3. Basic Operation

This document is intended to be a reference to the use of FullPixelSearch 2.0. Because many of the features and functions of FullPixelSearch are quite unique, it is highly recommended that you devote several sessions to using the software in conjunction with this documentation.

3.1 System Requirements

3.1.1 Memory

FullPixelSearch is shipped with 5MB of memory allocated and this is sufficient to open each sample image, however 8MB or more are recommended for working with large images. Images are stored in random access memory(.i.RAM;) so the amount of memory allocated to FullPixelSearch (which can be set by using the finders .i.Get Info; command) will control how big an image can be opened in the program. As a rule of thumb, FullPixelSearch should have a RAM allocation of about 5-6 times the size of the image to be worked with. This is larger than most programs because the diversity matrix calculate by FullPixelSearch is also stored in RAM. So, for example, if the image to be loaded is 1024 X 1024 pixels, or 1024K, the program should be allocated at least 5X1024K or 5120K.

3.1.2 Monitors

FullPixelSearch requires a monitor with the ability to display at least 256 colors or shades of gray. If the Macintosh you use is capable of displaying thousands or millions of colors, set the monitor (in the control panel) to 256 colors before launching or FullPixelSearch will automatically reset the monitors. If you choose to run with more than 256 colors palette animation and blinking will be disabled.

3.2 User Interface Features

3.2.1 Tools

The tool box has the functions described below. Most tools can be used in both the image window and the graph windoid.

This tool to make regular selections
This tool magnifies image and graph
Use this tool to examine a selection
Load a color for neighbor search

Use to make irregular selections
Use this tool to highlight a color
Use this tool to select a pattern
Heads-up display and annotator

Proceeding clockwise beginning with the upper left is the selection tool for selecting any rectangular region of interest and the lasso selects irregular regions. Both these selection tools change to an open hand when entering a selected region. Clicking and then dragging the hand tool will grab and allow you to float the selection to another location. Note: as you release the hand at a new location the graph window immediately updates with the new data and the value window shows the new diversity index. The eye tool will threshold, paint, and blink any color(s) in the image or the graph. The eye comes pre-loaded with the default color of red. Double clicking the eye presents the color picker for selecting a new color. Clicking and dragging the eye will blink all pixels encountered. The grid tool (third on right) is used to capture an 8x8 pixel region under the tool with a single mouse-click. This captured region is copied to the search template found in the search menu under Template Options. The heads-up display tool (bottom right) is designed to allow you to view pixel-level information. When you select the tool and range over the image, the pixel coordinates and value (X,Y: Color Index) are displayed. Clicking down with this tool in the image or the graph calls a dialog box which allows you to name a color. Once a color is named, that name will subsequently appear in the heads up display and values window (discussed below).

3.2.3 Graph Window

The purpose the floating graph window is to allow instant quantification of an entire image or sub region of an image of any size, shape, or number. It also makes possible viewing an image by the frequency of colors making it easy to identify the most abundant or rarest colors in an image.
Regions of an image of any shape or size are instantly measured and plotted in the graph windoid the moment they are selected. FullPixelSearch supports regular and irregular shaped selections as well as multiple selections. Multiple selections are achieved by holding down on the shift key while using the selection tools. Holding down the option key while dragging will subtract from the selected region. FullPixelSearch also supports Forcing Selections on any diversity region(s) displayed on screen; a useful feature discussed below.

The floating graph window can be expanded horizontally to look like the one below. Simply click on the upper right-hand corner of the graph (indicated by the arrow to the left), and the graph will automatically spread the frequency graph over a larger area (see below). Use the slider on the right edge of the graph window to scale the histogram up or down thereby making it easier to see rare colors.

Clicking or clicking and dragging the magnifying glass horizontally in the graph window will zoom-up on a section of the graph. To un-zoom, click with any tool in the black rectangle in the lower right corner of the graph (indicated above with an arrow ), or option-click anywhere in the graph with the magnifying glass tool itself.

3.2.4 Graphs Options

Graph Options (G) presents the dialog box to the left. In this dialog box it is possible to choose one of ten axes upon which to sort the contents of the graph (examples below for sort by, Index, Frequency, Hue, Average RGB, Green, and Average HSV). Note: that as each axis is selected the graph is updated in real time. In this way it is possible to see interactively, which axis best explains the underlying controlling color model for a given histogram. The reverse button reverses the current graph.
Note: When you hit OK, in addition to the graph being updated with the choices, the palette box in the Template Options is reorganized in the same order as the graph window.

3.2.5 Values Windows

The values window is where analytic results are displayed. Two versions of the values window are supported and examples are provided and discussed below.
Version (a) is the form the values window takes when the cursor is over any pixel in the image window, version (b) is the form when the cursor is inside the graph window. For both versions, the information above the dashed line does not change as you move the cursor. The data below the dashed line updates depending upon the location of the cursor in the image or graph.

(a) Values when over the image pane.

Above the dashed line, version (a), for the image, reports the global colors in the entire image, the global number of pixels in the entire image, the global diversity of the entire image and the diversity of any selected region.
Below the dashed line, this window reports the color index value and the user-defined name (in this case, "The Rarest color), and the X, Y, coordinate for the pixel under the cursor.

(b) Values when over the graph pane.

Above the dashed line, version (b), for the graph, reports the same information above the dashed line except that the diversity for current graph is found below the dashed line.
Other items below the line include the number of colors and the number of pixels in the current graph, the percent of the global image that the contents of the graph represents, the diversity of the current graph, the color index (i) plus the user-defined name, percent color and number of pixels for the bar in the graph under the cursor.

FPS Quick Ref Basic Oper Resume Next