GEMini Atari/GEMini_Atari_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1993.iso/files/falcon/artis3/read_me

Text File | 1993-03-08 | 6KB | 158 lines

NOTICE to English-speaking users:

This READ_ME contains two sections.  The first, entitled
"Important Information..." is a verbatim translation of the
German LIESMICH ("read me") file accompanying the ARTIS 3 DEMO.
The second, entitled "English Users Guide" is an abbreviated
guide to the icons on the main ARTIS screen.  English-speaking
users will likely want to print this file before attempting
experimentation within ARTIS. ARTIS 3 DEMO is brought to you
compliments of Atari Austria (ATARIAUSTRIA on GEnie), with
translations and English instructions provided by D.A. Brumleve.

Important Information on ARTIS 3 DEMO:
--------------------------------------

This diskette contains a limited version of the modular drawing
program ARTIS 3. All functions for saving, printing, scanning,
and calling modules of other programs are disabled. Pictures can
be loaded, but a notice about the demo version will be placed
over the picture.

ARTIS 3 contains an online help system: if the mouse pointer is
on top of a function icon, then you'll get a correct explanation
of this function by pressing on the HELP key. [Note: these
explanations are in German.] This sould give you an overview of
the capabilities of ARTIS 3 even without a manual.

ARTIS 3 automatically converts color pictures to the current
resolution. You can thus load even 256-color pictures on a
monochrome monitor.

An important function should be explained here: In the color
menu, you'll see (in color resolutions) a color sequence. The
first color is always the currently-selected color. You can
determine the last color by double-clicking on the desired color
in the color array.

The manual contains 141 pages, a graphics course, and a
comprehensive index.  ARTIS 3 comprises 3 diskettes with the
program, printer drivers, and graphics.

You can order the complete version directly from:

ARTIS Software
Hohlweggasse 40-54
A-1030 Vienna Austria
Tel. [phone]

English Users Guide:
--------------------

ARTIS runs in all resolutions and supports all ST-family systems,
right up to and including the Falcon030. You'll need a SYS folder
containing the files in SYS.LZH; place the folder and all of the
other ARTIS files within the same directory on your hard drive.

The main screen of ARTIS consists of several rows of icons
divided by an area in which text appears as you move the mouse
over various icons. This text is telling you -- in German, of
course -- the purpose of the icon currently under the mouse. This
line of text is called the Function Description Area.

The first row of icons at the top of the screen includes (from
left to right):

--Drawing Functions

--Block Effects

--Special Effects

--Lasso/Clip Functions

Clicking on these icons will enable the icon menus for the related
functions. To the right of these icons appears a picture and the
ARTIS name. If you click on the picture, you'll see copyright
information regarding the program.

The next four rows of icons represent various drawing functions.
These are relatively self-explanatory, and experimentation will
likely fill in any gaps.

I'll comment here, however, on the left-most icons in the second,
third, and fourth rows when the Drawing Functions are active (the
default mode with the pencil icon in the upper left-hand corner
selected). The program allows typing with the system font, FSMGDOS
fonts, and Signum! fonts. If you don't have Signum! fonts or
FSMGDOS in your system, these icons won't be of much use, but the
system font (the top "Abc" icon) is available to all.

Move between the drawing screen and the menu with the right mouse
button. Choose a shape, say, a rectangle, and begin it by clicking
the left mouse button.  Move the mouse about to size the shape.
Once you've got a shape the size you'd like it, place it on the
drawing screen with the left mouse button; choose the right mouse
button if you decide not to place the shape after all.

Below the Function Description Area are a series of icons dealing
with disk management and such.

The first row contains the numbers 1-8; these are the various
screens you can work on.  Note that some of the screens may be
disabled. By default you'll find yourself working on Screen 1 at
first. At the end of this row, there's an icon image of a pointing
hand. ARTIS allows work on pictures exceeding screen size. This
function is employed to move about on a larger-than-screen
picture.

The second row under the Function Description Area contains the
following icons (from left to right):

--MultiTOS/ACC gives you access to the Desk menu.

--08/15 reinstalls the standard settings in the program.

--? lists the keyboard commands recognized by the program.

--INV inverts the screen colors.

--PRINT is disabled.

--Both SAVE icons are disabled.

--CLEAR completely erases the current screen picture.

--MODULE would load various ARTIS modules, but it's disabled in
  the demo.

The last row at the bottom of the screen contains (from left to
right):

--The first is Change Settings; this one lets you mess up
  everything that the 08/15 icon lets you restore.

--The second is Choose Colors and Fill Patterns; it leads to a
  largely self-explanatory screen. Further information on this is
  in the "Important Information..." section above.

--KILL really does let you delete files on your disk, so be
  careful!

--SCAN is disabled.

--The first LOAD icon is disabled, but the one on the right will
  allow you to load various formats; I tried GIF, PI1, and IMG
  files.

--UNDO retracts your last drawing action.

--END allows you to quit the program (choose "OK" to quit).

One further comment on German: "Abbruch" means "Cancel", so it's a
good one to commit to memory. Happy designing!

--D.A. Brumleve