Unlocking PSIsafe: Using Custom Stamps and Annotations to Improve Workflow

Overview

PSIsafe 12 has unlocked a great deal of additional functionality that was possible within the Imageman module and placed it directly within the Preview window of the Batch Capture module. This allows users to quickly and easily add stamps, annotations, highlights, text boxes, and even custom stamps with their own text or imagery. Below is a screenshot of an imported TIF image with the Annotations toolbar enabled and several stamps and annotations placed:

Important Overall Note on Annotations:

To save changes made to a document with annotations, make sure that when the annotations, stamps or otherwise have been successfully added, the user selects Annotations > Make Annotations Permanent > [User Selection] to ensure that the changes are saved to the document before the filing process is complete.

It's important to note that if the user does not complete this step, any changes made via annotations will not be saved upon filing the content.

Toolbar Options

A variety of options are available. Below is a breakdown of each tool on the toolstrip. To enable more tools than the default toolstrip includes, select Tools > Options > Toolstrip. The following window appears:

As seen above, each element of the Toolstrip can be turned on and off. As well, Display styles that change the text, icon, or both displayed simultaneously are available. These display options affect both the main toolstrip and the annotation toolstrip.

Annotations Tools Breakdown

Below is a breakdown and brief description of each tool. To adjust default tool options, see the section below, entitled "Annotation Properties". Each tool description includes which default option will need to be adjusted to change the standard properties of the tool.

Toolstrip Icon	Look on Page	Description
		Line - Adds a line to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and uses the Line default properties.
		Rectangle - Adds a rectangle to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and uses the Line default properties.
		Ellipse - Adds an elliptical shape to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and uses the Line default properties.
		Polyline - Adds a customizable series of lines to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, single clicking to add a point, and double clicking to complete line placement. It also uses the Line default properties.
		Polygon - Adds a customizable series of lines to the page that will complete a shape and can be customized via left-clicking the cursor on placing, single clicking to add a point, and double clicking to complete shape creation. It also uses the Line default properties.
		Curve - Adds a customizable series of lines to the page that will curve on each point and can be customized via left-clicking the cursor on placing, single clicking to add a point, and double clicking to complete curve creation. It also uses the Line default properties.
		Closed Curve - Adds a customizable series of lines to the page that will curve on each point and can be customized via left-clicking the cursor on placing, single clicking to add a point, and double clicking to complete the closed curve creation. The curved lines shape will always close on the final double-click. It also uses the Line default properties.
		Rubber Stamp / Stamp - Adds a stamp selected from a pulldown list of default stamps, which can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. Defaults for these premade stamps are not available.
		Pointer - Adds a pointer to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and uses the Line default properties.
		Freehand - Adds a freehand line to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and uses the Line default properties.
		Hilite - Adds a highlighter rectangle to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and has bounding box options to adjust after placement. The Hilite tool uses the Hilite default properties to determine the color of the highlighter.
		Text - Adds a text box rectangle to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and has bounding box options to adjust after placement. The Text tool uses the Text and Font default properties to determine its styling.
		Text Rollup - Adds a text box rectangle with dropshadow to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and has bounding box options to adjust after placement. The Text Rollup tool uses the Text and Font default properties to determine its styling. Additional properties can be adjusted by right-clicking on the Text Rollup and selecting "Text Rollup Properties", including background colors and stroke.
		Text Pointer - Adds a text box rectangle to the page with attached pointer line that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and has bounding box options to adjust after placement. The Text Pointer tool uses the Text and Font default properties to determine its styling. Additional properties can be adjusted by right-clicking on the Text Pointer and selecting "Text Pointer Properties", including background colors and stroke, which determines the pointer line styling attached to the Text Pointer box.
		Note - Adds a note text box rectangle with dropshadow to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and has bounding box options to adjust after placement. The Note tool is very similar to the Text Rollup tool, and uses the Text and Font default properties to determine its styling. Additional properties can be adjusted by right-clicking on the Note and selecting "Note Properties", including background colors and stroke.
		Redaction - Adds a redaction rectangle to the page that can be customized via dragging the cursor on placing, and has bounding box options to adjust after placement. The Redaction tool uses a black box by default. Additional properties can be adjusted by right-clicking on the Redaction and selecting "Redaction Properties", including the color of the redaction.
		Audio - Adds an Audio Speaker Image to the page, symbolizing a use for Audio in a variety of capacities. Additional properties can be adjusted by right-clicking on the Audio Image and selecting "Audio Properties". MP3 audio files can be attached to activate on-click under the "Media" tab.
		Custom Stamp - Adds a customized text or image stamp selected from a pulldown list of user-created stamps, which can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. Customized stamps are covered in the section below entitled "Custom Stamps".
		Picture Stamp - Adds a picture stamp to the page which can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. Upon placement, the Picture Stamps Properties window will appear. To change the image used for the Picture Stamp, select the Stamp Tab, Select the Picture Field, and use the ellipses on the right side of the field to select a new image.
		Hotspot - Adds an image of fire to the page which can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. To change the image used for the Hotspot, Right-click on the Hotspot and select "Hotspot Properties". Then, select the Hotspot Tab, Select the Picture Field, and use the ellipses on the right side of the field to select a new image.
		Freehand Hotspot - Adds an image of fire to the page whose bounding box perimeter and subsequent background area can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. To change the image used for the Freehand Hotspot, Right-click on the Freehand Hotspot and select "Freehand Hotspot Properties". Then, select the Free Hand Hot Spot Tab, Select the Picture Field, and use the ellipses on the right side of the field to select a new image.
		Point - Adds a point to the page. The point radius and used image can be adjusted via Properties. Right-click on the Point and select "Point Properties". Then, select the Point Tab, Select the Picture Field, and use the ellipses on the right side of the field to select a new image. Adjust the Radius in the Radius field.
		Ruler - Adds a ruler with accurate measurements to the page. The ruler's width within its bounding box perimeter can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. Right-click on the Ruler and select "Ruler Properties" to adjust precision, points, and other Ruler elements.
		Ruler - Adds a polygonal ruler with accurate measurements to the page. Similar to the Ruler tool, the shape, dimensions, angles, and proportions can be customized via left-clicking the cursor on placing, single clicking to add a point, and double clicking to complete the Poly Ruler creation. Right-click on the Poly Ruler and select "Poly Ruler Properties" to adjust precision, points, and other Poly Ruler elements.
		Protractor - Adds a protractor ruler with accurate measurements to the page. Similar to the Ruler tool, the shape, dimensions, angles, and proportions can be customized via left-clicking the cursor on placing and left-clicking once more to complete the measured area. Right-click on the Protractor and select "Protractor Properties" to adjust precision, points, and other Protractor elements. The Protractor defaults are controlled in the Protractor tab of Annotation Properties as described below.
		Protractor - Adds a cross product ruler with accurate measurements to the page. Similar to the Ruler tool, the shape, dimensions, angles, and proportions can be customized via left-clicking the cursor on placing and left-clicking once more to complete the measured area. Right-click on the Cross Product Ruler and select "Cross Product Properties" to adjust precision, points, and other Cross Product elements.
		Encrypt - Similar to the Hotspot Tool, the Encrypt tool adds an image of a key to the page which can be dragged and reshaped upon placement. To change the image used for the Encrypt Tool, Right-click on the Encrypt Image and select "Encrypt Properties". Then, select the Encrypt Tab, Select the Primary or Secondary Picture Field, and use the ellipses on the right side of the field to select a new image.

Annotation Properties

To set the default fonts, colors, and other properties of each tools, select Annotations > Set Default Annotations Properties, as seen in the screenshot below:

Once selected, the following window appears, with tabs allowing each independent tool default to be modified. Below is a breakdown of each tab within this window:

Show Name - Shows the name of the tool when hovering over the toolstrip.
Protractor - Allows users to change the Acute angle settings, Angular Units, Precision, and Arc Radius to suit their needs.
Text - Changes the default text color, text box border color, Pen border color, Brush color, and alignment options.
Hilite - Changes the default highlighter color.
Font - Changes the default Font choice as well as Font size.
Note - Changes the default Note text color as well as the Note background color.
Lines - Changes the default line color when creating lines. This color also affects additional shapes on the Toolbar including Polyline, Closed Curve, Polygon, Rectangle, Ellipse, and Curve.

Custom Stamps

A highly useful tool for a variety of business applications, custom stamps allow users to quickly place an image or text box relevant to their business practices. To create a custom stamp, select Annotations > Custom Stamp Setup, which will display the following Custom Annotations window:

To create a new stamp, select "New" which will display the following window:

As seen above, the user has begun to customize a unique Text Stamp, which incorporates the Date, Time, and the Word "Approved". Additional parameters highlighted above include User Name and User initials to signify the user who placed the stamp. To use a custom Image instead of text, select Image, and select Browse to browse to a valid image:

Supported image types include:

• BMP
• TIF
• JPEG
• JPG

Click "Save" to save your custom annotation stamp. Then, to place on a page, use the "Custom Stamp" tool. See the above sections to determine how best to use the tool to suit your business needs.