Rhapsody image editor adopts server strategy

MacWeek, Feb 23, 1998 by Kelly Ryer

TIFFany3 is software in search of an operating system. While Apple works on finishing its next-generation Rhapsody OS, Caffeine Software Inc. is waiting to release its TIFFany3 image-editing package along with a companion server called T3.

As Apple refocuses attention on Rhapsody as a server platform (see 02.09.98, Page 1), Caffeine will seek a niche in Mac-based graphics sites for its server-based image-processing engine. TIFFany3 currently runs on Rhapsody's Developer Release 1 and on OpenStep 4.2. When Rhapsody ships, Caffeine said it plans to charge $333 for the Basic version of TIFFany3; about $600 for the Professional version; and about $5,000 for the TIFFany3 server, also called T3.

A longtime NeXTstep developer, Caffeine said that features such as a proprietary memory-management scheme, unlimited Undo, batch-processing and user-programmable "Actions" will serve to differentiate TIFFany3 from applications such as Adobe Photoshop.

Instead of standard tools, TIFFany3 will let users define Actions, Caffeine's term for any process that modifies an image. An Action can then be used either as a brush, filter, marquee or fill.

In addition, users will be able to combine multiple Actions using a graphical scripting interface that indicates the sequence of events. For example, a drop-shadow effect could be achieved by dragging an offset Action and a Gaussian Blur Action into the flowchartlike scripting window.

The software will come with more than 350 predesigned Actions for common image-editing tasks, the company said. Once a user creates or customizes an Action, it can be distributed to other users via e-mail or a network.

John Fox, Caffeine director of marketing, said Rhapsody's sophisticated virtual-memory handling, combined with TIFFany3's own memory management, will let the application resize or rotate even large images on the fly. "We're trying to find ways to solve problems that aren't solvable with the current Mac OS," he said.

TIFFany3 documents will support unlimited numbers of layers, and each layer will be able to contain images of arbitrary size, resolution or color space, the company said.

Although TIFFany3 supports most commonly used file formats, Caffeine said the program's native format (a modified version of TIFF) will save Action sequences along with the image, making it possible for users to undo image processes from earlier sessions.

While TIFFany3 will offer a basic mode for novice users, expert users will be able to create Actions based on mathematical equations, as well as design sophisticated batch-processes through one of two methods. With the first method, users will set up a batch-process by dragging a list of images into one side of a dialog box and a sequence of Actions into the other.

Alternatively, the TIFFany server will let users set up hot folders that process files automatically. The hot folders will let a T3 Rhapsody-based server integrate easily with existing Macintosh or cross-platform networks and work flows, Caffeine said.

The company will offer a basic, real-time image-editing utility called PixelNHance. Currently free for a single-user license, it will display a split screen with before and after views of changes made to an object.

Caffeine Software Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif, can be reached at (408) 249-1290; fax (408) 249-2989; info@caffeinesoft.com; http://www.caffeinesoft.com.