Re: GS Paint Program Info wanted...

[spector@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff) writes...
> 
>I am studio manager for Capital University Television, where I have a ROM
>01 Apple ][gs sitting next to the character generator, looking very
>forlorn-like.  My intent is to get it running as a graphics paintbox.  It
>was a castaway from a recent computer classroom 'upgrade' (they call it an
>upgrade and they removed all of the Apple ]['s.  What rot!).  The machine
>has the Apple memory expansion, but no 'extra' memory chips; I presume
>this means it is a 512k machine.

	First thing I recommend you do is expand the memory to at _least_
1.25mb RAM, this is the bare minimum for running current System Software
and most programs out there. Either fill the Apple memory expansion card
with 41256 DRAMs (very inexpensive these days), using the CAS-before-RAS
refresh, or find a second-hand filled 1mb card or better. I assume this
system also has an AppleColor RGB screen, which is essential if your looking
to use the GS for graphics. 

>I'm looking for an easy-to-use paint program that will run on this
>machine.  At the moment, it has one 800k drive and one 143k drive, but I
>am willing to take the 800k drive from the machine on my desk to expand

	A second 800k drive is good in that it will reduce disk-swapping,
especially once you start using System 6. A hardrive is a much better 
solution, but obviously much more expensive. You'll find the 5.25 drive
utterly useless in GS native mode, not too mention quite annoying as it'll
constantly poll and grind searching for disks (either remove it or set slot
#6 to 'Your Card' for the time being). At one time, long ago, I used to use
my Apple 5.25 drive to store graphic images I created with paint programs,
though it's kind of silly considering how little you can fit in 140k and
the access speed. Stick to using your 800k drive(s). 

>this one.  My requirements for a paint program are...
>1.  Should take advantage of the GS special hi-res modes.
>2.  Should be capable of displaying images with no other garbage on the
>screen (mouse arrows, menubars, toolboxes, etc.)

	Virtually all GS-specific paint software out there fits these
requirements of yours (although some better than others). All major packages 
I've used support at least one of the two Super-Hi-Res modes, and of course 
have an option to view the entire image (all tools, menus, pointers removed).

	My all time favorite of "simple" GS paint software has to be
Activision's PaintWorks Plus. Basically it's a color-version of the original
MacPaint for the Apple IIgs, with a few additional features added. It's very
easy to understand, supports all basic tools and even a color-mixer that
lets you see over 120 distinct colors on screen at once. This makings choosing
just the right color you want (from 4,096 colors) a snap! The program only
supports 16 colors on screen for drawing however, and no support for the 640
mode, but it does run in 512k of RAM. If you do not expand your GS's memory,
PaintWorks Plus is what I'd recommend you go with...

	With more memory, there's more graphical power available to you.
For example, there's DeluxePaint II (768k), which does everything it's
Amiga cousin does and more. Or you could give PaintWorks Gold a try, though
that requires a full 1.25mb of RAM. In which case, once you have that much 
RAM, I'd highly suggest two other programs. In fact, these are the only
two paint programs I still use today:  

		Platinum Paint (v2.x) and DreamGrafix

	Both require 1.25mb (or more) and that your running System 6, but
are well worth it. I find Platinum Paint the best of the two programs,
although DreamGrafix comes in handy for adding > 16 colors to your graphics.
I often draw my images in Platinum Paint and then move them over to DG to
colorize. DreamGrafix lets you create 256 or 3200 color images on a stock
Apple IIgs system. I'd stick with DG solely, if not for it's non-standard
interface, lack of certain features and most of all...bugs! Unfortunately,
it looks as though DreamGrafix is no longer supported (Steve?), so I'll 
continue to move between the two programs. I'm of course looking forward
to the Second Sight card! :) With it, we'll get _real_ 8-bit color support
and higher resolutions (16 colors per scanline can be a pain when creating
256 color images!).

>Here is the catch:  My immediate supervisor is dead set on getting some
>kind of Amiga if he can find one.  Never mind that I could have the GS
>running a good package in a couple of days for less than $100; he'd rather
>spend $2K and get a low-end Amiga.  So the finds I have to work with are
>pretty much nil, plus whatever I kick in myself.  So I want advice from
>any of you who have used some of these graphics packages.  For instance,
>do I need to get memory expansion to run Platinum Paint?  Are there other
>solutions out there?  Is there something bare-bones I could download?

	With the expection of PaintWorks Plus, all other paint programs
out there require more than 512k of RAM. Try calling places like Alltech
or Quality Computers, I believe they stock the DRAM chips required for
your Apple Memory Expansion card. It shouldn't cost more than a few dollars
to add the 24 chips you'll need and this will bring you to 1.25mb (256k on
ROM 01 CPU + 256k soldered on card + 768k in added chips).
	
>Thanks for any assistance!
> 
>--Dave Althoff, Jr.
>Studio Manager, Capital University Television, Columbus, Ohio

Mitchell Spector
m_spect@pavo.concordia.ca / spector@vax2.concordia.ca