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Copyright 1991 L&V Productions Public Domain SHADOWMAKER Version 1.2
WHAT CAN SHADOWMAKER DO FOR YOU?
If you produce Video titles or any type of Video Text generation then
you need SHADOWMAKER!
Are you forever creating Video shadows for your letters in DPAINT(tm)
Do you need consistent professional antialiased FONT generation across all of
the packages you use in your production work?
SHADOWMAKER is an Intuition based Font shadow generator. In seconds
you can convert your favourite Fonts into ColorFonts with Professional
Video Shadows and Antialiasing built right in!
ColorFonts are now BUILT IN to Workbench 2.0. All of your favourite
compatible programs can now share the same Professional video shadows
and antialiasing.
*********************************************************************
*THIS IS A Restricted version of a commercial program. The Font SAVE*
*size is RESTRICTED to 39 points and under.You may load any Font*****
*up to 99 points for preview mode. All SHADOWMAKER functions are*****
*enabled making this a complete and fully working program.***********
*The commercial version sells for the SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE of**
*$19.99 US.(Regular Price $29.99). Offer good until May 1, 1991.******
* This includes Shipping/Handling in the Continental US and Canada.**
*********************************************************************
SHADOWMAKER Program Doc File
Include on the Distribution archive are the following Files:
SHADOWMAKER -Add Shadows to Amiga Fonts-saves as ColorFont
SHADOWMAKER.doc -This file
Arp.library -Public Domain Library
SHADOWMAKER.info -Icon file for Workbench 2.0
SH1.3ICON.info -Icon file for Workbench 1.3
Execept for the Arp.library, this material is the property of L & V Productions.
This version is placed in the Public Domain as long as the aforementioned
files are all contained within this archive.
**REQUIRES**
AMIGA 500 or 1000 or 2000 or 3000 with 1MEG and 1 Floppy.(1.3 WB)
Arp.library in your currently ASSIGNed libs: directory
Colortext wedge under 1.3(Included with WB1.3)
Workbench 2.0 Compatible
BEGIN DOC FILE:
***INSTALLING SHADOWMAKER***
To copy SHADOWMAKER onto your Workbench Disk, Hard Disk or wherever,
simply DRAG the SHADOWMAKER Icon over to the appropriate Window. Besides
the file ARP.library, there are no support files to copy other
than the main program file SHADOWMAKER.
***INSTALLING the ARP.LIBRARY***
The included file Arp.Library must be in your currently assigned
libs directory.
To install the Arp.library into your libs directory do the following:
Open a CLI window and type:
assign
The CLI Window will now show you a list of the FULL Paths of the
current assignments. We are interested in the ":libs" PATH and the
"SYS:" PATH. If these two paths are the same then you simply type
copy df0:Arp.library sys:libs
If the "SYS:" PATH and the "libs:" PATH are different then you must
change the above CLI command accordingly. For example if the
"assign" list shows "BOOT:libs" then you would type
copy df0:Arp.library BOOT:libs
The above series of CLI commands assumes the file Arp.library
is in the Root directory on a disk in drive DF0:. Please adjust
this as necessary.
An ICON with colors remapped for WB 1.3 is included. You must rename this to
SHADOWMAKER.info to have it work properly.
***STARTING SHADOWMAKER***
To start SHADOWMAKER simply double-click on its ICON or open a CLI window
and type SHADOWMAKER . The CLI mode requires you to be logged on to the
directory containing SHADOWMAKER or have previously "SETPATH"ed to the
proper directory.
In a moment a Window will open containing various Gadgets. The Window's
"CLOSE BUTTON" may be used to quit SHADOWMAKER at any time.
The Window is subdivided into 4 quarters. Each quarter or Section contains
Gadgets that define/perform SHADOWMAKERS various functions.
Each Gadget's Function is explained in the following sections.
There are 3 Menu Items to select from. These are explained in the
section ***MENU***
************************************************************************
***SECTION SHADOW TYPE***
This section contains the 4 Gadgets that are used to select the TYPE
of shadow that you desire.
*GADGET CLEAR*
To clear out any previously made Shadow Type selections.
*GADGET CAST*
Selects CAST as the current Shadow Type. Letter FACE and SHADOW appear
physically separated on the screen. Cannot be used in conjunction with
any other Shadow Types.
*GADGET DROP*
Selects DROP as the current Shadow Type. Letter FACE and SHADOW appear
physically joined on the screen. Can be combined with ROUNDED by simply
clicking/selecting ROUNDED after selecting DROP.
*GADGET ROUNDED*
Selects ROUNDED as the current Shadow Type. Letter FACE and SHADOW appear
physically joined on the screen. Letter appears OUTLINED in a 3 pixel border.
Can be combined with DROP by simply clicking/selecting ROUNDED
after selecting DROP.
************************************************************************
***SECTION SHADOW DEPTH***
This section contains the 2 Gadgets that are used to select the DEPTH
of the shadow that you desire.
*GADGET ARROW UP*
To increase the current Shadow Depth variable.
Maximum = 25. Minimum = 0.
*GADGET ARROW DOWN*
To decrease the current Shadow Depth variable.
Maximum = 25. Minimum = 0.
**MINI SECTION FONT**
This subsection contains the 2 Gadgets that are used to select the
FONT file you wish to work with.
*GADGET LOAD*
To select the current working FONT. Uses the standard ARP library
File Requester.
The File Requester will appear in the top left hand corner of the Window,
prompting you to select the FONT you wish to use. Here the
File Requester will go directly into your currently assigned FONTS directory.
This is the DEFAULT BUT you may go to any Disk or Directory you wish.
Once you get there go right into the actual directory of the Font you
want to use. For example if you wanted DIAMOND 15, you would enter the
DIAMOND directory and double click on the file 15 (MAX SIZE=99).
Please make sure you have selected a FONT FILE. If by mistake a non FONT file
is selected, the File Requester will reappear prompting you:
"Not a Font File! Please try again".
Read the Section ***HINTS,TIPS*** for an explanation of the FILE Requester.
Font file sizes under 10 points or over 99 are not supported!
*GADGET SAVE*
To SAVE the converted Font to a Colorfont in Ram:Fonts/(name)/size.
For example if you had loaded Times 24 and added a 10 point Drop Shadow,
then your new converted Font would be saved to ram:fonts/Times_SH/34.24.
The letters _SH are appended to the Fonts original name to signify that
this is a SHADOW(_SH) converted ColorFont. The final converted height
of the Font is equal to the original height + Shadow Depth. So in this
case 24 + 10 = 34. The actual Font file is named 34.24 to show you that
this was originally a 24 pixel tall Font and has a 10 pixel Shadow added
to it.
Maximum = 99 including the Shadow Depth & manual positioning of Letter FACE.
For this Public Domain version, if your converted Font's final size is
greater than 39, and you click on the SAVE gadget, the "ABOUT" text
screen is displayed. It explains the 39 point restriction of the Font size.
************************************************************************
***SECTION LIGHT SOURCE***
This section contains the 8 Gadgets that are used to select the DIRECTION
and displacement of the light source/shadow.
The 4 Arrows that form the tight square select the Light Source Direction.
These are mutually exclusive, meaning only 1 of the Arrows can be active at
a time.
*GADGET ARROW UPPER-LEFT*
Light Source is from Upper Left corner.
*GADGET ARROW LOWER-LEFT*
Light Source is from Lower Left corner.
*GADGET ARROW UPPER-RIGHT*
Light Source is from Upper Right corner.
*GADGET ARROW LOWER-RIGHT*
Light Source is from Lower Right corner.
*GADGET ARROW UP*
To Increase the Letter Face displacement along the Y axis UP.
Maximum = 25. Minimum = 0.
*GADGET ARROW DOWN*
To Increase the Letter Face displacement along the Y axis DOWN.
Maximum = 25. Minimum = 0.
*GADGET ARROW LEFT*
To Increase the Letter Face displacement along the X axis LEFT.
Maximum = 25. Minimum = 0.
*GADGET ARROW RIGHT*
To Increase the Letter Face displacement along the X axis RIGHT.
Maximum = 25. Minimum = 0.
**********************************************************************
***SECTION UPPER RIGHT QUADRANT***
This unlabeled section contains the Text Gadget that has the current
Letter that is used in setting up/displaying your Shadow preferences.
You may Click in this Gadget and change the Displayed letter at
any time.
*********************************************************************
***SECTION MENU***
**Project**
*ABOUT*
Under the Project Menu there are 2 selections. The first Item is "ABOUT",
this brings up a text window listing product information and the
full company address and phone/fax numbers.
To close this window simply click on either of your Mouse Buttons.
*Quit*
Selecting this Item will quit SHADOWMAKER, returning you to the
Workbench or the CLI window you started SHADOWMAKER from.
**Font**
*Antialiase*
ON -Turns Antialiasing ON.(default)
OFF -Turns Antialiasing OFF.
These two menu items are mutually exclusive, meaning you cannot select
both at the same time. Only one may be "Active" at a time.
Antialiasing is performed on any Pixel that is interpreted as being
"Jaggie". If you own an Amiga you are probably very familiar with
the Blocky appearance of lines drawn at certain angles. SHADOWMAKER
Antialiases with 1 color only, Color3 of the palette. Many of the
popular Amiga programs perform Antialiasing with 2 or more colors.
While this produces excellent results, it limits the availabilty of
your color selections for your palette. More importantly, under
Workbench 2.0 and the new ECS video chips, a new Super Hi-Res display
mode is available. Resolution is 1280*400(non-overscan) but is limited
to a 2 bitplane, 4 color palette. This new display mode is the main
reason SHADOWMAKER limits its palette to the same restrictions. For
those of you that have not seen an AMIGA displaying the Super Hi-Res mode,
rest assured you will want to use it for much of your basic Titleing chores.
This one color Antialiasing turns a bad Font into a good Font, and a
good Font into a GREAT Font!. You will be very surprised with the results.
Please read the section *Color Selection* for a further discusion of
SHADOWMAKER's use of the palette.
***HINTS,TIPS***
*DPAINT!!!(tm)
Remember when you load DpaintIII under 1.3WB then you must have previously
run the ColorText program supplied on your DpaintIII disk or with WB 1.3.
When DpaintIII is loaded click with the RIGHT-MOUSE-BUTTON on the TEXT gadget.
A File Requester will appear, defaulting to the currently assigned
FONTS: directory. You will have to manually type in ram:fonts in this
requester to set it to the proper path for your SHADOWMAKER converted
FONTS.
*FONTS*
SHADOWMAKER works best with AMIGA compatible fonts 99 points and under.
The FONTS do not have to be in the currently ASSIGNed FONTS: directory.
You may load Fonts from any Disk or Directory as long as the
accompanying .FONT file is in the proper directory.
Because we write from Left to Right certain Shadow directions
cannot be used in normal text situations. They still can come in
handy though for generating special effects and Block 3D effets.
A utility to overcome this situation is in development.
If you find that your Shadow is overlapping the previous letters FACE
then you simply rerun SHADOWMAKER. This time use the manual displacement
gadgets to pull the letter FACE 1-2 pixels to the LEFT.
Please remember that the finished Font file must be 99 pixels or under
in height. To determine the finished Height apply the following formula:
Original Height 44
Shadow Depth 14
Manual Displacement 4
Rounded 6(3 pixel deep border at both top/bottom of letter)
--------------------------
TOTAL 68
If ROUNDED is selected as part of the Shadow Type then the constant
of 6 pixels is added to the FINAL Height of the Font.
The manual displacement is only used if you move the FACE of the
letter Higher or Lower then the Shadows edges. If your FINAL
height is greater then 99 you will not be able to access the Font.
The converted FONT is saved in ram:FONTS/Fontname_SH/Newsize.OldSize.
IE: Original Font = Times 24
Add 4 pixel deep Drop Shadow 4
--------------------------------------------------------
ram:FONTS/Times_SH/Times 28.24
As well the required ".font" file is generated. If you wish to copy
this to a disk for permanent storage make sure this ".font" file is
copied as well. As an example, with the file ram:fonts/Times_SH/28.24
sitting in the ram: disk and you wish to copy this to a disk in drive
DF0:(your internal disk drive):
1. For ease of explanation make a SUBDIRECTORY called DF0:FONTS
Open a CLI Window and type Makedir DF0:FONTS
2. Then type Copy ram:fonts df0:fonts all
This will copy any and all Fonts presently in the ram: disk. This will
result in the ".font" file being copied to DF0:FONTS. As well a new
SUBDIRECTORY named Times_SH will be created--DF0:FONTS/Times_SH.
Remember ALL Font files presently in ram: disk will be copied. If you
wish to only copy a certain Font file then you will have to be more
selective as in: Copy ram:FONTS/Times_SH/28.24 to DF0:FONTS/Times_SH
Copy ram:FONTS/Times_SH.font to DF0:FONTS
If you are running WB1.3 then remember to run the COLORTEXT program
before you try to use any of the SHADOWMAKER generated FONTS.
When your application loads these FONTS it should ask you if you
would like to load the suggested Color values into the current
Color palette. Answer yes to see the suggested values from SHADOWMAKER.
You of course may choose to load/alter your color palette as you wish.
*********************************************************************
*COLOR SELECTION*
Color selection defaults to the Workbench 2.0 palette.
These values may be changed/remapped according to the capabilities
of the software program you are using with the SHADOWMAKER Fonts.
Reading the color palette from Left to right
Color 0 -Color0 - Background
Color 1 Color1 - Front Face
Color 2 Color2 - Shadow
Color 3 Color3 - Antialiasing
Remember not to overdrive the WHITE! For video NTSC output the WHITE
RGB values should generally be at/under 12-12-12.
Antialiasing of the Face and Shadow is accomplished with Color3 of
the palette. Take the time to experiment with different color values
and see what gives the best end results. This will vary according to
the finished media of your production. Remember what looks great on
your Hi-res RGB Amiga monitor may show up poorly on a NTSC television.
We find that Proportionally larger amounts of BLUE tend to produce
excellent results, especially if the final viewer is NTSC bound.
Antialiasing of the Shadow and the Background is not performed by
SHADOWMAKER. Because LIVE video varies constantly in brightness
and color, Shadow antialiasing can actually produce a bright
ghosted outline at times. The viewers eye is constantly drawn to the
Letter Face so any "jaggies" on the Shadow are generally missed. The
Rounding and Drop shadow algorithms are tweaked to reduce these
jaggies to a minimum.
If you are supplying a solid color for the Background, simply pick
a color that will naturally Antialiase the black of the shadow.
Again a large Blue component seems to work well!
SHADOWMAKER originally Antialiased both Face and Shadow, so there
will be a utility forthcoming to allow you to set the level of
Antialiasing to include the Shadow if you wish!
*********************************************************************
**FILE REQUESTER**
For those of you not familiar with the ARP File Requester I suggest
you spend a few minutes getting aquainted with its features. Once
the Requester is active, if you CLICK on or in the REQUESTER
with your RIGHT mouse button, a LIST of the
attached System devices appears in the File Selection Window.
This enables you to easily jump from Disk or device to wherever
you desire. Thanks to the people behind ARP!
*********************************************************************
**CONVERSION TIMES**
To convert a Font originally 44 points, 96 characters,
with an 8 point Drop shadow, and an 8 point Rounded outline,
with Antialiasing ON, takes approximately:
45 seconds on an AMIGA 1000
15 seconds on an Amiga 3000(25mhz)
SHADOWMAKER does not "take over" the Amiga, so if you are running a
task in the background your conversion times will increase.
If you are experimenting with various Font sizes, turn the
Antialiasing OFF until you select your final size. Then again if
you are lucky enough to own a 3000(I do! hehe) who cares!
********************************************************************
If you hold down the LEFT SHIFT key while you click on any of the
UP or DOWN arrows, the selected value will increase/decrease by 4 instead
of 1.
*********************************************************************
**END Section HINTS,TIPS**
**BUGS**
Certain Fonts, notably the older ZUMA Fonts, will sometimes produce less than
desirable results under SHADOWMAKER. This is due to improper values in the
Character-Width, Kerning, etc. tables of the fonts.
The newer updated ZUMA Fonts and the AMIGA Compatible
JDK fonts(Modern etc.) work extremely well. If you find any Fonts that
SHADOWMAKER cannot handle please send a sample to the office.
After you run SHADOWMAKER and load a new Font, Convert it and then quit
the program, you will notice that you will have less FAST memory than
when you started. Obviously the converted Font is saved into RAM:, but
even after subtracting that amount you will still be missing some Ram.
AmigaDos does not free memory used to load FONTS until it really runs
into a Low-memory situation. At that time it will purge any unused
libraries, fonts etc. from memory and you finally reclaim your missing
memory. Sorry, but as most programmers like to say--"It's the Operating
systems fault.. not mine!
Font sizes under 10 points are not supported.
If ROUNDED is selected as Shadow Type then a 3 pixel outline is drawn
around each letter. With some Fonts this can result in a 1 pixel shadow
overlap as the letters are being printed. This can be remedied by using
the Manual positioning gadgets to PULL the Face of the letter to the
LEFT 1 extra pixel. This will result in a 2 pixel outline border on the
LEFT hand side of each letter and will solve the letter-width problem.
What is needed here is the capability to increment/decrement the
inter-character spacing at print time. This will be available as a
Public Domain utility in the very near future.
*********************************************************************
**COMING UP!**
SPECIAL EFFECTS! Perspective, mirroring and rotation etc.
Load any Font into a your paint program for retouching/enhancing etc.
Professional Video Font Sets. Hand crafted Bitmaps for Video Production.
Animate your text
Alter the inter-character/kern spacing from within your favourite Paint program.
SHADOWMAKER is the first part of the Flip'n Scroll project.
Flip'n Scroll will be released in the next few months. It is
an inexpensive Page Flipper/Scroller with many professional
features.
TRADEMARKS
DPaintIII is trademark of Electronic Arts
SHADOWMAKER is a trademark of L & V Productions Reg'd
Flip'n Scroll is a trademark of L & V Productions Reg'd
***REGISTRATION***
Special Introductory Offer!
Regular Price $29.99 SALE PRICE $19.99
Offer good until May 1, 1991
To purchase the commercial version simply send a cheque in the amount of
$19.99 US funds to the address below. Your order will be shipped
within 48 hours.
Visa/Mastercard are also acceptable.
L & V Productions
110 Columbus Ave
Moncton, New Brunswick
Canada E1A-5E4
PHONE: (506)-532-0094
FAX: (506)-859-2709
Please note We are on the EAST Coast!!
Please feel free to report any bugs/suggestions to:
Stephen Lebans
PLINK SLEBANS