For the conversion you can define parameters referring to:
• Image Size
• Image Processing
• Output Format
Image Size
You can not only determine the image size (in pixel as well as inches, cm or per-cent). You can also have the image cropped before it is scaled to the dimension defined by width and height.
• Alternate Source Resolution
If you want to use the image with a resolution different from the stored orig-inal, activate the User Alternate Source Resolution option.
• Crop Area
Cropping refers to cutting down an image by cutting away unwanted parts at the edges. You specify left, top, right, bottom margins to be cropped off the source image.
The cropping function can be used to trim the edges of an image. Enter the size of the edges to be removed. Define the measurement under Units.
NOTE: If you use an alternate source resolution, be aware that this resolu-tion is the basis for any cropping in inches or cm measurements.
• Scale Dimension
The values for width, height and resolution determine the size of the con-verted image. The image size can be specified in pixel dimensions or print dimensions. And you can decide to have the image converted either to an individual size or to a fixed size, the maximum of which is defined by a bounding box. The result depends on the selections set for the conversion:
• Work at
If you want to specify the size in inches or cm and have the software calcu-lating the pixel dimension automatically depending on the set resolution, select Document Size. If this option is activated, the entered values deter-mine the print dimensions.
If you want to specify the pixel dimension (not caring about print size), select Image Size.
Note that the final output size depends on the output device’s settings (e.g. dpi of printer).
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Working at Image Size is useful when preparing images for online dis-tribution. Keep in mind that changing pixel dimensions affects not only the size of an image on-screen but also its image quality and its printed characteristics – either its printed dimensions or its image res-olution.
• Constrain Proportions
To maintain the current proportions of width to height, activate this option. (This option is not available if you have selected multiple records for converting or if you are defining a Cumulus Action.)
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To keep the proportions if you have selected multiple records or if you are defining a Cumulus Action we recommend you to specify height and width in percent.
• Use Size as Bounding Box
If this option is activated, the size defines the bounding box into which the images has to fit. The image will be resized proportionally to fit the size of the bounding box. No dimension of the converted image will exceed the size of the box. When using this option, the proportions of the images are always constrained and that’s why the Constrain Proportions option is not available.
If you want images that are smaller than the size of the bounding box to be enlarged to this size, activate the Enlarge Smaller Images option.
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To define the size for a box you want to fit for portrait and landscape images, make it a square. Then the longest edge of an image (height or width) will be resized to the entered value and the shorter edge will be resized according to the proportions of the image.
You can choose different units of measurement. To enter values as percent-ages of the current dimensions, choose Percent as the unit of measurement.
Image Processing
With the conversion the image can be processed. You can have a filter run, rotate and flip the image. Select the desired processing options.
• Filter
To have a filter run with the conversion, select a filter type and the radius range for the filter (small, medium, large.) The radius determines how far the filter considers surrounding pixels that affect the filter action. The following filters are available:
• Average Blur filter
Softens an image. It smooths transitions by averaging the color values of surrounding pixels. Eliminates noise where significant color transitions occur in an image.
• Median Filter
Reduces noise in an image by blending the brightness of pixels. The filter adapts the brightness of pixels to the median brightness value of the sur-rounding pixels.
• Gaussian filter
Works similarly to the Blur filter but uses a weighted average of the color
values of the surrounding pixels. The weighting is generated using the Gaussian bell-shaped curve that is generated.
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The Blur as well as the Gaussian filter decreases high-frequency details and can produce a hazy effect.
• Sharpen filter
Increases the visual sharpness of images by increasing the contrast at edges.
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Applying the Sharpen filter is recommended when scaling up images to keep their visual sharpness as high as possible.
• Unsharp Mask Filter
Makes images appear sharper by increasing the contrast of small bright-ness changes.
• Add Noise Filter
Applies random pixels to an image, simulating distortion or noise. You can also use the Add Noise filter to give a more realistic look to heavily retouched areas.
• Rotation
You may rotate the image by selecting image rotation degrees.
0 no rotation
90 to rotate the image clockwise by a quarter-turn 180 to rotate the image by a half-turn
270 to rotate the image counterclockwise by a quarter-turn.
• Flip
– activate horizontal to flip the image along the vertical axis.
– activate vertical to flip the image along the horizontal axis.
Output Format
For the output you can define the following parameters:
• Color Space
Select the desired color space for the converted image. The available color spaces depend on the selected file format (e.g. GIF, PNG, PCX, and BMP do not support CMYK.)
NOTE: ICC Profile Embedded
The ICC profile of an original image will be embedded in the converted asset if the color space is not changed and the output file format supports ICC profiles.
• File Format
Select the file format for the converted image. Depending on the selected file format, the available further parameters for the output format may differ.
• Compression
Select a compression scheme that is supported for the selected file format.
(This version of the Pixel Image Converter provides a compression scheme for TIFF only.)
• Quality (JPEG)
For JPEG and PDF files only, select the desired quality.
• Store IPTC Information
To store IPTC metadata within TIFF and JPEG images, activate this option.
• Store XMP Information
To store XMP metadata within TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and PDF files, activate this option.
The selected asset(s) will be converted and stored under the name of the original asset in the selected destination. The Pixel Image Converter will automatically add the correct File Type and Creator / file extension to the file name. The name will be extended by a number if a file with that name already exits at the selected destination.