1. Getting Started

Welcome to Kretz Image Editor Pro! Here is how to begin your creative process:

• Creating a New Project: Navigate to File > New Project. Set your canvas dimensions and background color (Transparent, White, or Black).
• Opening Images: Go to File > Open Image or simply drag-and-drop any image file directly onto the canvas. We support JPG, PNG, WEBP, PDF, TIFF, and KIEP (.kiep) project files.
• Saving: Go to File > Save Current. You can export your composition as PNG, JPG (with quality settings), WEBP, or a multi-page PDF document. You can also save your composition as a KIEP Project (.kiep) which preserves your layers, editing state, and history for your next session.

2. Understanding Layers

The application is built around a non-destructive layer system, located in the right sidebar. The topmost layer in the list renders in front of layers below it.

• Active Layer: Click a layer in the sidebar to select it. All adjustments, drawing, and transformations apply only to the active layer.
• Layer Actions: Use the small buttons at the top of the Layers panel to: Add an empty layer (), Duplicate (), Delete (), Move Up/Down ( ), or Merge Down ().
• Blend Modes & Opacity: Change how the active layer blends with layers beneath it (e.g. Multiply for shadows, Screen for highlights). Use the Opacity slider to adjust transparency.

3. The Toolbar Explained

The left toolbar contains your primary editing instruments. Some tools share a group—long press or right click on an icon with a tiny arrow to reveal hidden tools.

Navigation

• Move Tool (): Click and drag to reposition the active layer.
• Hand Tool (): Pan your view across the canvas. Shortcut: Hold down the Spacebar while using any other tool to temporarily pan.
• Zoom Tool (): Click to zoom in, hold Alt/Option and click to zoom out. Shortcut: Scroll wheel to zoom.

Selection & Masking

• Marquee / Oval / Lasso: Draw boundaries to isolate parts of your layer for editing or copying. Shortcut: Hold Shift while selecting to add to your current selection.
• Magic Wand (): Automatically select areas of similar color. You can adjust the 'Tolerance' (how strictly colors must match) and toggle 'Contiguous' mode in the Tool Options panel.

Retouching & Painting

• Paint Brush (): Draw freehand. Adjust the size, hardness, and opacity in the Tool Options panel. Note that strokes drawn with lower opacity levels build up correctly and prevent dark spots where paths overlap on a single stroke.
• Paint Bucket (): Fill an area with the active global color.
• Clone Stamp (): Hold Alt/Option and click on the canvas to define a source area. Then, click and drag elsewhere to paint using pixels from the source area.
• Smudge Tool (): Drag across pixels to push and blur them together, simulating wet paint.

4. Transformations & Adjustments

Located in the right sidebar below the Layers panel are dynamic settings for the active layer.

• Color Correction: Sliders for Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, White/Black points. These apply via CSS filters and are completely non-destructive.
• Effects: Add Gaussian Blur, Pixelation, or a Vignette effect.
• Free Transform: Click 'Free Transform' to reveal control handles on your layer. Drag the corners to resize, hold Shift to constrain proportions, or hover just outside the corners to rotate. Click 'Apply' when finished.

5. Essential Keyboard Shortcuts