Suzy B Software 2/Suzy B Software CD-ROM 2 (1994).iso/picmanip/pic_r2z/s_draw/s_draw.txt

Text File | 1995-05-05 | 18KB | 360 lines

                              Smooth Draw
                                 ╜ 1992
                            by Devin Balkcom
                              Version 2.0



SHAREWARE NOTICE

    This program is shareware.  If you use it, you are expected to
send a small registration fee to the author (me).  With enough
registrations I will be able to add new features and fix bugs
quickly.  In addition, registered owners of this program will
get all new versions via GEnie E-mail or U.S surface mail.  You
will also get unlimited phone support and a printed manual.  As
shareware, this program may be used for a trial period of 60 days
from receipt to make sure that Smooth Draw is the right program
for you.  After this period, you must either delete the program
and all accompanying files or send in the registration fee of
$15.  If you do not, your are in possession of PIRATED software.
Not only that, YOU are the pirate!  To register, fill in the form
contained in REGISTER.TXT and enclose a check for $15 made out
to me (Devin Balkcom).  Mail it to my address:

                             Devin Balkcom
                             5371 Iron Pen Place
                             Columbia, MD 21044

COMMENTS

     Even if you decide to delete this program, I would appreciate
it if you would drop me a note by E-mail or US mail - I can't improve
the program if I don't know what features you need and what bugs
you've found.  This will also allow me to notify you of new versions
or different program which may indeed be just what you need!

DISTRIBUTION

    This program should have arrived on your system in some form
containing S_DRAW.PRG, S_DRAW.TXT, and REGISTER.TXT.  There may also be
other programs and art samples included to make Smooth Draw even more
useful.  If you wish to you are encouraged to distribute these files
anywhere you want, with the following exceptions:  No commercial
distribution without my written consent, and the three files noted
above must all be included in their original form.  Use whatever
compression method you prefer.  Good distribution methods include GEnie,
Public Domain bulletin boards/electronic networks, Public Domain/Shareware
catalogs, magazine disks, and user groups.  In addition, if you are
registered and someone else registers the program with your serial number
on it, you get $5 of that registration.  So if you are registered and get
10 of your friends to register with your copy, you would get a profit of
$35 dollars.  (10 x $5)-$15

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

    To run this program, you will need an Atari ST computer.  TT
resolutions are not supported, but the program will work fine
on a TT in the ST resolutions.  The program should also run on
a standard STe.  The extra color capabilities of the STe and TT
computers are now supported (15 levels of colors instead of 7).

KNOWN INCOMPATABILITIES

    Smooth Draw will not save files properly while the freeware
program DC Showit is active.  The commercial version, DC Shower,
may work, but I have no way of testing this.  To solve this problem,
change the .PRG extension of DCSHOWIT.PRG in the auto folder to
.PRX, or delete the entire file.  Smooth Draw will probably not
work on non-standard resolutions larger than 640 by 400.  (Yet - this
is the next addition I'm working on.)

PROGRAM OPERATION and QUICK START

    When you load Smooth Draw, you will see a menu screen.  This will be
called the main menu.  There may or may not be a title, depending on the
resolution.  In the first two columns of selections, one item will be
selected, the Pencil tool.  These two columns are the tool selection
columns.  Use them to select a tool that you will use when drawing or
editing the picture.  The third column is a list of things that take
effect immediately when you click on them.  This includes selection of
different options and functions such as load, save, or quit.
    You can use the right mouse button to switch between the main menu
and the picture, called the canvas.  There are two columns to the right
of the screen that will allow you to select tools to paint with on the
canvas.  Pencil will allow you to draw free-hand, with the left mouse
button pressed down.  Brush is similar, but will paint differently according
to
the line width.  There are may types of geometrical objects that you
can draw automatically.
    For a circle or ellipse, click the left mouse button at the center
of where you want the circle.  Release the button, and move the mouse
away from this center point to determine the radius (or radii).  Click
the left mouse button again when you are satisfied, or click the right
mouse button to relocate the center.  With both circles and ellipses,
you can hold the [SHIFT] key down to keep the center point constant for
new objects.  Releasing the shift key will allow you to draw in normal
mode again.
    For squares and rectangles, simply click at where you want one corner
to be.  Move the mouse to establish the side lengths.  Click again
when you are finished.  Once more, the right mouse button terminates
if you change your mind.
      For all geometrical objects, pressing [HELP] while drawing
will allow you to enter a specific number or measurement for each
of the dimensions of the object (radius for circles, side length for
squares, etc.)  This also works with text.
    Filled objects are obviously filled with a pattern.  These patterns
are also sometimes called 'paints'.  They affect not only the filled
objects but the fill pattern for 'flood' fill and the spray paint nozzle.
    With the spray brush, you can fill an area by depressing the mouse
button until the area is suitably filled.  The area is filled with
a specified fill pattern and with the specified color.  You can use this
to blur edges or for a dithering or shading effect.
    To enter text, you should first select a font point size and face.
This is done by clicking on the button under the font sample display
area to the right of your screen.  If you have GDOS installed with a
proper ASSIGN.SYS file, and you answered yes when asked if you wanted to
load GDOS fonts (on first loading Smooth Draw), you should have a
selection of fonts to choose from.  If you don't have GDOS, you can
only show text in standard system mode.  Once you have selected face, size,
style, and color, you can click the right mouse button to display your
picture.  You can now enter your text.  Once you have entered your text,
you can position it on screen.  If you press [TAB] at this point, the text
will be automatically centered for you by the computer.  If you press
[HELP] you can enter x and y coordinate values of where the bottom left
corner of the text should be placed.  If you don't press either of these
keys, you can place the text by moving the mouse around until you have
it where you want it.  When it is positioned properly, click the mouse
button.  Then move the mouse from side to side to select a width for your
text.  Click the left mouse button when you are done.  I know all this
sounds very complicated right now, but it will appear obvious while you
are actually in the program.
    Other tools include eraser, magnify, and clipping tools.  Most are
easy to figure out with a little experimentation. Don't forget - many
tools are affected by color choice, fill pattern, line thickness, and
graphic modes (found under Options), along with
other things.

HINTS ON DRAWING

    Although nothing can substitute for artistic skill, many tips
and tricks may help you create a neat and clean picture quickly.

    1.  Use the geometric shapes.  Once you have a basic design,
        you can go back and 'mold' the figure or object over the
        wire frame shapes.  This gives you a basic guide and
        insures that everything will be in the right proportions.

    2.  If you want a colored background, don't just fill the
        whole screen.  Use [Set color] on the first color, white.
        This will set the background for both the screen and the
        outside border.  However, be sure to change the second
        color, black, to something contrasting FIRST, so that
        the main menu does not disappear.

    3.  Use magnify often - it's not just for fixing errors,
        it's for detail work as well.

    4.  Set your colors to a pallette that you like.  It may
        be helpful to set many colors near to each other for
        shading purposes.  Remember, 1000 is light and 0 is dark.

    5.  Save your files as .CLP (Smooth Clip), .PI? (Degas), or
        .NEO (Neochrome).  These files, though slightly larger,
        will keep your pallette saved for you so that you don't
        have to create a new one every time you load the picture.

    6.  Don't move the pencil too fast - you will leave jaggies.
        However, if you need a smooth, long curve, it is best
        to move the mouse moderately quickly.  If you move it
        too slowly, you may not be able to keep the mouse moving
        in the right direction at all times.  Also, avoid using
        the freehand pencil as much as possible - it is more
        exact to use the computer-automated tools and then to shade
        your outline with spray paint and a brush.  (Unless, of
        course, you happen to be VERY coordinated.

LOADING A PICTURE

Currently, the following picture formats can be loaded and edited:

    .PI?           Degas or Degas Elite
    .PC?           Degas compressed
    .NEO           Neochrome
    .BL?           GFA basic block
    .MUR           C.O.L.O.R Mural
    .DOO           Doodle
    .ART           GFA Artist
    .CL?           Clip
    .CLP           Smooth Clip
    .PLT           Pallette data


To load a file, simply select the file you want to load with the file
selector after clicking on the LOAD function.  The file will only be
loaded if it has one of the above extenders.  If one of your files
has the wrong extender on it, Smooth Draw may crash, or it may load
the file incorrectly.  If you don't know, chances are that the file
is Degas or Neochrome.  High resolution files can also be loaded if
you are in medium or low resolution, and medium resolution files can be
loaded into high resolution.  Simply select the file, and the
conversion will be performed automatically.  This can be done only
with the full uncompressed picture formats (No clips and no PC?).
Medium resolution is STRONGLY recommended for this.  A status bar
will keep you informed of how fast the picture is being converted.

SAVING A PICTURE

    To save a file, select the save function from the third column
near the bottom.  You will be presented with a box containing these
names:  Degas, GFA Basic Block, INLINE, Smooth Clip, Neochrome, and
pure pallette data.  Degas is a regular Degas uncompressed file.
GFA Basic Block is a raw data form, and a clip or inline is a part
of the screen.  Neochrome files are identical to those created with
the Neochrome paint program.  Since .MUR files are identical to .BL1
files, and .DOO files are identical to .BL3 files, you could save a
picture in one of these formats by saving it as a GFA Basic Block and
changing the name from the desktop.  If you select clip, you will be
taken to the canvas, where you can use the mouse to 'cut out' a
rectangular portion of the screen.  With all three formats, you will
then be presented with the GEM file selector, or if you have them,
the UIS or the Little Green Selector.  Enter the name you wish to
save the picture under.  It is not neccessary to input the ending
after the period - .PI?, .BL?, .CLP, .NEO, or .PLT will be added to
the filename automatically.

SMOOTH CLIP FORMAT

    A Smooth Clip picture file is really a library of pictures stored
in a DEGAS-like format with resolution and pallette data.  To delete
a picture from the file, select load.  When the selector for the
different pictures appears, hold down the [SHIFT] key and select the
picture you want to delete.  The program will give an alert box
to make sure that you DO want to delete the picture.  When the picture
library is empty, it too will be deleted.  (I know this is hard to
remember, but I didn't want to take up a whole menu option for this.)

PRINTING

    Currently, Smooth Draw only prints to an EPSON compatible printer
from high or medium resolution.  If you want to print to another printer,
you'll have to use the [ALT] + [Help] screen dump or save the picture and
print it from another program.  If you have it, High resolution is best for
this.  This is because the printer is black and white, and is closer in
resolution to the high resolution screen.  This will cause a delay when
printing medium resolution pictures.  Medium resolution pictures will be
recognizable, but not pretty.  High resolution pictures should look
pretty good.  To give a more decent picture for medium resolution,
I have provide the option of printing the picture out in a lighter
printer mode.  This may reduce smearing and blockiness for medium
resolution pictures.

USING GEM ACCESSORIES

    To use an accessory, simply click the left mouse button near
the top of the screen.  A blank screen will be presented where
you can use your accessories.  When you're finished, select
[Done] from the menu and you will be returned to the main screen.

FONTS

    If you have GDOS, you can install it with an ASSING.SYS file
with Smooth Draw.  Only screen fonts will be used, however.  Also,
you must make sure that the font disk is in the drive (or on the
hard disk) when you are asked whether or not to load the fonts.
Smooth Draw will work perfectly with the older versions of GDOS.
Although Font GDOS has a few bugs, Smooth Draw will work with it
if you do not mind a little garbage in the font display box on the
main menu.  FSM GDOS with outline fonts should work, but since I
don't have it, I haven't tried it. You may need more than 512k
to use GDOS fonts.  Let me know if you do and I'll try to shave
down the memory requirements for you.

USER DEFINED LINES

    When using brush and most of the geometrical objects, you may
find it usefull to create your own line pattern.  From the Line
Edit menu option in the third column, you can change the thickness
of your brush, define a symbol to start and end a line with, and
create a pattern to use with your line (width=1 only).  In addition,
there are some line styles already pre-defined.  Pressing 1-6 while
editing a line will change the line to a pre-defined pattern.

USING SMOOTH DRAW WITH GFA BASIC

    If you have GFA Basic, you may find the .INL function of
Smooth Draw of great interest.  Using INLINE, you can imbed
.INL files directly into your program.  Like this:

INLINE addr,1024             'if the .INL file is 1024 bytes
picture$=space$(1024)
BMOVE addr,V:picture$

    Press [Help] on the INLINE line to load the picture file.
The variable picture$ can then be placed anywhere on the screen,
with PUT x,y.  This is how the version blurb and the title were
created for Smooth Draw.  Merging pictures in this way puts everything
into one nice file that can't be hacked into as easily.
    There is another feature that I have added targetted mainly towards
programmers, though it can be used by non-programmers.  This is the mouse
and sprite editor.  This lets you define and save a mouse or sprite file
and then merge it into your program by the above method.  This mouse
or sprite can then be moved with SPRITE sprite,x,y or DEFMOUSE mouse$.
Smooth Draw used this to create the drawing mouse shape for most of the
tools.  The DefMouse accessory included lets you load a mouse shape
you've created either for the Desktop or for another program.  The
next time the program sets the mouse shape this will be destroyed, but
you can usually use this for a while first.  This lets you create
special purpose shapes for other GEM applications.

WARNING:  Don't save this as a list file, or you will have to
reload the INLINE file.

KNOWN BUGS

    1.  When using filled circles or ellipses, the top few
        pixels are left empty.  This is an operating system
        error.

    2.  Won't work with DCSHOWIT freeware program - probably
        will with DCSHOWER program.  Has something to do with
        the way GFA Basic is accessing the file and screen.

TO REGISTER

     Send a check for $15 and the following information:
     There should be an accompanying file that you can
     print out that contains a form that can be filled
     out instead of this information (REGISTER.TXT.

         Name
         Adress
         Serial # of your current version (#00001 in this case)
         Any ideas for additions to the program
         Any bugs you have encountered
         GEnie mail address (If you have one)

If you have no GEnie account, also send a disk and a SASE and disk-mailer.
Send any bug reports or suggestions to me at either of these locations.
(Whether you're registered or not)  If it's a good idea and not too hard to
add, you may be registered for free.  Smooth Draw was written in GFA
Basic.  If you send in a useful routine or routines that is more
efficient or adds a new function to Smooth Draw, you may be registered,
depending on the utility of the code.  Membership will ensure more
frequent updates and I will send new versions to you automatically.
You will also get unlimited phone, mail, and GEnie mail support as well
as a printed manual.  You may also request special customized features
to fit your needs.
(I can't guarantee anything.)

My address:
              Devin Balkcom
              5371 Iron Pen Place
              Columbia, MD 21044

GEnie mail:   BALKCOM

Phone #:  [phone]

                                 Have fun!