knudsen@ihwpt.ATT.COM (mike knudsen) (01/07/88)
Couple days ago I picked up Color Computer Artist at the
local Shack for $30, and put down a deposit on MultiVue,
which the clerk won't order without some front money
since "it's a low runner." Actually, they should have
it running on the Coco 3 in the store, it would sure help
sell machines, but then it might un-sell the PClones
(Tandy 1000s) next to it, and ya can't have that now.
A few Delphi members have got MV and found that it hates
files with 3-letter extents (.txt, .scr, etc.).
Anyone here try it yet?
CoCo Artist (by Steve Bjork, of MegaBug fame) is not
the equal of non-OS9 Coco drawing programs -- it's
terribly slow and lacking in features.
It's 6809 code (yeah IDENT), just runs like Basic09.
It obviously does all graphics thru the "front door
above the table" in OS9 L2, and makes a nice demo of what
can be done, tho KissDraw is a cheaper demo (see below).
Speedwise, it convinced me to use VDG screens (direct
pixel-blasting of RAM) for my music editor!
But Artist DOES have some interesting aspects
First, it's object-oriented
instead of pixel-oriented. That is, it remembers what you
drew and where as a whole (box, circle, freehand squiggle)
and can therefore move or delete an object overlaying
another object, without disturbing the other object.
You can draw a temporary rectangle and select every object
that's totally inside the rectangle, and process them
as a group.
That's right, just like Sun's FrameMaker and CAD/CAM systems
costing many kilobucks. (I use these daily.)
(I don't recall whether the KissDraw series in The Rainbow
is this way or not).
This explains the lack of Fat Bits (pixels are parts of wholes,
not individual items to mess with).
It would also allow very easy implementation of scaling,
stretching, and rotation, but these are not provided.
(Next month in KissDraw, or already maybe?)
And Artist uses the new TWO-BUTTON MOUSE, the first
application I know of to do so.
I mean this as a compliment (my work mice have 3 buttons
and use them all to advantage).
We old-mouse owners must hit ALT-3 to simulate
the second button.
Something to pick up cheaper at the next 'Fest...
Artist gives you the whole screen to draw on,
so you don't need a "hand" or "show screen."
Menus appear only when you click that "other" button.
Ya know, I wish {Color | Coco}-Max III could be set
up like this.
--
Mike J Knudsen ...ihnp4!ihwpt!knudsen Bell Labs(AT&T)
Delphi: RAGTIMER CIS: <memory failure, too many digits>
"Just say NO to MS-DOS!"