The ImageCELs ¿ Libraries contain a broad range of environmental objects and textures, both man-made and natural. The overall structure for the
Libraries database appears at the end of the documentation, in three appendices:
1. "APPENDIX 1" - FILE FORMAT DESCRIPTIONS,
2. "APPENDIX 2" - TYPICAL SUBDIRECTORY OUTLINE,
3. "APPENDIX 3" - LIST OF FILES.
ImageCELs ¿ TEXTURES & OBJECTS
All raster images may be catagorized as being either textures or objects.
Textures are patterns of color or surface laminates such as walls or flooring. Each texture is a REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OR SPECIMEN of its texture class.
Textures are characteristically found on the ground plane or on vertical
surfaces. Therefore the texture classifications are organized from
the "ground up". Ground plane textures include asphalt paving, concrete
sidewalks or brick patio surfaces. Vertical textures typically found are
masonry walls, paneling, or roofing.
Textures are seamless portions of man-made or natural surface patterns.
This portion of texture can then be brushed, mapped, tiled, perspected,
scaled, warped or applied with any number of other common application
software tools to fit appropriately into the designated image space.
Most graphics application software have the ability to perform editing
functions to the images. Subtle pallate or color changes of these generic
textures will expand your library into many hundreds of additional materials.
The pallate of wood textures, for example, may be applied to any plane or
surface. A texture of laminated wood strips could be used as flooring or
mapped onto walls or beams as part of the buildings structure. With the
proper software application, the wood texture might appear stained Walnut,
Oak or any other variety of wood. Therefore, your versatility is limited only
by your imagination.
The second type of imagery consists of what may be termed OBJECTS. Objects are whole, man-made or natural forms. These too can be applied with any number of application software tools.
Objects may be thought of as "stand alone" textures. Trees and people, for
example, would fall under this category. Through the careful manipulation
of these textures or objects, consistant with the rules of perspective
drawing, one can literally create the impression of the scene actually
being there.
Textures and objects are subject to four (4) Basic Perspective
Characteristics:
1. Overlapping of Forms
Objects appearing closer to the viewer overlap their background objects.
2. Diminution of Size
Objects appear to diminish in size as they recede toward the horizon line.
3. Convergence of Parallel Lines
Parallel lines that recede from the observer appear to converge toward a
common vanishing point.
4. Foreshortening
Lines perpendicular to the observer's line of sight appear to diminish in
length as they are rotated away from the observer.
Characteristics #1 and #2 are most appropriate for representation of Objects.
Characteristics #3 and #4 are best suited for geometric laminated textures.
These basic characteristics will be elaborated further in "8-THEORY".
ImageCELs ¿ LIBRARIES IMAGE FILE FORMATS
The individual image files are stored on the ImageCELs ¿ Libraries in several popular 8 bit raster file formats. Pixel sizings vary from a general resolution of 64 pixels to very large scanned files. It may be helpful to refer also to your software reference manual for a listing of formats and conversion options available. See also "6-INSTALL", INSTALLING the ImageCELs ¿ LIBRARIES.
The "APPENDIX 1" lists the file formats contained on the ImageCELs ¿
Libraries. Below is an expanded discussion of these file formats.
ImageCELs ¿ CD-ROM:
DIB <DIR> Microsoft ¿ Windows Multimedia extensions¬
Microsoft Multimedia Windows (tm) extends the capabilities of Windows by
adding support for audio, lifelike images, and animation.
GIF <DIR> Compuserve ¿ standard graphics format
Popular 8-bit raster image format used for storing and downloading from
Compuserve network.
IFF <DIR> Commodore ¿ Amiga¬
Standard 8-bit image file format for the Commodore Amiga platform.
PICT <FOLDER> Apple ¿ Macintosh¬ PICT II 8 bit
Standard raster image format for the Apple Macintosh platform.
PCX <DIR> ZSoft raster format
Common DOS raster image file format.
TGA <DIR> Truevision TYPE 1 - TGA 8 BIT
Truevision 8 BIT Colormapped Format.
TIF <DIR> Tagged Image File - 8 BIT I.B.M. ¿ PC compatibles
The Tagged Image File Format is a general purpose multi-platform raster format developed jointly by Aldus and Microsoft. These are Class P - full color.
TIFF <FOLDER> Tagged Image File - 8 Bit Apple Macintosh ¿
Class P images using palettes for use in all desktop publishing applications.
MANUAL <DIR/FOLDER> ASCII Text Documentation
Text file documentation for the ImageCELs ¿ CD-ROM. These may be printed out if a hardcopy is desired. The photo-index serves as an interactive guide to the image file names.
ImageCELs ¿ Floppy Disk Library:
PCX <DIR> ZSoft raster format
Common DOS raster image file format. Used with I.B.M. ¿ PC compatible computers.
TIFF <FOLDER> Tagged Image File - 8 Bit Apple Macintosh ¿ Class P images using palettes for use in all desktop publishing applications.
