PAINT PLUS AND THE SCREEN MACHINE

Way back in February 84 we reviewed a graphics utility by the name of PAINTBOX. Print'n'Plotter (P&P) have extended the program since then and repackaged it under the new name PAINT PLUS. To round off the graphical facilities they have produced a companion program called SCREEN MACHINE. PAINT PLUS deals with the screen and UDG creation, while SCREEN MACHINE handles multiple screens, provides screen modifications, compiles text and compresses memory saving screens. FRANCO FREY takes a look at the new package.

SCREEN MACHINE contains three separate programs and an Index/Loader. SCREEN MACHINE ONE is a Screen Graphics Compressor, SCREEN MACHINE TWO a Screen Graphics Processor and STRING MACHINE a Text Compiler.

SCREEN MACHINE ONE

Most screen graphics contain areas of empty space. Rather than store these as individual blank spaces, SCREEN MACHINE ONE counts them and replaces them with a flag and a number. The effectiveness of the compression depends on the complexity of the picture, but up to 4K can be saved for a single screen. Compressed screens print slightly slower to screen due to the conversion time requirement. The Main Menu provides four options, CATALOGUE, STORE, LOAD and SAVE. A normal screen is first loaded via STORE. The present compression mode may be changed or retained. If retained, the screen can either be checked for the amount of bytes it will require in compressed mode or directly stored at the next available memory location.

Once stored, the CATALOGUE page will be displayed, which keeps a record of the stored pictures together with their starting locations, length, mode and two numbers which have to be poked to direct the recall process. The total memory space for the pictures is 35235 bytes.

The screen compression options are related to the screen size. FULL stores the whole screen area, TOP the top third, MID the middle third and BOT the bottom third of the screen. Further to this the screen can be saved with or without attributes and in normal or compressed mode.

When all the screens have been entered and compressed, the MULTIPLE-FILE may be saved to tape or microdrive. Similarly, an already existing MULTIPLE-FILE may be reloaded for further processing. The manual provides all the required information for handling the MULTIPLE-FILE from Basic or machine code. With the ability to create a long and instantly recallable sequence of images, FLIP SCREEN ANIMATION can be performed quite easily. Good use of this is made in the DEMO program for SCREEN MACHINE, where the animation of three horses should impress anybody. Again, the manual explains in detail how this was constructed.

SCREEN MACHINE TWO

SCREEN MACHINE TWO enables processing of previously drawn screens. Five options are available from the Main Menu. The first two allow screens to be loaded from tape or microdrive into permanent memories A and B. Similarly options 4 and 5 dump the screen to tape. Option 3 is the DRAWING BOARD and it is here where the creative work is done. A series of keys will be presented along the bottom edge of the screen to invoke various functions.

C. CALL transfers screens A or B to the display/work area.

S. STORE stores the current screen into permanent memory A or B.

B. BLEND superimposes a screen from A or B onto the already existing display screen.

E. ENLARGE enlarges a portion of the screen indicated by W (WINDOW) by a factor of two for each press of the key. It also enlarges the attributes proportionally. The SCROLL functions can be used to align the required section in the window.

R. REDUCE reduces the whole screen by a factor of two with the loss of some detail, as it discards alternate lines horizontally and vertically. Attributes cannot be reduced, so colours will have to be added at a later stage.

F. RIP provides a mirror image of the screen.

I. INK gives the option of changing the whole screen to a new INK/PAPER/BRIGHT combination or can SELECT particular colour combinations and change only occurrences of these.

W. WINDOW creates an inverse window whilst the key is pressed, which can be enlarged if the key E is pressed and is used for centering or positioning scrolled screens.

T. THIRDS inverses alternate screen thirds whilst the key is pressed.

M. MENU returns to main menu. CURSOR KEYS are used for scrolling the screen by character cells with attributes, or with Caps Shift pixel-wise without attributes and provides an easy means of relocating screen images. There is no wraparound at the edges, so screen information is lost at the leading edge, while the trailing edge is left blank. This provides a facility for masking off or blanking screen sections. REDUCE and SCROLL can be combined to provide Step and Repeat Patterns.

STRING MACHINE

STRING MACHINE compiles text into machine code. Apart from saving memory space it provides a very rapid display of text on the screen with its inbuilt machine code driver. The menu provides access to a CATALOGUE section, where all the strings that have been created are listed together with their locations in memory and their lengths. Individual strings or all of them may be viewed. Up to 48 individual strings may be catalogued. A BASIC program is provided for the creation of the string, which also contains all the text/screen positions and attribute commands required. When the program is run, the text is printed on screen and can then be re-edited or compiled. Options are available for selecting the print area (screen lines 0 to 21) or edit area (screen lines 22 and 23) and start address of the compiled code. The SAVE TO TAPE facility dumps the compiled code to tape.

VERDICT

PAINT PLUS and SCREEN MACHINE offer a formidable weapon for the creation of interesting and artistic screen designs. The programs are linked logically for the unexperienced in the superb 88 page manual, which not only gives excellent tips for the actual design work, but includes such information as conversion to microdrive operation, photography of screens and even the use of Spectrum graphics on video. The DEMO programs with the sample screens are not only window dressing, but are a help in understanding the potential of the programs. This is helped by the extensive explanations provided in the manual. Highly recommended for Spectrum users with artistic fingers...

Program: PAINT PLUS & SCREEN MACHINE
Producer: PRINT 'N' PLOTTER
Price: £9.95 & 8.25 PLUS P&P

CONTINUING HIS INTEREST IN COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN, COLIN CHRISTMAS LOOKS AT ANOTHER SOFTWARE PACKAGE.

It has been said that where the Spectrum is concerned, certain people have one track minds. And yes, I have to confess that there are times when my one track mind starts and ends with anything that has to do with the Graphics potential of my Spectrum. So we're all different. But I know I'm not alone. For me, it is one area where my micro becomes a tool and a creative instrument. It enables me to use my imagination both in playing and in creating. Maybe it's the Artist in me, probably it's the child inside all of us.

If you share that fascination and have not yet used Screen Machine from Print'N'Plotter Products, but have already used something like Paintbox, then I have to recommend it. But beware. Prepare to have your mind stopped in its tracks. Or failing that, at least to have your breath taken away. It is one of the best, most powerful and most useful Utilities I have ever seen for the 48K Spectrum. To be honest, it is not for the beginner 'Dedicated Programmer' would be more appropriate. To such a person, who has already used other graphics programming hardware or software, to produce their own work as it were, Screen Machine offers a real opportunity to achieve professional and really impressive results.

It enables such programmers to save time and memory space by having access to instant machine code routines. It is my intention here to give some brief idea of just what that entails. As always, after that it's up to you.

From the very first moment that you set eyes on the package, even if you had not read the adverts, it would be obvious that Screen Machine and Paintbox came from the same stable. And, if you have used Paintbox, then quite simply, Screen Machine is the next step. They go together like - like Torvill and Dean.

For your money you get an instruction book with a cassette. Side Two of the tape is a Demonstration Program and I can recommend starting here. This is a Utility where the Demonstration is useful in the sense that it is more like a 'work out' for the potential user. Except that just for now you are spared actually having to do anything yourself. What you get a chance to see is the Real Thing and by BREAKing into the program and studying the listing you can see what is being done. What you see first in the Demo Program is a Textscreen. The first Capital letter of the text is 'Illuminated', as they say in some circles, 'All pretty and flowery' as they say in wider circles. This is achieved with small line illustrations and I'm not ashamed to admit that I had to BREAK then and there. The text itself refers to the facilities offered by Screen Machine.

The illustration of the plane in the advert and on the cover of the package comes next. PAINTBOX was used originally for the painting of the plane. Then using the second program on Side One, Screen Machine Two, the drawing was 'Blended' with a program generated mathematical figure and then loaded back into Paintbox for retouching. A drawing of a Zebra is used to stunning effect as an example of the first program, Screen Machine One, and its most easily used function. Namely, that of Compressing Screen Graphics. In this case, if it had been saved as a normal SCREEN$ then 6912 bytes would have been used. Screen Machine One automatically stores this as Machine Code in only 2475 bytes.

The final part of the Demo Program is the most impressive. - three horses galloping. A fascinating example of screen animation, and tantalising details of how it was done are given, as with the other two examples, in the notes covering the Demo Program in the instruction Book. Needless to say, Paintbox was used in the early stages of the work for this one too. The Instruction Book incidentally, is necessarily more technical and therefore more complicated than might at first be expected. This applies primarily to the first and last of the programs on side one of the cassette. To get the most out of these and their relevant sections in the instruction book, a good working knowledge of both BASIC and the Manual for the Spectrum is a necessary qualification. Unfortunately, there are a few spelling mistakes in the book and these can be annoying. As well as comprehensively covering all aspects of the programs and utilities, even the demo, offered in SCREEN MACHINE, the Instruction Book also has a short appendix with details to enable you to have the bottom two lines of the screen in any colour. And a section with details and instructions for adapting SCREEN MACHINE to Microdrive.

After LOADing, on Side One of the tape, a title page and index appear giving the option of three separate programs: Screen Machine One - The screen Graphics Compressor also enabling the creation of Multiple Screen Files and Flip Screen Animation. Screen Machine Two - The Screen Graphics Processor enabling the manipulation of previously drawn SCREENS Files. The Menu of Five Options includes LOADing SCREEN$ Files from tape into two permanent Memories, and saving SCREEN$ to tape. Option three, called Drawing Board, is the most exciting and easy to use of all the facilities offered in this package. Stored SCREEN$ can be called for viewing; current SCREEN$ can be stored in memory; a SCREEN$ from one of the two memory files can be superimposed over the screen being worked on; chosen portions of the screen can be enlarged or reduced in stages by a factor of two each stage; mirror images made; INK, PAPER and BRIGHT combinations can be changed; alternate third screen sections can be inversed; and Scrolling, using Cursor Keys.

Finally there is String Machine - the Compiler. All text, graphic characters and UDGs, along with their attributes, can be compiled into machine code blocks, and recalled to the screen by one RANDOMISE USR command, Again, the four options offered in the Menu are well covered in the instruction Book.

There are no two ways about it. If by this stage you are still with me, then you are going to have to find out more for yourself, and I can only think of one way of doing that. I can recommend it.

(Since this article was written, Print 'n Plotter have told us that Paintbox has been redesigned, with more than 20 new features, and renamed Paint Plus. This is priced £9.95, and Screen Machine at £8.25, and both packages are available from Print 'n Plotter Products, 19 Borough High St, London SE1 - Ed.)

GRAPHICS '85

A comprehensive review of the state of the art by Colin Christmas.

As we see this old year out and welcome the new one in, it's a better time than most to stand back and take stock. Looking back (and leaving the prophecies and predictions to others) it must surely be agreed that for Spectrum users with an eye on Graphics it has been a most exciting year. I can't speak for other departments but for me, it has been Christmas every issue.

In this issue I want to do something special take a look at the goodies that have come our way. Our way? Who are We? We are the Graphics Grabbers, Artwork Addicts, Design Doodlers. For us the screen is a window on a world of colour, images, line, shape, pattern, design, texture, light and shade. And like a window it opens out into an exciting new visual world. For business, for profit, for learning for discovering or for pleasure. From the weekend dabbler or doodler to the serious professional, from the games enthusiast to the educational user, from beginner to experienced programmer and right across the age range, you will find Spectrum owners who are hooked on graphics.

It's fairly formidable task - covering the range of Graphics Hardware and Software now available to Spectrum owners but let's get started.

SOFTWARE

PRINT N'PLOTTER Products have given us two thoroughbreds in graphics packages, stablemates in fact. Both are already household names in the world of Spectrum Graphics. Paintbox, redesigned and renamed Paintplus since first reviewed, and Screen Machine.

Paintplus now has over twenty new features added to the original. It is Microdrive and Grafpad compatible, and offers cursor control from either keyboard or joystick, swift and smooth or slow and smooth. You have a choice here too. Power to program up to eighty four user definable characters in the UDG Editor, experimenting all the time with the Sketch Pad Facility before deciding to use them in screen graphics or programs. Also on the Menu, Precision Plotter enabling high resolution screen graphics work to be attempted and then combined with your already designed UDGs and stored in four UDG banks.

Multiple screen files can be achieved by working your way through the twenty eight page manual which accompanies the software cassette. The new features are found here in Precision Plotter, Screen Planner and Organiser. They include a mode called Paperwash, a facility for Grabbing from Screens, Box Draw, Enlarge, Edit modes and many more. One side of the cassette has demonstration programs to inspire the fainthearted.

This toolkit needs patient and diligent effort put into it before those efforts are really rewarded. It is not for those who want an 'instant meal' to be taken on the move so to speak. It's not for doodlers either. Members of either group will enjoy the heart of the product only. To get the most out of it you need some application skills.

If Paintplus were an O' Level, then Screen Machine would be an 'A' Level. By that I mean that success with the one will probably lead to moving up to the other. It is capable, of lifting earlier work done say on Paintplus, to new and more professional heights.

The demo programs on the cassette are not only inspiring, as was the case with Paintplus, but in the case of Screen Machine are also meant to be instructive. The program for the example of Flip Screen Animation can, like the others, be broken into, so that you can see, or begin to see how this impressive feat was achieved. The manual explains too, how it was done, and with this and its other detailed explanations, instructions and suggestions, gives a clear indication right from the start of how powerful a utility Screen Machine really is.

It should be said that a good working knowledge of BASIC and of the Spectrum Manual itself is essential before trying to get to grips with this tool. One of its most innovative and useful facilities is that of enabling programmers to save time and memory space by having access to instant Machine Code routines for Compressing Screen displays, saved normally as 6912 Bytes, but now being stored as only 247 5 bytes. There are sections too, in the manual, with instructions for adapting Screen Machine to microdrive, for a wide range of screen modifications and for text compilation into machine code.

These two from Print N' Plotter, then, a invaluable twosome, especially when teamed up together. They will not suit every style or requirement, so read on.

From NEW GENERATION SOFTWARE came Lightmagic. And that might just suit some. It is easier to use, or rather to get straight into and, in the true sense of the word it is fun. If all you want to do to start off with is to make pictures, play with UDGs and so on, in a light hearted way that will be entertaining and will not tax your concentration too greatly at first, then Lightmagic is the friendly tool for the job. It is therefore a good starter pack in my opinion and I have observed its magnetic attraction inaction with children aged eight to sixteen with only keyboard familiarity on the Spectrum.

The manual gets full marks from me. Clear, easy to read, well planned and with information, instructions, index, tips and summaries all included in such a way as to show that a great deal of thought went into its organisation and production. Text Mode and UDG Mode are fascinating and easy to work with. Text and characters appear at the bottom of the screen and can then be 'picked up' and positioned anywhere you want them in your picture or design.

Then, just when you will probably be ready to move on to more ambitious projects, graphically, Lightmagic proves its magic again. The program also offers a facility called UDG Designer for the creation and editing of your own graphics characters which you can then use in your own pictures and programs. The facility for Com Dressing pictures and saving memory is offered in the COMPSCREEN option. This is loaded separately from the cassette. It's there in other words, when you need it. Later rather than sooner probably.

Alongside Lightmagic, not for comparison, but because for me they have the same feel about them, might come Leonard, from CREATIVE SPARKS. Again, full marks for the manual. Manuals ought to be user friendly as the software I think and in the case of Leonardo both are in fact true. I don't hesitate to recommend it as an excellent starter pack which is then capable of extending your own abilities as you learn to use it. A preliminary review of Leonardo appeared in the last issue of ZXC.

This is a good place to suggest that anyone who is into graphics or who wants to get started should get out and about into the shops to make their own evaluations. Failing that use the information in this article to put pen to paper and write off and ask for details of packages from the manufacturers.