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++------------------------------------------------++ || || || 256 PAINT - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop v2.0 || || Formerly 256 DRAW || || || || A Pod Bay Enterprises Product || || || || Programmer: David A. Johndrow || || || || Registration Fee: $10 (Registration Only) || || $15 (Reg. & 256 PLUS) || || || || Register with: David A. Johndrow || || 3115 Deerchase Wynd || || Durham, NC 27712 || || || || IMPORTANT: Make checks payable to || || David A. Johndrow || || || ++------------------------------------------------++ WHY SHOULD YOU REGISTER? Three reasons, mainly. First, at the $15 registration level, the author will send you 256 Plus, a set of extra tools and program examples that will augment the 256 Paint program (see 256 Plus in table of contents). Secondly, the author will also include any more recent versions of 256 Paint and any other Pod Bay titles when you are shipped 256 Plus. Lastly, you will support the shareware idea. At first, this notion may seem superfluous, but the shareware concept is based on the "try-before- you-buy" principle. This does not mean that it is free. If you use 256 Paint, you are expected to register. No support for code or program usage will be extended to those who do not register! HOW CAN YOU REGISTER? Very simply, print the file Register.DOC, fill out the questionnaire, then send it to me via U.S. mail. The accompanying form does not necessarily need to be sent, but it will help you determine the registration fee and help me process the order. Please pay particular care for extra charges pending if you intend to use it for a business or are outside the U.S. ANY QUESTIONS? Don't worry, I'm not going to throw an egg into a frying pan and call it your brain! If you have questions about using 256 Paint, please include them with your registration fee. If you have a burning need to have a question answered before you register, write a letter or send me E-mail through America On-Line under "Pod Bay". +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 2 +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------------------------------+ | Table of Contents Page | +------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | About 256 Paint, Pod Bay Enterprises..................3 | | | | General Information...................................4 | | | | Macros................................................4 | | | | Screen Layout.........................................5 | | | | An Important Note About Files & Palettes..............6 | | | | 256 Paint Menu Items Descriptions.....................7 | | | | Draw a Shape......................................8 | | | | Rectangular Moves.................................9 | | | | Disk I/O.........................................10 | | | | Zoom.............................................11 | | | | Misc. Toolbox....................................11 | | | | Oops!............................................13 | | | | Palette Operations...............................13 | | | | 256 Paint Settings...............................14 | | | | General Help.....................................14 | | | | Paint Operations.................................14 | | | | Resizing.........................................17 | | | | Exit.............................................17 | | | | Palette Editor.......................................18 | | | | 256 PLUS, What id It?................................19 | | | | PB256 Turbo Pascal Unit, What Is It?.................20 | | | | 256 Paint Version History............................21 | | | +------------------------------------------------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 3 +--------------------------------------------+ 256 Paint - The "256 PAINT VGA Image Workshop" is designed for use by anyone who has a desire to paint or edit images in 256 color VGA mode. The images created with 256 Paint are simple bitmap images with no compression schemes involved. This product encompasses many diverse painting and graphics-related routines. Since this is a shareware product it may be freely distributed, copied or shared. After reviewing 256 Paint, please register the product by sending the registration fee directly to David Johndrow If you wish to have Pod Bay Enterprises send you the corollary program, 256 PLUS, please include an extra $5 for expenses for a total of $15. 256 PLUS - The "256 PLUS TOOLBOX PROGRAM" was devised to complement the 256 Paint program for the power-users. All sorts of powerful tools such as Palette Approximations, Code Examples, and Hardcoding, to name a few, are included with this program. You get 256 PLUS by registering 256 Paint for $15. For most users, we recommend registration to include this product. Please specify which type of drive you have (5¼ or 3½) and we will mail you a low-density disk with the "256 PLUS TOOLBOX" as well as any recent versions of 256 Paint. For more detail on 256 PLUS, please refer to the section at the end of this document entitled "256 PLUS, What to expect." POD BAY ENTERPRISES - is a software-development team dedicated to bringing quality software to the shareware and commercial markets. 256 PAINT originated from a need for a qualitative, simple, yet powerful graphics program without the usual exorbitant price-tag. Although 256 PAINT is being distributed under the POD BAY ENTERPRISES name, it is solely owned by the author, David Johndrow. The author wishes to thank Brian Cox, Sharon Watson, Dwight Sharpe, Harold Burdick, Bob Roberds, Jordan Hargave, and all the people who have registered for their valuable contributions to the development and evolution of 256 PAINT. Their needs and ideas clearly defined the direction of this endeavor. Both 256 Paint and 256 Plus were developed under Turbo Pascal version 6.0, the Example.C file was tested using Turbo C++ version 1.01. The author is currently a Research Analyst at Duke University Medical Center. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 4 +--------------------------------------------+ GENERAL INFORMATION - The 256 Paint graphics program is designed to operate stand-alone. This means that you can install it somewhere on the path and then call it up by simple typing 256Paint at any time. If you are new to DOS, or if you have no hard drive, you may want to run 256 Paint from a floppy disks. The DOS manuals might prove useful for determining what the path is as well as how to change it, but 256 Paint is not required to be placed in the path. Once you have copied the 256PAINT.EXE program to the desired location, you are ready to run it. Even though 256 Paint, as well as 256 Plus, does not need to be in the current directory, be aware that all files (palette and image) are saved in the current directory. Before running the 256 Paint program, you may wish to print this document. Either load it as a file in your word processor and print it or type the following command in DOS: "TYPE 256PAINT.DOC >PRN" Refer to the General Information section for more information about files included with the 256 Paint program. MACROS - The following is a list of macros supported by 256 Paint: [Alt][1] - Pixel size 1x1 [Alt][2] - Pixel size 2x2 [Alt][3] - Pixel size 3x3 [Alt][4] - Pixel size 4x4 [Alt][5] - Pixel size 5x5, customized pattern, also [Alt][P] [Alt][G] - Toggle the grid mode, if appropriate. [Alt][S] - Abort program quickly. Image saved as "256Dump.VGA" [Alt][X] - Abort program quickly. No image save. [ESC] - Abort program with prompt. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 5 +--------------------------------------------+ Screen Layout: +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | +------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | Paint Window - This is where all of the | This area will hold the | | | | | | | real action occurs. | real size image if the | | | | | | | [Left Button] - will either place a | Paint window is adjusted. | | | | | | | pixel or choose a point. | See note 1 below. | | | | | | | [Right Button] - will select the paint | +-----------------------+ | | | | | | | | | color to be whatever is currently | | Menu Window - Choose | | | | | | | | | | located at that location. | | options here. | | | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------+ | [LB] - Chooses item. | | | +------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | [RB] - Help on topic.| | | | Palette Window - Choose colors here. | | | | | | | | See note 2 below. | | | +------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------+ | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ NOTE 1: The paint window often uses pixels larger than an actual screen pixel. This makes editing pixels much easier, especially while in zoom mode. If the image being edited is smaller or equal to 100x75 pixels in size, the real-size image is displayed in the upper-right corner of the screen. NOTE 2: Keep in mind that Help is available most of the time. Only when you are in the middle of a process is help unavailable. If you have begun a process and you are not sure what you have done, you can usually abandon it by hitting the Right mouse button. Probably the most relieving command available is the UNDO command. Exploring should be encouraged by the fact that you can always undo the last action. Saving periodically can also take some of the danger of unwanted changes becoming permanent. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 6 +--------------------------------------------+ FILES AND PALETTES - This section is included to explain a subject that can be confusing for many users. In this document, the term file refers to the disk file that can hold just the image or the image along with its own palette. In the 256 PAINT program these files have a .VGA file extension. The term palette refers to the settings of the 256 colors that are visible. These files have a .PAL file extension. Remember, only 256 colors can be displayed at one time but they can be selected from 262,144 colors! When saving an image to disk, you must decide whether or not to bundle the palette with that file. The best rule of thumb to follow when deciding which route to go is to first assess your needs. If you are working with different PCX files or you will be using the images in a situation where only one is visible at a time, you may want to save the palette along with the image. If you are going to use a generic or constant palette, avoid saving the palette with the images and you will save 768 bytes per file. 256 PAINT uses the .VGA extension on both kinds of files so it relies on file size alone to determine if you have saved the palette along with the image. 256 PAINT will know to load the palette with the image if there is one saved with a file. You need to make sure that your program knows to do the same if you use unique palettes. Of course, we have provided a means for you to save just the palette in its own file for the purpose of loading it within 256 PAINT as well as your own programs. Saving the current palette by itself, into a .PAL file as mentioned above, may be done in 256 PAINT by clicking on PAL and then choosing SAVE from the next sub-menu. Included in the package you have already received is some sample code in C and Pascal that will show you how to load and use image files. Be sure to review the files EXAMPLE.C and/or EXAMPLE.PAS. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 7 +--------------------------------------------+ THE MENUING SYSTEM - The new menuing system, as of version 2.0, is comprised of an icon-driven menu with each component having several sub- components. The components are grouped together logically, therefore you know longer have to search for the desired action among a list of 36 items! Simply click with the left button to choose menu items. Clicking with the right button will allow you to receive a brief description about that item. If 256 Paint is in hidden menu mode, moving the cursor off of the menu will return you to normal edit mode and make the menu go away. THE PALETTE SYSTEM - The color palette allows you to choose which color you want to perform drawing activities in. Simply point to the color you want and click the mouse button. Since only 64 of the 256 colors are visible at a time, use the arrows on the right side of the palette to page through the colors. Also note that in the paint window, hitting the right button will set the current color to be what was under the mouse. If 256 Paint is operating in hidden palette mode, hitting the right button will return you to normal editing and make the palette go away. IMPORTANT NOTE: As of version 2.0, 256 Paint allows you to work on full- screen images. If the image is too large to allow the menu on-screen, you can bring the menu up by either hitting the middle button on a three-button mouse or holding down the right button and then pressing the left. Now for the tricky part. If both the menu and the color palette are hidden, this action will invoke either depending on the current location of the mouse. In the left-half of the screen, it will call up the color palette, in the right-half it will invoke the menuing system. If you are working on an odd-shaped image where one of those two is already active, say 160x200, then the hidden palette is invoked regardless of your location at the time of calling. This is difficult to describe with language, so give it a whirl and you will get the hang of it. The next large section will take you through each menu component and all of its sub-components as well. Below is a diagram which shows the locations of the main components with their english-version names: +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | | | | | Draw a Shape | | Rectangular Moves | | Disk I/O | | | | | | | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | | | | | Zoom | | Misc. Toolbox | | Oops! (Undo) | | | | | | | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | | | | | Palette Operations | | 256 Paint Settings | | General Help | | | | | | | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | | | | | Paint Operations | | Resizing | | Exit | | | | | | | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +---------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 8 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | Draw a Shape | | | +---------------------+ These routines are the fundamental drawing routines inherent in a Paint program. The following shape choices are available: LINE - This will allow you to paint a line. You must specify the endpoints. RECTANGLE - This will allow you to paint a rectangle. You must specify two opposing corners. CIRCLE - This will allow you to paint a circle. You will be asked to first specify the center, and then a point along the circumference. ELLIPSE - This process lets you create odd shaped ellipses. After supplying the center of the circle, you will then give the x and y radius' respectively. Unlike the circle routine, where the circumference point can be anywhere, the program isolates mouse movement so only appropriate points are selected for x and y radius. POLYGON - The most powerful of the shape processes. This feature allows the user to paint a shape that has up to 100 sides. This will give a tremendous amount of freedom to create shapes that are widely diverse. Since it is a nuisance to stop and figure out how many points the shape will have, the program allows you to just keep entering points until you decide it is time to either draw the shape or abort the process. To use this process, just start selecting points in the work area. Once you are done, the right mouse button interrupts the process. It is at this time that you inform the program whether you are done selecting points or changed your mind and want to abort. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 9 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | Rectangular Moves | | | +---------------------+ These routines all operate on a rectangularly defined region. Each has a slightly different property described below: COPY - This will copy, verbatim, the rectangular region you specified, to a new location. All pixels, background included, will appear in the new location. MOVE - Like the copy routine, this process will leave a hole of color 0 where the picture was originally. This routine is most useful when desiring to pick up and move an object, and that object is bounded by space (color 0). OVERLAY - Same as the copy routine with one exception: Any background color (color 0) in the moving picture will allow colors under it to appear. That is, no color 0 will be put over any other color. ERASE - This simply erases the area specified by the rectangular bounds. By erase, this means that color 0 will be used. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 10 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | Disk I/O | | | +---------------------+ CREATE NEW IMAGE - This option allows you to start a fresh picture. If you were currently working on a picture, you will be prompted for a chance to save. Use the mouse to select the size of the picture you will be working on. If you wish to change these dimensions later, you may do so with the size command. LOAD VGA IMAGE - This option allows you to load a saved (.VGA) picture from disk. All of the information regarding size and palette, if applicable, will be loaded as well. For more information regarding the handling of files and palettes, see the special section entitled "Files and Palettes." LOAD PCX IMAGE - This option allows you to load a saved (.PCX) picture from disk. Note: Only 256 color PCX images not exceeding 320 pixels in width or 200 pixels in height can be loaded into 256 Paint. If you wish to use images larger than 320x200, try using some available clipping routines to size it down to the appropriate size. SAVE VGA IMAGE- This option allows you to save the current picture to a (.VGA) disk file. If you had previously loaded the picture from disk, the save option will ask if you want to save the picture under the same name, if not, or if it is a new picture, you will be prompted for the picture name. In addition to saving the picture data, you may also save the palette with the picture. You must tell 256 Paint whether you wish to do so or not. This is discussed in more detail in the section "Files and Palettes." SAVE PCX IMAGE- This option allows you to save the current picture to a (.PCX) disk file. 256 Paint saves all (.PCX) images as 320x200. MERGE - In order to simplify the process of editing pictures separately with one final picture in mind, this process was created. This will allow you to load in any picture from the disk and place it over the current picture. This uses the overlay routine so that only non-background colors are actually placed over the picture. The picture loaded must be less than or equal to the size of the picture already being worked on. Note: Any picture pulled into the current picture will ignore the palette of the picture being loaded. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 11 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | Zoom | | | +---------------------+ This routine has no subcomponents. It allows you to zoom into a smaller region and work on really "fat" pixels, which are much easier for pixel manipulation. After selecting this option, you will define rectangularly the region you want to zoom. Upon leaving, you will be asked if you want to keep the changes that you made. If you save while in zoom mode, you are saving only the zoomed portion. Only a few options, such as image resizing, ar unavailable while zoomed in. This provides a means to lift smaller images out of the current image. Users of earlier versions of 256 Paint may notice a slight delay while zooming, this is due to disk swapping while switching in and out of zoom mode. +---------------------+ | | | Misc. Toolbox | | | +---------------------+ The following routines are miscellaneous. Future versions of 256 Paint will probably have additions inserted here: HORIZONTAL FLIP - This will simply flip the picture left-right. This means the picture will be flipped along a central vertical axis. Note that the entire picture will be flipped. To flip only a portion, zoom-in, perform the flip and then zoom back out. VERTICAL FLIP - This routine will flip the picture top-bottom. Pictures will be turned "upside down". This means that the picture will be flipped along a central horizontal axis. Keep in mind the same usefulness of the zoom option mentioned above. ROTATE IMAGE - This routine will rotate an image 90 degrees, thus turning a picture on end. You will notice that the disparity between x and y images creates a problem here. This routine will crop any x dimension greater than 200. If you don't want cropping, use the size command to resize to 200 pixels wide. Since this option swaps image x and y dimensions, rotation cannot be performed while in zoom mode. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 12 +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------+ | | | Misc. Toolbox, cont'd. | | | +------------------------------+ SELECT A FONT - This routine allows you to select a (.CHR) stroked font file to be used in the addition of text to your images. These files can be created with and are distributed with the BGI Toolbox which is a Borland International Public Domain product. 256 Paint looks for these files in the directory from which you called 256 Paint. That is, it will ignore (.CHR) files in the current directory if you relied on the path to call 256 Paint. The good side to this is that you don't have to have all of these files lying around in each drawing directory you use. Two important notes: First, any file named LITT.CHR is ignored since a modified form of this file is what 256 Paint uses. Secondly, You always have at your disposal a default font which is not in a (.CHR) file but rather resides in memory. ADD TEXT - This routine allows you to enter text into your image. The source for the Text are the (.CHR) font files discussed in the previous option. When you choose this option, you will see a screen that has the words "Example Text" typed in the current font and text size. If you wish to change the current font, quit and go to "Select a Font", If you wish to change the current text size, use the mouse to select a position. Note: Size 0 is considered the default size so in many cases, it is not smaller than size 1! As soon as you type a letter, the "Example Text" is replaced with the text you will be adding. The Escape key or the right mouse button will let you exit this mode without adding text. The [Alt][T] Macro will quickly call this routine up. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 13 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | Oops! (Undo) | | | +---------------------+ This routine can be a real saver. Since saving after every operation would be a tremendous waste of time, you can always back up one step by the push of a button. +---------------------+ | | | Palette Operations | | | +---------------------+ 256 Paint allows you to load, save and manipulate 256 color palettes independent from image files: LOAD PALETTE - Load allows you to load a palette from disk. You will choose from a list in the same manner that you load a picture file. The Load Palette feature seeks files using the (.PAL) extension. SAVE PALETTE - Save allows you to save the palette to disk. Just as the Load Palette feature is analogous to the Load File feature, so is the Save Palette feature analogous to the Save File feature. Therefore, overwrites are confirmed. Always remember that this feature saves only the palette into a file with a (.PAL) extension and not anything relating to the current image. MODIFY PALETTE - The most powerful palette feature, Modify brings up an entirely new screen which allows the user to change the existing palette in some way. The two main operations include a direct single-color manipulation as well as a multi-color trend operation. This option is discussed in detail in the section entitled: "The Palette Editor." +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 14 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | 256 Paint Settings | | | +---------------------+ This routine opens a window in which you can change various settings for the editing environment. For example, normally a press on the left button paints one pixel in the work area. You can modify this by having 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5 or any pattern up to 5x5 be painted when you press the left button. In addition to pixel size, you can also turn on a grid that makes pixel delineation more clearer. Of course, the grid is available only when the work area contains "fat" pixels. Lastly, you can change the time setting for delayed prompts. If you work on full-screen images, you will note that all prompts are timed. Changing this setting will alter how long they remain visible. Almost all of the settings can also be changed using macros, please refer to that section. +---------------------+ | | | General Help | | | +---------------------+ Choosing this option will step you through a general description of the 256 Paint program. Detailed help on menu options is available by pressing the left button while over an icon and then choosing the subcomponent, if necessary. +---------------------+ | | | Paint Operations | | | +---------------------+ This section provides the real meat of the paint options offered by the 256 Paint program. Most of these options may be considered advanced and take a little practice to fully understand. Please keep in mind that the "active" or "current" color place an important role in the outcome of these procedures. You may inadvertently have the wrong color selected and then wonder why the Sunburst procedure didn't do anything. Used properly, these options can yield the most dramatic effects. Improperly they can be a real headache: FILL - This feature allows you to fill an area with the current color. You will need to specify an area to fill. The fill command keeps filling until all adjacent areas of the disappearing color are gone. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 15 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------------+ | | | Paint Operations, cont'd. | | | +---------------------------+ COLOR REPLACEMENT - This routine allows you to replace all instances of one color with the currently selected color. After selecting this option you will first be asked to define the rectangular region over which the replace will be performed, then you will be asked to select a color in that region to be the color replaced. The program will then replace that color with the current color. RANDOM REPLACEMENT - This process is similar to the replace option with one main exception: Instead of replacing all instances of the target color, it will replace a percentage of the pixels at random locations. To enter the percentage of pixels to replace, use the mouse in a vertical manner and click when the desired percentage is shown. Say you want to replace 50% of the pixels of color 1 with color 2. The program will randomly select pixels of color 1 to replace with color 2 until 50% of the pixels of color 1 are replaced. Like the replace feature, the activity occurs over a rectangular region you specify. PHASE - A powerful graphics routine, this procedure will allow you to create transitional phases of colors. You will specify the rectangular coordinates for the phase to take effect. You will need to then decide between a horizontal or vertical phase, and an ascending or descending color phase. You will also need to specify how many colors are in the phase, from 2 to 99. Important: The phase takes effect only on all instances of the current color within the rectangular region. The demonstration document will step you through an example of this procedure. See PHASE.VGA. SUNBURST - Similar to the phase routine, this function differs only in that the colors spread out in a radial manner. See SUNBURST.VGA. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 16 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------------+ | | | Paint Operations, cont'd. | | | +---------------------------+ ANTI-ALIASING - The anti-aliasing process is tricky to use but allows the computer to make "best-fit" approximations to midway colors based on mathematical reasoning. This routine will sweep through a specified rectangular region and find all instances of the current color. When it does, it sees if the pixels on either side of the pixel are different than the current color. If so, it will select a best-fit approximation to the color that has the averages of each of the RGB components. This procedure is palette independent - that is, it will make a best-fit approximation no matter what palette you are using. There are two methods to choose from. One method takes whichever color has the smallest sum of the differences in RGB values, the other takes the color with the least magnitude in range of the 3 values. Experiment with either and decide which one you like best. Make sure that the pixels that you want converted to approximations are not in use elsewhere. An example of Anti-Aliasing is shown below. Imageine that color 1 has RGB components of 20,20,20 respectively. Suppose color 2 has components of 30,64,0. The anti-aliasing routine would then use the decision method (whichever you chose) to try and match a color with RGB components of 25,44,10. Look at the following setup: Color3=0,0,0 Color1=20,20,20 | AA Color | Color2=30,64,0 Color4=64,0,64 If you chose Left-Right comparisons, this routine would find a fit for RGB of 25,44,10. If you chose Up-Down comparisons, this routine would find a fit for 32,0,32. Clear as mud, right? See ALIAS.VGA. INTERPOLATION - Another one of the more advanced features, Interpolation is discussed and demonstrated in more detail in the "256Demo.Doc" file. Basically, interpolation provides a sweeping transition form one polygon to another, incrementing or decrementing colors as it goes. Two separate polygons are entered in the same manner they are under the polygon option. The points are paired and a series of polygons are plotted in-between the two, with the colors incrementing for each. The number of polygons in the series are selected by the user. In addition, the user chooses whether they should be solid or hollow. See INTERPOL.VGA. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 17 +--------------------------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | Resizing | | | +---------------------+ This option will allow you to resize the current picture. Move the mouse to select a frame size. If the picture is smaller than the new size, your picture will be upper-left justified with the new frame. You can either scale the old picture to the new size or crop the extra portion of the old picture. Scaling will fit the picture into the frame using an approximation of the old picture. The degree of continuity between the old and new picture is a function of how radical the change in size. Resizing is not available while in zoom mode. +---------------------+ | | | Exit | | | +---------------------+ Just what you'd expect, this will exit the program. If you have edited a file, you will be asked if you want to save the file. If you need to get out really fast...there are two options. [Alt][X] will immediately exit and return you to DOS. [Alt][S] will save the file under the name "256DUMP.VGA" without any associated palette. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 18 +--------------------------------------------+ PALETTE EDITOR - The palette editor, an extremely useful feature not found in many commercial packages, allows the user to actually modify the 256 color palette to contain the 256 colors they want out of a possible 262,144 colors! In addition to simply choosing RGB values, other options are available. Below is a list of the three main operations to perform in the palette editor: 1. RGB Modification - The easiest to grasp, simply click on the desired color you want to modify. Then click on the box of the component (Red, Green or Blue) that you want to modify. Then move the cursor up and down until the component is set where you want it. You can then click the left button to accept the change, or the right to restore the component to its original value. 2. Quick Set - In the color spectrum area (where all 256 colors are shown), you choose a color by clicking the left button. The cuurently chosen color is always outlined by a box. If you click on a color with the right button, and that color is not the outlined color, the outlined color will be quickly set to have the RGB components of the color you clicked on. This feature gives you the quick means to move colors around or blank them out. 3. Trending - For lack of a better term, trending allows you to choose two colors and have all of the colors in between them become gradual transitions from the first color to the last. You perform a trend by choosing the first color you want and then clicking over "Start Trend." Next, choose the last color in the trend and click over "End Trend." Now you are ready to click on the "Do Trend" button and watch 256 go to work. Naturally, the farther apart in the palette x and y are, the more slight the increments. More difficult to understand but much more powerful, is the Trend Operation. In a nutshell, the trend operation will allow you to select color x and y, then make every color between x and y a gradual blend in between. Naturally, the farther apart in the palette x and y are, the more slight the increments. As an example, let's say you want a black to white trend of 32 colors starting at color 16. Select color 16 and change all of it's RGB components to zero. Then push the button titled "Start Trend." Next, go to color 47 and set all of it's RGB components to 63. Now push the "End Trend" button. Now all you have to do is push the "Do Trend" button and watch it go! Toy with this feature and you will get used to it's usefulness. After finishing with the modify palette screen, hit "Quit" to return to the program where you left off. You must first tell the program whether or not to keep any palette changes made. Selecting a no will return you with the same palette as when you entered modify palette. Choosing a yes will make the changes active! Important: Changes made in the palette are not saved unless you either (1) choose the palette menu and save the palette in a (.PAL) file or (2) save the palette with the current image! +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 19 +--------------------------------------------+ 256 PLUS, WHAT IS IT? - Here is a list of some of the features that are available in the 256 PLUS program. This is not a complete list, nor is it a final list. It is, however, a list of some of the items included in the current version. If you have any suggestions or other needs, write to the author at the address shown on the cover page. He will almost certainly graciously respond if you have registered the product. Users of version 1.2 and beyond will note some redundancies due to migration from 256 Plus to 256 Paint. The older routines were not removed in deference to those who have 256 Draw instead of 256 Paint. - Palette conversion and "best-fit" matching. This will allow the user to match an image to a specific palette. Extremely useful for those of you who wish to use several images with different palettes simultaneously. If Image A has its own palette, and Image B has its own distinct palette, the two cannot be shown at the same time unless they are fit into one palette! - Hard-Code conversion. This will allow the user to save a .VGA file in a source-code, structured data file. Turbo Pascal and C are included. All you have to do is include the resulting code in the source and it will now be a part of the .EXE file you create. No need to search the disk for a file at run-time! - 256 Color ==> 64 Greyscale conversions. Convert your image to a 64, 32, 16, 8, 4 or 2 color greyscale image. - More advanced code examples. Examples like those found on the 256 Paint program disk, only more advanced, more thorough. - 16 to 256 color, and Vice-versa, for those who want to use EGA image support also. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 20 +--------------------------------------------+ PB256 TURBO PASCAL UNIT, WHAT IS IT? - The PB256 Units are Turbo Pascal units that will enable TP programmers to make use of many ordinary and advanced graphics routines WITHOUT the need to load .BGI device drivers. Let's face it, those device drivers can be difficult to use at times and provide some unnecessary overhead. You do not receive source code, you do receive the compiled units in TP 4.0, 5.5 and 6.0 as well as a manual describing how to use them. The following is a preliminary list of procedures guaranteed to be included. To order the PB256 Units, check the appropriate box in the Register.Doc file and include the correct amount. Procedure Name: Purpose: -------------- ------- SetupVGAMode Go into VGA mode. ReturnToTextMode Go back into Text mode. Pixel Puts a pixel. Line Draws a line. Rectangle Draws a rectangle. Circle Draws a circle. Ellipse Draws an ellipse. LoadImage256 Loads a 256 color image. PutImage256 Displays a 256 color image. GetImage256 Gets an image from the screen. OverlayImage256 Displays a 256 color image, allowing you to see- through where color 0 is. This is similar to the Overlay routine in 256 Paint. ScaleImage256 Displays an image at a different size. This is similar to the Resizing routine in 256 Paint. InvertImage256 Flip an image horizontally or vertically. LoadPalette256 Load a 256 color (.Pal) file from disk. SetPalette256 Sets a 256 color palette. HidePalette Hides the Palettes so screen updates can be performed invisibly. SetRGBColor Changes a colors RGB settings. All of these routines, including many constant and variable declarations are available in the PB256 Units. +--------------------------------------------+ | 256 Paint - 256 Color VGA Image Workshop | 21 +--------------------------------------------+ 256 PAINT VERSION HISTORY - Version 1.0 - Initial release of 256 Draw. Images limited to 200x150 in size. October, 1991. - Version 1.1 - Slightly faster, more comprehensive version. Images up to 320x200 now creatable and usable. Borland (TM) VGA256.BGI driver replaced with Jordan Hargrave's SVGA256.BGI driver. December, 1991. - Version 1.2 - Name changed from 256 Draw to 256 Paint. New iconized menuing system. PCX image loading & saving included. Much better shape & rectangle choosing interface. April, 1992. - Version 2.0 - Released June 1st, 1992. Full-Screen 320x200 editing. Speed improved vastly. Rotation & Text Added. Hidden menuing system employed.