Save Image Dialog Box

The Save Image dialog box is used to capture an image of the Workspace and save it to a file.

To open this panel, choose Workspace → Save Image As

  • Using
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Using the Save Image Dialog Box

Images can be saved in three formats, which are described below.

  • TIFF—acronym for "Tag(ged) Image File Format", a file structure that allows pixel data to be stored in a variety of different internal formats, using tags. When Maestro saves an image as a TIFF file, it uses no compression. This means that the image is "lossless": all of the information in the original image is retained, but the file can be quite large. The TIFF format is recommended for saving high quality Maestro images.

  • JPEG—stands for "Joint Photographic Experts Group". JPEG is actually a compression method, not an image format. The JPEG file format specifies a means of compressing natural images that doesn't severely impair the perceived image quality. The JPEG method is almost always "lossy", meaning that the reconstituted pixel data differs from that of the original.

    For natural images, these differences are not generally noticeable to a human observer. However, in general, the JPEG method is not recommended for saving synthetic images like those Maestro produces, because there may be noticeable distortions in the saved image, such as subtle color changes. This option is provided because it allows you to create extremely compact screen shots for sending with e-mail or inserting in web pages. Maestro uses the JPEG-based JPEG-File Interchange Format (JFIF), the most commonly used JPEG file format.

  • PNG—A bitmap image that uses lossless data compression. This format can also produce compact images. PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics.

To save an image, choose the image format from the Files of type option menu, navigate to the location and choose the file to save to. On Windows, after choosing the file name, type and location, a separate dialog opens where you can set any image options. On macOS and Linux, the image options and file selection options are combined.

When are you are ready to save an image, make sure the Workspace is unobstructed:

  • Undisplay the clipping planes window: right-click it and choose Hide or choose View > Clipping Planes.
  • Make sure there are no panels or dialog boxes overlapping the Workspace. This includes the Save Image dialog box.
  • Make sure the pointer is not in the Workspace.

Once the Workspace is unobstructed, you can use the Save Image dialog box to set the parameters for saving images

When you have set the parameters for your image, the final resolution of the image, in pixels, is displayed next to the Final Image label. You can then click Save to save your image.

You can save an image of the Workspace when it is tiled, and the image reproduces the tiling.

Save Image Dialog Box Features

This dialog box is a file selector with options for the image quality and size. On Windows, you can choose to show the native file selector separately from the options—see File chooser dialogs (Windows only) options.

Options button

Click this button to show or hide the options for saving images. By default the options are hidden.

Smooth option

Turn on scene anti-aliasing. This creates smoother edges, but takes longer to save the image.

Transparent background option

Save the image with a transparent background, rather than the background color used in the Workspace.

Include displayed properties option

Include the property values that are displayed in the Workspace, as part of the image.

Quality slider

Select a quality level from 1 to 100. The higher the quality level, the longer it takes to save the image. For high resolution images, this can take a while. Only available with JPEG format.

Gamma slider

Set the gamma parameter for PNG images.

Workspace text boxes

Displays the measurement of the Workspace (Maestro's 3D drawing area, not the whole main window). These values cannot be edited directly, but if you resize the Workspace, the values are updated automatically.

Image text boxes and option menu

Enter the desired width and height of the image in the text boxes, and choose the units for these quantities from the option menu. The proportions of the image are constrained, so if you change one parameter, the other adjusts automatically.

DPI options

Choose a resolution for the image or enter a specific value. Only available if you select Inches for the units.

Files of type option menu

This option menu allows you to choose the format for the image, from the three available formats, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG.

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