Here's another kid-friendly program by the authors of Coloring Book. Stamp Pad lets you "stamp" pictures all over the place on the screen. You can use one of a large number of stamps included, or create your own; then you can load one of a bunch of scenic pictures and start stamping away on it. There is also a whole toolbar full of other options to let you paint or scribble on the picture as well. If you end up with a masterpiece, you can save it to disk so you can load it and view it (or scribble some more on it) later.
{NOTE:} Due to disk space limitations, Stamp Pad is distributed in a compressed, self-installing file. When you click on the "Run" button or press F10 now, Stamp Pad will be installed to your hard disk, and then will run once the and installation is complete. Thereafter, any time you select the and Run button in this article, Stamp Pad will be run from your hard disk. You can also run it by going into the and STAMP directory and typing STAMP from the DOS prompt.
_Instructions_
General instructions for STAMP PAD are provided within the and program. This article provides in-depth instructions for STAMP PAD.
NOTE: STAMP PAD requires a mouse in order to be used properly.
{TITLE SCREEN}
Click your left mouse button or press any key on your keyboard to begin using Stamp Pad.
{MAIN MENU}
The three choices on the main menu are "Information," "Create Stamps," and "Use Stamps." Press the and button of your choice.
INFORMATION BUTTON
The information section contains a menu at the and top with an exit button to return to the and main menu, a help button to access instructions, an about button to access copyright and warranty information, a sound button to disable/re-enable beeps within the and program, and a print button to print out the help information and/or about information.
CREATE STAMPS BUTTON
The "Create Stamps" section is for making or editing "electronic" stamps for use on the and backgrounds ("electronic paper") in the "Use Stamps" section.
USE STAMPS BUTTON
The "Use Stamps" section contains background drawings for editing, freehand drawing, or placing stamps. It also contains blank pages for creating new backgrounds.
{CREATE STAMPS}
In the "Create Stamps" section, you create or edit stamps on a grid that enlarges the stamp. Each square on the and grid represents one pixel on the screen. (A pixel is one dot on your monitor's screen.) The actual size of the and stamp is shown in the and area between the "Load" and "Save" buttons.
A set of stamps is displayed in the and file area on the right side of the screen. Use the and arrow buttons to view other stamps within this file or press the "File" button to load other stamp files. To load a stamp, press the "Load" button. Then move your mouse cursor over the stamp you want to load and press the left mouse button.
Edit the stamp using the tools and colors of your choice. If you leave a grid square blank, the color "transparent" is displayed (a white grid square with a light gray center). Any part of a stamp that is colored with transparent or left blank, will be clear (not white). That means when you place a stamp on a background, the background will show through.
The tools are located on the and left side of the screen and the color palette at the bottom.
EXIT BUTTON
Pressing the exit button will return you to the and main menu.
BOMB BUTTON
Pressing the bomb button clears the grid and replaces all of the and squares with the transparent color.
DOT BUTTON
Pressing the dot button activates the and drawing tool that enables you to draw dot by dot. Hold the mouse button down to draw continuous dots.
ERASE BUTTON
Pressing the erase button activates the and eraser tool. It erases each square on the and grid that is selected. Holding down the mouse button provides continual erasing as you move the mouse. When a square on the and grid is erased, it is filled with the and transparent color.
Another way to erase an area is to select the fill tool and the transparent color. This is useful for irregular shaped areas.
FILL BUTTON
Pressing the fill button activates the and fill tool. The fill tool will fill an area with the and color that is currently selected. The area that will be filled is the group of squares of the same color surrounding the selected square. The fill will continue outward in the and horizontal and vertical directions until a different color is encountered.
VERTICAL FLIP BUTTON
Pressing the vertical flip button will flip the and entire grid area upside down. Press the and button again and the whole grid will be flipped back to its original position. The image will continue to flip each time you press the button.
HORIZONTAL FLIP BUTTON
Pressing the horizontal flip button will flip the and entire grid area sideways. Press the and button again and the whole grid will be flipped back to its original position. The image will continue to flip each time you press the button.
LINE BUTTON
Pressing the line button activates the and line drawing tool. The line drawing tool will draw a line between two selected points. Select a square on the and grid by pressing (and releasing) the and left mouse button. Now move the mouse cursor to another grid location. When another grid square is selected, press the mouse button again and the line will be drawn with the and selected color.
RECTANGLE BUTTON
Pressing the rectangle button activates the and rectangle drawing tool. The rectangle drawing tool will draw a rectangle between two selected points. Select a square on the and grid by pressing (and releasing) the and left mouse button. This defines one corner of the and rectangle. Now move the mouse cursor to another grid location until the and rectangle is the size and shape you want, then press the mouse button again and the rectangle will be drawn with the and selected color.
CIRCLE BUTTON
Pressing the circle button activates the and circle drawing tool. The circle drawing tool will draw a circle between two selected points. Select a square on the and grid by pressing (and releasing) the and left mouse button. This defines the and top of the circle (or bottom, depending on the and direction you are drawing). Now move the mouse cursor to another grid location until the and circle is the size you want, then press the mouse button again and the circle will be drawn with the and selected color.
COLOR PALETTE
Across the and bottom of the and screen are the color palettes. The first nine colors (on the and left) are the most commonly used colors and therefore are always present. The second group of nine colors (on the and right) are shades of the and first nine colors with one exception. The first color of the and shade palette is the transparent color. It is represented by a grid-like section. Use it like any other color, but any dot (pixel) that contains transparent will be clear when the stamp is placed on a background. Transparent can be used with the and fill tool for quick erasures.
To select a color, press the button that is the color you want to use. Press an arrow beside the and palette, to select another palette.
LOAD BUTTON
Pressing the load button allows the selecting of a stamp displayed in the and file area. As the mouse cursor is moved across the and stamps, the selectable stamp is highlighted by a red border. Pressing the mouse button while on the stamp will load the stamp into the small screen and the large grid so it can be edited. The stamp also remains in the and file section and does not change unless you save over it.
SAVE BUTTON
When you want to save your current changes, select the and save button. Then move your mouse cursor to the and file area and select a position where you want to save your stamp. A stamp can be saved multiple times to any of the and 2,250 possible stamp locations. You may want to save your stamp to two different locations while working on it just in case you accidently overwrite it or you decide you like an earlier version of it better. Because it is so easy to save stamps, you will want to save frequently to avoid mistakes.
FILE ARROWS
The file arrows select different stamp pages.
FILE BUTTON
Pressing the file button displays a menu for selecting another group of stamps. Selecting a file icon will load that group of stamps.
{USE STAMPS}
The "Use Stamps" section gives you a large drawing area--your electronic paper. Place stamps or use drawing tools from the menu at the and top of the screen to create all kinds of pictures.
EXIT BUTTON
The exit button will return you to the and main menu.
TOOLS
The tools button brings up the and tools. When you are finished selecting a tool and/or color press the left mouse button anywhere but on the tools or colors and the tools and color palette disappears.
BOMB BUTTON
Pressing the bomb button clears the screen.
DOT BUTTON
Pressing the dot button activates the and drawing tool that enables you to draw dot by dot. Hold the mouse button down to draw continuous dots.
To draw with thicker dots, make a stamp of a thick dot and use the stamp as your drawing tool (for instance 4 by 4 pixels).
ERASE BUTTON
Pressing the erase button activates the and eraser tool. It erases the and area covered by the square mouse cursor. Holding down the mouse button provides continual erasing while you move the mouse. When an area is erased, it is filled with the and transparent color.
Another way to erase an area is to select the fill tool and the transparent color. This is useful for irregular shaped areas.
FILL BUTTON
Pressing the fill button activates the and fill tool. The fill tool will fill an area with the and color that is currently selected. The area that will be filled is the area surrounding the color that is selected with the and mouse cursor. The fill will continue outward in the and horizontal and vertical directions until a different color is encountered.
SCISSORS BUTTON
Pressing the scissors button activates the and cut and paste tool. This function selects an area to be deleted, copied, or flipped. Press the and mouse button when the cursor is at the and corner of the and area you want to select then release the and mouse button. Move the mouse cursor to the and opposite corner of the and area you want to select, then press the mouse button again. The area will be surrounded with red dashed lines and the cut and paste tools will appear.
Now you can either cut (and later paste, if needed), copy, or flip the and marked area. If you want to leave the cut and paste menu without cutting or copying, press the mouse button with the and cursor anywhere but on the cut and paste tools.
CUT BUTTON
Pressing the cut button "cuts" (deletes) the and marked area from the drawing area. Your mouse cursor then becomes the and cut-out area. Pressing the left mouse button draws the cut area to the and screen in that position. Holding the mouse button while moving the cut area to various areas on the screen, repeatedly draws the copied area. You can change pages or groups of backgrounds while the and cut area is active and place it on different pages. The entire drawing area (the whole page) can be moved to another page in this manner.
COPY BUTTON
Pressing the copy button copies the and marked area and attaches it to your mouse cursor. Pressing the left mouse button draws the copied area to the screen in that position. Holding the mouse button while moving the copied area to various areas on the screen, repeatedly draws the copied area. You can change pages or groups of backgrounds while the and copied area is active and place it on different pages. The entire drawing area (the whole page) can be copied to another page in this manner. This is a good way to backup your favorite drawings or modify an existing background without deleting the original.
VERTICAL FLIP BUTTON
Pressing the vertical flip button will flip the and marked area upside down. Press the and button again and the area will be flipped back to its original position. The image will continue to flip each time you press the button.
HORIZONTAL FLIP BUTTON
Pressing the horizontal flip button will flip the and marked area sideways. Press the and button again and the area will be flipped back to its original position. The image will continue to flip each time you press the button.
LINE BUTTON
Pressing the line button activates the and line drawing tool. The line drawing tool will draw a line (one pixel in width) between two selected points. Select a starting position by pressing (and releasing) the and left mouse button. Now move the mouse cursor to another location. When the line is the length you want, press the mouse button again and the line will be drawn with the and selected color.
To draw thicker lines, draw two or more lines beside each other.
RECTANGLE BUTTON
Pressing the rectangle button activates the and rectangle drawing tool. The rectangle drawing tool will draw a rectangle (one pixel in width) between two selected points. Select a starting position by pressing (and releasing) the and left mouse button. This defines one corner of the and rectangle. Now move the mouse cursor to another location until the and rectangle is the size and shape you want, then press the mouse button again and the rectangle will be drawn with the and selected color.
To draw thicker rectangles, draw one inside (or outside) of the other and use the fill tool to fill in the and area between the rectangles.
CIRCLE BUTTON
Pressing the circle button activates the and circle drawing tool. The circle drawing tool will draw a circle (one pixel in width) between two selected points. Select a starting position by pressing (and releasing) the and left mouse button. This defines the and top of the circle (or bottom, depending on the and direction you are drawing). Now move the mouse cursor to another location until the and circle is the size you want, then press the mouse button again and the circle will be drawn with the and selected color.
To draw thicker circles, draw one inside (or outside) of the other and use the fill tool to fill in the and area between the circles.
COLOR PALETTE
Across the and bottom of the and screen are the color palettes. The first nine colors (on the and left) are the most commonly used colors. The second group of nine colors (on the and right) are shades of the and first nine colors with one exception. The first color of the and shade palette is the "transparent" color. It is represented by a grid-like section. Use it like any other color, but any area that is transparent will allow the and background to show through if this area is cut and pasted. Transparent can be used with the and fill tool for quick erasures.
To select a color, press the button that is the color you want to use. Press an arrow beside the and palette to select another palette.
STAMPS
Pressing the stamp button brings up the and same set of stamps as in the "Create Stamps" section. Select a stamp by placing your cursor over the stamp you want and pressing the mouse button. Other groups of stamps can be selected by pressing the file button. When you select a stamp, it becomes your cursor. You can then move the stamp around the screen and place it anywhere in the and drawing area by pressing the mouse button. Multiple copies of the stamp can be drawn by holding down the mouse button as you move the stamp.
The stamp can be moved right up to the edge of the screen, but it may appear that the and stamp will not go to the and edge of the screen if only a small area of the and stamp has been filled in. This is because the stamp is 32 by 32 pixels no matter what the size of the and actual image is. If you need to place a stamp right on the and edge of the screen and it is centered in the and stamp, re-position the and image on the stamp. You can do this by stamping the stamp on a page and then placing the magnifying tool over the image so that the and image is on the and edge of the stamp. Then save it as a new stamp or save over the old one. Another option is to use the and cut and paste function to place the and stamp.
Stamps can also be used to make customized drawing tools. Begin by drawing a pattern in a stamp, such as a few dots of different colors, then hold down the mouse button while drawing with the and stamp. The stamp will be continuously stamped on the and background creating the effect of a line or different shape depending on the and design of the and stamp.
MAGNIFY BUTTON
Pressing the magnifying button activates the and magnifying tool. Use this function when you want to work on part of your background at a closer view. This is useful for filling in small areas or drawing small details.
To zoom in on an area, place the and red dashed square (32 by 32 pixels) over a selected area and then press the mouse button. You can then edit this area with the same functionality as though you were in the and "Create Stamps" section. Whatever image is in the and grid will be on your background drawing when you press the exit button.
You can also use the and magnifying tool to re-position stamps or create new ones. Place the and red dashed square over a section of your drawing and then press the mouse button. You can then save this section as a stamp.
Another function of the magnifying tool is to merge small stamps into a larger one. For example, four 16 by 16 pixel stamps can become one 32 by 32 pixel stamp. To do this, first stamp the and smaller stamps on top and beside each other on a background page. Then magnify the area. The area can then be saved as a stamp.
COLOR WINDOW
The color window is not a selectable item. The currently selected color is displayed there.
FILE ARROWS
Pressing the file arrows changes pages within a background group so you can select a page to draw on. An additional function of changing pages is deleting unwanted drawings before you save a page.
SAVE BUTTON
The save button saves your drawing on the and currently selected page. To save the background on a different page, use the cut and paste tool. Cut or copy the entire page, select a new page, then press the mouse button. Then press the save button again. Saving is permanent, so be sure to copy your favorite drawings to additional pages.
FILE BUTTON
Pressing the file button displays a menu for selecting another group of backgrounds. Selecting a file icon will load that group of backgrounds.
Note: When selecting an item within the and program, place the and mouse cursor over the button or item you want to select and press the left mouse button. Only the and left mouse button is used throughout the program.
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