Creating Templates Using the KODAK CTS

Template Generator 1.0

Illustrated Quick Reference Guide
For Use with DLS Software

1
Purpose
This document demonstrates how to create a typical CTS template using the
KODAK CTS Template Generator plug-in for ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. This
document is intended for first-time users. For more information, please consult
KODAK CTS Template Generator User’s Manual.

Before You Begin

Make sure you are running PHOTOSHOP 5.5.

Make sure you have successfully installed the KODAK CTS Template Generator
on your computer.

Download images to use with this tutorial. Click on CTSExample.jpg, a link to

the actual file.

Overview
To create a CTS template intended for use on a DLS system:

1. Start the KODAK CTS Template Generator Plug-in.

2. Define general template attributes.
3. Create the background art layer.
4. Create the consumer image layer.
5. Create two consumer text layers.
6. Complete the Template.

2
Starting the KODAK CTS Template Generator

1. Start PHOTOSHOP 5.5.

2. Open the sample JPEG file (CTSExample.jpg).

The window shown in Figure 1 (or a similar window) appears.

Figure 1 - Window with sample JPEG file

3
3. From the File menu (figure 2), select Export >KODAK CTS Template
Generator…

The KODAK CTS Template Generator screen appears as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 – File Menu

4
Defining General Template Attributes

1. In the Template Title field (Figure 3), enter TestTemplate.1

2. Click Choose and navigate to the destination folder C:\.

3. In the Description field, enter 4R Test Template.2

4. Click Layer Creator.

The Layer Creator screen appears as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3 – CTS Template Generator

1
No spaces or special characters are allowed in this field: use only a-z, A-Z and 0-9.
2
The text in this field is used by DLS to identify the template in the Print Choice List.

5
Creating the Background Artwork Layer

1. Click New Layer on the layer creator screen.

A dialog box appears as shown in Figure 4.

2. In the ID field enter BackgroundArt.3

3. Click OK.

The Layer Creator screen appears with the new BackgroundArt template
layer highlighted and the corresponding layer information on the right side of
the screen as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 4 – Layer Creator

3
No spaces or special characters are allowed in this field: use only a-z, A-Z and 0-9.

6
 4. Click Generate.

5. In the confirmation box that appears, confirm by clicking Generate.

A JPEG file containing the background artwork is generated.

The first template layer is now complete. The plug-in screens close, even though
the template is not yet complete. The information for the template is retained and
accumulated each time the plug-in is run, until you have defined all template
layers and indicated that the template is complete.

The Layer Creator window disappears, and you are returned to the
PHOTOSHOP window.

Figure 5 – Layer Creator with Background Art

7
Creating the Consumer Image Layer

1. Click the Magic Wand tool.

2. Using the Magic Wand tool, click the large green area of the artwork. This
area will contain the consumer’s image as shown in figure 6.
4

Figure 6 – Selection Using Magic Wand

4
The selection can me made using any of the rich selection capabilities of PHOTOSHOP,
including the use of effects like Feathering. The Magic Wand tool is shown here as a simple
example. Regardless of how the selection is made, a selection of some kind must be defined in
PHOTOSHOP before creating the Consumer Image template layer.

8
 3. From the File menu, choose Export > KODAK CTS Template
Generator…
4. Click New Layer.
The Layer Creator screen appears as shown in Figure 7.

5. In the ID field enter ConsumerImage.

6. Select Image Input Layer.
7. Click OK.
The Layer Creator screen is now shown with the new ConsumerImage
template layer highlighted and the corresponding layer information on the
right side of the screen. This screen is similar to the screen shown in
Figure 5.

8. Click Generate.
9. In the confirmation box that appears, confirm by clicking Generate.
The second template layer is complete and the plug-in screens are closed.

Figure 7 – Layer Creator Screen

9
Creating Consumer Text Placeholder 1

You need to create a temporary text string as a placeholder for text the consumer
may wish to add to the image. When the template is completed, this temporary
text may be deleted.

1. Deselect the current selection using Ctrl-D (for MACINTOSH, use

Command-D)

2. Select the Type Tool and click once on the blank area of the screen.

3. Enter or set the following information in the Type Tool dialog box: Font -
Times New Roman, Size - 12 Points, Color - (any setting that will make
the text visible against the background)

4. Enter the following text into the Type Tool window: The Quick Brown Fox
Jumps Over

Figure 8 – Type Tool Window

5. Click OK in the Type Tool window (The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over
should appear on the screen).

10
6. Using the Move Tool, position this text as desired as indicated in Figure 9.

Figure 9 – Type on Image

11
7. Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, click and drag a box around the
text to select as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10 – Select Text String

12
 8. From the File menu, select Export >KODAK CTS Template Generator…

The Layer Creator screen appears as shown in Figure 11.

9. Click New Layer.

10. In the ID field enter ConsumerText1.

11. Select Text Layer.

12. Clear the Import Text check box.5

13. Click OK.

Figure 11 – Text Settings in the Layer Creator Screen

5
Deselect the Import Text option when you are not importing text attributes from ADOBE
ILLUSTRATOR. Consult the plug-in manual for instructions on importing text from
ILLUSTRATOR.

13
The Layer Creator screen appears with the new ConsumerText1 template
layer highlighted and the corresponding layer information on the right side
of the screen as shown in Figure 12.

The exact values for XOffset, YOffset, Width and Height will vary
depending on your selection in Step 7.

Figure 12 – Layer Detail Values

14
 14. In the Font field enter Times New Roman6.

15. In the Font Size max field enter 12.

16. In the Justification drop-down menu select Center.

The third template layer is now complete. Note that the plug-in is not closed
when creating text template layers.

Figure 13 – Layer Detail Settings

6
Note that the font name entered here matches the font name used in step 3. The font name
used must match the actual font name exactly. Further, the font must already be installed on the
DLS system at the time the template is used for printing. If in doubt, the font name can be looked
up in the Fonts Control Panel on the target DLS system.

15
Creating Consumer Text Placeholder 2

To create a second consumer text placeholder:

1. On the Layer Creator screen, click New Layer.

2. In the ID field enter ConsumerText2.

3. Select Text Layer.

4. Clear the Import Text check box.

5. Clear the Use current Photoshop selection check box.

6. Click OK.
Clearing the Use current Photoshop selection check box closes the plug-
in screens. You may now make changes (such as position changes) to the
current selection before it is used by the plug-in. The plug-in will use the
current selection to define the new consumer text layer.

Figure 14 – Text Settings in the Layer Creator Screen

16
 7. Click the Rectangular Marquee tool. Do not deselect the current selection.

8. Using the down-arrow key on the keyboard, move the current selection
below The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over text.
7

Figure 15 – Selection Moved Below Text

7
This is a simple way to keep multiple consumer text layers aligned, as well as keeping the size
of the selection box consistent across all text layers. The exact method used to define the
selection isn’t important, as long as it is a rectangular region that fits 30 characters of the font
type and size desired.

17
9. From the File menu, select Export > KODAK CTS Template
Generator…

The Layer Creator screen appears with the values filled in for the
ConsumerText2 template layer, based on the current selection in
PHOTOSHOP.

Figure 16 - Layer Detail Values

Note that of the four fields, XOffset, YOffset, Width and Height, the only
value that changed compared to the previous consumer text layer is the
YOffset field. The YOffset value increased from 679 to 745, indicating the
selection was moved down in Step 8. The selection was not moved sideways,
nor was it resized.

10. In the Font field enter: Times New Roman

11. In the Font Size max field enter: 12

12. In the Justification drop-down menu select Center.

18
The second consumer text template layer is now complete. For the purposes of
this manual, no more consumer text layers will be defined. To add additional
consumer text layers (maximum of 6) follow the steps in Create Consumer Text
Placeholder 2, using a unique name for each text layer created, such as
ConsumerText3, and so on.

Completing the Template

• To finish creating the files needed for the template and reset the plug-in,
click Template Complete.

To preview the template with the CTS Viewer utility or to install the TestTemplate
folder and its contents onto a DLS system for testing, consult the manuals that
came on the plug-in CD: KODAK CTS Viewer Utility User’s Guide and KODAK
CTS Template Installation Guide.

19