"Demo 1" Thanks to Jose Ignacio Pertegaz (Artwork developed on Tracer 1)
"Demo 2" Simple filled Shape and bitmap shape demo
"Demo 3" Test demonstrating prototype multi-media player functions.
B. Download and expand the example movies from the Tracer web site (address below) and view them using the Apple Quicktime Movie Player.
C. Now try this worked example: "Triangle to Square"
1. Draw a triangle with the Line/Arc Pen tool (Menu Draw/Line Arc Pen) using double click or the SPACE bar to lift the pen between contours).
2. Move to frame 2 (using View Menu/Next Frame)
3. Draw a square with the pen tool (or any other shape you like)
4. Return back to frame 1 (using View Menu/Previous Frame)
5. Select the Morph option in the Morph menu, press "OK"
6. Watch Triangle morph to Square
Try the following: change one of the frame's colours; make both "Filled Shapes"; re-size, reposition, rotate, copy frames by drag and drop (select the Frame/Frame Overview menu option); insert curved lines (arcs); insert a nine-sided regular polygon; insert text shapes; save the morph results to file (by the Morph/Output-to-file command).
Read the "Tracer Help" under the HELP menu for a description of the controls.
Email etchelon@kagi.com for further support.
For printed help, a Simple Text version of the HELP is available at etchelon@kagi.com.
System Requirements
Etchelon Tracer requires a colour Macintosh. It will run on both 68nnn and PowerPC systems. Earlier version of Tracer have been developed on MacOS 7.5.5 through to MacOS 8.6. Tracer 3 has been tested on MacOS 7.6.1 and MacOS 8.6 and should run on earlier systems. It requires at least 1.5Mb of RAM but allocating more space will allow more complex filled shape morphs. If limitations within the software are stopping you, let me know and I'll see what I can do!
Bug reports are welcome. Please send them to etchelon@kagi.com
Bugs and Version History
New Features in Version 3.2
New facility: Morph Replay
- Morph capture at any point, replaces previous morph capture facilitiy
- After a morph, press the new morph replay icon to enter morph replay mode.
- replay mode also entered if numbers 1-9 pressed, representing 10-90% morph
- step forward or backward using icons.
- step forward or backward using +/- keys
- Use PASTE to save vector data to capture frame (default: frame no. 35)
- Exit replay mode by clicking pointer icon, CMND-W or ESC
New drawing command: OPTION-click allows the selection of objects underlying other objects.
Random failure of Bitmap image display corrected.
Trace images saved in "Images" folder (if already created)
Bug which stopped cursor coordinates being displayed during point edit mode corrected.
Screen refresh error during some edit options corrected.
New Introduction Demo and revised Demo 1.
New Demo 3 demonstrating:
- Initial version of multi-media player functions
- Runtime hot spots and control functions
- Ability to link shapes with sequence controls (See Edit/Order... command and Order window)
Version 3.1.3
Correction to allow more than one bitmap shape in a frame to be viewed.
Another bug in Sequence window's cut and paste corrected.
Improvements in handling low memory condition which stops various nasty aborts!
Indication to show amount of free memory (displayed when cursor on capcity indicator).
Memory allocation increased to 8Mb (preferred size).
Version 3.1.2
Bug in Order window corrected.
Lower case font added.
All characters loaded from two files (rather than from multiple files) - eases development of new character sets.
Improvement to Text space-to-fit command.
Version 3.1.1
Faster, smoother morphs and animations.
- Trace Image as a background no longer flicker
- Trace Image as a background during sequencing now available
- Revised "Demo 3" to demonstrate these improvements.
Option to morph with "Transparent Background" removed.
Version 3.1
Corrected bug in "Open Trace Image" function which causes crashes during some morphs with bitmap shapes.
Returned back to original style registration system.
(Tracer 2 users need to re-enter their codes or email etchelon@kagi.com for a new code).
"Button down" effect on command palette after a click.
Revised Trace Image title handling including new menu function: Change Trace Image Title.
- Available when Trace Image present.
- Not available for "Onion Skin" Trace Images.
Note that when Trace Images are being used, you should save Tracer files to separate folders.
Version 3, 3.0.1
Bitmap shapes "lasso" the underlying Trace Images
- Bitmap shapes (and underlying bitmap) can be repositioned, rotated and re-sized
- Information Message and Cursor changes when Trace Image will be changed
- SHIFT during resize, rotate or reposition action stops the Trace Image being changed.
Undo allows one level reversion of Trace Image changes.
Predefined shapes can be drawn as Bitmap Shapes by selecting SHIFT when selecting control palette.
New shape type: Smooth Shape - shape is rounded using bezier curves (Select shape and click SHIFT colour palette).
Morph capture: ability to set a point during a morph and capture the vector information in a morph frame.
New Frame&Trace-Image copy button on command palette (available when you press SHIFT).
Revised editting method to stop accidental entry into point-edit mode.
Open Trace Image function now has the CMD-T short cut.
New icon.
Change to new compiler to allow progression of Tracer to next generation MacOS.
New registration function.
3.0.1 Corrected bug in Undo when after resize, rotate or reposition of a bitmap shape.
Version 2.0 to 2.5.1
Bitmap Morphing: Shapes can be inherit the underlying Trace Image bitmap.
Improved multi-layered animation facility: animation frames can be drawn over a moving background.
Selected objects can be moved with arrow keys.
Selected lines can be converted into dotted or dashed lines. (Dashed lines are drawn solid during a morph).
Selected objects can be individually inverted and mirrored (as well as the whole frame).
Shapes can be selected by clicking anywhere on shape.
Option click on HELP window closes all HELP windows.
Help now available from Help Menu.
SHIFT forward frame copies current frame data to next frame.
Licensing
Etchelon Tracer is licensed for use for 30 days after which time you should be expected to pay the registration fee. The registration fee is inexpensive and easily paid through the Kagi payment system which includes on-line payment. Registration information can be found in the file "Tracer Registration".
Etchelon Tracer can be freely distributed providing that this file and all programs are not changed and also included in the distribution. The correct operation of this program cannot be guaranteed.
New versions can be found at:
http://website.lineone.net/~andy.pritchard
Etchelon Tracer for Macintosh (c)1998 Andy Pritchard
