Today Nikonians releases a free software called "Annotate!" for annotating JPG images.

The software enables you to easily give critique on others work, to include comments and proposed enhancements directly in the image. It can further be used by teams where images are annotated (notes attached), e.g. in publishing or by architects, making image notes in emails and in PDF's superfluous.

A virtual crop can be added to the image as well, making it possible to show what a certain crop what do to the composition.

The program stores the annotations in the so called "EXIF header" of the image, so these are non-destructible additions to the original image and not seen in regular JPG viewers. It further allows you to export a new version of the JPG image with annotations automatically drawn onto the image.

You can download Annotate! here - just click the INSTALL button on this page:
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/software/annotate/annotate.html

The program only runs on MS Windows right now. We will likely launch a Macintosh version of the program later. A user guide is available by pressing function key "F1".

When you open Annotate! for the first time, it will ask you to enter your full name and your Nikonians username. If you are not registered with Nikonians.org yet, this is a good time to do so. It is simple and will only take 30 seconds

The program was written to be as simple as possible to use, with a straight-forward user interface, not overloaded with functionality. We hope we have achieved this goal, but if you feel there is something that can be improved or if you are missing a feature and have suggestions for improvements please send us feedback at
annotate-feedback * nikonians.org

Let us know how it goes!



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looking forward to playing around with it.

of course, nice for photo forums,
... and i can see potential usefulness in the automobile forums i frequent, for exchanging descriptive technical notes on images



tcb, boki-san

>looking forward to playing around with it.
>
>of course, nice for photo forums,
>... and i can see potential usefulness in the automobile
>forums i frequent, for exchanging descriptive technical notes
>on images
>
>http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/512661897_hY6up-O.jpg
>
>tcb, boki-san

I can't find any way for Annotate! to put arrows or text on an image. How did you do that?

--When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.-- Edmund Burke

>I can't find any way for Annotate! to put arrows or text on an
>image. How did you do that?
>



how'd i do it? ... with photoshop.

i was simply posting a feeble example of a possible use for 'annotate!',
outside of a photography forum.

i have downloaded, but not yet explored 'annotate!'.
i do hope that i can take a bunch of 8x10 glossies, and put on a bunch of circles and arrows on them

tcb, boki-san

8 X 10 Glossies with circles and arrows ( don't forget the paragraph
on the back )

That brings back memories, if you don't get it don't bother asking.

Bob

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

In three part harmony.You can get anything you want at...... Thanks for for the laugh on this fine Monday morning.
Chip

This sounds great! I would find it very useful for what I do (molecular biologist). Is there any plans in the works to make a Mac version of this software? That would really be helpful!


Jake

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Jake,

Yes, we are planning on having a Mac version, but it will take some more time.


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I'm using a MacBook Pro with MACOS 10.6

Could you be so kind to make up a list of Nikonians waiting for a Mac version of "Annotate!" in order to let us know when ready to download !

Thank you in advance. I do need that SW !

Hi Piergio,

we are working on the Mac version. There is not a defined launch date yet, but stay assured that we will let you know about it through the newsletter when it is ready.

>I'm using a MacBook Pro with MACOS 10.6
>
>Could you be so kind to make up a list of Nikonians waiting
>for a Mac version of "Annotate!" in order to let us
>know when ready to download !
>
>Thank you in advance. I do need that SW !

In the mean time you can annotate images in Preview, and you already
have it!

Photographers' Tea: Earl 18% Grey

http://gallery.me.com/freewheeler
http://freewheeler10.blogspot.com/

Many thanks Freewheeler !

Good to know.

I hope this message reaches the right person. I downloaded the Annotate! program and found it to be very intuitive and user friendly.

However, I have run into a big problem. When I go to export and preview my annotated image, it appears to be formatted as how I wish to show it. But - the saved image is severely cropped, only showing a small section of the entire image. I cannot figure out how to correct.

Please advise.

Thanks -
Rick Warnken
rwarnken@hotmail.com
RWARNKEN

Rick,

The program should not crop your output. A virtual crop can be placed on the image, but it should not produce the results you mention if I understand you correctly. You can set different output image sizes during export, but none should crop the image. Please report exactly what you are doing including a sample file if possible to annotate-feedback a t nikonians dot org so we can have a look at that.

Thanks!



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Thanks for the prompt reply. Actually it had nothing to do with the cropping function. I seperately emailed annote-feedback and got a response from the program's creator, Marek Tomsa.

Here is his response:

Thank you very much for pointing this out and for providing the test images. This was a bug connected with handling of images of certain size.

It is fixed now and an update will be published soon. The application has an auto update feature so you should receive a prompt offering to download the update automatically when you start the application.

Perfect,

Thanks for providing that feedback to us including info on how to reproduce the problem!



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I must be dense. I can open a plethora of green boxes on the image but I can't get anything into them. I can type text on the botton of the window or in seperate little windows on the right side but nothing ever shows up on the image itself.

--When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.-- Edmund Burke

Make a box by click-drag-release the mouse (click the mouse button, drag and let go). This creates a box. This is the annotated area. Now you have a NEW edit field on the right hand side of the main window. In this field you can enter the annotation text belongs to the selected annotated area.

So, each click-drag-release with the mouse on the image creates a new annotation area and a new, corresponding field to enter the annotation (the text) into.

When you select one annotated area with the mouse by clicking on it, you will also select the corresponding annotation text field on the right hand side.

The annotations you made are stored in the JPG when you click on the SAVE button.
When someone else opens the same file in their Annotate! program, they will see the annotations.
If you EXPORT the file you did, by clicking the EXPORT button, you can click a PREVIEW button. This shows you how the annotations will look like ONTO the image (actually around the image on a separate frame), should you rather select to export the file. If you now EXPORT the file and open the exported file in e.g. a browser, you will see the annotations just like in the preview.

Please note: the annotations are stored in the file when you click SAVE and this can be shared with others. You only need to export if you want to e.g. upload the resulting annotated file to an online forum, such as in here at Nikonians.

We will improve the user guide on this - thanks!



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Bo Stahlbrandt. Founder and Administrator located in Bratislava/Slovakia and in the Black Forest/Germany.
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Hi,

Try this:
1) Select an area with the mouse.
2) Type some text (it is going to go into the field onto the right part of the window).
3) Click export and save the new file. (You may also want to use the preview function in the export dialog window)
4) Look at the new file.

You're done. Edited to add: Oops! Did NOT intend to edit your post! Your original post below
+++ Bo


You said:

I also am able to create green boxes but am unable to get the annotations committed to those boxes. I've uninstalled it. I have enough tools to annotate photos if I want but thought I'd give this a look. If you care to offer clearer instruction on how to actually commit the annotations on the photo, I'll certainly try it again.

--
Steve Aikens
Clovis, NM

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Same problem here---

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Hi,

It is really easy... I believe Please don't think in terms of dragging lines, or doing arrows or stuff like that. Simple click and select an area of the image, then type a text. You can now export your file. In the export dialog there is a preview as well.

Enjoy!



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Bo Stahlbrandt. Founder and Administrator located in Bratislava/Slovakia and in the Black Forest/Germany.
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>Today Nikonians releases a free software called
>"Annotate!" for annotating JPG images.

Is this "free as in beer" or "free as in freedom"? In other words, is this an open source project, or closed source?

--
Camera <ˈkæ mə rə>, n. Device for taking pictures in bright light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nantonos

Chris,

Annotate! is free as in "Google Search is free" The project is currently "closed source" and there are no plans on currently moving it to open source.



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>When you open Annotate! for the first time, it will ask you to
>enter your full name and your Nikonians username. If you are
>not registered with Nikonians.org yet, this is a good time to
>do so. It is simple and will only take 30 seconds

Does that mean that a Nikonians registration is required to continue using the program? Can images saved with it still be edited, if one leaves Nikonians?

Is it possible to share the images with people who don't have a Nikonians account?

Thanks for any clarifications...

--
Camera <ˈkæ mə rə>, n. Device for taking pictures in bright light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nantonos

Chris,

Good questions! Yes, there is a small dialog requesting you to enter your full name and Nikonians username when the program is launched for the first time. This data can then be used in the export where it is rendered on the final image. The data can be modified by clicking on the "options" link top right in the main window.

If someone is not a Nikonians member during installation, we request that he should register. We are though currently not doing any authorization against this data, so even if you are not registered, or if you are no longer an active member, you can still use the program.

So, you can use it no matter if you are a member or not. We have no intentions to make this a "cripple ware" with reduced or no functionality when the user is no longer a member.

And further, we have no intentions whatsoever to limit the use of the program, rather, we want to see that as many as possible use it since we believe it is good advertising for the community.

So, yes, pls go ahead and share with others. If they register with Nikonians, good. If they do not, also ok.



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I figured out why I could not see the annotations in the photo while working on it. One intuitively wants to press ENTER or Double Click after typing to see what the changes look like, before continuing on. As it is now, one must click EXPORT and PREVIEW to see the changes.
It would be nice to view your work or to EDIT before EXPORT.
Also, little arrows (shapes) would nice.

I hope you don't think I am ungrateful. I appreciate the free software and your efforts.

Keep up the good work.
Bob

Bob

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I was able to make annotations on the right hand side of the screen, but I don't see them appearing in the green text box on the image itself. Is this the way it is supposed to work?

Secondly, am I correct that only people using the same Annotate program will be able to see the comments and make comments of their own?

It it is a neat little program.

Thanks Bo!

Graham
From St. Augustine, FL. "I like photographers, you don't ask questions." Ronald Reagan to White House Press Photogs

<http://picasaweb.google.com/GrahamPhotog>

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Here I will show two examples how to use it.

The obvious opportunity is to load up a picture from a previous post. There you can make annotations and put it online here.



The second opportunity is just to keep the picture as it is.
So if somebody shows a picture here you can download it, put your annotations there and simply send it to him. The picture itself always stays as it is. But if you open it with Annotate you can see what I wrote.

Try it here! (Download and reopen it with Annotate)

Attachment #1, (jpg file)
Attachment #2, (jpg file)

I found it easier to uninstall than to use. I used it on a jpeg and the annotation required an electron microscope to read and the picture became unrecognizable after exporting.

Bob - A Central California Nikonian with Yosemite for a backyard.

"Nikonians membership - My most important photographic investment, after the camera"

Bob,
The program is designed to work on our forums primarily, where the max size of images is 900px at their widest or tallest.
Then they won't need to be shrunk, making notes unreadeable unless you do have an electron microscope

Have a great time
JRP (Founder & Administrator. Nikonian at the north-eastern Mexican desert) Gallery, Brief Love Story, The Team
Join the Silver, Gold and Platinum members that help this happen; upgrade. Join your personal web site to the Nikonians WebRing
Make sure you check our workshops at The Nikonians Academy

>Try it here! (Download and reopen it with Annotate)

It worked. I found I could drag the image of the model from my Firefox web browser and drop it on an already running instance of Annotate! This is a fast and convenient way to view the annotations.

Cheers,
Peter

Here's my test of Annotate! (sorry, boys ).

Annotate! is user-friendly and looks great, too.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

well if she closed her jacket, my eyes might be drawn to the line
that enters just under her left ear and exits behind her right eye.
Better to keep the jacket open..I really like how you amplified her
curves with the positioning of the fur jacket edge. Nice image!

I had a darkroom. Now I have a PC. PC smells better.

Any chance of a version that would do the same with NEFs? I seldom use JPG, so being able to do something like this with NEFs would be great.

I don't use Photoshop and you can't do these things in NX2.

SantaFeBill

Bo,

I am one of those computer users who like to choose where on my computer programs and data are located -- the drive and the directory, usually of my own creation. 'Have been doing so for decades. There was no choice with Annotate, however.

Annotate just automatically installed itself where the programmer of the installation routine chooses, a mystery unless one goes on a search of the hard drives. The last place I put anything, like a program for instance, is in Microsoft's documents and settings or similarly disguised directories for everything under the sun.

Thank you.

Dave Ralph

Dave

Thanks for your input - will definitely be considered!



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I got this great email about this wonderful software. It looked great and free too. I go to download it and see its only for microcrap not for MAC and I want to cancel my membership.

rts

>I got this great email about this wonderful software. It
>looked great and free too. I go to download it and see its
>only for microcrap not for MAC and I want to cancel my
>membership.

Please let him cancel his membership.

--When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.-- Edmund Burke

"I got this great email about this wonderful software. It looked great and free too. I go to download it and see its only for microcrap not for MAC and I want to cancel my membership."

rts


I am sorry to see you go. You have been a very positive and prolific contributor to this forum. Words cannot express my feelings about your decision to cancel your membership.

This message has been made possible by a grant from Microcrap.

Graham
From St. Augustine, FL. "I like photographers, you don't ask questions." Ronald Reagan to White House Press Photogs

<http://picasaweb.google.com/GrahamPhotog>

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Fantastic tool -- Thank you very much

Mac users who are using the new OS-Snow Leopard can use Preview to annotate their images a lot like the software described on this thread. I just noticed it and thought I would pass it along. Here's an example:

Phil

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Hello,
I just downloaded the latest version to my Vista Ultimate x64 PC. Annotate installed fine. However, I'm not able to drag or load a .jpg file into the Annotate! window. Annotate sent an error report after each try.
Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for reporting. We definitely have a problem with 64 bit systems with the new release. Pls see this. I expect a fix to be ready very soon!

http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=196&topic_id=60933&mesg_id=60933&page=



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If you tried to use V1.04 on a 64bit system it would not work properly. The fix for this problem was provided with the "Community Edition" of Annotate! V1.05

It is recommended that you manually remove V1.04 from your system, since V1.05 will not do so, but will install as a separate copy (this has to do with that we are using a so called "Code Signing Certificate" now)



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