SnagIt Learning Center

SnagIt 9 Tutorial:

Color Effects

Learn to use the Color Effect options to create a variety of color effects such color depth, transparency, color correction, and more.

In this tutorial, learn how to:

• Add Color Depth
• Set Transparent Color
• Apply Color Correction
• Invert Colors
• Substitute Color
• Set the Histo-Contrast
• Apply Halftone
• Apply Intensity Detect
• Stretch Intensity
• Apply Histogram Equalize
• Apply Monochrome

 Editor > Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects button

Use the Color Effects options to apply color conversion and special effects to your image.

Color Depth

Customize the colors, color order, dithering and palette of an image. This effect must be applied to the entire canvas. To use this tool:

1. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Color Depth.
2. In the Color Depth task pane, make all changes.
3. Click OK.

Transparent Color

Use to set a color in an image to transparent.

This effect works only with GIF, ICO, and CUR files. It has no effect on other types of files and does not affect images copied to the clipboard.

To use this tool:

1. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Transparent Color.
2. If you are asked to change to 256 Color, select Yes.
3. In the Transparent Color task pane use the color picker to select the transparent color from the canvas. Click Close.
4. When the capture is ready to save, save in GIF, ICO, or CUR file format.

Color Correction

Use to change the brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, and gamma properties for a selection or the entire canvas.

The following graphic shows a sample of the following effects:

1. Original capture
2. Brightness
3. Contrast: Change the contrast between the light and dark colors.
4. Hue: Change is similar to rotating a color wheel to select a different mixture of colors.
5. Saturation: The quantity of a color in pixels, from gray at the lowest saturation to rich color in the highest.
6. Gamma: Adjust the intensity of colors by changing the gamma constant used to map the intensity values. Gamma correction changes brightness using a logarithmic scale for visual perception. Gamma is a constant used to calculate the progression. For most CRTs, the gamma constant is in the range of 2.2 to 2.5.
   

To use this tool:

1. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Color Correction.
2. Create your own effect using the available settings.
3. Click OK.

Invert Colors

Use to invert RGB color values for a selection or the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. To apply effect to a portion of the canvas, drag a selection on the canvas.
   -Or-
   To apply the effect to the entire canvas, do not make a selection.
2. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Invert Color.

Color Substitution

Use to replace one color with a different color. This effect must be applied to the entire canvas. To use this tool:

1. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Color Substitution.

Histo-Contrast

Use to increase or decrease the contrast using a histogram to find the median brightness. Apply to a selection or the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. To apply effect to a portion of the canvas, drag a selection on the canvas.
   -Or-
   To apply the effect to the entire canvas, do not make a selection.
2. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Histo-Contrast.
3. Select effect percentage from the menu or click Custom to create a new look.

Halftone

Use to apply a dithered black and white effect to the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Halftone.
2. Select effect percentage from the menu or click Custom to create a new look.

Intensity Detect

Use to find the low and high thresholds in a specified intensity range. Apply to a selection or the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. To apply effect to a portion of the canvas, drag a selection on the canvas.
   -Or-
   To apply the effect to the entire canvas, do not make a selection.
2. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Intensity Detect.
3. Use the slide control to achieve desired look.
4. Click Close.

Stretch Intensity

Use to increase the contrast by centering, maximizing, and proportioning the range of intensity values. Apply to a selection or the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. To apply effect to a portion of the canvas, drag a selection on the canvas.
   -Or-
   To apply the effect to the entire canvas, do not make a selection.
2. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Stretch Intensity.

Histogram Equalize

Use to make linear the number of pixels per gray level in the image. This can be used to show details in dark areas. Apply to a selection or the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. To apply effect to a portion of the canvas, drag a selection on the canvas.
   -Or-
   To apply the effect to the entire canvas, do not make a selection.
2. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Histogram Equalize.

Monochrome

Use to apply a dithered black and white effect to the entire canvas.

To use this tool:

1. Select Image tab > Modify group > Color Effects tool  > Monochrome.
2. Use the slide control to achieve desired look.
3. Click Close.