Welcome to Specular TextureScape: the Texture Design Tool for Print, Video, and Multimedia.
This demo is based on Specular TextureScape 1.5 which now includes over 100 fully-editable sample textures, 80 shapes to design your own custom textures, and Power Macintosh support.
Specular TextureScape represents the latest in texture generation technology for the Macintosh. By basing textures entirely on PostScript outlines, TextureScape allows users to design an infinite variety of detailed and rich textures from default shapes or imported EPS outlines. Each shape’s surface information, including Gloss, Bump, Transparency, Softness and Color, can be precisely controlled. Textures may also contain an unlimited number of layers which can be rearranged at any time. TextureScape textures can be saved as “description only” files that are typically only 15K-40K, yet can be rendered at any resolution. In addition to these powerful texture design features, TextureScape can also animate the textures it creates. By placing texture keyframes on TextureScape’s built-in sequencer at different points in time, users can create QuickTime™ movies of morphing or animating textures.
TextureScape can write image files as PICT, TIFF, or EPSF and animation files as PICS, numbered PICTs and QuickTime movies. Minimum system requirements for TextureScape are a Macintosh computer with a 68020 or faster processor, System 7 or higher, and 4MB of RAM.
The following is a list of the changes and enhancements to TextureScape version 1.5.
*Accelerated for Power Macintosh*
Tests show TextureScape 1.5 to be 200% - 400% faster than a Quadra 950. With speed increases such as this, users can design textures faster and easier, with ample time for experimentation. The application is fat-binary, so you can run it on both 68K and Power Macintosh machines.
*Expanded EPS Import*
TextureScape’s import of EPS outlines has been substantially improved with 1.5, allowing you to use even more shapes from programs like Adobe Illustrator™ or Aldus Freehand™ to design textures.
*30 Additional Sample Textures*
This collection of textures, ranging from Grass & Flowers and Meteor Shower to Chocolate and Red Marble, brings the total number of sample textures included with the program to 100.
*A Shape Library with 48 New Shapes*
The number of shapes that come with the program has more than doubled with the addition of a new shape library containing snowflake, cloud, flower, and footprint shapes, to name only a few.
If you are interested in ordering a copy of TextureScape, or need more information, please contact Specular at 1-800-433-7732. The suggested retail price is $195, but to find out the latest prices or special offers, please call the toll-free line.
If you wish to distribute the demo version of TextureScape on commerical products, such as CDs, or other projects that are distrbuted for profit reasons, you may NOT do so until receiving written consent from Specular International. Any unauthorized duplication of this demo will result in proper legal action against the offending party.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL SPECULAR TO RECEIVE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THIS DEMO VERSION. Specular’s Technical Support will not answer questions regarding demo versions of our software. Technical Support is reserved for registered users only. If you have questions about the program or need sales information, please call our toll-free line (1-800-433-7732) and a customer service representative will be happy to assist you.
•INSTALLATION•
To install the demo version of TextureScape, double-click the "TextureScape 1.5 Demo Installer" icon and select a destination on your hard drive for the program to be placed. Once you have done this, click the "Extract" button. The TextureScape demo version and over 20 Sample Textures (saved in description only format) will then be loaded onto your drive.
•ABOUT THE DEMO•
This demo is accelerated for the Power Macintosh. It is a fat-binary application, meaning that it will run on both Power Macintosh and 68K-based computers. Both versions are functionally identical; the only obvious difference between them is speed.
This demonstration version of TextureScape is fully-functional, with a few exceptions. This version will not Save, Print, or Render texture files and will not Render animation sequences. Shape Library functions are turned off, disabling the ability to import EPS outlines. Also, the number of default shapes included with the demo has been cut in half to 16. Finally, documents are restricted to a size of 240 pixels by 240 pixels.
A Specular TextureScape "watermark" appears in the bottom right corner of all documents and is repeated if a texture is tiled. This watermark does not appear in the real version of TextureScape.
•BASIC TUTORIAL•
TextureScape is a simple yet powerful application that allows the user to generate an infinite variety of patterns and textures.
To launch the demo, double-click the TextureScape Demo icon. The "Shape", "Attribute", and "Layer" palettes will appear. To open a new document, select FILE...NEW...IMAGE. A dialog will appear prompting you to enter values for the size of your document. Because this demo version restricts document size to 240 pixels by 240 pixels, any values entered are insignificant. Simply click OK and a new document of 240 pixels by 240 pixels will be opened. Note, however, that the real version allows document size to be set based on measurement units of points, picas, pixels, inches, or centimeters.
The textures and patterns generated by TextureScape are based on PostScript outlines from programs such as Adobe Illustrator™ or Aldus Freehand™. This demo version includes 16 of the 32 pre-loaded shapes that ship with the program. By default, TextureScape chooses the Circle shape. To select another shape, click the Shape Selection Swatch in the Shape palette (the small arrow next to the circle). Drag the arrow over a shape and release the mouse button to select it. The selected shape will now appear in the Shape palette window. By clicking on the Scale and Rotate tools in the Shape palette, the selected shape may be modified.
To view the selected shape as a pattern, click the Apply button in the Attribute palette. The results will appear in the document window. TextureScape allows you to precisely control the spacing of shapes in a pattern via a Grid. By default, the grid is set a 8 by 8. Change these settings by entering the values 4 x 4 into the "Divisions" area of the Attribute palette. Click Apply and the pattern will be updated based on the smaller grid setting. (Go to EDIT...SHOW GRID to see the actual grid layout. Repeat this to remove the gridlines.) Experiment with various shapes and grid settings.
Now that you understand the basics of how TextureScape functions, it's time to learn how to generate more detailed textures. TextureScape's extensive surface controls allow you to manipulate virtually every aspect of a shape's characteristics. The first attribute you should know how to control is Surface color. Surface color can be changed by clicking the arrow next to the currently selected color in the Attribute palette. Double-clicking the color swatch brings up the standard Apple-color picker. To apply the new color to the pattern, click the Apply button. The color swatches beneath the Surface Color swatch allow you to control the Highlight Color and Shadow Color, accordingly.
Other surface characteristic controls, found in the Attribute palette, are Gloss, Bumps, Transparency, and Soften. Also, TextureScape offers bevel controls in the shape palette.
Experiment with the Randomness controls in the Attribute palette. These values randomly offset the selected shapes from the original grid settings, resulting in more organic-looking patterns and textures. Generating extremely dense and organic textures is as easy as entering high randomness values in combination with high grid division (such as 15x20).
One of the most powerful features of TextureScape is its ability to stack an unlimited number of layers of shapes on top of one another. To add a layer, go to IMAGE...NEW LAYER. You will notice that an empty layer is added on top of the original layer in the Layer palette. To add a layer of shapes on top of the first, select another shape and alter the grid settings and surface color. Click Apply to view the results. Textures generated in TextureScape may have up to 4 lights per layer, with control over the angle, direction, and intensity of these lights. To access the lights, go to WINDOW...LIGHT.
At any time, you may open any of the sample textures included with the demo to examine how complex textures are created.
TextureScape's rendering options (which are disabled with this demo version) can be found under FILE...RENDER IMAGE. You will notice that because TextureScape's textures are based on PostScript shapes, they are resolution-independent, meaning they can be rendered at any resolution. Rendered texture files can be saved as PICT, TIFF, or EPSF.
In addition to TextureScape's powerful texture design features, it can also animate the textures it creates. By using its built-in sequencer, textures can be placed at different points in time and then “morphed” between each other. TextureScape can also animate the individual shapes that comprise a texture, such as spinning a layer of leaf shapes whose colors morph from red to yellow to green.
To construct an animation sequence, go to FILE...NEW...SEQUENCE. The Sequencer will appear. Add textures you have created onto the timeline by moving the Time Marker to specific points in time and then selecting EDIT...ADD KEYFRAME. Although the ability to render animations has been disabled with this demo version, it is possible to examine the various formats and options available to you by clicking the RENDER button in the sequencer itself. Animations can be saved as Quicktime™, numbered PICTs, and PICS.
•FOR MORE INFORMATION•
If you would like more information about Specular TextureScape, or any of Specular’s graphics programs (Infini-D, LogoMotion, or Collage) please contact:
Specular International
479 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002-2904
Phone: 413-253-3100
Fax: 413-253-0540
We hope you enjoy this demonstration version of Specular TextureScape.
