Creating Content: Deep Zoom Composer
Deep Zoom Composer is a free tool from Microsoft for creating complete Deep Zoom experiences. It can create Deep Zoom Images (DZI) for both Seadragon Ajax and Silverlight Deep Zoom and Deep Zoom Collections (DZC) for Silverlight Deep Zoom, as well as complete Silverlight Deep Zoom or Seadragon Ajax viewers and associated web pages.
Creating either a DZI or DZC consists of importing one or more source images, laying out the images in the desired arrangement, and then exporting the layout to a single DZI image. Read on for step by step instructions:
- Start Deep Zoom Composer and create a new project.
- Select the Import tab and add the image file you want to convert to a DZI or DZC image. If you want to create a sparse image or collection, you can import multiple source images.
- Select the Layout tab and drag the source image from the gallery on the left into the layout area. You can also compose a sparse image here.
- Select the Export tab.
- Select the Custom tab on the right panel.
- Select Images as the Output type.
- Define the exported DZI or DZC filename and directory.
- For a single or sparse DZI image for Seadragon Ajax or Silverlight Deep Zoom, select "Export as a composition (single image)".
- For a DZC collection for Silverlight Deep Zoom, select "Export as a collection (multiple images)".
- For Silverlight Deep Zoom, choose whether to enable Smooth Streaming.
- Set the Image Settings as desired.
- Click the Export button.
The output directory will contain everything you need to create a Seadragon experience: a dzc_output_images image subdirectory, a dzc_output_files collection subdirectory if appropriate, and the corresponding dzc_output.xml file to tie everything together. You may rename these as long as the image files remain in same location as the .xml file, have consistent naming, and are accurately referenced from inside the DZC file. Be sure to explore Deep Zoom Composer's template feature, enabling you to create fully interactive Silverlight Deep Zoom Images and Collections using a variety of customizable and pre-built templates.
