Image Optimizer is designed to to prepare the best possible JPEG, GIF and PNG image files for the web. File size reductions of up to 50% or often much more are possible, which can considerably decrease web page download times, reduce server load, reduce bandwidth charges and save on disk space.

Image Optimizer includes Resize, Digimarc Watermark, Caption, Crop, Sharpen, E-Mail and Scanner & Digital camera interface and a Batch Wizard for compressing multiple images.

Image Optimizer includes and builds on the technology introduced with JPEG Optimizer. You have complete control over GIFs and PNGs, by optimizing with regions.

There are two main modes of operation, 'Work with whole image' and 'Work with regions' .

Many users will find that they get good results using 'Work with whole image' mode as this will enable them to produce compact images quickly and easily.

Advanced users will want to use the 'Work with regions' mode so they can fine-tune the optimization process to achieve even smaller file sizes.
A third mode, Batch Wizard allows you to optimize multiple files.

Image Optimizer gives the user complete interactive control of the entire optimization process, from changing compression settings to the ability to apply these to some areas of the image more than others.

With Digimarc watermarking you can watermark and track your Web Images. Image Optimizer will invisibly embed hidden copyright information and a link to your website. Image Optimizer gives you complete control over how the watermark is embedded.


Digimarc Watermarks
Image Optimizer includes the ability to add Digimarc invisible digital watermarks.

At their most basic level, watermarked images are "marked" as uniquely yours. They communicate that the image is copyrighted. Watermarked images also increase e-commerce and online marketing opportunities because their special embedded code actually allows them to do things. Digimarc images can:
· Help you find your images, wherever they go: Digimarc watermarked images become "homing beacons" on the World Wide Web. By using MarcSpider, you can track where and when your images have been moved or copied on the publicly indexible Web.
· Take you places: More than just a hyperlink, Digimarc watermarked can take viewers to a web site, a licensing database, an image archive, an internal asset management system, and much more.
· Announce your copyright: as previously described and reduce potential misuses of your images.

Anyone who licenses or publishes images, or uses them in marketing campaigns can benefit from Digimarc watermarking. A national museum currently uses them to communicate ownership of its often-copied artwork.

A record company tracks the use of its musicians' photographs throughout the Internet. A major stock photo agency embeds watermarks that link to their company name and contact information into all their digital photos. Digimarc watermarked images serve as "mini ads" for their company.

How noise reduction improves Digimarc Watermarking
Digimarc invisible watermarks are not in fact fully invisible but add what looks like noise to the image. The greater the intensity and durability of the watermark the more visible the noise will look.

xat.com's noise reduction technology can help you minimise the appearance of the watermark and also increase the intensity of watermark you use.

The images below show enlarged areas of the same image with different settings.

You can see that image D is considerably more noisy as it contains noise from the original image added to the watermarking signal.

Image C and D contain the same intensity of watermark so image C has would allow for increased watermarking intensity to give your image greater protection.

As a bonus image C will be easier to compress than image D and will have a smaller file size.

Here are some key features of "Image Optimizer Pro":

· Speed up web pages, reduce server load, cut bandwidth costs and save disk space
· JPEG, PNG and GIF compression
· MagiCompression of JPEGs
· Crop and Resize
· Add text and image captions (place text and/or logos on each image)
· Digimarc watermarking
· Acquire image directly from TWAIN scanner or camera
· E-Mail image
· Real-time Preview
· Regional optimization - compress and dither some areas more than others
· Batch mode to compress 100s of Images at a time
· 100% standard file formats, no plug in required
· A free copy of of JPEG Optimizer is included
· Enhance image: Levels, equalization, brightness and contrast
· Color correction
· Clean image: de-noise and spot/dead pixel removal
· Focus image: sharpen and blur
· Batch text and image caption
· Batch Digimarc watermark
· Batch Resize and thumbnail
· Batch Enhance, Crop
· Batch compress a folder (up to 1000 images)


What's New in This Release:

· French and German
· Can now regenerate EXIF thumbnails
· Windows XP look