
@c@C1@b@_ Control Panel

     The control panel consists of several groups of buttons labeled by
     their group names and functionality. Following is a brief summary of
     what each group does. Detailed help is available inside each function.

@b External Bindings
     This group controls the external bindings, configurable at run time,
     to external programs (filters) or matrices (convolution).
     The formats of the bindings can be found in the document, in the
     sample binding files and also inside each function.

@f    File Locations
         The definition files should be named BIT_filters and BIT_convolve
         respectively for external filters and convolutions matrices.
         BIT will search the default system directory /usr/local/lib/bit,
         or environment variable HELPDIR if one is defined, current directory,
         and ~/.bitrc (or environment variable BITDIR) in that order.
         All definitions found are concatenated with repeats removed.

@b Pan Buttons
     The pan buttons pan an image as the arrows indicate. By default,
     an image is displayed centered within the viewing window, i.e., the
     image is chopped by equal amounts on all sides if the image size is
     larger than the window size.  The bottom most buttons control the pan
     speed. In SlideShow mode, an image is panned automatically if its size
     is larger than the window size (See AlwaysPan option in Setup.opt).

@b Image Types
     This group provides conversions between the image types supported
     by the bit program. Although type conversion typically is automatic
     and transparent, this group is provided for unforeseen circumstances
     where an explicit conversion is called for, e.g., some grayscale jpg
     files have three color channels, and thus bit recognizes such files
     as RGB files. Unless an explicit conversion to grayscale image is
     performed, write module will also use three channels.

     Note that for both convenience and performance, distinctions are made
     for grayscale images stored in RGB format and colormapped format.
     However, bi-level black and white image is available in colormap
     format only.

     Color reduction in a colormap is not implemented. To achieve this
     goal, convert the image to RGB and convert to colormap again. The
     number of colors in the map will be prompted for.

@b Misc. Control
     This group controls functions that do not modify images but change
     their appearances or facilitate the operation of other functions.
@f Zoom
      Magnifies a region of an image to the window size with separately
      adjustable x and y magnification factors.
@f HideF
      Toggles on and off the File panel.
@f SysMap
      Restore the default system map. Note a redraw event will
      force the current image map, if exists, to be restored.
@f HideC
      Hides the control panel.
@f Delete
      Deletes current file from disk. Confirmation may be asked depending
      on the configuration.

@b  Edit Functions
     The most important group of the program (the Beef). Many functions
     are provided with capabilities for extensions. Most individual editing
     functions have their own detailed help available on-line once you
     enter that editing mode. Here is a summary of the currently available
     editing functions:
@f Crop
      Eliminates part of the image that is outside of the region of interest
      defined by a rubber band.
@f Text
      Renders arbitrary text of arbitrary color, size and orientation into
      an image at arbitrary locations.
@f Cut&Paste:
      Cuts a rectangular portion of an image and pastes it into another one.
@f SCP
      A simplified Cut&Paste with all C&P limited to one image.
@f Scale
      Scales an image with arbitrary x and y factors with optional
      anti-aliasing.
@f Rotate:
      Rotates an image by an arbitrary angle with optional anti-aliasing. 
      Mirror operation is also available.
@f PixTran:
      Performs arbitrary color manipulations (1-to-1 transformation),
      or change/swap pixel values.
@f Marking
      Places simple geometric figures of arbitrary size and color into an
      image. Could be used as a limited paint function.
@f MapEdit:
      To edit the current colormap if one exists.
@f Sharpen:
      Sharpens an image via a special convolution (Modified Laplacian).
@f PixelEdit:
      To modify an individual pixel or a group of pixels
@f Smooth:
      To Smooth the image via a special convolution (Neighbor Average).
@f Merge
      To concatenate/merge several images to form a single image.
@f Enhance:
      Enhances an image's contrast by histogram equalization.
@f Idiff
      To show the difference between two identically sized images.
@f Edge
      Performs edge detection by differentiation.
@f FFT:
      Fourier Transform an image or a rectangular region of it.
      Display the power spectra of an image.
@f Paint:
      Pencil, spray and brush paint in full color

@b Getting More Info
     The title bar of the edit control panel shows some vital info about
     the currently displayed image by default.  More info on current image
     and bit program itself is available by clicking the mouse on the title
     bar. Note that this button also serves as a trigger for format specific
     functions, e.g., for b&w images, press this button will swap black
     and white pixels.

