Fractal Plug-In for Netscape

Getting Started

Installation

Viewing a FIF Image

Embedding A Fractal Image Format File in HTML


Getting Started

System Requirements

To use the Fractal Plug-In for Netscape, you will need:

Additional memory requirements will vary with image size.


Installation

To install the Fractal Image Plug-In, follow these steps.

  1. IMPORTANT: If you have a previous version of the Netscape Plug-In, uninstall it.
  2. Download the Netscape Fractal Image Plug-In from the Iterated Systems, Inc. Web site (www.iterated.com).
  3. When prompted, name the downloadable executable as NPFIFB6.EXE. The plug-in executable is saved to your hard drive.
  4. Copy NPFIFB6.EXE to a new temporary directory on your local hard drive.
  5. Double click NPFIFB6.EXE to decompress the Fractal Image Plug-In files. Or, from the DOS prompt, type NPFIFB6.EXE and hit Return to decompress the Fractal Image Plug-In files.The executable expands and creates all setup components.
  6. If working from File Manager, press F5 to refresh the temporary directory.
  7. Double click SETUP.EXE to decompress the setup files. Or, from the DOS prompt, type SETUP.EXE and hit return to decompress the setup files. A setup program walks you through the remainder of the installation.
  8. Once setup is complete, delete the files in the temporary directory.

Viewing a FIF Image

This section describes how to zoom and edit Fractal Image Format files (FIFs) with the Fractal Plug-In for Netscape. The following terms are referenced throughout this section.


Right Mouse Button Menu

You can change the image display with these right-button menu options. To show the menu options, place the cursor anywhere on the frame and click the right mouse button. A freestanding menu appears. To cancel your selection, press the ESC key.

Cursor Modes

Your mouse cursor is one of these symbols whenever it is over a fractal image.

Zoom (Point)

While checked, the mouse cursor is the plus-magnifying glass symbol. Place the cursor on any point in the image and click the left mouse button. The image progressively reappears showing the selected point and surrounding area as a reduced image.

Zoom (Area)

While checked, the mouse cursor is the crosshairs symbol. Use this cursor to specify a rectangular area to zoom.

If "Scale to Fit" is checked, the area will zoom as large as possible in the frame, maintaining its aspect ratio.

Zoom Out

While checked, the mouse cursor is the minus-magnifying symbol. Place the cursor on any point in the image and click the left mouse button. The image progressively reappears showing the selected point and surrounding area as a reduced image.

If "Stretch to Fit" is checked, the area will be stretched to fit the entire frame. If "Scale to Fit" is checked, the area will zoom as large as possible, maintaining its aspect ratio.

Full Image

Displays the image so that it fills the entire Netscape client area.

Color Display Modes

Color Display allows you to view, copy, or save the image in various color modes. FIFs contain 24-bit info, which allows you to view color palettes in a range of 8-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit color data.

Display With 8-bit Color Palette

Displays the image using the 8-bit colormapped data.

Display With 16-bit Color

Displays the image using the 16-bit color data.

Display With 24-bit Color

Displays the image using the 24-bit color data.

Gray Scale

Displays the image in degrees of shading between black and white.

Invert Colors

RGB compliment. Example: Green (0,255,0) is mapped to Magenta (255,0,255) when this option is selected.

Orientation Modes

Orientation allows you to move, stretch, and rotate the image within the frame area.

Flip

From the pop-up menu, choose Horizontal or Vertical to flip the image.

Rotate

From the pop-up menu, choose 90 degrees counter-clockwise, 180 degrees counter-clockwise, or 90 degrees clockwise.

Scale to Fit

When checked, the image keeps its original aspect ratio when you zoom.

Stretch to Fit

When checked, the image will stretch to fit the entire frame when you zoom, changing its aspect ratio if necessary.

Copy Modes

These modes allow you to copy the FIF image to the Windows clipboard.

Copy this Image

Copies the FIF image, as it currently appears, to the Windows clipboard. From there, it can be pasted to another application as a bitmap.

Copy this Image Location

Copies the URL for the image to the clipboard.

Show All Steps

This options shows each progressive step, whether Focus, Expanding, or both, as the image downloads and displays.

Reset

You can return an image to its original form as when first displayed.

Preferences

Settings that are not written in the HTML can be set using the Preferences command. All of these preferences are 'global': they will apply to all open images, and will be saved for the next viewing session. After you have made your choices, click the OK button.

Palette Color Display Modes

Color Images as Defined in HTML.

Image color is based on the statements defined in the HTML.

Color Images to Optimize Single Image/Page

Color optimization affects a single image on a page.

Color Images to Optimize Multiple Image/Page

Color optimization affects multiple images on a page.

Progressive Display Modes

These modes allow you to select how the image downloads and displays.

None

When selected, the image is fully displayed without showing any progressive steps as it downloads.

Focus

When selected, the image is displayed in full size, but gradually increases in focus as it downloads and displays. When fully displayed, the image is completely focused and at its frame size.

Expanding

When selected, the image is displayed in focus, but gradually increases from a miniature size to its frame size as it downloads and displays. When fully displayed, the image is completely focused and at its default size.

Display Zooms Progressively

When selected, the steps are displayed as the image gradually increases from a miniature size to its frame size

Initial Loading of Images

Load Images as Defined in HTML

Images are downloaded and displayed based on the statements defined in the HTML.

Load all Steps

Displays all the download and display steps that are associated with an image.

Load Partial Image: (Non-progressive)

Select one step in the series for the image to download and display in full size with no progression

Zooming

Default to Point Zooming

Sets the global default of images to Zoom (Point).

Default to Area Zoming

Sets the global default of images to Zoom (Area).

Point Zoom Percentage

The range in percentage that a user has when zooming an image.

Sizing

Approximate Size

Displays the image in a faster display time.

Exact Size

Displays the image in a slower display time.

Save this image as...

Saves the FIF as a Fractal, or a Windows bitmap (BMP) file.

Information Mode

You will find Help, image information, definitions and more in the Information Mode.

Image Info

Displays detailed information about the image that is stored in the FIF file. The information includes the file name and path; the image dimensions in bytes; the image's original dimensions before FIF encoding; the compression ratio; the display dimensions in bytes; display ratio; color table (if present); number of progressive steps; and physical dimensions (if specified).

Help

Displays this document or a more current version.

About Fractal Plug-In for Netscape

Displays information about Fractal Plug-in for Netscape. You will find patent information, a definition of FIF, and ways to contact Iterated Systems.

License Agreement

Link to the License Agreement page on the Iterated Systems web site. A copy of this page is also displayed when you run the Fractal Image Plug-In setup.

Info on Fractal Imager

Link to an Iterated Systems page that describes a FIF shareware download and display product.

Iterated Systems

Link to Iterated Systems' Home Page.

All Rights Reserved.
This page last updated: February 14, 1996, 4:50 PM