************************************************************************* * Brief Info Date 25.03.1989 * ************************************************************************* * Sigi Painter Public Domain Version 0.8 Freely copyable * ************************************************************************* * (c) 1989 by Siegfried Hbner, Upper Suburb 21, 8812 Windsbach * ************************************************************************* Many improvements on older Versions. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The following Improvements/Expansion have been made on the previous Sigi Painter Version 0.5. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1.) Significant improvements to the Error routine. Fewer crashes! 2.) A Fastloader has been built in, Pictures now load much quicker. 3.) In addition to its own Block format, the Program can now load in and use Blocks taken from other Art programs. 4.) The Load routine for Pictures has been completely Re-worked. It can now handle still more foreign formats from different Art programs. 5.) Some faults in Sigi Painter V0.5 have been improved. 6.) In addition various small improvements have been carried out in all three screen resolutions. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The following Improvements/Expansion have been made on the previous Sigi Painter Version 0.6. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1.) The Menu-line error in Sigi Painer V 0.5 has been removed. 2.) Keyclick has been switched off. 3.) A new function effect has been built in to deal with vertical and diagonal Line drawing. (Only works on a Monochrome Monitor) 4.) There is a new setting for Keyboard Repeat, much easier to work with than the previous one. 5.) The Key Repeat has been switched off. The Program now works in all three Resolutions, in Colour as well as Black and White. And will operate on a basic Atari 520ST with SM124 Monitor and Floppy drive. It was written in GFA-Basic. A Printer Driver is integrated in the program to allow you to produce Harcopies with an Epson compatible Printer. Providing it can print 960 or 1280 Pixels per Line. It has been tested on a Seikosha SP 1000 A Printer. There is also a special Printer routine provided which will check whether or not the printer is connected and switched on. This removes the annoying 30 seconds wait normally associated with GEM. Selecting Menu items is done with the Mouse. Move the Mouse to the Menu Bar and choose the desired function. Press the left mouse button, the selected function will now be activated. For example, drawing can now be done by pressing and holding the left button while moving the mouse. To exit any function you should simply press the right button. The settings for the Fill Pattern, Line Width, Line Density, Scroll and nearly all Functions from the Settings Menu can be easily and instantly accessed. For example: In selecting the Line Width function press the left mouse button. Pressing the left button again will increase the Line thickness. When you are satisfied with it, press the right button to leave the function. Now you can again select from the Menu. Explanation of the Menu Items: ------------------------------ Info Menu --------- Copyright : Shows the Copyright notice. Disk Menu --------- Load Picture : With this Function you can quickly load pictures from all the common Formats. E.g. Degas, Doodle, Neochrome, Andromeda, Columbia Pictures etc. from Disk. It will automatically take into account the screen resolution of the chosen picture. Save Picture : This Function allows you to Save pictures to Disk. See function 'Load Picture'. Load Block : Lets you load in Blocks(Objects) in all the common Art program formats. Only works in Monochrome. Delete File : With this function you can remove unwanted files from Disk. WARNING: Deleted Pictures and Files are lost forever. Create Folder: Allows you to create a new Folder on Disk. Directory : This function allows you to produce and view a Directory of the active disk drive. Free Space : This will show you the free space still available on the Disk. This lets you judge how many pictures you can store on this particular disk. In addition, it will report the amount of free memory in the computer. End : Terminate the Program and exit back to the DeskTop. Before leaving, you should remember to Save your pictures! Operation --------- Draw : With this Function you can draw freehand. Adjustment possibilities on the Settings Menu are: Draw Fill, Line Type, Line Density, Line Star/End. Comment - In all Draw-functions, should you draw something incorrectly then you cam remove it by selecting the 'UNDO' function from the EXTRA Menu. Point : Sets single Pixels. For adjustment possibilities see the Settings Menu. Line : For drawing straight lines. For adjustment possibilities see the Settings Menu. G-Rays : Try it and see! For adjustment possibilities see the Settings Menu. I-Line : Draws a thick line. For adjustment possibilities see the Settings Menu. Can be filled out with a Fill Pattern by setting the function FILL on the Settings Menu On or Off. See also Function Fill Patt. and Frame etc. Square : Draws a Square. For adjustment possibilities see I-Line and the Settings Menu Functions Tilt etc. Rectangle : Draws a Rectangle. See Function Square. Circle : Draws a Circle. See Function Rectangle. Ellipse : Draws an Ellipse. See Function Circle. Fill : Fills out the chosen area with a Pattern. WARNING - Make sure the Fill area is fully enclosed or else the color/pattern will 'leak'! As above you may use the UNDO function to reverse the Fill and try again. See also the Settings Menu Fill Patt. Extra Menu ---------- X-Circle : Try it out for yourself. X-Ellipse : Try this one out too! M-Circle : Draws a wavy line. Before using, adjust the M-Circle size. Scroll : Scrolls the picture to right or left. 4-Mirror : Choose Mirror direction. Mirror Horizontal, Mirror vertical etc. This Function only Mirrors the Draw Instruction. Q-Mirror : Diagonal Mirror. Extra 1 + Extra 2 try yourself. Mouse : Draws on the screen using the actual Mouse form as set in the Settings Menu Mouse-Form. This does not function properly on not on a 1040ST. It appears to be a TOS problem in the operating system. Joke : Will let you turn the picture upside down or invert the colours! Text : Writes Text using a normal Input Routine . Exit with Return. Undo : Reverse last Drawing operation. Settings Menu ------------- Fill Patt. : Selects the Fill Pattern. Background : Selects the background color. Draw Color : Selects the Drawing Color. Bar : Changes draw parameters. Line Type : " " " Arrow : " " " Line Width : " " " Form Border : Adjusts the Border type. Fill On/Off : Forms filled or empty. Graphic Mode : Adjusts the Graphic Mode. Mouse Form : Adjusts the Mouse Form. Size M-Circle: Adjusts the M-Circle size. Delete Pic : Deletes the actual Picture. Hardcopy This Function operates in both Medium and High Resolution. Unfortunately there is still some work to be done to get things right in Low Res. And finally... -------------- You should note that this Program is Public Domain and therefore freely copyable. This means you may distribute it to anyone you wish. A great deal of work has gone into this Program, and it would be nice to think that anyone who uses it regularly would show some financial recognition to the Author. As thanks I will inform you about updates, modifications, bug fixes and so on. If this is too much to ask, then it is unlikely that I would be prepared to make any more of my hard work available for distribution through the Public Domain. If you should happen to discover an Error in the program, I would be grateful if you would inform me as soon as possible in order that I can eradicate it and put out a new Version. Suggestions for additions and improvements, indeed any feedback, are always welcome. P.S. I greet all Atari ST Fans and encourage you too to write a Public Domain Program for the Atari. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Address Siegfried Hbner Upper Suburb 21 8812 Windsbach Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best wishes from your friend Siegfried ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ English translation by Bob MacLeod for Floppyshop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++