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<< 1. Introduction >>
1.1 What is BlackMagic
Simply put, BlackMagic is a specialist software application for Windows95/ 98/ ME, that may be used to "colourize" black & white photographs, or monochromatic ones such as sepia, IR (green hue), etc. It may also be used for fixing photos with dull or inappropriate hues.
1.2 Existing Photo Processing software
Colourizing black & white photos can get quite involving, depending upon the quality and sophistication of the results desired. Existing photo processing software suites can, and are being used to do this job. However, the process involved can be very tedious and challenging, taking a day [often several] to completely colourize a single black & white photograph to professional grade quality. Such systems are usually meant for the more computer savvy user, requiring the operator to select individual hue [colour], opacity [transparency], etc., for colouring a specific portion of the photo. This is further compounded by the need to 'guess' the right hue/ saturation values to colour a certain object, which can take several hit-and-trial iterations, with no guarantee of a 'best' match. The whole process may need to be repeated hundreds of times over to finish a single photograph...even then, the results often leave much to be desired, and rarely resemble the 'real life colours' that we are used to seeing in colour photographs. Even with all the professional care and sophistication, it is common to get results depicting improper colour matches, over saturated colours, dull/ faded colours, or over-emphasized/ blurred edges.
1.3 The BlackMagic Difference
BlackMagic resolves all of the above problems associated with colourizing black & white photos, and more. The system uses state-of-the-art Neural Net algorithms to provide dynamic parameterization. This means that the user is not required to pick specific colour hues or the associated values/ parameters - she/ he works by simply identifying the 'type of object' to be coloured. BlackMagic then automatically performs the needed calculations to continuously vary all required parameters, based on the content of the photograph/ region being colourized - all done in the background transparent to the user. This process ensures consistent as well as optimal selection of hue, brightness, saturation, opacity, etc. for colourizing any object/ region of the image, without the guess work that would otherwise have been required. The technique has two key advantages: 1) Colourizing a black & white photograph that may have taken days, can now be accomplished with ease, within hours or minutes; and 2) The resulting colourized photo has optimally saturated and consistent, correct hues - the result looks just as if the photo had originally been shot in colour! Even more importantly, such high quality professional results may be obtained by a novice computer user, with just a few hours of training in its use.
BlackMagic provides several tools, to most expeditiously apply RealLifeColour palettes to a monochromatic image. It is available in two versions for the professional artists: PE [Professional Edition] incorporates advanced tools, palettes, and hard-copy user documentation, suited to photo processing shops that wish to use the software for providing photo colourization service for a fee; this version has no maximum limit on the processing resolution. BE [Business Edition] with a simplified user interface, is suitable for smaller individually owned/ run photo processing centers. A BlackMagic version is also available targeted at the home PC user, for at-home-fun colourizing photos from the family album [HE/ Home Edition]. All versions provide an unprecedented ease of use, as well as a colourization quality that just cant be matched by any other "photo colouring" software.
All BlackMagic editions are based on, and incorporate the "TimeBrush RLC [Real-Life-Colour]" standard. The TimeBrush RLC technology was specifically created for colourizing black & white motion pictures of the Hollywood fame. This feature provides BlackMagic the ability to render superb, rich, vibrant looking colours, that are not under/ over saturated, yet look completely natural.
1.4 Specification & System Requirements
Following are the minimum system requirements to be able to run BlackMagic software on a computer:
- Windows 95/ 98/ ME/ XP equipped PC w/ Keyboard, 3.5" disk drive and/ or CD-ROM drive, and hard-disk with minimum 5 MB free space for the program.
- High resolution pointing device such as a mouse, artist pen/ tablet, etc.
- Colour Monitor + Graphics card capable of minimum 800 X 600 [1024 X 768 recommended] display at 16 bit [24/ 32 bit recommended] colour depth.
- Sufficient on-line storage for images to be processed/ saved, and temporary work area.
- Minimum 64 MB memory [minimum 128 MB recommended for BE/ PE]
- Scanner [OPTIONAL] to scan images
- Printer [OPTIONAL] capable of colour photographic quality output.
Following sections provide a comparison of features, package contents, etc. for various BlackMagic Editions:
Common Features/ Functionality among all Editions
Image Operations: Load/ Clear, Scan, Save [JPEG, BMP],
Print, Auto Finish, Force Gray-scale on load, Help/ Information.
Tools: Area Selector, Smart Brush, Auto Selection Render, Magic Touch Paint, Eraser,
Captioning, Un-do last paint operation, Free Colour Picker, Paint Operations in
Zoomed mode, Soft Pressure control (over & above Auto Neural-Net control).
Tool Controls: Smart Brush [size, shape, selectivity], Auto Selection Render/ Magic Touch
Paint [toggle overwrite mode, toggle layering].
TimeBrush RLC pre-configured Neural-Net palettes: 64
Neural-Net based Auto Control: Opacity, Pressure, Hue, Brightness, Saturation, Contrast.
Extra Features/ Functionality/ Limitations [HE]
Maximum Processing Resolution limit of half million pixels (approx.) [larger images automatically scale-down maintaining the original aspect].
Extra Features/ Functionality/ Limitations [BE]
Maximum Processing Resolution limit of two million pixels
(2M Pixels) [larger images automatically scale-down maintaining the original aspect].
Free colour selection [RGB/ HSL] in addition to pre-configured Neural Net based palettes.
Zoom'ed mode rendering operations.
Extra Features/ Functionality/ Limitations [PE]
Maximum Processing Resolution limited only by the physical
memory.
Image Operations: Un-mask Only [Auto Finish from Masked Paint mode].
Tools: Masked/ Interactive Paint mode choice, Object Definition and grouping for
"one-touch" alternate colour schemes.
Tool Controls: Magic Touch Paint [Global/ Local scope selection, Variable Integration/
Selectivity], Single Touch alternate RLC palette switching for defined objects, selectable
Object List, "Clear" mode for selective application of "Effects".
TimeBrush RLC pre-configured Neural-Net palettes: 69 [five extra multi hue palettes].
Free colour selection [RGB/ HSL] in addition to pre-configured Neural Net based palettes.
Zoom'ed mode rendering operations.
Effects: Ambient Light [individual White, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue], Intensity &
Saturation [over & above Auto Neural Net control], and Filters.
Inquiries: Tel: 0408 268762 [Australia] Email: sales@neuraltek.com
NeuralTek, BlackMagic, TimeBrush, TimeBrush RLC/ Real Life Colour are registered/ unregistered trademarks/ names of NeuralTek and TimeBrush Pty. Ltd. [ACN 064 583 633].
All other trademarks/ names are the property of their respective owners.
Content Copyright NeuralTek, and subject to change without notice - All Rights Reserved.