User Guide

Complete guide to using GUI Image Studio for image processing and application development.

Overview

GUI Image Studio is a comprehensive image processing library and application that provides:

Core Capabilities

  • Professional image editing and processing

  • Animated GIF creation and editing

  • Batch processing workflows

  • Extensible plugin architecture

User Interfaces

  • Full-featured GUI application

  • Command-line tools for automation

  • Python API for integration

  • Web-based interface (planned)

Target Users

  • Graphic designers and artists

  • Software developers

  • Content creators

  • Automation specialists

Key Concepts

Images and Formats

GUI Image Studio works with standard image formats:

  • Raster Images: PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, WebP

  • Animated Images: GIF with frame timing and optimization

  • Transparency: Full alpha channel support

  • Color Modes: RGB, RGBA, Grayscale, Palette

Processing Pipeline

The typical image processing workflow:

  1. Load - Import images from files or resources

  2. Process - Apply filters, transformations, and effects

  3. Preview - Review changes in real-time

  4. Export - Save in desired format and quality

Non-Destructive Editing

GUI Image Studio supports non-destructive editing:

  • Original images remain unchanged

  • Operations create new image objects

  • History tracking for undo/redo

  • Layer-based editing (where supported)

Application Architecture

Modular Design

GUI Image Studio is built with a modular architecture:

gui_image_studio/
├── image_loader.py      # Core image operations
├── image_studio.py      # GUI application
├── generator.py         # Resource generation
├── sample_creator.py    # Sample image creation
└── cli.py              # Command-line interface

Plugin System

Extend functionality with custom plugins:

  • Filters: Custom image processing algorithms

  • Tools: New editing tools and brushes

  • Exporters: Additional file format support

  • Themes: Custom UI themes and styles

API Layers

Multiple API layers for different use cases:

  • High-Level API: Simple functions for common operations

  • Mid-Level API: Class-based interface with more control

  • Low-Level API: Direct access to PIL/Pillow functionality

Getting Started Workflow

1. Installation and Setup

# Install GUI Image Studio
pip install gui-image-studio

# Verify installation
gui-image-studio-designer --version

# Create sample images for testing
gui-image-studio-create-samples

2. Basic Usage

import gui_image_studio

# Load and process an image
image = gui_image_studio.get_image("photo.jpg")
processed = gui_image_studio.apply_tint(image, "#FF6B6B")
gui_image_studio.save_image(processed, "output.png")

3. GUI Application

# Launch the main application
gui-image-studio-designer

4. Advanced Features

# Create animations
frames = [gui_image_studio.rotate_image(image, angle)
          for angle in range(0, 360, 30)]
gui_image_studio.create_animation(frames, "spinning.gif")

Common Use Cases

Photo Enhancement

Typical photo editing workflow:

  1. Load high-resolution photo

  2. Adjust brightness and contrast

  3. Apply color correction

  4. Sharpen or blur as needed

  5. Export in web-optimized format

Icon and Graphics Creation

Creating icons and graphics:

  1. Start with vector or high-res source

  2. Resize to target dimensions

  3. Apply appropriate styling

  4. Export with transparency

  5. Generate multiple sizes

Batch Processing

Automating repetitive tasks:

  1. Define processing pipeline

  2. Set up input/output folders

  3. Configure error handling

  4. Run batch operation

  5. Review and validate results

Animation Creation

Creating animated content:

  1. Plan animation sequence

  2. Create or import frames

  3. Set timing and transitions

  4. Preview animation

  5. Optimize and export

Best Practices

Image Quality

  • Always work with the highest quality source images

  • Use appropriate formats (PNG for graphics, JPEG for photos)

  • Maintain aspect ratios when resizing

  • Apply sharpening after resizing

Performance

  • Resize large images before complex operations

  • Use appropriate color modes (RGB vs RGBA)

  • Cache frequently used images

  • Use batch operations for multiple files

File Management

  • Organize source images in logical folders

  • Use descriptive filenames

  • Keep backups of original images

  • Document processing workflows

Development

  • Use type hints for better code quality

  • Implement proper error handling

  • Write unit tests for custom functions

  • Follow PEP 8 style guidelines

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  • Memory errors: Reduce image size or close other applications

  • Format errors: Check file format support and corruption

  • Permission errors: Verify file and folder permissions

  • Display issues: Update graphics drivers and check system requirements

Getting Help

  • Check the troubleshooting section for detailed solutions

  • Review the API Reference for API documentation

  • Search the GitHub Issues

  • Join the community discussions

Reporting Issues

When reporting issues, include:

  • GUI Image Studio version

  • Python version and platform

  • Complete error messages

  • Steps to reproduce

  • Sample images (if relevant)

Next Steps

Choose your path based on your needs:

For End Users

  • Start with first_steps for basic usage

  • Learn the interface_overview for GUI features

  • Explore image_processing for editing techniques

For Developers

  • Review api_usage for integration

  • Check plugin_development for extensions

  • Study Examples for code samples

For Automation

  • Learn command_line_tools for scripting

  • Explore batch_operations for workflows

  • Review scripting for advanced automation