# Getting Started

Launch TiltShift and select a photo in the open dialog window or drag one or more photos from the Finder on the TiltShift icon to open photos in TiltShift. The application shows you an instant preview of the tilt-shift effect in the window.

You can drag the two blue handles on both sides of the blue line and the blue line itself to the desired position to change the virtual focal plane in the photo. While dragging one of the handles you can hold down the Shift key on your keyboard to snap the blue line to 0, 45 or 90 degrees. After every change of the focal plane a new preview is generated.

You can setup the virtual focal plane properties by changing the amount of blur in the sidebar of the window and dragging the two yellow focal plane controls to the desired position. With the inner control you define the area that should not be blurred. The outer control lets you define the slope between sharp and blurred area. The focal plane control itself shows you the resulting effect by a transparent yellow gradient.

To increase the tilt-shift effect you can change the saturation, contrast, brightness and sharpness of the overall image by adjusting the corresponding controls. Using a higher saturation, contrast and sharpness you can simulate the look of miniatures which usually have stronger colors.

Add a final vignette to darken the corners of your image. Photos of miniatures usually have a vignette when you get too close to the object. In this case the bayonet hood blocks ambient light at the rim of the lens, making the image darker in the corners.

Click on the Reset button in the sidebar to reset all settings to the default values.

If you have defined settings you would like to use for other photos, click on the Save Settings button in the sidebar. Click on Load Settings to load the previously saved values.

You can hide the focal plane controls by clicking on Show Focus Control in the View submenu, the left button in the bar under the viewer or pressing the H key on your keyboard to better review the result. Click or press one more time to show the virtual focal plane controls again.

Click on Zoom to Actual Size in the View submenu, the right button in the bar under the viewer or press the Z key on your keyboard to review a pixel accurate preview of your settings. Use your mouse, trackpad or the visible area indicator to scroll to another part of the photo. Click or press one more time to zoom out again.

You can review the effect of TiltShift by clicking on Show Master Image in the View submenu, the middle button in the bar under the viewer or pressing the M key on your keyboard. The application will show the master image without any effect applied by TiltShift. Click or press one more time to hide the master image again.

Choose Save or Save As… in the File submenu to create the full resolution version of the tilt-shift effect once you found the desired position of the focal plane. Depending on the size of your photo and the performance of your Mac this calculation may take a few seconds or even minutes.