Photo Graphics

**************************************************************** * TrueSpectra (R) Photo>Graphics PRO(TM) README * Table of Contents **************************************************************** * * 1.0 About TrueSpectra Photo>Graphics PRO Version 2.02 * 1.1 NEW FEATURES * 1.2 IMPORTANT INFORMATION * 1.3 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS * 1.4 INSTALLATION * 1.5 SUPPORTED SCANNERS * * 2.0 Tips for Faster Performance * * 3.0 Reporting Bugs * * 4.0 TrueSpectra on the Internet * * 5.0 About TrueSpectra * **************************************************************** 1.0 About TrueSpectra Photo>Graphics Version 2.02 August 1998 ================================================= This is a minor update to Photo>Graphics PRO 2.01, that corrects defects in the TIFF and GIF import, which could cause crashes. The unlocked version includes the TWAIN for OS/2(sm) v1.6.5 Consumer Scanner Driver Pack. 1.1 NEW FEATURES ---------------- PRO 2.02 * Fixed reported bugs in GIF and TIFF loading. * Created sampler version which doesn't include the TWAIN scanner drivers in the distribution PRO 2.01 * New support for TWAIN 1.65 PRO 2.0 * INLINE Bitmaps in GDO files - option to save images with the GDO - NOT backwards compatible! * SAVE BITMAP option on all bitmaps - for saving SCANNED bitmaps - for extracting INLINED bitmaps - quick file type conversions - saved at ORIGINAL (from disk/scan) size @ 300dpi, not at screen resolution or output settings * Improved Image Import/Export - even more options * New TOOL icons * New mouse POINTERS * Rollup Windows - all "mini" dialogs - double click on the titlebars * Additional USER PREFERENCES options * New scripting interface available through Ctrl-Z (RUN SCRIPT...) * New scripting editor available through Ctrl-Y (EDIT SCRIPT...) * Script can be started as a command line parameter ie: "PGPRO ..\SCRIPTS\BLUE.CWX" * New LENS tool * New CURVE region * CUSTOM output for PostScript printers (faster / smaller output) * General improvements in printing * Loading/Saving of even more BITMAP formats * TWAIN Scanning for supported scanners See Section 1.5 for supported Scanners * Updated online help files for the new features * REXX Scripting documentation is in HTML format in ?:\PGPRO\SCRIPTS\HELP\index.htm 1.2 Important Information ------------------------- * For users with TWAIN 1.65 support installed ~ If you are using a SYMBIOS SCSI Card (shipped with your scanner) you will need an additional file not included with Photo>Graphics. This driver is a BASEDEV driver for the card. For more information on where to find and how to install this driver please see the README.SYM file in the directory with the TWAIN drivers. The SYM416 card is a plug-n-play card which can interfere with sound cards (both legacy and plug-n-play) installed or possibly other plug-n-play devices. The following driver switches can OVERRIDE the automatic card setting: BASEDEV=SYM416.ADD /V /OVERRIDE /IO=<io address> /IRQ=<irq number> where: <io address> is the I/O address you want for this card <irq number> is the IRQ number you want for this card ~ Scanning will use as much CPU power as it can get. In order to accurately interact with the scanner the Scanner driver needs a high priority so that it does not lose information being sent from the scanner. Do not be surprised if your CPU meter registers at 100% while scanning. * For users with earlier TWAIN support installed, and upgraded ~ If you were scanning using the earlier TWAIN 1.6 drivers you may have turned on the INVERT SCAN option in the preferences. Since the HP drivers now have the invert problem corrected you must turn OFF this setting. * For users of earlier versions of Photo>Graphics ~ GDO and ORC files saved in this version of Photo>Graphics will not always be loaded correctly by earlier versions of Photo>Graphics. In particular files that make use of: LENS tools New BITMAP file types New INLINE Bitmaps This limitation will continue to exist. ~ TIF files created for use with PhotoShop should be saved Uncompressed or using Packbits Compression. PhotoShop has known difficulties with LZW Compressed files. ~ WARP 4 and FONTS - IBM's FIXPAK 4 did *NOT* fix all the font bugs. FIXPAK 5 and later fix the font bugs, but don't work well with all printers. On occasion you may still encounter SYS3175 errors when selecting fonts. It is also possible that other unusual effects may be seen when dealing with TRUETYPE fonts in particular (like invisibility or shifting). The simplest solution is to avoid installing TrueType fonts until IBM provides a fix. Also, type FREETYPE/2 which has solved stability problems for many users. ~ Because of the multithreading nature of Photo>Graphics bitmap files that are currently loaded into a project are NOT reloaded from disk if they are selected a second time. If you, for example, load BOB.JPG make some changes and SAVE RENDERED as BOB.JPG, then create another bitmap object using BOB.JPG the *original image* will be used, not the newly saved image. If you start a NEW PROJECT it should then load the new image with the new project. The reason for this is that Photo>Graphics runs the SAVING and PRINTING process on a separate thread and it is always possible that something may be printing or saving using the old bitmap and we do not want to modify the source after we have chosen to save or print so it keeps and uses the originals. ~ PIXEL units (height/width) will sometimes not match exactly with the final output sizes. There are 2 solutions: 1. BEFORE starting your project change to INCHES and set DPI = "1" then set units as PIXELS and define the output size 2. Add "0.5" to the Height/Width fields and output size will be correct. ~ Because ColorWave renders very efficiently, it is easy to render an image far larger than available RAM or swap space. This creates difficulties if you want to load the rendered result to check your work. Currently, you cannot view extremely large images with Photo>Graphics even though you can create them. The maximum loadable image size is approximately 160MB. The maximum renderable image size is approximately 300-600MB. ~ To dynamically reduce memory requirements, Photo>Graphics drops unused bitmaps from the list of active bitmaps. So, if you change an object with a Bitmap Tool to some other Tool, and no other Bitmap Tools refer to the bitmap you were previously using, the bitmap will have to be reloaded from disk if you want to restore the object to its original configuration. ~ If you have unusual video effects (such as an all black or invisible workspace) there may be difficulties with your video drivers. Photo>Graphics requires complete video drivers as it makes calls designed to optimize screen updates. Contact your video card supplier for the latest drivers or check the IBM Device Driver web site for links to Warp drivers. (http://ps.boulder.ibm.com/softupdt.html) ~ The REXX Scripting interface is only supported under Classic REXX. Although it is possible that the new WARP v4 Object REXX may work this is untested and unsupported. 1.3 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ------------------------ MINIMUM - OS/2 Warp (v3 or v4) - 8 MB RAM - 4-8 MB Hard Disk free space for application - Sufficient free Hard Disk space for swapping with many images - Mouse or other pointing Device - CD-ROM drive - 486DX or better PC RECOMMENDED - SVGA Display supporting 800x600 or better resolution - 64,000 color capability - 40 MB of free hard disk space (or more) after installation for swap space when working with large images - Pentium processor with minimum 256K L2 Cache (more Cache is good) - 16MB or more RAM, depending on total size of images concurrently manipulated and other OS/2 overheads (installed network support, in particular) as well as hard disk performance (slower drives make swapping tiresome) 1.4 INSTALLATION ----------------- In order to support scanning in either Photo>Graphics PRO, TWAIN for OS/2(sm) must be installed. Steps to Installation: --------------------- 1. Unzip the distribution file to a temporary directory, which preserves paths (such as infozip's: unzip tspg202s.zip or PK Ware's: pkunzip -d tspg202s.zip 2. Run the INSTALL.EXE from that directory 1.5 SUPPORTED SCANNERS ----------------------- The scanner drivers provided with a registered version of Photo>Graphics PRO are part of the Solution Technology, Inc. TWAIN for OS/2(sm) Consumer Driver Pack. Questions and Support for driver specific issues can be directed to: Solution Technology, Inc. Fax: 561-997-6518 1101 South Rogers Circle E-mail: solution@gate.net Suite 14 CompuServe: 70403,2773 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Web Site: http://www.gate.net/~stidev Driver Status Epson ActionScanner II (GT-5000) INCLUDED Epson ES-300C (GT-6000) INCLUDED Epson ES-600C (GT-6500) INCLUDED Epson ES-800C (GT-8000) INCLUDED Epson ES-1000C (GT-8500) INCLUDED Epson ES-1200C (GT-9000) INCLUDED+ Epson Expression 636 (GT-9500) INCLUDED+ Fujitsu ScanPartner 10 INCLUDED+ Fujitsu ScanPartner 10C INCLUDED+ Fujitsu ScanPartner Junior INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard IIC INCLUDED Hewlett-Packard IICX INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard 2p INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard 3c INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard 3p INCLUDED Hewlett-Packard 4c INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard 4p INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard 5p INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard NCR 53C400A SCSI INCLUDED+ Hewlett-Packard 3rd Party SCSI INCLUDED+ Logitech ScanMan 256 INCLUDED+# Devices marked with a + have been tested by STi. Device marked with a # has support for gray scale only and not all versions work with released drivers. DOS ASPI support is installed but is REMmed out in CONFIG.SYS. If the user has a device that is ASPI compliant and wants to use it from a DOS session, you can unREM out the DEVICE=<BOOTDRIVE>:\OS2\MDOS\VASPI.SYS statement. Please be advised that any driver that is not classified as RELEASED is RUN AT YOUR OWN RISK. Please provide us or STi with your feedback. We appreciate customer feedback as we are constantly trying to improve our products. Please make sure you send in your registration card so you can be entered into our database for technical support and updates. 2.0 Tips for FASTER performance =============================== CREATING PROJECTS - A well tuned OS/2 machine with appropriately sized SWAP file running on HPFS will help immensely. Search the Internet for websites with OS/2 tuning information. - Regardless of your chosen display resolution, ensure that you are running with 65,000 displayable colors. The automatic dithering for low color displays (ie: 256 or 16 color) consumes MANY, MANY processor cycles and 16 million color modes are very demanding on the memory bus. - Run the Workspace at less than full screen size so that ColorWave does not have to render as many pixels each time you move or change an object, or lower your display resolution to 800x600 or 640x480 pixels. - Do not use high magnitude Wave/Blur/Sharpen tools as the "look-around" is extremely compute intensive. Set their options as low as possible while designing a project and then raise them later. Even better, don't add Blurs or Sharpens until you're near the end of your designs - Bitmap smoothing, in the OUTPUT SETTINGS and for individual bitmaps, will slow performance. Like the above suggestion, leave smoothing off until you are ready to view a draft or final version. - Each BITMAP in your project consumes memory. If you are producing a project with LARGE Bitmaps incorporated you may want to create smaller JPG or GIF versions of those images to design with and then replace the smaller versions with the full versions near the end of the design process. Creating a project using three 80MB TIF files will be a drain on ANY machine! PRINTING - Printing high resolution bitmaps can take a HUGE (make that REALLY HUGE) amount of resources. Here's an example of 1 full page at 600dpi: Width: 600dpi x 8 inches = 4800 dots Height: 600dpi x 11 inches = 6600 dots Total "dots": 4800 x 6600 = 31,680,000 dots (or bytes!) Each dot is a made of RED/GREEN/BLUE: 31,680,000 x 3 colors = 95,040,000 bytes Final Image Size: 92.8125 MB of file!!! POSTSCRIPT printing will make the file size even bigger! (Try our CUSTOM POSTSCRIPT, it's compressed and optimized!) Keep the following in mind: At 150dpi spool file = 6MB At 300dpi spool file = 20MB At 600dpi spool file = 90MB At 720dpi spool file = 130MB!!!! In light of this make sure that you print your draft versions at a lower resolution (perhaps 150dpi instead of 600dpi). - Use the RESOLUTION INDEPENDANCE qualities of Photo>Graphics to print your project at a smaller size for draft prints. Change the OUTPUT SETTINGS to a smaller output size (2x3 instead of 8x12??) then simply Group EVERYTHING in the project and shrink it until it fits the new pink output box. In fact, create it at that size and do the reverse to enlarge it when you want the final output! - Make certain that you have PLENTY of free disk space on your SPOOL drive. It is possible that two (maybe even 3!) copies of the print file may exist on your system at the same time as it is passed around the OS/2 print drivers and print spool. (Spool location can be changed in the OS/2 System Setup folder) - If you are absolutely certain that no other application will be printing when you print your project you can turn off the OS/2 PRINT SPOOL. This will send the output directly to the printer, eliminiating a delay. (Spooler can be stopped from the OS/2 System Setup folder) - If you must, close the other programs running in OS/2. Multitasking is great but when it comes to printing you WILL notice the difference. - Printing is SLOW. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do about it. By definition print files have a lot of information and that takes time to create and transfer to the printer. 3.0 Reporting Bugs =================== Please report any bugs you encounter to E-mail: support@truespectra.com Describe the difficulty, and if possible how to recreate the situation. Include the SYS number and the crash address in the form: SYS3175 TSPECTRA.EXE at 0001:0006f341 all other information on the crash screen is unnecessary for reporting purposes. If you would be willing to include a copy of the GDO file or perhaps the culprit bitmap that would also be very useful. Also, please include a description of your system including the type of computer, video display, display driver, printer, printer driver, and version of OS/2 as well as providing us with a way to contact you by Internet e-mail, fax or telephone. 4.0 TrueSpectra on the Internet =============================== Additional support, fixes, upgrades and sample images can be found on our Web Site at: http://www.truespectra.com There are technical support forums, frequently asked questions lists and other methods of contacting TrueSpectra. (supported on an as available basis) There also exists a mailing list for discussion between users of Photo>Graphics and with TrueSpectra developers and staff. This mailing list can be subscribed to by sending a message to: majordomo@truespectra.com In the message make the first lines of the note: subscribe photogfx-l end To send messages to everyone on the mailing list send it to: photogfx-l@truespectra.com 5.0 About TrueSpectra Inc. ========================== TrueSpectra Inc. designs, develops and markets digital image editing and graphics software products for home and professional use. The powerful ColorWave render engine, found in all TrueSpectra products, manages image, text and draw objects producing high quality finished artwork in far less time than traditional packages. TrueSpectra is the Image of Imagination. To order additional copies of Photo>Graphics, contact TrueSpectra for the name of an OS/2 software distributor near you: Web Site: http://www.truespectra.com E-mail: sales@truespectra.com Phone: (416) 224-2787 Fax: (416) 224-0309 TrueSpectra Inc. 4950 Yonge Street Suite 802 North York, Ontario Canada M2N 6K1 TrueSpectra and Photo Graphic are registered trademarks and Photo>Graphics, ColorWave and The Image of Imagination are trademarks of TrueSpectra Inc. Program copyright 1993-98 TrueSpectra Inc. All rights reserved. This work is in part derived from work of the Independent JPEG Group.