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VGACAD v1.60 Copyright (c) 1988-89 Lawrence Gozum & Marvin Gozum, MD. U S E R M A N U A L DISCLAIMER This product is distributed AS IS. The authors specifically disclaim all warranties, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to defects in the diskette and documentation, and program license granted herein, in particular, without limiting operation of the program license with respect to any use or purpose. In no event shall the authors be liable for any loss of profit or damage including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential or other damages. LICENSING AGREEMENT You may use this program and freely EVALUATE ITS USEFULNESS for a 10-DAY TRIAL PERIOD. Should you find it useful, you MUST REGISTER by sending registration form and check payable to Marvin Gozum. See last section of this manual for details and benefits. You may freely distribute UNMODIFIED copies (which include all files listed in README.1st) provided you do not include it with commercial software, and charge no more than $3.50, in lieu of recognized User Group guidelines (e.g., Association of Shareware Professional, New York Amateur Computer Club), for copying/distribution costs. 1. Requirements IBM PS/2 or IBM PC/XT/AT with VGA compatible graphics card capable of displaying mode 13H (MCGA 300x200x256 color mode), 512k free memory, analog or multifrequency monitor. We strongly suggest you get a mouse since VGACAD was designed with a mouse device in mind. Users with 512kb RAM (or less) must use the command line "/R" option to reduce the RAM requirement. Variable disk space is required (depending on Virtual Screen size used). A Hard Disk is highly recommended but not required. High density dual drive users (1MB AT drives or 720KB 3.5 inch drives) would have adequate space to run the program and work on regular GIF files. If you have extended or expanded memory, we suggest using a RAMDISK for the Virtual Screen; also, if you have a cache program, that too will help accelerate the program since this version uses a "chained environment". We can no longer support dual 360KB users; in any case, it is highly unlikely that you have VGA or a PS/2 and are using dual 360KB floppies ! PLEASE READ 'README.2ND' REGARDING HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY. Page ... 1 2. Installation All required files (listed in README.1st) MUST be in the default drive and/or directory. To use the keyboard, run "KEYME.com" prior to running VGACAD; you can review the keyboard commands at start-up. If you have insufficient RAM, remove resident programs or use the "/R" command line option is discussed below. After initialization, the total amount of free memory will be shown - this approximates how much resident software, or RAMDISK, can be installed before running VGACAD. 3. Command Line Options Switch "/Q" ("Quiet") will silence all the audio feedback beeps except error or warning messages. To totally "cut" all audio; we suggest using a Shareware program called SILENCE.ARC (.ZIP). Switch "/R" ("Reduced Memory") will cut VGACAD's memory allocation by 64KB and utilize a buffer called "UNDO.TMP" during certain operations. Switch "/FM" ("Force Mouse") maintains your current mouse settings and assumes a mouse is properly initialize; this allows initializing your mouse with ANY program. We suggest initializing with 320x200x4 CGA or 320x200x256 MCGA mode; make sure that the text cursor is set OFF ! Switch "/FK" ("Force Keyboard") will disregard any mouse device and operate in mouse emulation mode through the keyboard. "KeyME.com" MUST be resident if you use this switch or the system will HANG ! Switch "/SL:n" "SLow Mode" will require release of the mouse button to proceed. The value "n" will determine a delay factor for the Spray Paint function; a value of 1000 will be sufficient for Fast machines. Switch "/MX:n" adjusts the mickeys/8 pixels ratio on the X axis. The default is 8/8. "n" is any number from 1 and 16. "1" will make your mouse travel 8x faster while 16 will make your mouse travel 2x slower on the x axis. Switch "/MY:n" adjusts the mickeys/8 pixel ration on the Y axis. The default is 16 mickeys / 8 pixels. Switch "/MT:n" adjusts the "motion threshold"; the default setting is 64 mickeys/second. If your mouse seems to be returning to its same position or seems restrained after zipping quickly from any direction, its movement was successively doubled resulting in the mouse returning to its former location; this is a function of your CPU speed. "n" is any number between -32767 to 32767. Refer to your mouse manual for more information. Use a batch file to keep your desired settings. The sample "*.BAT" entry below, turns the sound off, reduces the memory by 64K, triggers the SLow Mode with a 1000 delay loop, doubles the speed in both the x and y axes, and keeps the motion threshold at its maximum. VGACAD /R /Q /SL:1000 /MX:4 /MY:8 /MT:-32767 Page ... 2 4. Testing VGACAD was tested on a 8MHz IBM XT compatible with a STB VGA Extra E/M (w/ Princeton Ultrasync) and a PS/2 Model 50 (w/ 8513 Monitor). For comments, particularly bug reports, we would appreciate E-Mail at CompuServe for Lawrence Gozum [73437,2372]. 5. Main Menu Click your RIGHT mouse button, the Main Menu screen will pop-up. There are 8 boxes: Undo, ImgP(Image Processing Menu), Edit Menu, Text Menu, Shps (Shapes Menu), Color Menu and File Menu. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐ Main Menu │┌───┐┌───┐┌───┐┌───┐┌───┐┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───<┼current option ──┼┼> ││ ││ ││ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ ││background filled with│└───┘└───┘└───┘└───┘└───┘└───┘ └───┘ └───┘│color current │ Undo ImgP Edit Text Brsh Shps Color File │ foreground │{▓▓▒░░▒░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒░░▒▒░░▓▓▒▒░░▓▓██▓} │ <─┐ color └──────────────────────────────────────────┘ ├─ Color {▓▓▒░░▒░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒░░▒▒░░▓▓▒▒░░▓▓██▓} <─┘ Bars ^ ^ └───────────── Scroll Arrows ───────────┘ You will, immediately, be in 'brush' mode and can begin painting. If you move your cursor below the Main Menu, the menu will disappear and will reappear when you press the RIGHT mouse button. Clicking a Main Menu box will operate immediately or display another menu. To exit without choosing any option, put your cursor below the menu. As a rule, the RIGHT button will EXIT or ABORT, while the LEFT will be do everything else or ACCEPT a change. Use the color bars to select foreground or background colors. Place the "arrow" cursor over a desired color and click the LEFT button for a new foreground color or the RIGHT for background. The color bars provide 32, 64 or 128 colors from your 256 color palette at any time. At default, each color bar contains 16 colors. Use the scroll arrows to change the colors selections. The upper and lower color bars play an important role in colorizing grey pictures. This will be explained further. 6. Undo Function When the Main Menu screen pops-up, your current screen is saved and your can 'undo' all the changes from the last time the Main Menu was invoked. Regardless of changes made, your screen will be restored. If the Main Menu is invoked and no options are selected, your next UNDO will be based on that screen; the UNDO screen is generally the screen last modified BEFORE invoking the Main Menu. Page ... 3 7. Brush Menu ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────┐┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ────┼┼> ││ │ │███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ Active │└────┘└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ BRUSH ┌─>normal <> MODE Rect Circ Line Diag MASK│ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ current mode The Active box will show the current "brush" selected. The "<>" box cycles through the different brush sizes or variations. There are 6 RECTangular sizes, 3 CIRCular, 3 Horizontal LINEs, 3 Vertical LINEs, and 6 DIAGonal brushes. The "MODE" box cycles through five different brush modes: normal, spray, air#1, air#2 and eraser. Spray paint and airbrush (Air#1 and Air#2) modes work only with the RECTangular or CIRCular brush; these brush modes will operate on the rectangular areas defined by the brushes; future versions will be shape-specific. Air#1 is a REAL airbrush that "adds" a color mixture as you paint over your picture, following the principle of Additive Color Mixtures (see "Notes on Additive Color Mixtures" in Appendix C). Air#2 mixes colors in a more gradual fashion. With Air#1, if you spray yellow over a red area, the closest color to orange in your palette will be painted; with Air#2, the closest color to yellow-orange in your palette will be painted. Spray will paint random dots over a defined area; if used with the MASK flag on, you will be able to spray over a selected color as if you placed a stencil over the area to be painted. Eraser mode uses the color BLACK (color 0) as the foreground color; you cannot choose BLACK as a foreground color. Use large RECTangular brushes for quicker erasures. The MASK flag acts as a stencil; when this flag is set, only pixels with the current background color will be replaced with the current foreground color; this will work in all modes except Air#1 and Air#2. 8. Color Menu Selecting "COLOR" from the Main menu brings you to this sub-menu. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │ │ │███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │ OVRL SWAP FILL CBAR ZOOM AREA COLOR UNDO│ │ - Color - Menu - Colorization - MAP mode│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ "OVeRLay" replaces all pixels with background color with foreground. "SWAP" exchanges all pixels with background color with foreground and vice-versa. "UNDO" mode cancels "OVRL" and "SWAP" implementation. Page ... 4 Clicking "ColorBAR" (CBAR) will make the Scroll Arrows cycle through 16, 32, or 64 COLOR RANGE colorbars. Use the 32 or 64 COLOR RANGE to view and select more colors at any time. COLOR RANGES are extensively used by the "AREA colorization" and "ZOOM" functions. │{▓▓▒░░▒░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒░░▒█▓▒▒░██░░▓▓▒▒░░▓▓██▓}│ <─┐ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Color {▓▓▒░░▒░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒░░▒▒░░▓▓▒▒░██▓▓█▓▓▓▓██▓} <──Bars ^ ^ └─────────────── Scroll Arrows ──────────────┘ In "Area" (colorization), the upper and lower colorbar selections are significant. When selected, all colors in the lower colorbar will be replaced by all the colors from the upper colorbar with a one-to-one correspondence. Once selected, on exit, the arrow cursor will appear instead of your current brush. AS A RULE, THE APPEARANCE OF THE ARROW CURSOR INDICATES A BLOCK FORM OF EDITING OR SETTING OF A STARTING POSITION WHEN PERFORMING ANY AREA PROCESSING FUNCTION. Pick a starting point on your screen and drag the cursor (pressing LEFT button). Upon releasing the LEFT button, all colors in the upper colorbar will replace all the colors in the lower colorbar. The "colorized" area will be have a blinking outline; click RIGHT to reject or the LEFT to accept. Grey images provide the luminance information of your picture (16, 32 or 64 grey scales); by altering color ranges, you can select/replace the colors within the range with any other color range defined in the COLOR MAP. The minimum range you can affect is 16. Use the OVeRLay color function or MASKed brushes to replace individual colors. "ZOOM" (colorization) works like "Area" but on a "zoomed area". ZOOM has three modes - NORMAL, XCOLOR and PROCESS. XCOLOR (eXchange COLOR) mode replaces individual colors using the colorbars as reference; only selected colors on lower color bar are replaced with upper colorbar. ZOOM (in XCOLOR mode) lets you change those "difficult areas" where objects border other objects or the background. NORMAL mode is like any other ZOOM function where your paint over any color;other options while "ZOOM" editing. The PROCESS mode uses color image processing algorithms; these are discussed later. "COLOR MAP" shows all 256 colors. Colors are arranged in 8 rows of 16 color boxes. The first 128 colors are arranged from the LEFT to RIGHT starting from TOP to BOTTOM (COLORS 0 to 127). The next 128 colors (COLORS 128 to 255) are arranged in the reverse order from RIGHT to LEFT starting from the BOTTOM to the TOP; this shows its inverse organization. See Appendix A (Palette Organization Map) for details. Each color box is configured to show its complimentary or inverse color for experimenting with creative "color inversing" techniques. ┌────────┐ Main Color ─────┼>████ │ │█████ │ │ <┼───── Inverse color └────────┘ Page ... 5 You can pick any foreground color EXCEPT COLOR 0 (see Appendix A); to use COLOR 0 (normally BLACK), you will have to use the ERASER brush. Click LEFT over any color to select a foreground color or RIGHT to select background; these will be appear at RGB boxes (at lower left). ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ R=10 G=20 B=30 │ │ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ │ │ │ ^ │ │ ^ │ │ ^ │ <┼───── background color │ └─┼──┘ └─┼──┘ └──┼─┘ │ └───┼───────┼────────┼────┘ │ │ │ └── foreground color Palette editing is accomplished by altering the RGB values of the foreground color. Place your cursor on any of the 3 boxes labelled [R]ed, [G]reen or [B]lue. Clicking the RIGHT quickly increases RGB values. Clicking the LEFT decreases RGB values by one. As you modify the mixture, you'll see the color change. You cannot select COLOR "0" as foreground; if you want to modify it, use editing functions below. See Appendix C for more information on color mixing. IF YOUR COLOR MIXTURE RESULTS IN TWO INVERSELY RELATED COLORS IN A COLOR BOX TO BE EXACTLY ALIKE, YOUR CHANGE WILL BE REJECTED ! To the lower right corner are four boxes. Copy, Swap, Digi and Reset provide extensive palette editing functions. COPY is very useful in making very subtle color changes since an increase in the "quanta" of R(ed), G(reen) or B(lue) by 1 may not be noticeable. To copy a color, select the source color as BACKGROUND then select the destination color as FOREGROUND. Click the COPY box with your LEFT mouse button. SWAP works like COPY but exchanges the selected foreground color with the selected background color; use this to rearrange your entire palette. RESET restores a selected color's registers or the whole palette after any modification BEFORE selecting a new foreground or background color to edit. DIGI will "fill-in" or "spread" all colors between selected foreground and background colors. The colors generated between the two "anchors" follow the Principle of Additive Color Mixture (see Appendix C). To select a range, pick a foreground color as the start of the range, and a background color as the end of the range. Click the DIGI box and all the colors in the range will "spread" between the two "anchors". CLICK THE RESET BOX TO RESTORE YOUR PALETTE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS FUNCTION; THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO UNDO ! To exit, click EXIT box with the LEFT button; for quicker exits, click both buttons in succession. After selecting a new foreground color, BEFORE releasing the LEFT button, click the RIGHT; OR after selecting a new background color; click the LEFT button before releasing the RIGHT button. The last option in this menu is the "Fill Menu"; clicking this box transfers you to the border tracing, pattern/gradient fill functions. Page ... 6 9. Fill Menu ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │███│ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │ CBAR UpDn DnUp LfRt RtLf PTRN TRACE EXIT│ │ ------ Gradient Fill ------ Pick Shape Menu│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The FIRST box you MUST select is TRACE Shape. Select any object with a solid color or the background; place your cursor at the center of the shape; press the LEFT button. The shape will be filled with the foreground color. All pixels in that shape with the same color (i.e., whatever was under the cursor) will be filled. Keep that filled object as is, or pick a new color and repeat the process indefinitely. TRACE Shape was designed for complex shapes NOT complex patterns within pictures. INTRICATE PATTERNS INSIDE PICTURES HAVE COMPLEX 'TRAPS' OR REQUIRE TOO MUCH MEMORY - RESULTING IN A WARNING BEEP. You can always retrace and fill 'unfilled' portions; be patient and wait for the warning beep in rare cases when the 'fill' seems 'trapped'. Gradient fills are ranges of colors spread evenly throughout your traced shape. The range of the gradient fill is determined by CBAR (ColorBAR); four types of gradient fills are available: UpDn, DnUp, LfRt and RtLf. The selected range is the upper Color Bar; use the scroll arrows to select different color gradients. Pattern fills can be selected by invoking the PTRN (PaTteRn) PICK box; when you slide your cursor out of the menu, an entire screen of 16x16 patterns (256 colors maximum) will be presented. Point your arrow cursor over any pattern; the LEFT button will underline your selected pattern. Press the RIGHT button to EXIT and fill your shape with the selected pattern. Pressing the RIGHT button over any pattern will immediately select that pattern and EXIT to fill your shape. You can fill a traced shape with any gradient or pattern fill option indefinitely ! If EXIT is selected or another shape traced then the fill is set; you can UNDO fills ONLY from the Main Menu. GRADIENT OR PATTERN FILL FILLS REQUIRE A COMPLETELY TRACED OBJECT. If you get the 'warning beep' then the object was not completely traced. Use the ZOOM functions to simplify the 'object' by removing intricate 'traps'; future updates will deal with such 'traps' more intelligently. Editing any pattern is similar to editing a picture. PATTERN.BLD has all the patterns. Each pattern is a 16x16 matrix of colors arranged on the screen and is located at every 20th pixel (horizontally and vertically). Use the ZOOM editing features to edit or create you own patterns. PATTERNS PROVIDED WITH VGACAD USE THE DEFAULT.PLT; THE APPEARANCE OF PATTERNS WILL CHANGE WITH OTHER PALETTES. THE FILENAME PATTERN.BLD IS RESERVED; "PTRN PICK" WILL ALWAYS LOOK FOR THIS FILE. To create a new pattern file with a different palette, copy/rename the PATTERN.BLD file; load a different palette and edit the PATTERN.BLD file to your heart's content. Page ... 7 10. Zoom Menu ZOOM features are compiled as a "chain to" module for easy update as a separate component; all UNDOing must be performed before exiting this module. When ZOOM is selected from the COLOR Menu, a "Viewing Window" will appear as your cursor; place the cursor over any section to be "zoomed" and click the LEFT button; the RIGHT button exits back to the Main Menu. While in "ZOOM" mode, other options will appear. After editing and exiting (i.e., clicking "*OK*") you can continuously select another area for "ZOOM" editing until you click the RIGHT button. The edited area is always displayed in the Viewing Window. VIEWING ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ WINDOW │┌─────┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ └───────┼┼> │Mode │███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ CURRENT │└─────┘ │ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ MODE ────┼>NORMAL <┘ UNDO FIND MARK CBAR COLOR *OK*│ │{▓▓▒░░▒░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒░░▒█▓▒▒░██░░▓▓▒▒░░▓▓██▓}│ <─┐ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Color {▓▓▒░░▒░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒░░▒▒░░▓▓▒▒░██▓▓█▓▓▓▓██▓} <──Bars ^ ^ └─────────────── Scroll Arrows ──────────────┘ NORMAL and XCOLOR Modes Clicking the Viewing Window (with the LEFT button) will cycle the ZOOM mode between the XCOLOR (eXchange COLOR) mode, NORMAL mode and PROCESS mode. The NORMAL and XCOLOR modes will display the above menu. As explained in the AREA colorization function, XCOLOR mode replaces each pixel belonging to the range of colors specified in the lower color bar with corresponding colors in the upper color bar. NORMAL mode lets you change any pixel with the foreground color. In XCOLOR mode, all incidences of any color in the lower color bar will be replaced by the upper color bar. Only colors belonging to the lower colorbar will be affected. If no color exists which belong to the lower colorbar then nothing will be modified ! Clicking "zoomed" pixels with the LEFT button will be replaced by the foreground color in NORMAL mode or replaced with the corresponding colors in XCOLOR mode; all changes are reflected in the Viewing Window. Clicking the "RIGHT" mouse button will reset any particular pixel to its original color before "zoom" editing, despite the number of times you have changed the pixel color in ANY mode ! "Mark" will place an "*" on all "zoomed" pixels that match the fore- ground color to identify "hard to distinguish" colors due to subtle differences. Select a foreground color from the color bars then click "FIND"; all matching pixels will be marked with an asterisk ("*"). "Find" is the reverse function of "Mark"; it will find any color (by locating it on the appropriate LOWER colorbar). Simply click "Find" then click any pixel in your "zoomed image"; VGACAD will look for the correct LOWER colorbar and color, then highlight it. Page ... 8 ColorBAR (CBAR) is basically the same function in the COLOR menu. This is an added convenience so that you can change the lower and upper color bar ranges while you work on the "Zoomed" image. "Color" - calls the COLOR MAP for palette editing; all functions COLOR MAP functions are replicated here for your convenience. "UNDO" - will restore ALL of the "zoomed image" to its original state despite ALL changes in ANY mode. "*OK*" - will replace your "zoomed area" in your picture and return you to the main screen; all changes are final. You can now select another area for "ZOOM" editing or exit. PROCESS Mode In PROCESS mode, each pixel will be altered by color image processing options: LITE, HAZE, DARK, and BLEND. The boxes in the ZOOM Menu will be changed as follows. ┌─────┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ │ │Mode │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │███│ │ │ └─────┘ │ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ PROCESS<┘ UNDO LITE HAZE DARK BLEND *OK* HAZE, "smooths" each pixel with 10 levels of "smoothing"; high levels leave more detail but apply less "smoothing". DARK and LITE will either add or reduce the amount of "white" in a colored pixel. BLEND will "blend" your current foreground color with the color of zoomed pixels and select the closest color that matches the "color mixture" based on the Principle of Additive Color Mixtures (see Appendix C); BLEND functions in the same way Air#1 (Airbrush #1) does. All color processes select the closest matching color from your limited 256 color palette; the richer your palette, the better the match. HAZE, LITE and DARK functions use a buffer of the image in the Viewing Window; as such, once a pixel is modified (i.e., HAZEd, LITEned or DARKened) it cannot be modifed again recursively. For example, if you wanted to change a red pixel to pink, you would select the LITE box and the appropriate setting (by clicking the LITE box until you have a selected setting), then click that specific pixel. If you wanted it to become "light pink", clicking that specific pixel again will NOT make it lighter; either increase the LITE setting and click that pixel again or click OK and repeat the above process. This non-recursive rule applies to HAZE, LITE and DARK; this way, you have much better control over the pixels your are "zoom editing". NOTE: WHEN USING HAZE LITE OR DARK, COLORBARS ARE DEACTIVATED. BLEND is recursive; each successive "click" of a zoomed pixel will make that pixel come closer and closer to the foreground color until it becomes the foreground color; this function is useful for "tinting" or "shading" any pixel with ANY foreground color. Page ... 9 PATTERN EDITING To edit a 16x16 section for use as a PATTERN FILL, select the pattern with the "Viewing Window" cursor; each 16x16 pattern is located at every 20th pixel (vertically and horizontally). Once an area is zoomed, check the alignment by clicking the RIGHT button over the Viewing Window to see how the pattern looks in a "filled" rectangle; misaligned patterns have unwanted borders replicated in each 16x16 section. Press any button to return to zoom editing; you can edit it using ALL Zoom editing functions in ANY mode. Whenever, you want to "see" the edited 16x16 pattern in a "test fill", click the Viewing Window with the RIGHT button. 11. Image Processing Menu ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │ │ │███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │ HAZE DARK LITE CNVT CONT BLUR KERNL GO │ │ -Color Process- -- Gray Image Processing -- │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ COLOR PROCESSES The HAZE, LITE and DARK functions described in the ZOOM Menus work in a similar manner here; the main difference is that they operate as an area process; any defined rectangular area will be affected rather than individual pixels. TO PROCESS ANY GIVEN AREA (any method in this menu), determine your process and parameters by clicking the appropriate boxes successively; then CLICK "GO". As in "Area Colorization", define an area to be processed; it will be highlighted by a blinking frame for acceptance (LEFT) or rejection (RIGHT). If rejected, you can define another area or press the RIGHT button again to exit. GREY SCALE CONVERSION CoNVerT will convert color to grey shades; screens and palettes are PERMANENTLY altered. Cycle through the options listed below by clicking the CNVT box; then click "GO". After conversion, the picture will be highlighted; as usual, LEFT accepts and RIGHT rejects. "Stretched 64" - the highest grey scale resolution. Your picture will be stretched to simulate 256 grey shades on a 64 grey continuuum. "Stretched 32" - medium grey scale resolution (256 grey scale on 32 grey continuum). This is useful when you intend to increase contrast or use more colors for colorizing after image processing. "Stretched 16" - low resolution grey scale (256 grey scale on 16 grey continuum). This has very high contrast and gets the most number of colors for colorization. Page ... 10 USE ONLY PICTURES CONVERTED WITH THE "STRETCHED" OPTIONS FOR IMAGE PROCESSING. THE OPTIONS BELOW ARE FOR COLORIZATION AND SAVING OF A PROCESSED IMAGE. The included palette "GRAY256.PLT" will view all pictures saved "STRETCHED nn" options. "COLORS 16-31" - After processing your image, using any of the "stretched" options, use this to change your image/palette to fit the default 16 grey palette that the VGA/MCGA card initializes to. The image is converted and looks like the "Stretched 16" option. When you save an image converted with this option, your image can be "Bloaded" in BASIC without any palette or loaded into VGACAD at start-up without any palette. You will have 16 color ranges to colorize your image. "COLORS 32-63" - This option works the same way "COLORS 16-31" option does, but converts you image to correspond to the colors 32 to 63. The image looks like "Stretched 32" option. "GRAY32.PLT" will show all pictures converted with this option. This option allows 8 color ranges for colorization. "COLORS 64-128" - This option converts your image with as you would view it with the "Stretched 64" option. The included palette "GRAY64.PLT" will view pictures saved under this option. 4 color ranges for colorization are possible. CONTRAST STRETCHING & ENHANCEMENT CONTrast Stretching uses a "histogram" of your grey pixels. Each pixel has a grey value (0-255); for this reason, it is important to use only "stretched nn" options when converting for image processing. Contrast Stretching equalizes the grey distribution to evenly span the range of 0 to 255 values. A typically unequalized image may have the following distribution of pixels. The low and high bins are the edges of the histogram distribution. All pixels between the edges (i.e., the high and low bin) are stretched to fill the entire 256 grey range. N ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ low ▓▓ high ║ P ║ bin ──┐ ▓ ▓▓▓▓ bin ║ i ║ │ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ │ ║ x ║ ▓ ▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓ ║ e ║ ▓ ▓ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓ ║ l ║ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║ s ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ 0 -------------------------127----------------------255 After Contrast Stretching the distribution will approximate this. N ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ▓ ▓ ║ P ║ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ║ i ║ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ║ x ║▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓║ e ║▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓║ l ║▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║ s ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ 0 -------------------------127----------------------255 Page ... 11 You will note that the pixels now span the entire range and contrast is improved. Bright pixels are brighter and dark pixels darker, other pixels in between are affected the same way. Upon selection of this option, you will requested for a "Minimum" number. This number is the threshold for selecting the high and low bins. The higher the number, the more likely that the bins will center on the middle and increase the Contrast Stretching effect. Since the histogram distribution is based on your defined area, the expected number of pixels per grey value will be much less in smaller areas than a larger area. Selecting a large "Threshold Minimum" for a small area may result in no change since no bins may be located. Try different Threshold Values to attain a desired effect. GREY BLURRING (Monochrome ANTI-ALIASING) BLURring results in a "smoothed" image with reduced "jaggies". Here, the "Threshold Minimum" value adjusts the amount of "spikes", edges or details retained. The higher the value, the smoother your image will be (including all other details). You have to experiment with the right "Threshold Minimum" that "smooths" your image yet keeps a lot of detail. This function uses "3x3 Pixels Averaging" with a variable threshold; its has advantages in adding more grey scale values in a picture with narrow grey scale distributions. For example, if you captured an 320x200x16 grey GIF with VGACAP, using this method you will introduce intermediate grey values between the 16 grey scales which will make it more lifelike and approach photographic quality. There is a special mode. If you select a "Threshold Minimum" of 256, a "3x3 Pixels Median Filter" is used; this mode is effective in removing random noise while maintaining edge details. This method is slower but results in a smoother picture with more edge detail. On the "downside", it does not "add" intermediate grey pixel values. KERNEL CONVOLUTION (EDGE DETECTION & HIGH FREQUENCY BOOSTING) KERNeL Convolution will detect edges in your picture. You can detect only vertical, horizontal, diagonal or ALL edges. This Kernel detects all edges: ╔═══╦═══╦═══╗ ║-1 ║-1 ║-1 ║ ╠═══╬═══╬═══╣ ║-1 ║ 8 ║-1 ║ ╠═══╬═══╬═══╣ ║-1 ║-1 ║-1 ║ ╚═══╩═══╩═══╝ If the value "8" is changed to "9" then this becomes a "High Frequency Boost" which "feeds back" the edges of your image, resulting in a very sharp but "noisy" image. The center value can be varied up to 12 for creating "overexposed" effects. All image processing option follow the same user interface. Select a rectangular area to be processed. After processing an area, you can accept it or reject (and start over) or exit altogether. Page ... 12 12. Edit Menu ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │ AUTO USER EDIT Port 90' Horz 180' Vert│ │ Size Size Menu -- FLIP & CONVERT SCREEN -- │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ AUTO Size shrinks or expands any defined area with its aspect ratio intact. The image is always proportional regardless of resizing. Select a starting point; keep the LEFT button down and define an area. The captured area will be highlighted. Select a NEW starting position and define an area which the captured image will either shrink or expand into. After releasing the LEFT button, the image will "resize" into the new defined area. Resized image are highlighted; as usual, accept with the LEFT or reject (and repeat or exit) with the RIGHT. Once you accept a change the image is permanently set; you cannot "undo" the change after accepting it. This function uses a 5/6 aspect ratio and will be distorted if you are using the "1:1 aspect ratio" simulated by vFIX SCRN in the VSCRN menu (discussed later). USER Size works the same way AUTO sizing does without maintaining the aspect ratio. Your new image will be stretched or distorted anyway you like. Use this for special effects or to manually correct the aspect ratio of a digitized image. FLIPPING IMAGES "Port" (Portrait) rotates you entire screen 90 degrees with corrected 5/6 aspect ratio; do not use this with vFIX SCRN option in VSCRN. A frame will appear which you can set as the desired location for your portrait. Use this to convert images that are captured sideways. ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────┐ │██████████████│ │█▓▓▒▒│ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ ---> │█▓▓▒▒│ │▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ │█▓▓▒▒│ └──────────────┘ └─────┘ BEFORE AFTER "90'" will flip any captured area 90 degrees. Like portrait, it will correct the image with a 5/6 aspect ratio. Almost no detail is lost; the maximum size for conversion is the largest perfect square on your screen. Do not use this with vFIX SCRN option in VSCRN ! "Horz" (Horizontal Flip) will flip any area as you would see it in a mirror. No detail is lost. "180'" (180 degree Flip) will flip any area as you would see it "upside down". No detail is lost. "Vert" (Vertical Flip) will flip any area as you would see it in a mirror, but "upside down". No detail is lost. Page ... 13 THE EDIT SUB-MENU ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │COPY CUT FILE DRAG INVS NORM OVRLY EXIT│ │-Clipboard- Menu -----Paste Options----- │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The "EDIT Menu" transfers you to a "CUTTING and PASTING" sub-menu. YOU CAN ONLY EXIT THIS MENU BY CLICKING THE EXIT BOX. "FILE Menu" will transfer to the file routines then return you to this menu. To capture an image, choose COPY or CUT; the latter option deletes the image from your screen. Select area for COPY OR CUT; after releasing the mouse button, the defined area is highlighted for acceptance or rejection. If accepted, you can save it to a *.CLP file through the FILE Menu transfer or use any of the 4 pasting options. OVeRLaY will probably be your most often used mode. It will paste an image without destroying the background. Images with a BLACK (color 0) background will have a "lasso" effect, wherein only the foreground portion of the "clipped" image is placed on the screen. NORMal and INVerSe will replace any background image with the captured image; INVerSe uses the inverse or complimentary colors. DRAG will continuously OVeRLaY your captured image until you release the LEFT mouse button - good for special effects. To paste, simply select the mode then place your cursor at a starting location. The moment you press the LEFT mouse button, the image will appear (flashing); you can then move your captured image to the desired location. Once you release the LEFT mouse button the image will be set and highligted for rejection or acceptance. If rejected, you can simply start all over. You can only paste after capturing an image or retrieving one from a file. If you exit the EDIT menu, any clipped images will be released; be sure to save it through FILE menu. 13. Shapes Menu Selecting SHPS ("Shapes") "chains" the Shapes module. Like ZOOM, this module will take a bit longer to activate and return to the Main menu; it is a separate module designed to "grow" and expand with extensive geometric and 'CAD' functions. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │ │ │███│ │ │ │ 1 │ │ <─┼─┼───┼┼───┐ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │ │ UNDO FILL Poly Rect Circ Line Curve EXIT │ │ │{█▓▓█▓▓░░▓▓██▓▓▒▒▓▓██▓▓▒▒▓▓▒▒▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒▓▓▒▒▓▓▒}│ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘resolution {▓██▓▓▓▒▒▓▓██▓▓▒▒▓▓██▓▓▒▒▓▓██▓▓▒▒██▓▓▒▒▓▓▒▒▓▓▒} of splines Page ... 14 When constructing a shape, the RIGHT button aborts placement; pressing the RIGHT button with the "arrow" cursor exits. The LEFT constructs or sets a constructed shape. The UNDO function will UNDO the last shape set; you can only UNDO shapes here. VGACAD supports (filled or hollow) circles/ellipses and rectangles. Filled shapes paint over the current screen up to borders with the foreground color regardless of the image. Click the FILL box to fill constructed shapes. Use the FILL Menu (sub-menu of the COLOR Menu) to fill complex shapes with solids, gradient or pattern fills. For circles, ellipses and rectangles, pick a starting position (e.g., upper-right for rectangles or center for ellipses); drag your cursor keeping the LEFT mouse button down; dragging the cursor down increases the length of the rectangle or Y radius of ellipse; moving right increases the rectangle width or the X radius of ellipse. When happy with the shape, release the LEFT mouse button. Place new shapes anywhere by moving your mouse even if an ellipse/circle was partially clipped during construction; hit the LEFT to set or RIGHT to abort. Rectangles can have borders (1 to 16 pixels thick); clicking the RECT box will increase and reset the border (to 1 when it exceeds 16). The border thickness in indicated in the LINE box. LINEs begin when you hit the LEFT mouse button and end when released. Once released, the line will blink. Hitting the LEFT button sets the line while the RIGHT aborts. CURVE will plot up to 32 points connected by straight lines. You can plot less than 32 by hitting the RIGHT button. After plotting your 32nd point (or last point), splines are calculated and connected. The number in the Curve Box is the resolution; the lower the number, the smoother the curves (it will also take longer to calculate). During calculation you will hear random beeps to tell you that it is working. POLY works like the Curve plotting but has unlimited connected lines. The last line (when RIGHT button is pressed) is always connected to the first to close the polygon. Use the Fill Menu to fill your polygons with the TRACE function. 14. Text Menu ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │███│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │NORM INVS NORM INVS MIX ---- COLOR ----│ │--Overlay-- ----Replace------ BAR │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ NORMal (Overlay) writes in the selected foreground color without destroying background (an "O" will have the image showing through its center). INVerSe (Overlay) places an inverse letter in the selected foreground color without destroying background; <spcbar> will leave a trail of solid blocks since a blank is a filled block when inversed. Page ... 15 NORMal (Replace) places text on the screen, destructively - background is not preserved. INVerSe (Replace) will, destructively, place the inverse text image. MIX (Replace) will place text with both the selected foreground color and background (e.g., yellow text on a blue background). COLOR BAR will activate the colorbars for color selection. To place text on your screen, first select the mode. An inverse box appears as the cursor. Place cursor at the starting point of your text and hit the LEFT button. A rectangular box will appear and you can begin typing your text. Text "wraps around"; pressing <return> moves to the next line. <Backspace> will undo your typos and restore the original image. Press <Esc> to keep your text, move to a new location, and repeat the process. You can always "undo" everything from the Main menu. To be able to go back and change your text to different colors at the their current positions, use the "Normal Overlay" mode and always start your text cursor at the "HOME" position (extreme upper-left); move around using <return> and <spcbar> to ensure text alignment. 15. File Menu Changes to .CLP when in EDIT sub-menu. ┌─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │ │ │███<┘│OK │ │OK │ │OK │ │ │ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │.BLD .PLT .GIF Meld Load Save VSCRN EXIT│ │ ---FileType---- │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Over "FileType" are three types of extensions. You must select a filetype before LISTing, SAVing or LOADing. ALL BOXES MARKED 'OK' REQUIRE CLICKING THE 'OK' BOX, AT BOTTOM-RIGHT, TO PROCEED (to avoid the inadvertent loss of your current screen and palette). ".BLD" are screens with "BLoaDable" format used in BASIC programs. You can import CGA pictures with CGA2VGA, "readmacs" with MAC2GIF or EGA/VGA 16-color pictures with EGA2VGA. ".PLT" are "PaLeTte" files, also in a "bloadable" format which can be used to save and restore ranges of palette information by using one BIOS call to reactivate the whole palette. ".GIF" are pictures saved in CompuServe's Graphic Interchange Format. In this release, any image up to 2048x2048x256 can be loaded, but interpolated to 320x200x256; use SQZGIF for large 256 color pictures or user the VSCRN options discussed below. ".CLP" are "CLiP" art files that were captured with the BASIC "GET" command and can be reloaded with the "PUT" command in another BASIC program. ".CLP" art files will can only be activated when in the EDIT sub-menu and called using the File Sub-Menu transfer option. Page ... 16 To list files, click "BLD", "PLT", "GIF" (or "CLP") box; click again to cycle through remaining files (if any) until you reach the end. To change your drive or sub-directory click the word PATHNAME and key-in your new drive and/or sub-directory. All pathnames MUST end with a backslash. Below are examples of correct syntax: A:\MYDISK\ C:\VGACAD\PICS\ SAVE and LOAD will operate on files with .BLD, .PLT, .CLP and .GIF extensions. Once you select this box, an inverse "text bar" will appear; use that cursor to highlight a filename that you want to save or load. If you want to create a new file, move the "text bar" to FILENAME and click LEFT button; enter any name up to eight letters long. Incorrect filename lengths result in an error beep and are rejeced. Once a filename is selected by highlighting or keying-in a new name, click the "OK" box and your filename will be saved or loaded. The OK box is inversed while saving or loading. BLD files are automatically loaded with their matching PLT file. If no matching PLT is found then none is loaded; this is a convenience that applies ONLY to the "LOAD" file function. MELD lets you to load a different PLT file which the current screen and palette will be modified to closely approximate the new colors in the new palette. Both the PLT and MELD boxes will be "set" when MELD is selected. As usual, after transformation, you can accept with the LEFT or reject with the RIGHT. Meld is critical to mixing various colored screens into a large screen using VSCRN (explained below). Very divergent palettes will NOT MELD well; you have 262,144 color combinations and ONLY 256 colors at any time. For this reason we have included two ways for color matching. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) matches are the most stringent and consequently more accurate. HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) matches are more lenient and will do a better job of increasing the number of colors matched, in a less accurate manner. You will have to experiment with both the RGB and HSV algorithms for best results; some images will not "meld" with satisfactory results due to RADICALLY DIFFERENT palettes. The MELD function will perform at its best when you want to compose a large GIF from several screens or "clips" that have moderate to minor palette differences. If you are using a capture board, then try to keep the same palette (i.e., rescan or capture without changing the 256 color palette); if you don't have that option then avoid melding significantly different scans (e.g, "night scenes" and "day scenes"). "Exit" returns to the Main Menu or Edit Menu (if you used the File menu transfer option). "End" will terminate the program and verifies if you want to return to DOS; "Y"es ends the program. VSCRN options create TEMP files; you will be prompted to delete them or not. "Wipe" is basically a "clear screen" function. Clicking this box will clear your screen and return; this step is irrevocable - no UNDO. Page ... 17 16. VDISK - The Virtual Screen ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐│ ││ │ │OK │ │ │ │ │ │OK │ │OK │ │███│ │ ││ │└───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘│ │ vFix iSCR View List NCod DCod BLANK EXIT│ │ SCRN vDSK ---------GIF---------- │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ VSCRN is a separate module. It is virtually a separate program linked to whatever screen you are working on; it is passed from one module to another, along with your interface settings. ALL BOXES MARKED WITH 'OK' REQUIRE CLICKING THE 'OK', AT BOTTOM RIGHT, TO PROCEED; this is a verification step to avoid losing the screen/palette currently loaded. iSCR vDSK (Image Screen Virtual Disk) is your link to VERY LARGE GIFs. Pressing [F1] shows all the keyboard commands while the "iSCR vDSK" functions are activated. A Virtual Screen can be created by using the BLANK function or by decoding a LARGE GIF file with any number of colors (preferably 256 colors since disk space is wasted with less than 256 colors). With the BLANK function, only a specified selection of Virtual Screens are available. With LARGE GIF files, you can edit virtually ANY GIF file - up to 32KBx32KBx256 !!! Basically, a Virtual Screen is an image that is MUCH larger than your screen; what you see is a "viewing window" that scrolls all over the Virtual Screen. ┌──────────┐██████████████ │ Viewing │ ██ │ Window │ ██ └──────────┘ ██ ██ Virtual Screen ██ ██ ██ ██████████████████████████ A 640x400 virtual screen, has four 320x200 screens in it. Think of the "viewing window" as a "zoomed" portion of the total image; in the case of 640x400, you are seeing 1/4 of the whole picture at any time. Before proceeding, let us review what an "aspect ratio" is. Aspect ratio is the number of horizontal pixels to vertical pixels that make a perfect square. The 320x200x256 mode has a 5/6 aspect ratio; for every 6 pixels, horizontally, you need 5 pixels to make the vertical line appear as the same lenght on the screen. With VGA 640x480 screens, the aspect ratio is a perfect 1. The number of horizontal pixels matches the number of vertical pixels to create a perfect square. All multiples of 640x480 have a perfectly aspect ratio; this is why it is suited for DTP (Desk Top Publishing) - "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) ! Divide 640x480 by 2; you get 320x240; sound familiar ? Yes, 320x240 is the size of Jovian VIA scans which have a perfect aspect ratio of 1. 800x600 ? 1024x768 ? Any picture that is a multiple of 640x480 has a 1:1 aspect ratio. Page ... 18 On the other "camp" are the 5/6 aspect ratios. 640x400 is a multiple of 320x200; so is 1280x800 and so forth. VGACAD uses 320x200 screens to edit pictures; as such, if you edit a picture with a 1:1 aspect ratio, it will look a little elongated. vFix SCRN will alter your screen aspect ratio so that editing in 320x200x256 will still give WYSISYG when editing a picture with a 1:1 aspect ratio. Although you are editing in 320x200x256, any 320x200x256 section of your Virtual Screen will be treated and look like it was created with an aspect ratio of 1 ! vFix SCRN toggles between the 5/6 aspect ratio and 1:1 aspect ratio; you can edit both types of pictures accurately. The 5/6 and 1:1 aspect ratios cover the universe of IBM/MSDOS, Amiga, Atari and MacII pictures. Occasionally, you will get GIFs with weird aspect ratios (e.g. 360x480 and 320x400), which will look a bit distorted; despite distortion, if you are merely touching-up or "smoothing" a "hot spot", writing it back to the Virtual Screen will maintain its aspect ratio as long as it is not resized or flipped (these aspect ratios will be dealt with in succeeding updates). ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ *** WARNING *** │ │ The vFix SCRN option requires a 100% VGA compatible card! │ │ This option has not been tested for MCGA or PS/2 Model 25/30. │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ To create a BLANK Virtual SCreen, simply click "BLANK" and select from the choices: [A] 640x400, [B] 640x480 and [C] 800x600. Using the 640x400 Virtual Screen maximizes VGACAD's editing capabilities since it was designed for the 320x200x256 mode. You can paste any image created from scratch WITHOUT the vFix SCRN option OFF or any image originating from a picture with a 5/6 aspect ratio (e.g., 320x200, 640x400, 1280x800). If you opt for the 640x480 or 800x600 Virtual Screen, then turn the vFix SCRN option ON. Images created with the vFIX SCRN ON will have a WYSIWYG capability. Images "clipped" from pictures with 1:1 aspect ratios will retain its aspect ratio even if the vFix SCRN option is OFF (it will look a bit elongated in VGACAD but will look correct when viewed as a total picture). Thus, you can use any clip from a picture with a 1:1 aspect ratio or create it from scratch using vFIX SCRN. Remember, you CANNOT mix aspect ratios unless you resize it manually (which can be a bit daunting) or create them from scratch with the correct aspect ratio setting (with vFix SCRN). Use "DCOD" (DeCODe) to create a Virtual Screen from a large GIF file. Click "LIST" to see what GIFs are available (change the path if necessary). Click DCOD and click "OK"; that's it! The Virtual Screen uses several TEMP.* files. A 640x480x256 GIF will use up more than 307,200 bytes of disk space; 800x600x256 needs more than 480,000; 1024x768x256 needs more than 786,432 ! Many GIF viewers cannot even handle 1024x768x256 screens; with a Virtual Screen you can edit virtually ANY GIF (up to 32KB x 32KB x 256). There is a special path called "VDSKpath" which tells VGACAD were to write/read pixels to/from the Virtual Screen. The speed of "viewing window" is directly related to your disk drive; RAMDISK are fastest ! Page ... 19 If you have extended or expanded memory, use a RAMDISK for the Virtual Screen, to significantly speed reading from/writing to the "viewing window"; a cache capability will help too. With a LOT of RAM, copy the entire VGACAD program on RAMDISK for "transparent" operation. Once you have created a Virtual Screen, the next thing to learn is moving the "viewing window". "iSCR SCRN" lets you view, get or put screens from/to the Virtual Screen. <Return> "puts" your current screen in any given location on the Virtual Screen; <Esc> "gets" a screen from the Virtual Screen for editing and image processing and replaces the current screen loaded in the "viewing window". Moving around the Virtual Screen is done through numeric keypad keys. Press [F1] for HELP; it provides a summary of these functions. <Shift-Home> or <Shift-7> jumps to the upper-left section. <Shift-End> or <Shift-1> jumps to the lower-left section. <Shift-PgUp> or <Shift-9> jumps to the upper-right section. <Shift-PgDn> or <Shift-3> jumps to the lower-right section. <Shift-5> centers the "viewing window" on the Virtual Screen. *** ALWAYS KEEP THE NUMLOCK KEY UP *** ┌─────────┐ - - - -┌─────────┐ "viewing │ Shift- │ │ Shift- │ window"->│ Home │ │ PgUp │ ├─────────┘ └─────────│ | ┌─────────┐ | | │ Shift-5 │ | | │ │ <---- Virtual Screen | └─────────┘ | ├─────────┐ ┌─────────┤ │ Shift- │ │ Shift- │ │ End │ │ PgDn │ └─────────┘- - - - └─────────┘ By the same logic, all the arrow keys, Home, PgUp, End, and PgDn will move the "viewing window" in variable increments of 4 to 64 pixels, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. On default, the range of pixel movement is 16. Pressing [+] increments the range, while [-] decrements; [*] resets the variable "scroll" to 16. When you press the [+],[-] or [*] keys, a rising tone indicates the increment level (highest tone = 64); lower tones indicate decrements. For precise movements, the shifted-arrow keys will "scroll" in the vertical or horizontal axes by one pixel. After editing and/or pasting various "clips" or screens, you can NCOD (eNCODe) your Virtual Screen into a LARGE GIF - viewable with VIEW. VIEW "chains to" the MVGAVU program which supports several video modes; it supports 320x400x256 and 360x480x256 in MVGA (Meduim-res VGA) mode or "SuperVGA" modes from 640x400x256 to 800x600x256 or any User-Definable video mode (unlimited screen size through BIOS calls). MVGAVU is a separate program module that can stand-alone as a distinct application; MVGAVU is discussed in another section. Page ... 20 17. VSCRN Tutorial Editing a Large GIF file (640x480x256) Let us assume you want to edit a 640x480x256 GIF picture and have a corrupted copy of the classic WETT.GIF in a directory "\GIF\SVGA". You want to remove some noise patterns from the lower-right corner caused by a bad download. You have a PS/2 Model 50, a 30 Meg Hard Disk, and 1 Meg RAMDISK as Drive E. 1) From VGACAD's Main menu, click FILE. From the Files menu, click VSCRN. Assuming you are in a sub-directory called "\VGACAD" you will have to first locate your picture file. Just like in the Files menu, you click the word "Pathname" at the bottom of the screen. You type the new path "\GIF\SVGA\". 2) Now that you have the right path, click the LIST box and all the GIF files in that directory are listed. Having a large RAMDISK, click "Pathname". Press <ret> without any input to retain the PATH. Input the path of your RAMDISK at "VDSKpath" - which is "E:\" <ret>. 3) Click the DCOD box and select "WETT"; press the RIGHT mouse button; "Filename: WETT.GIF" appears at the lower left. Now, click "OK"; the disk whirls; you see "Creating TEMP files." 4) After a while, you are returned to VSCRN. Click the "iSCR vDSK" box then OK; you see the center of your image which is slightly elongated (you are still in a 5/6 aspect ratio). To correct the aspect ratio, press "Esc" to get out of "iSCR" and click "vFix"; the screen "squishes" about 20%. You are now in a 320x200x256 mode with a 1:1 aspect ratio ! 5) Now back to viewing; click "iSCR" then OK and try out all the cursor keys. Press [F1] for HELP. With NUMLOCK UP, press <Shift-End> to "jump" the "viewing window" to the lower-left section of the image - the one you want to edit. Press "Esc" and the image is now stored in memory as your new 320x200x256 screen (but with a 1:1 aspect ratio). Click EXIT and you are back at VGACAD's Main Menu with the section to be edited. 6) Back at VGACAD, you'll notice that all the menus are slightly "squished" but the screen looks like you "zoomed-in" the 640x480x256 GIF. So far so good. All the VGACAD functions will work as normal (with the exception of resizing/flipping options which assume a 5/6 aspect ratio). 7) After some time editing/image processing, you are now happy with the results and want to integrate it in your Virtual Screen. Click the FILE box from the Main Menu, then VSCRN. At the VSCRN menu, click the "iSCR" box, then OK; you see the same image you left without your changes. Press <Return> and you see the changes being updated to your Virtual Screen. Page ... 21 8) You think you have fixed the image and want to convert the Virtual Screen to a SVGA GIF file. Press "Esc". You are back in the VSCRN menu. Click the "LIST" box and the files appear. Click the NCOD box and a "text bar" cursor appears. Since you want to overwrite your old copy of WETT.GIF, you click the LEFT mouse button over WETT. Click OK and your image is now being encoded as a SVGA 640x480x256 GIF. 9) After a while, you are returned to VSCRN. You want to view the results of your editing. Click LIST again, then VIEW. As usual, select the file - WETT. Click "OK". You are now transferred to MVGAVU where you can view your edited image as a 320x400x256 or 360x480x256 image on your PS/2 Model 50. Creating a 640x400x256 image from scratch Let us assume you have a regular IBM XT, 30 meg Hard Disk with an Orchid Designer VGA 512KB card. You want to create a 640x400x256 SVGA GIF using the 320x200x256 images of Phoebe Cates from the "Gallery" of Compuserve. You have CATES1.GIF, CATES2.GIF and CATES3.GIF; these are all 320x200x256 GIFs. Since you have an old Orchid Designer with BIOS v9.4; you run VGAFIX (included) to fix the defective BIOS problem before running VGACAD. 1) Before anything else, you want to find out which of the three GIF palettes you want to use as your "reference" palette (the one which the other two will be MELDed with). From the Files menu, you click the GIF box, select CATES3, click LOAD then OK; after a few seconds CATES3.GIF is loaded and you are back in the Main menu of VGACAD. 2) Since CATES3.GIF is the "R-rated" scene of the three pictures, you decide that this is the GIF that will be the "reference" palette; let the other two GIFs be compromised to fit the "reference" palette. Click PLT, specify "CATESREF" (or any other name) as the filename, then click OK. 3) Now transfer to the VSCRN menu by clicking VSCRN. From the VSCRN menu, click BLANK. Choose [A] for the 640x400 Virtual Screen. After a while, you are returned to the VSCRN menu. Click "iSCR", then OK; the screen is literally "blank". At this point in time, you are in the center of your Virtual Screen. You want to put CATES3 on the lower-left "quadrant", so press <Shift-End> (NUMLOCK SHOULD BE UP); the disk whirls but you don't see any changes in the screen (it is still blank). When the disk stops, press <Return>; the image appears and updates the Virtual Screen. 4) Press "Esc" to get back to the VSCRN menu. Click EXIT and you are back in VGACAD's Main Menu with the CATES3 image. Now, LOAD "CATES2.GIF". Click "GIF"; select "CATES2"; click LOAD then click "OK". CATES2.GIF is now loaded. You are back in the Main Menu. Being satisfied with the picture, you forego any editing and image procesing and simply want to integrate it in the Virtual Screen. Page ... 22 5) Click FILE; from the Files Menu, click MELD. The PLT and MELD boxes are both "set". With the "text bar" cursor, you pick "CATESREF" which you previously saved as your "reference" palette. You then click "OK". You are now given a choice to use RGB or HSV color matching; you guess that the colors are close enough so you choose RGB for the best color match. The picture changes color then reappears with new colors. Happy with the MELDed output, you proceed to VSCRN. 6) From VSCRN you pick "iSCR" again, then OK, and see the last screen you "pasted" on the Virtual Screen (i.e., CATES3). You want to place CATES2 in the upper-right quadrant; <Shift-PgUp> (NUMLOCK IS UP!) and the screen "blanks" since that "quadrant" is empty. Press <return> and CATES2 appears and is updated in the Virtual Screen at that location. REPEAT steps 4 to 6 for the last screen (CATES1) and place it at any of two remaining "quadrants" (i.e., the lower-right or upper-left). You can use the remaining "quadrant" for text. 7) Having MELDed the three 320x200x256 screens of Phoebe Cates and added text to the last "quadrant" you now want to convert the Virtual Screen to a large GIF. Knowing you have almost no space in your Hard Disk left (you didn't clean-up for 3 months <grin>) you want to save NEWCATES.GIF to a 360KB floppy in Drive A, so you click "Pathname" and change it to "A:\". 8) Now, click the "LIST" box; no files appear since it is a blank floppy disk. Click the NCOD box and a "text bar" cursor appears. Since you want to create a new filename, you move the "text bar" cursor to "Filename" and click the LEFT mouse button. Type the new filename (e.g., "NEWCATES"); you press <return> and the .GIF extension is added to your filename. Click OK; your image is now being encoded as a NEWCATES.GIF (640x400x256) in Drive A. 9) After a minute, you are back at the VSCRN menu. To view the results of your editing click LIST, then VIEW; select NEWCATES then click "OK". You are now transferred to MVGAVU where you can view your edited image as a 640x400x256 (even if this mode is not supported by the Orchid DVGA) ! If you have an image capture board that saves pictures with 1:1 aspect ratios (e.g., Jovian VIA), simply save them as "clips" (you can use VGACAP to grab screens while viewing it is 320x200x256 with MVGAVU or another viewer); each "clip", however, will have a maximum size of 320x200. But, if you viewed it with a viewer that scrolls (e.g., PICEM) in 320x200x256 and capture sections of the scrolled image, the 1:1 aspect ratio will be maintained. You can use the vFIX option in VSCRN to paste all your clippings together while working with a zoomed WYSIWYG feel. Remember, although each clip (i.e. *.BLD screen or *.CLP) has a maximum size of 320x200, if you viewed it in 320x200x256 mode without resizing or "fitting to screen", it will keep its 1:1 aspect ratio and can be treated as such for 640x480 or 800x600 Virtual Screens. Page ... 23 18. MVGAVU GIF BLD/PT Viewing Utility MVGAVU is a GIF and BLD/PLT (BLoaD and PaLleTte) viewer for use in a batch file (*.BAT) or as an interactive stand-alone program. MVGAVU is designed to integrate itself with VGACAD v1.6 (and up). MVGAVU uses two unsupported video modes for generic VGA cards - 320x400x256 and 360x480x256 ! The former mode DOUBLES the resolution (in contrast to the MCGA/VGA 320x200x256 mode); the latter almost TRIPLES (270%) the resolution. MVGA (Medium Resolution VGA) provides you with the capability to "view" those SVGA ("Super VGA") GIFs with the maximum amount of resolution - "jaggies" are minimized. In effect, you will now have close to "Super VGA" capability on your regular, generic VGA card without investing in a new SVGA video card. MVGAVU supports SVGA ("Super VGA") modes as well; the most generic families of SVGA cards are hardcoded in MVGAVU (i.e., Tseng, Paradise, Video7 "families"). MVGAVU automatically "fits to screen" ANY picture that is larger than your viewing mode; you will always see the whole picture without scrolling. Certain GIF pictures with aspect ratio problems can be "fixed" with MVGAVU, which provides two "aspect fixing" options. From VGACAD, your filename will be the one you selected from the VSCRN menu. As a stand-alone utility, select any filename by moving a highlighted bar (with the arrow keys) and pressing the <return> key. <Spc> changes to a different PATH, while <Esc> exits. PATHs, as usual, MUST end with backslash character "\" or it will be rejected. After verifying your picture you will see these options: [0] 320 x 400 x 256 MVGA mode [1] 360 x 480 x 256 MVGA mode [2] FIX ASPECT (320x200,640x400) [3] FIX ASPECT (640x480,800x600) [4] 640 x 400 x 256 SVGA Tseng [5] 640 x 480 x 256 SVGA Tseng [6] 800 x 600 x 256 SVGA Tseng [7] 640 x 350 x 256 SVGA Tseng [8] 640 x 400 x 256 SVGA Paradise [9] 640 x 480 x 256 SVGA Paradise [A] 640 x 400 x 256 SVGA Video7 [B] 640 x 480 x 256 SVGA Video7 [C] 800 x 600 x 256 SVGA Video7 [D] 720 x 540 x 256 SVGA Video7 [E] 640 x 400 x 256 SVGA Everex [X] NNN x NNN x 256 SVGA User [Esc] Abort Viewing [Spc] Restore Original Image Aspect The 320x400x256 mode is the safest ! It uses a minimum number of direct VGA register reads/writes; in theory, it should run on even the least "register-compatible" VGA card. It has an interesting aspect ratio - double the vertical resolution of MCGA/VGA 320x200x256 - thus MVGA ?! This mode is the "safest" since it is way within the tolerances of all PS/2 monitors. Many Amiga/Atari/MacII GIFs use this aspect ratio; GIFs viewed in this mode virtually replicates what the "originator" saw ! The 360x480x256 mode pushes your VGA card to its theoretical limits ! With its 480 scan lines; the vertical resolution replicates 640x480x256 which is the most popular SVGA format. You have 270% more resolution; you can view 640x480x256 GIFs with a minimum of distortion or "jaggies". Since the 360x480x256 mode is being implemented by some paint programs, if a GIF image is encountered with a 360 pixel screen width but has a screen height over 480 (e.g., 360x960x256 "Lester.GIF"), MVGAVU will correct/interpolate the GIF to "fit the screen" with a new aspect ratio. Page ... 24 If you get "weird" results from the 360x480x256 mode, your video card is not as "register-compatible" as it claims to be; use the 320x400x256 mode instead. If the 320x400x256 mode does not yield favorable results, then your VGA card is BIOS-compatible ONLY ! MVGAVU was designed to get more viewing pleasure from SVGA GIFs on your generic VGA; 320x200x256 pics are "double-scanned" to compensate for the larger screen. Whenever possible, use BLD/PLT files for 320x200x256 pics; they load, virtually instantaneously on MVGAVU ! MVGAVU supports the more popular SVGA chip families. Generally, we included any 640x400x256, 640x480x256 and 800x600x256 mode. MVGAVU is hardcoded for: a) Tseng chip family (STB, Genoa, Orchid, Sigma, ...) b) Paradise chip family (Dell, AST, ...) c) Cirrus chip family (Video7, ...) If you do not see your video card listed, don't fret ! We included an option to create your own video mode. Specify the Screen Width, Screen Height and Video Mode calling number. On default, MVGAVU.CFG has the MCGA parameters. Press "Y"es to edit the parameters after prompted; once edited, parameters are saved to disk and can be called at again. This routine uses STANDARD VGA calling conventions; Everex and Video7 cards do not use this calling convention. Everex users have a SVGA 640x400x256 mode preset; it uses BIOS calls to maximize compatibility. Video7 users have all the "important" modes preset and hardcoded in MVGAVU; you will not need to create other video modes. This routine is as GENERIC as it can get. If your video card is as BIOS compatible as it claims to be, then you can set ANY video mode with ANY resolution (e.g., 1024x768x256, 1280x800x256). Tseng chip users (STB, Orchid, ...) have a special mode. Since you do not have a 640x400x256 mode, one was created for you. This mode is not supported by your video card; it is with MVGAVU ! The 640x400x256 mode is a very important one. Firstly, it has the same aspect ratio of the regular MCGA/VGA 320x200x256 mode; when you view a 320x200x256 GIF in this mode, there is a sudden change in the overall clarity/composition of the picture - resolution is increased 400%, yielding a very pleasant way to view your collection of 320x200x256 pics. Secondly, many Amiga, Atari and MacII GIFs use this aspect ratio; GIFs will be replicated AS THE ORIGINATOR SAW IT when viewed in this mode. Last, but not the least is the 256KB barrier. More video cards will be adding "clocks" which will support the 640x400x256 mode on their 256KB versions (RAM is VERY expensive); we anticipate an upsurge of this mode's appearance and resulting number of pictures using this aspect ratio. When viewing Jovian VIA 320x240x256 GIFs, you will also notice how nice it is to view them in 640x480x256 or 800x600x256; these GIFs have the same aspect ratio. This has the same effect of viewing 320x200x256 pics in the 640x400x256 mode. Some "GIFfers" force the screen and image descriptors to have the same values (e.g., CARMEN2.GIF); these large GIFs have a distorted aspect ratio or require scrolling to view correctly (assuming you selected a video mode with the matching aspect ratio). Symptoms of this problem are evident in "fat" or "squished" or "thin" pictures. Page ... 25 FIX ASPECT (320x200,640x400) assumes the originator used a 5/6 screen aspect ratio (e.g., MCGA 320x200, or Amiga/Atari/MacII 640x400). An image can have any size larger or smaller than the screen, but it must have information about the aspect ratio to view it without distortion. By selecting this option, MVGAVU will calculate the optimum screen size and correct the image to approximate the correct aspect ratio. FIX ASPECT (640x480,800x600) assumes the originator used a "1:1 aspect ratio"; the 320x240 (Jovian VIA), 640x480 (EEGA/MCGA/VGA/SVGA), 800x600 (EEGA/SVGA), 1024x768 (SVGA) modes all have "1:1 aspect ratios". Almost all scanners utilize a "1:1 aspect ratio". Whenever you view a picture that seems "too fat, too thin or squished" then use either of the two options. Both of these aspect ratio "fix" routines will cover the universe of aspect ratio problems. MVGAVU can be used in a batch (*.BAT) file for presentations. Simply type "MVGAVU [filename] <ret>" with no extension (path optional); it will automatically search for a matching *.GIF file. If it can't find any then it will look for a BLD/PLT file. If a GIF file is found, it will automatically be viewed in 320x400x256 mode. Examples: MVGAVU test MVGAVU \gif\svga\zoe If your video card cannot support the 320x400x256 mode (e.g., PS/2 Model 25 or 30) 320x200x256 will be implemented. No matter what the size of the picture, it is interpolated to "fit to screen". If a BLD/PLT file is found, MVGAVU will load it in 320x200x256 mode. If no picture is found or a BLD file has no matching PLT file, an error will result; matching BLD/PLT files must be in the same drive/directory. In Command Line mode, your picture is displayed and pressing any key after its display will end the program WITHOUT menus or prompts. 19. VGACAP (Resident Screen Capture Utility), RAW2GIF and BLD2GIF VGACAP captures palettes and screens in VGA/MCGA 320x200x256 color mode or *ANY* SVGA 640x480x256 mode (AST, Dell, Genoa, Orchid, Paradise, STB, Sigma, Tseng, Video7, etc.). VGACAP captures and "Bsaves" 320x200x256 screens of other viewing/painting/graphics/CAD programs; 640x480x256 screens are saved to a *.RAW file - "RAW" pixel dumps. Run VGACAP before entering your painting/CAD or digitized picture viewer. Press <ALT-F4>, while viewing your picture in any paint/CAD program and the screen and palette will be saved in your default drive and directory. If you are viewing your picture in MCGA/VGA 320x200x256 then it will be "Bsaved". If you are NOT is MCGA/VGA 320x200x256 mode, then VGACAP will assume you are in 640x480x256 SVGA mode ! <ALT-F4> is the new HOTKEY. VGACAP v4.0 is 100% BIOS COMPATIBLE and SHOULD capture *ANY* 640x480x256 screen, regardless of the video card you are using. If you are used to the FAST 320x200x256 grabs of VGACAP v2.0 (included), you can load both versions without conflicting HOTKEYS (VGACAP v1-v3 uses <ALT-F10>). Page ... 26 The first time you run the program it will save your screen and palette to SCREEN00.BLD and SCREEN00.PLT respectively. If there is an existing SCREENxx.BLD or SCREENxx.PLT file, then it will increment to the next higher number. Use your favorite memory managers to remove VGACAP or reboot to release it from RAM. When viewing in 640x480x256 SVGA mode, then the SCREENxx.BLD file is changed to SCREENxx.RAW; the "Bload" header is excluded and a "RAW" pixel dump is implemented; *.PLT files are unchanged. When in DOS or using a picture viewer (e.g., PICEM, VPIC, or CSHOW) or application which requires a keypress to continue, press another key after hitting the 'HOTKEY'. RAW2GIF is a *.RAW and *.PLT (PaLleTte) to GIF conversion program for use in a batch file (*.BAT) or as an interactive stand-alone program; *.RAW files are 640x480x256 screens captured with VGACAP (v4.0). It is designed to integrate itself with VGACAD v1.6 (and up). BLD2GIF, like RAW2GIF, is a BLD/PLT (BLoaD and PaLleTte) to GIF conversion program. BLD2GIF will load and convert BLD/PLT files from VGACAP, VGACAD, SQZGIF, EGA2VGA or MAC2GIF. If you capture a 640x480x256 screen for direct editing in VGACAD then: (1) from the VSCRN Menu, create a blank 640x480 Virtual Screen; (2) exit VGACAD and DO NOT DELETE the TEMP files; (3) overwrite TEMP.RAW and TEMP.PLT with the selected SCREENxx.RAW and SCREENxx.PLT files; for example, at DOS prompt type "COPY screen00.* temp.*" <ret> (4) run VGACAD and load TEMP.PLT at the Files Menu; (5) click the VSCRN box; at the VSCRN Menu, click iSCR vDSK then OK; you see the captured 640x480x256 image as the new Virtual Screen. If you exit VGACAD and want to reuse TEMP files, upon restarting VGACAD, you MUST reload TEMP.PLT from the Files Menu BEFORE invoking VSCRN. YOUR CURRENT PALETTE ALWAYS OVERWRITES TEMP.PLT AFTER EXITING VSCRN ! If you type "RAW2GIF <ret>", you can select any filename by moving a highlighted bar (with the arrow keys) and pressing the <return> key. Pressing <Spc> allows you to select a different PATH, while <Esc> exits. Be sure *.RAW files have a corresponding *.PLT file or a error message will result. A *.GIF file is created with the corresponding name. GIF FILES WITH THE SAME NAME WILL BE OVERWRITTEN ! RAW2GIF can be used in a batch (*.BAT) file for multiple conversions. Type "RAW2GIF [filename] " with no extension (path optional) for every file you want to convert in your *.BAT file or a specific RAW/PLT file from DOS. Examples: RAW2GIF screen00 RAW2GIF \capture\vga\screen99 RAW2GIF will automatically search for the *.RAW and *.PLT file. If no picture is found or a *.RAW file is encountered with no matching *.PLT file, then an error will result; both the matching *.RAW and *.PLT files must be in the same drive/directory or default drive/directory. BLD2GIF utility works exactly the same way RAW2GIF does but for BLD/PLT files. Page ... 27 20. CGA2VGA (Screen Capture & Convert Utility) CGA2VGA will capture/convert ANY VIEWABLE CGA picture for VGACAD use; 64kb RAM is required. CGA2VGA "bsaves" 4-color CGA screens. "Hotkey" is <Alt-F2>. CGA2VGA DOES NOT SAVE A PALETTE; captured screens will have 4 colors (Color 0-3); you can modify or add colors with VGACAD. 21. REGISTRATION VGACAD (v1.6 and up) and its ancillary utilities will undergo a price change. Due to the rising cost of graphics peripherals AND the "poor response" to this Shareware approach (we estimate a minuscule 1% to 5% register), we must increase the registration fee to keep developing. VGACAD v1.60 (and up) and ancillary utilities developed during and after its release will cost $27.95 USD (add $15.00 USD for handling for registration outside USA or CANADA). The following are provided (latest copy or update) to registered users. GIFPUB - converts 256 color GIFs to B&W images of varying sizes for desktop publishing/printing as .PCX (ZSoft format for Ventura Desk Top Publisher, First Publisher, Publisher's Paintbrush, PC Paintbrush+) or rename files to .PCC for importing in Aldus Pagemaker. GIFDOT - converts 256 color GIFs to B&W images of varying sizes for printing on IBM and Epson compatible printers (separate drivers). Several print sizes with perfect aspect ratios. Variable Brightness and Contrast Stretching. Single or Double pass printing. Histogram Analysis SQZGIF - converts LARGE GIF pictures (up to 2048x2048x256) to 320x200x256 using interpolation and "color averaging" techniques to blend/smooth "jaggies" inherent in reducing LARGE GIFS while retaining a maximum of color information; outputs to GIFPUB, GIFDOT, VGACAD, MVGAVU, VGA2CGA or VGA2EGA. MAC2GIF - converts .MAC ("readmac") pictures to 5-16 grey shades or color and saves results as .GIF or BLD/PLT file, and other formats; graphics are viewable in VGA, MCGA or EGA - no video card is required for direct Black & White conversion to GIF. EGA2VGA - converts GIFs (16 colors and below) or ANY VIEWABLE 2-16 color EGA/EEGA picture to 320x200x256; creates 256 new colors; outputs directly to GIFPUB, GIFDOT, VGACAD, MVGAVU, VGA2CGA or VGA2EGA. VGA2CGA - converts 256 color GIFs to CGA! Uses unsupported 160x100x16 mode with up to "405" colors. Includes special "CGX" viewer. VGA2EGA - Conversion program for displaying 256 color pictures on EGA-bound systems. Variable RGBICMY color/contrast/dithering levels. Variable Sizing. EEGA support. Optional PCX (4 RGBI planes) save for Desktop Color Separation. Page ... 28 Whats next ? SYNPCX is utility to convert dithered, monochrome .PCX (Zsoft) files to smooth grey shades. This utility is primarily designed to convert scanned (e.g., Logitech & DFI hand scanners) Black & White images, saved to a .PCX file, for use and image processing with VGACAD, redithering with GIFPUB, printing with GIFDOT, or EGA conversion with VGA2EGA. SYNPCX will be graphics device independent (No Video Required). We are also, developing VGASHW (a 256-color presentation system), VGACBT (the PROGRAMMABLE Computer-Based Training counterpart of VGASHW) AND MANNEQUIN (what "Weird Science" tried to do in the movie it will do on the computer screen with potential applications for Advertising and Fashion Design, aside from creating your own artistic nudes). VGACAD will go through radical transformations like this version has undergone. With our "chained environment" updates will can now be released in modules; moreover, all our utilities will become fully integrated with VGACAD. We intend to support more VGACAD functions in MVGA modes and SVGA modes (all optional, MCGA/VGA 320x200x256 will always be the least common denominator). Some planned changes include (1) more color image procesing algorithms, (2) full-blown expansion of the SHAPES module to incorporate more CAD functions, (3) a separate 3D module, (4) other file formats such as .PCX and TIF, ... more ! If you support maverick authors like us, we will continue to develop innovative products like nothing seen commercially - otherwise, they will, as many (sigh!) good Shareware programs, simply "DIE" from lack of support ! Compare the cost/benefit ratio of any of our products with commercial products; we want to continue supporting and developing these products. Please support the User-Supported (Shareware) concept; you, and you alone, determine whether it will be worthwhile to continue developing. To register, send in the registration form and check payable to Dr. Marvin Gozum 2 Independence Place Apt. 303-2 6th & Locust Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 NOTE: ADD $10 (USD) IF YOU WANT YOUR UPDATES IN 3.5" FORMAT. WE ARE WAIVING THE $15 (USD) HANDLING CHARGE FOR CANADIAN REGISTRANTS; THIS OFFER IS VALID *ONLY* WITH VGACAD v1.6 REGISTRATION FORM OR PRINT-OUT OF THIS PAGE. REGISTRANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES *MUST* ADD THE HANDLING CHARGE TO THE BASIC REGISTRATION ! ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Graphics Interchange Format and GIF are trademarks (tm) of CompuServe Inc. an H&R Block Company. Page ... 29 Palette Organization Map Appendix A The following diagram shows where each of the 255 color registers of the 256 color palette are located. Please note the inverse color relation- ships for each color box. For example, if you are modifying color 13, you must ensure that color 242 is significantly different that color 13 to maintain cursor visibility when placed over either color 13 or 242. A 16 color set is a line of 16 colors as illustrated below. Colors 0 to 16 is considered a color set, as well as colors 255 to 240 or 48 to 63. ───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬───┬┬─── 0││ 1││ 2││ 3││ 4││ 5││ 6││ 7││ 8││ 9││ 10││ 11││ 12││ 13││ 14││ 15 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 255 │254 │253 │252 │251 │250 │249 │248 │247 │246 │245 │244 │243 │242 │241 │240 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 16││ 17││ 18││ 19││ 20││ 21││ 22││ 23││ 24││ 25││ 26││ 27││ 28││ 29││ 30││ 31 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 239 │238 │237 │236 │235 │234 │233 │232 │231 │230 │229 │228 │227 │226 │225 │224 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 32││ 33││ 34││ 35││ 36││ 37││ 38││ 39││ 40││ 41││ 42││ 43││ 44││ 45││ 46││ 47 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 223 │222 │221 │220 │219 │218 │217 │216 │215 │214 │213 │212 │211 │210 │209 │208 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 48││ 49││ 50││ 51││ 52││ 53││ 54││ 55││ 56││ 57││ 58││ 59││ 60││ 61││ 62││ 63 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 207 │206 │205 │204 │203 │202 │201 │200 │199 │198 │197 │196 │195 │194 │193 │192 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 64││ 65││ 66││ 67││ 68││ 69││ 70││ 71││ 72││ 73││ 74││ 75││ 76││ 77││ 78││ 79 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 191 │190 │189 │188 │187 │186 │185 │184 │183 │182 │181 │180 │179 │178 │177 │176 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 80││ 81││ 82││ 83││ 84││ 85││ 86││ 87││ 88││ 89││ 90││ 91││ 92││ 93││ 94││ 95 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 175 │174 │173 │172 │171 │170 │169 │168 │167 │166 │165 │164 │163 │162 │161 │160 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 96││ 97││ 98││ 99││100││101││102││103││104││105││106││107││108││109││110││111 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 159 │158 │157 │156 │155 │154 │153 │152 │151 │150 │149 │148 │147 │146 │145 │144 ───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼───┬┼─── 112││113││114││115││116││117││118││119││120││121││122││123││124││125││126││127 ───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├───┘├─── 143 │142 │141 │140 │139 │138 │137 │136 │135 │134 │133 │132 │131 │130 │129 │128 ────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴─── Page ... 30 How to Colorize Grey Shade Images Appendix B False Colorization is the process by which you are now viewing Black & White movie classics in living color. You can do the same thing, particularly if you own a digitizer that supports grey scales. I have selected 16 gray shades as the main focus of VGACAD's support, primarily since it is aimed at the low-end market. If you want to colorize gray images with more that 16 shades use the ColorBAR (CBAR) option to change the range of local colors. Let us colorize one of the famous GIF pics in BBSs - MONROE.GIF (which is being distributed with Michael Vigneau's VGAGIF in VGADEMO.arc). MONROE.GIF is a 16 grey-level picture with colors 0 to 15 containing the entire grey scale. Run VGACAP, then view the picture with any GIF viewing utility; capture the picture then load the screen and palette in VGACAD. The first thing to do is to increase the number of grey scale elements. From the ImgP (Image Processing) menu: 1) Convert (CNVT) the picture into the "Stretched 64" format. This will give you the maximum range of grey levels although the picture will remain unchanged. 2) Next BLUR the picture with a Threshold "Minimum =12"; this will smoothen the picture yet keep most of the edge detail. The smoothing will introduce intermediate grey scale values making your picture richer. Notice the "salt and pepper", random noise; these are the edges or "spikes" that were not "blurred" to keep details. 3) You can remove those spikes with the Median Threshold Filter, by increasing the value of BLUR to "Minimum=256". You can, also, zoom into each area with "spikes" and blur individual pixels with the HAZE function in the ZOOM Menu. Using the Zoom Menu will take more time but a significant amount of detail will be retained. You have numerous combinations of image procesing techniques at your disposal. You can use the CONTrast Enhancement function, or EDGE Detection functions to boost details or try different settings with the BLUR function to achieve different effects; the HAZE, LITE, DARK and BLEND processes can also be used on selected areas or pixels (from the Zoom Menu); you have to experiment to get the optimal quality from your grey image. 4) Convert (CNVT) the picture into a "Colors 32-63" format. Now from the Files Menu, load the "GRAY32.PLT"; you will notice that the picture remains untouched. You are now ready to colorize your grey image. Page ... 31 From the COLOR menu, select the CBAR option and change the range to 32 by clicking the CBAR box until you see bands of 32 colors on the upper and lower Colorbars. Click the AREA Colorization option. Now, with the scroll arrows, set the lower Colorbar to the 32 grey range; set the upper Colorbar to the flesh tones. Select any area in your grey image; after releasing the LEFT mouse button you will notice the entire area to be colorized with the flesh tones of the upper Colorbar. Do this for all areas you think will have that flesh tone; avoid the hair and background as much as possible. By now, most of your picture will have flesh tones and overlapping areas in the hair and background. To edit each area, use the ZOOM function in XColor mode; XColor will perform in the same manner as AREA Colorization but on a pixel basis; remember to keep the upper and lower Colorbars to reflect which range is being replaced by the other - the lower Colorbar always replaces the upper Colorbar. You can now use a "yellowish" Colorbar to simulate blonde hair color. If you are not happy with any of the hues, simply go into the Color Map and adjust any range until you have colors best suited for your image. Once you have colorized the hair, flesh areas and even the background, you will notice that no matter how careful you are at differentiating one colorized area from another (e.g., hair from her face) there will be an area of high contrast between the colorized areas. Click the MODE box and switch to PROCESS; use the HAZE, LITE, DARK or BLEND functions to smooth out the adjacent areas. Now for the final touches, you can paint over the eyes, lips, nails and any other detail in NORMAL mode or assign a new range for these areas; each range uses 32 colors - limiting you to 8 color ranges. There are innumerable combinations to colorize your grey picture. If you decided to convert your image processed picture to 16 grey levels then you would have 16 color ranges to play with. Experimentation is the only way to optimize the results; after a few sessions you will be able to make startling colorized images. Page ... 32 Notes on Additive Color Mixtures Appendix C The Principle of Additive Color Mixture is the same principle used by the television and monitors to generate images. The principle entails the ADDITION of three primary quanta: Red, Green and Blue when mixing any two colors. To understand how it works, let us assume you have three flashlights: one red, one green, and one blue. Since white is the maximum mixture of all three quanta or components, shining all three beams at the same spot will produce white. Since white results with maximum quanta of red, green and blue, then if we have half of each red, green and blue quanta, grey results ! Most of the rules for mixing colors with this principle follow our commonly held view of color mixing. If you shine the red and blue beams on the same spot you will get purple - so far everything seems logical. If you shine the blue and green beams you get blue-green. So where is yellow ? Now for the weird part; if you mix red and green, yellow results ! Yes, yellow is red and green together. Depending on the amounts of red and green, different shades of brown will result. If you have more red than green, you will get orange. If you have more green that red you will get yellow-orange. The Principle of Additive Color Mixture is quite different from the way we normally think colors mix. If you mix a pure yellow color with pure blue, pure green should result, right ? Wrong !!! Remember what white is made of ? Since we added pure blue to pure yellow, which is made of pure red and pure green, we now have - WHITE. The portions of red, green and blue that are common to all of the three will result in white - which will show as shades of grey if we have fractions of red, green and blue. If you mix, 50 quanta of red, 25 quanta of green and 33 quanta of blue, the common level of quanta is 25 - thus you will have 25 quanta of white. The primary quanta with the most portions will dominate; thus, in this example we will have a light red shade with a touch of blue -> light magenta. If you increased the portion of green to 50, such that R=50 G=50 B=33, you will now have 33 quanta of white since that is the common level of all three quanta. Since Red and Green = Yellow, and you have so much white in it, the color you will get is Light Yellow. Now if you have R=63 G=63 B=0 (pure yellow) "added" to R=0 G=0 B=63 (pure blue), the resulting color is R=63 G=63 B=63 (pure white). In VGACAD, you will notice that when using a blue airbrush on yellow areas, the color will either become light yellow or light blue depending on the RGB quanta - it will NOT turn green. Keep in mind that [1] common portions of red, green and blue add white to your hue, and [2] common portions of red and green add yellow to your hue. Experiment with different RGB settings in the Color Map menu and see what happens with different mixtures. Page ... 33