==============================================================================                    
                    
                    Sprite Designer, Unregistered Version 0.8

                                  G. Read, 1993.

==============================================================================

Files In This Archive File
--------------------------
SPRITE.EXE      The main program file
SPRITE.OVL      Overlay file for screen layouts
SPRITE.TXT      This instruction document
VGA256.BGI      BGI driver


Hardware Requirements.
----------------------
IBM PC or Compatible.
VGA Graphics Card.
Hard Drive.


Overview.
---------
  This, the  unregistered shareware version of Sprite Designer is a fully
  useable editor, with all the main features  still intact,  such as save 
  and load.

  It  is basically  a  utility I  wrote to  make  game and program design 
  easier.


Features of the Shareware Version.
----------------------------------
. Has the ability to save sprites in either mode x or standard 320x200 256 
  colour format in assembly code data statements.
. It will also save out masks for the sprites in the same format.
. Can cut sprites out from PCX files.
. Has Cut and Paste features.
. Grid to align sprites on.
. Allows fine adjustment of sprite positioning.
. Can design sprites from 4x4 up to 50x50 pixels in size.
. Flood - Fill and Normal mode drawing.
. Automatic colour count.

Additional Features In the Registered Version.
----------------------------------------------
. The ability to save sprites as PCX files.
. The ability to save a descrition of the sprite along with the code.
. Line Drawing tool.
. Gradient Fill tool.
. Mirrors.
. Improved Dialog Interface.
. The ability to link many sprite files into one overlay file.
. Saveable in Raw Binary, Assembler, Pascal or C source code.
. Sample source code for implementing the sprites in your own programs.
. And a few other surprise features ... :-)
. A Full User Manual.
. A total lack of the annoying 'Only available in the registered 
  version' messages.
. Redefinable Palette.


Shareware
---------
  This product is distributed as shareware.  If you use and like this program 
  then  I would  be most grateful if you could send 20 pounds sterling to the 
  author, so  that he may  continue to produce more and improved tools in the 
  future.

  Also any comments or criticisms would be much appreciated.

How To Use "Sprite Designer"
----------------------------
  This  is  only a basic  guide to the programs operation.  I hope that it is
  easy  enough to use  without need for  reference to this guide, but here it 
  is anyway....

The Main Interface
------------------
  The  top  left of  the  screen is dominated by the main sprite edit box.  A 
  smaller  'actual size'  sprite  box is  situated to the right of this. This 
  shows the sprite as it would appear in your  application.  At the bottom of 
  the screen is a colour bar  ..  displaying all  256 colours in the standard 
  VGA palette.

  Above  this at  the  left of the  screen is  a  box showing  your currently 
  selected drawing colour along with fine adjustment buttons.

  To the  right of  the  screen are  the  main drawing and image manipulation 
  tools.

The Icons
---------
Drawing Modes
   NORMAL -- Indicated by a paintbrush/pen icon.
             To draw in the selected colour on your sprite, simply move the
             mouse cursor over the edit  box and hold the left mouse button
             down.
   FILL   -- Indicated by a Paintcan icon.
             To Floodfill an  area of  your sprite  simply move your cursor
             over  the  area  you wish  to fill  and click the left button.

Changing Colour
             Simply move over the colour you require with the  mouse cursor 
             and click with the left button.  Fine  adjustments can be made 
             by using the small + and - icons above the current colour box.

Turning the grid On or Off
             Simply click on the grid icon.

Shifting An Image around The Edit Box.
   ROTATE -- These two icons are indicated by curved arrow icons.  Rotating
             either clockwise or anticlockwise.
   SHIFT  -- Indicated by straight arrows .. the image can be scrolled 
             around the edit box a pixel at a time.
   FLIP   -- Indicated by two triangles, the image can be reversed either 
             vertically or horizontally.

Cut an area of the sprite -- Scissors icon
             To  cut an  area of your sprite,  simply  move to the top left 
             of  the  area you  wish  to  select and click the left button.
             Clicking on the  right button will cancel the operation.  Then 
             simply  move to  the bottom right  of the  area you desire and 
             click the left button again.

Paste an area of the Sprite -- Glue icon
             Simply  go to  the top left of where you require the sprite to
             be pasted and click the  left button.   Again the right button
             will cancel the operation.

Clear the screen -- CLS icon
             Clicking  on this  will bring up a prompt asking if you really 
             wish to clear the  screen.  Selecting yes will wipe all memory 
             of your sprite.

Undo -- OOPS! icon
             Will  recover  your  sprite to  the  state  prior to  the last 
             operation.  Even a cls.

Load Sprite -- Disk with arrow coming from it icon
             Clicking on this will bring up a load dialogue box. Use the up 
             and down arrows to select a file and return to select it.

Save sprite -- Disk with arrow pointing into it icon
             Clicking on the will  bring up a save dialogue box.  To select 
             which formats you wish  the program to save in, simply use the 
             alternate and  number  buttons to  activate  only certain save 
             formats.   Then  use  the  up  and  down  arrows to  select  a 
             directory, and space to change directory.

             To  give  the  file a name simply type it in.  No extension is
             required.

Quit to DOS -- Door icon
             Clicking on this will return you to dos.

============================================================================

Example Save file format :

  This is accepted by tasm and masm, and can be compiled to bin with the
  said tools.

        ; X Grid Size is 16          < Sprite X Grid size >
        ; Y Grid Size is 16          < Sprite Y grid size >
        ; Unregistered Version       < Description >

        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,81,81,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,81,81,81,81,81,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,81,15,15,15,81,0,0,0,81,0,81,81,81,81,0
        db   81,81,15,0,0,0,0,0,0,15,81,15,15,15,81,0
        db   81,15,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,15,15,81,81,15,81,0
        db   81,15,0,0,0,81,81,81,0,15,15,81,0,15,81,0
        db   81,15,0,0,81,81,15,81,0,15,81,81,0,0,0,0
        db   81,15,15,81,81,15,15,81,0,15,81,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,15,15,15,0,15,81,0,15,81,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,15,81,0,15,81,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,15,81,0,15,81,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,15,81,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,15,81,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
        db   0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

============================================================================
All comments and criticisms go to :

{ Immediate replys to all email queries guaranteed }

  David Wise,             or   David Wise
  Rutherford College,          30 Viking Road,
  University of Kent,          Northfleet,
  Canterbury                   Kent,
  Kent                         DA11 8ET,
  England.                     ENGLAND.

  Upto July '93                After July '93

  Full time email address :

        EMAIL : dcw1@ukc.ac.uk 

Registration Fees go to :
  Greg Read,              or   Greg Read,
  Rutherford College,          104 Preston Road,
  University of Kent,          Yeovil,
  Canterbury,                  Somerset,
  Kent                         BA20 2DY
  ENGLAND.                     ENGLAND.

  Upto July '93                After July '93

  Full time email address :

        EMAIL : gjr@ukc.ac.uk


