Comic Book Maker featuring Garfield/Scholastics_Comic_Book_Maker_Featuring_Garfield_Scholastic_1998.iso/readme.txt

Text File | 1998-10-26 | 9KB | 216 lines

READ ME
Welcome to Scholastic's Comic Book Maker featuring Garfield!

WINDOWS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Minimum System Requirements
To run Scholastic's Comic Book Maker on your Windows operating system,
please make sure your computer has the following capabilities:

* 486DX 66Mhz or faster
* Windows 95 or later version
* 16 MB RAM
* 640 x 480 display with 256 colors
* Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
* Windows compatible sound card
* Printer (optional)

STARTUP INSTRUCTIONS FOR WINDOWS
To Install:
1. Insert Scholastic's Comic Book Maker CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
2. When Scholastic's Comic Book Maker startup screen appears, click Install.
If the startup screen does not appear, choose Run from the Start menu, and
type D:\SETUP. (On most computers, the CD-ROM drive is D.
If your CD-ROM drive is not D, type the appropriate letter.)
3. Follow the onscreen instructions for installation.
4. Setup will install all necessary program files to your hard drive
including the Comic Book Maker directory, Quick Time 3.0.1, and the
Garfield font. The Comic Book Maker icon will be placed in the
SCHOLASTIC program group.

To Run: (You must have the CD in the drive to run this program.)
1. Insert the Comic Book Maker CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Choose the Comic Book Maker icon from within the SCHOLASTIC program group.

UNINSTALLING
Select Uninstall Scholastic's Comic Book Maker from the Scholastic's
Comic Book Maker menu within the program group of the Start menu.

CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION
If you are experiencing a problem using Scholastic's Comic Book Maker,
look in the Troubleshooting section of this README. If the problem persists
or isn't documented as a troubleshooting tip, you can call Technical Support.
When you place your call to Technical Support, please have ready the name of
the product you are using, the system you are running, and all the details
of the problem.

Technical Support
Phone: [phone]
Online: www.scholastic.com/support
Email: [e-mail]

For additional information and to inquire about other Scholastic products,
Customer Support can be reached at
1-800-SCHOLASTIC.

SCHOLASTIC'S COMIC BOOK MAKER FEATURES
Page Preview
The Page Preview, located in the upper left of the screen, lets you see your
entire comic strip at a glance, navigate through different frames, make
changes to individual frames, and change the page layout. Click on the upper
area to enter your name and the title of your comic strip.

Add Frame Button
Click on the Add Frame button. A new frame will be added to the Page Preview.
This new frame will become the active frame in the Workspace.

Delete Frame Button
Click on the Delete Frame button. The active frame will be deleted from the
Page Preview. The preceding frame will become the active frame in the
Workspace.

Copy Frame Button
Click on the Copy Frame button. A duplicate of the active frame will be
added to the Page Preview.

Change Frame Size Button
Click on the Change Frame Size button. The active frame will change to a
larger size. Click again and it will revert to normal size.

Select Frame
Click on any of the frames in the Page Preview. The frame will be displayed
in the Workspace.

Reposition Frame
You can rearrange your comic strip by clicking and dragging any of the frames
in the Page Preview to a new position.

Change Border Type
You can achieve different effects by making your frames bordered or
borderless when printing. Double-click any of the frames in the Page Preview
to switch between bordered and borderless frames. A broken-line border
around your frame means that the border will not show on your printed page.

Workspace
The Workspace, located in the upper right area of the screen, is the part of
the screen where you construct your comic. First, click on any image in the
workspace to select it. (You can select all the graphics in the Workspace by
pressing Control A. Your selection(s) will be outlined by a wiggle border.
Hold down the shift key to add or remove images from the selection. You can
also click and drag images in the Workspace to move them. You can do this
with either a single or multiple selection. Press any of the four arrow keys
on your keyboard to move the selected image(s) slightly. Press shift + arrow
to make your selection(s) move even further.

Flip Button
Click on the Flip button to flip the selected item(s) horizontally. You can
do this with either a single or multiple selection.

Layer Image Button
Click on the Layer Image button to move the selected image(s) forward or
back, in front of or behind other images. You can do this with either a
single or multiple selection.

Add/Edit Text Button
Click on the Text button (or double-click a text balloon) to add or change
the text contained in your frame.

Delete Image Button
Click the backspace key on your keyboard to remove the selected item from
the workspace. You can do this with either a single or multiple selection.

Copy Graphic
Press Control C on your keyboard to copy any currently selected image(s) to
the Clipboard. Press Control X to copy any currently selected graphic(s) to
the Clipboard and remove it (them) from the active frame.

Paste Image
Press Control V to paste a selection from the Clipboard into your active
frame.

Image Bars
The three Image Bars, located across the bottom portion of the screen,
contain the hundreds of images you can choose from to create your comics.
Click on any of the images to place them in your workspace ù your first step
in creating comics.

Scroll Images
Click on the red arrow buttons on the left and right sides of the screen to
scroll through the images. Click the top row to select characters, click
the middle row to select props and backgrounds, click the bottom row to
select action images, action phrases, and text bubbles.

Add Image
Click on the image(s) you wish to add to your workspace.

File Action Buttons
New Comic Button
Click the New button or Control N to create a new comic. If a comic is
currently open, you will be prompted to save the changes you made.

Open Comic Button
Click the Open button or Control 0 to retrieve a comic strip you've already
started. A dialogue box will prompt you to choose the comic strip you wish
to open. You can also open sample comics that have been created using Comic
Book Maker.

Save Comic Button
Click the Save button or Control S to save your comic strip. A dialogue box
will prompt you to name your comic.

Print Comic Button
Click the Print button or Control P to print your comic. A dialogue box will
prompt you to choose color/standard printing (this is the default) or
outline printing.

Adjust Sound Level Button
Click the Sound button to adjust the volume level of sound effects you hear.

Exit Program Button
Click the Exit button or Control Q when you're all done. If your comic has
been modified, you will be prompted to save your changes.

TROUBLESHOOTING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What can I do to get the best performance when running Scholastic's Comic
Book Maker?
1. Shut down all, or as many other programs as possible, before running
Scholastic's Comic Book Maker.

2. Scholastic's Comic Book Maker will look best when the display is set to
640 x 480. This will allow you to view Scholastic's Comic Book Maker at the
largest possible size. Graphics and animation will also display faster when
you set your display to 256 colors. To set your display to 640 x 480 and
256 colors, follow these instructions:

1.     Click the Start menu, choose Settings, and then Control Panel.
2.     In the Control Panel, double-click the Display icon.
3.     In the Display Properties window, select the setting tab.
4.     In the Color Palette drop-down list, select 256 colors.
    Then change the Desktop Area slider to 640 x 480. Click OK.
    If you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes. After your
    computer restarts, you can run Scholastic's Comic Book Maker again.

When I print out an image from Scholastic's Comic Book Maker, it appears
grainy, gray, or pixelated.  What can I do?
1. Your printer has different settings that control the quality printed
images. First, check that these settings are set for best quality. For
instance, higher resolutions (300 or 600 dpi) will result in better-looking
output than lower resolutions or draft modes.

You can set your printer settings as follows:
1. Click the Start menu, select Settings and click Printers.
2. Select the printer you are using.
3. Click the File menu and choose Properties to view or change your printer
settings.

2. If you've set your printer to best quality and your pictures still don't
look as good as you would like, you may want to contact your printer
manufacturer to get the latest printer drivers. These software extensions
are being improved continuously and many older drivers do not print pictures
correctly.

______________________________________________________
Scholastic's Comic Book Maker, Version 1.0
Scholastic and all related logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks
of Scholastic Inc.