Satori WebFX 2000 is rather unique in that it uses two main file formats for handling images. These are the Canvas files and the RIR files. These have the extensions .CVS and .RIR respectively.
The Canvas file is a special resolution independent format for images. It is the format used for saving your work in progress. It contains all the object brush and layer information needed to regenerate the image at any resolution. The canvas file contains a description of everything done to the picture since it was created. The canvas file does not contain the actual bitmaps used in creating the graphic, only a reference to them. This means that while the canvas files are small in comparison to any bitmaps used in them, you must retain the original bitmap files, as they will be required when the canvas is rendered out to the final bitmap file. The rendering process is the mechanism by which the canvas file is converted into a bitmap format so it can used in other packages.
The RIR file is a bitmap file but with a special format to enable WebFX 2000 to load it very quickly, independent of the resolution and size of the file. When importing a very large file (BMP, TIF, etc.), it is recommended that the file be converted to RIR format first. The RIR files can be freely converted to and from any of the supported bitmap formats with no loss of detail.
There is a host of toolbars that may be turned on or off as needed while working. One nice feature is that just about every toolbar, object and task is supported by some sort of keyboard shortcut combination. Oftentimes it is easier to hit that hot key combination than to find and click on an icon or menu item. That can definitely be a productivity enhancement and many Windows-based programs seem to have ignored this fact.
Just about all functions are controlled by the Actions palette. The Actions palette is really five palettes in one. Along the left side are five tabs labeled Paint, Geometry, Keying, Layer, and Canvas. The Actions palette interface changes depending which button has been selected. Along the bottom are additional buttons to turn on or off additional palettes.
When working with graphics, you often need to zoom in on a certain part of the image for editing. WebFX 2000 has a zoom feature that, when activated, opens a new zoom window containing the selected portion of the image. As expected, the image in the zoom window may look sketchy or blocky. Clicking on the Hi-Rez button on the zoom palette re-renders the magnified image at the maximum resolution possible for the current view. That is a very useful feature when trying to zoom in on an image and keep some clarity at the same time.
