Problems when using it with Xara Picture Editor

[bolo]

Hi I was trying this plugin with Xara Xtreme's Xara Picture editor (XPE) after seeing the link about it in the talkgraphics forum and encountered the following problem

Edit a bitmap using the XPE directly, apply the plugin and save.  Close XPE and then re-open XPE and load the edited bitmap.  XPE loads the original and doesnТt re-apply the plugin effects.   i can open the edited bitmap within another program and the edits are displayed.   

Also Open a Bitmap in Xtreme and apply the image skill live effect.  Click ok to be directed back to Xtreme. Select to Edit the effect.  Youre directed back to the image skill editor with the un-edited image being displayed. 

look forward to your reply


 

[ImageSkill]

Hello

If you use Background? Remover under Xara Xtreme you have 2 ways for calling our plugin.

Fisrt:
1.   Run Xara Xtreme.
2.   Open an image.
3.   Select  'Live effect tool' or Ctrl-F5
4.   Run Backround Remover plug-in (press to button 'New' and select ImageSkill->Background Remover)



Mark object and background colors, Press Aplly.



6.   If image has translucent areas use "defring zone brush", Press Apply and then OK




7.   Open suitable background image
8.   Copy it (Ctrl+V)
9.   Switch to previous image using ?Windows? menu.
10.    Paste? background image on the processed image
11.    Put background image backward the processed image (Arrange->Move Backward(Ctrl+Shift+B)
12.   Using Selector tool place the processed image on desirable place




13.   IMPORTANT! Export the result to PNG format ('File ->Export') run export procedure, choose PNG format and set export parameters(Size etc).




Second way:
1.   Run Xara Xtreme
2.   Open an image
3.   Run Xara Picture Editor ('Utilites->Xara Picture Editor')




4.   Run the Background Remover using item 'PS Plug-ins'
5. Process the image.Press Aplly then OK.
6.   IMPORTANT! Save the processed image in the PNG format with alpha. (Use "Save" item (Ctrl-S)).
7.   Open saved image in Xara Xtreme as new image


I understand that these ways are not clear, but Xara Xtreme does not support transparency like other graphic hosts (Adobe PS, Corel(jasc) PSP ..). When you save processed image Xara does not save alpha channel for all cases.


Dmitry

[jerryfoote]

I am having the same problem with the plug in and Xara Picture editor. The explination you post covers Xara Xtreme. Does it work with with Xara Picture editor which is much easier to use.


When I follow the instructions for Xara Picture editor and save as PNG and then close everything and open Xara Picture editor again and open the PNG that I just saved the image is back to the original background. I do not want to use Xara Xtreme just Xara Picture editor. When I view the images to open the background appears to be gone.


Thanks Jerry

[ImageSkill]

I am having the same problem with the plug in and Xara Picture editor. The explination you post covers Xara Xtreme. Does it work with with Xara Picture editor which is much easier to use.
Thanks Jerry

Xara Picture editor does not support layersа feature at all, so we can not create collage using only Xara Picture editor.
 Also Xara Picture editor does not transfer to Xara Xtreme transparency change (I think is it bug).
However you can run the Background Remover from Xara Picture editor and then save processed image in PNG format correctly (i.e. with new transparency).

Then you can open saved image in any graphic editor (for example Xara Xtreme, Xara Picture editor) and use it any way one likes.



Xara Picture editor befor prosessing




Xara Picture editor after prosessing




I save result image as PNG file and then open it in Xara Xtreme




I can open it in Xara Picture editor correctly too.




Dmitry

[jerryfoote]

Dmitry
I can do it that way. If I open in Extreme I can then go back to Picture editor and the background is gone, but I have to open in Extreme and then go to picure editor.

It must be Xara Picture Editor.

Thanks Jerry
PS I love the tool .. just trying to find a simple to use Editor.

[ImageSkill]

I realize XPE behavior.
It uses УNon-Destructive EditingФ method.

XaraТs help.

Every time you load a photo that had previously been saved from the Xara Picture Editor, it uses the original master image. This means that no matter how many times you perform the 'loadЦeditЦsave' cycle, you are always saving a first generation copy, just as if you'd used the negative with conventional photography.

Technical
So how does the XPE do this? It keeps an a XML file we call an 'edit list' for every photo it has ever seen. This edit list tracks the original master image and a list of all the changes you've applied to the picture. When you load any processed photo it locates the original and applies the same edits. So now you can undo or alter any of the edits, such as crop, brightness, sharpness etc and instead of applying these to the already processed image, it just applies them to the original master. So you think you are loading and editing a processed image, but in fact you are altering a new first generation copy of the master.

And this is how it provides the unique ability to undo changes to saved pictures and always ensure that there is no cumulative distortion usually associated with picture editing.

Of course this requires that you keep master copies of all your photos somewhere, but this is good practice anywayЧjust as you'd always keep your negatives safe. If the XPE can't find the master then it gives you the chance of relocating it, or failing that just operates like traditional photo editing software and edits the processed image.

Notes
Some plug-ins not specifically designed for XPE, i.e. old-style Photoshop plug-ins, are not non-destructive.

So, you edit an image using PS plug-ins, save it, then reload and Xara substitutes your edited image by original copy.
Xara stores XML files, that describes changes in УLocal Settings/Application Data/Xara/XPE/EditListФ folder for current user

(in my case it C:\Documents and Settings\DChernichenko\Local Settings\Application Data\Xara\XPE) it is hidden folder.





When you erase lists, XPE will open edited images correctly.

I do not know aboutа old-style and new-style Photoshop plug-in anything.

I will contact with Xara team about it.

Dmitry