There are several solutions to lessen the effects of dust, scratches, and other anomalies in your images.  These solutions range from dusting your media with special cleaning tools to using an image editor to clone out the anomalies. These solutions are very time consuming to the end user who simply wants a good image.  There are several commercial products that claim to remove dust and defects in an automated fashion.  None of them are completely effective and all of them take valuable time in your workflow of processing the images.  No single solution will automatically remove dust and defects in a fully automated application without damaging the image content. The human eye is much better at pattern recognition than any software package that exists at this point in time.  The human eye remembers the scene and can distinguish defects from other known objects in the image such as birds, telephone wires, gravel on a road, a pattern in a piece of material, etc. 

All of the above solutions can be made to work given enough time and patience!  Ideally a better approach would be to use a software solution that combines an automated dust and defect removal tool with the ability to manually point out and correct the defects.  Even more importantly, a solution should have the ability to mark areas of the image that do not have defects to be removed.  These requirements led to the development of DustKleen.  DustKleen allows the user the ability of a software package to quickly identify areas of potential defects in an image and then allow you to agree that the automatically marked items are defects or to protect the items as image content. This process can be done very quickly and effectively with you as the guide. 

DustKleen - User Interface:

Image View
The image is opened from the 'Control Panel' and displayed in the 'Image View' window that expands to the maximum size of the display or 100% of the image size, whichever is smaller.  The 'Image View' window can be adjusted to meet the preferences of the user.  Some users prefer to move the right hand edge of the Image View window to align with the left edge of the 'Control Panel'.  In this way, the 'Control Panel' does not overlay any of the image content.

Control Panel
DustKleen uses a proprietary user interface that appears on the right side of the display when the application is launched.  At startup, the 'Open.' button is active.  The user begins by pressing the 'Open.' button to select an image from the user's My Documents folder, or any folder selected by the user. 

 
'Open.' button allows the user to open the image to be processed.  If the user wants to open a new image without closing down the application, they should press the 'Open.' button.  When opening a new image, the user is prompted if they want to save the prior image or not. The valid input image file types include: JPG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, and PSD from a scanned image.

 
'Save as .' button allows the user to save the corrected image with a new name and/or in a different location.


Once an image is opened, the following functions are active:


Automatic Correction
The application will attempt to automatically identify the dpi of the scanned image through the image file header information. This helps the program establish the initial settings for dust size, dust amount and aggression.

Active
By checking the 'Active' box in the 'Automatic Correction' section of the 'Control Panel', DustKleen will automatically find and remove dust. The user has the ability to adjust parameters in the automatic mode.  The user can select an 'Image Type' using the drop down menu or leave the image type 'default unknown'.

Automatic Settings

• The 'Restore Defaults' button allows the user to restore the settings in the 'Automatic Correction' box to their original positions.
  
• The 'Image Type' is used to identify the types of potential dust. Please select the source image type if known. The user can select, within the drop-down box, from the following image types:
  - Unknown - Default Scanned Print (B&W)
  - Scanned Print (Black and White Dust)
  - Scanned Negative Film (White Dust)
  - Scanned Slide (Black Dust)
  
• The 'Dust Size' is used to determine the size of the typical dust on the scanned image. Moving the slider to the right causes the program to include larger dust particles.  Increase the 'Dust Size' until image content is affected.  The objective is to remove the maximum number of defects while minimizing impact on image content. 'Dust Size' should be the first slider adjusted if changes in the automatic corrections are not suitable.
  
• The 'Dust Amount' is used to determine the amount of dust that should be removed from the image. Moving the slider to the right will select more dust to be removed in areas that the automatic mode has identified.  Increasing 'Dust Amount' does not increase the areas where defects are removed.  Caution should be used as some image content will possibly be identified as dust to be removed as the slider is moved to the right.
  
• The 'Dust Aggression' slider is used to increase or decrease the number and size of areas where dust detection and correction occurs.  Moving the slider to the left will cause less content to be seen as dust.  Moving the slider to the right will cause the program to intensify the correction in the areas of image detail.  Warning, moving this slider to the right will cause more of original image to be marked as possible dust!   It is possible that some image content could be misidentified as a defect if the 'Dust Aggression' slider is moved too far to the right.
  
  If additional corrections are required, beyond what was accomplished in the automatic mode, use the 'Manual Touch Up' mode.

Manual Touch Up
The 'Manual Touch Up' mode provides the user additional control to select and remove dust as well as overriding corrections done in the automatic mode.

Manual Touch Up Settings:

• ‘Brush Type’ – Has two settings selected by using the drop-down box to the right of ‘Brush Type’.
  - ‘Add Touch Up’ allows the user to mark defects to be removed.
  - ‘Remove Touch Up’ allows the user to remove corrections from image content. This brush will remove a correction whether it was made in the automatic mode or in the manual Touch Up mode.
  
• ‘Undo’ allows the user to undo previous manual changes in succession. All previous manual corrections can be undone.
  
• ‘Brush Size’ allows the user to adjust the size of the brush to cover more of the image area. In the ‘Add Touch up’ mode, it does NOT affect the size of the defect to be removed.
  
• ‘Dust Size’ allows the user to adjust the size of the dust being corrected.
  - If the ‘Add Touch Up’ brush does not remove the entire defect, then the ‘Dust Size’ should be increased by moving the slider to the right.
  - If the ‘Add Touch Up’ brush is too aggressive, the ‘Dust Size’ should be reduced by moving the slider to the left.

View Tools:
View Tools allow the user to rotate the image 90 degrees, zoom in, zoom out and control the image in the Image View window.

• The 'Navigation Window' within the 'View Tools' section shows the entire image and also displays what portion of the image is being viewed in the Image View window.  A red box surrounds the portion of the total image displayed in the 'Image View' window.  When the cursor is in the 'Navigation Window' it changes to a hand icon.  When the mouse button is depressed, it allows the user to move the red box around within the 'Navigation Window' which produces a corresponding change in the 'Image View' window.

• The 'Before/After' button inverts the before and after view of the image when the mouse is held over the button.  The user will see the effect on the image in the 'Image View' window. Clicking on the button changes the definition to the opposite function: Before or After.   The before and after image is easier to see with highlights turned off.

• The 'Highlights' button inverts the highlighting when the mouse is held over the button.  The user will see the effect on the image in the 'Image View' window.   Clicking on the button changes the definition to the opposite function: Highlights On/Off.

• (Left arrow) allows the user to rotate the selected image counterclockwise 90 degrees per click.

• (Right arrow) allows the user to rotate the selected image clockwise 90 degrees per click.

• 'Zoom In' allows the user to zoom in up to 400 percent to see more image detail.

• 'Zoom Out' allows the user to zoom out to see more of the image on  the screen. Maximum zoom out displays the full image on the screen.

Help (?) button
The Help file is initiated by clicking the button on the lower left of the Control Panel.

A 'Quick View' Help is available by hovering the mouse on the button. It appears in the 'View' window on the left.

Close All button

Clicking on the 'Close All' button will close all windows and exit the application.  


 
Image Trends Inc Logo button

Clicking on the Image Trends Logo  of a product that has been purchased and registered will allow you to check for updates.

If you have a trial version of the product, any image saved will have a permanent watermark.  It is highly recommended that you do not save any image processed using the program in trial mode.  To eliminate the watermark function, you must purchase and register the product. 

By selecting the  icon, you will be guided through a set of menus that allow for a simple process to purchase and update this product.  The process is secure and your personal credit card information is not retained by Image Trends or our partners.  Please see our Privacy Policy on the Image Trends Web site.


Pop-Up Control Box
The Control Panel contains the image control settings; automatic controls and manual controls. Advanced users may choose to eliminate the Control Panel to view more of the image in the View Screen by performing a right click in the image and deselecting 'View Controls' in the Pop-Up Control Box. The Popup Control Box goes away after any selection. Other functions can be selected by performing a right click in the image and selecting the desired function.  The Pop-Up Control Box can be removed by using the Escape key on the keyboard.


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DustKleen - Tips and Techniques:

Automatic Correction mode:

The application will estimate the size of the dust based on the dpi of the image. The user can change the estimated size of the dust larger or smaller in the 'Automatic Correction' box of the Control Panel. The recommended order for adjustments to remove dust in automatic mode is:

1. Select the 'Image Type' from the pull down menu to match the source image

2. 'Dust Size' should be the first slider adjusted if changes in the automatic corrections are not suitable.  The 'Dust Size' is used to determine the size of the typical dust on the scanned image.  Slowly move the 'Dust Size' slider while observing the impact of the adjustment.  Moving the slider to the right causes the program to include larger dust particles.   Increase the 'Dust Size' until image content is affected.    The objective is to remove the maximum number of defects while minimizing impact on image content. The items to be corrected are highlighted in yellow in the default mode.

3. The 'Dust Amount' is used to determine the amount of dust that should be removed from the image. Moving the slider to the right will select more dust to be removed in areas that the automatic mode has identified.  Increasing 'Dust Amount' does not increase the areas where defects are removed.  Caution should be used as some image content will possibly be identified as dust to be removed as the slider is moved to the right.  Slowly adjust the 'Dust Amount' to identify the maximum amount of dust in the image, highlighted in yellow.

4. The 'Dust Aggression' slider is used to increase or decrease the number and size of areas where dust detection and correction occurs.  Moving the slider to the left will cause less content to be seen as dust.  Moving the slider to the right will cause the program to intensify the correction in the areas of image detail.  Warning, moving this slider to the right will cause more of original image to be marked as possible dust!   It is possible that some image content could be misidentified as a defect if the 'Dust Aggression' slider is moved too far to the right.  Slowly adjust the 'Dust Aggression' to correct defects in areas that are closer to the image content.

5. Use the 'Remove Touchup' brush in the 'Manual Touch Up' section to eliminate areas marked as dust that you do not want to correct.

 Manual Touch Up:

The 'Manual Touch Up' mode provides the user additional control to select and remove dust as well as overriding corrections done in the automatic mode.

Manual Touch Up Settings:

1. 'Brush Type' - Has two settings selected by using the drop-down box to the right of 'Brush Type'.
   1. 'Add Touch Up' allows the user to mark defects to be removed. 
   2. 'Remove Touch Up' allows the user to remove corrections from image content.  This brush will remove a correction whether it was made in the automatic mode or in the manual Touch Up mode.
2. 'Undo' allows the user to undo previous manual changes in succession. All previous manual corrections can be undone.
3. 'Brush Size' allows the user to adjust the size of the brush to cover more of the image area.  In the 'Add Touch up' mode, it does NOT affect the size of the defect to be removed.
4. 'Dust Size' allows the user to adjust the size of the dust being corrected.
   1. If the 'Add Touch Up' brush does not remove the entire defect, then the 'Dust Size' should be increased by moving the slider to the right.
   2. If the 'Add Touch Up' brush is too aggressive, the 'Dust Size' should be reduced by moving the slider to the left.

Control Panel:

Advanced users may choose to eliminate the Control Panel from view which makes more of the image visible. Simply right mouse click on the image and then click on the 'View Control Panel' item in the list. This will uncheck the 'View Control Panel' function. All editing can then be performed by using the right mouse button and selecting from the Popup Control Box. To restore the Control Panel, simply right click on the image and select 'View Control Panel'.   The Popup Control Box can be removed by using the Escape key on your keyboard. 

Image View Window:

The Image View window can be adjusted to meet the preferences of the user.  Some users prefer to move the right hand edge of the Image View window to align with the left edge of the Control Panel.  In this way, the Control Panel does not overlay any of the image content.

Keyboard Shortcuts:

• Pan - the user can pan around the image by selecting 'Shift' on the Keyboard while holding the primary mouse button down and moving the mouse.

• Left & Right Arrow Keys - when the mouse is clicked on any slider in the 'Control Panel' the Left and Right Arrow keys will control the slider movement.

• Mouse Scroll Wheel - the Scroll Wheel can be used to control the slider movement once it is selected in the 'Control Panel'.  When the cursor is in the 'Image View' window, the mouse Scroll Wheel will only control the 'Manual Touch Up' 'Brush Size' slider.

• Tab Key

  • Once a slider is selected in the 'Control Panel', the Tab Key can be used to move to the next slider.

• When the user is working within the 'Image View' window, the tab key toggles the 'Control Panel' on and off.

• Change Brush Size - the user can change the 'Brush Size' in the 'Manual Touch Up' by using the mouse Scroll Wheel.

• Help can be accessed by pressing the 'F1' key

• 'Ctrl' + 'Z' - is the same as 'Undo'.

• 'Ctrl' + '+' - is the same as 'Zoom In'.

•  'Ctrl' + '-' - is the same as 'Zoom Out'.