STATE OF THE ART v1.2
music by MIDISOFT
(C) VIATOR / AVALON / RUSH I.S.P.A.
_
More than 10 years have passed since that time,
as the legendary James Hutchby of OCP
released a "ART-STUDIO".
For 1985 it was a real masterpiece
which became an integral part of SPECCY and
one of the most popular programs for all
its history.
Over the years much has changed. Most
quality system programs were written in the CIS countries. But,
oddly enough, nobody dared to engage in serious development in
the field of graphic editors. We - a group AVALON - decided to
fill this gap and make a new step in this
direction. .
During his work with SPECCY I saw 07.05
graficheskih editors. Most of
They were so primitive and uncomfortable, that does not even
deserve the attention users. Most qualitative Editor only two -
this is "ART-STUDIO" and "ARTIST-2". "ARTIST-2" well thought
out. It introduces many interesting ideas
(To view the image
real, cutting the window of arbitrary shape, drawing ellipses
and etc.), but due to very sloppy performance
This editor is uncomfortable and rigid.
Interface slows down, all diskriruet, management uncomfortable.
For these reasons, most of the artists on SPECCY (and I was
among them) prefer to work in ART-STUDIO. In the "ART-STUDIO"
implemented user-friendly interface and all the most necessary
functions. Previously, it seemed an accomplishment, but
Editors looking for AMIGA and PC, you understand that until the
ideal is still very far away. The fact that all versions of
"ART-STUDIO", even her 128k version is far from perfect. I've
worked in "ART-STUDIO" enough long to notice that a lot of bugs
and inconveniences, which It is. One can think of a permanent
inclusion in the regime of white border'a "MAGNIFY".
Work was started in autumn 1996,
when PANDA from Cherkassy group ETC, has complained of the lack
of a normal image editor and asked us to write something
acceptable in this regard. We, being so kind and naive :-)
- Agreed to take up this hopeless
ungrateful, unrealistic, etc. project. I should say that at the
start of work on the editor, our group was much more modest. It
does not include such geniuses and giants of thought as RUFF,
ZNAHAR, and SHADOW. While the project was
doomed to failure because SADMAN and I
were simply unable to complete the entire
the workload. At the moment
all the more real and COOLnee! AVALON has become much bigger
and more professional. Suddenly, the project received a general
support and attention. During this time, we received a lot of
ideas and suggestions from different people, and we can already
say that this will be massive and ambitious project. The main
task we set for ourselves - it takes into account all the
shortcomings of currently existing editors and satisfaction of
the greatest number of users. At this stage, we are engaged in
gathering information and trying to find out the opinions of
all the strongest Artists on SPECCY (SHAMAN, TERROR, KAMIKAZE,
PANDA, TRANCER, ROM, and others). In addition, I myself a
professional artist, and, in this case, it is important. We
will try to get the best out of "ART-STUDIO" and "ARTIST II",
from the editors for AMMY and PC, but most attention, we
pay at the request USER'ov, so if you have interesting ideas on
this account, be sure to tell them to us. Obeshayu that
everyone who contributes useful suggestions will be referred to
CREDITS.
Estimated project name -
STATE OF THE ART-(SOTA) (just do not think that we have
delusions of grandeur! :-)
Next, I present a description of what will be implemented in
the editor: _
1. INTERFACE
In general, the interface is similar to the "ART-STUDIO",
but the main menu is replaced by pictographic, to save screen
space. The size of the icons selected 2X2 familiarity and we
believe the best. Anticipating your questions, I will try to
explain why we have decided to place the menu top, as in "AS",
rather than sideways, as in Amiga or pisyushnyh Editors: on my
personal experience I know that much more have to draw
pictures, which occupy All 32 familiarity horizontally than all
screen space vertically. On machines with a higher screen
resolution much rarer pictures, holding the whole thing, so
placing menu at the side, there is more justified. All
menu items and messages in the editor will be in English. It is
much more familiar and ekonomnee. Although, if there will be
many objections, heart attacks and tears, we can make it in
their own language, but note that the native language for us is
- Ukrainian :-)! A lot of attention given SetUp'u So, you can
change almost all parameters - speed arrows acceleration
factor, etc. Will be well-thought-out shortcuts, presumably:
CURSOR - movement across the screen in MAGNIFY, EXTEND MODE -
view the entire screen, SS + keys - Change of INK, ENTER + keys
- Change of PAPER, Z, X - a change of sprites (animation), etc.
MANAGEMENT
Simultaneous control of KEYBOARD:
(O, P, Q, A, SPACE, M (SET), N (RESET));
SINCLAIR; KEMPSTON (to check availability).
If I provide the necessary information, it will be implemented
by management KEMPSTON and AY MOUSE. Everyone who is interested
in this, contact me immediately mail (address at end of
article). Same As owners and printers. None of the members of
our group has no printer, so we need all the information
relating to this DEVICE.
All changes will be written on
lawsuit in SetUp'e.
2. MAGNIFY MODE
Most of the time working with a graphical editor artist holds
in the regime MAGNIFY. Therefore, we try to make it
most convenient. The mode of simultaneous display of real
windows, but if you wish, you can disable it. See the entire
screen, not exit increase, by pressing a button.
Window with a fragment of an image in real
format can be displayed to the left (TRUE
VIDEO), and right (INV. VIDEO). In general, then, is no
division in the MAGNIFY and Normal mode - will not. All
functions editor will be implemented on a larger scale, which
is sorely missed by all other GFX EDITORam on SPECCY. True
I must admit that in some cases the editor will probably slow
down your. Even though I wrote a scaling several times faster
than in the "AS", but you know that the increase is almost
the entire screen in real time and with limited memory - a
thing quite slow. If, for example, will draw a circle in the
regime and will ELASTIC enabled MAGNIFY, then I (or rather
Z-80A) will have to draw a circle in a buffer and then quickly
scale the image on the screen. Of course, the Amiga in this
case it would be enough to change the screen resolution. A
simple but incredibly useful and convenient feature - it's the
ability to change the size of a pencil, which is drawing a
larger scale. By simply pressing Clavey 05.01
You can choose one of five built-in pencil: 1X1, 2X2, 3X3, 1X8,
8X1 pixels. Profiles LINE and DOTTEN should allow the solid
lines or through one point. I think the feasibility of
increasing only 2 and 4 times. Can share their views on the
matter. When Thus, in 4-x magnification can make a grid that
separates familiarity, which is also incredibly convenient.
_
3. REALTIME MAGNIFY
Very original idea suggested from the SOI
Groups CRYSTAL DREAM. He advised that the option to make
REALTIME MAGNIFY, and imennorezhim similar to the effect of
demuh "RPSG128" and "7 REALITY" - editing an image under a
magnifying glass. The screen displays all images, which can be
moved magnifying glass with an eye in the center. The biggest
advantage is opportunity to see almost constantly
Fullscreen! It is true there are big here
problems with attributes. In my opinion, this
treatment either on the Amiga or the HRC. This
function is almost finished SHADOW.
_
4. WINDOWS
Window Mode WINDOWS, can be specified as a pixel accuracy, and
with Bound familiarity. Besides all the functions of window
treatments from the "ART-STUDIO", will be implemented
thickening, stroke, scrolling may morph the two windows. If not
let down our math, that will be added to the 3D-rotation.
Already acting function of rotation around the window
its axis, with the possible displacement of the center
rotation. Not wanted to be abolished function LAST WINDOW, by
reason of it is always current will be the last window
selected. You can implement the possibility of choosing a
window of arbitrary shape, but not so stupid as to "ARTIST-2"
and with closed lines (CONTINIOUS
LINES). A large number of options for overlay windows: the
mashing image under the window on the OR / AND / XOR, on the
mask. _
5. SHAPES
A set of graphical primitives in the menu SHAPES, includes,
inter alia, drawing ellipses and arcs. It would be nice to
implement drawing ellipses, not only strictly parallel to the
horizontal and vertical edges of the screen, but under
any slope. Try to make the possibility of changing the density
of lines for vector shapes and a pencil that these lines will
be conducted. Speed work ELASTIC mode if possible be
increased. _
6. UTILITES
The package will include the editor of several programs
utilitnyh: FONT EDITOR, SPRITE GENERATOR, SCREEN COMPRESSOR and
others. Apparently, in order to save memory, it is necessary to
make them loadable (Without leaving the editor, and without
loss of edited images).
FONT_EDITOR
Are just a few (not all)
possibilities: the existence of a function UNDO, fast scrolling
characters in all directions, the ability to mark certain
characters and subsequent operations to produce just above
them, thickening, stroke, etc. Editing as usual FONT'a, and
UDG characters and any character set
up to 256 characters. I do not know whether to have an
the ability to edit fonts that are larger than 1X1 familiarity?
In my opinion it is more convenient these characters read from
the screen, as sprites.
SPRITE_GENERATOR
Excision of the screen sprites, with the creation of tables
and everything. If we are really want, you can make the function
Compression sprites.
SCREEN_COMPRESSOR
LAZY / ETC / RUSH wrote a great compressor screens. He wins on
average 100-400 bytes on a single screen at the "ASC SCREEN
CRASHER'a! Additional advantages include very fast decompressor
and the fact that it does not prohibit interruption in the
derivation of the figure. Some lamer hands do not reach to
remove the DI in early DEPACKER'a, and users have to "enjoy"
decelerating at the moment decompression of the music. Perhaps
we implement the compression not only of all screen, and
windows and compression. _
7. FILE OPTIONS
Implemented full disk interface that allows also a quick view
screens on the disk. Originally, I wanted to make a standard
format for storing files not the usual on-screen files
(6912b.), and zapakovannye screens without decompression. But
Unfortunately, time compression was quite significant, and this
idea, we probably do not realize. Compressed Screens can be
written as a depakerom, and without it, and then output one
depakerom all the pictures (as with playing music). Immediately
I can promise that subverted with disk operations, we
will not, and they will work with all
standard versions of TR-DOS. It's me
Board and all producers soft'a. More
have an idea to make the possibility of suspending the files
text messages. , and view these messages in the editor.
Messages can be both in Russian and in English. What, I wonder
Artists worse than musicians? :-) They also
have the right to write comments to their
works! You can make reading the screen with tape, as well as
the format discs MS-DOS and IS-DOS.
_
8. RESIDENT
Will be implemented to work with the resident,
by which you can hang
to the editor, music, timer, etc.
_
9. PALETTE
Options INK, PAPER, BRIGHT, FLASH merged together. In
addition, it is possible to quickly change the current
attributes, using hot keys. Current attributes are permanently
displayed in a specially designated place in the main menu.
Very interesting result is obtained when mixing meskolkih
standard attributes. Thus it is possible get a lot of
non-standard colors. This is one of the possible ways of
enhancing sparse palette SPECCY. Many of the resulting color
(about 128), almost no flicker (not flashing). What is the most
important is the fact that this possibility appears at the
lowest cost speed and memory: The screen becomes longer only
768b, which takes extra space attributes. To obtain FX'a
multiatributov simply transfer of the termination of 768 bytes
of attributes. Alternately connects it alone somewhere else.
Without problems such images can be output even under the
digitized music, posting pictures of the two 128th screens. In
this case, the switching screens will leave several dozen
cycles.
_
More can be implemented as follows:
Ability to animate directly in the edit mode screen. Now would
be no need to use spraytredaktor.
When printing text on the screen of their size
can be set from 1X1 to 8X8 familiarity.
You can try to realize the regime "rubber" of fonts that can
be scaled pixel by pixel, without loss of quality image. This
can be done by storing font in the form of (lines, circles),
then can be scaled only the basic point
for these letters. For obvious reasons, all
curves will always be smooth.
If you need letters are thicker than one
pixel will have to use a fill
inside the letters - it can be quite
tormoznutaya process.
Maybe you paid attention, as in
"ART-STUDIO" and "ARTIST-2" die with
glitches. Do not believe me? Then try
fill the entire screen texture in which
pixels are fairly thick but
gaps between points. Then try
fill the entire screen has some texture. Well? I know how to
fill that will work 100% correctly, but still slower than in
the "AS", perhaps several times. So, apparently, will have to
make two versions of the fill - one fast, but with possible
errors, the other slow, but correct. You can also implement a
function does not fill texture, and a window of arbitrary size.
Flooded area can be scrolled pixel by pixel in all directions.
If a lot of hard work, it will be possible to implement
functions BLEND. For those who do not knows what it is,
explain: BLEND - this kind of morph. This means you can
select the start and end objects and
calculate the right amount of phase transformation from one to
another, and then add the obtained frames at a certain
trajectory. With this achieved FX'a interesting images which,
when drawing by hand, consuming incredible
a lot of time.
Also, I wonder can turn the function FOUNTAIN FILL (Gradient).
With the help it can fill a closed
circuit with a smooth transition from one tone
in another. But what to do when AMMY
using a rich palette for Spectrum'e
have to do with textures.
You can still try to implement functions formulaic plots. This
way, I not seen in PiSyuke nor AMMY. I
imagine it like this: user enters
initial parameters (number of segments
number of phases, X1, Y1.Xn, Yn, and so on, and the program
builds on the formula sinusoids of the arc etc. Fairly easy to
implement and more complex vector shapes, such as a ball in
INSULT'e. I am quite clear imagine how to implement it, but not
sure I'll do it.
Of course very useful and convenient would be
Work with knots in "COREL DRAW".
When any image could be
identify key locations (knots), and then moving these nodules
could be arbitrarily change the shape of the image, but
Again, for the implementation of this regime will require
considerable investment of time (not CPU, and my!).
Almost everything that is in the editors
for "large" machines can be implemented on
SPECCY, but one thing is absolutely not realistic:
There is only one thing in pisyushnom "COREL
DRAW "which is impossible, even with all
their desire and ability, to put into
Spectrum - a turn-based conservation
image. Namely: for example, you are at the beginning of work on
the drawing have drawn circle, then you have made dozens of
others Action, written over the range of pile
texts, and so on, and then, in any
moment, you can select the circle and start moving it under the
rest of the images, remove, or, for example, change its color.
You can also do as much to UNDO the first step. All this is
possible because the screen there is not stored in the form of
sprite as on the Spectrum, but as a sequence of formulas. At
SPECCY is absolutely not realistic because 3.5MGts and 128K
insufficient for such a luxury. But not is very upset! Imagine
how long pisyuk rebuilds image
each time bringing it from the very first
action to the last. If the screen
rather complex picture, even
the most feature-rich PENTIUM be terribly
brake. Of course for PC users
this is normal and common, but
We are accustomed to working on SPECCY - it
an intolerable mockery!
_
All this - not a complete list of innovations that will be
implemented in program. Also there are some ideas that we
believe inappropriate, and apparently will not engage in their
implementation - namely, the ability to edit screens the size
of more than 256 X 192 pixels (this is, of course, very
convenient, but I fear that we barely have enough memory even
if the screen is a standard size), built-in editors and
MULTICOLORnyh BORDER'nyh pictures. Interestingly opinion
users about the need for these functions.
As an artist, I could not give
due attention to design programs. Hope you like the look of the
editor.
When creating the program, we try
using the most advanced demushnye
coding technology. As possible will
increased speed of all procedures editor. Of course, you may
appear that all that we want to do in SOTA - execute simple. So
it is, if to do everything separately, but when you try vlepit
all in 128kb when you want to put all the procedures with each
other, and that's when it appears a lot of huge problems. Cool,
of course, demos roll out an effect on all 128 kb.
We also have to choose the best option in the relationship
between the rate / MEMORY. Therefore, if you feel that
something could be done faster, think, and how long it will
take memory. And so we had to select the memory location to
which to queue will be the most dekranchirovatsya
time-critical procedures.
At the moment the interface is written and
some functions, but the bulk of work still ahead.
Now run over the editor:
RUFF, SHADOW, SADMAN and I (VIATOR).
Useful advice given to us:
PANDA, SOI, IMP, SMASH BAND,
DIGITAL REALITY, VBI, ROB F.
All of them huge TNX!
Personal thanks from LAZY ETC
for a great compressor screens!
Especially we want to get
feedback and specific advice from
following artists:
KAMIKAZE
FIL GFX
Bobov Ivan
ROM
TRACER
Programmers:
Mednonogov Glory
STALKER
RST-7
ALEM
NICODIM
Groups:
PETERS
XL-DESIGN
OUTLAND corp.
BLACK SHARK
NEW
FLASH
GOLDEN DISK
Distributors:
Inforkom
LOGROSS
MAGIC SOFT
etc.
