AVS Cover Editor lets the user create different disc labels and box covers or edit existing presets. All the actions you perform in the program are stored in projects when you save them.

A project contains all the arrangements information of the images and layers included in your cover and all the modifications made. A saved project file in AVS Cover Editor has a *.cov file name extension. By saving your projects, you can open the project file later and begin editing it in AVS Cover Editor from where you stopped.

Working with projects includes the following:

• Creating new projects - you need to create a new project to start drawing a new disc label or box cover.

• Saving the created projects - you need to save the created project to be able to access it in the future and modify or print the resulting labels and covers. You might also save the created project as a preset, so that it would be available from the Presets List.

• Opening existing or saved projects - you might need to open an already saved project to further modify it or print the project covers and labels.

• Printing the projects results - you can print the created covers and labels using a printer or save them as an image file to print them later.

When you launch AVS Cover Editor, it begins with all the presets loaded and the 'Untitled' project started. However, you can create a project of your own from the very beginning. To do that click the Create new project button in the Top Toolbar or select the New item in the Main Menu. First of all you will need to choose the type of project you would like to start:

There are several options to select from:

• DVD Boxes - use this option to create labels for different DVD discs, covers for DVD boxes and cases (the presets include DVD Clear Case, 14 mm DVD 4 disc case, 14 mm double DVD case, 14 mm single DVD case, 7 mm double DVD case, 7 mm single DVD case, 9 mm double DVD case, 9 mm single DVD case).

• CD Boxes - use this option to create labels for different CD discs, covers for CD boxes and cases (the presets include Single CD case, Slim CD case, 2 CD case, Jewel CD case for 6CD, DDPack, Double VCD Box).

• CD 3.5" Boxes - use this option to create labels for different 3.5 inch CD discs, covers for 3.5 inch CD boxes and cases (the presets include CD 3.5" and Slim CD 3.5").

After you select the discs set for your cover design, you can click the Next button (if available) to see the existing Templates for the selected project:

You can return to the projects selection window, clicking the Back button or press the OK button to accept your choice.

When you modify your project in some way, you will need to save it to be able to use it later. Saving can be done in the following way:

• click the Save current project button of the Top Toolbar or select the Save item in the Main Menu;

• or select the Save As Main Menu item if you plan to save the existing project under a different name.

The following window will be opened and will let you save the project under the name you select:

Note that the AVS Cover Editor projects have the *.cov file name extension.

You can also save the currently edited project as a preset, so that it will be displayed in the Presets List afterwards and you will get instant access to it from the AVS Cover Editor Main Window. To do that click the Save as preset item of the Main Menu. The following window will let you enter the new preset name, that will be displayed in the Presets List:

After you type in the name of the preset and click the OK button the new preset will be saved on your computer hard disk drive.

You can open previously saved projects using the Main Menu Open item or the Open project button of the Top Toolbar. The following window will open:

The AVS Cover Editor projects will be displayed in the opened window and will have the *.cov file name extension.

You can also open the projects, that you recently worked with, directly from the Main Menu. To do that click the Recently opened menu item and choose the necessary project. The selected project will load automatically and you will not need to look for it on your computer hard disk drive.

After the images for your disc label and box cover are ready, you can print them using a printer. To do that click the Print button in the Top Toolbar or select the Print item in the Main Menu. The following window will open:

You can select here:

• Printer - select the printer from the list of available ones. If you have only one printer connected to your personal computer, it will be selected by default. Otherwise, the printer marked as default by your system will be selected until you choose some other one.

• Discs Layout - the position and the number of the discs on the sheet of paper depending on the paper size and type.

• Views to Print - you can select to print all the created labels and covers or only some of them - the Disc label, the box Front or Back cover.

• View position - you can set the additional position parameters of the disc label or box cover on the paper - namely, Top and Left margins - in the appropriate fields.

• Print borders on paper - use this option to print the box cover borders on paper. It might be especially useful, if your cover background is white and you will not know where the boundaries are unless you print them on the paper.

• Print borders on disc - use this option to print the disc label borders on paper. It might be especially useful, if your label background is white and you will not know where the boundaries are unless you print them on the paper.

To adjust the printer parameters, specific to each printer, click the Print Settings button to open the printer setup window. The parameters of the printer will differ depending on the printer type and model and the printer drivers installed.

After you select the necessary settings, you can click the Print button to start printing the images or Cancel to close this window.

However, if you do not plan to print the result right now or have not got an available printer at the moment, you can save your resulting covers and labels as images. Select the Export to Images item in the Main Menu to open the following dialog window:

Here you can choose:

• Folder to save the resulting images. The My Documents folder on your computer will be chosen by default. Click the Browse button to find a specific folder on your computer hard disk drive.

• Views to Export - you can select to export all the created labels and covers or only some of them - a Disc label, a box Front or Back cover.

• File prefix - the title that the project is saved with.

• Image format - the image file format selected from the list. You can use most of the currently known formats - *.bmp, *.jpg, *.wmf, *.emf, *.gif, *.png, *.tiff, *.pcx, *.tga, *.ras.

After you select the necessary settings, you can click the Export button to save the images or Cancel to close this window.

Editing the covers and labels is quite easy and does not require any specific skills. You only need to select a proper tool from the list in the Main Menu or from the Side Toolbar and put it to the cover or label in the Editing Area. After that it can be adjusted using the mouse - you can change its shape, position, transparency and color.

Most tools have got two primary colors - Pen and Brush. The Pen is used to draw the contour of the selected tool, and the Brush is used to fill the inner part of the shape, drawn with the selected tool, with the chosen color. To change the color of either Pen or Brush, just click them with the mouse button and select the color in the opened window. You can also use the Picker to select the needed color:

You should also bear in mind, that the Brush can have not only some solid color, but can also be filled using Gradient, Texture or Hatch patterns. See the Filling Layers section for more detail on how to do that.

The transparency of both the Pen and the Brush can be also changed. Use the sliders under the Layers List to do that.

The main tools currently included into the AVS Cover Editor program are:

• Line and PolyLine tools;

• Rectangle and Polygon tools;

• Circle and circle-like shapes tools;

• Text and Text around tools;

• Image tool;

• Filling tools.

Please see the respective chapters for more detail on each of the tools.

When the tools are used to edit the covers and labels, each of them forms a layer in the Editing Area. You can manage these layers, changing their position in relation to each other, adding or deleting layers and adjusting their transparency.

When any tool is used to edit the covers and labels it forms a layer in the Editing Area. You can manage these layers, changing their position in relation to each other, adding or deleting layers and adjusting their transparency.

All the layers are displayed in the Layers List:

When you click any of the layers in the Layers List, it will become selected in the Editing Area, and vice versa. This way you can edit layers placed under the other layers when you cannot reach them easily.

If you want to change the layers position in relation to each other, you just need to select the layer to be moved with the mouse button and move it upwards or downwards in the Layers List. The upward movement of a layer will place it in the background position in relation to the layers below it in the list and the other way round - the downward movement of a layer will place it in the foreground position in relation to the layers above it.

To delete a layer, select it in the Layers List or Editing Area and click the Delete button on the keyboard or the Remove layer button in the Top Toolbar. To copy a layer, select it in the Layers List or Editing Area and click the Copy layer button in the Top Toolbar. After the layer is copied to the computer clipboard, it can be added to the other place, for instance, from the disc label Editing Area to the disc box cover Editing Area. Use the Paste layer button in the Top Toolbar to insert the copied layer into the new location.

You can also cut the layer from one place and insert it into the other. Use the Cut layer and Paste layer buttons in the Top Toolbar to do that.

If you would like to adjust the layer transparency, you will need to use the sliders in the Layers Settings area to do that. You can change separately Pen and Brush Transparency of the selected layer using the appropriate slider.

You can use the Line tool to draw different types of lines on your disc or box cover.

	There are two variants of the Line tool that can be used (to select either press with the mouse button the Line tool item on the Side Toolbar and hold down the mouse button for a couple of seconds or select one of the items from the Draw section of the Main Menu):
		- Use this option to draw straight lines with no angles or bends.
		- Use this option to draw lines with angles and bends. As many turns and bends as needed can be added to the line after it is drawn.

When you select either of the Line tool modes, the line draw panel will appear in the upper part of the AVS Cover Editor window (under the Top Toolbar):

It lets you select the Pen type, used to draw the Lines and PolyLines, and its Thickness from the drop-down boxes.

Here are the examples of Line and PolyLine tools use:

Line example

PolyLine example

You can use the Rectangle tool to draw rectangles and polygon shapes on your disc or box cover.

	There are two variants of the Rectangle tool that can be used (to select either press with the mouse button the Rectangle tool item on the Side Toolbar and hold down the mouse button for a couple of seconds or select one of the items from the Draw section of the Main Menu):
		- Use this option to draw rectangles of various sizes.
		- Use this option to draw different types of polygons. As many angles as needed can be added to the polygon after it is drawn.

When you select either of the Rectangle tool modes, the rectangle draw panel will appear in the upper part of the AVS Cover Editor window (under the Top Toolbar):

It lets you select the Pen type, used to draw the Rectangles and Polygons, and its Thickness from the drop-down boxes.

Here are the examples of Rectangle and Polygon tools use:

Rectangle example

Polygon example

You can use the Circle tool to draw circles and circle-like shapes on your disc or box cover.

	There are four variants of the Circle tool that can be used (to select either press with the mouse button the Circle tool item on the Side Toolbar and hold down the mouse button for a couple of seconds or select one of the items from the Draw section of the Main Menu):
		- Use this option to draw circles of different sizes.
		- Use this option to draw ellipses of different sizes elongated in the vertical or horizontal planes.
		- Use this option to draw parts of circumference of different sizes and completeness.
		- Use this option to draw pie-like shapes of different sizes and completeness.

When you select either of the Circle tool modes, the circle draw panel will appear in the upper part of the AVS Cover Editor window (under the Top Toolbar):

It lets you select the Pen type, used to draw the Circles, Ellipses, Sectors and Pies, and its Thickness from the drop-down boxes.

Here are the examples of Circle, Ellipse, Sector and Pie tools use:

Circle example	Ellipse example
Sector example	Pie example

You can use the Text tool to add some captions and inscriptions on your disc or box cover.

	There are two variants of the Text tool that can be used (to select either press with the mouse button the Text tool item on the Side Toolbar and hold down the mouse button for a couple of seconds or select one of the items from the Draw section of the Main Menu):
		- Use this option to add common text to your created image.
		- Use this option to add rounded text to your image.

When you select either of the Text tool modes, the text panel will appear in the upper part of the AVS Cover Editor window (under the Top Toolbar):

It lets you select the Font type, Font size, font decorations (bold, italics, underlined), Text alignment and pick one of the Text presets, included into the AVS Cover Editor installation.

The text itself can be entered into the text area in the bottom right corner of the program window.

To select some additional text settings you will need to click the Advanced button, placed under the text area.

You will see the window that will let you change the text Shadow settings (Color, Transparency, Blur, Horizontal (X) and Vertical (Y) Distance from the text and Rotation angle). You will be also able to select to either show or hide the text Shadow (the Drop Shadow setting) and the text Background:

Here are the examples of Text and Text around tools use:

Text example

Text around example

You can add an image to your created disc label or box cover. It will serve as a background or as a part of the disc label or box cover.

- Use this button to add an image to your created project. After that click the mouse button within the created label or cover. The following window will open to let you select an image in one of the graphic formats in the Textures folder of the AVS Cover Editor program directory. You can also select an image from any folder present on your computer hard disk drive:

After the image is selected, you can change the picture size in the Editing Area, select its transparency or choose some other image to replace the current one, clicking the Load Image button.

Here is how the above selected image will look like on your disc box back cover:

The same way an image can be placed on a disc label or disc box front cover.

The Brush can fill the layer with a single Solid color, and can also use Gradient, Texture or Hatch patterns. When you added a shape with the help of some tool, you can select it and click the Fill tool button on the Side Toolbar.

The program will let you select one of the following Fill tools that will be used for the Brush:

• Solid color - use this option to fill the inner part of the shape with a single solid color that you select.

• Gradient - use this option to fill the inner part of the shape with the smooth transition of two different colors into each other.

• Texture - use this option to fill the inner part of the shape with some texture taken from the presets or from any supported image from your computer hard disk drive.

• Hatch - use this option to fill the inner part of the shape with a pattern formed by two different colors.

Note, that you can change the fill type for the layer any time, clicking the layer to be edited in the Editing Area or in the Layers List and selecting a new Fill tool instead of a previous one. To change the colors used in the Fill tool, you should again select the necessary layer and click the Brush icon to the left of the Editing Area.

Solid color

When you select the Solid color fill type the program will let you choose the color that will be used as Fill tool. The following window will open to let you select the color:

You can choose the color from the color list on the left side, adjust the components of the color manually entering the colors values (Red, Green and Blue) in the appropriate boxes, or use the Color Picker to click within the area of a certain color to select it.

It is also possible to pick a color from the color model clicking the Models tab of the Select Color window:

You can also control the selection of the color using the reference between the Old Color and the New Color in the right upper box.

To accept the color and continue editing, click the OK button. To return to the editing without color change, click Cancel.

Gradient

When you select the Gradient fill type the program will let you choose the colors that will go into each other and will be used as Fill tool. The following window will open:

When you click the Color 1 and Color 2 icons the Select Color window will be opened to let you choose the necessary colors.

You can also set the colors Transparency and Gradient type that will be used for the transition of the colors into each other. Currently there are the following Gradient types - Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal 1, Diagonal 2, Center, Cylinder 1 and Cylinder 2. You can select one of them that will suit your cover best. The preview is available in the Sample area of the window.

To accept the colors and their parameters and continue editing, click the OK button. To return to the editing without color change, click Cancel.

Texture

When you select the Texture fill type the program will let you choose the image from the preset list that will be used as Fill tool. The following window will open:

But it is certainly possible to select any of the supported images present on your computer hard disk drive. Click the Load other button to open the window that will let you find images:

After the image is loaded, you can change its Transparency using the slider or click the Load Image button in the lower right corner to select some other image.

Hatch

When you select the Hatch fill type the program will let you choose the colors that will form the pattern with each other and will be used as Fill tool. The following window will open:

When you click the Color 1 and Color 2 icons the Select Color window will be opened to let you choose the necessary colors.

You can also set the colors Transparency and Hatch type that will be used to form the pattern. You can select one of the available patterns that will suit your cover best. The preview is available in the Sample area of the window.

To accept the colors and their parameters and continue editing, click the OK button. To return to the editing without color change, click Cancel.