Step-by-step: How to Create new library:
1 - Run the program.
3 - Choose a library name. When you press on button with <...> - you'll get a Save as dialogue where
you had to type a name of the new library.
4 - Select a library root directory, folder (with subfolders) where you're keeping your tile images.
5 - Check on image types you want to use (default: *.jpg files).
6 - Set the tile height/width ratio. (For a first time leave all other controls as they are).
7 - Press Scan images button. and wait while the program indexed all your images.
8 - Library is created, press Close button.
Note 1:
As you hit the Scan images button the program will begin to build a picture database. As it builds the
database, the previous picture added will show up (sort of like a preview). When it stops cycling pictures,
the database is created.
Note 2:
This process can be slow if your pictures are large. The Program opens every file and runs calculations
on values regarding color lightness and the shape of the picture.
Note 3:
You run this process only once. After the Library is built, you can use it as many times as you need.
Below are more detailed descriptions of the controls that will help you to fine tune new library creation
process.
New library name.
Input a new library name here.
Drive and root folder.
Choose the drive and folder where your image files are.
Check the Include subdirectories checkbox if your files are in subfolders.
Tile file types.
Choose the file types you want to use.
Margin.
If there is white or black outer rim on your pictures, or if your pictures contain a large amount of space
around the edges, you can crop it by increasing the Margin % to more than 0.
Tile size ratio.
Input an X and Y picture size ratio.
In the trial version, you can choose only 3x3 or 4x4 square (there is no difference in 3x3 or 4x4) and 3x4
rectangle oriented Landscape or Portrait.
Cropping adjustments.
Select cropping adjustments for tile library:
There is an option to crop and leave just the top, middle or bottom of the portrait images.
Please note - there is no actual cropping of your original files. Cropped areas are only sampled and
indexed into a Mazaika picture database. There are no modifications of your original images!
Color mode.
Mazaika could use libraries with two different color modes: RGB and YCC. Usually YCC color mode
gives more accurate colors in the final mosaic.
Sampling. (Active in the full registered version)
When picture tiles are selected, the program must choose only The Best Tile. It could analyze a region
as a matrix of pixels. Sampling 6x6 is better choice for average size library. If you have very large library
you may want to set a larger sampling values. This way more information would count for determining
the best picture.
Thumbs size. (Active in the full registered version)
For a preview mosaic Mazaika uses thumbs stored in the library. Usually it is much faster than
resampling the original images.
