PhotoImpact Easy Palette Library

[sjj1805]

I wish to add existing items to the Easy palette library.
Under the Libraries Tab I click the left most icon "Object Libraries"
Object Library manager
Create.
So far so good.

No matter what I try, the only way I appear able to add items to the library, copies those items into a new folder, defined in the second box "Folder"
This results in having 2 copies of the various files.
1. The original in its original location.
2. The new one forming part of my object library.

Am I doing this incorrectly as it seems an awful waste of Hard Drive Space creating duplicate copies when all I really require is a thumbnail of the item and a pointer to its current location.

It also gives the new copy a completely different name. OK there is an option to name each one as it is copied. I am though speaking of lots of items.

Take for example:
I am currently tinkering about with creating DVD Menus from scratch. (Not simply modifying an existing one)
I wish to import into the object library all of the "Highlight Images" that are contained in DVD Workshop 2 and they currently reside at
C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead DVD Workshop 2\Contents\Highlight Images

Similarly, in PhotoImpact 11 there are several frames, buttons etc in the object library. However I have several more in my computer from DVDWS2, DVDMF4 and VS9 so you can see I have quite a bit of importing to do.

Am I doing this correctly and it is a limitation of the software or should I be doing this another way

[MaryLouW]

Steve, I"m not sure how you're doing it but let me tell you what I do. I have almost 2 gig if stuff in my EasyPalette.

You've already created a group in your EP and you want to put things into that group. You don't want to import because you don't have a .uol file yet.

Open the image you want in your EP. Select all objects - then just drag it to the EP into the group where you want it. That's all there is to it. The program stores a thumbnail of the image and gives it a new name. You can change the description but you cannot change the file name. It will be some coded name that doesn't make sense.

If you want a backup of your stuff, make a folder on your hard drive outside of PhotoImpact. Export the stuff from your EP to this new group. It will create a .uol file when you do the export.

Now, say that your PI "dies" or you upgrade to a new version or you have to reinstall it. All you have to do then is import the .uol files that you saved in the folder outside of PI.

One thing we discovered years ago is, if you create your folders inside of PI, and you have to re-install, it will wipe out ALL of your work. This is why most of us keep an outside folder so this doesn't happen.

Here's a picture of my file structure outside of PI:


By putting my personal stuff outside of the PI folders, I can then import it into any version I want.. and as you can see, I do have several.

If this isn't what you wanted to know, try again. I'm sure I can help.

[sjj1805]

MaryLou
Thanks, have tried that. It still creates a duplicate. Funny thing is though the duplicate is a larger file than the original.

I opened a file
C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead VideoStudio 9.0\Template\4_3\Speed\Spee06.ufo 589KB

Dragged it to the EP into a temporary library "Test" which I targeted at C:\Temp\Test

This in turn created a file named LIBT0000.UFO which was 1162KB just short of twice the size of the original.

It seems you cannot just point at existing files, Photoimpact actually imports them and saves a new copy. No big deal, I can work round it, I shall just import items I need rather than entire collections.

Thank You
Steve J

[MaryLouW]

Steve, I would suspect that Ulead uses an in-house compression method if the file size is smaller. Have you tried to open that file that Ulead created? When I want to use files that I've saved in the EP, I just drag them back out and they're just fine.

It seems you cannot just point at existing files, Photoimpact actually imports them and saves a new copy.

I"m not quite sure what you mean by the above though.

[Ron P.]

Hi MaryLou,

I've been attempting the same as Steve. What he means is "Linking" to it. Just like when you use a hyperlink to link to a webpage. You don't copy the webpage to yours, just link it to yours...

Regards

Ron P.

[MaryLouW]

Hmmm... why would you want to link something to PhotoImpact? I must really be missing something here.

The images in the EasyPalette are thumbnails that are linked to the full sized images. When an image is dragged in to the EasyPalette, a duplicate is created using Ulead's naming conventions and a thumbnail is also created. That's what you see in the EP.

Is that what you mean?

[Ron P.]

Hi MaryLou,

We want to do that, because having multiple copies of the same file on your computer just takes up needed space. When you start editing video you will soon appreciate this aspect. Space is a premium, and can be devoured easily and quickly. Also with just linking to the same files that VS9, DVDMF, or DVDWS2 are using then when we modify the file in PI, it is modified in those programs. Thus when we need to use them in one of the programs, the modified menu files are there, and we don't need to import another file into the programs. It would not take long, before you had multiples residing in various places. The only good point is if one crashed, a copy of the files would be elsewhere on the computer...

Well now it's probably as clear as mud?

Ron P.

[sjj1805]

Hmmm... why would you want to link something to PhotoImpact? I must really be missing something here.

The images in the EasyPalette are thumbnails that are linked to the full sized images. When an image is dragged in to the EasyPalette, a duplicate is created using Ulead's naming conventions and a thumbnail is also created. That's what you see in the EP.

Is that what you mean?

What we are both pointing out is WHY is a duplicate created An original already exists. All that is required is a thumbnail in the EP. the thumbnail should be a link to the original otherwise it is just a waste of hard drive space.

Why would I want to link to something in PhotoImpact?
Take for example the creation of DVD Menu's - One of the main reasons I wanted to obtain a copy of PhotoImpact.
(This is one of those tasks that you cannot do in Adobe Photoshop - at least not yet, When I've finished learning all about DVD Menu creation I may have to revise that statement.)
Here I want to include in the EP 66 ready made highlight images shipped with DVD Workshop 2 so that:
1. I can have easy access to those when creating my own DVD Menu's from scratch - something I've wanted to have a bash at for a very long time now.
2. I can create more of my own

Now thats just the highlight images. Now add to that several ready made frames, navigation buttons, overlays and layouts. I haven't even began to mention background images yet. I could be looking at several hundred perhaps even a thousand images.

I know you have a copy of Ulead Photo Explorer. Compare those thumbnails - they way they work, to the thumbnails in PhotoImpact. The thumbnails are simply links to the original picture.

Imagine if every program that uses images in any manner shape or form with a thumbnail library created a duplicate of it instead of a simple link.
Adobe Photoshop (which has its image browser.)
Adobe Photoshop Elements
DVD Workshop
DVD Movie Factory
Video Studio 9
Media Studio 8
Womble MPEG Editor
ProShow Gold
Video Redo
Newsoft PageManager
Microsoft Frontpage
Microsoft Word
In fact of have several more pieces of software that all contain thumbnail libraries - just imagine if each of those programs created a complete duplicate for its own purposes.

Never mind though, It's no big deal I can work round it. just seems to be a bit of poor programing when all that was required was a Ulead Photo Explorer style browser.

At my Workplace (in Law Enforcement) There are multitudes of various computer systems. One thing I have always noticed and mentioned many times in the past is:
It is only when a new user begins to use a piece of software that problems or deficiences are noticed. This is because after a few months that 'novice' becomes an 'expert' and has found ways to work round the problem and then doesn't even remember that the problem was there in the first place.

You are indeed an expert, you have your own forum with several tutorials and so you have surpassed my previous remark concerning work-rounds, this is why you do not see the problem!
Regards
Steve J

[MaryLouW]

Now I see what you want! You are wanting to have an image somewhere on your hard drive and if you should change it in PI, you want that particular image to be updated. You want interaction between the various programs. I don't think that was the intent with PI. It interacts that way with Gif Animator though.

I don't know if the .ufo format is compatible with your other Ulead programs because I really haven't used anything other than those associated with PI, but if so, can you not just make your changes to your menus and re-save as a .ufo?

I'm not into the video stuff yet but seem to be heading a bit in that direction one of these days!

Oh.. as a side note - I no longer have my own board. I gave it away about 6 months ago but I have written over 100 tutorials for PI

I will be making another slide show with PictureShow 4 in the near future, maybe I will be brave and try making my own menu. I'm not happy with the "canned" ones. Glad to know there are tuts that can help me accomplish this!

[sjj1805]

I've found a way not to tie up the hard drive with all the copies, plus it preserves everything in case of an upgrade or re-install.

1. Move all the generated files and the *.UOL file to a temporary directory.
2. Burn it all onto a DVD
3. Delete them off the Hard Drive
4. When you re-open Pi11 it tells you the files are missing so it deleted them from the EP - Good - we want it to do this.
5. Now use "Object Library Manager", "Load" and point to the *.UOL file(s) on the DVD and they are instantly placed in the EP in the same EP directory structure as before.

When you load of the DVD it gives you the choice of copying the files to the hard drive to make them writeable, That of course depends upon if you are doing something that will need the library to be updated. In most cases you only need read only so you can say "no thank you."

Regards
Steve J