Image Compare

The Image Compare tool in MoonDesk allows for us to visually compare two images, and detect differences between them. It's ideal for controlling changes and document versions, identifying differences in text, as well as in graphs.

Interface

The Image Compare interface comprises three main parts:

Marks activation and types of views menu:
Document visualization tools:

Tools that allow the manipulation of uploaded documents for a more efficient comparison.

Report of differences:

Only visible when text or graphic marks have been activated, it displays a detailed list of found differences.

"See text marks" button: this button shows or hides the text differences.
"See graphic marks" button: this button shows or hides graphical differences.
"See barcode marks" button: this button shows or hides differences found in barcodes.
"Overlay view" button: allows for two documents to be displayed at the same time, one overlapping the other, in order for differences to be more evident. Ideal for comparing text location or graphs.
"Dual horizontal view" button: allows for two documents to be displayed side by side, ideal for vertical format documents.
"Dual vertical view" button: allows for two documents to be displayed one on top of the other, ideal for horizontal format documents.

Use instructions

Loading of images

Access:
- Click on "Compare" in the main menu.
- The screen will display a list of comparisons made. In order to start a new comparison, click on "New comparison".
Loading of images:
- Drag and drop an image in each loading field. Admitted formats are PDF, PNG and JPG.
- If you use MoonDesk, you can use a document hosted in our web app.
- Use the cropping tool in order to select the area to be compared if necessary.
- Add each file's name.
Start comparison:
- Click on the "Compare" button to start the process.

Comparison

Once both documents to be compared have been loaded, Image Compare offers us three reviewing modalities:

Visual comparison by overlapping:

It detects differences by showing or hiding one image on top of the other.
Ideal fo identifying global changes and medium to large differences.
There's a functionality for showing/hiding images with different levels of opacity.

Dual visual comparison:

Displays the documents in a parallel and synchronized way.
Ideal for a more detailed visualization.
Options for comparing vertical files (one next to the other) or horizontal images (one on top of the other).

Comparison combined with marks:

It activates the text or graphical differences for a more precise review.

See text marks

By activating the "See text marks" option, the list of differences can be accessed. The differences there will be displayed as "replaced", "added" or "deleted", with the possibility of locating them in the images, and disabling the ones that are not significant for comparison. In advanced settings, the option can be activated for displaying marks for texts that are the same.

In the text list, each difference is identified with a letter and a color:

E: indicates that the text was deleted. R: indicates that the text was replaced, and by which text. A: indicates which text was added. I: states that both texts are identical.

Reporting or discarding marks

Each difference mark has a button on its right side (-) which allows to discard a found difference. When that button is pressed, the mark will go to the bottom of the list, and flagged as "discarded", being sorted and numbered in a second list.

In order to make the discarded mark go back to reported status, you must go down the list until the difference is found, and click on the "plus" sign (+), so it will go back to the reported marks.