@section=help

\fBIconSmith Quick Help\fP

\fIIconSmith\fP is a graphics editor for simple two-dimensional line
drawings.  It creates plain text files that are used by the Indigo
Magic Desktop (formerly WorkSpace) and other applications to 
quickly display colorful, scaling icons.
\fIThe IRIS WorkSpace Integration Guide\fP describes how to integrate
icons and applications.



\fBDraw a path or polygon:\fP
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Start the path: Click left mouse on an empty spot.
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Add an edge to the path: Hold \fBCtrl\fP and click left mouse.
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Close the path and fill it (to obtain a filled polygon): 
Hold \fBCtrl\fP and double-click left mouse,
or, with Grid and Gravity Snap on (see below), click left mouse 
on first point in path.

\fBSplit an edge into two:\fP
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Select a vertex of the edge (see below).
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Hold \fBCtrl\fP and click the left mouse near that edge.



\fBSelect a single vertex:\fP
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Click left mouse on the vertex.

\fBSelect several vertices within a box:\fP
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Drag with left mouse to sweep out the box.

\fBSelect a path or polygon:\fP
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Double-click on an edge or vertex with the left mouse.

\fBExtend the selection:\fP
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Hold \fBShift\fP while making selections.



\fBMove a vertex:\fP
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Drag the vertex with the left mouse down.
(To abort, drag outside the window.)

\fBMove the selection:\fP
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Drag from any selected vertex with the left mouse down.



\fBDelete the selection:\fP
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Press the backspace or the delete key.



\fBPush an object to the back (or front):\fP
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Select an object.
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Hold the right mouse in the drawing area.
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Select "Push to back" (or "Push to front").



\fBTransform:\fP
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Move the pin (blue and white cross).
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Select the transformation (scale, rotate or shear).
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Select several vertices.
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Hold the \fBAlt\fP key and drag a selected vertex with the left mouse.



\fBUndo:\fP
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Press \fBF1\fP key (up to 9 times).

\fBRedo:\fP
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Hold \fBShift\fP key and press \fBF1\fP key
(up to 9 times).



\fBPopup Menu:\fP
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Hold right mouse in drawing area.




\fBHints:\fP

Remember to hold the \fBCtrl\fP key to add lines.

Draw adjacent objects separately and move them together.

When in doubt, UNDO!

Mouse:
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Draw with the left mouse.
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Menu with the right mouse (in the drawing).
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Nothing with the middle mouse button.

Bear in mind, the Indigo Magic Desktop (and WorkSpace)
will not draw correctly any objects that extend past the
blue boundary or any concave polygons.

Import existing parts of icon drawings to reuse them.

Gravity is the key to making drawings that scale up
properly without "coming unglued." Click the left mouse on
the "Constraints" button to get the window titled "Editing 
Constraints" to widen the gravity snap influence if needed.



\fBColor and Other Properties of the Icon:\fP

\fBGet color palette (window titled "Selection Properties"):\fP
Click the left mouse on the "Palette" button.

\fBColor paths and polygons:\fP
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Select at least one vertex of each object to color.
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Select the outline color.
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Select the filling color.

\fBCopy a color from the drawing:\fP
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Select a colored object.
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Select "Apply to Pen."
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Select objects to receive color.
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Select "Get from Pen."

\fBChange color for future objects\fP
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Select an outine color.
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Select a filling color.
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Select "Apply to Pen."

The filling color labelled "Icon" changes as the icon's state changes.

\fBPreview icon highlighting feedback:\fP
Move the mouse into the blue square in the lower left corner.

\fBPreview icon selection feedback:\fP
Click the left mouse inside the blue square in the lower
left corner. (Click just outside the blue square to undo.)

\fBChanging the comment on an object:\fP
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Select the object to comment (selecting several will change
the comment of each).
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Type the comment in the pink box at the top of the palette.




\fBGrids and Gravity:\fP

\fBGet the Editing Constraints panel:\fP
Click the left mouse on the "Constraints" button.

\fBThe basic idea:\fP
To aid precise placement of object, the caret (red and blue
cross) is attracted to the nearest \fIinteresting\fP object within
a specified radius.  The caret can snap to edges, vertices, 
and grid points, but not intersection points.

\fBDefine grid based on drawing:\fP
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Select an edge that is the same length as the distance between
grid points desired.
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Select "Measure from Line."


