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Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso
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scnart.arc
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SA-GUIDE.TXT
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1990-08-22
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Instructions for Scenic Artist...(c)1990 Charles Gulick
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Load the program by typing SA. Do that now.
2. Access the Help menu by pressing F1. Do that now.
3. F1 is a toggle--it both enters and exits Help. Try it now.
4. Follow the menu as its elements are described:
5. /Ss, /Ee etc. after menu items indicates the keys used for cycling forward
(S) or backward (s) through available sky, earth etc. colors.
6. ; indicates an additional keypress is required, e.g. p;e = p then e.
7. F2 (New) erases to the default screen and colors.
8. Alt-S clears the area above the horizon to the current sky color.
9. Alt-E clears the area below the horizon to the current earth color.
10. Alt-W clears the area below the horizon to the current water color.
11. Alt-C paints a random cloud.
12. Alt-8 (*) paints random stars, visible only against dark skies.
13. Alt-T and/or Alt-Y paint distant hills on the horizon.
14. H raises the horizon, wiping out all below (but not above).
15. h lowers the horizon, wiping out all above (but not below).
16. Alt-H "rolls" the horizon, using the current color at the horizon.
17. Ctrl-B "breaks" the horizon, using the current cloud color.
18. Alt-F paints a random foreground. It will not be visible if earth and
foreground are the same color, which they are until you change one.
19. Alt-L paints a random lake or shoreline using the current water color.
20. Alt-M and Alt-N paint mountains on the right or left side of the screen.
21. Alt-X exits Scenic Artist.
22. p followed by e or w paints "patches" of earth or water.
23. . followed by e,m,n or f "sprays" earth, R or L mountains, or foreground.
24. g and G paint low or high "growth" on--as pressed--earth, water, etc.
25. Alt-B followed by e,m,n or f paints "blendshapes" on those surfaces.
26. Alt-B followed by w paints wavecaps on water using the current orb color.
27. a enables an artist positioning dot, found at center screen just below
the horizon. The keypad arrows (Num Lock OFF) allow you to move the dot.
Shift-Arrows enable fine adjustment. Shift-5 fixes the final location.
This "a" positioning is required for all functions in the rightmost
column of the Help menu which are marked <a.
28. A functions like a, above, but automatically enables a second positioning
dot. "A" positioning is required for functions marked <A.
29. l and L enable dark and light gray pens, respectively, for the Drawing
and Rectangle (Rect) functions. These colors are not changeable. Pressing
l or L automatically enables consecutive dots, as in 28. above, and can
be used for functions marked <A only.
30. Ctrl-A (also an Auto-Dot function but enabling a single positioning dot)
permits you to control the placement of clouds, patches or blendshapes.
After setting the desired position, use Alt-C, p;e, p;w or the Alt-B;w,
e,m,n,f command normally. A single cloud, patch or shape will be painted
near the position you previously set. Used judiciously, Ctrl-A enables
painting of trees, moon reflections on water, etc., as well as placing
basic shapes like clouds where you want them.
31. Alt-O, following position setting, draws an "orb"--e.g. sun or moon--
with its center where you fix the dot.
32. Alt-K, after positioning, draws a "Skyline" of buildings to the right of
where you fix the dot. (Additional Alt-Ks will extend the skyline to the
right.) Two of the 3 building colors can be changed using Kk or Dd.
33. Ctrl-H, after positioning with a, is a powerful function which permits
you to change the "effective" horizon (i.e. y location) without destroy-
ing anything already painted. The Scenic Artist routines will regard the
"hidden" horizon as the true horizon until you change it again, or return
to the default screen with F2. Because many SA algorithms relate to the
horizon (e.g. Alt-F, Alt-L, Alt-M, Ctrl-B, etc.) it is possible to control
scenic effects creatively. A lower horizon, for example, will result in
lower foreground, lake or mountain shapes. However, use Ctrl-H with care,
or you may spoil your painting with some unexpected effect.
34. Ctrl-V, after positioning, allows you to set a vanishing point of your
own (default is the earth horizon at screen center). The "vp" is used
with the DRAW/FILL TO VP and FILLED RECT/PRSPCTV routines.
35. To draw and fill a polygon (closed shape with 3 or more sides) start
with A to set endpoints for the first line (this much of the routine can
be used simply to draw a line, too). Draw the line with Alt-D. Then use
"a" positioning to set the next endpoint, and again use Alt-D to draw to
it. Repeat the "a" positioning routine until you have outlined the desired
polygon (all corners must be closed). Finally, use "a" again to designate
a position anywhere inside the polygon, then Alt-P to fill the area with
the current line color. Dd cycles the available colors.
36. Alt-V, after setting endpoints with A, draws the connecting line auto-
matically, then draws lines from both ends to the vanishing point. To
fill the shape, use "a" to fix a dot inside it, then Alt-P to paint. This
routine is useful for painting roads, paths, promontories on mts., etc.
37. The Rectangle function in Scenic Artist is rudimentary in Version 1.0. But
it can be used effectively to draw a building front and side, with correct
perspective to the vanishing point. The rectangle MUST be drawn such that
the perspective will engage only the sky and earth/water hues, so it's
best to draw rectangles before anything else. Use A to set one dot at the
desired upper l.h. corner, and the other at the lower r.h. corner of the
intended rectangle. Then press r to draw and fill. To proceed with per-
spective (optional) press v. "Ghost" lines will be drawn to the vanishing
point. Use A again and position the first dot precisely on the upper line
at the desired depth. Position the second dot precisely on the lower line
at the same depth. Be sure the dots coincide exactly with the lines (use
Shift-Arrows for fine adjustment). After the final Shift-5, again press v.
The building side will fill with a shadow color to the depth you set, and
the remainder of the perspective lines (usually, but not always!) will be
extinguished. Be sure part of your rectangle is above the horizon and part
below; SA can only draw front and one side. Cycle colors with Kk and Dd.
CAUTION: Alt-T/Y/M/N/F/H/L can be used only once in a given scenic.
GENERAL:
Scenic Artist is designed to create more or less as nature does, following the
flow of random forces. Not everything the program paints is aesthetically
satisfying, but you can be selective--either by beginning again, repeating
functions, or using the various artist controls to design closer to your
personal tastes. The very random aspect of SA is the key to almost infinite
variety, and sometimes leads to literally breathtaking shapes and effects. You
are encouraged to experiment...and experiment some more. All that the program
is capable of has not yet been--and never could be--discovered and documented.
It is hoped that Scenic Artist will provide hours of entertainment, and a real
outlet for the creative instincts we all share, for users of all ages.
AND NOW--:
Scenic Artist is not intended as Freeware, and is not Public Domain. If you
use and enjoy the program, you are on your honor to become a registered user
by sending $10 or more to the author at the address below. The program is
constantly being upgraded and improved. Registered users will be notified
of new versions at regular intervals, and will be able to upgrade for a very
small charge. The present version (1.0) is the only version that will be
available on any bulletin board. Later versions will be announced and avail-
able only to registered users.
Please send your registration fee to:
Charles Gulick
2810-C Ashley Drive East
West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Thank you, and I hope you will enjoy Scenic Artist for months and even years
to come. (If you have a CIS I.D., please advise me of it when you register.)
P.S. Scenic Artist should be compatible with all TSR screen-capture programs
(there is no inherent SAVE in the program). If you have trouble in this regard,
let me know and I can recommend a shareware capture program which does
beautifully. My CIS I.D. is Charles Gulick 71241,321.