Silhouette/Graphics/commercial
From: Doug Wokoun (aa384@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 10/30/91-07:09:14 PM Z
From: aa384@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Doug Wokoun)
Subject: Silhouette/Graphics/commercial
Date: Wed Oct 30 19:09:14 1991
Taken from: Z*Net online magazine, issue #9131 (July 26, 1991):
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SILHOUETTE VERSION 1.0
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Press Release
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A Bit-Image and Vector Graphics Program with Auto-Tracing Feature
Requirements: ST/TT system with at least 1 megabyte (2M recommended) of
RAM. ST high resolution on the ST or TT supported. Please read the
accompanying text file.
Atari Users,
Its ready but let me be the first to say (before Ralph or Ron, etc.)
that its quite late in arriving. My apologies and especially to a few
that have patiently waited (your copies will be arriving in the mail).
I wish Silhouette had been completed a year earlier. I would have
treated myself to a nice vacation. As things stand now I look forward
to catching up with some bills.
Silhouette began as a project to create an auto-tracing program for the
Atari ST. In the course of developing the tracing algorithms I realized
that there would not be a perfect solution, i.e. perfect auto-tracer,
at least not within a reasonable amount of time. Therefore, it was
necessary to develop the auto-tracing routines around a drawing program
that would allow the user to load bit images and prepare them for auto-
tracing. Also the ability to auto-trace and then spruce up the auto-
trace would be of great value. The result is a drawing program with
some unique drawing features for creating bit image and vector graphics.
The auto-tracing feature links the two graphic types together.
The auto-tracing of Silhouette works best with line art. It will not
attempt to determine the type of fill patterns existing and then replace
them with a vector graphics fill pattern. Silhouette will auto-trace
graphics and offer several degrees of variability in how it is
processed. One can output a raw trace which might be of value for very
small objects or for objects with many horizontal and vertical lines.
Or one can output an auto-trace with GEM 2.0 bezier curves which are
loadable by the high-end desktop publishing programs. Maxwell was
approached by several sign-makers interested in a auto-tracer and with
the bezier output, the auto-tracing function will be of great value.
When spline auto-tracing is selected Silhouette will seek out the
important points in the trace, points at corners or points that help
define the curvatures of the image.
Output of the auto-trace is sent directly into the vector graphics
window along with a gray shaded bit-image of the trace area. One can
adjust the control points of the polylines or splines while referencing
the bit-image in the background. The polyline editing function was
developed to speed up editing. One can move from control point to point
by simply hitting the keys 'Q' or 'E' and add or delete points with the
keys 'A' or 'D'.
You might find some of the operations in Silhouette unorthodox but in
the short term you will find out why they work as they do. Most every
function begins with a single left mouse button click. No need to
maintain the mouse button down while drawing or editing. This frees up
the hand motion and allows for smoother motion of the mouse. Operations
are terminated with right mouse button click or by hitting the ESCAPE or
UNDO key to cancel. Objects in the raster or vector windows can be
deleted with the ESCAPE or UNDO key too. Movement of whole objects,
while being drawn, is accomplished by depressing the left mouse button
during the move.
Let me describe the main features in version 1.0.
Auto-tracing
Raw or splined auto-tracing with adjustable parameters. Background bit-
image display.
Drawing tools
clipper, freehand, line, polyline, circle, ellipse, elliptical arc,
circular arc, polygons, stars, parabolas, spray can, text (supports FSM
GDOS), pixel editor tool.
Smoothing
B-splines, Bezier curves. Convert polylines into either splines and visa
-versa. Convert Circles or Ellipses into bezier curves (GEM 2.0
format). Multi-point or 4 point (GEM 2.0) beziers supported.
Magnification
Magnify the vector window image up to 16 times. Drawing resolution
achieves up to 3200 DPI.
Graphics
Input: Bit image formats IMG, DEGAS, TINY, MACPAINT. Vector graphics
GEM format.
Graphics
Output: Bit images as IMG files. Vector graphics as GEM meta files or
DXF universal CAD format.
Clipboard
Two clip buffers for the raster (bit-image) graphics. Separate cut and
copy buffers for vector graphics. Will accumulate copied or cut
objects. Clip buffers save to disk and can be re-loaded during future
sessions.
Duplicate, Reshape
Duplicate vector objects in three ways (freehand, radial or cartesian).
Reshape objects in several ways: size, stretch, free corner warp, skew
(parallogram), skew (trapezoid).
Rotate
Rotate polyline objects to a 1/10th of a degree.
Splice and Cut polylines.
Data
Object information is continuously updated on the information line while
an object is being created. The bit-image and vector window are size
adjustable.
Manual
100 page manual in a three ring binder and slip cover.
Hardware Support
Operates on the ST, STacy and TT. 1 megabyte required but 2 megabytes
recommended. ST high resolution supported on the ST and TT.
GDOS
Supports the old GDOS and new FSM GDOS.
We are accepting orders now
Silhouette is available directly from Maxwell CPU for $109.95 plus $5.00
shipping (U.S. Post in U.S. and Canada). Shipping by UPS overseas is
available upon request. We accept VISA and MASTERCARD or will ship COD
or accept personal check.
CALL: (303)666-7754 between 8AM and 6PM(MST), Mondays-Saturdays.
Special Offers
Buy version 1.0 now for 109.95 before August 15th and upgrade to version
1.5 (expected release date September 15, 1991) for $20.00. The new
features of version 1.5 will include:
Object grouping, snapping to grid or guides, snapping to object(s)
symmetry points, ruler system, additional auto-tracing features, iso-
contouring of bit-images, output to Calamus file format.
Enhanced DXF file output. Conversion of all complex curves (elliptical
arcs, parabolas, etc.) to bezier curves. Duochrome (two color) video
graphics support.
Owners of Silhouette will be able to purchase direct the MicroSoft
Windows version of Silhouette for 45% off the retail price. Expected
release date of December 1, 1991.
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