**************** 1. WHAT IS ALPHAMANIA 2? *****************
AlphaMania 2 is an Xtra for Director that allows users to create stunning, time-saving, never before possible effects by taking advantage of a graphic's alpha channel information. This alpha channel can be as simple as the transparency information for a Photoshop layer or as complex as a rendered frame from a 3D package. AlphaMania 2 supports third party special-effect Xtras for doing live visual effects on AlphaMania 2 sprites. AlphaMania 2 is by far the most powerful Xtra for Director.
For the latest version of AlphaMania and other Media Lab Xtras, check our web
page:
http://www.medialab.com
**************** 2. ALPHAMANIA 2 FEATURES *****************
* renders transparency and anti-aliasing effects interactively
* supports live special effects, like rotate and swirl, when used with
special effect Xtra's, like Effector Set I.
* imports pict or tga files, and supports batch importing.
* imports Photoshop layers in conjunction with PhotoCaster,
simultaneous multiple layer import now supported
* saves time and money
* reduces frustration
* a new custom cast member; no Lingo required!
**************** 3. WHAT'S NEW IN ALPHAMANIA 2? *****************
* Batch importing!
* Multiple Photoshop layer import with PhotoCaster v1.2
* Special Effect Architecture!
Live Special Effects are now supported with add-on Xtra's to
AlphaMania 2.
Check out Effector Set I, Media Lab's first release of special effects
for AlphaMania 2. It includes live rotation (!), magnification,
colorization, swirling, snow, and much more. Nine special effects in all.
* Live Scaling of AlphaMania Sprites
We use the new effect architecture to bring you scaling
as your first effect.
* New Drawing Methods
Use the alpha channel to cut through to other castmembers,
or use it as an effect mask, applying the effect to whatever
you drag it over on stage.
* Alpha Channel Only CastMembers
strip off the color data to get a lean and mean AlphaMania
castmember that takes a fraction of the disk space of traditional
bitmaps, but, with the new drawing methods, has more uses.
* Lower Memory Requirements in Director 6 and later.
* Better palette support with Director 6 and later.
* Much Faster.
**************** 4. WHAT DOES THIS ARCHIVE INCLUDE? *****************
This archive includes the unlocking demo of AlphaMania version 2.0. It is a fully functional version. However, it defaces any castmembers created with pink lines. Try it out! If you think you'd like the full version give us a call at 1-800-282-5361, and we'll give you an unlock code with which you can be up and running in a matter of minutes. See the following sections for more ordering information.
Along with this READ ME file, you should have received the following files:
AlphaMania The Xtra. Place it in your Xtras folder.
Set FX.dir The special effect interface.
Place this in your Xtras folder.
AlphaMania User Guide.pdf The AlphaMania documentation in Adobe Acrobat format.
Order.txt An e-mail or fax order form.
AMDemo.dir A small demo Director movie. Check Media Lab's
web site for more extensive demos and tutorials.
Emboss.psd A test Photoshop file for use with AlphaMania
In the U.S: 1-800-282-5361 - If ordering an electronic unlock code
International: +1.303.499.5411 be sure to have your product ID ready.
Phone orders can be taken Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Mountain Standard
Time.
* E-Mail
xtra-sales@medialab.com - There is an e-mail order
form (ORDER.TXT) provided with the
electronic download. Fill in all the
information it requests, and e-mail back.
**************** 7. OTHER MEDIA LAB XTRAS *****************
PHOTOCASTER!!!
==============
PhotoCaster is an Xtra for Director 5 that imports Photoshop 3.0 and 4.0 files directly into the Director cast. Each of your Photoshop layers is brought in as its own castmember. Photocaster preserves the registration, name, and anti-aliasing of each layer, making the transfer of your Photoshop files into Director as painless as possible. It will save you hours of development time.
* imports Photoshop 3.0 and 4.0 files directly into your Director cast
* creates individual cast members from layers
* optionally flattens the image on import to make just one cast member
* controls color mapping: 24 bit, current palette, or custom palette
* integrated into Director's interface - just pull down a menu
* generates a super-palette derived from the layers in your Photoshop file
* keeps layer registration
* preserves anti-aliasing between layers
* optionally flattens linked layers into single cast members
* optionally ignores hidden layers
* saves time and money
* reduces frustration
* no Lingo required
Download a demo from our web page and try it out! You'll be glad you did.
EFFECTOR SET I
==============
Effector Set I is an Xtra for Director that produces live special effects on AlphaMania 2 castmembers. Nine special effects are included in Effector Set I. Effects can be combined on an AlphaMania sprite, and will work with other Media Lab Effector Sets or third party effects for AlphaMania 2. Effector Set I effects are visually stunning, very cool, and easy to use.
Effector Set I includes these effects, as well as five more:
Rotate Live rotation of sprites - fast and looks great
Swirl Swirl like a drain
Magnify Fully interpolated, works at any percentage.
HSB Colorize VERY Powerful colorizing tool.
Even seeing is not believing!
EFFECTOR SET II
===============
Effector Set II is an Xtra for Director that produces live special effects on AlphaMania 2 castmembers. Five special effects are included in Effector Set II. Effects can be combined on an AlphaMania sprite, and will work with other Media Lab Effector Sets or third party effects for AlphaMania 2. Effector Set II effects are visually stunning, very cool, and easy to use.
Effector Set II includes these effects:
Bevel Live beveling of sprites - even with movable colored light sources
Drop Shadow Live drop shadows!
Blur Fast, dynamic blurring!
Ripple The famous high speed water ripple!
Roil Very fast, fun, and dramatic effect!
Seeing still isn't believing!
************************* 8. VERSION HISTORY **************************
v2.0.1 (MacOS & Win) Released February 24, 1998
Many bug fixes (see release notes)
v2.0 (MacOS & Win) Batch importing!
Multiple Photoshop layer import with PhotoCaster v1.2
Special Effect Architecture!
New Drawing Methods
Alpha channel only castmembers
Better palette support with Director 6 and later.
Lower memory.
Much Faster.
v1.0.2 (MacOS & Win) Much more stable in low memory conditions
Windows system memory leak fixed
Cast corruption with certain graphics no longer occurs
Much more stable in general
v1.0.1 (MacOS & Win) September 20, 1996
Fixed the projector bug, now works with internal and external
