SuperGraphics is a 256-color or B&W drawing and painting program.
It can be used and copied FREE OF CHARGE.
SuperGraphics™ is a SuperCard™ standalone.
I would like to thank Silicon Beach Software and the creators of the Runtime Editor, and Sample Draw projects from which small portions were taken (and modified) for use in this application. And thanks especially to Silicon Beach Software for encoraging users like myself to borrow freely from the projects that shipped with SuperCard while not requiring liscensing fees for standalones.
Please use this special MacHack ’90 version of SuperGraphics FREE OF CHARGE and without the guilt often associated with pay-if-used shareware. If you want the first update, due out shortly after the release of SuperCard 1.5, then send a check for $20 (U.S.) payable to Eric Iverson to the following address:
Eric Iverson
5200 Anthony Wayne Dr. #204
Detroit, MI 48202
This will register you as a SuperGraphics user and entitle you to future upgrades at a very low cost (probably around $5 each). Plus I'll send you a list of other applications and SuperCard developer's tools available at low cost to you.
Some of the new features in the next version will include…
• the ability to play and create standard PICS (animation) files
• access color palletes (on a color Mac) other than the system pallette
• easy editing of an object’s script and other properties
• a revised, more intuitive user interface
• fewer bugs
• & many, many more features too legally binding to mention here
Features I would like to add but might not be able to (are you listening Silicon Beach Software?)
• graphic grouping—a feature of SuperEdit™ not implemented in SuperCard
• zoom views—no graphics program should really be without ’em
• an Undo command that works—it’s good enough for HyperCard™
ON-LINE HELP
As far as help goes: come on! No free software comes with a manual, and of course Macs are so easy to use you don’t need a manual (ha!)
But here are a few hints to get you up to speed...
The optimum monitor settings for this version are 2 and 256 colors.
Choose "New..." from the file menu to create a new SuperGraphics document or choose "Open..." to open a previously created SuperGraphics document.
The little arrows < > on the tools pallette are for moving between the drawing and painting tools.
The drawing tools work as soon as you select them.
The painting tools require that you already have a bit-box to paint in, if there is no bit-box, create one by clicking and dragging a paint tool diagonally. Empty bit-boxes will delete themselves if left alone.
You can have as many separate bit-boxes as memory allows.
Applying color ink effects to many objects can slow things down alot.
I recommend using version 6.0 of the LaserWriter driver and Laser Prep files to print color bitmaps in greyscale.
The funny-looking pointing finger is the browse tool. It can be used to execute scripts attached to objects. SuperGraphics is not just another runtime editor for SuperCard projects. It can edit SuperCard projects if you change their creator name (don't ask) to match SuperGraphics’.
The Message command is for SuperTalk experts only, thus no explanation for it will be given here.
As far as everything else goes, just poke around and experiment.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
• MacPlus (an SE or later model is recommended for speed considerations)
• System version 6.0.2 or higher
• 2.5 Mb RAM minimum reccomended for B&W non-Multifinder, 4 Mb or higher for color & Multifinder. If you have a one-megabyte Mac, try turning off color & remove as many INITs as you can from your System folder & reboot to free-up RAM, then cross your fingers.
BUGS
I admit it, this version has bugs. Many are my fault and some come from using the first release of SuperCard. If you've gotten this far, that’s a good sign. The first big update, mentioned above, will be virtually “bug free” and have many nifty new features, thanks in part to the folks at Silicon Beach Software (and by “bug free” I don’t mean “all the bugs you want at no extra charge”)
RECOGNIZING BUGS
Bugs typically have six legs. The types of bug you will most-likely encounter while using SuperGraphics fall into three categories:
1) The dialog "SuperTalk is out of Memory, try closing some windows" this usually comes at the worst time, like when you realize you haven’t saved your work. I have tried to script around this bug, but it still pops up now and then. Try clicking on a tool icon on the tools pallette a few times to reclaim fragmented memory.
2) The dialog "Can’t find card [window, button, etc… ]" occurring upon startup. This is bad news because it means that the project has not been set up properly and won’t run properly either. The best solution is to follow the above advice on saving memory.
3) Any dialog with a "Script" button attached. These are probably my fault, but clicking on the Script button will allow you to edit this program which could lead to problems if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Send bug reports and suggestions for improvements to the above address if so inclined. If you're a registered user I'll reply to you personally.
USER INTERFACE INCONSISTENCIES
SuperGraphics’ user-interface has alot of inconsistencies with the standard Mac user-interface guidelines. In part due to my efforts to keep the project running quickly and the fact that much of this program was taken from other SuperCard projects. HyperCard users will be accustomed to wierd interfaces. The next version of SuperGraphics will adhere somewhat closer to the standard Mac interface, in addition to many enhancements (like hierarchical and pop-up menus).
LEGAL MATTERS
SuperGraphics is a trademark of Eric Iverson
Other trademarks and copyrights mentioned here are the properties of their respective owners.
