snapScreen Screen Saver for Kodak EasyShare Software

SnapScreen 1.1

Get the Latest Version

If you are using version 1.1 or 1.0, you should upgrade to the latest version of SnapScreen either by using the check for updates button, or by downloading the new version.

SnapScreen Configuration

The easiest way to access the SnapScreen settings dialog box is via the Windows start menu by selecting the SnapScreen Settings entry that can be found in the SOLIDFX program group. Alternatively, a right mouse click on the desktop followed by the selection of the Properties menu item will bring up the following dialog (all examples show Windows XP - other versions of Windows will appear slightly different):

Clicking on the Screen Saver tab results in the following dialog:

The screen saver box should have snapscrn selected on Windows 98 and ME systems and SOLIDFX SnapScreen on Windows 2000 and XP systems. From this, clicking on the Settings button brings up the settings dialog window. Regardless of the approach used to get to the settings, the dialog box appears the same as follows:

Description of Settings

Changes may be made to any of the following settings. After making the desired changes the OK button (at the bottom of the dialog box) must be clicked to save the settings. If you decide to abandon the changes made in the settings dialog simply click Cancel. The Help button facilitates easy access to this web page. You must be online to access help.

Change Picture: This includes control over how often the screen saver should change the image in seconds and defines the way the image should be drawn and replaced with the next image. The slider control can adjust the rate of image changes from 2 seconds to 2 minutes. Very fast image change rates on low performance computers may result in uneven transitions. The default is 6 seconds. Currently there are seven transitions:

Simple - Each image is scaled to use as much screen as possible in a centered format. Image transition is a simple replacement.
Fade Out - Each image is scaled to use as much screen as possible in a centered format. Image transition is a fade to black of the current image followed by immediate display of the next image.
Simple with Border - Each image is scaled to use 90% of the screen in a centered format. Images are drawn with a classic white photo border. Transition is a simple replacement effect.
Collage (Large Image) - Images are scaled to use approximately 60% of the screen and a drawn in random screen positions. Images are drawn over one another. The longer an image has been on the screen, the more it fades into the background.
Collage (Small Image) - Images are scaled to use approximately 20% of the screen and a drawn in random screen positions. Images are drawn over one another. The longer an image has been on the screen, the more it fades into the background.
Traditional - Similar to the "Simple with Border " but a smaller image is drawn in random positions to reduce burn in. This is the default selection.
Blend (Version 1.1) - Similar image presentation as simple but images blend into one another during transition. A nice effect but requires significant system / graphics performance.

Display Order: Images may be displayed in either random or one of ascending or descending date taken order.

Picture Selection: By default, all of the images in the EasyShare catalog will be displayed by SnapScreen. The Show Favorites Only setting will limit images displayed by the screen saver to those marked as favorites in EasyShare.

EasyShare Catalog: This shows the location of the EasyShare catalog used by the screen saver. Under normal conditions, when used in conjunction with standard Kodak EasyShare software installations, there should be no need to change this setting. It points to the location of the EasyShare.me managed by the Kodak Easy Share software. If the catalog file is not found by automatically SnapScreen this file can be manually found using the Browse... button.

Sometimes, SnapScreen finds a backup copy of the Catalog made by Kodak EasyShare software while upgrading instead of the real one. This will lead to the situation where changes made to the EasyShare Catalog such as adding pictures or selecting favorites will not be reflected in SnapScreen. In this situation, you must select the proper Catalog by hand using the Browse... button. If the Catalog location ends in "Catalog.old\EasyShare.me" then you are using the backup of the Catalog.

The Catalog is usually found in one of the following locations:

C:\Program Files\Kodak\Kodak EasyShare Software\bin\Catalog\EasyShare.me
C:\Program Files\Kodak\Kodak EasyShare Software\Catalog\EasyShare.me

Serial Number: This facilitates the activation of a SnapScreen installation in one of two ways (note that you must be online):

If you have been sent a serial number by e-mail as the result of a web store purchase simply type, it exactly as sent, into the Serial Number edit box. It is easier to cut and past in the value directly from the email to any avoid errors. Then simply click on the validate button to complete SnapScreen activation. You must be connected to the internet during this operation.

If you would like to activate a demo version simple click the Purchase button and follow the instructions. You must be connected to the internet during this operation.

Once activated, the Purchase and Validate buttons will not be shown and you will not be able to change the Serial number box. An image of the dialog box once activated is shown below

Version Information: This contains text describing the version of SnapScreen you are using. Include this text with any support questions emailed to support@solidfx.com. Also included is a button that begins a check for updates available to your SnapScreen software. You must be connected to the internet to use this feature.