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Editorial
PACE: Print Artist Clipart Editor
To be used with PA 3.0 and PA 4.0
by PAL Dale Dahl
As listed in the PAUC Newsletter:
"The PA Clipart Editor allows you to make permanent changes to your Print Artist GFX graphics. Although Print Artist 4.0 allows you to manipulate graphics by changing colors and flipping and rotating graphics, the changes are temporary and do not change the actual graphic file. With the PA Clipart Editor, you can permanently change files - change colors, flip objects, even redraw lines, then save your graphic to use over and over again."
* Works with Print Artist GFX files *
* Recolor using the PA color palette*
* Scale * Rotate * Skew * Draw/erase lines*
* Add ellipses and other shapes * Magnify/shrink *
The following editorial is intended to introduce you to PACE. It is an extensive application with numerous capabilities. The examples are only to familiarize you with a few of the basics. Once you are comfortable with the instructions below, you will be able to explore and manipulate graphics with ease. The examples were created using PA 3.0.
NOTE: In the following text, the term "Folder" is used for Windows '95. It is synonymous with the term "Directory" if you are using Windows 3.1
WARNING: Making changes to graphics, followed by saving, will change the graphic permanently. You will lose the original graphic. You might want to consider using PARM (see Editorial PARM) to make a new GFX which will hold copies of the graphics you plan to change. Then access the graphic from the new GFX file that you created. An alternative would be to copy the entire GFX to a new name, then access the graphic from the new GFX file. Example: Copy ANIMALS.GFX to ANIMALS1.GFX. Keep in mind this would duplicate the entire first GFX, and take up space on your hard drive.
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SCREENS:
1. Upon opening the PACE application, the first screen will be Directory Setup. This will display your drive structure and gives you the opportunity to select the drive and graphics folders that you want to view. Click on the folder to use in the column on the left. Notice the arrow buttons in the center. Highlight the folder on the left and click on the top button ">" to add it to the "Selected directories" column. If you would like to exclude a directory which is in the "Selected directories" column, click on that folder and click on the second button "<" to eliminate it from the list. Click on the "OK" button once you have selected the folders to include.
2. The next screen: PA Clipart Editor
Be patient while the graphics are loading. Notice the gray button that says: "Loading, please wait"
The first time you run PACE, you might want to set the preferences.
Click on File, Preferences
First choice is Palette: Click on PA3.0 or PA4.0
Second choice is Files: Create .BAK files.
If the square has a check mark in it, then you will be making a back up of your files. Be aware that this will take up space on your drive.
If there is a check mark and you chose not to have back up files created, then click on the box to remove the check mark.
If the box is blank and you chose to have back up files create, click on the square to enter a check mark.
Third choice is View: Show Internal File Names or Show GFX File Names.
Example of Internal File Names: Animals
NOTE: It will also show "Classic Graphic" which are some of the PA graphics which can not be edited. You will find other "Classic Graphics" in some of the other GFX's.
Example of GFX File Names:ANIMALS.GFX
Make your selections then click on OK to return to the PA Clipart Editor screen.Click on the name of the file. The contents will be displayed in the window to the right. Notice the "+" in the box to the left of the file name. By clicking on the "+", the name of each graphic will be displayed.
For example, click on the "+" sign next to ANIMALS.GFX. You will see the list: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle 1, Bat, Bear, etc. Click on the name of the animal and you will have a single, large display in the window to the right. The ANIMALS.GFX now shows a "-". If you click on the "-", the display on the right will return to show all of the graphics in the ANIMALS.GFX
Notice the buttons on the toolbar. Position your mouse slowly over each button for a brief description of each button.
II. USING THE CLIPART EDITOR
(Using the View option of Show Internal File Names in Preferences)
# 1. EDITING: The following is an example of removing, recoloring and repositioning items in an existing graphic.
1. Click on Flora in the left panel.
2. Click on Rainforest in the right panel.
3. Click on the Edit command. Click on Edit in the drop menu; or use right click for shortcut menu if using Windows 95. This will take you to the PA Clipart Edit - PICTURE window.
THE EDITING SCREEN:
Notice the tools down the left side of the window as well as the commands and toolbar available across the top of the screen. Position your mouse on each button on the tools and toolbar to see a brief description at the lower left of your screen below the palette.
POINTER: used to select a part of the graphic
BOX: used to draw a shape. Click on the arrow to expand for drop menu. Click on button. Position mouse on screen. Click and drag to define a box.
PENCIL: used to draw new lines. Click on the arrow to expand for drop menu.
SCALE: used to transform. Use POINTER to select section of graphic then click on the arrow to expand for drop menu.
MAGNIFIER: used to zoom in on area. Click on button. Position mouse on area of picture. Click for closer view. Click on View command at top of screen for choices or to return to full page display.
EDITING EXISTING GRAPHIC:
To remove item - Blue bird
1. You might want to click on the MAGNIFIER to zoom in on the blue birds before the next step.
2. Click on the Pointer Tool.
3. Click on one of the blue birds in the top left of the graphic.
Notice the nodes that are displayed.
4. Hit your delete key on the keyboard.
Continue to click and delete each remaining part of the bird until it is gone. You do have the option under the Edit command to "Undo Clear", or by using the UNDO on the toolbar. You can use this for each item that has been cleared if you wish.
To recolor item - Parrot
1. Click on the Pointer Tool.
2. Click on the purple body of the parrot.
3. To select a new color from the palette at the bottom of your screen, click on the color of choice. You can scroll left or right by clicking on the arrow at each end of the palette for more colors.
4. Click in the clear part of your screen so the nodes will disappear.
To reposition an item - Banana from monkey's hand to other hand
1. Click on the Pointer Tool.
2. Click on the banana.
3. Carefully position pointer on the banana so that a white rectangle appears. Be careful that it is not showing a small blue dot which is used for dragging a node.
4. Once you have the white rectangle, click and drag the banana to the monkey's other hand.
After you have made your changes, click on File, Exit and Update to save your editing. If you decide not to save, click on the Control Menu box at the top left corner of your screen. Click on Close on the drop menu. You will be prompted to Save Changes - Yes or No.
# 2. COMBINING GRAPHICS: Add a butterfly graphic to the Rainforest graphic.
1. Click on Animals in the left panel.
2. Click on Butterfly in the right panel.
3. Click on the Edit command.
4. Click on Copy. A dialog box will appear.
5. Click so that there is a check mark to select Metafile. If the other boxes are checked, click to remove the check mark. Click on the OK button.
6. Click on Flora in the left panel.
7. Click on Rainforest in the right panel.
8. Click on the Edit command. Click on Edit in the drop menu; or use right click for shortcut menu if using Windows 95. This will take you to the PA Clipart Edit - PICTURE window.
9. Click on the Edit command. Click on Paste in the drop menu. This will paste the butterfly on your screen. It will be quite large.
10. Notice the small squares on the corners of the frame. Using the Pointer Tool, click and drag a corner to resize the butterfly.
11. While the frame and small squares are still visible, you can position your mouse in the middle of the butterfly graphic to click and drag to desired position.
12. If you accidentally click away from the butterfly, you will lose the frame and squares. Just click again on the butterfly for the frame and squares to reappear and continue to manipulate.
13. Try some of the other tools on the butterfly. With the frame around the butterfly, click on the Scale Tool arrow. Click on Rotate. Position your mouse on one of the small squares on the frame. You will now see a circular arrow. Click and drag one of the small squares to rotate the butterfly.
14. Follow the information above to save your changes.
Be creative and have fun!
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