different versions (and upgrades) of GeoPaint itself.
The best version --my opinion of course-- is without a doubt the 64version, V2.0 dated 8/1/88, 2:35PM. It works fine in both 64 V2.0 GEOS and 128 V2.0 GEOS (40 col.).
This version doesn't have the disappearing toolbox, and is by far more accurate and less buggy than the rest. (a blessing, as the disappearing toolbox feature is a pain in the neck)
There are at least 25 different upgraded versions, and alot give no clue as to the upgrade itself, with the exception of a flyer in the manuals.
P** 99 and 99/100 % of these tips refer to GeoPaint in 40 column mode (either on the 64 or the 128 in 40 col. mode) **
( this is because my opinion of GeoPaint in 80 col. mode cannot be repeated here )
( 80 col. mode is buggy, has no color, distorts the picture,--need I say more? )
FILE CONVERSIONS
There are many available P.D., Shareware and Commercial applications for converting paint files into (and visa versa) GeoPaint files.
Following is a small listing of some of the better applications:
MacAttack II+ convert Macpaint's into GeoPaints' (and vias versa)
ect.,ect., into GeoPaints' (and/or into/from each other too!)
Handy Import convert Handyscanner, and Video-Digitizer, files into GeoPaint's
TIP/TRICK:
Use MacAttack II+ to change the background (canvas) and/or forground (paint) colors in the
entire
Geopaint document in one fell swoop!. You can also move the entire picture over 32pixels to the left.
(oh...what's a fell swoop?...try to change the entire background or forground color from within geoPaint itself, and, you will quickly find out what fell swoop means!)
This method is very fast if you use an REU, or CMD Ram Expansion device,.
Just convert the GeoPaint you wish to alter into a Macpaint, then before you convert that Macpaint back into a GeoPaint, set the options menu to reflect your changes in colors. The program has a very good set of documents with it, so no need for me to get into details there. This program was meant to give the ability to swap paintings between MacPaint and GeoPaint Users, the above is a little recognized bonus!
utting and Pasting:......
To change the paint color in the entire viewing area window:
Select the entire window area (double click on the edit region tool), and copy it to a photo scrap, then turn on the color tool and select the color you want,
Then re-paste the entire window area, (select either "
scaled
", or "
stretched and scaled
"), from the options box. The paint color will change to the color you selected, and since you selected the entire window region you will not distort the painting itself.
To retain the background and forground colors in a photo scrap:
Select the entire window area (double click on the edit region tool), and copy the entire window area,
Then re-paste the entire window area, select "center" from the options box. The paint colors, and background colors will remain as they were. Again no distortion of the picture will occur, if you copied the entire window.
Pnote
** with a little practice you can have the same results mentioned above, as long as you cut and paste with the
exact"
same size edit region.
This takes a little practice and patience, but is worth it in the long run.
( A demo. is available online for you to test out this li
Large photo scraps/GeoPublish:
Ever wonder what the heck you can do with some of those large photo scraps you made with those neat little full screen copiers? GeoPublish only?....Guess again!
Use the ScrapIt! application to change that large photo scrap into a GeoPaint file. You can then edit the scrap in GeoPaint, and change it back into a photo scrap to re-use in GeoPublish. (or just keep it as a GeoPaint!)
Window moving help:
Each time you scroll the window, a very definate portion of the picture moves. For a quickie bit of help, it moves side to side 8 pixels at a time (one 8 x 8 card), and top to bottom 16 pixels at a time (two 8 x 8 cards).
An easy way to reference exactly where you are (or rather where you've been), is to turn on the COLOR tool, change the background color, and make a frame around the viewing window.
You can always go back to fix the background color when you're done.
Quickly Organize those Photo/or Text Albums:
There are a few really good applications written by Fred Coleman (Rick) that will help you with organizing your Photo Albums or Text Albums. You can mix/match, transfer or make whole new Albums with these little gems, WITHOUT having to do it one scrap at a time in Photo Manager or Text Manager.
He has a Shareware version online called "MOVER", but he has other versions for sale for both 80 col. and 40 col., 64 and 128 Geos Users. (the ones he sells are a tremendous upgrade to the shareware version).
Which Input device is best? Mouse or Joystick?:
BOTH!!!
They both have unique advantages, and BOTH have a place in your painting!
MOUSE...has the great advantage of speed and versility, but lacks real accuracy. This will very quickly become apparent if you intend to do small delicate changes to your painting, and it is a nightmare to try and scroll through the painting with any degree of sanity.
JOYSTICK.....has the excellent advantage of scrolling through windows with a great deal of control, and it's speed can be adjusted to perform those delicate, slow changes you may need in the painting. Making borders is a breeze with the Joystick (a nightmare with a mouse).
** For a little extra on the Joystick stuff, nothing beats the "Icontroller" by SunCom. It fits nicely to the lower right area of the computer (128 or 64) and the tiny stick is accurate and very easy to use. A must-have for serious geopaint (or geowrite) users! **
There is a very easy (and CHEAP) way to have both available to you at a click while you are inside GeoPaint. A Shareware Desk Accessory online called "Input 2" will allow you to swap input devices inside geoPaint, and another Shareware Desk Accessory called "MOUSER" will allow you to quickly make speed changes within geoPaint (to accomodate the speed of the joystick)
You can also purchase a "Mouse switcher" for about $10.00 from many mail-order companies, or construct one yourself! (that will be described in another article)
The switcher will allow you to have both the joystick and the mouse available at the flick of a switch, and eliminate the need for any software changes when you turn on the computer. My favorite is made by Micro R & D, and is available from TENEX.
Which Ram Expansion device is the best?
That is a matter of personal preference to some degree, but here's a little guide to help you through the muck & mire....
* Commodore's 512K 1750 REU is by far the fastest, and has just enough room to have 80% of your desk accessories along for the ride. It can be upgraded to 2mb by yourself, or a professional, so you can have 100% of your accessories along!
* CMD's RamLink or RamDrive (512K and above) are unbeatable for mass storage and are almost as fast as the Commodore REU's. (they are just two-tads slower)--(tads are what you make-um) ; )
The great advantage here is the ability to save your files in Ram without having to copy them each time you shut off the computer. Both have the advantage of battery-backup and individual power supply.
* CMD's HardDrives are almost as good as the Ram expansion units, but lack the speed. Here Mass Storage is the key! Up to (and above) 100mb's of storage space that won't go away!
Nice way to eliminate all those disks hanging around. :)
On the others.....
I don't use'um, so I won't mention 'um. ; )
..to be fair (somewhat) I've used PPI's BBG and find it too restrictive in its' uses, GeoRam is also too restrictive in its' uses, BrownBox is not readily available anymore, the 1700 REU doesn't have enough ram for GEOS, and finally the 1764 REU doesn't have enough ram to be really useful.
64 Handyscanner:
I'm a little biased here, as I am in Love with this device! I can make freehand drawings, copy them to disk and enhance them in GeoPaint! The photo scans it makes are decent, but not quite as excellent as the freehand drawings it can reproduce.
It comes with a paint program that is really close to being as good as geoPaint, but lacks the support of GeoPaint. In fact, the tools you use are almost identical to GeoPaint tools, so you will have no trouble adapting to it.
The files are easily changed into geopaint files with the Handy Import application.
(Unfortunatly the reverse is not yet available.)
Also,....if you don't own the PageFox cartridge you can combine the smaller Handyscanner pictures together within geoPaint. Anything captured using 200% scan (or less) will fit nicely together into one geoPaint. Above 200% you'll have to do without 20% or less, of one of the pictures. For a small point of reference, if you scan at 120% your resulting picture will exactly fit into one geoPaint viewing window area. Makes the combining of the two files very easy and straightforward.
New Patterns for the Pattern box:
There are a few P.D. applications and Desk Accessories available to create new patterns for the pattern toolbox,( but the best by far is a commercial application written by David Ferguson.)
The P.D. version is called "FPE", and has a companion desk accessory called "PatternSelector".
These were made specifically for 64 V2.0 GEOS, and will work in 40 col. mode of Geos 128.(sometimes...) They
Will NOT
work correctly if you use a RamDrive or a Ramlink with the Geos 128 patches or Gateway128 with geos patches. I have no idea why, so don't ask. : [
The commercial version doesn't have that problem. : ]
Just to get things straight, it works 100% with GEOS 64 V2.0 and the RamLink or RamDrive.
Viewing GeoPaints:
The 128'er's have this market cornered with Lace II, a commercial application for the 128 with 64K VDC. These are the most natural reproductions the 80 column screen can muster up for 128 GEOS, ( and they are in COLOR ! )... another fine feature is you can also view IPAINTS and BASIC 8 pictures without converting them to geoPaint's!
The 64's are almost there, with the programs PaintView or GeoPaint Viewer. Almost the same quality/ease, but less of the picture to view at a time, and a wee-bit slower.
TIP/TRICK:
I use geoWizard (under 128_DualTop) to swap back and forth between geoPaint and LACE II. I can see exactly how it will look printed out while it is in construction stages. : )
I don't exactly know how the latest version of switcher (for Gateway 2.5) will handle this, but since Jim C. wrote both of them, I'm assuming Gateway2.5 users can do the same.
Shortcuts:
There are a few shortcuts in geoPaint that are not published in the manual, or at least most do not know of them simply because they don't read manuals! (like me :) !
If you are a geoPaint artist, you know for a fact that any time saving shortcut is a must-have!
Listed here are a few of the lesser know ones:
* Double-clicking on the Pencil tool will put you in Pixel edit mode, and double-clicking on it during Pixel edit mode will return you to Normal mode.
* Double-clicking on the brush tool will bring up the brush selection box.
* Double-clicking on the eraser will erase the entire viewing window area.
* Double-clicking on the edit tool will select the entire window viewing area for editting.
( p.s.-- the double-clicking works
AFTER
the tool is selected )
supply.
* CMD's HardDrives are almost as good as the Ram expansion units, but lack the speed. Here Mass Storage is the key! Up to (and above) 100mb's of storage space that won't go away!
Nice way to eliminate all those disks hanging around. :)
Selecting an Edit, or Text, Region:
Normally you would start this area from the upper left corner and drag the dotted line to the lower right corner to select an Editting, or Text region.
But, if you start at the lower right corner and drag to the upper left corner your area will be alot more flexible to use, say if you make a mistake and want to re-size the box or move it around. Especially where Text is concerned, this makes the text line up easier to your picture, as the region will "rubberband" to the nearest 8 x 8 card boundry.
@The reasonning is simple. When you select the re-size option (by clicking the lower right corner of the edit region) it will re-size the region starting at the lower right corner, leaving the upper left corner as a set (unmoving) point.
RubberBanding Edit region:
In case you hadn't noticed, each time you select a region, for copying or pasting a photo scrap, it always tends to come out larger (or smaller) than the area you selected. That is the "rubberbanding" feature of the edit region at work. It always expands to the nearest 8 x 8 outer card boundry edge, which is the standard color area geoPaint uses to save a file in.
You can use this feature to your advantage to square off the rough edges, or to leave a nice clean edge for a frame (or border).
If you are in COLOR mode, or 80 column mode of 128 geoPaint, this feature is also present when moving the region around the screen. It is NOT present if the COLOR mode is off and you are in 40 column mode of geoPaint. (That gives you a more delicate area to choose from, for those detailed pixel by pixel moves--(Just remember the colors probably will come out in the wrong place if you do not adhere to the card boundries.)
Converting GIF's to GeoPaints...
Although the application geoGIF (version 1.2) is a very good program, it does have its' limitations that are not mentioned in the documents, so here's a little guideline for you.....
When selecting a GIF for conversion keep the size of the GIF below 99K. Files above this tend to get more and more "squeezed" as the size goes up, and those over 200K are barely recognizable after conversion. So don't waste your time on the large ones, keep it below 99K.
** also remember that the GIF's only convert into greyscaled versions of geoPaints, and tend to come out around 30K-69K after conversion (sometimes smaller)., due to the fact that alot of the GIF information is for the color and not the basic picture. So don't get upset if the geoPaint you get is alot smaller than the GIF you started out with. **
AND.....here's a Bugger in the 1990 - V2.0-128 version of GeoPaint you may not be aware of....
(In 80 col. mode)...If you accidently click on the line between the scroll tool and the main menu, you might get surprised that the last tool you were using starts to write
"under"
the darn toolbox! If you miss this, it will corrupt your picture when you update it. (mostly the color will go into a plaid sequence, and/or a piece of the picture will overlap itself someplace. It will be most apparent if you switch to 40 col. mode, with the color option "on").
If you are lucky enough to catch this when it happens, just go to the file menu and click on the "
recover
" option. Your picture will then be returned to normal.
This was found in the last version of geoPaint for the 128. (Even BSW goofs once in awhile!)
Commercial Help:
The Desk Accessories "GeoStamp, "BigStamp" and "New Tools 2", are all great help in editting and enhancing your geopaint picture.
@GeoStamp
will "Stamp" a small picture over your painting without destroying the original picture (if you choose.) ( A demo. is available online for you to test out this little gem. )
@BigStamp
is the big brother of GeoStamp and will "Stamp" a much larger portion of the screen.
@New Tools 2
gives you alot of flexibility. It will angle/skew/rotate your picture in many different ways for the ultimate effect on your picture. It is a whole new set of 16 painting tools for geopaint, and when run it will temporairly replace the normal toolbox.
** There is a Shareware version of this Desk Accessory available to you so you can give it a try for yourself, it's called "New Tools". (the commercial version is much better!) **
Two Monitors for the 128? :
This has been said before, but just as a reminder....
You can eliminate the swapping back and forth to 40 or 80 column mode with the 128 computer. BOTH video ports are always active no matter what mode you are in, so just plug your 40 column monitor into the video port. When you switch from 80 to 40 column mode you won't have to lean over and push a button to switch screen modes.
It is not harmful to the monitors or the computer, and it is always active anyway, so why not take advantage of it? (what other computer can do this one people!)
GeoPaint 128 has some advantages in both 80 or 40 column mode, and more desk accessories are available in 40 column mode (more are written for the 40 col. version than the 80 col. version, so more are available to you!)
....But...(don't you hate those but's!!!!) one minor weird thing happens with the sound on each monitor...When both monitors are plugged in the sound tends to come out of the opposite monitor, not all of them, but it does happen on the 80 col. ICM-135 by Magnavox.
Easily fixed with an audio splitter and long audio cable (about $5 or $6 at Radio Shack)
Attach the splitter to the audio-in of the 40 col. monitor, then attach the cable to the 80 col. monitor. (see picture) Now the sound will come out of both monitors no matter which mode you are in.
BOne big advantage in doing this, is if you use 128_DualTop. 128_DualTop automatically detects which mode you are in and sets up that mode. It's drawback is the desktop screen itself can only be viewed in 80 column mode. So, with the two monitors attached, if you happen to be using a 40 column application, when done it will automatically swap back to the 80 column desktop screen! (no button pushing!)
...P.S.... if this part of the article gets' dumped I will be extremely angry!!!...
I am extremely partial to this alternate desktop for two main reasons, which never seems to get mentioned
Edit, or Text, Region:
Normally you would start this area from the upper left corner and drag the dotted line to the lower right corner to select an Editting, or Text region.
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