crop/combine picture shapes

This new function in 214a is used to crop or combine one or more picture shapes. A single picture shape can be cropped smaller, or several picture shapes can be combined into a single picture shape.

The advantage of having a single picture shape instead of several is that it can be more easily shifted to a new position, twisted, re-sized, wrapped onto a curve, etc. Or a large image can be cropped to a smaller more convenient size for faster zooming.

It can also be easily turned on and off on the trackpad by clicking the show on trackpad tickbox (also new in 214a), or by double-clicking it on the list.

Here 2 screen-grabs from OS 25" maps have been scaled (sized) to match, and aligned one over the other. A new background rectangle shape has then been drawn over them (the red rectangle):



At this stage it is a normal rectangle shape, and can be shifted or re-sized in the usual way.

Now we can use the crop/combine function:



1. select the rectangle shape on the list.
2. click the modify shape tab.
3. click the crop/combine picture shapes button.

This is the result:



The rectangle has been converted to a new picture shape, containing a copy of the underlying picture shapes.

We can now if we wish delete the original picture shapes:



The crop/combine function retains the full resolution of the original picture shapes, as can be seen when zoomed in:
 

 
The great advantage of having a single picture shape instead of several is that it can now have further functions applied to it more easily. You may want to shift it to a new position, re-size it, wrap it onto a curve, etc.

Here for example I first twisted it by -35 degrees to a more convenient alignment using the twist... button, and then used crop/combine again to reduce it to a more manageable size.

I have then set it show transparent and started aligning tracks over it. A C-9 turnout is found to fit for the trailing connection from the Goods Yard:


 
The advantage of performing these picture shape functions in Templot rather than a graphics editor program is that the scaling and full resolution is maintained.

More info: http://templot.com/companion/crop_combine.php

regards,

Martin.

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Hi Martin,

I just wanted to say that this worked like a dream. It cleaned up a grabbed image from NLS superbly. The instructions above were really easy to follow.

Thanks as usual for all your efforts.

Cheers
Paul
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Hi Paul,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad it worked ok.

I often wonder how new features are working out.

regards,

Martin.

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Hello Martin,

I've imported some scanned maps into Background Shapes, but I want to crop them as the borders are on the scans. However crop is greyed out. Is there a reason for this?
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Philip Griffiths wrote: I've imported some scanned maps into Background Shapes, but I want to crop them as the borders are on the scans. However crop is greyed out. Is there a reason for this?Hi Philip,

You must first draw a rectangle shape over the area to be cropped (it can include more than one picture shape).

Then with the rectangle selected in the list, click the crop/combine button.

See the first post in this topic for full details. Sorry the images were missing, I have now put them back.

cheers,

Martin.

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