Working with Images

In Mail Factory you can use either the images supplied with the program (clipart and "handling labels"), import an image from a graphic file, use pictures from your iPhoto library, or find and download images from the Internet.

To insert an image supplied with Mail Factory:

1. Open the Design window by clicking the Design toolbar button or choosing Show Design from the Window menu.
2. Click on Clipart pane from Image Collection tab or Handling Labels tab of the Design window.
3. Click on the picture on the pane. It will be inserted into the center of the document. Images are organized into categories, which you can change by using the pop-up menu at the top of the pane.

To insert an image from the iPhoto library:

1. Open the Design window by clicking the Design toolbar button or choosing Show Design from the Window menu.
2. Click on Image Collection tab and choose iPhoto in the pane.
3. Use the drop-down list to switch between albums. The program will display the thumbnails of the photos. This may take some time if your iPhoto library contains many pictures.
4. Drag an image to the document.

To insert an image from a file on the disk:

1. Choose Insert Image from the File menu, or press Cmd+Option+I.
2. In the Open dialog, navigate to the graphic file you want to open and click the Open button. Images in JPEG, PDF, EPS, GIF, PNG, TIFF and some other formats are supported.
3. The image will be inserted into the center of the document.

If you need to insert multiple images from a single folder, the best way is to use the Custom Folder tab on the Clipart panel.

To find and download an image from the Internet:

1. Choose Search Images on Internet from the File menu.
2. In the dialog, type the keywords that describe the image you need and hit OK. Mail Factory uses Google image search engine.
3. The found images will be displayed in the Design window as they are downloaded. Click on the image you need to insert it into the document window.

To change the properties of the selected images, use the Inspector. You can:

- Apply masks: Enable the Mask check box in the Inspector and choose the mask pattern.
- Rotate and flip: Use the Rotate and Flip controls in the Inspector.
- Change transparency: Use the Opacity slider.
- Tint the image with color: Enable the Tint check box to tint the image with the selected color, or click on the color button nearby to change the tint color.

Edit Image

Sometimes you need to use some part of an image. For instance, you have a photo some part of which you want to use as a design. In this case use "Crop Image" tool in the "Edit Image" window.

To crop an image, double click on it or select it and click the Edit button in the Inspector. "Edit Image" dialog will come up. Set the appropriate scale and then select the region to crop and click OK button. The selected part of image will appear on your label/envelope.

Starting from Tiger Mac OS (version 10.4), you can use Core Image filters in the "Edit Image" window. You can apply blur, distortion and other effects to images. Filters are separated by categories. Some filters have parameters that can be varied by a customer. That can be numeric parameters and/or color.

To apply a filter:
- Select an image in the document window.
- Double-click on it, or use the Edit button in Inspector. The "Edit Image" window will open.
- Select a filter from the list. Adjust filter parameters (if you need and if this is available for the selected filter).
- Click OK.

To access Core Image filters from Mail Factory you need to install the Image Tricks application. More information related to Core Image filters can be found on the Image Tricks Web page:
http://www.belightsoft.com/imagetricks/

Tile Image

Tile Image creates multiple down-scaled copies of the image in the rectangle which that image take. This feature can be used for decoration of your envelope or label.
To tile image select it and choose Tile Image in the menu or tick "Tile" in the Inspector. Use "Tile" slidebar to adjust number of tiles and their size.