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		            ART-GRAPHICS LAB     

                       COMPILED BY     M.J.NEJAIM


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Now, for the first time on one disk there is a collection of PD programmes

to enable you to create your own ARTWORK, GRAPHICS and PERSONAL SLIDESHOWS.

While especially useful for the beginner, you will find that you have

ample scope to use your imagination and creativity to produce very pro-

fessional looking visuals and slideshows without paying out $200-$300

for commercial programmes.



The Demo-Disk that goes with this gives you some samples of what sort of

graphics are possible. I can assure you that I am a novice Amiga user and

definitely a "non-artist". The PD programmes I chose for this disk are 

certainly not all the art and graphics programmes that are available from

MEGADISC. You can check your catalogue or contact TIM STRACHAN from MEGADISC

for others.



       *****     SOME POINTS THAT YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL     *****


*	The ICON marked [60or80] will let you switch instantly between 

	TV set mode (60 columns on screen) and Monitor mode (usually 80

	columns on screen).


*	The icon marked [EW] if double clicked will make the opening and 

	closing of drawers and windows a bit fancy (to help put you in an

	"arty" mood!).


*	It is most important to read the various instructions very care-

	fully so you can get the most out of these programmes. I admit that

	some are more comprehensive than others so be prepared to do a bit

	of experimenting to find out their full potential etc. If you find

	that you get a bit mixed up or can't quite get something to work

	properly I would be happy to assist you if I can. (my contact

	address is at the end of this intro-file.)


*	If you have not used an art or graphics programme before I can 

	assure you they can be very MEMORY-DEMANDING. You can help avoid

	problems by taking things s-l-o-w-l-y. For example, when using 

	TV*TEXT DEMO, don't keep clearing the screen without a bit of a

	pause after, to refresh the relevant memory. This also applies to 

	the ULTRAPAINT programme.


*	Some programmes are virtually "foolproof", i.e. you can get a

	perfect image every time. Others may require a bit of practice

	before you achieve the result or effect you want. With SCENERY

	you can merely use the menus to ensure a great landscape. But after

	a bit of experimenting you will be able to draw customised pictures

	which you can load into COLORLAB and completely re-colour or 

	simply enhance the various colours if you wish.


*	If you intend "saving" your pictures for a slideshow or for 

	further modifying, you will need a spare disk to put them on.

	You can put the SHOWIZ slideshow programme onto your special

	art-graphics disk. By double clicking on SHOWIZ your pictures

	will be shown automatically complete with fancy "wipes".

	For the more experienced you can fully customise your slideshow

	by using a script-file explained in the instructions.


*	TV*TEXT DEMO and ULTRAPAINT do not have their "save" functions

	enabled. The commercial version of TV*TEXT costs just under $200 !

	That's why I have included SCREENX and HERMIT programmes so you

	can save the screens that have your work on them. Please read the

	instructions carefully and as long as you know to press the LEFT-

	AMIGA key with N or M you should have no problems saving your work.


*	After you have saved your screens using SCREENX or HERMIT or another

	screen saver you might have, you will discover that with TV*TEXT 

	you have also saved the title-bar at the top. If you want to get

	rid of it you can either "load" your picture into ULTRAPAINT

	and use a brush to wipe it out and re-save the screen, or "load"

	your TV*TEXT DEMO screen into COLORLAB and use the colour palette

	to "fade" the title-bar. COLOURLAB has its own save function so you

	will not need a screen saver.


*	TV*TEXT DEMO uses only MEDIUM RESOLUTION. To produce LOW RESOLUTION

	graphics I used the following method. I created my text etc using

	the left half of the screen only. After I saved my screen I loaded

	it into MULTIVIEW using the 320 by 200 setting. This gave me a 

	full-width screen of Low Resolution Text which I saved with a screen

	saver. It's a bit grainy but quite acceptable. If you are just

	starting out with your AMIGA I suggest you use the normal TV*TEXT

	working mode. But don't be afraid to try something different if

	you are in the mood!


*	Well, that just about covers it. Everything else should be explained

	quite adequately in the various instruction notes. I sincerely hope

	you get a lot of enjoyment and benefit from this disk. Anyway it's

	a pretty inexpensive method of learning some of the capabilities

	that the AMIGA has with ART and GRAPHICS.


*	SPECIAL THANKS TO TIM STRACHAN FROM MEGADISC FOR MAKING THIS

	COMPOSITE DISK AVAILABLE.


       
          *****     HAPPY AMIGA-ING       MICHAEL J. NEJAIM     *****
          
                                          P.O.BOX 278
                                          COOGEE 2034 NSW

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