Online Designer Help
Standard Tools
Standard Tools are used to add elements to your design. You can add text, image, library shapes, line, ellipse, and rectangle or create freehand drawing or add paths to your design using these tools. Standard tools appear on the left side of Pixopa Design Express screen.
Design tools in this toolbar:
Add Text
Select this tool to add text to canvas. Once you click on this button, cursor will appear on centre of canvas. You can type the text and change formatting using text toolbar (that appears on the right side of canvas as soon as you select the text tool).
Add Image
Select this tool to add image to canvas. Once you click on this button, image library pan will slide down at the top of studio page.
This pan will allow you to add images from any of the libraries:
- from your ‘My Images’ folder where you’ve uploaded the images earlier OR
- from any online location like, your own Facebook, Picasa, Instagram, or Flickr albums
You may login to any of your accounts and images under it will be displayed in image slider.
Once you open the required library (after login), you can just drag it and drop on canvas, and the image will appear on the canvas.
Shapes
Clicking on this tool opens the studio image library with a lot of shapes to choose from. These shapes are arranged under various heads, like, Basic, Objects, Arrows, Animals, Music, etc.
Draw Tool
Use this tool to draw a freehand drawing. Press the Left-click of mouse from where you want to start (on canvas) and move the mouse, keeping the left-click pressed. This will create free hand drawing.
Line Tool
Use this tool to draw a straight line. Press the Left-click of mouse from where you want to start (on canvas) and move the mouse, keeping the left-click pressed, till the point where you want to end. This will create a straight line.
Rectangle Tool
Use this tool to draw a rectangle or a square (a rectangle with width equal to height is a square). Clicking on this option once will open the three types of rectangles that you can draw. Click on the appropriate one to select it.
Press the Left-click of mouse from where you want to start (on canvas) and move the mouse, keeping the left-click pressed, till the point where you want to end. This will draw a rectangle.
Click to draw rectangle
Click to draw square
Click to draw freehand rectangle
Ellipse Tool
Use this tool to draw an ellipse or a circle (an ellipse with width equal to height is a circle). Clicking on this option once will open the three types of ellipses that you can draw. Click on the appropriate one to select it.
Press the Left-click of mouse from where you want to start (on canvas) and move the mouse, keeping the left-click pressed, till the point where you want to end. This will draw an ellipse or a circle.
Click to draw ellipse
Click to draw circle
Click to draw freehand ellipse
Use this tool to draw an ellipse or a circle (an ellipse with width equal to height is a circle). Clicking on this option once will open the three types of ellipses that you can draw. Click on the appropriate one to select it.
Press the Left-click of mouse from where you want to start (on canvas) and move the mouse, keeping the left-click pressed, till the point where you want to end. This will draw an ellipse or a circle.
Path Tool
Use this tool to draw a path. Press the Left-click of mouse from where you want to start (on canvas) and move the mouse, till the point where you want to take a turn. Click again on this point to end this line segment and start a new line segment. You can end this path by either double-clicking or by clicking on the starting point. This will complete the path
Top Pane
The Top Pane appears above the Standard Tools Box and Canvas.
A Closer Look at Design Express Top Pane
Tools in this toolbar:
Undo
Use this option to undo (cancel) the last action performed.
Redo
Use this option to redo the action cancelled through last Undo.
Clear All
Use this option to delete all the objects on the page, even the background image and color. The page will be cleared.
Redo
Use this option to redo the action cancelled through last Undo.
Cut
Use this option to cut the selected objects and copy it to clipboard. Cut objects will be deleted from the page and can be pasted multiple times using Paste option.
Copy
Use this option to copy the selected objects to clipboard. Copied objects will not be deleted from their original page and can be pasted multiple times using Paste option.
Paste
Objects that is Cut or Copied last can be pasted any number of times using this option. Every time you click on Paste, a copy of last Cut or Copy object will be pasted on canvas.
Delete
Using this option, selected object can be deleted permanently.
Background Image
[Convert the image into background image]
This option will help you convert the image into background image. Image selected by you will be resized to fit the canvas and its opacity will reduce to give an impression of perfect background.
Background Color
You can change the color of background (i.e., the canvas) using this option. Click on the tool and select color from color palette. You can even select a linear gradient or a radial gradient to fill the canvas.
Remove Background Color/Image
Use this option to remove the background image and color. The background of the page will be cleared.
Change Measurement Unit
You can change measurement units to Pixels, Inches, or Centimeters using this option. Just click on radio button corresponding to the unit, and all measurements will change to this unit.
Wireframe Mode (On/Off)
Clicking once on this button will show all the objects in wireframe mode. Clicking on it again will show the objects in their original mode.
In wireframe mode all the object colors, shadows, stroke color and width will be hidden and only plain black outline of all objects will be shown.
Gridlines (On/Off)
Clicking once on this button will show gridlines on canvas. Clicking on it again will hide those gridlines.
Ruler (On/Off)
Clicking once on this button will show ruler on canvas. Clicking on it again will hide the ruler.
Preview
Use this option to show PDF preview of your design. You need to allow pop-ups to view the preview. If pop-ups are blocked then Design Express will not be able to open the PDF preview.
Save
You can save your unfinished designs and access them later using this option. If you are a registered customer and are logged in, clicking on Save button will save the design in your ‘My Designs’ folder.
If you are not logged in, system will ask you to login using your email id and password registered with Web-to-Print store. In case you are not registered, you can create a new account by clicking on the link provided below email id and password fields.
Help
You can open help page using this option. In the help section, you can search for any options that you want to know more about.
Product Info
Clicking on this button will show information of product for which you are creating the design. It will show name of product with all the attributes like, size, papertype, shape, printing options, etc.
Add to Cart
Once you have finished your design, you may use this option to add this product to your cart. Clicking on Add to Cart button will lead you to Shopping Cart, with details of all the products in your cart.
Image Options
As soon as you add new image on canvas or click on an existing image, Image Options toolbar will open.
Height
Hold the slider handle and drag left or right to decrease or increase the image height respectively. Alternatively, you can click on the plus (+) or minus (-) button to increase or decrease the height of image in steps.
Width
Hold the slider handle and drag left or right to decrease or increase the image width respectively. Alternatively, you can click on the plus (+) or minus (-) button to increase or decrease the width of image in steps.
Preserve Image Aspect Ratio
Images have original aspect ratio, ie, the ratio of image width to image height. By default, Pixopa Design Studio preserves the image aspect ratio. Hence, if you change the width of an image, its height will also change in the same ratio, and vice versa.
You may not like to preserve aspect ratio in some cases, and want to resize the image freely as per your wish. To do this, you can uncheck ‘Aspect Ratio’. Now, the image width or height can be resized freely without changing other dimension.
If you like to preserve aspect ratio, then click to check ‘Aspect Ratio’ again. Now, any change in image width or height will result in change in other dimension in the same ratio.
Resize to Best Resolution
Clicking on this button will resize image so that it is of best resolution. Generally it is the original image size. The image will be aligned to top-left of canvas.
Rotate
You can change the rotation angle of selected image using this option. Clicking on left button will rotate image anticlockwise by five degrees and clicking on right button will rotate image clockwise by five degrees.
Opacity
Change Opacity
Use this option to change opacity of image. 100 means image is completely opaque, 0 means it is transparent.
Alignment
Left, Centre, Right Alignment
Align image to left
Align image right
Clicking on this option aligns the image to left, centre, or right of page (horizontally).
Align image to top
Align image middle vertically
Align image to bottom
Clicking on this option aligns the image to top, middle, bottom of page (vertically).
Bring to Front
Use this option to bring the selected image in front of every other object on canvas.
Send to Back
Use this option to send the selected image behind every other object on canvas.
Effects
Flip Horizontal
When you click this option, selected object will be flipped horizontally and its mirror image will be shown.
Flip Vertical
When you click this option, selected object will be flipped vertically (like reflection in a pond).
Blur
You can change the Gaussian blur value of selected image using this option. Click on the text box of blur value, type the new value and press enter – blur value of object will be changed. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease blur-value in steps.
Advanced
X, Y Coordinates (Image Position)
X and Y coordinates determine the position of image on canvas. X and Y specify x and y coordinate of top left corner of image box. Click on the text box of any of X or Y, type the new value and press enter – top left corner of image selection box will be shifted to (x,y) position. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease X, Y values in steps.
Width
Click on the text box of width, type the new value and press enter – width of image will change as per new value. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease width values in steps.
Height
Click on the text box of height, type the new value and press enter – height of image will change as per new value. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease height values in steps.
Crop
Use this option to crop the images. Select the image you want to crop and click on the crop button. Image will open in new popup, in which you can draw a rectangle and select the image area you want to show. Once you select the area, click on crop button on this popup (below scrollbar). The cropped image will be shown on the canvas.
Rotation Angle
You can change the rotation angle of selected image using this option. Click on the text box of rotation angle, type the new value and press enter – image will be rotated with the specified angle. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease rotation angle in steps.
Lock or Delete
Lock Object
Use this option if you want to lock any image for editing. The locked image cannot be changed. All the editing options will be disabled, image cannot be moved or resized, and no editing will be possible.
Unlock Object
Once you click on ‘Lock Object’ button, image is locked and this button changes to ‘Unlock Object’. Clicking on this button will unlock the image again for editing. The image can now be changed. All the editing options will be enabled, image can be moved or resized, and editing will be possible.
Delete
Clicking on this button will delete the image permanently.
Text Options
As soon as you add new text on canvas or click on an existing text, Text Options toolbar will open.
General
Font Face / Type
You can change the font face / type by this option. Click on the drop-down and select the font from the list.
Bold
Clicking on this option will make the selected text bold.
Italic
This option makes the selected text italic.
Font Size
You can change the font size by this option. Click on the text box, type the new size and press enter – size will be changed. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease font size in steps.
Font Size Slider
You can change the font size by dragging the slider handle of Font Size Slider. Press the left click, and drag the handle by keeping it pressed, and leave it when you reach the required size.
Color and Stroke
Fill Color
Use this option to fill the color inside the text
Stroke Color
Use this option to change stroke / outline color of text.
Change Opacity
Use this option to change opacity of text. 100 means text is completely opaque, 0 means it is transparent.
Stroke Width
You can change the stroke width by this option. Click on the text box, type the new width and press enter – stroke width of text will be changed. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease stroke width in steps.
Alignment
Left, Centre, Right Alignment
[Align text centre]
[Align text to right]
Clicking on this option aligns the text to left, centre, or right of page (horizontally).
Top, Middle, Bottom Alignment
[Align text to top]
[Align text middle vertically]
[Align text to bottom]
Clicking on this option aligns the text to top, middle, bottom of page (vertically).
Bring to Front
Use this option to bring the selected text in front of every other object on canvas.
Send to Back
Use this option to send the selected text behind every other object on canvas.
Effects
Flip Horizontal
When you click this option, selected text will be flipped horizontally and its mirror image will be shown.
Flip Vertical
When you click this option, selected text will be flipped vertically (like reflection in a pond).
Blur
You can change the Gaussian blur value of selected text using this option. Click on the text box of blur value, type the new value and press enter – blur value of text will be changed. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease blur value in steps.
Rotation Angle
You can change the rotation angle of selected text using this option. Click on the text box of rotation angle, type the new value and press enter – text will be rotated with the specified angle. Alternatively, you can click on up-down arrows to increase / decrease rotation angle in steps.
Lock or Delete
Lock Text
Use this option if you want to lock any text for editing. The locked text cannot be changed; no characters can be added or deleted. All the editing options will be disabled, text cannot be moved or resized, and no editing will be possible.
Unlock Text
Once you click on ‘Lock Text’ button, text is locked and this button changes to ‘Unlock Text’. Clicking on this button will unlock the text again for editing. The text can now be changed; characters can be added or deleted. All the editing options will be enabled, text can be moved or resized, and editing will be possible.
Delete
Clicking on this button will delete the text permanently.
