home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Aminet 32
/
Aminet 32 (1999)(Schatztruhe)[!][Aug 1999].iso
/
Aminet
/
biz
/
patch
/
PGSUniFilter16.lha
/
PageStream_Filter
/
README
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1999-05-13
|
10KB
|
240 lines
Studio's Universal Filter V1.6
Introduction
The 'Universal' filter allows reading many image formats with
PageStream V3.x/V4.x wich are not originaly supported by
PageStream. It also allows formats like IFF ILBM and others to be
loaded much faster (300%).
The 'Universal' filter is based on the development for the
CanonStudio shareware printing program and the commercial Studio
printer software. It is totaly free to owners of this software.
It is shipped with the CanonStudio CDROM and is also available
online for all older CanonStudio V2.x and Studio V2.1x users.
For those who don't know Studio or CanonStudio: this is software
containing various printer software and application not only for
use with PageStream. But it also includes a PageStream V3.x/V4.x
driver that really can dramaticly improve your PageStream prints
and add additional features.
Requirements
- PageStream V3.1, V3.2, V3.3, V3.4, V4.0 or newer
- You must be owner of CanonStudio or Studio to install this
software. However, it is not required to have the CanonStudio
or Studio software installed.
Features
The Universal filter basicly does support all the image formats
that are also available in CanonStudio or Studio in PageStream.
But it does not only add support for many new graphic formats to
PageStream. Often the Universal filter is MUCH faster and can
load far more types of images. For instance, the Universal Filter
supports nearly all type of TIFF images available. Seeing a speed
increase of 300% on loading IFF ILBM images is nothing unusual....
Supported formats are:
BMP: 1, 4, 8, 16 and 24 Bit, Windows V3 and OS/2 format,
RLE4, 8, 24 compression
DataTypes: OS 3.0 DataTypes
DCX: only the first image is printed
GIF: supports 87a and 89 format
IFF ILBM: including HAM, HAM8, EHB,...
IFF DEEP: 24 Bit RGB and RGBA, supports compression
JPEG: 8 Bit and 24 Bit JFIF, progressive JPEG
PCX: 1,2,4,8 and 24 Bit images
PGM: 8-bit
PNG: incl. interlaced
PPM: 24-bit
Targa: supports all known RGB, RGBA types incl. compression
TIFF: 1-64 Bit, RGB, RGBA, CMYK, YCbCr with None, PackBits,
RLE, JPEG, G3, G4, LZW and Next compression, Strips
or Tiles, Packed or separate color
As you can see, it does support several additional image formats
and does replace some filters shipped with PageStream. Don't
worry about compatibility. You can still use the limited
PageStream filters if wanted.
Installation
Simple... run in the install program from the Workbench and it
will do the trick. Next time you load an image in PageStream, you
might get the "Studio's Universal Filter" offered when loading
images. Choose it to make use of it.
Tech Info
Some more info about the Universal loader:
- Why this filter? Simply because it didn't cost me much work and
I made it free to CanonStudio and Studio owners in hope that
someone finaly finds the time to forward images to me that don't
get loaded by the Universal loader. So it's a way I hope to
advance my image reading routines and make them work on nearly all
images. You already will find that it really works with MANY
images where similar other software on the Amiga fails.
So, please, if you do have problems loading an image, let me know
of it and just don't switch to a different format to work with
PageStream. I want the Universal loader to work with all images
with formats supported.
- PageStream currently does only use the filter when importing the
image. Once loaded, it the image is saved with the PageStream
document file without further need for the filter unless you left
the image external in PageStream. In this case, the filter will
be used when loading the images in the document again. In case
the filter is not available, PageStream currently automaticly
prompts the filerequester with the file to be loaded again using a
different filter. So, basicly, it's safe to usethe universal
filter. I will keep it updated in case Softlogik changes the
filter interface. And in case you run into trouble in the future,
you shouldn't have any problems switching to a different filter.
So using the Universal filter is save for the future of your
documents. If you want to share document files with PageStream
users without the Universal filter, simply make sure the images in
your document. Or better: ask the user to get the Universal
loader ;-)
- The filter does load all images as 8 Bit/24 Bit images in
PageStream. I don't see much of a problem here as processing is
done in this format by PageStream internaly anyway. It's just
noted here because the image information shown in PageStream on
request might lead you to wrong thinking...
- Memory requirement. I know some PageStream users are running out
of memory. So here is some info that might be usefull. PageStream
does load all graphics filters during it's start. This means, a
XYZ format filter does require memory on your machine even if you
never will use the XYZ format.
So if you are low on memory, you might think about removing
filters from the PageStream3:Softlogik/filters drawer to a backup
drawer on your harddisk. This way you might gain 100-300KBytes of
precious memory. Sure, buying more memory should be the first
choice....
- The image reading routines used by the Universal filter do allow
reading images line by line from disk without need for memory.
But PageStream doesn't make any use of it. So I'm afraid you
still need lot's of memory to load the image in PageStream. The
is even a catch: if you are very low on free memory, the
Universal filter might automaticly switch to a slower 'low memory
consumption'. This means, it will need less memory to load the
image, but than, the filter might get much slower. This is only
the case in some formats (some TIFF and interlaced TARGA images
are effected).
So when doing benchmarks with the Universal load under low memory
conditions, please have this in mind when loading these rare
images affected.
Known Bugs??
There are no known bugs. If you do have an image in a supported
format that is not loaded by the Universal filter, please report
to:
Wolf Faust
Am Dorfgarten 10
60435 Frankfurt
Germany
email: 100116.1070@compuserve.com
Fax: ++44-69-95409598 (NO REPLY IS GIVEN VIA FAX!)
Please note in your report:
1. What application was used to write the image you have trouble
with? What type of image is it (size, colors,...) ?
2. What PageStream and Universal Filter version are you using?
3. If possible, enclose a sample image (DO NOT SEND IMAGES AS
EMAIL WITHOUT GETTING ASKED FROM ME)
4. How do you exactly load the image in PageStream?
Via Menu? Via ARexx???
COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER
====================
Copyright ©1997-99 Wolf Faust. All rights reserved. All
distribution- and marketing rights to the software are vested in
Wolf Faust. The software and documentation has been provided to
you strictly 'as is', without warranty of any kind. In no event
shall Mr. Faust be held liable for any loss or damages arising
out of any action, from whatever source, concerning the use or
inability to use the product. You may not use, copy, or transfer
the product, or any copy or portion, without prior consent in
writing from or Wolf Faust.
Installer and Installer project icon (c) Copyright 1991-93
Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduced and
distributed under license from Commodore. More (c) Copyright
1986-93 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduced
and distributed under license from Commodore.
INSTALLER SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE; NO
WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY
OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED. THE More PROGRAM IS PROVIDED
"AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE; NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS
AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED.
THANKS
At last a big thanks to the people (Deron, Gary...) at SoftLogik
providing info, software and help to make this filter possible.
History
16.09.97 V1.1 - First public version based on Studio V2.15
for test purpose.
18.09.97 V1.2 - BME's filerequester tried to loadcheck drawers
causing an error requester by Universal as no
drawer can be read...
- If loading a picture object with Datatype
fails, no error requester is displayed
- An error requester is displayed if the
SL_SystemInit() call to SL code fails
(bad PageStream version?) during the
start of PageStream.
24.09.97 V1.3 - Non-Standard IFF ILBM B/W 1 Bit without colormap
files saved by BME/PageStream are now loaded.
02.11.98 V1.31 - Now also checks/installs for PageStream V4 assign
02.02.99 V1.4 - DPI Information is now fowarded for PNG/IFF DEEP.
17.04.99 V1.5 - AsyncIO library caused crashes with interlaced
GIF. Removed AsyncIO until author fixed that library.
- GIF now does much less Seek() calls.
01.05.99 V1.6 - Minor Bug: Fixed problems with IFF images that
are roughly >30% larger than uncompressed causing
the IFF loader to prompt an error 48 because of
buffer underrun.
(So far, the only program I know that seems to save
such ugly files: Candy Factory Pro).
(Continue by pressing 'Q')