Digital Spectrum 1862-MF-61-7 User Manual

Page of 32
 
Copyright© 2006 Digital Spectrum Solutions, Inc.
  
Page 12 
insert images into the Digital PixMaster™ template, or select images from 
any application, directory, CD, DVD, etc. to import via “drag and drop” or 
“copy/paste” into the template. When images are transferred into the 
Digital PixMaster template the image is automatically resized accordingly. 
The original source image is left unaltered. 
Repeat this process until all of the desired images are in the template. The 
figure below shows an example of a Digital PixMaster™ slideshow after 
images have been imported via “drag and drop” from other applications 
and directories. 
Below each image is the slide number, the time duration the image will be 
displayed, and whether or not a transition effect has been selected for that 
image. 
6.6 
Pull-Down Menus, Controls, Commands 
Across the top of the Digital PixMaster application are the pull-down 
menus: File, Edit, View, Digital Frame, and Help.  All of the commands 
(except those in the Digital Frame pull-down) can be performed on the PC 
without the need for a MemoryFrame to be connected.  This allows you to 
create slideshows anytime. Table 1 below shows the various options under 
the File, Edit, and View pull-down menus. 
File
E dit
V iew
Digital Fram e
New
Ctrl-N
U ndo
Ctrl-Z
P review S lideshow S end S lideshow
O pen…
Ctrl-O
R edo
Ctrl-Y
S tatus B ar
Retrieve S lideshow
Close
Ctrl-F4
C ut
Ctrl-X
Toolbar
Update Firm ware
S ave
Ctrl-S
C opy
Ctrl-C
S lide P roperties
P roperties
S ave  A s…
P aste
Ctrl-V
S witch V iew
P references…
D elete
Del
 
Recent Files
S elect  A ll
Ctrl-A
 
E xit
A lt-F4
Insert
Ctrl-I
 
 
 
Insert E m pty S lide Ctrl-E
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 1 – Application Commands: File, Edit, View, Digital Frame 
6.7 
Naming and Saving Slideshows 
Create, name, and save different slideshows using naming conventions of 
your choice.  To save a slideshow, click on File then select “Save” or 
“Save As” to save the slideshow.  The file extension for MemoryFrame 
slideshows created with Digital PixMaster is “.pd2” extension.  Digital 
PixMaster can have only one slideshow open at one time.  If you choose to 
open a new blank slideshow while another is already open, the program 
will close the first one (asking you if you want to save first) before 
opening the new blank one. 
 
Copyright© 2006 Digital Spectrum Solutions, Inc.
  
Page 41 
• 
Image Decompression takes about 5 seconds  
• 
Scaling an image can take another 10 seconds  
• 
Rotating images takes the same time as scaling images. Even if 
600x800 to begin with, preparing a portrait image adds another 10 
seconds  
• 
Background tasks that occur immediately after power-on place a drain 
on performance until they complete  
To help homogenize the performance of the MemoryFrame, images are 
cached for display. If an imager is available in the cache, it can be 
displayed immediately. The key to a fast slideshow is understanding how 
to keep the cache full. 
With a best case of 5 seconds per image to decompress, it becomes clear 
than it is nearly impossible to achieve the 1 second minimal duration that 
is allowed. However, strategically placing "pause" slides will allow the 
cache to become populated.  
Here are some tips on how to optimize performance: 
• 
Do not have more than 2-3 consecutive slides with "minimum" 
durations  
• 
Avoid long stretches of slides with durations of 5 or fewer seconds  
• 
Throw in "pause" slides with content that the viewer will need time to 
study -- this will allow the cache engine to catch up  
• 
If using odd-sized images, particularly those between 4:3 or 3:4 and 
square, pre-scale them before inserting them into Digital PixMaster. 
• 
Make sure that images are no larger than 800 pixels wide and 600 
pixels tall or, if using Portrait Mode, 600 pixels wide and 800 pixels 
tall  
• 
Use transition effects between slides -- transition effects add activity 
to the slideshow and provide extra time for image preparation  
12.2 
Steps to Create 16:9 Content for 
MemoryFrame
 
(Landscape) 
The MemoryFrame is designed to show 4:3 aspect on the internal display. 
The VGA Out interface of the MemoryFrame allows simultaneous display 
to large format monitors. These may be a large 16:9 aspect display such as 
a plasma monitor or HDTV monitor. By following the steps below, images 
can be composed so that they appear correctly on a 16:9 display.