TBS Cover Editor: User Guide

TBS Cover Editor
User guide
Created with DrExplain Unregistered version
Table of Contents TBS Cover Editor.............................................................................................................................. 3 Overview..........................................................................................................................................4 Getting Started................................................................................................................................ 5 Design Layers............................................................................................................................... 6 Visual Effects................................................................................................................................ 9 3D Box Shot and Cover Rendering........................................................................................... 10 Design Templates....................................................................................................................... 11 Application User Interface.............................................................................................................14 Wizard : Step 1........................................................................................................................... 17 Wizard : Step 2.........................................................................................................................19 Wizard : Step 3...................................................................................................................... 21 Main Menu.................................................................................................................................. 23 File Menu.................................................................................................................................. 24 Edit Menu................................................................................................................................. 26 View Menu................................................................................................................................ 27 Help Menu................................................................................................................................ 29 Main Toolbar............................................................................................................................... 30 Layer Settings : General.............................................................................................................32 Layer Settings : Shadow.......................................................................................................... 34 Layer Settings : Gradient..........................................................................................................35 Gradient Editor....................................................................................................................... 37 Layer Settings : Stroke............................................................................................................. 39 Layer Settings : Glow............................................................................................................... 40 Layer Settings : Texture............................................................................................................41 Layer Settings : Reflection....................................................................................................... 42 Layer Settings : Stripes............................................................................................................ 43 3D Preview Settings : General................................................................................................... 45 3D Preview Settings : Light......................................................................................................47 3D Preview Settings : Effects...................................................................................................48 Designer Toolbar.........................................................................................................................50 Designer Secondary Toolbar...................................................................................................... 52 Layer Settings Window...............................................................................................................53 Document Settings......................................................................................................................55 Rendering Window......................................................................................................................57 Save Image.............................................................................................................................. 60 Application Preferences.............................................................................................................. 62 Export To Bitmaps...................................................................................................................... 63 Print Preview...............................................................................................................................65 Ordering & License....................................................................................................................... 68 Registration Dialog......................................................................................................................69 License Agreement..................................................................................................................... 70 System Requirements...................................................................................................................71 Contacts & Credits........................................................................................................................72
TBS Cover Editor

Note: This is a real project used as a sample. An online manual compiled from this project may be found here: http://www.trueboxshot.com/CEGuide/index.htm A CHM file compiled from this project may be found within TBS Cover Editor 2.0 application: http://www.trueboxshot.com/DownloadTBSCoverEditor TBS Cover Editor is the ultimate solution to create a classic or Vista-style 3D box shot, DVD box, CD cover, card or book cover shot for your software, film, music, podcasts, e-book, or other products!
Overview
TBS Cover Editor is an easy tool to create quality 3D box shot, DVD box, CD cover, card, gadgets, souvenirs, or book cover shot for your software, film, music, e-book, or other product. The first thing that you potential customers encounter when they meet your product is the cover. For many people, this is the moment they decide to take a closer look at your product or search for another one. Take full advantage of this first impression by presenting a professional box, CD, DVD or book shot! Why waste precious time and money on something you can easily do by yourself? Hiring a professional designer to create your 3D box shot or cover costs hundreds of dollars and may require updates. Use TBS Cover Editor power to grab the attention of your customers! TBS Cover Editor is the ultimate solution to present your software, book, music or movie cover electronically! With TBS Cover Editor you haven't to design each side of the shot separately anymore in expensive image editing packages. The Visual Designer, a core part of TBS Cover Editor, allows adding and repositioning design layers in WYSIWYG manner. The designer represent all sides of the box, book or CD in a single flat view. TBS Cover Editor offers a wide collection of free professionally designed box shot, CD, DVD and book cover templates. TBS Cover Editor comes with a huge collection of preset box shot and cover templates. Select a suitable template and easily get started with a new ready to use cover design. TBS Cover Editor supports full 3D rotation with optional drop shadows, wire frame and reflection effects. You can customize the dimensions of the box, CD or book, as well as size and intensity of shadows and effects, and preview the changes in real-time. The final result can be rendered and saved in JPG, PNG or BMP format. An easy to use tool to render your existing cover design with professional looking results.
Getting Started
Please read the topics bellow to quickly get started with TBS Cover Editor. The introductory topics will give you the brief overview of the TBS Cover Editor concept. It requires just a couple minutes to see how it's easy and fun to create professional realistically looking 3D box shots, CD label, DVD or book cover with TBS Cover Editor.
Design Layers
The core part of TBS Cover Editor is Visual Designer. The designer represent all sides of the box or another cover object in a single flat view. The dashed lines shows the box side bounds. With TBS Cover Editor you haven't to design each side of the shot separately anymore. The box shot or cover design consists of an ordered set of design layers. In fact each layer represents an object of a certain type. There are several types of layers:
Bitmap Image layer allows adding artwork or photos into your design. This is extremely useful if you wish to add a product logo, photo, screenshot, or a background. You may either insert an image from file or paste it form the clipboard.
Line layer represents a straight line with optional arrows at the ends.
Ellipse layer represent an ellipse filled and\or outlined with colors. Rectangle layer represent a rectangle ellipse filled and\or outlined with colors.
Text layer allows creating text labels in various fonts and styles. If you are designing a template then you may insert the following macro expressions in the text:
The macros will be substituted with actual values by the New Document Wizard upon document creation. The same mechanism works for all types of text layers.
Curvy text layer allows creating text labels curved around the central point.
Wavy text layer allows creating text labels curved like interference of two orthogonal waves.
Star layer allows creating a regular shape with several beams.
Multi-line text layer allows creating a relatively large text labels consisting of several text paragraphs. This is useful for writing product descriptions, feature lists, and so on.
Custom shape layer allows inserting custom vector shapes from the preset collection.
Rounded box layer allows creating rectangular shapes with customizable rounded corners.
Use Visual Designer Toolbar on the top of the designer area to add new layers. You may apply additional visual effects to layers.
Visual Effects
TBS Cover Editor allows applying various visual effects to design layers. You may turn on the required effects in the Layer Settings panel. The following visual effects are supported in TBS Cover Editor: Shadow Gradient Stroke Glow Texture Reflection Stripes
You don't require a professional knowledge of visual effects to create an original design for your software box shot or product cover. All effect settings are easy to understand and any changes are shown in Visual Designer almost in real-time.
3D Box Shot and Cover Rendering

The original best in class rendering algorithms of the TBS Cover Editor allows create realistic classic and Vista-style box shot, CD, DVD cases, electronic gadgets, card or book images.
The advanced mechanisms of TBS Cover Editor rendering engine produce box shot and cover images with high precision. The high quality of image filtering with sub pixel accuracy leaves no chance for fuzzy edges, making images look clean and nice. Customizable rendering options allow the selection of the resolution up to impressive 3000x3000 pixels. The high resolution box shot and cover pictures will look perfectly even in printed magazines. TBS Cover Editor supports full 3D rotation with optional drop shadows and reflection effects. You
can customize the dimensions of a 3D object, as well as size and intensity of shadows and effects, and preview the changes in real-time.
Design Templates
Using preset templates TBS Cover Editor offers a wide collection of free professionally designed classic or Vista-style box shot, DVD case, card, CD, gadgets, and book cover templates.
Use Wizard to select a suitable template and easily get started with a new almost ready cover design.
Text layers in templates are marked with tags (styles) that will be substituted with your product details (name, company, URL, version, etc.) entered in Wizard.
So, by using templates you may create a professional looking box shot or cover for your product literally in minutes. You must just adjust some text positions, insert your logo or, for
example, change the color theme and your 3D box shot, CD, card or book cover gets ready for rendering. Creating your own templates If you have a product line then having a similar design for all product box shots or covers is a great idea. With TBS Cover Editor you may create your own templates and later reuse them for fast creation of new covers with the same corporate design. Creating a new template is just the same process as creating a new cover shot. The only difference is that you must assign styles to the text layers to later insert real information (name, company, URL, version, etc.) in these text layers. Once your template is ready you must Save project as template to add it into a template collection. The new template will be saved in a template folder and will be available in the Wizard.
Application User Interface
The visual designer is a core element of the TBS Cover Editor main window. You can quickly create an original box shot design by adding new layers and by applying visual effects to them. You have not to have deep knowledge in visual effects to create a professional looking box shot or covers. All tools and effects are easy to understand and to use. Then you can easily setup the 3D look of your box shot, CD or cover in preview area and render a picture literally in two clicks. Main menu
The application menu provides access to common commands and operations.
Layer list
The list displays all design layers in Z-order. You may rearrange the order of the layers by using Up & Down tool buttons at the top of the list. The item's check box allows locking and toggling the layer visibility without actual deleting it.
Main toolbar
The toolbar provides quick access to the most common operations and actions.
3D Preview
The 3D preview area instantly shows how your 3D box shot or cover looks like. You can quickly adjust object's position, zoom factor and angles with the mouse. To set those and more 3D parameters explicitly double click on the preview area or right click on it and select Setting in the pop up menu. This will open 3D Preview Settings dialog.
Layer Settings Panel
The panel consists of several sections that allow applying various visual effects to a selected layer. Initially all layers have no effects. Once you have applied an effect to a layer the corresponding effect tab is colored with green. The General section shows the settings which are specific to the layer's type. Other sections, with visual effects are the same for all layer types.
Designer Secondary Toolbar The toolbar allow quick zooming of the Visual Designer area or setting its scale explicitly. It also helps manage the current color settings. Visual Designer
The designer area is a core part of TBS Cover Editor main window. It allows adding and moving layers in WYSIWYG manner. The designer represent all sides of the cover in a single flat view. The dashed lines shows the box side bounds. With TBS Cover Editor you haven't to design each side of the shot separately anymore. Use bottom toolbar to zoom in \ out the design view. Use Visual Designer Toolbar on the top of the designer area to add new layers.
Color selection
The color selection area helps select a new active color with a single click. Use Swatches palette to keep the most used colors.
Properties \ Shapes \ Layer library Cover properties Vector shapes Layer library
Use this section to specify With the list of vector shapes the background color you may easily add a new of the color and basic shape layer to your design. dimensions of the 3D model. Simply drag the shape from the list and drop it into the Visual Designer area to create a new layer.
With the Layer Library you can save a layer or a group of layers to the repository and quickly access to these layers any time later.
Wizard : Step 1
The Wizard will help you quickly create an original and professional looking design for your product box shot, DVD, CD, or book cover. Each object group contains several different models.
TBS Cover Editor comes with a huge collection of preset box shot and cover templates. Select a cover type from the list to easily get started with a new design. Help button Press the button to show the context help.
Template list
Select a suitable cover type from the list to create a new cover design.
Next step
Press the button to choose a design for the selected cover type.
Cancel
Press the button to cancel the new project creation.

Wizard : Step 2
Select a suitable design template from the list to easily get started with a new design. Help button Press the button to show the context help.
Template list
Select a suitable template from the list to create a new cover design.
Next step / Back
Press Next button to specify additional settings for the selected template.
Finish
Press the button to create a new project from the selected template without specifying additional settings. Cancel

Wizard : Step 3
The Wizard will help you quickly create an original and professional looking design for your product box shot. The second step allows you to specify the basic details of your software product after you have selected the design template on the previous step. Those parameters will be substituted into the tagged template's text layers. Thus, your cover basic design will be ready just in a minute. Software name Specify the product name in this field.
Company name
Specify the company name in this field.
Product website
Specify the product website URL in this field.
Slogan
Specify the product short promo text in this field.
Product features
Specify the product key features in this field.
Version
Specify the product version number in this field.
Help
Press the button to show the context help.
Previous step
Press the button to go back to the previous step to select another template.
Finish
Press the button to create a new project from the selected template with the specified settings.
Cancel

Main Menu
The application menu provides access to common commands and operations. File menu The File submenu contains a set of file specific and project specific operations.
Edit menu The Edit submenu consist of object editing commands. View menu The View submenu allows setup the application interface layout. Window menu The menu allows rearranging project windows. Help menu The Help submenu consists of links to help file and support resources.
File Menu
The File submenu contains a set of file specific and project specific operations. New Project Runs New Project Wizard. Open Project Opens an existing project file. Recent Files The submenu contains shortcut links to recently modified projects. Save Project Saves the current project into a file. Save Project As ... Saves the current project into a file with another file name. Save Project as Template Saves the current project as a design template for further reusing it.
Render Project Renders the current design into a 3D box shot. Export Project to Bitmaps Exports the project into a set of bitmap images. Each box shot side is saved into a single bitmap image file.
Document settings Opens the Document Settings dialog. Print Opens the Print Preview Dialog. Exit Closes the TBS Cover Editor application.
Edit Menu
The Edit submenu consist of object editing commands. Undo Cancels the last action. Redo Reverts the canceled action. Duplicate layer Creates a copy of the selected layer. Repeat layer Creates several copies of the selected layer and then combines them into a group. Cut Cuts the selected layer and stores it in the clipboard. Copy Copies the selected layer into the clipboard. Paste Pastes the layer from the clipboard. Delete Deletes the selected layers. Preferences Opens application settings dialog.
View Menu
The View submenu allows setup the application interface layout. 3D Preview Settings Opens 3D Preview Settings dialog. Layer List visibility Toggles the Layer List visibility. 3D Preview visibility Toggles the 3D Preview visibility. Shape List visibility Toggles the Shape List visibility. Color swatch visibility Toggles the Color Selection Box visibility. Skin Applies visual skins to user interface. Zoom In visual designer Zooms in the Visual Designer Zoom Out visual designer Zooms out the Visual Designer Go to Template Folder Opens the template folder in Windows Explorer.
Go to Texture Folder Opens the texture folder in Windows Explorer. Go to Repository Folder Opens the layer repository folder in Windows Explorer.
Help Menu
The Help submenu consists of links to help file and support resources. Help contents Opens the TBS Cover Editor help file Contacts & Credits Use this command to find the contact information of TBS Cover Editor team. Registration Opens registration dialog with license ordering instructions. Check for updates Use this command to instantly update the version of TBS Cover Editor About Opens About TBS Cover Editor dialog.
Main Toolbar
The toolbar provides quick access to the most common operations and actions. New project Runs New Project Wizard. Open project Opens an existing project file Save project Saves the current project into a file. Undo
Cancels the last action.
Redo
Revert the canceled action.
Cut
Cuts the selected layer and stores it in the clipboard.
Copy
Copies the selected layer into the clipboard.
Paste
Pastes the layer from the clipboard.
Delete Deletes the selected layers. Render 3D Box Shot Renders the current design into a 3D box shot.
3D Preview settings Opens 3D Preview Settings dialog. Print Opens the Print Preview Dialog. Document settings Opens the Document Settings dialog. Help
Opens the TBS Cover Editor help file

Layer Settings : General
The panel consists of several sections that allow applying various visual effects to a selected layer. Tabs with currently enabled effect are highlighted with green color. The General section shows the settings which are specific to the layer's type (e.g. Shape layer as show on the sample screenshot). Other sections, with visual effects are identical for all layer types. Effect tabs Use this tab control to switch among the visual effect panels.
Effect selector
Use this drop down check list to select visual effects to be applied to the layer.
Shape outline
Check the option to outline the selected shape layer. Select the outline color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen. Also, specify the line width in the document units.
Shape filling
Check the option to fill the selected shape layer with a solid color. Select the fill color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen.
Shape
Select the shape from the drop down shape collection or from the Shape List panel.
Layer Settings : Shadow
Use this section to specify the shadow effect settings for selected layer. Color Select the shadow color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen.
Delta X
Specify the horizontal shift of the shadow in pixels.
Delta Y
Specify the vertical shift of the shadow in pixels.
Blur
Specify the shadow blur radius.
Intensity
Specify the shadow intensity.

Layer Settings : Gradient
Use this section to specify the gradient effect settings for selected layer. Gradient type Select a predefined gradient type from the drop down list or click the colored area of the control to run the Gradient Editor dialog and to create a new gradient type.
Blend
Use the drop down list to select a gradient blending algorithm.
Opacity
Use the slider to set the gradient opacity level.
Style
Use the drop down list to select a gradient style.
Reverse
Check this option to flip the gradient direction.
Symmetrical
Check this option to make the gradient symmetrical.
Direction
Use the drop down slider to specify the gradient direction angle. Scale
Use the drop down slider to set the gradient scale in percents.
Position
Use the slider to specify the gradient start position.

Gradient Editor
The Gradient Editor dialog allows to create new gradient types or to modify existing ones. Presets The list contains the preset gradient types. Click an item to adjust its parameters.
Color schema
The ribbon-like control shows the color schema of the gradient type. Move the anchored tags along the bottom of the ribbon to shift the color bounds. The tags on the top of the ribbon allow setting opacity level bounds. You may explicitly change the selected tag's attributes: color, position, and opacity. Click on the top or bottom side of the ribbon to put a new tag.
Tag position
Use this field to specify position of a selected tag in percents of the ribbon's length.
Delete tag
Press this key to remove the selected tag.
Gradient name
Specify the gradient type name in this field.
Save gradient
Press this button to save the gradient type in the list.
Tag color
Select the bottom tag color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker over the screen.
Color opacity
Use this field to specify color opacity of a selected tag on the top of the ribbon.
OK
Press the button to save the changes and to close the dialog.
Cancel
Press the button to discard the changes and to close the dialog.
Layer Settings : Stroke
Use this section to specify the stroke effect settings for selected layer. Radius Use this filed to specify the stroke radius.
Opacity
Use this slider to specify the stroke color opacity.
Color
Select the stroke color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen.
Position
Select the stroke positioning type from the drop down list.
Layer Settings : Glow
Use this section to specify the glow effect settings for selected layer. Radius Use this field to specify the outer glow radius.
Color
Select the outer glow color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen.
Intensity
Use this slider to specify the outer glow intensity.
Radius
Use this field to specify the inner glow radius.
Color
Select the inner glow color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen.
Intensity
Use this slider to specify the inner glow intensity.

Layer Settings : Texture
Use this section to specify the texture effect settings for selected layer. Texture image Use this list to select the texture image or to import a new one.
Opacity
Use this slider to specify the texture overlay intensity.
Blending
Use the drop down list to select a gradient blending algorithm.
Tile mode
Check this option to turn the tiled mode on.
Offsets
Specify the horizontal and vertical offsets of the texture picture.
Scale
Use the drop down slider to set the texture image scale in percents.
Layer Settings : Reflection
Use this section to specify the reflection effect settings for selected layer. Offset Use this slider to specify the offset of the reflection in pixels from bottom of the original layer image. Opacity Use this slider to specify the intensity of the reflection in percents. Length Use this slider to specify the length of the reflection in percents of the original layer image length.
Layer Settings : Stripes
Use this section to specify the stripes effect settings for selected layer. Stripes effect is a randomized decoration effect. It's built of numerous semi-transparent color curved stripes which overlap each other in a random order. Settings set number Each ornament (stripe directions and order set) has its own number. Use this field to explicitly set the number of your favorite ornament. Randomize button
The random button allows you to randomly set an order and directions of the stripes. Number of stripes Specify the number of stripes in this field. Opacity Use this dropdown slider to specify the offset of the reflection in pixels from bottom of the original layer image. Stripe direction
Use this options to set the main direction of stripes. Color
Select the stripe color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen. Blending Specify color blending method for areas where stripes overlap.
3D Preview Settings : General
Use this dialog to setup 3D Preview settings: positions, light effects, reflections, etc. Those settings will be used for the final 3D Box Shot Rendering. To open this dialog either double click in the 3D Preview area, or press the button in the main toolbar, or an item in the View menu. The General section allows you setup 3D box shot positions. Background Color Select the 3D preview background color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen. To load the background from image file or from the clipboard click the Background button and select the command from the pull down menu.
Position X
Use the slider to setup the horizontal shift of the box shot from the center of the 3D preview area.
Position Y
Use the slider to setup the vertial shift of the box shot from the center of the 3D preview area. Camera distance perspective effect calculation. X rotation
Use this slider to change the "camera distance" for the 3D box shot scene. The distance value affects the
Use this slider to specify the angle of 3D box shot rotation about the horizontal X-axis.
Y rotation
Use this slider to specify the angle of 3D box shot rotation about the vertical Y-axis.
Z rotation
Use this slider to specify the angle of 3D box shot rotation about the orthogonal Z-axis.
Zoom
Use the slider to specify the size of the 3D box shot image relatively to the whole 3D scene.
Perspective
Use the slider to specify the perspective value of the 3D box shot image. This perspective value defines dimensions and position of the camera in the 3D scene. For instance, the nearest parts of the box look bigger in the picture
Ok
Cancel
Help

3D Preview Settings : Light
Use this section to setup 3D Preview light effects. Those settings will be used for the final 3D Box Shot Rendering. Light intensity Use this slider to set the global light intensity for the 3D scene.
Directional light
Check this option to turn the directional lightening on.
X lightening
Use this slider to specify the directional light source rotation angle about the horizontal X-axis.
Y lightening
Use this slider to specify the directional light source rotation angle about the vertical Y-axis.
Contrast
Specify the contrast level here.

3D Preview Settings : Effects
Use this section to setup 3D Preview shadow and reflection effects. Those settings will be used for the final 3D Box Shot Rendering. Shadow Check this option to turn the box shadow effect on.
Perspective shadow
Check this option to draw the shadow below the box. Otherwise the shadow will be drawn behind the box.
Shadow angle
Use the slider to specify the shadow angle relative to the box in degrees.
Distance
use this slider to specify the distance from the box to the end of shadow.
Color
Select the shadow color from the drop down palette or drag the color picker tool over the screen.
Opacity
Use this slider to specify the shadow opacity.
Blur
Use this slider to setup the smoothness of the shadow.
Reflection
Check this option to turn on the reflection effect.
Intensity
Use the slider to specify the intensity of the reflection.
Length
Use this slider to specify the length of the reflection in percents of the box width.
Space
Use this filed to specify the distance between the box and the bottom surface.
Designer Toolbar
The toolbar provides quick access to the most common visual designer operations and commands over the design layers. Pointer Press the button to reset editing mode and to turn the mouse into simple pointer. Add Image Layer Press the button to select an image file to insert as a new layer. Once you have selected the file select a rectangle region with mouse in designer area to insert the image there. Add Line Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to draw a line object. Add Circle Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to draw a circle object. Add Rectangle Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to draw a rectangle object. Add Text Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to create a new text object. Then double click on the text object to edit its content. Add Curvy Text Layer
Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to create a new curvy text object. Then double click on the created object to edit its content. Add Wavy Text Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to create a new wavy text object. Then double click on the object to edit its content. Add Star Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to draw a star object. Add Multiline Text Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to create a new multiline text object. Then double click on the object to edit its content. Add Custom Shape Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to insert a custom shape object. Add Rounded Rectangle Layer Press the button to turn on the new layer insertion mode and drag the mouse over the designer area to draw a rectangle object with rounded color. Group selected layers Use this button to group several selected layers into a single set. Ungroup layers Use this button to ungroup a selected set into several original layers. Align \ Distribute selected layers Click the button and use its pull down menu commands to properly align or distribute the selected layers. Layer settings Click the button to open the Layer Settings dialog for the selected layer.
Designer Secondary Toolbar
The secondary toolbar of the Visual Designer provides zooming functionality and quick color change for the currently selected layers. Layer Fill Color Shows the background color of the selected layer and provides possibility to quick change of the layer's background color. Layer Outline Color Shows the outline color of the selected layer and provides possibility to quick change of the layer's outline color. Hue Saturation Ligtness Use this button to quickly adjust hue, saturation, and lightness of a selected layer. Zoom to Width Press this button to automatically adjust the view scale factor to fit the document width. Fit the page Press this button to automatically adjust the view scale factor to fit the whole document size. Zoom Out Zoom out tool reduces view area of the Visual designer Current Zoom
Use this field to set the view scale factor explicitly.
Zoom In Zoom In tool magnifies the Visual designer area.

Layer Settings Window
Use this dialog to specify the basic layer settings. To open it double click the layer in Visual Designer, or select the layer and hit Settings in context pop up menu, or press Layer Settings button in designer toolbar. Name Specify the layer name here.
Dimensions
Use the numeric fields to explicitly specify the position and size of the layer bounding box.
Lock aspect ratio
Check this option to lock the layer aspect ratio during resizing.
Mirroring layer
Check the boxes to flip the layer horizontally or \ and vertically.
Transparency
Use this slider to set the layer transparency level in percents.
Angle
Use this slider to set the layer rotation angle about its centre in degrees.
Ok Press the button to save the changes and to close the dialog. Cancel Press the button to discard the changes and to close the dialog. Help Press the button to show the context help.
Document Settings
Use this dialog to specify the basic document settings. To open it click the Document Settings button in the application toolbar, or hit the Document Settings menu item in the File menu. Software name Specify the product name in this field.
Company name
Specify the company name in this field.
Product website
Specify the product website URL in this field.
Slogan
Specify the product short promo text in this field.
Features
Specify the product key features in this field.
Version
Specify the product version number in this field.
OK
Cancel
Help

Rendering Window
Use this dialog to finally render the 3D box shot scene and to save it into an image file. In the Rendering window you may explicitly specify the size of the output image, cropping settings and interpolation filter type. Preset dimensions Press the button to select a preset dimension (height and width) of the output image from the pull down list. Dimensions
Use these numeric fields to explicitly set the output image width and height in pixels.
Auto-crop
Check the option to automatically cut off the blank spaces of the output image to reduce the image file size. Nevertheless, this function keeps about 3% of the blank space around the image.
Custom scale
Check this option and set the numeric value to explicitly set the scale factor for the output image.
Interpolation Filters
Use resampling filters to enhance the appearance of the output image. Some filters add blurring or smoothing effect to an image, while others increase the sharpness of the edges. Test every filter to choose one that suits your design style. The following filter types are available: Bilinear Produces good results for image reduction and enlargement, but displays sharp transition lines. Very fast calculations. Lanczos Bicubic Gaussian Hermite Pixel softness Produces the sharpest images, but may also introduce some ringing artefacts. Produces good results with photo-realistic images and with images that are irregular or complex. Produces smooth transitions, but may cause excessive blurring. Produces sharp images. Very fast calculations.
Use this field to set the image pixel softness. It defines the scaling of the area covered by each single pixel. Higher values produce softer (more blurry) image. The values lower than 1.0 produce sharper output, though the aliasing and fuzziness effect may appear as well.
Render
Press the button to render the 3D box shot image with set parameters.
Save image
Press the button to save the rendered 3D box shot image into a graphical file, using the settings of the Save Image window.
Copy to clipboard
Press the button to copy the rendered 3D box shot image into the clipboard.
Zoom buttons
Use these buttons to zoom in \ out the image in the preview area.
Preview area
The preview area displays the rendered 3D box shot image.
Print
Press the button to print the rendered picture.
OK
Help

Save Image
Save Image Window. In order to save output image in particular graphic format, please activate a tab with the name of the desired graphic file type. Output Formats TBS Cover Editor allows to save output image in the following file formats:
.JPG - Joint Photography Experts Group file. .BMP - Bitmap file .PNG - Portable Network Graphics file .GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
Output Format Settings
Here you can adjust settings related to the selected output file format.
Save using this format

Save output file.
Cancel saving
Cancel saving.
JPG
Joint Photography Experts Group file JPG cannot contain transparency channel.
BMP
.BMP - Bitmap file You can choose 24/32 bits output file
PNG
.PNG - Portable Network Graphics file Ideal format in order to save transparent images.
GIF
.GIF - Graphics Interchange Format GIF Dithering methods: Floyd-Steinberg - Maps colors using Floyd Steinberg Error Diffusion dihthering. The Floyd Steinberg algorithm produces excellent results in most situations and is fairly cheap, performance wise, to use. Stucki - Maps colors using Stucki Error Diffusion dithering. The Stucki algorithm is slightly slower than Floyd Steinberg, but produces almost similar results. Is is commonly used for monochrome dithering. Sierra - Maps colors using Sierra Error Diffusion dithering. The Sierra algorithm is slightly faster than Stucki.
Application Preferences
Use this window to customize the application-wide settings. To open the dialog choose Preferences item in the Edit menu. DPI Specify the Visual Designer area DPI. This value denotes the quality of the image in Visual Designer. For the faster PCs we would recommend to set the DPI in range 72 150. Note: Higher values could slowdown the design process. DPI value does not have influence on the final rendering. Ruler unit
Specify the measurement units for rulers in Visual Designer.
OK Press the button to save the changes and to close the dialog. Cancel Press the button to discard the changes and to close the dialog. Help Press the button to show the context help.
Export To Bitmaps
Use this dialog to exports the project into a set of bitmap images. Each box cover side is saved into a single bitmap image file with a name, size and file format defined in this dialog. To open it click the Export To Bitmaps menu item in the File menu. Sides to export Use these check boxes to select the box shot sides to be saved into bitmap files.
Export folder
Specify the folder where to create the bitmap files.
Filename pattern
Specify the pattern for naming the output image files. Use the predefined macros.
File Format settings
Use these tabbed panels to select the image format for output files and to set the options for that format.
Box dimensions
Use the numeric fields to explicitly specify the box shot dimensions in pixels.
Ok
Cancel
Help

Print Preview
Use this window to setup the project printing options: cover sides to be printed, printer, paper size and cover dimensions. Zoom factor Specify zoom factor here. Sides to print
Check the sides of the cover to be printed. Printer Choose the printer to be used. Paper size
Setup the paper size and orintation. Dimensions
Use these fields to precisely specify the cover dimensions and DPI value. Press Apply button to recalculate and update the preview images. Print
Press the button to start actual printing. Cancel
Press the button to discard the changes and to close the dialog. Print pages preview
The list displays the preview images of the sides selected for printing. Select an item in the list to preview it in bigger size in the Single page preview area. Single page print preview
The Single page preview area shows the selected page in large size.
Ordering & License

You can instantly order the fully licensed version of TBS Cover Editor at any time over the Internet with any major credit card, bank / wire transfer, PayPal, check or cash. After you purchased a license, you'll receive your personal registration code and the release version of TBS Cover Editor. Please visit http://www.trueboxshot.com for pricing information. Here's what you can do with paid license of our product: Remove watermark on the box shot picture and get rid of the splash screen! Enable high resolution rendering (3000x3000) FREE minor version upgrades. FREE lifetime support. We promise prompt and courteous answers to your questions.
Once you have ordered the TBS Cover Editor registration key please enter it into the registration dialog.
Registration Dialog
Use this dialog to register your copy of TBS Cover Editor. To open this dialog press Order item in Help menu. The registered copy will give you many additional benefits. License owner name Enter your name that you specified in the order form. Registration code Enter the registration code that you received in the order confirmation e-mail. We'd recommend you to copy those data from the order confirmation e-mail into the clipboard and to paste into this field to avoid typos and mistakes. Register
Press this button once you have entered all the data required. The program will check your registration data.
Close Press this button to close the dialog after you have registered the TBS Cover Editor
License Agreement
Use of TBS Cover Editor is subject to acceptance of the following Copyright (c) 2007-2010 by TRUEBOXSHOT.COM & Indigo Byte Systems, LLC License for use and distribution. The TBS Cover Editor is a try-before-you-buy software. This means: 1. TRUEBOXSHOT.COM & Indigo Byte Systems, LLC in partnership ("The Author") exclusively own all copyrights to TBS Cover Editor. 2. You may use this software for evaluation purposes without charge for as long as you wish. However, the evaluation version displays a 'Trial Version' text on the cover image. To remove the text, you need to buy a registration key and register it with the software. You can purchase the key from our website at http:// www.trueboxshot.com 3. Once purchased, the user is granted a non-exclusive license to use TBS Cover Editor on one computer (i.e. a single CPU), for any legal purpose, at a time. The licensed TBS Cover Editor software may not be rented or leased, but may be permanently transferred, if the person receiving it agrees to terms of this license. If the software is an update, the transfer must include the update and all previous versions. 4. You may not redistribute TBS Cover Editor in any manner other than by linking to the Web page listed below without prior written permission. 5. You may not redistribute your registration key in any manner. 6. TBS Cover Editor IS DISTRIBUTED "AS IS". NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. YOU USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF LOSS WHILE USING OR MISUSING THIS SOFTWARE. 7. You may not use, copy, emulate, clone, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program, or any subset of the licensed program, except as provided for in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this license and may result in criminal and/or civil prosecution. 8. The Author reserves all rights not expressly granted here. 9. Installing and using TBS Cover Editor signifies acceptance of these terms and conditions of the license. 10. If you do not agree with the terms of this license you must remove TBS Cover Editor files from your storage devices and cease to use the product. Thank you for using the original TBS Cover Editor. Web: http://www.trueboxshot.com Email: support@trueboxshot.com
System Requirements
TBS Cover Editor Minimal System Requirements Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista True Color Display 500 MHz processor 256 MB RAM 50 MB free hard drive space No hardware acceleration is required !!!
Contacts & Credits

Product website: http://www.trueboxshot.com Support e-mail: support@trueboxshot.com Powered by: True BoxShot Software & Indigo Byte Systems
Credits: Graphics32 True BoxShot software contains the Graphics32 library, available at http://graphics32.org, and licensed under the Mozilla Public License (MPL). No modifications have been made by trueboxshot.com. GLScene True BoxShot software contains the GLScene library, available at http://glscene.org, and licensed under the MPL. No modifications have been made by trueboxshot.com. Anti-Grain Geometry True BoxShot software contains the Anti-Grain Geometry library, available at http://www.antigrain.com/ and licensed under AGG License (http:// www.antigrain.com/license/index.html) Anti-Grain Geometry - Version 2.0 Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Maxim Shemanarev (McSeem) Permission to copy, use, modify, sell and distribute this software is granted provided this copyright notice appears in all copies. This software is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty, and with no claim as to its suitability for any purpose. Pascal port of Anti-Grain Geometry True BoxShot software uses part of the pascal port of Anti-Grain Geometry library:
Anti-Grain Geometry - Version 2.3 Release Milano 1 (AggPas 2.3 RM1) Pascal Port By: Milan Marusinec alias Milano milan@marusinec.sk http://www.aggpas.org Copyright (c) 2005-2006
TPNGImage True BoxShot software contains the TPNGImage 1.5 component developed by Gustavo Huffenbacher Daud gustavo.daud@terra.com.br http://pngdelphi.sourceforge.net Print Preview Suite v4 True BoxShot software contains the Print Preview Suite v4 component developed by Kambiz R. Khojasteh.
Copyright Kambiz R. Khojasteh. All rights reserved. Component is available at http://www.delphiarea.com

TBS Cover Editor: User Guide

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TBS Cover Editor: User Guide

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TBS Cover Editor

Created with DrExplain Unregistered version

TBS Cover Editor

Created with DrExplain Unregistered version

Star layer allows creating a regular shape with several beams.

3D Box Shot and Cover Rendering

Application User Interface

The application menu provides access to common commands and operations.

Layer Settings Panel

Created with DrExplain Unregistered version

Press the button to cancel the new project creation.

Next step / Back

Press the button to cancel the new project creation.

Specify the company name in this field.

Specify the product website URL in this field.

Specify the product short promo text in this field.

Specify the product key features in this field.

Specify the product version number in this field.

Press the button to show the context help.

Press the button to cancel the new project creation.

Cancels the last action.

Revert the canceled action.

Cuts the selected layer and stores it in the clipboard.

Copies the selected layer into the clipboard.

Pastes the layer from the clipboard.

Opens the TBS Cover Editor help file

Layer Settings : General

Created with DrExplain Unregistered version

Layer Settings : Shadow

Specify the horizontal shift of the shadow in pixels.

Specify the vertical shift of the shadow in pixels.

Specify the shadow blur radius.

Specify the shadow intensity.

Layer Settings : Gradient

Use the drop down list to select a gradient blending algorithm.

Use the slider to set the gradient opacity level.

Use the drop down list to select a gradient style.

Check this option to flip the gradient direction.

Check this option to make the gradient symmetrical.

Use the slider to specify the gradient start position.

Press this key to remove the selected tag.

Specify the gradient type name in this field.

Press this button to save the gradient type in the list.

Layer Settings : Stroke

Use this slider to specify the stroke color opacity.

Layer Settings : Glow

Use this slider to specify the outer glow intensity.

Use this field to specify the inner glow radius.

Use this slider to specify the inner glow intensity.

Layer Settings : Texture

Use this slider to specify the texture overlay intensity.

Use the drop down list to select a gradient blending algorithm.

Check this option to turn the tiled mode on.

Specify the horizontal and vertical offsets of the texture picture.

Layer Settings : Reflection

Layer Settings : Stripes

Use this options to set the main direction of stripes. Color

3D Preview Settings : General

Press the button to show the context help.

3D Preview Settings : Light

Check this option to turn the directional lightening on.

Specify the contrast level here.