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):

 =======================================================================
                          SILHOUETTE VERSION 1.0
                          ----------------------
                              Press Release
 =======================================================================
 
 
 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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