BitEdit Index
BitEdit Help Index

This Index lists the Help topics available for BitEdit.  Use the scroll bar to see entries not currently visible in the Help window.

To learn how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.

Keyboard

BitEdit Keys

Commands

File Menu Commands

Edit Menu Commands

Selection Menu Commands

Options Menu Commands

Procedures

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Changing the Shape of the Brush

Controlling Line Width

Creating a New Bitmap File

Cropping a Bitmap

Detaching and Moving the Selected Area

Detaching and Moving the Tool Window

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Straight Lines

Filling in a section of a Bitmap

Flipping the Selected Area

Moving a Copy of the Selected Area

Moving the Selection Box

Opening  a Bitmap File

Pasting Into a New BitEdit Window

Pasting Into the Selected Area

Pasting Without an Area Selected

Pasting Without Clipboard Colors

Quitting BitEdit

Reducing Colors

Reordering a Color Palette

Replacing a Bitmap Palette

Resizing a Bitmap

Resizing the Selection Box

Rotating the Selected Area

Saving Changes to a Bitmap

Selecting an Area of a Bitmap

Selecting Palette Colors from BitEdit

Setting Preferences

Undoing Changes

Using the Brush Tool

Using the Color Eraser

Using the Zoom Control Tool

Using Transparent Color

Tools

Detaching and Moving the Tool Window

Brush Shape Tool

Brush Tool

Color Dropper Tool

Color Eraser Tool

Current Color Tool

Ellipse Tool

Flood Fill Tool

Line Size Tool

Line Tool

Rectangle Tool

Rounded Rectangle Tool

Selection Tool

Zoom Control Tool


Keyboard Index
BitEdit Keys

Use the following keys to perform BitEdit functions:

Press	To Do

ALT+BKSP	To undo the last changes made

ALT+F4	To quit BitEdit.

CTRL+A	To select the entire bitmap

CTRL+INS	To copy the selected area.

DEL	To delete the selected area.

F12	To save the file to another name or format.

F5	To reorder palette with selected colors first.

F6	To select in PalEdit.

F7	To show the Palette.

F8	To perform color reduction.

SHIFT+DEL	To cut the selected area.

SHIFT+F12	To save the file to the same name and format.

SHIFT+INS	To paste from the Clipboard.


BitEdit Commands

To get help with a command, choose the appropriate menu.

File Menu Commands

New

Open

Close

Save

Save As

Revert

Run BitEdit

Exit

Edit Menu Commands

Undo

Cut

Copy

Paste

Paste Without Color

Paste Palette

Delete

Select All

Preferences

Selection Menu Commands

Crop

Flip Horizontal

Flip Vertical

Rotate

Selected Colors First

Select in PalEdit

Option Menu Commands

Show Palette

Color Reduction

Resize Image

Use Transparency


Procedure Index
BitEdit Procedures

The Procedure topics give you step-by-step instructions for using BitEdit.  Use the scroll bar to see more topics.

To learn how to use Help, press F1 or choose using Help from the Help menu.

Working with Bitmap Files

Creating a New Bitmap File

Opening a Bitmap File

Quitting BitEdit

Saving Changes to a Bitmap

Setting Preferences

Selecting Parts of the Bitmap

Detaching and Moving the Selected Area

Moving a Copy of the Selected Area

Moving the Selection Box

Resizing the Selection Box

Selecting an Area of a Bitmap

Editing the Bitmap

Cropping a Bitmap

Flipping the Selected Area

Pasting Into a New BitEdit Window

Pasting Into the Selected Area

Pasting Without an Area Selected

Pasting Without Clipboard Colors

Resizing a Bitmap

Rotating the Selection

Undoing Changes

Using Transparent Color

Drawing on a Bitmap

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Changing the Shape of the Brush

Controlling Line Width

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Straight Lines

Filling in a section of a Bitmap

Using the Brush Tool

Using the Color Eraser

Using the Zoom Control Tool

Working with Palettes

Reducing Colors

Reordering a Color Palette

Replacing a Bitmap Palette

Selecting Palette Colors from BitEdit


Tools Index
BitEdit Tools

A column of Tools icons appears along the left edge of the BitEdit window or where you last placed it. To use a tool, place the mouse pointer on the tool and click the left mouse button.

To get help for a tool, choose the appropriate topic.

Selection Tool	Flood Fill Tool

Brush Tool	Color Eraser Tool

Rectangle Tool	Current Color Tool

Rounded Rectangle Tool	Line Size Tool

Ellipse Tool	Brush Shape Tool

Line Tool	Zoom Control Tool

Color Dropper Tool


BitEdit Tool

A multimedia data preparation tool for editing bitmapped images. BitEdit lets you import and perform simple edits to bitmap files.


Setting Preferences

To set preferences:

1	Choose Preferences from the Edit menu.

2	 Set preferences through the dialog's check boxes.

*	Resize Window to Bitmap on Open

Turn this option on for the BitEdit window to adjust to the size of the opened bitmap.

*	Disable Undo

Turn this option on to disable the undo command. If you work with very large bitmaps, you can provide additional memory for storing the bitmap by disabling the Undo command.

*	Detached Tools Window

Turn this option on to display the BitEdit tools in a second window, separate from the BitEdit window. With the detached window, you can move the tools to a convenient place on your desktop.

3	Choose OK to assign your preference settings.


Opening a Bitmap File

To open a bitmap file:

1	Choose Open from the File menu.

2	Select the file type from the List Files of Type box.

3	Select the file you want to edit.

4	Choose OK.

Related Topics

Valid Open File Formats

Valid Save File Formats


Creating a New Bitmap File

To create a new bitmap file:

1	Select New from the File menu.

2	Enter the Width and Height (in pixels) of the new bitmap you want to create.

3	Choose the number of bits per pixel you want the new bitmap to have.

4	Choose OK.

5	Add objects to the bitmap from other bitmaps, or by using BitEdit's editing tools.


Saving Changes to the Bitmap
Saving Changes to a Bitmap

To save a bitmap with a new name or in a different format:

1	Choose the Save As command.

2	Enter the name under which you want to save the bitmap file.

3	Open the Save File as Type list box and select the format.

4	Choose OK.

Related Topics

Valid Save File Formats

Valid Open File Formats


Exiting BitEdit
Quitting BitEdit

To quit BitEdit:

1	Choose Exit from the File menu

2	Choose Yes to save changes or No to exit without saving.


Selecting Area of Bitmap
Selecting an Area of a Bitmap

To select an area of an image:

1	Click the selection tool.

2	Point to the area you want to select.

3	Hold down the left mouse button, and drag to surround the area.

4	When the box frames the area you want, release the mouse button.

The selection stays in effect until you click outside the selected area or select a different tool. When you deselect the area, the selection box disappears.

Related Topics

Moving the Selection Box

Resizing the Selection Box


Moving a Selection
Moving the Selection Box

To move a selection box:

1	Point to one of the sides of the selection box. Be sure the tip of the pointer is touching the box.

2	Hold down the mouse button.

3	If the selection box remains red, you can drag the box in any direction.

4	Release the mouse button to place the box.

Related Topics

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Resizing the Selection Box


Resizing a Selection Box
Resizing the Selection Box

To resize a selection box:

1	Point to one of the selection box handles.

2	Drag the handle in any direction.

3	Release the mouse button to set the new selection size.

Related Topics

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Moving the Selection Box


Detaching and Moving a Selected Area
Detaching and Moving the Selected Area

To detach and move a selected area:

1	Place the mouse cursor anywhere inside the selected area.

2	Click the left mouse button and drag in the direction you want.

3	Release the left mouse button when you have placed the selected area where you want it. If you decide to move the selected area again, you can drag the area and adjust its position.

4	Move the cursor somewhere outside the selected area and click the left mouse button.


Copying and Moving a Selected Area
Moving a Copy of the Selected Area

To copy and move a selected area:

1	Place the mouse cursor anywhere inside the selected area.

2	Click the right mouse button and drag the copy in the direction you want.

3	Release the right mouse button when you have placed the copy where you want it. If you decide to move the selected area again, you can drag the area and adjust its position.

4	Move the cursor somewhere outside the selected area and click the left mouse button.


Pasting with No Selection
Pasting Without an Area Selected

If you haven't selected an area, BitEdit places the contents of the Clipboard as a detached selection centered in the window.

You can maneuver and place this just as you would any other detached selection.

Related Topics

Detaching and Moving a Selected Area

Pasting Into a Selected Area

Pasting Without Clipboard Colors


Pasting Into the Selected Area

If a selected area exists when you choose Paste, BitEdit stretches or shrinks the Clipboard's contents as necessary to fit it into the current selection.

You can maneuver and place this just as you would any other detached selection.

Related Topics

Detaching and Moving a Selected Area

Pasting Without an Area Selected

Pasting Without Clipboard Colors


Pasting Without Clipboard Colors

To paste the Clipboard contents without adding the colors of the Clipboard palette to the bitmap palette, use the Paste Without Colors command from the Edit menu. BitEdit maps colors from the bitmap palette to the pasted image and places the contents of the Clipboard as a detached selection centered in the window.

You can maneuver and place this just as you would any other detached selection.

Related Topics

Detaching and Moving a Selected Area

Pasting Into a Selected Area

Pasting Without an Area Selected


Pasting into a New BitEdit Window

To paste the Clipboard contents into a new BitEdit window:

1	Select Run BitEdit from the File menu.

2	Choose Paste from the Edit Menu.

You can edit this image, save it, and copy it to the Clipboard before inserting it into another bitmap.


Using Transparent Color

The Use Transparency command turns the current background color into a transparent color for the Paste command and the Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, and Ellipse tools.

To copy an object without background detail:

1	With the Selection tool, select an object you want to copy.

2	Crop the bitmap, leaving the object.

3	Select the background color with the Current Color tool. Use a color that contrasts with the object you're copying.

The selected color also needs to exist in the bitmap you're building.

4	Change all unwanted pixels in the cropped bitmap to the background color.

The Zoom, Brush, and Line Size tools can help with this process.

6	Choose Select All from the Edit menu.

7	Choose Copy from the Edit menu.

8	Open the bitmap file you're building.

9	Choose Use Transparency from the Options menu.

10	Set the background color with the Current Color tool. Use the same color as in step 3.

11	Choose Paste from the Edit menu.

Now you can maneuver and place this just as you would any other detached selection.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Detaching and Moving a Selected Area

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Ellipses and Circles


Cropping the Bitmap
Cropping a Bitmap

To crop a bitmap:

1	Select the area of the bitmap that you want to keep.

2	Choose Crop from the Edit Menu.

Related Topic

Resizing a Bitmap


Flipping the Selected Area

To flip the selected bitmap area:

1	Select the area of the bitmap that you want to flip.

2	Choose either flip command from the Edit Menu.

*	Use Flip Horizontal to change left-right orientation.

*	Use Flip Vertical to change to an upside-down orientation.

Related Topic

Rotating the Selected Area


Rotating the Selected Area

To rotate the selected bitmap area:

1	Select the area of the bitmap that you want to turn.

2	Choose the Rotate command from the Edit Menu.

3	Enter the number of degrees to turn the selected area. Positive values rotate the selected area clockwise; negative values rotate the selected area counterclockwise.

4	If the selected area contains pixels of the currently assigned background color AND you would like to remove these background-colored pixels from the rotated area, check the Use Transparency box. Otherwise, leave the Use Transparency box clear.

5	Click Rotate. If you need to adjust the rotation, re-enter the degree specification and click Rotate again.

6	Click Done.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Flipping the Selected Area

Using Transparent Color


Resizing the Bitmap
Resizing a Bitmap

To resize a bitmap:

1	Choose Resize Image from the Options menu.

2	Change the values in the Width or Height boxes.

If the Retain Proportions box is checked, values in Width and Height adjust together.

3	Check the Scaling Resize box to scale the image resolution to the sizes entered. The image shrinks or grows to fit into the new bitmap size.

Clear the Scaling Resize box to keep the current image resolution. New dimensions either truncate the image or pad the image with empty space to fit the new bitmap size.

4	Check the Retain Proportions box to keep the current aspect ratio for the image and prevent distortion.

Clear the Retain Proportions box to change individual bitmap dimensions independently.

5	Use the Colors box to change the maximum number of colors available to the bitmap.

Check 1 bit per pixel for 2-color (black and white) images. Check 4 bit per pixel for 16-color images. Check 8 bit per pixel for 256-color images.

6	Choose OK.


Undoing Changes

To undo a change:

*	Choose Undo from the Edit menu.

If the change can't be undone, the Undo command isn't available, .

To revert to the version of the bitmap file you last saved:

1	Choose Revert from the File menu.

2	Choose Yes.

BitEdit reloads the file as it is stored on disk.


Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Using the Current Color tool:

1	Point to the current color tool.

*	To change the foreground color, hold down the left mouse button.

*	To change the background color, hold down the right mouse button.

2	Drag the mouse cursor into the color palette.

3	Highlight the color you want and release the mouse button.

Using the Color Dropper tool:

1	Click the color dropper tool.

2	Click anywhere in the bitmap to select a color.

*	Click the left mouse button to select the foreground color.

*	Click the right mouse button to select the background color.

The color of the individual pixel clicked on becomes the foreground or background color.

Using the Brush tool:

1	Click the Brush tool icon.

2	Click anywhere in the bitmap to select a color.

*	Click CTRL+ the left mouse button to select the foreground color.

*	Click CTRL+ the right mouse button to select the background color.

The color of the individual pixel clicked on becomes the foreground or background color.


Using the Brush Tool

To draw with the brush tool:

1	Click the Brush tool.

2	Point to the place in the bitmap where you want to begin drawing.

*	Hold down the left mouse button to draw the foreground color.

*	 Hold down the right mouse button to draw the background color.

3	Drag the mouse.

To set foreground and background colors with the brush tool:

1	Click the Brush tool icon.

2	Click anywhere in the bitmap to select a color.

*	Click CTRL+ the left mouse button to select the foreground color.

*	Click CTRL+ the right mouse button to select the background color.

The color of the individual pixel clicked on becomes the foreground or background color.

Related Topics

Changing the Shape of the Brush

Controlling Line Width


Controlling Line Width

This procedure describes how to use the Line Size tool to control the brush width and the line widths of the rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, line, and color eraser tools.

To change the line width:

1	Click the Line Size tool and hold down the mouse button.

2	Drag to the line width you want.

3	Release the mouse button.

Related Topics

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Straight Lines

Using the Brush Tool


Changing the Brush Shape
Changing the Shape of the Brush

To change the shape of the brush:

1	Click the Brush Shape tool and hold down the mouse button.

2	Drag to the brush shape you want.

3	Release the mouse button.

Related Topics

Controlling Line Width

Using the Brush Tool


Drawing Rectanges
Drawing Rectangles

With the rectangle tools, you can draw filled rectangles with the current foreground and background colors, and you can draw hollow rectangles that are edged with either color.

 To draw filled rectangles:

1	Click the square-cornered or round-cornered Rectangle tool.

2	Point to the bitmap where you want to place one corner of the rectangle.

*	Click and hold down the left mouse button to edge with the foreground color and fill with the background color.

*	Click  and hold down the right mouse button to edge with the background color and fill with the foreground color.

3	Drag the mouse across the work area to the location for the opposite rectangle corner.

4	Release the mouse button when the rectangle is the correct size and shape.

 To draw hollow rectangles:

1	Click the square-cornered or round-cornered Rectangle tool.

2	Select the Use Transparency command from the Options menu.

3	Point to the bitmap where you want to place one corner of the rectangle.

*	Click and hold down the left mouse button to edge with the foreground color.

*	Click  and hold down the right mouse button to edge with the background color.

4	Drag the mouse across the work area to the location for the opposite rectangle corner.

5	Release the mouse button when the rectangle is the correct size and shape.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Controlling Line Width

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Drawing Straight Lines


Drawing Ellipses and Circles

With the ellipse tool, you can draw filled ellipses and circles with the current foreground and background colors, and you can draw hollow ellipses and circles that are edged with either color.

To draw filled ellipses and circles:

1	Click the Ellipse tool.

2	Point to the bitmap where you want to place the left or right edge of the ellipse or circle.

*	Click and hold down the left mouse button to edge with the foreground color and fill with the background color.

*	Click and hold down the right mouse button to edge with the background color and fill with the foreground color.

3	Drag the mouse across the work area.

4	Release the mouse button when the ellipse is the appropriate width and shape.

To draw hollow ellipses and circles:

1	Click the Ellipse tool.

2	Select the Use Transparency command from the Options menu.

3	Point to the bitmap where you want to place the left or right edge of the ellipse or circle.

*	Click and hold down the left mouse button to edge with the foreground color.

*	Click and hold down the right mouse button to edge with the background color.

4	Drag the mouse across the work area.

5	Release the mouse button when the ellipse is the appropriate width and shape.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Controlling Line Width

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Straight Lines


Drawing Straight Lines

To use the Line Tool:

1	Click the Line tool.

2	Point to the bitmap where you want to place one end of the line segment.

*	Click and hold down the left mouse button to draw with the foreground color.

*	Click and hold down the right mouse button to draw the background color.

3	Drag the mouse across the work area.

4	Release the mouse button when the line is the appropriate length and orientation.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Controlling Line Width

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Drawing Rectangles

Using the Brush Tool


Filling in a Bitmap
Filling in a Section of a Bitmap

To fill in a section of a bitmap:

1	Click the Flood Fill tool.

2	Point to the part of the bitmap you want to fill.

*	Click the left mouse button to fill with the foreground color.

*	Click the right mouse button  to fill with the background color.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Using the Color Eraser


Using the Color Eraser

To use the color eraser:

1	Click the color eraser tool.

2	Use the Line Width tool to select the eraser size.

3	Point to the bitmap.

*	Drag with the left mouse button to change foreground colored pixels to the background color.

*	Drag with the right mouse button to change background-colored pixels to the foreground color.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Controlling Line Width

Filling in a section of a Bitmap


Using the Zoom Tool
Using the Zoom Control Tool

To use the Zoom Control tool:

1	Click the Zoom Control tool and hold down either mouse button.

2	Drag to the magnification you want and release the mouse button.

3	Move the zoom box to the area you want to magnify.

4	Click either mouse button.

5	Move the zoom box by pointing to the top of the box and dragging it.

To return to normal display resolution:

1	Click the Zoom Control tool and hold down either mouse button.

2	Drag to the 1x magnification and release the mouse button.


Pasting a Palette
Replacing a Bitmap Palette

To replace a bitmap's palette with another palette:

1	Choose File Open to open the bitmap whose palette you want to use.

2	Select any part of the bitmap or choose Select All from the Edit menu.

3	Choose Copy from the Edit menu.

4	Choose File Open to open the bitmap whose palette you want to replace.

5	Choose Edit Paste Palette.

Related Topic

Reducing Colors


Reducing Colors

To reduce the number of colors used in a bitmap:

1	Choose Color Reduction from the Options menu.

2	Enter the number of colors to retain.

3	Choose one of four color-reduction methods:

*	Use optimal palette to pick the specified number of colors that best represents the image. This is usually your best choice.

*	Use optimal palette for selection to pick the colors that best represents the selected area of the bitmap.

*	Use truncated palette to keep a specified number of colors that are located at the top of the palette; colors in the lower portion of the palette are discarded.

*	Use palette from file to paste a palette from another bitmap or palette file.

4	Click Accept or Dither to accept the reduced-color bitmap.


Reordering a Color Palette in BitEdit
Reordering a Color Palette

To move the colors in a selection to the top of a color palette:

1	Select the area the contains the colors you want to move.

2	Choose Selected Colors First from the Edit menu.

The color palette is rearranged.


Selecting Palette Colors from BitEdit

To select the colors in PalEdit that are used by a BitEdit selection:

1	Select the area with the colors you want to select.

2	Choose Select in PalEdit from the Edit menu.

To work with the selected colors in PalEdit, click on the title bar of the PalEdit window.


Detaching and Moving the Tool Window

To detach and move the BitEdit tool window:

1	Choose Preferences from the Edit menu.

2	Select the Detach Tools Window box.

3	Choose OK.

4	Click on the tool window title bar and drag the window to its new location.

5	Release the mouse button to place the tool window.


Selection Tool

 Selects an area of the bitmap.

Use the selection tool to select an area for performing other editing commands, or to move the area to a different place in the bitmap. You can move and resize the selection area before placing it by positioning the cursor on one of the selection area handles and dragging.

Related Topics (Defining a Selected Area)

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Moving the Selection Box

Resizing the Selection Box

Related Topics (Manipulating the Selected Area)

Cropping a Bitmap

Detaching and Moving the Selected Area

Moving a Copy of the Selected Area

Pasting into the Selected Area

Reducing Colors

Selecting Palette Colors from BitEdit


Brush Tool

Paints the selected color on the bitmap.

The brush tool lets you draw lines of different shapes, widths, and colors on the displayed bitmap.  Use the brush shape tool to adjust the shape of the Brush tool (circle or square). Use the line width tool to adjust the width of the lines produced by the Brush tool.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Changing the Shape of the Brush

Controlling Line Width

Using the Brush Tool


Rectangle Tool

Draws rectangles on the bitmap.

The Rectangle tool lets you draw rectangles of different shapes, widths, and colors on the displayed bitmap.  Use the line width tool to adjust border widths. Use the current color tool to control border and fill colors. Use the Use Transparency command from the Options menu with the Rectangle tool to draw hollow rectangles around objects.

Related Topics

Drawing Rectangles

Controlling Line Width

Changing Background and Foreground Colors


Rounded Rectangle Tool

Draws rounded-corner rectangles on the bitmap.

The Rounded Rectangle tool lets you draw rounded-corner rectangles of different shapes, widths, and colors on the displayed bitmap.  Use the line width tool to adjust border widths. Use the current color tool to control border and fill colors. Use the Use Transparency command from the Options menu with the Rounded Rectangle tool to draw hollow rectangles around objects.

Related Topics

Drawing Rectangles

Controlling Line Width

Changing Background and Foreground Colors


Ellipse Tool

Draws ellipses and circles on the bitmap.

The Ellipse tool lets you draw ellipses and circles of different shapes, widths, and colors on the displayed bitmap. Use the line width tool to adjust border widths. Use the current color tool to control border and fill colors. Use the Use Transparency command from the Options menu with the Ellipse tool to draw hollow ellipses and circles around objects.

Related Topics

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Controlling Line Width

Changing Background and Foreground Colors


Line Tool

Draws line segments on the bitmap.

The Line tool lets you draw line segments of different orientations, widths, and colors on the displayed bitmap. Use the line width tool to adjust line thickness. Use the current color tool to control color choices.

Related Topics

Drawing Straight Lines

Controlling Line Width

Changing Background and Foreground Colors


Color Dropper Tool

Sets foreground and background colors from the bitmap.

The Color Dropper tool lets you choose the foreground and background colors directly from the bitmap. Use the left mouse button to set the foreground color; use the right mouse button to set the background color.

Related Topic

Changing Background and Foreground Colors


Flood Fill Tool

Fills an area with a color you select.

The Flood Fill tool fills a section of a bitmap with either the foreground or background color.  The Flood Fill tool changes all adjoining pixels of one color.

Related Topic

Filling in a Section of a Bitmap


Color Eraser Tool

Changes areas from foreground color to background color and vice versa.

The Color Eraser tool changes the foreground color in a bitmap to the background color, or vice versa.  By changing the current foreground and background colors, the Color Eraser enables you to change any part of a bitmap to any available color.

Related Topic

Using the Color Eraser


Current Color Tool

Sets foreground and background colors from a color palette.

The Current Color tool lets you choose the foreground and background colors from a palette grid of all colors in the bitmap's palette. Use the left mouse button to set the foreground color; use the right mouse button to set the background color.

Related Topic

Changing Background and Foreground Colors


Line Size Tool

Sets the line width for the other tools.

Use the line width tool to adjust the width of the lines produced by the Brush tool. It also sets the width of the area affected by the Eraser tool.

Related Topic

Controlling Line Width


Brush Shape Tool

Sets the shape used by the brush tool.

Use the brush shape tool to adjust the shape of the Brush tool (circle or square).

Related Topic

Changing the Shape of the Brush


Zoom Control Tool

Magnifies the bitmap image.

The Zoom Control tool can make many editing tasks much easier. You can magnify portions of a bitmap two, four, or eight times. Magnifying the bitmap displays each pixel in a larger size. The Zoom Control tool is particularly useful for highly detailed, pixel-by-pixel editing.

Related Topic

Using the Zoom Control Tool


Valid Open File Formats

Before you can edit a bitmap, you must first load it into BitEdit.  BitEdit can open bitmap files of the following formats:

Format	Extension

Microsoft Windows DIB	.DIB, .BMP

Microsoft Windows Metafile	.WMF

Microsoft RLE DIB	.DIB

Microsoft RIFF DIB	.RDI

Microsoft RIFF RLE DIB	.RDI

PC Paintbrush	.PCX

CompuServe GIF	.GIF

Apple Macintosh PICT	.PIC

Truevision TGA	.TGA

AutoCAD Import	.PLT

Computer Graphics Metafile	.CGM

HP Graphic Language	.HGL

Lotus 1-2-3 Graphics	.PIC

Encapsulated Postscript	.EPS

Micrografx Designer/Draw	.DRW

Tagged Image File Format	.TIF

Related Topic

Valid Save File Formats


Valid Save File Formats

BitEdit can save bitmap files to any of the following formats:

Format	Extension

Microsoft Windows DIB	.DIB

Microsoft RLE DIB	.DIB

Microsoft RIFF DIB	.RDI

Microsoft RIFF RLE DIB	.RDI

PC Paintbrush	.PCX

Apple Macintosh PICT	.PIC

Truevision TGA	.TGA

Related Topic

Valid Open File Formats


File Menu Commands

The File Menu contains these commands:

New

Open

Close

Save

Save As

Revert

Run BitEdit

Exit

Scroll down to see descriptions of each command.

New

Creates a new, empty bitmap file.

Related Topics

Creating a New Bitmap File

Open

Opens an existing bitmap file.

Related Topics

Opening a Bitmap File

Valid Open File Formats

Close

Closes the current bitmap file without exiting BitEdit.

Save

Writes changes made to a bitmap file to disk.

Related Topics

Saving Changes to a Bitmap

Valid Save File Formats

Save As

Saves the bitmap with a new filename or format.

Related Topics

Saving Changes to the Bitmap

Valid Save File Formats

Revert

Reverts to the version of the bitmap file last saved on disk.

Related Topics

Undoing Changes

Run BitEdit

Starts another copy of BitEdit.

Exit

Closes the current bitmap file and quits BitEdit.

Related Topics

Quitting BitEdit


Edit Menu Commands

The Edit Menu contains these commands:

Undo

Cut

Copy

Paste

Paste Without Color

Paste Palette

Delete

Select All

Preferences

Scroll down to see descriptions of each command.

Undo

Undoes the last editing command or action.

Related Topics

Undoing Changes

Setting Preferences

Cut

Deletes a selected area from a bitmap and places it on the Clipboard. The deleted area changes to the background color. The Cut command also copies the entire color palette of the source bitmap to the Clipboard.

Related Topics

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Copy

Places a copy of the selected area into the Clipboard. The Copy command also copies the entire bitmap's color palette to the Clipboard.

Related Topics

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Paste

Places the contents of the Clipboard into a bitmap. Colors in the Clipboard palette are added to any available positions at the end of the bitmap's palette. If the pasted palette contains more colors than spaces are available, BitEdit uses as many colors as it can and discards the rest. Colors in the pasted bitmap that used discarded entries are mapped to available colors.

Related Topics

Pasting Without an Area Selected

Pasting Into the Selected Area

Pasting Without Clipboard Colors

Pasting into a NewBitEdit Window

Using Transparent Color

Paste Without Color

Pastes the image from the Clipboard into the BitEdit window, but does not paste any colors from the Clipboard palette. Colors in the pasted bitmap use the closest matching colors in the current palette.

Paste Palette

Replaces the palette of the current bitmap with the palette in the Clipboard. The Clipboard palette can be from another bitmap file or from a palette file.

Related Topics

Replacing a Bitmap Palette

Delete

Removes the selected area of the bitmap entirely and replaces the deleted area with the current background color. Nothing gets placed in the Clipboard.

Related Topics

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Select All

Selects the entire bitmap; used mainly to copy entire bitmaps into the Clipboard.

Preferences

Lets you change the way BitEdit opens a file. It also lets you disable the Edit menu's Undo option.

Related Topics

Setting Preferences


Selection Menu Commands

The Selection Menu contains these commands:

Crop

Flip Horizontal

Flip Vertical

Rotate

Selected Colors First

Select In PalEdit

Scroll down to see descriptions of each command.

Crop

Removes all parts of a bitmap that lie outside the selection area.

Related Topics

Cropping the Bitmap

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Flip Horizontal

Transposes the left and right sides of the selected area of the bitmap, producing a mirror image of the original selection.

Related Topics

Flipping the Selected Area

Rotating the Selected Area

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Flip Vertical

Inverts the selected area of the bitmap, producing an upside down version of the selection.

Related Topics

Flipping the Selected Area

Rotating the Selection

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Rotate

Turns the selected area of the bitmap. You specify in degrees the amount of turning to rotate the selected area. Rotating the selection 180 degrees is equivalent to performing both flip commands on the selected area.

Related Topics

Flipping the Selected Area

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Selected Colors First

Moves the colors in a selected area to the top of a color palette associated with a bitmap file.

Related Topics

Reordering a Color Palette

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap

Select in PalEdit

Causes the colors in a BitEdit selection to be selected in PalEdit.

Related Topics

Selecting Palette Colors from BitEdit

Selecting an Area in the Bitmap


Options Menu Commands

The Options Menu contains these commands:

Show Palette

Color Reduction

Resize Image

Use Transparency

Scroll down to see descriptions of each command.

Show Palette

Runs PalEdit to show the color palette associated with the displayed bitmap.

Color Reduction

Reduces colors used in a bitmap by removing or changing colors in the associated palette. The color reduction command provides four reduction methods (optimal palette, optimal palette for the selected area, truncated palette, and pasting another file's palette) and a dithering function that blends colors in the bitmap in areas of gradual transition.

Related Topic

Reducing Colors

Resize Image

Resizes the image and lets you adjust the image depth. You can alter a bitmap in three distinct ways: height, width, and color depth.

Related Topics

Resizing a Bitmap

Use Transparency

Turns the current background color into a transparent color for the Paste command and the Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, and Ellipse tools. Coupling Use Transparency with the Paste command, you can copy an object to a bitmap without extraneous background detail. Coupling Use Transparency with the Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, and Ellipse tools, you can create frames and borders with these geometric shapes.

Related Topics

Changing Background and Foreground Colors

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Ellipses and Circles

Using Transparent Color