@database "XiPaint_E.guide" @author "Thomas Dorn & Herbert Beilschmidt" @(c) "Copyright © 1995 Thomas Dorn & Herbert Beilschmidt" @$VER: XiPaint_E.guide 4.0 (19/03/96) @node main "Manual" @toc "contents" @font helvetica.font 18 @{b} @{fg highlight} Xi-Paint 4.0 @{fg text} @{ub} Thomas Dorn Herbert Beilschmidt August 1995 März 1996 @{" ReadMe first " system "Run >NIL: 3.2" system "Run >NIL: 4.0" system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: ), "back to last saved" ( ) and "Back to last used" ( ). By clicking "reset" the Xi-Prefs adjustments are setback to fixed internal values which are shown during the very first start. "Back to last saved" loads the latest saved values and "Back to last used" deletes your most recent changes. @endnode @node k4 "Chapter 4" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 4 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Basics for 24 Bit Drawing @{ub} @{" 4.1 Introduction " link "k4p1"} @endnode @node k4p1 "Introduction" @toc "contents" @{b}4.1 Introduction @{ub} Xi-Paint facilitates nearly unlimited creative potential without worry about technical details. Nevertheless you need some basic information. The following several examples will show you the dif- ferent features of Xi-Paint and will introduce the individual imple- mentations. This will make it a useful "compact manual" in itself. The following chapter will give you some information about the internal procressing of 24 Bit. If you are not interessted in this subject you can leap over this chapter as well. @endnode @node k5 "Chapter 5" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 5 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Basics @{ub} This chapter includes basic information for working with Xi-Paints window and menu desktop. The steps which are explained during the following pages won't be mentio ned in later chapters. Therefore it is very important for the inexperienced Xi-Paint user to grok the following information. @{" 5.1 The Xi-Paint Window " link "k5p1"} @{" 5.1.1 The Windows Utilization " link "k5p1p1"} @{" 5.1.2 Sizing Windows " link "k5p1p2"} @{" 5.1.3 Window Width " link "k5p1p3"} @{" 5.1.4 Scrolling " link "k5p1p4"} @{" 5.1.5 Closing Windows " link "k5p1p5"} @{" 5.2 Using the Menus " link "k5p2"} @{" 5.2.1 Available Options are Activated " link "k5p2p1"} @{" 5.3 Text Input Boxes " link "k5p3"} @{" 5.4 The Scrollers " link "k5p4"} @endnode @node k5p1 "The Xi-Paint Window" @toc "contents" @{b}5.1 The Xi-Paint Window @{ub} Xi-Paint uses windows and menus. A window might include pain- tings (worksheets) or requesters with several options (color set- tings,shades, etc.). All windows are placed on a background (desk- top). It is not possible to work on the desktop itself. Any window can be activated by mouse click. The activated window is shown by a changed frame color. Even if the mouse pointer leaves the window, it will remain activated until you mouse click another window. @{" 5.1.1 The Windows Utilization " link "k5p1p1"} @{" 5.1.2 Sizing Windows " link "k5p1p2"} @{" 5.1.3 Window Width " link "k5p1p3"} @{" 5.1.4 Scrolling " link "k5p1p4"} @{" 5.1.5 Closing Windows " link "k5p1p5"} @endnode @node k5p1p1 "The Windows Utilization" @toc "contents" @{b}5.1.1 The Windows Utilization @{ub} The window frame includes some buttons which allow varied ma- nipulations for arranging your desktop the way you'd like it. The following screenshot shows you such a window. Not every windows offers all the options. The headline of a new worksheet contains the text "project X". X refers to a number of your painting. If your worksheet has already been saved before, the headline shows you the entered name. The headline of a requester shows you the requester's name which also tells you its function. The headline also allows you to move the currently activated window by clicking and holding the left mouse button pressed. While moving a window just its frame is shown. It will be completely redrawn in its new position. In the top right corner there are two buttons. The right one is for straightening up the windows. If you want to put a window into the background or foreground, use the depth button. To put a window into the foreground, the concerned window can also be doubleclicked. @endnode @node k5p1p2 "Sizing Windows" @toc "contents" @{b}5.1.2 Sizing Windows @{ub} To the left of the depth button there is one more symbol which enables you to chan ge the window size. This button makes the window, while you do not need it, as small as possible. Another click on the same button resizes it again to its former size. @endnode @node k5p1p3 "Window Width" @toc "contents" @{b}5.1.3 Window Width @{ub} The symbol at the right bottom corner enables you to change the width of the window as you want. @endnode @node k5p1p4 "Scrolling" @toc "contents" @{b}5.1.4 Scrolling @{ub} At the right and bottom side of each worksheet are the scrollers to move to the differ tent cuts of your project. Notice, especially while filling, that each action just takes place for the cut you can see at the moment. Even a brush, which ends outside your worksheet window will just be copied to the part you can see. @endnode @node k5p1p5 "Closing Windows" @toc "contents" @{b}5.1.5 Closing Windows @{ub} In the left top corner is the close button. If you click it the window will be closed. Project will be lost if you do not save them before. For this reason there will be a "security check" before the window is closed. You can reopen them whenever you want. @endnode @node k5p2 "Using the Menus" @toc "contents" @{b}5.2 Using the Menus @{ub} Xi-Paint also uses pull-down menus beside the previously explai- ned window functions. By pressing the right mouse button you can make the header with its menus visible. You'll also find the shortcuts, i.e. right "A" + a certain letter or sign. Don't mix these shortcuts up with the drawing shortcuts which can be activated by pressing just the specific buttons. Menu shortcuts are only possible if the corresponding command is available for the opened window. @{" 5.2.1 Available Options are Activated " link "k5p2p1"} @endnode @node k5p2p1 "Available Options are Activated" @toc "contents" @{b}5.2.1 Available Options are Activated @{ub} The contents of the menu bars correspond with the activated win- dow. You have access to the menu points you can use. In adapted bars you will always find the same shortcuts for the same functions. To get back to the basic menus you simply click on your desktop at any place. All windows will be deactivated and the basic menus will be available. @endnode @node k5p3 "Text Input Boxes" @toc "contents" @{b}5.3 Text Input Boxes @{ub} Xi-Paint is programmed to enable you to work with the mouse, but in some cases (project names for instance) it is neccecary to do keyboard inputs. Xi-Paint allows you to change settings by mouse or the input of certain values. To do inputs in such a box y click any place on the box. It will change its color and present a cursor. For the text boxes the following shortcuts are available, which simplify the input of text: @{" Figure: Text Input Box " system "Run >NIL: x | deletes the whole text | | TAB | jumps to the next input box | | SHIFT TAB | jumps to the previous input box | | Enter | takes the text and finishes the input | --------------------------------------------------------------- If you press TAB in the last input box, the cursor will appear in the first input box. @endnode @node k5p4 "The Scrollers" @toc "contents" @{b}5.4 The Scrollers @{ub} In many cases you can use scrollers to set certain values or to choose clips. They can be moved by holding the left mouse button pressed. The Xi-Paint scrollers are size sensitive, which means that they always show the correct size relation between the control area and the size of the scroller bar. If you reduce a paint window which showed the whole painting before just a little bit, the scroller bar will fill a big part of the scroller and you can use a small part for moving. This feature always enables you to know the size of your project. @endnode @node k6 "Chapter 6" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 6 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}First Steps @{ub} In this chapter you'll learn the basics of how Xi-Paint paint func- tions. To ensure that you get the same results which are described in the following chapters - restart Xi-Paint, to reset the different options. Otherwise you may get different results than the se. @{" 6.1 Opening a New Worksheet " link "k6p1"} @{" 6.1.1 Setting the Size " link "k6p1p1"} @{" 6.2 Important Drawing Functions " link "k6p2"} @{" 6.2.1 A House Made of Rectangles and Lines " link "k6p2p1"} @{" 6.2.2 Correcting a Mistake by UNDO " link "k6p2p2"} @{" 6.2.3 Precise Mouse Control by Keyboard " link "k6p2p3"} @{" 6.2.4 Saving the Project " link "k6p2p4"} @endnode @node k6p1 "Opening a New Worksheet" @toc "contents" @{b}6.1 Opening a New Worksheet @{ub} This is the first step for a new painting. Xi-Paint gives every works- heet its own window in which the worksheet is shown. Choose from the menu "project" the option "new" or press the shortcut . If you have not restarted Xi-Paint and you can- not find the project menu now or "new" is not available, activate another window or click directly on the desktop. After this the desired menu option will be there. @{" 6.1.1 Setting the Size " link "k6p1p1"} @endnode @node k6p1p1 "Setting the Size" @toc "contents" @{b}6.1.1 Setting the Size @{ub} After choosing "new" a small requester opens which asks you to set the size for your new project. @{" Figure: New-Requester " system "Run >NIL: and then insert 320. Do not fix this input by pressing Enter but simply use it by pressing Tab. This automatically activates the next input box, which deals with the desired height. Delete the given value again and insert 200. Now press Enter to enable both changes. To open the defined worksheet just click the OK button or press Enter. If choosing "new" was a mistake just click "cancel" and the event will be stopped. @endnode @node k6p2 "Important Drawing Functions" @toc "contents" @{b}6.2 Important Drawing Functions @{ub} After having chosen the size of the new worksheet a new paint window will open. First we want to use some simple drawing tools. Try to copy this easy line graphic. As a new tool is explained in the following pages for the first time, the shortcut will be shown in brackets. Decide for yourself if you prefer working with the mouse or on the keyboard. Using the keyboard will require more time to learn, but it will allow you greater speed and more fluency. If you need more detailed information during certain steps, i.e. for a certain requester, please look in the appropriate chapters. @{" 6.2.1 A House Made of Rectangles and Lines " link "k6p2p1"} @{" 6.2.2 Correcting a Mistake by UNDO " link "k6p2p2"} @{" 6.2.3 Precise Mouse Control by Keyboard " link "k6p2p3"} @{" 6.2.4 Saving the Project " link "k6p2p4"} @endnode @node k6p2p1 "A House Made of Rectangles and Lines" @toc "contents" @{b}6.2.1 A House Made of Rectangles and Lines @{ub} Let's start with the house. First choose the rectangle tool(). Now you can draw the rectangle needed for the outline. Place the mouse pointer to the position where the left top of the rectangle should be positioned, then press left mouse button. While pressing the mouse button you can pull the rectangle to the desired size. @{" Figure: House " system "Run >NIL: ). By pressing it once, the last step will be undone,by pressing it twice also the last but one step will be undoneand so on. The number of possible undones just depends to theavailable memory. If pressing undo is a mistake itself you can"undo" the undone by clicking Redo button (). Just try thesefunctions by yourself by removing and "re-removing" the windowsof our line house. But there also has to be a roof for our house. For drawing it we need the line tool (). But toposition the mouse pointer exact to the right position is notvery easy. @endnode @node k6p2p3 "Precise Mouse Control by Keyboard" @toc "contents" @{b}6.2.3 Precise Mouse Control by Keyboard @{ub} The mouse pointer can be controled by keyboard. First move the pointer by mouse as near as possible to the position where you want to draw. Keep both amiga keys pressed and use the cursor keys to move to the exact position you want the pointer. This will happen in one point steps. After having positioned the pointer, keep the left mouse button pressed (otherwise the exact position will be lost again) and then stretch the line. You can also simulate the left button press by keyboard (and ). Keep both buttons pressed and use the cur- sor keys to stretch the line. By releasing ALT the line will be fixed. The chimney can be made in the same way. The smoke and the cloud on the side can be made by freehand tool. () as well as the horizon in the background. The sun is a simple circle (). @endnode @node k6p2p4 "Saving the Project" @toc "contents" @{b}6.2.4 Saving the Project @{ub} Now we have produced our first work of art. Before we continue, we need to save it. Make certain that this window is activated (the frame has a different color than the deactivated windows). Now choose from project menu "picture save as : : :"( ). A requester will open and you can type the path and name for your picture. Xi-Paint uses the IFF DEEP format, but you also can use different formats which can be chosen in the file requester (menu bar). @endnode @node k7 "Chapter 7" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 7 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}To Work with Colors @{ub} Our painted house is beautiful but a little bit colorless. That's why we want to color it. Call up the command"colors" ( ) from the "menus" menu. The colorbox will open. @{" 7.1 The Colorbox " link "k7p1"} @{" 7.1.1 The Perfect Colorhues for our Painting " link "k7p1p1"} @{" 7.2 Filling a Painting " link "k7p2"} @{" 7.3 Saving the Palette " link "k7p3"} @endnode @node k7p1 "The Colorbox" @toc "contents" @{b}7.1 The Colorbox @{ub} The colorbox allows you to choose and to mix colors.The top half contains the scrollers for setting the color values, the bottom has the 256 Colorboxes into which colors can be assigned. Some colors are already assigned. By selecting, it will be used as actual painting color. @{" Figure: Colorbox " system "Run >NIL: ). A mouse click on the sky will color it quickly with blue. If the filling isn't correct, check the drawing mode. In the menu "drawing mode" there should be the setting "solid" ( <1>). @{" Figure: House colored " system "Run >NIL: ). The ma- gnifying glass will appear as a rectangle around the mouse pinter, with which you can choose the area which has to be magnified. The magnify window will show you the desired area. Now fill your house with the different colors. After you finishe your piece of art, save your picture. Save it again with "save as..." under a new name, because we will need the "old" picture in the next chapter. @endnode @node k7p3 "Saving the Palette" @toc "contents" @{b}7.3 Saving the Palette @{ub} Maybe we will need the palette which we needed for our house at a later time. Well, we can save it. Activate the colorbox. Now click the right mouse button. A different menu will appear, which shows the possibilities you will needf or editing a palette, for example "save as..." (). As you can see, we tried to give similar actions the same name and shortcut. Now you can save your palette in the same man ner you did with your painting. You now know about the basic functions of Xi-Paint and have learned about the most important tools of this program. Before reading the next chapter, play with what you`ve learned. Beginning with the next Chapter we will deal with Xi-Paints advanced functions. @endnode @node k8 "Chapter 8" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 8 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Creating and Managing Brushes @{ub} This chapter deals with one of the most important functions of - Paint. First we want to learn something about the basic concept you'll need for working with Xi-Paint. Later we will learn about more advanced possibilities. @{" 8.1 Cut Out a Brush " link "k8p1"} @{" 8.1.1 Individual Objects as Basics " link "k8p1p1"} @{" 8.1.2 Cutting Out the Brush " link "k8p1p2"} @{" 8.2 Masking a Brush " link "k8p2"} @endnode @node k8p1 "Cut Out a Brush" @toc "contents" @{b}8.1 Cut Out a Brush @{ub} For our house we will need a fence, a real slatted fence with peaks, which should look like the following example: Because we don't want to draw each slat for itself, we are going to use one of the special skills of Xi-Paint, the paste function, which allows you to draw one object and insert it where and when you want. @{" 8.1.1 Individual Objects as Basics " link "k8p1p1"} @{" 8.1.2 Cutting Out the Brush " link "k8p1p2"} @endnode @node k8p1p1 "Individual Objects as Basics" @toc "contents" @{b}8.1.1 Individual Objects as Basics @{ub} Xi-Paint can work with several windows. First load our line pain- ting. For designing the slat we will open a new window with the size 100x100. If you do not want to use the chosen color, open the colorbox and choose another color. The slat itself is easily desi- gned with three rectangles and two lines. The top margin of the peg has to be removed afterwards by covering it with the chosen background color. @{" Figure: Parts of fence " system "Run >NIL: ) and choose the desired part for cutting out by placing the frame around it. The brush will stick on your mousepointer and can be placed in this window and also in any other Xi-Paint window as often as you want. So you can exchange and interchange objects between different windows. @endnode @node k8p2 "Masking a Brush" @toc "contents" @{b}8.2 Masking a Brush @{ub} When you place your brush you'll recognice that the brushs' back- ground is not trans parent. We know for which color the brush should be transparent (the currently chosen background color, with which you have cleared your worksheet), but Xi-Paint doesn't. So you have to choose which color of the brush should be transparent. Select the colorbox and activate the box which contains the back- ground color. After that you just have to press < / > and all the parts of the brush which contain the chosen colors will be trans- parent. Then you can place your slats in front of your house whe reever you want. If you want to use black as your background color, just press < [ >, which will create a maximum mask and will create the desired result. Now create the slat fence, to get the following painting: @{" Figure: Picture of fence " system "Run >NIL: ) and choose the right palette name from the requester. Now you can color your painting with your previously saved colors. @{" Figure: Picture of fence (filled) " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: . This rotates the brush abouts 90°. Now we've got the element for the vertcal line. Take care that each brush is exactly 20x20 and the element is situated in the middle of the brush. That's not very easy, but by using the magnifier it should not be a problem. If you aren't careful, you will not be able to use the positioning help we are going to use. Now we need the four arrows, for allowing curves to bend in all directions. There are two different ways to get this result. First you can use the key for rotating the brush four times about 90O. And second you can use two other tools Xi-Paint offers you, which are the reflections. After taking the brush, press. It reflects the brush by its vertical axis and you can insert the result to your painting. Now rotate the brush about 90o again and you will get the third arrow to use. At least you just need to press which reflects the brush this time to its vertical axis. Then insert this part on the worksheet. After finishing the worksheet, save your object collection. @endnode @node k9p2 "The Grid as Position Help" @toc "contents" @{b}9.2 The Grid as Position Help @{ub} Now we want to compose our tube system. First open a new win- dow. It would be very exhausting to position the small parts in an exact way. Therefore we want to use a position grid. Click the grid button in the toolbox or press .The grid requester will appear. @{" Figure: Grid-Requester " system "Run >NIL: NIL: ). A new requester will open. Use the scroller for finding the area where your tube parts are situated. Xi-Paint saves each brush you take in this "list". Therefore you will also see some older brushes, for example from our fence. @{" 9.3.1 How the Brush Manager Works " link "k9p3p1"} @{" 9.3.2 Composing the Tube System Puzzle " link "k9p3p2"} @endnode @node k9p3p1 "How the Brush Manager Works" @toc "contents" @{b}9.3.1 How the Brush Manager Works @{ub} If the list is complete, Xi-Paint starts to overwrite the old brushes, beginning with the oldest one. So you might find the tubes some- where in the middle of the list. If you click the free part of the scroller the list will move further for one page. @endnode @node k9p3p2 "Composing the Tube System Puzzle" @toc "contents" @{b}9.3.2 Composing the Tube System Puzzle @{ub} To choose a brush to use, just click on it. It will stick on the pointer and can be placed in each window. As you recall, we took care that the brushes are sized 20x20, so they will exactly fit in our grid. Do not be puzzelled by the representation of a certain brush in the brush window. Xi-Paint tries to show the brush format filling. The tube system is just an easy example for using the brush manager. For everyday work you will need this feature again and again. @endnode @node k10 "Chapter 10" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 10 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Cycle and Shade in Practice @{ub} Cycling and shading are extremely important. Xi-Paint takes full advantage of the power inherent in these two options. @{" 10.1 Cycled Colors " link "k10p1"} @{" 10.1.1 The Working Method of Cycle " link "k10p1p1"} @{" 10.1.2 The Cycle in Practice " link "k10p1p2"} @{" 10.1.3 Offset Setting for Exact Cycle Adjusment " link "k10p1p3"} @{" 10.2 Cycling in Practice " link "k10p2"} @{" 10.2.1 A Frame " link "k10p2p1"} @{" 10.2.2 Color Bars " link "k10p2p2"} @{" 10.2.3 Vertical and Diagonal Stripes " link "k10p2p3"} @{" 10.2.4 Shades " link "k10p2p4"} @{" 10.2.5 Choice of Shades " link "k10p2p5"} @{" 10.2.6 5 Point Shades for Special Effects " link "k10p2p6"} @endnode @node k10p1 "Cycled Colors" @toc "contents" @{b}10.1 Cycled Colors @{ub} This functions offer a lot of special effects, which may be difficult to comprehend. So do not give up if you find this chapter a little bit difficult. With just a bit of practice and experimentation you'll become extremely fond of this paint mode. The basic function is easy to explain. Activate "Cycle" ( >4>) and - Paint will use the next color from the defined cycle requester for each new object. The object can be a brush or some object. This means that for example for a rectangle, which was produced by a 1 point standard brush, each point will get the next color. @{" 10.1.1 The Working Method of Cycle " link "k10p1p1"} @{" 10.1.2 The Cycle in Practice " link "k10p1p2"} @{" 10.1.3 Offset Setting for Exact Cycle Adjusment " link "k10p1p3"} @endnode @node k10p1p1 "The Working Method of Cycle" @toc "contents" @{b}10.1.1 The Working Method of Cycle @{ub} Call the Color requester ( ). That's important because cycling uses the colors you have defined before. Take red (255, 0, 0) for the first box, for the second blue (0,0, 255) and for the third one choose red again. Do not forget to click "assign" and then close the color requester. If your memory requires more than 2 MB the requester can remain open as well. Now call the cycle requester ( ). For number of steps insert "50". The shade should start with red, go to blue and then back to red. Therefore you have to fill in "from" "0" and at "to" "2". The cycle will also go from the first to the third colorbox (Xi-Paint starts at zero). @{" Figure: Cycle-Requester " system "Run >NIL: <4>) and choose an unfilled rec- tangle. Paint it as big as possible. Starting in the left top corner Xi-Paint changes its color for each point. The line starts with red, becomes blue and then red again. At the end of a cycle, the color starts from the beginning again. In our case you can't recognice that, because our first and last color is the same. Just the left top corner shows a color crack because Xi-Paint starts there with painting. By freehand drawing you can watch the cycling while drawing. Follow the line until it becomes blue. @endnode @node k10p1p3 "Offset Setting for Exact Cycle Adjusment" @toc "contents" @{b}10.1.3 Offset Setting for Exact Cycle Adjusment @{ub} If you continue drawing in another place, you'll recognize that the cycle now starts in blue. Draw again until you see blue again. Now set "offset" in the cycle requester to "0" and click "default " button. If you continue drawing Xi-Paint will not start with the previous blue color, but it will start with red again. Offset selects in which color of the cycle the next step should be done. Xi-Paint itself uses the value for the color with which you finished before. Cycle can be used for any existing pencil and brush. Brushes have to be used in "outline" mode. This means their outline but not their color will be used. For cycling you can use any number of colors you want. While using more colors, it may happen that you have to extend the value from "steps". As a rule of thumb take 15 to 20 steps for each selected color. If there are mistakes, try some different values (+/- 10). DO NOT FORGET TO "GENERATE" !!!! Otherwise some mistakes will occur. Do not use too many steps while using too few colors. Otherwise the cycle might not seem to work. @endnode @node k10p2 "Cycling in Practice" @toc "contents" @{b}10.2 Cycling in Practice @{ub} There are many situations in which you want to frame a certain object or use the frame as a piece of art itself. @{" 10.2.1 A Frame " link "k10p2p1"} @{" 10.2.2 Color Bars " link "k10p2p2"} @{" 10.2.3 Vertical and Diagonal Stripes " link "k10p2p3"} @{" 10.2.4 Shades " link "k10p2p4"} @{" 10.2.5 Choice of Shades " link "k10p2p5"} @{" 10.2.6 5 Point Shades for Special Effects " link "k10p2p6"} @endnode @node k10p2p1 "A Frame" @toc "contents" @{b}10.2.1 A Frame @{ub} Choose from the pencil requester (

) a bigger pencil (minimum 2x2). Let's say we want our frame to start at red, become blue, green, again blue and then red (to close the cycle) again. So we define in the color requester the box "0" and the box "4"to red (255, 0, 0), "1" and "3" blue (0, 0, 255) and the "2"green (0, 255, 0). After doing that call the cycle requester. For "steps" choose "50" and for "from" and "to" set "0" and "4". Set "offset" to "0". Then click "generate". The preview bar will show you the cycle. There are certain requirements for a steady frame. No tice that, for a steady frame, the frames length has to be a multiple of the steps. So each corner will show the end of the cycle. To get this result we use Xi-Paint's grid. Call the grid requester ( < G>) and insert 50 for both width and height. Then set the switcher to "on". Before painting with cycle, set the painting mode to "cycle". As you now paint an unfilled rectangle, you are just able to paint frames with a size multiple from 50. If the color in the corners of your rectangle is not the first one in your cycle, set "offset" in the cycle requester to "zero"and press "default". @endnode @node k10p2p2 "Color Bars" @toc "contents" @{b}10.2.2 Color Bars @{ub} Sometimes you'll need an effective background. While using"cycle," Xi-Paint can produce color bars. This is not easy to describe so try it for yourself. Use the same set tings you fixed for the frame. Even "steps" will remain the same. But switch off the grid and paint a filled rectangle. Depending on its size it will be filled with more or less arranged patterns. For getting a "more arranged" pattern activate the grid and set width to "50" and height to "1". For obtai- ning vertical Bars set "offset" to "0" and press " default". Draw a filled rectangle and you'll be surprised. If you change "offset" (DO NOTFORGET TO RESET TO DEFAULT) and paint another filled rectangle, you'll get diagonal bars which might be much more beautiful than vertical bars. @{" Figure: Cycled rectangle " system "Run >NIL: <3>). Lines and freehand drawing will be shown as shades like filled areas. Play with the possibilities. @{" Figure: Shade Requester " system "Run >NIL: ) a "3 colors, 2 bottom" - shade. Now call the color reque- ster ( ) and set the first three color boxes to very red, very blue, and very green. After pressing "preview" you'll see a shade which is red on the bottom margin and has bottom corners colored blue (left) and green (right). If you can't see your new shade, press "assign"in the color requester. After that press "preview" again. Then open a new worksheet. Set the paint mode to "shade" ( <3>) and activate the painting tool for filled rectangles. Activate the one point brush (< . >). @{" 11.1.1 A Multicolored Rectangle for Our Experiments " link "k11p1p1"} @{" 11.1.2 Finishing Touches " link "k11p1p2"} @endnode @node k11p1p1 "A Multicolored Rectangle for Our Experiments" @toc "contents" @{b} 11.1.1 A Multicolored Rectangle for Our Experiments @{ub} We need a rectangle about 10 to 15 points length. But its sides need not have the same size. For painting this small of a rectangle use the magnifier. If the rectangle does not appear with the chosen shade, check if you've set the paint mode to "shade". The correct rectangle could be cut out by the brush tool (). Take care not to cut out the background around your rectangle. Turn off the magnifier. The small rectangle, filled with shade, sticks on your pointer. Now activate the tool for filled freehand lines () and activate the paint mode "as it is" ( <8>). Now paint an outline, similar to the one shown below: @{" Figure: Outline " system "Run >NIL: NIL: ). Do not forget to use the one point brush (<. >) and to set the paint mode to "shade". Now fill the red area to get a much more beautiful effect. Sometimes a five point shade can also be beautiful, just try it. @endnode @node k11p2 "The Related Theory" @toc "contents" @{b}11.2 The Related Theory @{ub} The above described effects look quite nice. But to really know how to use it, it's necessary to learn some of the theory. As already mentioned Xi-Paint doesn't always use the one point pen to fill areas. It can also use the currently selected brush. This isn't used like one piece of a mosaic, but rather each single point of the area to be filled will be drawn separately. This means that for each point of the related area, the entire brush will have to be displayed. This explains the relatively long calculating time required, even for filling a small area. Xi-Paint always starts with the top left and fills towards the bottom right. Using this method you can create a pseudo 3-D effect. This is because the right and left border will always display the rest of the brush. If you understand the methodology involved, you'll be able to understand this aspect of Xi-Paint. Set every setting once again in the same manner as before in the freehand area set tings. This time select a filled ellipse (). If you draw an ellipse this time you'll notice there is no 3-D effect, but the lower half is filled with blue and the upper half is filled with red. @{" 11.2.1 Understanding Area Filling " link "k11p2p1"} @endnode @node k11p2p1 "Understanding Area Filling" @toc "contents" @{b}11.2.1 Understanding Area Filling @{ub} This continues where the previous chapter left off. You can easily recognize how Xi-Paint generates a filled ellipse. The upper half will be filled from the top left to the bottom right. The lower half will be filled from the bottom left to the upper right. We encourage you to test the other drawing tools. You'll notice right away that the results depend on the manner that Xi-Paint uses to generate specific objects. An unfilled ellipse () will be put together using 4 parts. Both of the upper sections will be drawn from the top to the bottom, and the lower will be drawn from the bottom to the top. @endnode @node k11p3 "Some Tips" @toc "contents" @{b}11.3 Some Tips @{ub} To get used to the brush results choose the freehand tool (). By drawing some outlines, you'll recognize the different possibilities, depending upon if you start your line on the bottom or on the top. The 3D effect will be disturbed by changing the direction. It's even more visible if you use the line tool. Draw the following four lines (use the shaded rectangle as brush and the paint mode "solid"): @{" Figure: Lines " system "Run >NIL: NIL: . This brush we be used to construct the rectangle with rounded corners. Select the filled rectangle tool and draw a rectangle. Dependent upon the size of the rectangle and the speed of your computer this may last up to a few minutes. @endnode @node k11p4p2 "A Frame Instead of the Filled Rectangle" @toc "contents" @{b}11.4.2 A Frame Instead of the Filled Rectangle @{ub} Let's not use the unfilled rectangle tool as the frame will be as thick as the ellipse is - an undesirable result. Before painting the frame, call the grid requester ( ). There you can set the desired thickness of the frame. Set X and Y to the desired values. You can even set the horizontal and vertical lines to different thickness. Let's choose "3". Activate the grid by pressing "on". Do you have the ellipse brush from the prior selection? No? Then deactivate the grid again and "regenerate" it by using the brush manager. Now activate the filled rectangle tool and draw a rectangle in the desired size. A filled rectangle with rounded corners will appear. Now call the color requester and set one of the color box to the background color. Activate it as current color and choose the paint mode "solid" ( <1>). For a painting tool reuse the filled rectangle. Position the pointer in the left top corner, where you've started with the previous rectangle. Before drawing the new rectangle, move the mouse pointer exactly one grid position to the right and one position down. This will be easier using the keyboard by pressing and using the cursor keys. After having reached the desired position press the . This simulates a press of the left mouse button. Keep both keys pressed and drag the rubber band using the cursor keys for the desired size. After releasing all the keys, Xi-Paint paints this second rectangle. The result will be a frame with the desired width. If you do not like the result, use "Undo" () and try it again. @{" Figure: Frame with round corners " system "Run >NIL: ). Paint a rhomboid as it is shown above. The corners should be distanced one grid position from each other. After doing that, deactivate the grid and cut out the rhomboid as brush. Mask again the background color as you did it before. The result will be a rectangle with sloped corners. If you use this brush together with very small ellipses, the result will be a strange look alike. These suggestions are just some ideas for your experimenta- tion. Play with the shades. @{" Figure: Rhomboeder " system "Run >NIL: . A small requester which shows the work in progress will open and will ask you if the you want to cancel the currently running operation. If you have called the requester to get some information, just press "No". Pressing "Yes" will cancel the current project. To undo the changes completed, simply remove them using "UNDO." @endnode @node k12 "Chapter 12" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 12 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Working with Fonts @{ub} By using the different Xi-Paint tools and paint modes you can get several effects, which eclipse a lot of very expensive video titling programs. The following pages will give you an overview of some possible experiments. Remember to try all the possibilities by your- self. @{" 12.1 Text with Shade " link "k12p1"} @{" 12.1.1 Shades for Individual Letters " link "k12p1p1"} @{" 12.2 Scripts and Brushes " link "k12p2"} @{" 12.2.1 Dealing With Text " link "k12p2p1"} @{" 12.3 New Script Styles " link "k12p3"} @{" 12.3.1 Letters with Rounded off or Sloped Corners " link "k12p3p1"} @endnode @node k12p1 "Text with Shade" @toc "contents" @{b}12.1 Text with Shade @{ub} This is a very effective trick. Call the color requester ( ) and assign red (255, 0, 0) and yellow (255, 255, 0) to the first two colorboxes. DON'T FORGET TO CLICK "AS- SIGN". Now open the shade requester ( ) and set a "two color - vertical" shade. Next call the style requester ( ) and set a big script size. Click the disk symbol and choose from the font requester a font you know to be relatively thick (try one ending with "bold" or "_B"). Set the size to a minimum of 50 points (depending upon your resolution you can also choose larger sizes). 50 point fonts are optional for 640x480 or 800x600. @{" Figure: Style-Requester " system "Run >NIL: <3>) and use the text tool . It is important to use the one point pencil. A text input requester will appear. Finish your input with. The tipped letters or signs will stick as brush on the pointer and can dragged to the position you want. By pressing the left mouse button you can fix the text to your worksheet. You'll be amazed with the result. Of course you can use each possible shade. Try for example the four point shade. But how to use the shade for each individual letter or sign? @{" 12.1.1 Shades for Individual Letters " link "k12p1p1"} @endnode @node k12p1p1 "Shades for Individual Letters" @toc "contents" @{b}12.1.1 Shades for Individual Letters @{ub} Clear the old worksheet. Set the worksheet paint mode to "solid" (>right Amiga> <1>). Now insert your text again (use the brush requester or the text tool). Now as sign to your color requester the first four boxes with red (255,0,0), yellow (255,255,0), green (0,255,0) and blue (0,0,255). In the shade requester choose 4 color shade. Check it using the preview. Now use the one point pencil and choose the paint mode "shade". Painting tool is "fill" (). Now click each letter of your text. The shade will be assigned to each letter. @{" Figure: Text with shading " system "Run >NIL: ). Then activate the magnifier because our rectangle should have exactly 8x6 points. Then choose the tool for cutting out rectangular brus- hes () and take that rectangle as brush. Avoid cutting out parts of the background. Turn off the magnifier. Choose a very fat font from the style requester - a size of at least 75 points. Set the paint mode to "solid" and activate the text tool. Insert any short text. Try inserting a space between each letter because of the fat letters. Finish your inserting with and insert the text at any place in your worksheet. The text will appear with a very effective 3D effect. The result will be even more astounding, if you choose a "2 color, vertical" shade and activate the one point pen cil, the filling tool and as Paint mode "shade". Now click each letter. Well, how do you like the result?? @{" Figure: Text with brush " system "Run >NIL: ). Now set the desired font, enter your text and write it to your worksheet. You'll get your text and the desired rounded off corners. Of course you can arrange the corner shapes however you want. You can brighten up the letters for example with a shade to add an extra touch. @endnode @node k13 "Chapter 13" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 13 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Mask @{ub} The Mask function is one of the most powerful features of a com- puter paint program. In the world of material art the ability to mask off portions of an image is used by airbrush artists, professio- nal photographers, printers, and even sign makers. With the help of the mask function it is easily possible to separate a person from any type of background or even to change the color of the sky from blue to orange. This is one of the more difficult features to master but one of the most rewarding! First of all, we work with an example. Open the file "Eis.jpeg". @{" Figure: Eis.jpeg " system "Run >NIL: . @{" Figure: Mask-Requester " system "Run >NIL: . Now we click on "Add". Xi-Paint calculates the mask. @endnode @node k13p2 "Mask-Preview" @toc "contents" @{b}13.2 Mask-Preview @{ub} To have a look to the mask, we can click on "Show". Xi-Paint opens a new project which contains the actual mask in black/white. Now close this project. Click on "Switch on Mask?" to activate the mask-function. Then you can paint on the picture "Eis.jpeg" without destroying the wa- fer. @{" Figure: Mask of Icecream " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: ). This will invert the actual mask of the actual project. In this example, you never will get all of the pixels correct. So we have to do some manual work to mask out the flower perfectly. Do this by painting with a solid color in the zoom-mode with one single pixel. @{" Figure: Flower almost finished " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: @{" Figure: Lighttable Icon " system "Run >NIL: @{" Figure: Magnifier Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: ) from the menu. This empties the whole undo memory. @endnode @node k16p8 "Redo" @toc "contents" @{b}16.8 Redo @{ub} Shortcut: U @{" Figure: Redo Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: , Xi-Paint imme- diately generates the desired brush. But notice that this function overwrites the actual pen of the pen manager. @endnode @node k16p13 "Info" @toc "contents" @{b}16.13 Info @{ub} shortcut: @{" Figure: Info Icon " system "Run >NIL: , but the cursor must not be in a textbox and the requester has to be activated. If there is a difference between "confirming" (in most cases using "OK") and "cancel" (button "cancel"), pressing will have the same effect as clicking the confirmation button. The "menus" menu is just available, if a painting window, the toolbox, or the background are activated. In learning about the requesters we will always use the following order: title, icon in the toolbox, menu command and shortcut. An introduction describes in a few words the purpose of the requester. Then the requester is shown and its functions are described exactly. At the end of this text there is a table, containing the menu to which the requester belongs and the different shortcuts. "A" always means . @endnode @node k17p1 "Brush Requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.1 Brush Requester @{ub} Shortcut: @{" Figure: Brush Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: This menu allows you to load a certain brush, from another paint program or a whole picture, which Xi-Paint should use as brush. After choosing this menu point a file requester will appear, where you can insert the desired file. To import a brush Xi-Paint uses, (as it does it by loading pictures) the multipic.library. You can use each file format which is supported by this library. Further information you can access in the section "file requester". @endnode @node k17p1p3 "Save" @toc "contents" @{b}17.1.3 Save @{ub} Shortcut: If you want to save a brush permanently, use this menu feature. First click on the desired brush and then choose "save". A file requester will open where you can insert the path and filename. Saving also uses the multipic.library, so you can use each format this library supports. Further information you'll find in the section "filerequester". @endnode @node k17p1p4 "Delete (from brush pool)" @toc "contents" @{b}17.1.4 Delete (from brush pool) @{ub} Shortcut: After finishing a project it's recommended to delete the brushes you'll no longer need, to free up hard disk space. This is done by using the menu point "delete (from pool)". Click the brush you want to delete in the brush requester and then call this menu point. @endnode @node k17p1p5 "Swap to Disk" @toc "contents" @{b}17.1.5 Swap to Disk @{ub} Shortcut: Xi-Paint stores each brush manipulation first to the RAM and not on the harddisk, to avoid unnecessary harddisk use. If there is not enough room in your RAM, Xi-Paint writes the brushes to the harddisk. If your computer breaks down, the brushes stored in RAM will be lost. This command forces the saving of the brush to the harddisk. @endnode @node k17p1p6 "Refreshing" @toc "contents" @{b}17.1.6 Refreshing @{ub} Shortcut: You'll need this command if your brushes get into disorder (for example by manipulation by another program). By calling this command all brushes will be saved from RAM to harddisk. After this each brush will be loaded and each symbol for the brushreque- ster will be newly generated. This command also checks to see if there are symbols without brushes because they had been deleted by another program. In this case refreshing will delete the symbol. But notice that this command takes some time, so just use it if it's really necessary. @endnode @node k17p1p7 "Delete" @toc "contents" @{b}17.1.7 Delete @{ub} Shortcut: This command deletes all brushes under management. Review of menu commands ____________________________________________________ | brush | | Pool | | ---------------------------------------------------- | load |A-l |swap to Disk | A-w | | save |A-s | refresh | A-f | | delete (from pool) |A-x | delete | A-D | ---------------------------------------------------- @endnode @node k17p2 "Grid requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.2 Grid requester @{ub} Shortcut: @{" Figure: Grid-Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: the drawers content will be shown. If the drawer does not exist the directory will remain empty. The file name can also be inserted by hand ("Insertbox "file") or by choosing it from the file list. To save a file under a new name, use the manual method. After you finish inserting, close the requester by pressing OK. If you have chosen a file from the file list, you can also double click it to close the requester. @endnode @node k17p3p4 "Minipic Menu" @toc "contents" @{b}17.3.4 Minipic Menu @{ub} Generate shortcut: Xi-Paint automatically generates a minipic to each project. Exi- sting projects have no minipic, but you can generate one by "ge- nerate". Just click the desired project in the file requester, so that its name appears in the "file" input box. Now press "generate" and the minipic will be created. The minipics will be stored in the same directory as the original project, but its ending will be ".mpic". So if you want to delete it you just need to delete this file. IFF-ILBM formatted files contain their minipic, which means that it is invisible for you. To stop Xi-Paint doing minipics, you can switch this feature off in the "Settings-Menu". @endnode @node k17p3p5 "Store-Format Menu" @toc "contents" @{b}17.3.5 Store-Format Menu @{ub} This menu lists all the formats available for saving. Xi-Paint uses multipic.library, so how many formats are available depends on the version of the library. The settings are valid for pictures as well as for brushes. The activated format is shown by a hook. @endnode @node k17p3p6 "Alpha" @toc "contents" @{b}17.3.6 Alpha @{ub} Shortcut: none If this has been activated (shown by an hook in front of the com- mand), the alpha channel of a picture will also be stored. It will use more room on you harddisk, but if you have masked your brush before it's useful to choose this feature. In this way the brush will be available still masked. Review of the menu commands __________________________________________________ | Minipic | | Storeformats | -------------------------------------------------- | generate |A-g | Depends on your version of | | | | "multipic.library" | | | |-----------------------------| | | | Alpha | -------------------------------------------------- @endnode @node k17p4 "Shadow Requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.4 Shadow Requester @{ub} Shortcut: @{" Figure: Shadow Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: @{" Figure: Cycle Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: @{" Figure: Shade Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: @{" Figure: Style Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: @{" Figure: Setting Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: @{" Figure: Parameter Requester " system "Run >NIL: By using this requester Xi-Paint can directly digitize pictures for editing them. You just have to have the amazing VLab Y/C digi- tizer. After having installed it, the menu point "VLab" is ready to use. @{" 17.10.1 Requirements for Working with VLab " link "k17p10p1"} @{" 17.10.2 Video Offset " link "k17p10p2"} @{" 17.10.3 Width and Height of the Picture " link "k17p10p3"} @{" 17.10.4 Choosing the Input Signal " link "k17p10p4"} @{" 17.10.5 Grabbing a Video Picture " link "k17p10p5"} @{" 17.10.6 VLAB Menu " link "k17p10p6"} @endnode @node k17p10p1 "Requirements for Working with VLab" @toc "contents" @{b}17.10.1 Requirements for Working with VLab @{ub} NOTICE: If you do not have VLab-Digitzer, this menu topic CANNOT BE USED. Xi-Paint identifies and can use VLab versions starting from 8.1. Most of the VLab requester is filled with a show box, which shows the actual signal from your digitizer. The number of pictures per second depends on you computer's speed. @endnode @node k17p10p2 "Video Offset" @toc "contents" @{b}17.10.2 Video Offset @{ub} At the right side you'll find several scrollers, with which you can fix different settings concerning your video picture. The first two scrollers "offset left" and "offset top" fix which distance from the left top corner of the video picture should be digitized. This fea- ture allows you just to read some cut outs of your picture to the computer. @endnode @node k17p10p3 "Width and Height of the Picture" @toc "contents" @{b}17.10.3 Width and Height of the Picture @{ub} This sets the size of the digitized picture in points. You can set each value which enables you to define the exact regulation of the digitized cut of the picture. @endnode @node k17p10p4 "Choosing the Input Signal" @toc "contents" @{b}17.10.4 Choosing the Input Signal @{ub} VLab enables you to plug in different video sources (for VLab 2 sources, for VLab Y/C you can have 3). With the scroller "in- put channel" you can define the input entry signal that should be digitized. The switch "monitor" shows you the video picture in the preview monitor of Xi-Paint. This enables you to check which source you digitize in the moment. @endnode @node k17p10p5 "Grabbing a Video Picture" @toc "contents" @{b}17.10.5 Grabbing a Video Picture @{ub} For doing that, just press "freeze". A new paint window, containing the digitized picture, will be opened, where you can now edit the picture. "Close" closes the VLab requester. To the VLab requester the following menu is assigned: @endnode @node k17p10p6 "VLAB Menu" @toc "contents" @{b}17.10.6 VLAB Menu @{ub} DeInterlace ----------- Shortcut: For digitizing fast moving pictures in good quality, Xi-Paint uses the "DeInterlace" method. Call this point if you recognize an intensive half picture alternation as one of your pictures. VTR --- Shortcut: If you digitize a recorded picture, it might happen that you lose quality. To get a better result, Xi-Paint offers a special VTR mode, which results in a synchronization while digitizing from a recorded picture. Mode ---- Shortcut: none VLab digitizer supports the European PAL- and the American NTSC- system. To get a correct result, choose the right system from the menu point "mode". Overview of menu commands _______________________ | Video | | ----------------------- | DeInterlace | A-d | | VTR | A-v | | Modus | | ----------------------- @endnode @node k17p11 "Palette Requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.11 Palette Requester @{ub} Shortcut: @{" Figure: Palette Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: and then click the desired color point in the window. The colorhue will automatically be assigned to the colorbox. The color requester also "owns" three sub requesters which offer you more possibilities for the choice of a color. You can reach this sub requester using the switchers right beside the scrollers in the top half of the colorrequester. By clicking one of the following windows will open: @endnode @node k17p11p5 "RGB Triangle by Maxwell" @toc "contents" @{b}17.11.5 RGB Triangle by Maxwell @{ub} @{" Figure: RGB Triangle " system "Run >NIL: NIL: This feature can load a saved palette which won't have any influence upon the already completed parts of a painting. @endnode @node k17p11p9 "Save" @toc "contents" @{b}17.11.9 Save @{ub} Shortcut: This features allows you to save the actual palette. So you can at any time recall a previously used palette. @endnode @node k17p11p10 "Scheme Menu" @toc "contents" @{b}17.11.10 Scheme Menu @{ub} In this menu you can choose which one of the color mix methods the color requester should use. You can choose between RGB ( ), HSL ( ) and CMYK ( ). Depending to your choice the look of the colorre- quester will change. Overview of the menu commands ____________________________________ | palette | |Scheme | | ------------------------------------ | load | A-l | RGB | A-r | | save | A-s | HSL | A-h | | save_as... | A-a | CMYK | A-y | ------------------------------------ @endnode @node k17p12 "Macros" @toc "contents" @{b}17.12 Macros @{ub} menu: others/macro Xi-Paint's macro function is not really a requester. It enables you to automate recurring routines. @{" 17.12.1 Macros Using AREXX " link "k17p12p1"} @{" 17.12.2 Recording Macros " link "k17p12p2"} @{" 17.12.3 Playing a Macro " link "k17p12p3"} @endnode @node k17p12p1 "Macros Using AREXX" @toc "contents" @{b}17.12.1 Macros Using AREXX @{ub} AREXX is supported by Xi-Paint, and enables you automate some routines and to produce completely new options. Unfortunately you'll need some experiences in programming and in working with AREXX. Many users may not be interested in this feature. That's why Xi-Paint offers a very comfortable solution to you: Macros, which are nothing more than working steps, are recorded by - Paint and can be reproduced whenever you want. Xi-Paint itself stores each Macro as an AREXX script, which means that you can record some basic working steps by Macro and later refine them by AREXX. @endnode @node k17p12p2 "Recording Macros" @toc "contents" @{b}17.12.2 Recording Macros @{ub} menu: start.... shortcut: To produce a macro you have to record the steps. Xi-Paint records them step by step and defines a macro. To start recording, call the corresponding feature of the menu. A window, which informs you about recording, will open. After having finished the input of the steps which should be contained by the macro, click "finish". A standard file requester will open and you can set the name under which your macro should be stored. @endnode @node k17p12p3 "Playing a Macro" @toc "contents" @{b}17.12.3 Playing a Macro @{ub} menu: perform ... shortcut: After recording a macro, you can play it as often as you want. For doing that call the corresponding menu point. A standard file requester will open and you can choose the desired macro by mouseclick. The chosen macro will be loaded and completed. @endnode @node k17p13 "Mask requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13 Mask requester @{ub} menu: mask.... shortcut: @{" Figure: Mask Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: The easiest way of masking is to ban just one color. You set your color with the "support color" by the scroller beside it. The pos- sible values go from 1 to 255 and represent each a color of your colorrequester. To mask a color just set the "support color" scrol- ler to the number of the corresponding color box. To get the exact color it's recommended to pick it directly from the paint window. (Activate the window, press <#>, click the desired colorpixel) @endnode @node k17p13p3 "Colorarea" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13.3 Colorarea @{ub} menu: colorarea shortcut: You may need to mask more than one color. That's why Xi-Paint also allows a banning of similar colors, starting from the "support color". The support color is set in the same manner as it is for just one color. Try to find the best representative of your colors, the best one would be one of the middle of the area. By using the scroller "+/ degrees in color circle" you can set the difference between the support color and the other colors to be masked. Xi-Paint will show you the well known color circle, with each of the basic colors 120 degrees distance from each other. In between transitions between R, G and B. By help of "+/ degrees in color circle" you can set which section of the circle should be masked. The bigger your choice, the more colors will be masked. @endnode @node k17p13p4 "Colormatrix (CLUT)" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13.4 Colormatrix (CLUT) @{ub} menu: color matrix shortcut: Sometimes you'll have to mask colors which are not near each other in the color circle. That's why Xi-Paint offers you the ability to use the color matrix. You mark a rectangular area of your picture and the colors it contains will be masked. But you can also set divergences. The necessary steps are: First you set the size of the rectangular area which should be mas- ked. Use the scroller "CLUT sides", with which you can set the rectangle size between 1 and 20 color points. Now press "Take CLUT". Now activate your paint window - a rectangle with the set side length will stick on your mouse pointer. Now click the part of your painting which contains most of the colors you want to mask. That's how you can choose a variety of different colors to be masked. @endnode @node k17p13p5 "Saturation" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13.5 Saturation @{ub} menu: saturation shortcut: Sometimes you may want to mask the most garish color of your object. But colors can also be masked by their saturation. First define at "one color " a "support color". This will not set the color itself, but its saturation. By using the scroller "+/ saturation", which can be set between 0 and 127, you can define how much the colors to be masked (now saturations) are allowed to differ from the support color. @endnode @node k17p13p6 "Contrast" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13.6 Contrast @{ub} menu: contrast shortcut: Contrast is set in the same manner as saturation. In this case the settings will be fixed using the scroller "+/- contrast". The mask requester also contains some other important features. "Delete mask" deletes the actual mask of your paint window. The setting of the manner of masking and the area to be masked are not enough for banning the desired areas. First you have to click "add". Doing this enables you to define masks as complex as you want. @endnode @node k17p13p7 "Addition of Several Masking Steps" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13.7 Addition of Several Masking Steps @{ub} By clicking "add" - fixed settings will be added to an existing mask. This way it's possible to create several masks in different worksteps by using different methods. You can use for one area colorarea for masking, for another one color matrix or saturation. If these areas cover each other you need not worry. "Show" is a special feature. If you click it, a window with the same size of your paint window will open and will show the actual mask in grey color. Black points mean that this area does not belong to the mask. If you want, it's possible to save the contents of this special window for using it for another project or for anything else. The switch "mask on color" / "paint on color" is also very important. It fixes if all points belonging to the mask (mask on color) or all points NOT belonging (paint on color) should be banned. If you make a mistake and choose the wrong setting, you just need to use "inverse" ( ), which inverses the mask. To activate a defined mask for a certain window, use the on/off switch "switch on mask". "Close" closes the mask requester, but the mask settings are still active. @endnode @node k17p13p8 "Manipulation of Alpha Masks" @toc "contents" @{b}17.13.8 Manipulation of Alpha Masks @{ub} Xi-Paint even offers a tool for manipulation of alpha masks. With "maximum mask" the maximum RGB value of each pixel will be taken and written to the alpha channel. "Minimum mask" takes the minimum RGB value of each pixel. "Inverse" generates the reciprocal value, a "negative " of your mask will be produced. If your mask is to weak, "double alpha value" might be helpful. Values over 255 will become 255. "Halve alpha value" halves the value, values below 0 become 0. "Over take mask" is something special. It allows you to take the alpha mask of another project or another mask into your actual paint window. A list window will open from which you can choose the "from" mask. Overview of menu commands ____________________________________________________________ | Way of masking | | Mask operation | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | one color | A-o | inverse | A-v | | color matrix | A-m | maximum mask | A-a | | color area | A-n | minimum mask | A-i | | saturation | A-s | halve alpha value | A-h | | contrast | A-c | double alpha value | A-d | | | | take mask over | A-s | ------------------------------------------------------------ @endnode @node k17p14 "Pen Requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.14 Pen Requester @{ub} menu: pens.... shortcut:

@{" Figure: Pen Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: NIL: NIL: , which generates automatically a one point brush and overwrites it with the actual pen in the pen requester. The menu for the pen requester contains some additional features for pen management: @endnode @node k17p14p8 "Pen Menu" @toc "contents" @{b}17.14.8 Pen Menu @{ub} Swap to disk ------------ shortcut: This is the same features as described for the brush manager, which causes the same effect for the pen. Refresh ------- shortcut: This is also the same feature as for the brush manager and it also causes the same effect (on the pens). Delete ------ shortcut: This is the same feature for the pen manager as it is explained for the brush manager. Delete Pen ---------- shortcut: This feature allows you to delete selected pens but to keep the other ones, which may be recommended because of the space they need on your harddisk. Overview menu commands _________________________ | pens | | ------------------------- | Swap to Disk | A-w | | Refresh | A-f | | Delete | A-D | | Delete a pen | A-x | ------------------------- @endnode @node k17p15 "Zoom Requester" @toc "contents" @{b}17.15 Zoom Requester @{ub} menu: zoom .... shortcut: @{" Figure: Zoom Icon " system "Run >NIL: @{" Figure: Layer Requester Icon " system "Run >NIL: NIL: <1> Xi-Paint activates "solid" after being started. Even if you choose a brush it will be shown in the activated color. @endnode @node k18p2 "Background" @toc "contents" @{b}18.2 Background @{ub} menu: background shortcut: <2> This feature allows you to "trace" parts of a "behind placed" pro- ject. Of course you need not place the background picture exactly behind your project. Xi-Paint offers you special features to do so. You can assign to each project any background you want. The size is not important. The background project can be sized larger or smaller. But notice that you just can choose ONE picture as background. Activate the project you want to use as background. Thenchoose the menu feature "H-window?" ( ). The feature will be marked and the chosen window can now be used as background. It can be used as background until you close the background window or until another project is defined as back- ground. If you manipulate a project to which you have assigned a back- ground, notice that you CAN'T paint in another window. In this case nothing will happen and you need to deactivate "background" first. @endnode @node k18p3 "Shade" @toc "contents" @{b}18.3 Shade @{ub} menu: shade shortcut: <3> By using shade you can get wonderful effects. For doing so activate "shade". The defined shade (2 point to 5 point) will be used, inde- pendent of the chosen tool. Shade needs a lot of work even from a very fast Amiga, so take care to choose a 1 point pen to fill bigger areas with shade. To get some special effects. look in the tutorial part of this manual. If you are not sure if Xi-Paint is still working or if your computer crashed, just press . A window, which shows you the completed work, will appear. @endnode @node k18p4 "Cycle" @toc "contents" @{b}18.4 Cycle @{ub} menu: cycle shortcut: <4> This causes a repetition of a special color combination, which has been set in the cycle requester. After having been activated, "cy- cle" influences each paint operation regardless of the chosen tool. Regarding the time necessary, refer to "@{Shade link k18p3}". @endnode @node k18p5 "Smoothing" @toc "contents" @{b}18.5 Smoothing @{ub} menu: smooth shortcut: <5> Smooth tries to paint smooth transitions instead of sharp edges. If you try to use it in the middle of a unicolored area, nothing will happen because an area can not become smoother. @endnode @node k18p6 "Smear" @toc "contents" @{b}18.6 Smear @{ub} menu: smear shortcut: <6> By using smear the colors and outlines of your project will be mer- ged. For this feature it's recommended to use freehand tools, other- wise "smear" will not cause real effects. A simulation of the wet watercolor effect in which colors run into each other is not possible to produce with this feature. @endnode @node k18p7 "Tear" @toc "contents" @{b}18.7 Tear @{ub} menu: tear shortcut: <7> Do not confuse this feature with "smear". "Tear" is a completely different task. It causes the color located under the bottom of a brush to be shown, while moving the mouse, at the next position (while using big brushes the mouse pointer's position will be taken). For this feature it's also recommended to use freehand tools with very small brushes. Otherwise the selected color may cover its whole environment. You can imagine how it would look - imagine sticking your finger into fresh oil paint and moving this finger into another color. @endnode @node k18p8 "As-it-is" @toc "contents" @{b}18.8 As-it-is @{ub} menu: as it is shortcut: <8> Until now the outlines and area of brushes/pens has been used to cause special effects. If you want to take a brush for copying parts of a project, use the paint mode "as it is". The chosen brush will be inserted 1:1 into your new project. This mode can be used in common cases for brush manipulations. @endnode @node k18p9 "Inverse" @toc "contents" @{b}18.9 Inverse @{ub} menu: inverse You'll need this feature just for some special effects. You can cause a total alienation of your project. Just try it to see what it can look like! @endnode @node k18p10 "Color Exchange" @toc "contents" @{b}18.10 Color Exchange @{ub} menu: color exchange This feature allows you to dye an object a different color without changing outlines and contrast. Imagine the effect as looking at the chosen area through a filter. Xi-Paint allows you to set any color any position. For color exchange Xi-Paint will always use the activated color. Black and white take a special position. They are not affected by "color exchange". Black has no brightness, so it will remain black. White contains each color itself, so it won't be exchanged. @endnode @node k18p11 "Brightness Exchange" @toc "contents" @{b}18.11 Brightness Exchange @{ub} menu: exchange brightness By using this feature you can brighten or darken each part of a project without changing the color. For the value of brightness the brightness of the activated color will be used, that's why it's recommended to choose HSV instead of RGB. It is very difficult to explain this effect, but let's try it out: Load a project as dark as possible and choose the color white (RGB = 255, 255, 255). Now choose an average sized brush (20x20) and paint by using a freehand tool over your project. It will get the full brightness. If you choose a dark grey (RGB = 50, 50, 50) instead of white, the affected areas will become darker. For this mode each tool can be used, but most time you will use the filled freehand area, the filled polygon or the filled rectangle. @endnode @node k18p12 "Saturation Exchange" @toc "contents" @{b}18.12 Saturation Exchange @{ub} menu: Satur. Change This feature will transfer the saturation of the activated color to you project. To do so it's recommended to use HSV for setting an exact value for saturation. Any paint tool can be used, but it's recommended to use filled objects. @endnode @node k18p13 "Darken" @toc "contents" @{b}18.13 Darken @{ub} menu: Darken Use this tool to darken complete areas of your project (you can set values between 0 and 100 @endnode @node k18p14 "Brighten" @toc "contents" @{b}18.14 Brighten @{ub} menu: Brighten Use this tool to brighten complete areas of your project (you can set a value between 0 and 100 @endnode @node k18p15 "Saturation +" @toc "contents" @{b}18.15 Saturation + @{ub} menu: Saturation + With this tool you can enrich the saturation of complete areas of your project, even by airbrushing. @endnode @node k18p16 "Saturation -" @toc "contents" @{b}18.16 Saturation - @{ub} menu: Saturation - This tool lowers the saturation of complete areas of your project or bring it by airbrush closer to grey. @endnode @node k18p17 "Color Degree" @toc "contents" @{b}18.17 Color Degree @{ub} menu: Color Degree With this tool you can change the hue values of complete areas of your project. You can also realize rainbow shades by airbrush. @endnode @node k18p18 "Contrast +" @toc "contents" @{b}18.18 Contrast + @{ub} menu: Contrast + Use this tool to raise the contrast of complete areas of your project. @endnode @node k18p19 "Contrast -" @toc "contents" @{b}18.19 Contrast - @{ub} menu: Contrast - With this tool you can lower the contrast of complete areas of your project. @endnode @node k19 "Chapter 19" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 19 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Shortcuts @{ub} While most of Xi-Paint is handled with the mouse, for every func- tion a shortcut is available. Most of the shortcuts are the same as the shortcuts of DPaint. The only exception are the shortcuts for the brush manipulation. These functions are only accessible via shortcut and not via menu. This is a kind of copy-protection - without the manual you don't know how to handle the brushes. @{" 19.0.1 Mirror at the X-axis " link "k19p0p1"} @{" 19.0.2 Mirror at the Y-axis " link "k19p0p2"} @{" 19.0.3 Turn Brush 90° " link "k19p0p3"} @{" 19.0.4 Brush Half " link "k19p0p4"} @{" 19.0.5 Brush Double " link "k19p0p5"} @{" 19.0.6 Brushwidth Half " link "k19p0p6"} @{" 19.0.7 Brushheight Half " link "k19p0p7"} @{" 19.0.8 Brushsize Individual " link "k19p0p8"} @{" 19.0.9 Turn the Brush Individual " link "k19p0p9"} @{" 19.0.10 Maximum Mask for the Actual Brush " link "k19p0p10"} @{" 19.0.11 Mask a Brush " link "k19p0p11"} @{" 19.0.12 Switch off Masking " link "k19p0p12"} @{" 19.0.13 Get Color " link "k19p0p13"} @{" 19.0.14 Get a One Point Pen " link "k19p0p14"} @{" 19.0.15 Get a New Pen " link "k19p0p15"} @{" 19.1 Moving the Mouse with Keyboard " link "k19p1"} @endnode @node k19p0p1 "Mirror at the X-axis" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.1 Mirror at the X-axis @{ub} Key: x Mirrors the brush around the X-Axis (Horizontal). @endnode @node k19p0p2 "Mirror at the Y-axis" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.2 Mirror at the Y-axis @{ub} Key: y Mirrors the brush around the Y-Axis (Vertical). @endnode @node k19p0p3 "Turn Brush 90°" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.3 Turn Brush 90° @{ub} Key: z Turns the brush around the Z-Axis (90?). @endnode @node k19p0p4 "Brush Half" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.4 Brush Half @{ub} Key: h Divides the brush in half along the X-and Y-Axis. @endnode @node k19p0p5 "Brush Double" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.5 Brush Double @{ub} Key: H Doubles the brush along the X-and Y-Axis. @endnode @node k19p0p6 "Brushwidth Half" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.6 Brushwidth Half @{ub} Key: X Divides the brush in half along the X-Axis. @endnode @node k19p0p7 "Brushheight Half" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.7 Brushheight Half @{ub} Key: Y Divides the brush in half along the Y-Axis. @endnode @node k19p0p8 "Brushsize Individual" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.8 Brushsize Individual @{ub} Key: % Opens a window for entering the new dimension of the actual brush. Enter the new values or click on "Draw Size" for drawing a rectangle in the desired dimension. Click on Execute to create the new brush. @endnode @node k19p0p9 "Turn the Brush Individual" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.9 Turn the Brush Individual @{ub} Key: $ Opens a new window with a slider to enter the angle of the new brush. Click on "Draw angle" for drawing interactive an angle. Click on Execute to create the new brush. @endnode @node k19p0p10 "Maximum Mask for the Actual Brush" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.10 Maximum Mask for the Actual Brush @{ub} Key: [ Creates an alpha-mask for the actual brush. Xi-Paint takes the maximum value of the R/G/B-Values and puts it into the alpha- Channel. The paint mode will be changed to alpha. @endnode @node k19p0p11 "Mask a Brush" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.11 Mask a Brush @{ub} Key: / Creates an alpha-mask for the actual brush in the actual color (look at the color-requester for the actual color). The paint mode will be switched to "cut-off". @endnode @node k19p0p12 "Switch off Masking" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.12 Switch off Masking @{ub} Key: ] Turns off the paint-mode"cut-off" or "alpha". The actual brush is painted as a rectangle. @endnode @node k19p0p13 "Get Color" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.13 Get Color @{ub} Key: # After hitting this key, Xi-Paint waits for a mouse-click to an actual paint-window to pick the current color. This will be displayed in the color-requester and in the border of the actual paint window. @endnode @node k19p0p14 "Get a One Point Pen" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.14 Get a One Point Pen @{ub} Key: . The actual pen will be a one-point pen. @endnode @node k19p0p15 "Get a New Pen" @toc "contents" @{b}19.0.15 Get a New Pen @{ub} Key: . After hitting this key, you can paint a circle which will be the diameter of the actual pen. @endnode @node k19p1 "Moving the Mouse with Keyboard" @toc "contents" @{b}19.1 Moving the Mouse with Keyboard @{ub} _______________________________________________________________________ | Key | function | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Mousepointer 1 Pixel to the left. | | | Mousepointer 1 Pixel to the right. | | | Mousepointer 1 Pixel up. | | | Mousepointer 1 Pixel down. | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Mousepointer 60 Pixels to the left. | | | Mousepointer 60 Pixels to the right. | | | Mousepointer 60 Pixels up. | | | Mousepointer 60 Pixels down. | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | press left mousebutton. | | | press rigth mousebutton. | | | new project | | | load new file to a new project | | | load new picture in an old project | | | load brush | | | save project | | | save project with new name | | | save picture | | | quit XiPaint | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | < > | opens Tool-Requester | | | opens Color-Requester | | | opens Brush-Requester | |

| opens Pen-Requester | | | opens Grid-Requester | | | opens Shadow-Requester | | | opens Cycle-Requester | | | opens SystemSetting-Requester | | | opens Mask-Requester | | | opens Gradient-Requester | | | opens Style-Requester | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | opens Zoom-Requester | | | opens Layer-Requester | | | opens Parameter-Requester | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Macro start | | | Macro execute | | | Empty Undo-Memory | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | <1> | Paintmode Solid | | <2> | Paintmode Background | | <3> | Paintmode Gradient | | <4> | Paintmode Cycle | | <5> | Paintmode Soften | | <6> | Paintmode Smear | | <7> | Paintmode Tear | | <8> | Paintmode As-it-is | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | b | Get rectangular brush | | n | Get polygonial brush | | N | Get freedraw-brush | | x | Mirrors brush at the X-Axis | | y | Mirrors brush at the Y-Axis | | z | Turns brush | | X | Halves brush at the X-Axis | | Y | Halves brush at the Y-Axis | | Z | Transpose brush | | % | Size brush | | h | Halfs brush | | H | Doubles brush | | $ | Turns brush | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | e | Ellipse | | E | Filled Ellipse | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | r | Rectangle | | R | Filled Rectangle | | t | Text | | T | New Font | | p | Polygon | | P | Filled Polygon | | F | Freedraw filled Polygon | | W | Filled Polygon | | v | Line | | D | Freedraw | | q | Curve | | d | Freedraw | | f | Fill | | m | Zoom | | a | Lighttable | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | k | Clears Project black | | K | Clears Project white | | u | undo | | U | redo | | Esc | Cancel | | Alt-y | Flip Picture O | | Alt-z | Flip_Picture_90 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | [ | mask brush with maximum mask | | / | mask brush with actual color | | ] | no alpha mask for brush | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | # | get color | | . | one point pen | | , | get individual pen | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- @endnode @node k20 "Chapter 20" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 20 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}The AREXX Interface @{ub} All functions of Xi-Paint can also be externally controlled with the script language AREXX. Although some functions are not available from the main menu, if required by the user, they can easily be integrated into AREXX macro menu. Additionally AREXX script enables you to automatically perform tedious picture manipulations automatically, to program self running demos, or effects. @{" 20.1 Table of AREXX-commands " link "k20p1"} @{" 20.2 Description of AREXX-Commands " link "k20p2"} @{" 20.3 Parameter-Tabels " link "k20p3"} @{" 20.3.1 Color Modes " link "k20p3p1"} @endnode @node k20p1 "Table of AREXX-commands" @toc "contents" @{b}20.1 Table of AREXX-commands @{ub} In the following list represents all available Xi-Paint AREXX com- mands. _____________________________________________________ | Befehl | Param | String | Menu | Key | ----------------------------------------------------- | arc | 6 | no | yes | yes | | aslreq | 1 | no | yes | no | | beginpoly | 0 | no | yes | yes | | box | 4 | no | yes | yes | | brushload | 0 | yes | yes | yes | | brushsave | 0 | yes | yes | yes | | brushturnd | 1 | no | no | yes | | brushturnx | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushturny | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushturnz | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushxhalf | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushyhalf | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushhalf | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushdouble | 0 | no | no | yes | | brushsize | 2 | no | no | yes | | cls | 1 | no | yes | yes | | color | 4 | no | yes | yes | | cyclemode | 5 | no | yes | no | | dline | 2 | no | yes | yes | | drawpara | 7 | no | yes | no | | edge | 1 | no | no | no | | ellips | 4 | no | yes | yes | | endfpoly | 0 | no | yes | yes | | endpbrush | 0 | no | yes | yes | | endpoly | 0 | no | yes | yes | | endrexx | 0 | no | no | yes | | exit | 0 | no | yes | yes | | fbox | 4 | no | yes | yes | | fellips | 4 | no | yes | yes | | fill | 4 | no | yes | yes | | fontdpi | 3 | no | yes | no | | getbrush | 4 | no | yes | yes | | gradmode | 3 | no | yes | no | | itext | 0 | no | yes | yes | | line | 4 | no | yes | yes | | lighttable | 0 | no | yes | yes | | maskclut | 2 | no | yes | yes | | maskmode | 7 | no | yes | yes | | maxmask | 0 | no | no | yes | | minipic | 1 | yes | yes | no | | picload | 0 | yes | yes | yes | | picsave | 0 | yes | yes | yes | | pointlayout | 3 | no | yes | no | | polymove | 2 | no | yes | yes | | polydraw | 2 | no | yes | yes | | redo | 0 | no | yes | yes | | savemode | 2 | no | yes | no | | setfont | 1 | yes | yes | yes | | setgrid | 5 | no | yes | no | | setmaxmove | 1 | no | yes | no | | setpoint | 2 | no | yes | yes | | setshadow | 3 | no | yes | yes | | text | 0 | yes | yes | yes | | undo | 0 | no | yes | yes | | version | 0 | no | no | no | | vlabdigi | 0 | no | yes | no | | vlabinput | 3 | no | yes | no | | vlabscansize | 4 | no | yes | no | | vlabdeinter | 0 | no | yes | no | | wait | 1 | no | no | no | ----------------------------------------------------- @endnode @node k20p2 "Description of AREXX-Commands" @toc "contents" @{b}20.2 Description of AREXX-Commands @{ub} In order to easily understand each of the parameters it might be useful to call Xi-Paint and to create an AREXX script with the auto macro funtion included. To start the macro function use the key combination m. To start macro recording, execute any menu or drawing commandst hat you want recorded and finish the macro using the m a second time. This will bring up a file-requester (Save the file for example as ram:test). You may now go and examine your script by leaving Xi-Paint (eit- her by pressing or entering "Quit") and load the created AREXX script into any text editor:1> ed ram:testIt is important to note that Undo steps are NOT recorded! In some of the following examples of AREXX the following two lines may have been omitted, howe ver, they are required for any AREXX script to work: /* Rexx-Macro of XiXi-Paint */ address 'xipaint' The first line within the remarks can be any given line. AREXX re- quiresthis line to recognize whether it is a valid AREXX script. The second linegives AREXX the information about which program has to work on the followingdata; in this case Xi-Paint. Having star- ted Xi-Paint you cannow return to any Amiga screen by pressing Amiga N %where you can exe cute the script. You can start an AREXX Script as follows: 1> rx ram:test Now something should happen on the screen of the display. The double quotes at the left and the right side of some of the com- mands ensurethat the AREXX commands are correctly read. Un- der normal conditionsthey might not be necessary, but to ensure that AREXX finds the correctmessage port the command "address 'xipaint' " must be put indoublequotes. In the case where a transfer string contains negative numbers AREXX will try to calculate two parameters and the parameter list would subsequently be incom- plete. o arc, 6 Parameter Draws a Bezier curve with three supporting points. The coor- dinates aregiven in the first 6 parameters, X and Y respecti- vely. Example: 'arc 227 89 381 140 272 216' o aslreq, 1 Parameter Causes Xi-Paint to use the ASL File Requester instead of the built inrequester. Example: aslreq 1 o beginpoly, no Parameter Starts the process of drawing a filled or unfilled polygon, or the cuttingof a polygon brush. Example: /* Automatic generated macro from XiXi-Paint 3.0 */ address 'xipaint' beginpoly 'polymove 200 181' 'polydraw 119 212' 'polydraw 118 213' 'polydraw 120 213' 'polydraw 189 202' 'polydraw 228 226' 'polydraw 200 181' 'endpoly' beginpoly 'polymove 17 8 285' 'polydraw 106 333' 'polydraw 172 313' 'polydraw 184 360' 'polydraw 178 285' 'endpbrush o box, 4 Parameter Draws a rectangle. The first 4 parameters indicate the corner points. Example: 'box' 190 419 232 474 o brushload, eine Zeichenkette Loads a brush. Example: 'brushload' 'pictures/TutEnchS.jpg' o brushsave, a string Saves a brush. Example: 'brushsave' 'pictures/TutEnchS.iff' o brushturnd, one Parameter Turns the brush with the desired angle. Example: /* Automatically generated macro from XiPaint 3.0 */ address 'xipaint' 'getbrush 142 235 56 29' 'brushdouble' 'brushyhalf' 'brushxhalf' 'brushdouble' 'brushhalf' 'brushsize 41 266 ' 'turnbrushy' 'turnbrushz' 'brushturnd' 23 endrexx o brushturnx, no Parameter Mirrors the brush around the X-Axis. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushturny, no Parameter Mirrors the brush around the Y-Axis. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushturnz, no Parameter Turns a brush 90°. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushxhalf, no Parameter Halfs a brush along the X-Axis. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushyhalf, no Parameter Halfs a brush along the Y-Axis. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushhalf, no Parameter Halfs a brush. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushdouble, no Parameter Doubles a brush. Example: look at "brushturnd" o brushsize, 2 Parameter Sizes a brush to the given parameters. Example: look at "brushturnd" o cls, ein Parameter Clears the actual project in the actual color, black or white. _________________________________________ | Kind | Value | ----------------------------------------- | 20922 | Clears in black | | 20921 | Clears in white | | 20920 | Clears in the actual color | ----------------------------------------- Example: cls 20920 o color, 4 Parameter Determines the colors. The first 3 parameters give the r , g and b value. The last parameter gives the color to be changed, which is valid from 0 to 255. Example: 'color 12 254 242 0' 'color 239 254 14 1' o cyclemode, 1 Parameter This mode defines which colors cycling should be used. The following values are possible:The first value gives the offset of the begin ning of colorentry. This is a value of 0 to1999 if you want to use 2000 entrys.The second value gives the internal step, also within 0 and 1999.The third value gives the maximum steps. Also from 1 to 2000.The fourth and fifth value are the begin-etry and end-entry of the color-register. Example: 'cyclemode' 0 0 2000 2 6 o dline, 6 Parameter Is used for drawing a solid line. The only difference to the "line"command is the missing first pixel of the line. Due to this you need touse the "move" command before executing "dline". Example: 'setpoint' 124 62 'setpoint' 124 62 'polymove' 81 81 'dline' 82 83 'dline' 85 90 'dline' 87 101 'dline' 90 110 'dline' 93 117 'dline' 111 123 'dline' 116 122 'dline' 118 120 'endrexx' o drawpara, 7 Parameter Is used for defining the darkness and brightness etc. ________________________________________________ | Parameter | Value | Limits | --------------- -------------------------------- | 1 | Brightness | 0-255 | | 2 | Darkness | 0-255 | | 3 | Antialiasingfactor | 0-255 | | 4 | fastfill | 0-1 | | 5 | keep-mask | 0-1 | | 6 | Pixel-Current | 0-16000 | | 7 | 1-Pixel-Current | 0-16000 | ------------------------------------------------ o edge, 1 Parameter the handle is attached to the brush. Usually it is located in the middle.Use this command to change the location of the holding point. Theparameters indicate the X and Y values in relation to the upper left cornerof the brush. It is easier, however, to use the command "setedge"instead which auto- matically calculates the coordinates. ___________________________ | Value | Setting | --------------------------- | 1 | left top | | 2 | left bottom | | 3 | right top | | 4 | right bottom | | 0 | middle | --------------------------- Example: edge 1 o ellips, 4 Parameter Draws an ellipse. The first four parameters indicate the middle point and the radius. Example: 'ellips' 297 305 316 329 o endpoly, no Parameter Ends a polygon. Example: look at beginpoly. o endfpoly, no Parameter Ends a filled polygon. Example: look at beginpoly. o endpbrush, no Parameter Ends a polygonial brush. Example: look at beginpoly o endrexx, no Parameter Ends an AREXX script, returning to all functions normal paint conditions.This command should be entered after each AREXX script. If you don't dothis the Undo will not work properly. Example: endrexx o exit, no Parameter Quits Xi-Paint. Example: exit o fbox, 4 Parameter Draws a filled rectangle. The first 4 parameters indicate the corner points. Example: 'fbox' 190 419 232 474 o fellips, 4 Parameter Draws a filled ellipse. The first four parameters indicate the middle point and the radius. Example: 'fellips' 297 305 316 329 o fill, 4 Parameter Fills at the given coordinate. Example: 'fill 100 100' o fontdpi, 3 Parameter Sets the dpi of a given font. The third paraeter switches Antialias on/off. Example: fontdpi 75 80 0 o getbrush, 4 Parameter Cuts off an rectangular brush. Example: look at "brushturnd" o gradmode, 3 Parameter Enters the mode for gradient. The second and third parame- ter gives the percentage of the fifth point (if chosen). ____________________________________ | Mode | Value | ------------------------------------ | 1 | Horizontal, 2 Colors | | 2 | Vertical, 2 Colors | | 4 | 3 Colors, Top two | | 3 | 3 Colors, Bottom two | | 5 | 4 Colors | | 6 | 5 Colors | ------------------------------------ o itext, 3 Parameter Gives an interactive string-requester. The string willbe con- verted to a brush. Example: /* Interaktiver Text */ address 'xipaint' 'itext' endrexx o line, 4 Parameter Line from x1, y1 to x2, y2. Example: 'Color' 102 102 102 0 'line' 319 140 412 234 o lighttable, no Parameter Switches the lighttable on/off Example: lighttable o maskclut, 2 Parameter Gives the coordinates for the taken CLUT. Example: 'maskclut' 194 144 o maskmode, 7 Parameter Switches the mask on/off Modes: _________________________________________________ | Parameter | Value | Function | ------------------------------------------------- | 1 | 0 | Don't Paint on mask | | 1 | 1 | Paint on mask | | 2 | 0-255 | Mask color-entry | | 3 | 0-3600 | Hue-of mask | | 4 | 0-255 | Saturation of mask | | 5 | 0-255 | Intensity of mask | | 6 | 1-20 | Side of CLUT-Square | | 7 | 0 | Mask off | | 7 | 1 | Mask on | ------------------------------------------------- Example: 'maskmode' 1 1 10 10 10 10 1 o maxmask, no Parameter Generates automatically a maxi mummask for the actual brush. o minipic, one Parameter, a string Creates a minipic for the desired filename. The first parameter gives the information, if the file (0) is a picture or a font (1). o picload, a string Loads pictures. Example: 'picload' 'pictures/TutEnch.jpg' o picsave, a string Saves pictures. Example: 'picsave' 'pictures/TutEnch.iff' o pointlayout, 3 Parameter Mode of generating a pen: round(1), squared (0). The second parameter gives the diameter in pixel.The last parameter says the mode (color-mode) for creating the pen. Example: pointlayout 0 8 3 o polymove, 2 Parameter Moves the internal cursor for po- lygonial lines. Example: beginpoly 'polymove 186 154' 'polydraw 121 187' 'polydraw 164 238' 'polydraw 163 238' 'polydraw 222 206' 'polydraw 186 154' 'endpbrush' 'setpoint 221 156' o polydraw, 2 Parameter Draws a polygonial line or cuts a polygonial brush. Example: look at "polymove" o redo, no Parameter Makes a redo. o savemode, 2 Parameter Gives the save-format (table be- low). The second parameter says the deepness (24 bit or 32 bit). __________________________ | Value | Fileformat | -------------------------- | 0 | IFF-DEEP | | 1 | IFF-ILBM | | 2 | PBM | | 3 | PPM | | 4 | SUNRASTER | -------------------------- Example: 'savemode' 4 32 o setfont, a string, 1 Parameter Loads the desired font. Example: look at "text" o setgrid, 5 Parameter Switches on a grid in the desired size (width/height, Offset x/y). The last parameter switches on(1) or off(0). Example: setgrid 3 3 0 0 1 o setmaxmove, ein Parameter Gives the maximal size of a full displayed brush. Example: setmaxmove 50000 o setpoint, 2 Parameter To set a point at the given coordi- nate. Example: 'setpoint 145 184' o setshadow, 3 Parameter Gives the direction of the sha- dow.The third parameter switches the shadow on (1) or off(0). Example: look at "text" o text, no Parameter, string Makes from the given string a brush. Example: 'setfont' 60 'FONTS:CGTriumvirate.font' 'setshadow' 10 '-10' 1 'text' 'Der Versuch' setpoint 10 30 o undo, no Parameter Makes an undo. o version, no Parameter Versionnumber of Xi-Paint. Example: /* gets the version from Xi-Paint */ options results address 'xipaint' 'Version' say result 'version' o vlabinput, 3 Parameter Sets the VTR-Mode (0/1), PAL/NTSC (1/0) and the Input-Channel of the VLab- Digitizer. Example: vlabinput 0 1 2 o vlabscansize, 4 Parameter Defines the digitizer areas of VLab. The four parameters specify the leftupper corner, the width and the height. Example: vlabscansize 0 20 720 600 o vlabdigi, no Parameter Digitizes a picture using the VLab digitizer. Example: vlabgrab 0 20 720 600 o vlabdeinter, no Parameter Deinterlaces the actual pic- ture. Example: vlabdeinter o wait, ein Parameter This command suffices to perform a waiting loop during a demonstration. The parameter gives the time in 1/50 of a second Xi-Paint should waitbefore the next action can be star ted. @endnode @node k20p3 "Parameter-Tables" @toc "contents" @{b}20.3 Parameter-Tables @{ub} The following tables give the values for individual operations stated inthe AREXX chapter. They are not necessary, however, during normaloperation of Xi-Paint. @{" 20.3.1 Color Modes " link "k20p3p1"} @endnode @node k20p3p1 "Color Modes" @toc "contents" @{b}20.3.1 Color Modes @{ub} The following table lists the different color modes with their accor dingvalues. They have to be stated with almost every drawing tool, since they define the drawing mode. _______________________________ | Colormode | Value | ------------------------------- | Solid | 1 | | Background | 2 | | Gradient | 3 | | Cycle | 4 | | invers | 5 | | Smooth | 6 | | Smear | 7 | | Tear | 8 | | Huechange | 9 | | Brightnesschange | 10 | | Saturationchange | 11 | | As-It-is | 12 | | Darken | 13 | | Brighten | 14 | | Saturation+ | 15 | | Saturation- | 16 | | Move Hue | 17 | | Contrast+ | 18 | | Contrast- | 19 | ------------------------------- @endnode @node k21 "Chapter 21" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 21 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}VLab @{ub} This chapter gives you some characteristics of the implementation of thereal time video digitizer from MacroSystem.You can only call up the VLab menu if the version of the VLab library is atleast release 7 or higher.Since Xi-Paint does not use all the features of VLab, some adjustmentscan only be performed via special VLab soft ware. To do so start the VLabsoftware before Xi-Paint and adjust the desired parameters. Afterwardclose VLab and start - Paint. The adjustments made to the VLab willbe maintained. In future versions of Xi-Paint the digitizer will be better implemented. @endnode @node k22 "Chapter 22" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 22 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}Load- and Save-Functions @{ub} In an effort to provide as much functionality as possible Xi-Paint supports several graphic formats, each of them having advantages and disadvatages. These formats for loading and saving images and brushes are depending on the version of the multipic.library, for now there listed be low: o IFF-DEEP o IFF-24Bit o IFF-8Bit o Amiga-IFF (also HAM) o PPM o JPEG o Xi-Paint-Format (old) o IFF-YUV Save: o IFF-24Bit o PPM o BMP o IFF DEEP The following is a description of the individual formats: IFF-24Bit: Although a bitmap technology for 24 bit pictures is- not particularly useful, this format still represents a kindof standard. It is supported by most programs running with 24Bit. Itrepresents an expansion of the Amiga IFF Standard to more bit planes. Italso compresses, but as well as the JPEG Algorithym. Unfortunately the bitplane concept causes a re- latively slow loading since thecolor value of each pixel has to be retrieved from the different pictureplanes. IFF-8Bit: For pictures containing only shades of grey a color- depth of 8 Bit is sufficient. Such pictures often occur with DTP applications, when no color is required. Xi-Paint main- tains thepictures according to their palette, i. e. color pictu- res canalso be loaded with up to 256 colors. When saving you can choose in thesystem menu which of the 3 color planes you want to save as 8 Bit. Thepicture's palette is then a palette of grey shades. Amiga-IFF: In order for you to use your old pictures created with DPaint Xi-Paint is able to load all Amiga formats including HAM and Extrahalfbright. Using AREXX you can determine with 'loadalign' and'loadaspect' how this is done. 'loadaspect' can be set to 1 and thenadapts the pixel ratio of the Amiga resolution to the display buffer.'loadalign' aligns the picture either to the left or the right side oradjusts the Amiga picture to the size of the displaybuffer. Further information on these commands is supplied in the AREXX chapter of thismanual. PPM: This originates from UNIX. It was implemented for impor- ting pictures of other work stations. JPEG: The JPEG format is standardized as well. It is not a problemto transfer JPEG pictures from other computers. Anotheradvantage of the JPEG formats is the small size of a picture on the harddisk. Picture compression is performed according to a specific algorithm,which, unfortuna tely, does not work without losses. In the system menu youcan choose the quality of the image to be saved in JPEG format. The value100 results in almost no losses, whereas a picture save with the value 1 iscompletely unrecognizable. The smaller the value the smaller the file onthe hard disk. You have to try to find the appropriate compression degreefor your application. If pictures are loaded which have been extremely compressed it is advisable to use smoothing (also available in the system menu). In contrast to the other formats loading and saving of highlycompressed pictures takes a long time. Since the uncompressed picture must be stored as an intermediate file, you must enter a path for this file inthe tool types. @endnode @node k23 "Chapter 23" @toc "contents" @{b}@{fg highlight}Chapter 23 @{ub}@{fg text} @{b}The Future @{ub} The next version of Xi-Paint will have animation-features, an built in raytracer, more and enhanced brush-manipulation and and and @{" Figure: Ice-Cream " system "Run >NIL: NIL: