Quick Start

This section provides a quick overview of some of the more important aspects of the EchoTk application. For more complete information, please refer to the Reference Section of this User Guide.

General Philosophy

The scanning process basically involves these steps:

1. Launch the EchoTk software.
2. Center the object to be scanned in view of the digitizer.
3. Select the appropriate settings in the EchoTk window.
4. Adjust the luminance and laser sensitivity.
5. Press the Scan button.
6. Save the scan file.

Optionally, you may elect to perform a polygon reduction on the object, and/or convert the file to another file format. For more information on these processes, please consult the following sections of the User Guide:

• Decimate: Perform a polygon reduction.
• Converters: Convert the file to another format.

EchoTk is organized into four major parts: The Main Control Panel, the Monitor window, the Shell window and the Display environment. The Display environment is further broken down into the Echo Wireframe window, the Echo Render window, and the Echo Help window.

Main Control Panel

The Main Control Panel is used to specify the parameters used in the scanning process. This is the window that controls the length and resolution of the scans, and the laser sensitivity and laser power. This window presents the user with a standard interface for creating new files and managing previously acquired images.

EchoTk Main Control Panel

Across the top row of the Main Control Panel you will notice the File, Scanner, Options, and Help menu selections. These selections allow the user access to the most commonly used EchoTk commands and functions.

The bottom row of buttons give the user a simple manner in which to execute the most-used commands. The Scan button initiates the scanning process. The Display button will launch the Display Environment with is used to view an object that has been scanned, and the Exit button will quit the EchoTk application.

Monitor Window

The Monitor window is used to ensure the proper laser power and laser sensitivity settings. A user can quickly and easily see that the laser line is crisp and without noise. This window is also useful in centering an object on the rotary platter (if your scanner is so equipped), as is discussed later, in the section titled Reference.

EchoTk Monitor Window

Shell Window

The Shell window provides the user with the power to access the UNIX environment from within EchoTk. The user can also issue specific EchoTk commands using the is command-line interface. For a more complete description of the Echo commands, please consult the Reference Section of this User Guide.

Note: The Shell window is only available for command-line input if the environment variable, ECHO_DEBUG is set to "1."

EchoTk Shell Window

Display Environment

The Display Environment consists of the Echo Help, Echo Wireframe, and Echo Render windows, and is used to view any object that was scanned in EchoTk or saved in the Echo file format.

EchoTk Display Environment

Echo Help

The Echo Help Window displays any information pertinent to the opertation the user is carrying out. Also, this window provides feedback on the cursor position and any measurements.

EchoTk Help Window

Echo Wireframe

A wireframe view of the scanned object appears in this window. The primary function of the Echo Wireframe Window is to provide a window to allow quick and intuitive navigation. The scanned object can be zoomed, rotated, or panned in this window.

EchoTk Wireframe Window

Echo Render

The Echo Render window is where the object is displayed in a shaded view. The user can select from several display modes for a better representation of the object.

EchoTk Render Window

Examples

Please refer to the following examples that demonstrate the basic usage of EchoTk:

• Single Cylindrical Scan Example
• Single Scan Example Using an LN, MM, MS, or Model 15
• Multiple Scan Example Using an MM, MS, or Model 15