Using Microsoft Paint to Make Cab Templates - Picture Heavy
Jun 19, 2018 5:01:35 GMT -5
rockpickerforever, Pat, and 5 more like this
Post by QuailRiver on Jun 19, 2018 5:01:35 GMT -5
Too often I find that I do not have the proper proportioned templates to best take advantage of a nice patterned agate or scenic jasper slab so I've started using my scanner/printer along with Microsoft Paint software and Microsoft Office Picture Manager to make custom proportioned templates for cabochons and thought I would share how I've been doing it. I'm not sure if anyone has covered this here before and there are probably other softwares available that this can be done better with. But since MS Paint and MS Office Picture Manager came preinstalled with Windows 7 on my HP desktop that is what I am working with. Am also using a lower-end HP Photosmart 6520 series printer/scanner.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial. I've used red stars imposed on the accompanying screen-shot images to denote which boxes to click for most of the steps using the software and printer/scanner that I have. Obviously those using a newer or different system will have to take a different approach but maybe this will help get you started.
Step 1:
Place your slab on your scanner window and cover entire scanner bed and slab with a piece of fabric to contain light and reflections.
Step 2"
From the main "Windows" menu open the Print/Scan window and select "Scan a Document or Photo". Then select "JPEG Photo To File". Then "Scan ".
Step 3:
Once image has scanned correct brightness and contrast and then give the scan a name and "Save" to the selected folder of your choice. For this demonstration I have named my scan "RedLagunaLace1" and saved scan to "My Pictures" in a created file entitled "Slabs".
Step 4:
Then go to the file the scanned image is saved in and right-click on the scan. In the drop down box select "Open With", and in the second drop down box select "Microsoft Office Picture Manager".
Step 5:
In Microsoft office Picture Manager right click on the scan image and then select the "Edit Pictures" function in the drop down box, and then select "Rotate and Flip" in the "Edit Pictures" tool box in the right column.
Step 6:
MS Paint's template shapes only operate in two planes so use the "Rotate and Flip" functions of MS Office Picture Manager to align your scanned slab image to the vertical or horizontal position best suited for your desired shape. After having done so do NOT crop the image at this stage but rather save it in it's current form and exit MS Office Picture Manager.
Step 7:
Now return to the file containing your scan image and right-click on the image. In the drop down box select "Open With", and in the second drop down box select "Paint".
Step 8:
Now with your scanned image opened in Paint go to the bottom right corner of the screen and correct the size so that the whole image of the slab is visible on your screen. (In the case of my image 50% was a suitable size.) Now go to the top tool bar and select the shape you desire from the template shapes available. (I selected oval for mine).
Step 9:
Now using your curser and the left-click button of your mouse plot your chosen shape on the image of the slab. You can shrink, enlarge, or move the chosen shape by grabbing the dots on the rectangular frame box surrounding the chosen shape and moving them to the desired location.
Step 10:
Once you have the desired proportions and location of your chosen shape plotted on the image of your slab click on the drop down command box near the top left corner of the screen and select "Save As" and then in the next drop down box select "JPEG Picture" and then exit Paint.
Step 11:
Now go back to the picture folder your image is saved in and right-click on it and in the drop down command box select "Open With" and in the extended box select "Microsoft Office Picture Manager". Then select the "Rotate and Flip" function again and return the image back to it's original position where the top, bottom and sides of the original image scan are parallel with the top, bottom and sides of your screen box. This is important to do accurately in order to keep the image proportions accurate to the slab actual slab size for when you print your template.
Step 12:
Go back to the edit box near the top right corner of the screen and now select "Crop". And use the outline of the original scan borders to crop the image back to it's original scan size. Then click "Okay" and save changes. Now exit MS Office Picture Manager.
Step 13:
Return to the picture folder your edited scan image is saved in and select the image and right-click on it and in the command box select "Print". In the "Print Pictures" format box select "Full Page Photo" and make sure the "Fit Picture To Frame" box is checked and then print. (I print mine in B&W but color is fine too - just costs more for the ink.)
Step 14:
Place the printed page on a scrap piece of paste board, or on a cutting board, and with a sharp x-acto knife trim along the line of your imposed template shape to make your paper template.
Step 15:
Lay the paper template over your slab and line it up in the desired position. While holding firmly in place with one hand use a Sharpie Ultra-Fine pen (the one with the fine metal tip) to mark the image on the slab. Since standard printer paper is thin and delicate a light touch must be used when marking with the Sharpie pen or the pen will stray off course. Now you're ready to trim!
And here are a few more:
Larry C.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial. I've used red stars imposed on the accompanying screen-shot images to denote which boxes to click for most of the steps using the software and printer/scanner that I have. Obviously those using a newer or different system will have to take a different approach but maybe this will help get you started.
Step 1:
Place your slab on your scanner window and cover entire scanner bed and slab with a piece of fabric to contain light and reflections.
Step 2"
From the main "Windows" menu open the Print/Scan window and select "Scan a Document or Photo". Then select "JPEG Photo To File". Then "Scan ".
Step 3:
Once image has scanned correct brightness and contrast and then give the scan a name and "Save" to the selected folder of your choice. For this demonstration I have named my scan "RedLagunaLace1" and saved scan to "My Pictures" in a created file entitled "Slabs".
Step 4:
Then go to the file the scanned image is saved in and right-click on the scan. In the drop down box select "Open With", and in the second drop down box select "Microsoft Office Picture Manager".
Step 5:
In Microsoft office Picture Manager right click on the scan image and then select the "Edit Pictures" function in the drop down box, and then select "Rotate and Flip" in the "Edit Pictures" tool box in the right column.
Step 6:
MS Paint's template shapes only operate in two planes so use the "Rotate and Flip" functions of MS Office Picture Manager to align your scanned slab image to the vertical or horizontal position best suited for your desired shape. After having done so do NOT crop the image at this stage but rather save it in it's current form and exit MS Office Picture Manager.
Step 7:
Now return to the file containing your scan image and right-click on the image. In the drop down box select "Open With", and in the second drop down box select "Paint".
Step 8:
Now with your scanned image opened in Paint go to the bottom right corner of the screen and correct the size so that the whole image of the slab is visible on your screen. (In the case of my image 50% was a suitable size.) Now go to the top tool bar and select the shape you desire from the template shapes available. (I selected oval for mine).
Step 9:
Now using your curser and the left-click button of your mouse plot your chosen shape on the image of the slab. You can shrink, enlarge, or move the chosen shape by grabbing the dots on the rectangular frame box surrounding the chosen shape and moving them to the desired location.
Step 10:
Once you have the desired proportions and location of your chosen shape plotted on the image of your slab click on the drop down command box near the top left corner of the screen and select "Save As" and then in the next drop down box select "JPEG Picture" and then exit Paint.
Step 11:
Now go back to the picture folder your image is saved in and right-click on it and in the drop down command box select "Open With" and in the extended box select "Microsoft Office Picture Manager". Then select the "Rotate and Flip" function again and return the image back to it's original position where the top, bottom and sides of the original image scan are parallel with the top, bottom and sides of your screen box. This is important to do accurately in order to keep the image proportions accurate to the slab actual slab size for when you print your template.
Step 12:
Go back to the edit box near the top right corner of the screen and now select "Crop". And use the outline of the original scan borders to crop the image back to it's original scan size. Then click "Okay" and save changes. Now exit MS Office Picture Manager.
Step 13:
Return to the picture folder your edited scan image is saved in and select the image and right-click on it and in the command box select "Print". In the "Print Pictures" format box select "Full Page Photo" and make sure the "Fit Picture To Frame" box is checked and then print. (I print mine in B&W but color is fine too - just costs more for the ink.)
Step 14:
Place the printed page on a scrap piece of paste board, or on a cutting board, and with a sharp x-acto knife trim along the line of your imposed template shape to make your paper template.
Step 15:
Lay the paper template over your slab and line it up in the desired position. While holding firmly in place with one hand use a Sharpie Ultra-Fine pen (the one with the fine metal tip) to mark the image on the slab. Since standard printer paper is thin and delicate a light touch must be used when marking with the Sharpie pen or the pen will stray off course. Now you're ready to trim!
And here are a few more:
Larry C.
