NOTE: This feature is available in the Standard, Professional, and Enterprise versions of both Spectra and myStratus Desktop.

Creating a Composite

1. Go to the Workflow hub and open the list of sessions at the Present Images stage.

2. Select a session you want to create an image composite for.

3. Click New Composite on the ribbon.

4. The Composite Designer will appear. Select a composite template from the Templates drop-down list. Note: You will only be able to select templates that are linked to the price list that is valid for the session. For more information, refer to Setting up a Price List and Designing Composite Templates.
   
   
   

5. Drag and drop images into the composite and adjust using the following:

   • Resize - Use the scroll wheel to adjust the size of the image. Tip! To change the sensitivity of the scroll wheel, open your Workstation Preferences and adjust the Mouse Wheel Zooming setting on the Digital tab. See also: Workstation Preferences - Digital

   • Rotate - Hold down the Shift key and click and drag with your mouse to manually rotate an image.

   • Right-click on the image to see options to fit (maximizes and centers the image in the opening), flip, rotate, or colorize the image.

6. Filling multiple drop zones - If you are using a template with multiple drop zones, you can select an image, hold down the Shift key, and then drag and drop the image into a drop zone. This will populate all the drop zones in the template with this one image. This feature is useful if you use composites to create sheets. Another option is to select multiple images using the Shift or Ctrl keys, then hold down the Ctrl key and drag and drop the selected images into a drop zone. This will populate multiple image zones with the images you selected. 

7. Editing a text layer - If you are using a template with an editable text layer, you can either click on the text layer to select it, or right click anywhere on the composite to select it. Once selected, a Font Tool group will appear on the ribbon, giving you options to change the appearance of the text. To edit the actual text, you can either double-click on the text layer, or right-click anywhere on the composite and select Edit Layer. You can also add a new text layer using the New Text Layer tool on the ribbon, although adding your text layers when creating the template still gives the greatest control over all the text layer properties. See also: Designing Composite Templates
   
   

8. Once you have completed laying out your composite, click Save. The editable composite will be saved in your session images and a preview image will be created. The file name will be based on the file name of the other images with a C# number (C01, C02).

9. Click Close Designer to close. Or click Create New Composite to create another composite.

Composite Tips

• Rotating an image - Press Shift and then click and drag to manually rotate an individual image in a composite.

• Showing your composites - Saved composites can be included your slideshow and ordered during the presentation. Note: You cannot rotate, crop, flip, or edit (in Photoshop) a saved composite.

• Modifying a composite - Composites can be modified (and created) in the Sales Presentation, as well as from an invoice or production order. Select a composite and click Modify to open the composite in the Composite Designer to change the images or make other adjustments.

• Ordering a composite - You can add a composite to an order you're creating during a sales presentation. This will add the composite item to the invoice. If you have more than one price list item associated with this composite template you will be prompted to select the correct item. You can also choose a composite item from the price list (or include a composite item in a package). Select the composite from the order detail list and you will be able to drag and drop images into the composite.