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- Tux Paint
- version 0.9.20
- Frequently Asked Questions
-
- Copyright 2002-2008 by Bill Kendrick and others
- New Breed Software
-
- bill@newbreedsoftware.com
- http://www.tuxpaint.org/
-
- September 14, 2002 - February 28, 2008
-
- Drawing-related
-
- * Fonts I added to Tux Paint only show squares
-
- The TrueType Font you're using might have the wrong encoding. If it's
- 'custom' encoded, for example, you can try running it through
- FontForge (http://fontforge.sourceforge.net/) to convert it to an
- ISO-8859 format. (Email us if you need help with special fonts.)
-
- * The Rubber Stamp tool is greyed out!
-
- This means that Tux Paint either couldn't find any stamp images, or
- was asked not to load them.
-
- If you installed Tux Paint, but did not install the separate, optional
- "Stamps" collection, quit Tux Paint and install it now. It should be
- available from the same place you got the main Tux Paint program.
- (Note: As of version 0.9.14, Tux Paint comes with a small collection
- of example stamps.)
-
- If you don't want to install the default collection of stamps, you can
- just create your own. See the EXTENDING TUX PAINT documentation for
- more on creating PNG and SVG image files, TXT text description files,
- Ogg Vorbis, MP3 or WAV sound files, and DAT text data files that make
- up stamps.
-
- Finally, if you installed stamps, and think they should be loading,
- check to see that the "nostamps" option isn't being set. (Either via a
- "--nostamps" option to Tux Paint's command line, or "nostamps=yes" in
- the configuration file.)
-
- If so, either change/remove the "nostamps" option, or you can override
- it with "--stamps" on the command line or "nostamps=no" or
- "stamps=yes" in a configuration file.
-
- * The Magic "Fill" Tool Looks Bad
-
- Tux Paint is probably comparing exact pixel colors when filling.
- This is faster, but looks worse. Run the command
- "tuxpaint --version" from a command line, and you should see,
- amongst the other output: "Low Quality Flood Fill enabled".
-
- To change this, you must rebuild Tux Paint from source. Be sure
- to remove or comment out any line that says:
-
- #define LOW_QUALITY_FLOOD_FILL
-
- in the "tuxpaint.c" file in the "src" directory.
-
- * Stamp outlines are always rectangles
-
- Tux Paint was built with low-quality (but faster) stamp outlines.
-
- Rebuild Tux Paint from source. Be sure to remove or comment out
- any line that says:
-
- #define LOW_QUALITY_STAMP_OUTLINE
-
- in the "tuxpaint.c" file in the "src" directory.
-
- Interface Problems
-
- * Stamp thumbnails in the Stamp Selector look bad
-
- Tux Paint was probably compiled with the faster, lower quality
- thumbnail code enabled. Run the command: "tuxpaint --version" from a
- command line. If, amongst the other output, you see the text: "Low
- Quality Thumbnails enabled", then this is what's happening.
-
- Rebuild Tux Paint from source. Be sure to remove or comment out any
- line that says:
-
- #define LOW_QUALITY_THUMBNAILS
-
- in the "tuxpaint.c" file in the "src" directory.
-
- * Pictures in the 'Open' dialog look bad
-
- "Low Quality Thumbnails" is probably enabled. See: "Stamp thumbnails
- in the Stamp Selector look bad", above.
-
- * The color picker buttons are ugly squares, not pretty buttons!
-
- Tux Paint was probably compiled with the nice looking color selector
- buttons disabled. Run the command: "tuxpaint --version" from a command
- line. If, amongst the other output, you see the text: "Low Quality
- Color Selector enabled", then this is what's happening.
-
- Rebuild Tux Paint from source. Be sure to remove or comment out any
- line that says:
-
- #define LOW_QUALITY_COLOR_SELECTOR
-
- in the "tuxpaint.c" file in the "src" directory.
-
- * All of the text is in uppercase!
-
- The "uppercase" option is on.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it an "--uppercase" option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--uppercase" is listed as a
- command-line argument.
-
- If "--uppercase" isn't being sent on the command line, check
- Tux Paint's configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and Unix,
- "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading: "uppercase=yes".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the command-line
- argument: "--mixedcase", which will override the uppercase setting.
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Show Uppercase Text Only"
- (under "Languages") is not checked.
-
- * Tux Paint is in a different language!
-
- Make sure your locale setting is correct. See "Tux Paint won't switch
- to my language", below.
-
- * Tux Paint won't switch to my language
-
- * Linux and Unix users: Make sure the locale is available
-
- Make sure the locale you want is available. Check your
- "/etc/locale.gen" file. See the OPTIONS documentation for the
- locales Tux Paint uses (especially when using the "--lang"
- option).
-
- Note: Debian users can simply run "dpkg-reconfigure locales" if
- the locales are managed by "dpkg."
-
- * If you're using the "--lang" command-line option
-
- Try using the "--locale" command-line option, or your
- operating system's locale settings (e.g., the "$LANG"
- environment variable), and please e-mail us regarding your
- trouble.
-
- * If you're using the "--locale" command-line option
-
- If this doesn't work, please e-mail us regarding your
- trouble.
-
- * If you're trying to use your Operating System's locale
-
- If this doesn't work, please e-mail us regarding your
- trouble.
-
- * Make sure you have the necessary font
-
- Some translations require their own font. Chinese and
- Korean, for example, need Chinese and Korean TrueType Fonts
- installed and placed in the proper location, respectively.
-
- The appropriate fonts for such locales can be downloaded
- from the Tux Paint website:
-
- http://www.tuxpaint,org/download/fonts/
-
- Printing
-
- * Tux Paint won't print, gives an error, or prints garbage (Unix/Linux)
-
- Tux Paint prints by creating a PostScript rendition of the picture and
- sending it to an external command. By default, this command is the
- "lpr" printing tool.
-
- If that program is not available (for example, you're using CUPS, the
- Common Unix Printing System, and do not have "cups-lpr" installed),
- you will need to specify an appropriate command using the
- "printcommand" option in Tux Paint's configuration file. (See the
- OPTIONS documentation.)
-
- Note: Versions of Tux Paint prior to 0.9.15 used a different default
- command for printing, "pngtopnm | pnmtops | lpr", as Tux Paint output
- PNG format, rather than PostScript.
-
- If you had changed your "printcommand" option prior to Tux Paint
- 0.9.15, you will need to go back and alter it to accept PostScript.
-
- * I get the message "You can't print yet!" when I go to print!
-
- The "print delay" option is on. You can only print once every
- X seconds.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it a "--printdelay=..." option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--printdelay=..." is listed as a
- command-line argument.
-
- If a "--printdelay=..." option isn't being sent on the command line,
- check Tux Paint's configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and
- Unix, "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading:
- "printdelay=...".
-
- Either remove that line, set the delay value to 0 (no delay), or
- decrease the delay to a value you prefer. (See the OPTIONS
- documentation).
-
- Or, you can simply run Tux Paint with the command-line argument:
- "--printdelay=0", which will override the configuration file's
- setting, and allow unlimited printing. (You won't have to wait between
- prints.)
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Print Delay" (under
- "Printing") is set to "0 seconds."
-
- * I simply can't print! The button is greyed out!
-
- The "no print" option is on.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it a "--noprint" option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--noprint" is listed as an argument.
-
- If "--noprint" isn't on the command-line, check Tux Paint's
- configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and Unix,
- "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading: "noprint=yes".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the command-line
- argument: "--print", which will override the configuration file's
- setting.
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Allow Printing" (under
- "Printing") is checked.
-
- Saving
-
- * Where are my pictures?
-
- Unless you asked Tux Paint to save into a specific location (using the
- 'savedir' option), Tux Paint saves into a standard location on your
- local drive:
-
- * Windows
- In the user's "Application Data" folder:
- e.g., C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application
- Data\TuxPaint\saved
- * Mac OS X
- In the user's "Application Support" folder:
- e.g., /Users/Username/Library/Applicaton Support/TuxPaint/saved/
- * Linux / Unix
- In the user's $HOME directory, under a ".tuxpaint" subfolder:
- e.g., /home/username/.tuxpaint/saved/
-
- The images are stored as PNG bitmaps, which most modern programs
- should be able to load (image editors, word processors, web browsers,
- etc.)
-
- * Tux Paint always saves over my old picture!
-
- The "save over" option is enabled. (This disables the prompt that
- would appear when you click 'Save.')
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it a "--saveover" option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--saveover" is listed as an
- argument.
-
- If "--saveover" isn't on the command-line, check Tux Paint's
- configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and Unix,
- "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading: "saveover=yes".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the command-line
- argument: "--saveoverask", which will override the configuration
- file's setting.
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Ask Before Overwriting" (under
- "Saving") is checked.
-
- Also, see "Tux Paint always saves a new picture!", below.
-
- * Tux Paint always saves a new picture!
-
- The "never save over" option is enabled. (This disables the prompt
- that would appear when you click 'Save.')
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it a "--saveovernew" option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--saveovernew" is listed as an
- argument.
-
- If "--saveovernew" isn't on the command-line, check Tux Paint's
- configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and Unix,
- "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading: "saveover=new".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the command-line
- argument: "--saveoverask", which will override the configuration
- file's setting.
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Ask Before Overwriting" (under
- "Saving") is checked.
-
- Also, see "Tux Paint always saves over my old picture!", above.
-
- Audio Problems
-
- * There's no sound!
-
- * First, check the obvious:
-
- * Are your speakers connected and turned on?
- * Is the volume turned up on your speakers?
- * Is the volume turned up in your Operating System's "mixer?"
- * Are you certain you're using a computer with a sound card?
- * Are any other programs running that use sound? (They may be
- 'blocking' Tux Paint from accessing your sound device)
- * (Unix/Linux) Are you using a sound system, such as aRts, ESD
- or GStreamer? If so, try setting the "SDL_AUDIODRIVER"
- environment variable before running Tux Paint (e.g.,
- "export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=arts"). Or, run Tux Paint through
- the system's rerouter (e.g., run "artsdsp tuxpaint" or
- "esddsp tuxpaint", instead of simply "tuxpaint").
-
- * Is sound disabled in Tux Paint?
-
- If sound seems to work otherwise (and you're sure no other
- program is "blocking" the sound device), then Tux Paint may be
- running with a "no sound" option.
-
- Make sure you're not running Tux Paint with the "--nosound"
- option as a command-line argument. (See the OPTIONS documentation
- for details.)
-
- If it's not, then check the configuration file
- ("/etc/tuxpaint/tuxpaint.conf" and "~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux
- and Unix, and "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading:
- "nosound=yes".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the
- command-line argument: "--sound", which will override the
- configuration file's setting.
-
- Alternatively, you can use Tux Paint Config. to change the
- configuration file. Make sure "Enable Sound Effects" (under
- "Video & Sound") is checked, then click "Apply".
-
- * Were sounds temporarily disabled?
-
- Even if sounds are enabled in Tux Paint, it is possible to
- disable and re-enable them temporarily using the [Alt] + [S] key
- sequence. Try pressing those keys to see if sounds begin working
- again.
-
- * Was Tux Paint built without sound support?
-
- Tux Paint may have been compiled with sound support disabled. To
- test whether sound support was enabled when Tux Paint was
- compiled, run Tux Paint from a command line, like so:
-
- tuxpaint --version
-
- If, amongst the other information, you see "Sound disabled", then
- the version of Tux Paint you're running has sound disabled.
- Recompile Tux Paint, and be sure NOT to build the "nosound"
- target. (i.e., don't run "make nosound") Be sure the SDL_mixer
- library and its development headers are available!
-
- * Tux Paint makes too much noise! Can I turn them off?
-
- Yes, there are a number of ways to disable sounds in Tux Paint:
-
- * Press [Alt] + [S] while in Tux Paint to temporarily disable
- sounds. (Press that key sequence again to re-enable sounds.)
- * Run Tux Paint with the "no sound" option:
-
- * Use Tux Paint Config to uncheck the "Enable Sound Effects"
- option (under "Video & Sound").
- * Edit Tux Paint's configuration file (see OPTIONS for
- details) and add a line containing "nosound=yes".
- * Run "tuxpaint --nosound" from the command line or shortcut
- or desktop icon.
- * Recompile Tux Paint with sound support disabled. (See above
- and INSTALL.txt.)
-
- * The sound effects sound strange
-
- This could have to do with how SDL and SDL_mixer were initialized.
- (The buffer size chosen.)
-
- Please e-mail us with details about your computer system. (Operating
- system and version, sound card, which version of Tux Paint you're
- running (run "tuxpaint --version" to verify), and so on.)
-
- Fullscreen Mode Problems
-
- * When I run Tux Paint full-screen and ALT-TAB out, the window turns
- black!
-
- This is apparently a bug in the SDL library. Sorry.
-
- * When I run Tux Paint full-screen, it has large borders around it
-
- Linux users - Your X-Window server is probably not set with the
- ability to switch to the desired resolution: 800 *600. (or whatever
- resolution you have Tux Paint set to run at.) (This is typically done
- manually under the X-Window server by pressing [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[KeyPad
- Plus] and -[KeyPad Minus].)
-
- For this to work, your monitor must support that resolution, and you
- need to have it listed in your X server configuration.
-
- Check the "Display" subsection of the "Screen" section of your XFree86
- or X.org configuration file (typically "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4" or
- "/etc/X11/XF86Config", depending on the version of XFree86 you're
- using; 3.x or 4.x, respectively, or "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" for X.org).
-
- Add "800x600" (or whatever resolution(s) you want) to the appropriate
- "Modes" line. (e.g., in the "Display" subsection that contains 24-bit
- color depth ("Depth 24"), which is what Tux Paint tries to use.) e.g.:
-
- Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
-
- Note that some Linux distributions have tools that can make these
- changes for you. Debian users can run the command "dpkg-reconfigure
- xserver-xfree86" as root, for example.
-
- * Tux Paint keeps running in Full Screen mode - I want it windowed!
-
- The "fullscreen" option is set.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it a "--fullscreen" option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--fullscreen" is listed as an
- argument.
-
- If "--fullscreen" isn't on the command-line, check Tux Paint's
- configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and Unix,
- "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading: "fullscreen=yes".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the command-line
- argument: "--windowed", which will override the configuration file's
- setting.
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Fullscreen" (under "Video &
- Sound") is not checked.
-
- Other Problems
-
- * Tux Paint won't run
-
- If Tux Paint aborts with the message: "You're already running a copy
- of Tux Paint!", this means it has been launched in the last 30
- seconds. (On Unix/Linux, this message would appear in a terminal
- console if you ran Tux Paint from a command-line. On Windows, this
- message would appear in a file named "stdout.txt" in the same folder
- where TuxPaint.exe resides (e.g., in C:\Program Files\TuxPaint).
-
- A lockfile ("~/.tuxpaint/lockfile.dat" on Linux and Unix,
- "userdata\lockfile.dat" on Windows) is used to make sure Tux Paint
- isn't run too many times at once (e.g., due to a child impatiently
- clicking its icon more than once).
-
- Even if the lockfile exists, it contains the 'time' Tux Paint was last
- run. If it's been more than 30 seconds, Tux Paint should run fine, and
- simply update the lockfile with the current time.
-
- If multiple users are sharing the directory where this file is stored
- (e.g., on a shared network drive), then you'll need to disable this
- feature.
-
- To disable the lockfile, add the "--nolockfile" argument to
- Tux Paint's command-line.
-
- * I can't quit Tux Paint
-
- The "noquit" option is set. This disables the "Quit" button in
- Tux Paint's toolbar (greying it out), and prevents Tux Paint from
- being quit using the [Escape] key.
-
- If Tux Paint is not in fullscreen mode, simply click the window close
- button on Tux Paint's title bar. (i.e., the "(x)" at the upper right.)
-
- If Tux Paint is in fullscreen mode, you will need to use the [Shift] +
- [Control] + [Escape] sequence on the keyboard to quit Tux Paint.
-
- (Note: with or without "noquit" set, you can always use the [Alt] +
- [F4] combination on your keyboard to quit Tux Paint.)
-
- * I don't want "noquit" mode enabled!
-
- If you're running Tux Paint from a command-line, make sure you're not
- giving it a "--noquit" option.
-
- If you're running Tux Paint by double-clicking an icon, check the
- properties of the icon to see if "--noquit" is listed as an argument.
-
- If "--noquit" isn't on the command-line, check Tux Paint's
- configuration file ("~/.tuxpaintrc" under Linux and Unix,
- "tuxpaint.cfg" under Windows) for a line reading: "noquit=yes".
-
- Either remove that line, or simply run Tux Paint with the command-line
- argument: "--quit", which will override the configuration file's
- setting.
-
- Or use Tux Paint Config. and make sure "Disable Quit Button and
- [Escape] Key" (under "Simplification") is not checked.
-
- * Tux Paint keeps writing weird messages to the screen / to a text file
-
- A few messages are normal, but if Tux Paint is being extremely verbose
- (like listing the name of every rubber-stamp image it finds while
- loading them), then it was probably compiled with debugging output
- turned on.
-
- Rebuild Tux Paint from source. Be sure to remove or comment out any
- line that says:
-
- #define DEBUG
-
- in the "tuxpaint.c" file in the "src" directory.
-
- * Tux Paint is using options I didn't specify!
-
- By default, Tux Paint first looks at configuration files for options.
-
- * Unix and Linux
-
- Under Unix and Linux, it first examines the system-wide
- configuration file, located here:
-
- /etc/tuxpaint/tuxpaint.conf
-
- It then examines the user's personal configuration file:
-
- ~/.tuxpaintrc
-
- Finally, any options sent as command-line arguments are used.
-
- * Windows
-
- Under Windows, Tux Paint first examines the configuration file:
-
- tuxpaint.cfg
-
- Then, any options sent as command-line arguments are used.
-
- This means that if anything is set in a configuration file that you
- don't want set, you'll need to either change the config. file (if you
- can), or override the option on the command-line.
-
- For example, if "/etc/tuxpaint/tuxpaint.conf" includes an option to
- disable sound:
-
- nosound=yes
-
- You can reenable sound by either adding this option to your own
- ".tuxpainrc" file:
-
- sound=yes
-
- Or by using this command-line argument:
-
- --sound
-
- Linux and Unix users can also disable the system-wide configuration
- file by including the following command-line argument:
-
- --nosysconfig
-
- Tux Paint will then only look at "~/.tuxpaintrc" and command-line
- arguments to determine what options should be set.
-
- Help / Contact
-
- Any questions you don't see answered? Let me know!
-
- bill@newbreedsoftware.com
-
- Or post to our 'tuxpaint-users' mailing list:
-
- http://www.tuxpaint.org/lists/
-