Eric Lee, the developer of The Write Stuff word processor included with the 128 version a way of including Print Shop pictures in printed documents. He emphasized that this was more in the nature of a demonstration, rather than a practical application, since a great deal of work was required to include those images. Eric actually preferred to use a cut and paste approach with a photocopier. His main point was that Commodore images are of a lower resolution than a photocopied photograph or drawing.
High Res, Doodles, Print Shop and the 64/128
Hugh McMenamin two years ago produced The Illustrator which unlike Eric's project, allowed the use of Printshop pictures with both the C64 and 128 versions of TWS. He also figured out how to include RUNpaint images with text printed from the word processor. This meant that Doodle files could be renamed as RUNpaint files, imported to the paint programme, resaved as RUNpaint files, and used by the Illustrator version of TWS V2. Digitized images such as those created by Computer Eyes, need to be renamed as RUNpaint files and imported to RUNpaint. They appear in RUNpaint as negatives. A process of saving to buffer, and repasting as negative will result in a positive image. Alternately, Loadstar's Shopping Bag or Fuzzy Fox's Autograph programme will reverse a negative to a positive.
The Illustrator is not a patch to add to TWS. It is a copy of TWS which has been modified to allow inclusion of RUNpaint high density images, and Print Shop pictures. For this reason, it is necessary to buy TWS, and its Version II upgrade before obtaining the Illustrator for $5. Picture Location
The timid Illustrator user will like I initially did, alternate text with pictures. The method is simple and the results satisfactory. When I worked exclusively with my Homewriter 10 which emulates a 1525, it was not complicated to print text and picture alternations. I could adjust where horizontally on the page I wanted to put the picture by changing the left margin for the illustration, and then returning to the normal margin setting for the remaining text. Eventually I used the "wait" command so that I could after a narrow column of text was printed, manually rewind the platen so that the image would print beside the text in the remaining part of the page. By this method, a high density or Print Shop picture could be placed anywhere on the page.
Programable Picture Location
When I obtained a Star Rainbow 1000c printer, I was able to use another feature of the Illustrator. The Star printers can be programmed to back up a predictable number of lines. The Illustrator takes advantage of this by permitting programming of picture location. The preview function shows the text and with a printed statement in the appropriate location, the approximate size of the picture. With this feature, there is no need to touch the printer after the print command has been given.
Since doodle files are typically 40 blocks, 80 column wide pictures with the Illustrator can be achieved by splicing horizontally two 40 column pictures. Similarly, a picture can be created by splicing vertically two RUNpaint files.
FGM Manipulations and Larger Images
Illustrator II reduced some of the work required for these two file splices. This alternate Illustrator uses Fun Graphics Machine images. Since it is possible within FGM to fairly painlessly splice files, intact 80 column graphics can be directly imported from FGM to Illustrator II. A number of other graphics manipulations beyond the capabilities of most paint programmes can also be managed with FGM. The Illustrator II therefor allows the importation of high density and Print Shop files that have been manipulated in a variety of ways.
The Density Changer and Sharper Images
More recently the Illustrator IIa has become available. It permits the changing of density in FGM images for Star, Panasonic and similar printers. It will not do this for 1525 emulators such as my Homewriter 10. For cathode ray tube (crt) type printers, six degrees of variation in density are possible. For non-crt printers, four are available. All Illustrator II programmes currently being shipped are the IIa version. If you already have an Illustrator II disk, the first programme will be labeled IIa if it has this capability. If you wish to exchange a II disk for a IIa, Eric will simply charge you the cost of postage.
Colour Pictures With TWS
Hugh's newest innovation is his Colour Separator. The colour separation (or dithering) programmes that I know of, like Hugh's, only work with medium resolution (usually koala) images. I do have a public domain programme which converts high density to medium density pictures. My public domain ditherer separates and saves a separate file for each colour in the med res picture. The process takes about one half hour per picture. Hugh's process is automatic and takes about five minutes for a standard sized picture. He prints colour images by a four colour process so that separate red, yellow, blue and two black files are created. Illustrator II or IIa print one colour for the entire image and then back up to handle the next colour. A true colour range is possible since Hugh has included black as a separate file rather than having it result from the blend of other colours.
If a printer with a multicoloured ribbon has programable back up capacity as mine does, the colour image and text can be printed without intervention. I would recommend though, switching to a standard black ribbon for text printing by using a "wait" command. Typical colour print outs on a Commodore compatible colour printer tend to be pale or pastel. If the density changer for the IIa has been used, multiple printings of each dot will produce a much more intense image. Users of the II version can choose instead to programme double printings of each colour which will produce a similar effect.
Colour on a Monochrome Printer
It is possible and possibly preferable to print colour pictures with TWS using Illustrator II or IIa on a monochrome printer. Hugh demonstrates in an included file how to use the wait command to pause the printer while changing single coloured ribbons. My Star then automatically backs up to the beginning of the image to print the new colour. On my Rainbow, the most intense colours result from this one ribbon at a time approach. It is however more labour intensive. There is no need though to have a colour printer to use this process. While Hugh recommends against it, I expect that a printer such as my Homewriter 10 which cannot be programmed to back up might be able provide colour pictures using Hugh's Separator if careful manual rewinding of the platen took place.
Alternative Integrations of Text and Image
The Illustrator is not the only Commodore programme which mixes words and pictures. Print Shop which exists on many platforms has limitations as to where the pictures and words can be placed. Images are limited in detail. It is mainly a display programme. Print Shop pictures can be however used by the Illustrator. Newsroom is normally limited to a newspaper format although some innovative comic books have also been created with it. Its word processor is simply a text generator. It does however allow text and picture exchanges among the Commodore, Apple II and IBM versions of Newsroom without loss of formatting. GEOS uses a full featured word processor and paint programme. What You See Is What You Get is possible with pictures and words on screen. If the image is in colour, that too will be displayed. Words however are printed in graphics mode rather than print mode. The fonts are constructed of visible dots instead of the relatively solid lines of print mode. While the images are acceptable especially if dithered (by Geogif or the CMD programme), they are of a lower resolution than most doodles.
The Write Stuff in its Illustrator version combines what is for many users the most powerful word processor available to Commodore users with a way of integrating doodle, Print Shop or colour koala pictures. While I have friends who own programmes for their Macs or pc's which will also do this, few of them have bothered. I think they are inhibited by the time, cost and learning curve involved in printing a text and image document, especially if it involves colour.
I need the Rainbow version of the Star to use the colour features of GEOpaint and the colour screen dump of my Final Cartridge III. So long as your monochrome printer has a programable back up command however, you can create good text and colour image documents with Illustrator II or IIa and single colour ribbons.
