CALL IGRAM CREATOR

The Manual

Version: 7.0.0.118
Date: December 2018 © 2018 APP Helmond
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Content
• Starting the application + Registering your license

• The Admin functions

• General Settings + Reprint and Size + Event Management + E-mail + Webcam + Booth Mode + Canon EOS + License

• The Homework Studio

• Calligram Settings + Emojigram Settings + Legogram Settings

• The Branding Studio

• Templates + Borders + Icons

• The Calligram Station

• Shapshot queue + Customizations + History

• Appendices
• Quick Start + File Formats + Folder Structures + EOS Support + Main Menu

• Guidelines
• Calligram Station views + Feature detection + Calligram presets + Chromakey guidelines +Emojigram guidelines + Error messages

Disclaimer: the content of this Manual is carefully checked and tested with the application. The user may encounter different views as depicted in this Manual. APP Helmond cannot guarantee a 100%
reflection of all situations, customizations and for all the different systems. The Manual will however explain most of the functionality, where some details of the inner workings and of some controls are not
explained in detail. For more details, please consult the (legacy) web help from previous versions of Calligram Creator, or contact us to help you in understanding how the application works.

© 2018 APP Helmond

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Starting the Application

• The application requires Administrator rights to run properly. This is because the application writes data to the hard drive to
remember settings, and intermediate data, such as image data. It also writes image and data history after each Calligram.
• This is the first screen after a fresh install. Licensed users may wish to register and unlock their application. The application will
run in Demonstrator Mode when no unlock file was found at start. In the Demonstrator Mode the application is fully functional,
but on each result image a nag text is written.

Register your license file to

Move the mouse over the remove the nag text
icon to highlight the
actual folder location

Start your session by

selecting an output type
Click on the icon to
change the folder
location
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Registering your License File

• The license file must be registered to remove the nag text on the output image. The easiest way is to click on the Register the
Software button, and follow the screens. Below the license file reading pop-up window is shown.
• The license file always starts with ‘CC’ and has the .lic file extension. This file is sent to you by mail, after completing the purchase.
In this screenshot the file was first saved on the desktop, after which the application would immediately find and read the license
file.
• After completing the registering process, your application immediately registered, and the nag text will not be shown again.

4. After registering the ‘DEMO’

will change into ‘Licensed’

2. Select the license file, here it

was first saved on the Desktop

1. Press the ‘Register the

Software’ button
3. Complete the process by
pressing the ‘Open’ button
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Selecting the two Major Folders

• There are two major folders that need to be selected to create any output:
• The Watched Folder that contains all the images from which a Calligram is made.
• The Save Folder that saves all the created Calligram images, e.g. for reprinting, or to recreate the Calligram.
• Both folders are correctly set after installation, with ready images available. The user can immediately create a Calligram after a
fresh install.

The current folder is

shown here (‘Booth’)

Click on the icon to change Select a folder (here: the

the folder location Watched Folder) and press the
‘OK’ button
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ADMIN FUNCTIONS
General Settings + Reprint and Size +
Event Management + E-mail + Webcam +
Booth Mode + Canon EOS + License
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The Admin Functions: General Settings

• General settings are output independent:
• General preferences
• Application appearance (colour of the interface)
• Chromakey tuning
• Feature detection Click anywhere on
The selected
• General preferences: chromakey colour
the image to select
the chromakey
• Use the Watched Folder to trigger actions: when active,
the application will automatically show a new image in
the Calligram Station when a new image was found.
• Ask for confirmation when printed: always ask for
confirming when the snapshot is moved to a backup
folder, and removed from the snapshot overview.
• Empty the Watched Folder at start: sometimes old
images should be deleted before starting a new session.
• If empty: copy an example image in the Watched Folder:
in case you always wish an example image (e.g. for
testing and tweaking). Type of feature
detection Feature area expansion, this will enlarge
• Always save the current settings at exit: you can always
the selected area when a feature was
continue where you exited the last time. identified (value in % of the original
• JPEG quality: any value between 0 and 10 (best). selected width and height)
• Background colour: the Calligram is drawn on this
colour background.
• Image dpi: the print dpi of the output (any value
between 100 and 600).
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The Admin Functions: (Re)print and Save

• Two types of functionality:
• Printer and paper size (details of the final size of the resulting Calligram image, inch or cm, portrait or landscape, which printer, and in
which size system your sizes should be shown).
• Reprinting a previously stored Calligram (reprinting existing Calligrams, or create a different/new Calligram from a previously processes
snapshot image).

Select Custom or Paper size presets

to make your choice of Calligram
print size

Doubleclick to copy this image

to the snapshot queue in the
Calligram Station

Several printer, paper size,

paper orientation and size
system Metric/ANSI

Click on an image to read the

details, and show the original
snapshot again
Select an event to
filter the images
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The Admin Functions: Event Management

• Three different functions in this tab:
• The Event name and characteristics
• Backup and restore from backup of Event data: you can choose to add the back-up data to the current folder content, or replace the
current content with the backup data (a new backup of the current content is made before replacing it)
• Information and Event log of all messages: information, status, errors, and warnings

Events are identifiers that tags every

Calligram: name of the event, name of
the event client, event date, and
number of recorded Calligrams

Restore a previously
stored Event
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The Admin Functions: E-mail Client Settings

• To allow for sending e-mails, first all the mail-client data must be provided:
• Relevant Client information (server, username, password, port, SSL/TLS, from name)
• Additional information when sending mails:
- From header (what the receiver sees)
- Subject of the mail
- Add the Calligram image as an attachment, or in the mail body itself
- To whom is the mail sent (required for mail testing)
- Always cc to, to always send a copy of any mail
• Test the mail functionality (and therefore Client data)

Save the current settings

in the ‘mail.ini’ file
All Client data of the mail
sender, password is always
obscured

Press the button when all

Client data is checked, to test
the mail functionailty
Additional data, required when
testing the mail feature
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The Admin Functions: Testing the E-mail Function

• To test the E-mail functionality:
• Assure you have all the Mail settings completed
• Assure you have also added a valid e-mail address filled in in the ’To’ box
• Press the ‘Test mail client’ button
• Watch the changes in the icon: from normal, to ‘arrow-up’, to green ‘OK’ sign
• When the green ‘OK’ sign is shown you can expect that the mail has been delivered successfully
• Check the incoming mailbox of the ‘to’ address

Watch this icon change

with the progress of the
mail test

Without a ‘To’ address the

mail will not function in the
test mode
The subject in the mail, only
used for sending a test mail
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The Admin Functions: E-mail Design

• The E-mail editor has basic functionality. It is based on a HTML file, called ‘MailBody.htm’, which is located in the mail folder:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\APP\Calligram Creator\Resources\Mail

• This mail text is used by default. You can always change the mail body text. Several tools are available:
• Save: save the current lay-out in the file ‘MailBody.htm’
• Reload: discard any unsaved changes by reloading the ‘MailBody.htm’ file
• Embed Calligram: the Calligram image will be placed in the mail itself, as an image
• Insert picture: you can insert a picture ate the cursor
location (a pop-up windows will help you locating the
target image)
• Hyperlink: add a hyperlink to the word that is currently
selected
• Load custom HTML: see next page

• There is also a ‘panic button’: in case the lay-out

has become a mess, you can use the ‘Load default
mail’ button. This will replace all the current mail Move your mouse over a Moving your mouse over any
hyperlink, and it will show part of the text, it will show the
body date. It will copy the default mail body (as in in the left bottom current tag (here ‘A’)
the screenshot on the left) to the interface, and also
rewrites the MailBody.htm file with the default
content. All the changes that were made in the mail
body lay-out will be lost.
• In case you Save your mail body, it will replace the
default text, so it will become available the next
time you start the application.
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The Admin Functions: Opening a HTML Mail File

• The default mail body text is a true HTML file. You can replace the mail body file with any true HTML file. This is done by pressing
the ‘Load custom HTML’ button. An ‘Open file’ windows is now seen (screenshot).
• Select your file, and be aware that the current mail body should contain only HTML tags, and not being dependent on CSS
scripts, and does not rely on java scripts. Some guidelines:
• The images in the mail can be locally stored images, but may also be hyperlinked images, e.g. on a distant server
• Always test your mail before using it in a live event
• Be aware that the default mail body has a placeholder for the Calligram image. Changing your mail body will not automatically replace or
add this placeholder, you have to add this again if you wish to add the Calligram image into the body, and not as an attachment

Here you see a couple of

template HTML files, that are
suitable for the mail body

Press the ‘Open’ button to replace

the complete body text with your
new HTM file content
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The Admin Functions: E-mail Design

• Here you see a completely different mail body (this is the ‘template_02.htm’ as opened in the previous page). This template is not
only smaller, it has different fonts as well, images, frame-lines, etc.
• As outlined on the previous page:
• Assure you add a placeholder for the Calligram image (e.g. replacing the man-on-the-bench image), by first deleting the image (‘DEL’
button), and then add the placeholder by pressing the ‘Embed Calligram’ button.
• Always first test your new mail body text
• Save your new design: this will replace the ‘MailBody.htm’ file, opened the next time you start the application

Do not forget the save this

template, as the new default
mail body design
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The Admin Functions: Webcam

• A webcam can be used to make snapshot images. Due to differences in systems (Win7-8-10, x32,x64) and differences in webcam
controls, we have added two different ways to connect, and activate the webcam: A en B. There is no fundamental difference in
quality, size, control, etc. between these two methods. Try A first, and if this won’t work, try B. If this still won’t open the webcam,
you should first check if Windows recognizes your webcam, and will show its stream at all.
• Method A also has an option to activate deinterlacing, an option that is automated in method B.
• Characteristics and settings:
• Video source: in case more than one webcam is available: select the one you want to use.
• Video size: select a small size, e.g. 480x360 (Calligram Creator does not need HiRes webcam images)
• Camera zoom: assure a proper zoom level to fill the entire visible space
• Video dialog: tweaking the webcam output (will not be remembered by the application)

An echo of the selected

Method A is the preferred way
video size (to check)
to connect a webcam

In some cases the selected webcam

also has a detailed settings panel
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The Admin Functions: Booth Mode Interface

• The Booth mode interface is the interface that the admin need to determine what the booth visitors will finally experience. The
booth mode interface has the four components. The first one is explained here: The Interface.
• Show interface in a window: the booth GUI* will be shown in a Window
• Show full screen: the booth GUI will not show a Window
• Show backdrop image or: use a backdrop colour (indicate the colour)
• Time-out before returning (to booth start screen): time
in seconds of idle use after which a warning will be
shown to stop or continue
• Booth countdown: the period of time in which a visitor
has to decide to stop or to continue
• Time out of last backdrop: time in seconds after which
the last screen will now show the start screen again
• Create booth views at start: automatically create the
Click over the 8 booth screens
booth preview screens
to see the booth interface
• Type of colour tweaking: use preset colours (so: visitor
tweaking allowed), or use a standard colour patterns for
the Calligram (usually an image)
• Count-down font: the size and colour of the countdown
number that is shows in the booth interface

In case the booth gets stuck in a

screen, here is the reset option
The default backdrop if no
specific backdrop is selected
for each screen
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The Admin Functions: Allowed by Visitor in the Booth

• The visitor has three possible tweaking options:
• Allow to send e-mail: the visitor is offered to type an e-mail address, to which the Calligram will be sent
• Allow to print the Calligram: the visitor is allowed to send the Calligram image to the default printer
• Allow to tweak and edit: the visitor is offered to re-take the snapshot, to tweak the Calligram colours and ‘thickness’ of the areas that will
be filled with words

There are only three

On no option is available, the visitor
options for the visitor
can only start the snapshot, and wait
for the Calligram when finished
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The Admin Functions: Backdrops for the Booth

• The booth interface has 8 major screen changes, each of them can be customized with a different backdrop. The default
backdrop (if not specified) is shows at the bottom of this Booth mode tab.
• By clicking the little folder icon, you can specify each of the 8 backdrops (see next page).
• The effect of the changes can be seen by pressing the ‘Redo’ button, and then click over the 8 pages.
• The Target screen selection has the active screens plus some basic screen sizes, to evaluate the size and placement of the
buttons in relation to the backdrop artwork

Select the screen you would like

Click this folder icon to change
to see as the booth mode
the backdrop of the screen
(here: ‘start screen’)

Click over the 8 booth screens

to see the booth interface
The ‘redo’ button, to recreate
the 8 booth screens
The default backdrop if no
specific backdrop is selected
for each screen
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The Admin Functions: Customizing a Booth Backdrop

• To replace a booth backdrop, click on the folder icon, left of each of the screens. The name of the screen reflects what function is
shown in the booth, and from the preview you can determine what kind of buttons are placed, and where.
• In the screenshot below we have selected the end screen (screen 8).

A few examples are part of

the installed files
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The Admin Functions: Booth Mode Artwork

• The booth has a fixed amount of buttons and other controls. These controls are predefined, and should be replaced with your
own buttons as close as possible for size. The Booth screen preview will mimic each screen at the correct relative size, so a large
button will also be shown as a large button in this preview.
• All the artwork files are of .PNG file format, to allow the required transparency. The application will not be able to read other file
formats. Two preset artwork button sets are installed (‘round’ and ‘square’).
• After changing the artwork, you can see the booth screens by pressing the redo button.
• In case you wish to create your own set of buttons:
• The file format must be .PNG
• The filename must be exactly as a preinstalled set
• The file-set must be complete (it will be discarded if not)

The image file name and amount (set) of

icons/buttons/control must be exactly
the same as a preinstalled set

The ‘redo’ button, to recreate

the 8 booth screens
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The Admin Functions: Canon EOS

• The application offers the possibility to use a Canon EOS camera for snapshot taking. Some important restrictions apply:
• The camera must be attached, recognized in Windows and active, before opening the interface and connecting the camera
• When connected, the type of camera will be shown below the viewer area, while connection messages are shown in the EOS message
• The image from the camera will always be stored in the Watched Folder (depending on the EOS type and settings, the image might also be
stored in the camera itself)
• Always first check if the camera works properly by using the ‘Snapshot’ button (screenshot below). The image should not only appear in
the viewer of this tab, but also in the Calligram Station
• Assure than the tethered camera does not switch to a battery-save mode, because the link with the application will be lost and won’t
always be restored when the camera is switched on (our test camera EOS 1100D / Rebel T3 will correctly re-attach itself)

The EOS message shows

intermediate messages

Use this button to test the

Connect the EOS camera when camera connection
recognized and working in
your Windows

If a camera is successfully connected

the camera type is shown here
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The Admin Functions: Using the Canon EOS for Snapshots

• There are several ways to collect snapshot images. Whatever source is used, the snapshots must always be stored in the
‘Watched Folder’ to be read and processed by the application. In case an EOS camera is used, the result is identical when using a
webcam, or any other source (e.g. a #tag grabber, or manually saving images to the Watched Folder).
• After the camera has taken a snapshot, you can process this image as any other image. A few tips to keep it smooth:
• Use the lowest possible image size: EOS can easily generate a 25MP image, which is far too large for Calligram Creation. An image size of
800x600 is already considered large
• The larger the size, the slower the image is copied to the Watched Folder (so: keep it small), do not save in RAW format
• Do not use an internal filtering of the EOS camera (plain image)
• Unlike the webcam, the ‘Take Snapshot’ button
remains active all the time, yet try not to take This button can now be used to shoot a
new image from the tethered EOS
another image when the Calligram Creator is still
reading the previous image, or processing it into a
Calligram
• The EOS connection will not work in the Booth
mode. Instead, use a webcam for booth mode . In
case you wish to apply booth mode, you must
assure that no EOS camera is attached.

Like any other snapshot, pan and

zoom to design the Calligram

The image from the EOS was

added to the snapshot queue
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The Admin Functions: License*

• The application requires a so-called license file, or unlock file to avoid the nag text written on each output document or print. The
license can be purchased from your Vendor (e.g. APP Helmond). A few characteristics:
• The license is only valid for one system, these are connected via the so-called ‘Hardware ID’
• The hardware ID can be copied to the clipboard using the button
• All grayed-out data is derived from the license file
• Similar to the button on the Home view of the application, here is also a button to register the license file.

• Next to license data, also a check can be done

to see if an update or upgrade is available.
This can also be automated at start (checking
for updates with every start of the application).

• The Hardware ID is required to create your

personal license file. To receive this unlock file,
you must copy the Hardware ID into a mail, after
which we will create your personal unlock file,
and send it back to you.
This license file can only be used on the system
with that Hardware ID. Register your license file to
remove the nag text
Copy the Hardware ID to your
clipboard (and paste it in a mail)

* Not applicable for the Demonstrator version

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HOMEWORK STUDIO
Calligram Settings + Emojigram Settings +
Legogram Settings
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The Homework Studio: Calligram Settings

• The Homework Studio for Calligram Settings is a dedicated tab for Calligram Specific settings. Some of these can also be set in
the Calligram Station (these are basically ‘moved’ to the active tab).
• The most important input is the text file with words that is used to create the Calligram text: the ‘Text file’.
• Settings for Font and words:
• The font is selected
• The font type face is set (bold, italic, all caps, all lowercase)
• The (maximum) amount of words
These settings will be used for
• The minimum length of a word every Calligram that is created
• Use a predefined list of fonts (the ‘Fonts list file’)
• Use an image for the Calligram colour
(the ‘Colour profile file’ as an image file)
• Calligram test area tuning:
• Determine the thickness of the outline lines of an image
• Determine the area fill of each image
• Use presets for outline and area values
• Create a preset file with colours (the ‘Colour profile file’
as a text file with the colour codes in HEX formats)

Advanced settings for Calligram,

explained in the next page

Create your own colour profile

file (see page 22)
The Calligram specific input files
(press the icon to change the file)
 Page 26

The Homework Studio: Advanced Calligram Settings

• There are a number of advanced Calligram tweaking parameters. These should not easily be changed, unless you know the effect
of it. Here we outline each of these parameters:
• Colour mask width (pixels): the size of the outline + fill mask to determine the Calligram black parts. The bigger this mask, the more time it
requires to create the black and white mask for the text placement. The default of 300 is quite good, and here bigger is not always better.
• Default font size: the maximum font size in the Calligram. This size is linked to the print size, and the default of 5x7 inch with font 60 create
a great looking Calligram. When you want a Calligram of 8 x 11.5 inch, you also need to increase the font size to match with the larger
output size.
• The minimum font size: size of a word that is placed in the Calligram. The minimum font size is not influenced by paper size, but simply has
a lower limit. We find a 10pt font quite OK, but don't go smaller than 8pt to avoid a blur of pixelated text all over the Calligram. Bigger
sizes will create interesting effects, and may be explored in tests to set the right value.
• Line distance (relative to font): the minimum text is placed with
a certain line distance between the next line of text. This value
indicates that a minimum font size of 10pt and a line distance
of 8 creates a quite well readable text, and is also quite dense.
• Free space around each word (pixels): a small area around
each word is created, where the word in the Calligram will
stand-out better against the background. Like a white aura.
• Smooth factor: a certain smoothing can be applied, where the
text is more gradually (smoother) changing from text to
background. The default is 2, and this will create a gentle blur
in the Calligram base images.
• Smooth the background text: the front text is always sharp,
but the background text can be smoothed as well, to provide a
better contrast with the smaller background words.
 Page 27

The Homework Studio: Tweaking Calligram Colours

• You can create your own preset colours, which will be saved in a colour profile file as text. These colours are stored in hex-
decimal colour codes, where each R, G and B channel is stored as a 8-bit value. Example:

• 808B3C
• F36C95 The colour selection pop-up window
• FF00FE to select the colour you want to use
• FF7F00

• These colours can then be used again as an input

file for the Calligram creation.
• By pressing on the colour patch on the left, you
can also select a custom colour. This way you will be
able to create a fully customized colour pattern.

Colours HEX codes from top to bottom:

808B3C, F36C95, FF00FE and FF7F00

The ‘Radar’ checkbox is active The ‘Radial’ checkbox is active

 Page 28

The Homework Studio: Calligram Presets

• The outline and the filling space of each snapshot
image will slightly differ. It will largely depend on
the content of the image itself, and on the lighting
circumstances how much dark and light parts are
found. In most cases a default setting will suffice,
but in some cases it’s not always clear what the
effect will be. Then the presets of amount of
outlines (as if a someone has drawn the image with
a pencil), and the area fill (the dark parts) become
useful.
The ‘Crisp’ setting has minimum
• The presets are typical settings for outline and area
outline, and quite some fill area
fill to quickly assess what a good setting will be for
t]your current set-up. Some examples are shown
here.

The ‘Lines’ setting has maximum

outline, and minimum fill area

The ‘Chubby’ setting has medium

outline, and substantial area fill
 Page 29

The Homework Studio: Emojigram Settings /1

• Calligram Creator has three different output options. One of them is an Emoji-mosaic image (‘Emojigram’). Here the snapshot
image is recreated from thousands of emoji images. These images are not offered from our website because most of them are
copyrighted, or we are not allowed to offer them. Send us an e-mail and we’ll help you find these emoji images.
• The following settings are offered:
• Emoji library creation: when you have received an image ‘library’ with emoji images, you first need to convert these into a special library,
that can be read by the application. The Emoji image directory is the folder in which your images are stored. By pressing the Create new
library button will start the emoji image library creation sequence. You are asked for a library name only, the rest is automatic.

A visual representation of
the image library
Create your own library of emoji
images (.PNG format only)

When selecting a library, the

image on the right will also be
updated Calibrate will create two emojigrams, to
find calibrate the creation speed of your
system (this has to be done only once)

Typical ‘image mosaic’ settings, using

the well-known Mosaizer XV engine
 Page 30

The Homework Studio: Emojigram Settings /1

• Emoji image library selection: when a new image library is created, it will add this to the selection box. When you have multiple image
libraries you can select which image library you would like to use for the Emojigram. This selector will move to the Calligram Station, so
you can always select a different library when required when a visitor wants a different set of emoji images.
• Mosaic settings: since the Emojigram is basically an image mosaic, some settings from a similar ‘engine’ are required here as well. These
are:
- Random placement: instead of placing each image in
a predefined grid, use a little random placement for a
more playful effect
- Distance: the target distance (‘x’) between two equal
emoji images (a random selection from the top ‘x’ will
be used as the emoji)
- Draw over source: instead of starting with an empty
background, use the snapshot (source) image as the
background. The background colour can also be set
- Amount: the amount of emoji images on the
horizontal
- Blending: blend each image with the snapshot source
(for a better result)
- Density: place more images than indicated with the
Amount slider, such that overlapping will occur

Press the 100% button, or use the

zoom-slider when not in 100% mode
 Page 31

The Homework Studio: Emojigram Settings

• You can test the current settings for your Emojigram creation. Press the ‘Test Emoji Mosaic’ button, and wait until a result is
showing the in the same viewer as the emoji library representation.
• By pressing the ‘Calibrate’ button, two extreme Emojigrams will be created, where the creation time will be measured, and used
for a pretty accurate estimation of creation time. This time is useful to see the effect on the creation time, when the event is
running.

Pan with your mouse to

inspect the full image

Press the Test Emoji Mosaic button

to create the image on the right

Press the Fit button to see the full image or

use the zoom-slider to see details
 Page 32

The Homework Studio: Legogram Settings

• Calligram Creator has three different output options. One of them is a ‘Legogram’ image. Here the snapshot is recreated from
LEGO bricks, with the actual brick colours. Alternatively, you might want to use MINISTECK parts instead. The Ministeck parts
have a couple of different parameters. The following Legogram settings are offered:
• Size and Colour:
• Amount of studs: the amount of brick studs as measure on the horizontal of the image. The brick size image is automatically adapted
because the print size is fixed, so more or less bricks will result in smaller or larger stud sizes
• Use source colours: the LEGO brick colours are not
very suitable for human skin. In that case you can
opt to select colours of the snapshot itself, but
these colours may (very likely) not exists in the
The LEGO brick colour
LEGO colour palette of the 1x1 bricks
• Apply colour dithering: this will apply a differing
step to use less colours, and still create a decent
impression of the final Legogram
• Brick depth effect:
• To mimic a LEGO brick a simple shade effect is
Some interesting colour
used, where both the shadow depth presets can be selected (e.g.
(smaller/thicker) and colour depth (darker/lighter) shades of blue, reddish, etc)

can be set
• Type of brick:
• LEGO or Ministeck
• For Ministeck also an option to avoid 1x1 parts,
and to apply the famous L-shape parts
Additional options for
Ministeck parts
 Page 33

BRANDING STUDIO
Templates + Borders + Icons
 Page 34

The Branding Studio: Templates

• Calligram Creator offers a possibility to use templates for a almost full customization of the output image. A template is a
Photoshop (.PSD) file, which can consist of multiple layers with borders and icons. Since a template is used on top of each image,
the Calligram will be the background of each output image.
• For that same reason all the PSD layers must be transparent, to allow the Calligram image to show.
• We have preinstalled some templates, with borders and some icon images, just for fun. Each of these templates are in a specific
width : height ratio format, e.g. 4 : 6 for 4 x 6 inch output images. You might want to use a different aspect ration, e.g. 5 : 7, but
them the template will be distorted to match with the output sizes.

Double-click on a
template to load it

If loaded, or if created from scratch,

here the template preview will show

Discard the entire template, the

When a template is created, you can
preview will also be emptied
Click on the arrow to move save it, to add it to this overview
a layer up or down
 Page 35

The Branding Studio: Saving a Template

• To create and save a custom template, please try following these steps:
• Select the output print size, this is needed to start with the correct template size
• Double-click on a border, these will automatically be filled out (as borders typically are)
• Click on an icon, and position and resize
• Use as many icons if you want
• Add your own icons and borders when you need also a custom artwork: copy your artwork in the subfolders of
C:\Users\Public\Documents\APP\Calligram Creator\Resources\Artwork.
• In case you wish to use custom artwork, also make sure that the borders have the correct aspect ratio of your target print size
• Finally, upon completion of the template design, press the ‘Save design’ button and select a new name for your template (it will always
save it is the Photoshop .PSD file format).

Choose a proper name for your

It will always save the template in this template, e.g. with the aspect ratio
predefined folder, to load it a next time in the file name as well

Press the ‘Save design’ button to start

the saving sequence
 Page 36

The Branding Studio: Template editing

• After double-clicking on a template, it will be loaded in the previewer area. In the example below we see a completely filled-out
border, and two transparent icons. The ‘Calligram’ word is an empty base layer in the PSD template file, which will be replaced by
the Calligram image itself (it’s a kind of placeholder for defining the Calligram size).

Double-click on any border or artwork

fill automatically fill-out to the full size

Click/select a layer, and you can move it

with your mouse to reposition Click on one of the circles to resize the
artwork, keep the CTRL button pressed
to also change its aspect ratio
 Page 37

The Branding Studio: Borders and Icons

• In editing the template you can also drag and drop icons and borders to the template preview area, just drag from right to left.
• Use the DEL key to delete an icon or border (only works when this layer is selected).
• Use the little arrows right-bottom next to the preview area to move a selected layer up or down. A layer cannot be placed below
the ‘Calligram’ placeholder layer.
• You can add as many layers as you like, there is no minimum.
• The current artwork is medium sized, so for very large template (output) sizes you might want to add larger icons. The artwork is
stored in this folder: C:\Users\Public\Documents\APP\Calligram Creator\Resources\Artwork.

Click on an icon, then drag it to the

left and drop it in the preview area

Click/select a layer, and you can move it

with your mouse to reposition

Click on one of the circles to resize the

Click on the arrow to move artwork, keep the CTRL button pressed
a layer up or down to also change its aspect ratio
 Page 38

CALLIGRAM STATION
Shapshot queue + Customizations +
History
 Page 39

The Calligram Station: Snapshot Queue

• The Calligram Station is the most frequently part of the interface which is typically used during an event. From here you can
manage almost every relevant and customizable setting, and have full control over the creation, printing, e-mailing, re-printing,
taking a new snapshot image, and many typical parameters of each output.
• The interface is kept simple, in three tabs, where we have placed the major controls.

A button is grayed out when the functionality is

not available, like the webcam, is off

Click on the Create Calligram button

to start the creation process

From left to right: the snapshot

image, the Calligram result, the
Calligram colours
Double-click on an image to load it in
the snapshot viewer on the left

Zoom buttons (100%, fit) and a zoom

slider to inspect the Calligram, or to
pan and zoom the snapshot
 Page 40

The Calligram Station: Customizations

• The Customizations tab has a couple of controls to customize each Calligram (or Legogram, or Emojigram). Here we only show
the Calligram controls. These should be recognized, since these are moved from the Homework Studio to the Calligram Station
when this station is in focus. These controls are therefore basically identical, as explained for each type of output on the previous
pages.
• For Calligram creation there are a few controls that are only shown here: the reset button, the randomize button, colours preset
and a customized text to be used as the Calligram text (discarding the input ‘Text file’ content.
• Also an output type selector is seen here (in the screenshot: Calligram). The customization controls will change with the choice of
output.

Changing orientation might be tricky

during a session when the image ratio
The image will reflect the colour does not fit with the output size
pattern and is immediately
updated with a new colour
Use a (short) custom test
for the Calligram

Colour presets (preinstalled)

Output type selector

Randomize colours

Reset to the default colour

(can be image or set of colours)
 Page 41

The Calligram Station: Calligram Creation

• Creating a Calligram (or Legogram, or Emojigram) is quite easy: press the ‘Create Calligram’ button, and wait until the process is
finished (the bright-green bar at the bottom will show the progress, and can take several seconds to complete).
• It now depends on the e-mail settings if an e-mail input box is shown. In the example below this is shown.
• In addition you can also print the output image, or re-send an e-mail of the current Calligram to someone else.
• After completing the full cycle you are asked to remove the snapshot from the queue (depending on one of the admin/
confirmation settings), so a new Calligram can be created. The snapshot is always saved in a dedicated folder.

The Calligram will show a

black and white image
during creation

Type the e-mail address

The bright-green progress

bar indicator The template was active
 Page 42

The Calligram Station: History of Snapshots

• The application also keeps track of the previous snapshots. There is a dedicated (re)print functionality in the Admin tab, but also
here the history of snapshots is made available. The possibilities are the same as the actual (Watched Folder) snapshot queue:
double-click on an image, and this image will be added to the snapshot queue (copying it), so you can recreate the Calligram
again. The names of these files are always date and time, so retrieval should be easy.

Double-click on an image to load it in

the snapshot viewer on the left
 Page 43

The Calligram Station: An Active Webcam

• In case a (web)cam is active, a 4th icon will be visible below the snapshot preview. Since the webcam is a live image, you will now
see the actual webcam live stream. Also the ‘Take Snapshot’ icon is now active.
• Press the ‘Take Snapshot’ button to take a snapshot using the webcam. The previewer will then switch from live view to the static
snapshot image, and this image is also added to the Snapshot queue. Each time you take a snapshot image with the webcam,
this snapshot button is grayed out, to avoid taking a snapshot without live view. When you click on the video camera icon below
the preview, the live stream is active again, and also the snapshot button will become active.

The Take Snapshot button will only be

visible when the viewer shows the live
stream from the (web)cam

The live-view icon will only be visible

when a (web)cam is active
 Page 44

GUIDELINES
Calligram Station views + Feature detection
+ Calligram presets + Chromakey guidelines
+Emojigram guidelines
 Page 45

Calligram Station: three views

Left: snapshot view
Middle: the final Calligram
Right: the Calligram colour view
Small image: webcam view (left icon)

• Calligram Station has the possibility to see 4 different views. In the above image three of these are shown. Each view is
represented by a little icon, under which a yellow line is see, showing which view is active. You can click on this icon to change
the view. The four are:
• Snapshot view: the original snapshot image is shown. The icon is a camera. You can also pan and zoom the snapshot with your mouse, to
create the best view of the snapshot from which to create the Calligram. The size of the image is set in the printer settings, where the
paper size is defined, and the image in the Calligram Station follows this size.
• Calligram view: this view only becomes available when the actual Calligram is created. When inactive, the ‘Aa’ icon becomes grayed out. In
case of an Emojigram or Legogram, the image shown here is the result from these methods.
• Colour view: you can see a preview of the colours by clicking on the palette image. This view is the unprocessed snapshot, but already
outlined where the Calligram text will be put. Each change of colour is reflected in this view.
• When a new snapshot has loaded, the Snapshot view will be updated, and when clicking on the palette icon, it might take a
second to update the colour view. However, the Calligram view still remains, because the new snapshot wasn’t yet processed.
 Page 46

Feature Detection
Left: original (no detection)
Middle: skin detected
Right: face detection

• Feature detection is an exciting function to detect (facial) features. The features that are identified are:
• None: it shows the original image.
• Skin: it tries to find the colour of skin and centers the outline of it.
• Face: it tries to find the face, focusing on typical face features as eyes, mouth, nose, and ears.
• It is somewhat unpredictable, because of how the features can be obscured: people might be wearing attributes (hat, glasses) or
have a different face angle (tilted), and other distracting features (hand on mouth, two people in one image). The approach that
is used to detect the skin is by colour where almost every skin colour in the world can be traced – but this is not a 100%
guarantee, for instance because of different lighting environment (sunset, TL-lighting, direct flash).
• The face detection follows the analysis approach from Intel, called ‘OpenCV’, where facial features are analyzed using empirical
data. This approach is very reliable, but when attributes are found, the application might not be able to detect a face.
 Page 47

Presets for Calligram creation

Top image presets:
Crisp - Thick – Strong – Thin

Bottom image presets:

Full – Chubby – Average - Lines

• In the Homework Station, the Calligram filling and lines can quickly be assessed by using the 8 presets. Each of the preset has a
typical effect, created from snapshot lines thickness and the areas being filled. Since the Calligram is created from two
parameters (outlines and areas in the snapshot), you can pretty accurately set the default for the type of face, posture and
lighting.
• These 8 presets are meant for quick assessment, and the actual settings can be fine-tuned further by using the two sliders in the
interface. These two sliders will also become available in the Calligram Station, so additional ‘micro-tuning’ during an event per
snapshot is still possible. Please be aware that the change only happens when the mouse sends a button-up signal, so the
change will not occur while moving the slider itself, but only at the end of the slider change.
 Page 48

Chromakey: some guidelines

• In the image above a blue screen image is shown. Since the background is pretty much homogeneous, clicking on any place in
the blue area will automatically select the correct chromakey. It will also reflect this key colour in the colour-picker control, while
at the same time deleting the chroma parts of the chromakey (here: the blue pixels). These parts are now shown as transparent
pixels, but these will become white in the Calligram, where no text is shown (right image).

• The green screen example above follows the same approach as the blue screen image, but because the green background is not
homogeneous enough you should now also use the sensitivity slider to select similar chroma pixels, and correct for the
differences in green shade (e.g. because of the lighting, shadows, folds in the screen background, etc).

Emojigrams: some guidelines
• In the left image two different
settings of ‘density’ is shown. The
‘density’ settings will allow for
more emoji images placed than
needed to fully cover the
snapshot image with emoji
images (so: ’denser image
placement’).
• For high density values the high
amount of images will force
images to overlap. The end result
is an Emojigram where many
images are placed, op top of each
other. The amount of overlap is
set by the density slider.
• The higher the density, the longer
it will take to create the
Emojigram, up to 20 seconds or
more.
• The end result is however
completely different compared
with non-overlapping images
because the (white) background
is typically hidden, showing a
better visual result.
Page 49
• The choice of Emoji image
library is quite important. On the
left you see three different emoji
libraries, each having appr. 2500
emojis:
• Top: Apple
• Middle: Android
• Bottom: Facebook.
• From these images it’s clearly
visible that Facebook is lacking
dark colours (‘the blacks’), where
now green-ish images are used
instead. The Android library is
using red emojis to fill darker
areas.
• It’s a matter of taste which set
eventually is preferred.
• The choice of emoji library is
also available in the Calligram
Station, so the visitor might still
prefer a different choice than
was prepared for by the admin.
 Page 50

APPENDICES
Quick Start + File Formats + Folder
Structures + EOS Support + Main Menu
 Page 51

Quick Start
Calligram Creator is preconfigured with example snapshots and settings. The user can immediately create a Calligram after
installation. In short these steps are typically made for a Calligram. First prepare your necessary data:

• Step 1: complete the mail client data (page 10)

• Step 2: test the mail functionality (page 11)
• Step 3: connect a webcam (page 15)
• Step 4: zoom the webcam to the correct size

Since all input data is already preconfigured, the user can immediately start creating a Calligram:

• Step 5: open the Calligram Station tab (page 39)

• Step 6: If no image is visible in the viewer, double-click on an image in the snapshot queue
• Step 7: Pan and zoom the snapshot in the viewer until you are satisfied with the Calligram composition
• Step 8: Make the Customizations tab active: define your colours (page 40)
• Step 9: Press the ‘Create Calligram’ button, and wait for the e-mail pop-up (if set to active in the mail admin, page 11)
• Step 10: fill in your e-mail address and click the OK button (page 41)

Finally, wait for the mail to be sent, and open your mailbox to find the mail.
• Optionally: print the Calligram image (it will be sent to the default printer in your system)

Then you are ready for the next Calligram.

 Page 52

File Formats
• The application requires certain files to be input, where these files must have specific formats to be read correctly.
• Text file: this can be any file, saved as an ASCII test file (Unicode it not recognized in the current version), e.g. by saving the text
in Notepad (ANSI, .TXT file extension). Assure sufficient words to be available (a minimum of 100 words is recommended).
Alternatively the admin can prepare a special input file, where individual words are used, and the target size of each word. An
example is show here:
the: 120
and: 106
right: 33
Everyone: 30
has: 28
shall: 27
rights: 21
his: 21
any: 18
for: 17
human: 12

• Colour file: the colour file can be an image (jpg, png, bmp file format) or a text file with HEX codes of each colour. An example is
shown here:
EE0707
433FD7
116506
056862

• Fonts list file: the admin can select one font for the entire Calligram, or offer a predefined set of fonts. An example is shown here:

Arial
Black Chancery
Bookman Old Style
Century Gothic
Lucinda Console
 Page 53

Folder Structures
• Calligram Creator requires a few folders to be structured to a strict format. This is needed to save, manage and read certain
essential data.
• Resources: this is a Calligram Creator specific preinstalled
set of folders. These are required for storing artwork and
mail data, and other application relevant information. In
most of these the user can add customized files, e.g. for
backdrops and icons, and colour files for the Calligram
colours. The user can also replace the content, but there
should be at least one file present, and the names of these
folder must not be changed.
• Libraries, Projects and Settings: do not change or rename
these folders, nor its content. They are required to run the
application properly. The projects folders will be the
default to read and save projects, so the content might be
changed during the preparation of an event.
• Records: this file structure is required to save and process
data during an event. Although the ‘Store’ and ‘Booth’
folders can be changed (referred to as the ’Save Folder’
and the ‘Watched Folder’ in the application’s home tab),
the ‘Backup’ folder cannot be changed. When creating a
backup the folder structure in the zip file can be hard to
restore when folders are typically local and not existing
when a restore action is done.
 Page 54

EOS Support
• The installed Canon EOS files are only supporting a limited series of EOS cameras. The reason for it is that we have tested this
feature with a 1100D (or Rebel T3) camera from 2015. later cameras may require a different DLL file. According to the Canon
specification, the following EOS systems are reported to work with the installed DLL file:
• EOS 1000D • EOS 450D • EOS 600D • EOS 700D • EOS-1D C
• EOS 100D • EOS 500D • EOS 60D • EOS 70D • EOS-1D Mark III
• EOS 1100D • EOS 50D • EOS 60Da • EOS 7D • EOS-1D Mark IV
• EOS 1200D • EOS 550D • EOS 650D • EOS 7D Mark II • EOS-1D X
• EOS 40D • EOS 5D Mark II • EOS 6D • EOS M • EOS-1Ds Mark III

• More cameras may be supported, but only the 1100D camera was tested. The list above was provided by Canon, where the SDK
of Canon was used that supported these cameras. It is expected that the Canon SDK files indeed include support for these EOS
cameras. If A later camera than 2015 is required, please let us now (sybren@apphelmond.com), we might be able to provide the
correct DLL from the Canon SDK.
• One word of caution: better not activate the webcam at the same time (for laptops: deactivate automatic webcam activity),
because the application will only trigger the first camera that it found in the Windows system. It's not predictable which camera
this will be. It will very much depend on the admin’s ability to manage a tethered camera. Since the EOS camera is usually
attached via USB, the selection of camera should be plug and play.
 Page 55

The Main Menu functions

The Main menu has a few useful functions:
• Settings:
• Save common settings will save all your current settings in the configuration file
• Reset to defaults will reset all your settings, except the file and folder locations, to the default
values
• Save mail settings will save your current mail settings in the configuration file for the mail
• Reset mail text will reset your customizable values to the mail default text
• Projects:
• Save projects will allow you to save all your current settings in a project file
• Open project will restore all the settings that were save din a previously stored project
• Folders:
• You can quickly open the Windows Explorer of the folder that you select from the pull-down
menu items
• Tools:
• About us will show you the application version
• Open the Manual will open this document
• Show web help (legacy) will open your default web-browser and show the content of the web-
help documentation. It’s called ‘legacy’ because the help was created for previous versions of
Calligram Creator (version 6 and earlier)
• Check for update will check on the internet if a new version is available
• Read the advice will open the 6 tips to start using Calligram Creator
 Page 56

Error messages
The application has many built-in consistency checks, error checks, and similar, to assure that in the rare case of an error, the
application not only continues to work properly, but also informs the user about the issue that was experienced.

Errors are typically caused by:

• Wrong input files. For instance: images that are too small, or even empty (0x0 pixels, 1 kb size, etc). Although the application
checks the content of an image, it’s not completely fool-proof. It however warns the user of an incompatible file.
• Non-existing paths to folders and files. The so-called configuration file (‘Calligram.ini’) contains all the required input and setting
data that the application needs. During starting, the application checks the existence of each input file and data folder. In case it
doesn’t find the indicated file/folder it will warn the user. The best way to manage such an error is to read the message, open the
‘Information & Event Log’ tab and see what caused the issue. In case the log data cannot be properly read (e.g. too long line),
you can save the log data, and read it from a file, e.g. with Notepad. Always first try to repair the errors and warnings, before
going into alive action.
• Too large input files. These might also cause long waiting times (e.g. 25 MB images from digital cameras). This may technically
not be an error, but when waiting a long time, and clicking several buttons and controls, the application might freeze. The best
remedy against this is to assure that only moderately sized images are allowed for processing (recommended size < 4 MB as
jpeg image).
• Wrong e-mail addresses. When the application tries to send the image to the indicated e-mail address, it has a fixed waiting and
connection time-out. To start a next Calligram while sending a main is discouraged, because the mail client might still be busy. In
some rare cases (e.g. very slow internet connection), the application might freeze, or respond very slow to mouse clicks.

There are two type of error messages: generated by Windows, and generated by the application. The application messages are
typically in the interface colours (‘skin’), while the Windows messages are like any other message style when working in Windows.
The Windows messages are typically generated by the Windows system, the application has built-in ‘catch-all’ approaches, and with
an error it will show a message in the message log (see remarks in the second bullet above).
 Page 57

Advise from the makers of Calligram Creator

To effectively use this application, the user is advised to prepare well before using the application in a live session or event. Our
professional products are said to have a steep learning curve. Therefore, APP Helmond suggests to follow these 6
recommendations and to prepare upfront:

1. Get acquainted with the application. Preferably a few days before the actual event take place. This way the features and
functions are experienced in a safe environment, by e.g. by studying the help documentation for details and background.
2. Use the tutorials to learn. In the extensive online help documentation we have provided quite some tutorials. This way the user
gets a fairly complete experience of the major functions and features, and is able to quickly resolve situations.
3. Test, test, test. Please test the application with images and files that the user would like to use in the actual event. The
application has certain limits (size, speed), and by thorough experimenting the user will understand these limitations, and in a
safe environment.
4. Use a high-end system. Always use the best possible system to run the application. Our applications require a fast, healthy
system, so we discourage to use older systems in the live sessions.
5. Assure an up-to-date Windows. In addition, Windows should not be in a state of being updated, because some system
functions might have been disabled because of the updating process.
6. Connect to a high-speed internet. The application requires internet connection to send e-mails and these mails can easily be
some MB in size. Also exclude the virus software for this application and close all applications that are not required in the live
session.

Although APP Helmond aims for a 24/7 support, global time differences and off-line periods will always occur. APP Helmond
cannot be held responsible for issues during live sessions if the user did not fully prepare (e.g. as described in the points above).
APP Helmond is committed to support our customers. Nevertheless, support during a live session may not always be possible.

Team APP Helmond wishes you good events and great fun!
 Page 58

END OF MANUAL
More detailed information can be found in
the legacy help documentation via the Main
Menu -> Tools -> Show web help (legacy)