EGSPhotoAlbum The picture management and presentation software for EGS ============= *** new: now also usable as picture format converter or picture selection frontend for other applications *** *** new: now also comfortably usable with CD-ROMs due to possible separate preview directory and small JPeg preview files *** This is version 1.7 of EGSPhotoAlbum, the comfortable Shareware picture management and presentation software for EGS. To use EGSPhotoAlbum as full version you need a keyfile, which can be obtained by registering directly by me (see below for registration fees). Without keyfile EGSPhotoAlbum has some restrictions. What does EGSPhotoAlbum offer? ------------------------------ EGSPhotoAlbum is a pure EGS program. It offers easy access to large collections of picture files on your harddrive with a comfort similair to that of PhotoCDs. The current version supports the following picture file formats: * JPeg (for color and greyscale pictures) * IFF-ILBM24 (compressed and uncompressed) * PPM-P6 * QRT (also known as dump format in the PD raytracer POV) Other file formats (e.g. greyscale formats, more IFF formats, ...) will be implemented in future versions. Maybe datatypes will be supported under OS3.x in the future as well... EGSPhotoAlbum shows whole directories of pictures with downscaled preview automatically. Special fast loading functions for downscaled loading are used. EGSPhotoAlbum offers * full automatic layout of the preview pages with fixed or variable field size (max. field size can be selected) * Page turning functions to turn the page like in a real PhotoAlbum... (now also available as menu entries with shortcuts in the picture window) * Viewing of pictures in full size by mouse click (only in full version); an unlimited number of full size picture windows (limited only by memory) can be open at the same time. * Pictures can easily be deleted by visual selection from your disk (only in full version) * Pictures can be removed from the preview pages * intelligent caching algorithms to hold preview images in memory to redurce waiting time when turning pages * asynchronous load function which preloads preview pictures during work with EGSPhotoAlbum (now also deselectable) * automatic generation of preview files to reduce waiting time for later use of EGSPhotoAlbum *** new: now small JPeg preview files can also be generated *** *** new: now also creatable in separate preview directory! *** (only in full version) * Saving of shown pictures in other file formats (currently IFF-ILBM24, JPeg, PPM, QRT, Targa, DEEP) or direct transfer to other programs (as ImageFX, PicoPainter, BigPainter or general to the Clipboard) (only in full version). This makes EGSPhotoAlbum a comfortable 24Bit picture converter or easy picture selection front end for other programs... * Easy single or multiselect feature for pictures * Information display for selected picture (name, size, file format) All this is done with a font sensitive EGS user interface which can be used even on largest Screens and in full 24Bit color quality. Many extensions (as slideshow with transition effects, ...) could be integrated in the future, if there is enough response and the number of registered users will be high enough. The keyfile concept offers registered users the possibilty to use future demo versions auto- matically as update for their full version. Requirements ------------ * Amiga-OS 2.04 or higher; OS3.x is recommended for future versions, if DataTypes are supported by EGSPhotoAlbum * EGS-System version 6.0 or higher for your graphics board or for Amigas without graphics board * Much memory (at least 2MByte Fast-RAM; more is really recommended to use EGSPhotoAlbum comfortably; the caching algorithms can use lots of memory) Registering ----------- The registration fee for EGSPhotoAlbum is currently 18US$ (as cheque) or 15US$ (as bank notes) for users outside of europe (see registration form for other possible currencies). Inside europe the registration fee is 20DM (see registration form for other possible currencies). English and german versions are available. Free updates are normally available due to the keyfile concept. A registration form is supplied in this archiv (please print it with 12CPI and a left margin of 10). Information about related EGS programs -------------------------------------- If you have to work with video and framegrabbers, I recommend to take a look at EGS-TV Professional, the shareware framegrabber and video software for EGS. This shareware program (which is also developed by me) offers a comfortable usage and special effects (e.g. Blue Screen Keying) or hard disk recording and sequence editing functions. Esp. VLab and IV24 users can experience new dimensions with EGS-TV. The possibility to save pictures in JPeg format makes EGS-TV Professional the ideal partner to generate pictures for your collection and usage with EGSPhotoAlbum... EGS-TV Professional demos should be available on places where you found EGSPhotoAlbum. Since version 3.6 EGS-TV can also be used comfortably without a framegrabber by load functions (the same formats as EGSPhotoAlbum) and import functions. You can use EGS-TV this way as animation generation and sequence editing of blue screen keying effect software. Disclaimer ---------- I tried my best to make this program error-free. It has been checked with enforcer and mungwall and works without problems on my configuration. Nevertheless, as there are so many possible configurations of Amigas and EGS-Systems/graphic boards, I can not guarantee that this software will work on your configuration. Especially the complex EGS-System does not have the desired stability in some situations. In cases where I found problems with EGS, I tried to workaround them, or explained them in this document. This software (program and documentation) is provided "as is" and comes with no warranty, either expressed or implied. The author is in no way responsible for any damage or loss that may occur due to direct or indirect usage of this software. You use this software entirely at your own risk. Copyright and Distribution -------------------------- EGSPhotoAlbum software (program and documentation) is copyright by Helmut Hoffmann Rubensstrasse 4 D-41063 Mönchengladbach Germany The demo version of EGSPhotoAlbum may be freely distributed and used as long as the following conditions are met: 1) All files have to be kept together 2) No file may be modified or crunched/packed. The only official way to distribute EGSPhotoAlbum demo packed is the original egsphotoalbum.lha archive. EGSPhotoAlbum may not be disassembled or analysed. The limitations integrated in the demo version may under no circumstance be removed or bypassed. 3) Distributors may only charge for the duplication process (including media) and not for the software. Theese charges may not exceed the following limits: a) Demo on a PD-disk: 8$ (US-dollar) including postage&packing (in Germany: 12DM) b) Demo on a PD-CD-ROM: 50$ (US-dollar) including postage&packing (in Germany: 75DM) c) Demo on a BBS/Mailbox/ftp-site or other electronically callable system: Maximum charge 4$ (US-dollar) (in Germany: 6DM) for downloading Anyway, it must be made explictly clear to the buyer, that he does not pay for the program (demo) itself but only for the duplication service. 4) It is not allowed to distribute EGSPhotoAlbum with any commercial product without a written permission by me. One exception is the distribution of the demo version with products not exceeding the above price limits (e.g. a cover-disk magazine for 8$ or less). The following companies have my explicit permission to distribute the EGSPhotoAlbum demo with their products: NOVA Design, Ingenieurbüro Helfrich. If you want to distribute EGSPhotoAlbum demo with your commercial product (hardware or software) write to me for details. 5) The registered version may not be redistributed. It may only run on one machine per registration. It is allowed to make a backup copy of the original disk. You can currently also contact me by EMail: hhoff@pool.informatik.rwth-aachen.de If you want to register or have suggestions (and if you don't get an answer by EMail) please write by ordinary mails to my address above.