Retouching

Applies to:Version 4.7

In general terms retouching can be handled in one of two ways

1. Flagging a subject as requiring retouching using a /%R+ barcode or importing a text file
2. Ordering a package containing a retouch product (new in Version 4.7)

Flagging a subject for retouching

Subjects may be flagged as requiring retouching by either scanning a suitably encoded barcode or by mapping a special field when importing text files. It is important to understand these two methods make no determination as to which image or images are to be retouched.

Flagging a subject for retouching gives no indication as to which images are to be retouched. Furthermore this method cannot be used in conjunction with the Timestone Internet Ordering System (IOS)

The /%R+ barcode

To flag a subject for retouching simply find and select the subject then scan a 'retouch barcode'.

Text file import

It is also possible to flag a subject’s images as requiring retouching when importing a text file.

To do so a field is required with a + (plus) character. The text file sample below will mark Alan Martin as requiring retouching

John,Smith,2222,Miss Smith

Alan,Martin,3333,MrJones,+

Steve,Bratt,4444,Miss Smith

Checking the Set retouch option in the Text File Import Setup will present a field call ImageRetouch in the Field Map. In the example above this would be mapped to field 5

Ordering retouching with the retouch product type

Beginning in Version 4.7 it became possible to 'order' retouching as opposed to simply marking a subject for retouching. This functionality is achieved with the special 'retouch' product that can be added to any package in any offer and subsequently ordered.

Special properties of the retouch product means it is possible to indicate which images need to be retouched. Offering retouching online with IOS is also possible

Key points and special properties

• Define one or more retouching products with or without subtype
• Add retouch product to any package
• Retouch product does not require a template
• Retouch product does not appear in queues
• Retouch orders appear in Orders Mode along with the subject images
• Where a retouching product has been ordered for a specific image, this can be indicated
• In Fulfill, orders requiring retouching are 'held' until retouching is complete and the order released

Defining a retouch product

As with other products the retouch product is defined in the Products object of the Timestone Administrator (tsAdmin).

Figure 1: Defining a retouch product in tsAdmin

The important attribute of a retouch product is the Type. This must be set to Retouching

It is possible to define as many retouch products as needed such as 'standard' and a 'detailed' retouching products.

Adding a retouch product to a package

Retouch products are added to packages in the normal way. The product may be used alone in a package or in combination with other products. Retouch products do not have a print quantity or download attribute.

Figure 2: Adding a retouch product to a package

In the offer depicted above, a package with package code RETOUCH has been created and the retouch product added to it.

Working with retouch images - Images Mode

A filter in Images Mode can be used to show the images for any subjects for whom retouching has been flagged or have ordered a package with a retouch product. Note the filter will display all images for the subjects in question.

Figure 3: Filtering for retouch in Images Mode

Filtering for retouch in Images shows all images for any subjects requiring retouching. It does not display specific images.

Working with retouch images - Orders Mode

A new 'Retouch images' tab was introduced into Orders Mode in Version 4.7 offering many features to assist the user when working with retouch orders and images

Key points

• Lists any orders which include a retouch product and displays the subject's images in a film strip
• Lists any subjects flagged for retouching with /%R+ (or equivalent) and displays their images
• Where packages have been explicitly ordered for an image, the package code is displayed below the image
• Ordered images appear at the beginning of the film strip
• Images can be edited (retouched) through an external editor from within Orders Mode
• A blue indicator is displayed once an image has been edited
• A 'retouching complete' action releases the images for printing/uploading with Fulfill
• A 'show completed' filter toggles between showing all orders or just those remaining to be completed

Figure 4: The retouch images tab in Orders Mode

The screen grab above shows the retouch images tab in Orders Mode. Any subjects flagged for retouching with the /%R+ barcode (or text file import) are grouped together and displayed at the top. Orders involving a retouch product however are listed individually in a manner analagous to the View all orders tab.

Understanding the retouch images tab

The header for each order displays information such as an icon to indicate the type of order - paper, online pre-order or Fulfill -together with the order date and order key. Customer based orders (online orders or customer based paper orders) display the customer name whereas simple paper orders display the subject details.

Selecting the 'orderitem' below the header line displays the subjects' images. Where images have been explicitly selected for the order item (selecting an image in IOS or ordering a specific pose with paper orders) the Package Code is displayed below the image. Such images are presented at the start of the film strip with remaining images displayed in pose order (or image order in the absence of poses).

The example above shows images for the paper order for Nicole While. She has ordered two packages with codes PK1 and RETOUCH respectively for Pose 2

Retouching images from within the software

A well established feature of the software is the ability to edit images in an external image editor such as Photoshop from within the application itself. This is available in many areas of the software including:

Images Mode

Poses Mode

Fulfill

Orders Mode>Retouch images (new in Version 4.7

To enable this feature the external image editor needs to be specified in File>Options for each application on each workstation. This is achieved by entering the path to the editors executable file (.exe) used to launch the editor.

Figure 5: Setting up retouching through the image editor Irfanview

To retouch images simply select the image or images and click the paintbrush icon on the tool-bar or use the Control-E keyboard shortcut. The editor defined in File>Options will launch with the selected images open.

Images edited in the manner described above are automatically refreshed as the user returns to the Timestone application and clicks the 'Continue' window. The images will then be displayed with a blue triangle in the upper left corner. If images are edited externally to the software they should be manually refreshed in Images Mode. These images are not displayed with the blue indicator.

Marking retouching as completed

Orders can be be marked as having their retouching completed by clicking the green 'tick' icon on the tool-bar or using the Shift+Ctrl+R keyboard shortcut. A filter is available to how or hide completed orders.

Figure 6: A retouched image with blue indicator. Click the green 'Retouching completed' icon to mark the order's retouching as complete.

As discussed below, marking retouch orders as completed has the effect of releasing them for print or download in Fulfill

Multiple orders can be selected and marked as 'Retouching completed' in one step. This is especially useful if images have been retouched externally to the software.

Exporting images requiring retouch

A useful feature is the ability to export only the images requiring retouch. This may be needed when using third party retouching software rather than retouching through Timestone Software. The export is performed from within the Retouch Images tab in the following manner

1. In the Retouch Images tab select the desired orders
2. Export the images using Edit>Export images, Shift-Ctrl-E or the Export images icon on the toolbar
3. Select a destination for the images in the Export Images window

Images are exported 'unadorned', with no ability to change their size or name.

Once the exported images have been retouched and returned to their images folder, it is important to mark the retouching as completed as described above.

Retouching and IOS

As mentioned at the outset the '/%R+' method of simply flagging a subject for retouching is not supported in the Timestone Internet Ordering system (IOS).

If offering retouching online the 'product' method must be used with one or more packages including a retouching product. When ordering, the customer can simply order a retouching package as they would with any other package.

Retouch orders and Fulfill

Because of the automated nature of Fulfill especially with respect to uploading digital products, special handling is required with retouch orders. To this end orders in Fulfill requiring retouching to one or more components are 'held" and marked in yellow. Held orders may still be printed however any held digital orders will not upload until the order is marked as completed in Orders Mode.

• Fulfill orders requiring retouching are marked in yellow to indicate they a "Held"
• Marking a digital order with 'Retouching completed' in Orders Mode removes the held flag and the yellow highlight
• Digital orders will not upload until the order is marked as completed in Orders Mode

Figure 7: Fulfill showing a held order

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