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28.PNE
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1987-04-22
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6KB
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116 lines
THE ULTIMATE ART PACKAGE?
*************************
BY KEEFY
********
Every STOS user at some time or another is going to use an art package of
some type or another. So i thought i'd have a little look at some of
the one's available and give you our honest opinion of them. We'll have a
look at both the commercial and p.d./shareware markets. Obviously, i can
only look at the one's that i have got. There are of course many others.
So let's go then shall we......
DEGAS ELITE
***********
Works in all three resolutions, can have up to 8 screens in memory at once
depending on how much memory you have. All the usual features with this
package, airbrush, outline, k-line, box, frame, circle and more. More
than 30 fill patterns with the facility to design your own. A few simple
fonts for use with the text facility. There is also a basic block
manipulation facility. The program allows you to load six of the most well
known picture formats and save in degas compressed and uncompressed
format. All in all, a very competent and simple to use package. It has
most of the stuff you will need, although for the competent computer
artist a more comprehensive package might be more suitable. It's
excellent for my use though, i use it all the time.
SPECTRUM 512
************
Not the most comprehensive and feature packed of art packages, although it
does have one feature with gives it a distinct advantage over most of the
others. This one allows you to create pictures using up to 512 of the
colours from the ST's palette. For most of us, this wouldn't be neccesary
as our needs are usually quite adequately met by the sixteen colours
provided by most other packages. Some the pictures i have seen created
with this program have been superb. The actual features are by no means
mind-blowing, it has quite a few fill patterns and a basic block
manipulation facility, but apart from the ammount of colours you can use,
it has nothing special. The program comes with a little program which
allows you to convert your masterpeices to degas format. A good package,
but not fantastic.
CYBER-PAINT
***********
This program is part of a series of packages which are aimed more towards
the animation side of art. Neochrome and degas files are catered for,
along with various others, including SEQ and DLT animation file formats.
Loads of features, with an excellent block manipulation facility. Very
good program, feature packed, but best used in conjunction with the other
programs in the series.
HYPERPAINT
**********
Very old program this, and it shows. Only the basic features are catered
for here, but it's still good in it's own way because it is so simple and
easy to use. Allows you to load, neochrome, degas (compressed and uncomp)
along with img file format. not the best art package around, but it would
be perfect for the beginner.
Now lets have a look at the shareware alternatives....
CANVAS
******
Apparently a commercial package at one time or other, now P.D. For the
p.d. this program is very good indeed. Along with having all the basic
functions of any other package as to be expected. It also features a
sprite designer, loads of block manipulation facilities, a zoom, polygon,
loads of fill patterns, text facility and even a basic 3d construction
studio, and animation studio. There's also the option of being able to
format disks, rename files, delete files and create files, all from within
the program itself. Plenty of file types are catered for, about 10 i make
it, including the usual degas and neo format. All in all, an excellent
package which would probably be suitable for almost everyone's needs.
PAD
***
This program is a one-meg only, mono art package. Loads of features
including 3d modelling tools, also has the abilty to use signum fonts,
loads of fills with the facility to make your own. A picture conversion
utility, zoom, loads of line types (including distortion and bending
tools). Can cope with loads of picture formats, along with being able to
ormat disks, delete files, create folders and more. All in all, an
excellent package, which is only limited by the fact that it is a mono
package. I've tried this program with SEBRA the mono emulator, and whilst
it's a little slow it works quite well.
CRACK ART
*********
This program has got to be the ultimate in art packages. although
shareware, the sheer range of features beats all oposition into the
ground. Caters for loads of file formats, allows up to nine workscreens
in memory at once. Loads of picture manipulation tools including, bulge,
curl, outline, smear, mirror, spline, tube, and many more too numerous to
mention. There is also a special effects option in which the range of
features is particularly impressive. It's very comprehensive and
complicated so it's not surprising that it needs one meg or more to run.
For myself i much prefer the simpler art programs, but crack art is still
the best around. The sheer range of features is un-matched, you can even
run desk accesories from within the program, and if you get bored you can
have a break with the built-in game of asteroids. EXCELLENT.