it to your movie. • To delete a file from the storyboard, select it and click the delete (trash) icon. 3.
Chapter 4: Actions rotate left and rotate right icons and a delete icon. You can also click on ‘Group by’ to group your files by certain criteria or click on ‘Sort by’ to opt to sort your files and choose ‘View by’ to view your files a specific way. The slider on the right of the screen helps you to zoom in and out of your files. <> WebCam This module makes it easy for you to capture still images and video directly from your webcam.
Chapter 4: Actions Once the image has been captured, it will appear in the preview area, as seen in the following: 22
Chapter 4: Actions Acquire Here you can: • • Acquire images from connected TWAIN compliant devices such as scanners and some digital cameras. Assign names to image files as they are acquired (using today’s date or a descriptive word). How to acquire images from a TWAIN compliant device: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Select a scanner or other TWAIN device from the drop down list. Choose the file format you want to use for the acquired images (JPG, BMP, TIF, PCX, TGA).
Chapter 4: Actions How to capture frames from video: 1. Click the 'Get New Video' button to select a video file (avi, mpg, mpeg, wmv, asf, mov). 2. Use the Play/Pause button or the slider control to advance to the first frame you want to capture. 3. Use the 'Frames per capture' control to set the number of frames (1 to 20) you want to capture each time the Capture button is clicked. 4. Click 'Capture'. Thumbnails will be added to the tray below as they are captured. 5.
Chapter 4: Actions Attach Rating Enables you to attach a rating to or unrate the selected media files. You can also press a number (1-5) on the keyboard to apply a rating. Mute Quiets the audio. Volume Level Enables you to adjust the volume level. Repeat Makes the video or music file play repeatedly. Full Screen (F) Displays the video or music file in full screen mode. Exit full screen Restores the Media Player to standard size.
Chapter 4: Actions The Photo Viewer controls include: Best Fit (Ctrl+B) Makes the photo fit in the preview screen. Actual Size (Ctrl+A) Shows the photo at 100%. Zoom Out (-) Reduces the size of the active photo within the Photo Viewer. Zoom In (+) Enlarges the active photo within the Photo Viewer. Play/Pause (P) Makes the photos in the current folder play as a slide show. Stop (Esc) Stops the slide show. Previous (Left Goes to the preceding Arrow, Up Arrow, Page Up) photo file.
Chapter 4: Actions Delete (Del) Sends the selected photo file to the recycle bin. Rotate Left 90 (Ctrl+L) Rotates the active photo 90-degrees counterclockwise. Rotate Right 90 (Ctrl+R) Rotates the active photo 90-degrees clockwise. Automatically Remove Red-Eye Automatically fixes redeye. If red-eye is not fixed, use the Easy Fix. EXIF EXIF data for the active photo can be found by clicking on the EXIF button.
Chapter 4: Actions Digital Picture Frame The digital picture frame module allows you to resize and crop your photos according to your digital-picture-frame device quickly and easily. Follow these steps to resize your photos: 1. Highlight files and click on the Add button. 2. Select the manufacturer and the model of your device. 3. You may edit the files, click on 'Preview' or click on 'Export' once you are ready.
Chapter 4: Actions Make Movie In the Make Movie module, you can quickly and easily produce professional-looking movies featuring your own photo and video files. Follow these steps to make a movie: 1. Add Click and drag selected files onto the storyboard, or select files from the Display Area and click 'Add'. Within the storyboard, click and drag the files to arrange them in the order you want. Title and credits are added automatically. 2.
Chapter 4: Actions Photo Editing Tools The Photo Editing Tools module includes a complete set photo enhancement, editing, and retouching controls. The window can be stretched to provide a large size view of the active photo. Double click the module's tool bar to maximize the window to fill the computer screen.
Chapter 4: Actions Photo Effects The Photo Effects module includes a full set of special effects for photos. Most of the effect names give a good idea of how the command will affect the image. You can also see a preview when you select a particular command before applying it to the image. The window can be stretched to provide a large size view of the active photo. Double click the module's tool bar to maximize the window. To apply an effect: 1. 2. Select a photo. Choose an effect from the effect list.
Chapter 4: Actions In addition to the large photo workspace, the Photo Effects module includes two distinct sets of controls: • • Toolbar Photo Tray Creativity The Creativity project includes the following options: Text and Clip Art - Customize your photos with colorful words and graphics. Frames and Edges - Apply creative frames and border effects to your photos. Color Effects - Apply fun and creative color effects to your photos.
Chapter 4: Actions photos. • View in Google Earth Views the selected photo which has already been geotaged in Google Earth. Google Earth will locate the location where you shot it, and display the photo as a thumbnail. Clicking the thumbnail lets you have a big view. • View in Google Earth with Path Connects a group of photos which have already been geotaged with red lines to show your travel path. • Export to Google Earth File (*.kmz) Exports the current Google Earth information as a .kmz file.
Chapter 4: Actions To change the text at the top of the email page and below each photo, use your cursor to select the text then type your new message. Click Send to launch your email application and insert your photo template into the body of a new email. Note that you must have your email format set to 'HTML email.' Send your email as you normally would. Slow connection speeds may prevent the successful transmission of photo email. A broadband internet connection is recommended.
Chapter 4: Actions Easy Email The Easy Email action lets you quickly and easily prepare and email many photos. • How to prepare and email photos: Choose an attachment method: Regular Photos – Traditional method for emailing photos. Choose 'Use Original' if you want to email photos for printing. Photo Pages – Recipients receive photos in the form of photo page layouts - with 2, 4, 8, or 18 photos on a page.
Chapter 4: Actions Select the email program you want to use to send the attachment. Click 'Attach to Email' to generate an email with the attachment. Type your message and click 'Send'. Easy Print The Easy Print action lets you quickly and easily print photos in a variety of standard sizes using your desktop printer. How to print photos using your desktop printer: Select the photos you want to print and click Easy Print. Choose a Page Template (photo size) from the scrollable list on the left.
Chapter 4: Actions • Easy Print Toolbar: Landscape/ Portrait Switch between horizontal and vertical page orientations. Zoom in Enlarges the selected photo within the print area. Zoom out Reduces the size of the selected photo within the print area. Auto Crop Have the program automatically crop the photo in its current orientation so that it fills its respective template. Copy Copies a selected image into the preview area. Paste Pastes a copied image into the preview area.
Chapter 4: Actions If you want to adjust the quality settings for your printer, click 'Print Setup.' Click 'Print'. Webcam (See Chapter 2 for section on webcam) Easy Archive The Easy Archive action helps you quickly and easily burn a CD or DVD disc of the selected media files. • How to archive media files to disc: Select the files and folders* you want to archive to disc and click Easy Archive. Insert a blank CD or DVD disc into the selected drive. Enter a disc label. Enter a folder name.
Chapter 4: Actions Print Creations The Print Creations projects enable you to create Photo Calendars, Half-Fold Greeting Cards, Quarter-Fold Greeting Cards, Album Pages, and Photo Books with your pictures. Selecting a Print Creations project launches the ArcSoft Print Creations™ application for that project, using the selected pictures. Some or all of the Print Creations projects may be unavailable depending on what version of Print Creations you have installed.
Chapter 4: Actions Order Photo Gifts and Prints The Order Gifts and Prints module lets you print your photos quickly and easily through online print services, order gifts and photobooks. Here's how it works: First click on the photo you would like to use from the preview window. Click on the next button. Then select the the country where you are as well as a product category. Follow the onscreen instructions. Note: Not all available options will appear on the bottom of the preview screen.
Reference Reference Open ArcSoft Open With Setup Troubleshooting Customer Support Technical Support Licensing Agreement Index 41
Reference The following are other options available in the Action button toolbar: Open ArcSoft Open other ArcSoft applications directly from within MediaImpression, or download trial versions of ArcSoft applications that you have not yet installed. Open With Opens the selected file in the chosen application. Setup You can customize your program in several ways. You can select to show or hide each view and action in the start page and browser, and you can set the order of the available actions.
Reference Troubleshooting Question: What do I do if Media Converter does not have my device model listed? Answer: If your device is not listed in Media Converter, you can still convert the media. To do so, select ‘User defined’ under ‘Manufacture’. Click the ‘Edit’ button and manually define photo, audio or video file specifications to fit the parameters used by your device. Note: Please contact device manufacture to obtain media file specifications and parameters.
Reference Answer: To set a tag for a file, select thumbnail in the Preview Area. Click the 'Attach Tags' button at the top, or right-click on the file and select a tag from the 'Attach Tags' sub-menu, or even drag selected files to a tag or drag a tag to selected files. Question: Can I attach multiple tags to one file? Answer: Yes, MediaImpression allows the user to set mulitple tags to any media file.
Reference Question: How does calendar view work in MediaImpression? Answer: The Calendar view uses the file's created date (shot time for EXIF images) to organize your media files.In the Calendars view, select a year, a month or a day to view all media files that were created or last modified on a given date. Question: What does EXIF stand for? Answer: EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format and contains information about the image file, camera and camera settings used when the photo was taken.
Reference action panel. Click OK to save changes. Note: Use ‘Advanced’ to configure the Views and Actions differently for each category of media file. Question: How do I view photos in the full screen mode with MediaImpression? Answer: If you wish to view your photos in full screen mode using the Media Browser, you must first double-click on the photo thumbnail to open Media Impression Photo Viewer.
Reference Licensing Agreement PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS ("Agreement") CAREFULLY. USE OF THE SOFTWARE (defined below) PROVIDED BY ARCSOFT IS PERMITTED ONLY UNDER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE.
Reference of this Agreement. In no event shall you transfer the Software obtained as a trial, test version, or otherwise specified as not for resale. A special license permit from ArcSoft is required if the program is going to be installed on a network server for the sole purpose of distribution to other computers. 3. Copyright.
Reference THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (WHETHER FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE), EVEN IF ARCSOFT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT WILL ARCSOFT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN THE FEES PAID FOR THE USE THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS APPLY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS IN YOUR JURISDICTION. 7. Export.
Reference California and the United States as applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without regard to conflicts of laws provisions thereof and the parties expressly exclude the application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods. Suits or enforcement actions must be brought within, and each party irrevocably commits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Santa Clara County.
INDEX Index A Actions 34 Acquire 40 TWAIN 40 Capture from Video File 40 Creativity 49 Digital Picture Frame 45 Easy Archive 55 archive media files 55 Easy Email 52 Easy Fix 45 Easy Print 53 Easy Print Toolbar 54 Geotag 49 Import 34 Make Movie 36, 46 Media Player 41 Order Photo Gifts and Prints 57 Photo Editing Tools 47 Photo Effects 48 Photo Email 50 Photo Viewer 42 Print Creations 56 Slide Show 50 Upload to YouTube 51 WebCam 38 C Create Video 22 51
INDEX D Data 34 I Installation 19 Introduction 18 Installation 18, 19 Key Features 18, 22 System Requirements 18, 20 K Key Features 22 Media Browser Attach Rating 29 Attach Tags 29 Batch 28 Batch Convert 28 Batch Resize 28 Delete 29 Group by 29 Preview Area 26 Rotate left 28 Rotate right 28 Smaller/Larger 29 Sort by 29 View by 29 Views 26 MUI (Multilingual User Interface) Support 22 Powerful Media Management 22 Simple Creative Projects and Editing Tools 22 XMP Support 22 52
INDEX M Media Types 30 All Media 33 Music 31 Pictures 30 manage photos 31 Video 32 S Start Page 25 Media Browser 26 System Requirements 20 W Watching BD/DVD/VCD movies 25 53
NOTES 56
