Important information before you start ImgFun: [1] For all users, especially disk vendors: If users want to distribute imgfun, please do distribute the whole package and read the files imgfun.txt and register.txt. The following descriptions are suggested for disk catalogs or BBS file info: Keywords: GIF, BMP, PCX, JPEG, compression, image processing, ImgFun short description:Powerful viewer and fast JPEG compression for GIF's! long description: 15 lines IFSE100.EXE: Self extracting file of ImgFun 1.0. ImgFun is a powerful image compression and enhancement program for computer images. 1. Instant ZOOM images up to 4 times in width and height. Reverse and mirror images instantly. Explore pleasures of viewing images in the eye catching SVGA modes up to 1024x 768!! 2. Adjust colors, background, and cut area of color mapped images. These functions are performed ALL INSTANTLY. 3. Super fast JPEG compression and decompression for GIFs. REDUCE IMAGE FILES TO A FRACTION ONLY!!! SAVE YOUR DISK SPACE!!! 4. Convert between, GIF ,BMP, PCX, and JPG formats. 5. Smooth, sharpen and rescale color mapped images directly. 6. Lean and fast!! REQUIREMENTS: 286, VGA or SVGA BEST GIF COMPANION!! TRY TO BELIEVE IT!!! The program is approved by ASSOCIATION of SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS!!! [2] system requirements 1. imgfun.exe and imgfun.hlp together in a directory 2. at least a VGA and 300K free under DOS, 512k recommended 3. at least 1 MB free hard disk space, for image processing, 2MB recommended For viewing images only, a hard disk is not necessary. A disk caching program like smartdrv is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. For users with a 486 computer, it is not recommended to spend your money for a JPEG compression card for the speed of imgfun in the JPEG part. This should save you at least several hundred dollars. The current version is compiled by a 16 bit compiler. A 32 bit compiler will speed up the program at least 50%. A new version compiled by 32 bit compiler might be available in 1993 for 386SX or above computers. For a 640x480x256 color gif compressed by ImgFun ,the pure JPEG decompression part takes around 7 seconds, and the mapping to the palette takes about 6 to 8 seconds on a 486DX 33MHz system. For most compressed files by ImgFun, users should be able to view the images on the screen within 15 seconds without decoding to disk files on a 486DX 33MHz system. [3]. start the program in the following two ways: 1. Test of the auto-detection mode. Type "imgfun" to start the program in the auto detection mode, then please use the function, Option, Directory, image, to set the source image directory, i.e., where your image files are. Then use the File, View function to view your images. If everything works fine, then just enjoy the package!!! If you start imgfun, but find only 320x200 mode available. Then please install a VESA driver, then restart imgfun to see if you can get SVGA modes working. NOT ALL VESA DRIVERS ARE VALID, YOU MIGHT END UP WITH 320x200 ONLY AGAIN, OR PROBLEMS WITH INCOMPATIBLE VESA DRIVERS!!! 2. Start the program with the standard mode only If you have problems in the auto detection mode, then type: "imgfun -s" to start the program with the 320x200 mode only. The program will be able to run on any VGA system without problems. But only the standard 320x200 mode available. You can use the function, Option, Display, card, auto for auto-detection of your card or choose the SVGA drivers manually only when you are sure about the chip used in your SVGA card. My suggestion is that try the auto detection at your first time. If anything wrong, then live with the 320x200 mode, or get a SVGA card for around $50, for example, Trident 8900 with 512KB on board. A VGA card that can not display 640x400x256 mode is out of date and waste your investment on the VGA monitor. When setting the Display, mode, please make sure you have enough memory on your VGA board, otherwise the program might not function properly, AND YOUR MONITOR CAN STAND THE RESOLUTION YOU CHOOSE, OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT BURN YOUR MONITOR'S TUBE!!! REMEMBER THIS ALL THE TIME!!! After you clear the first hurdle of testing your SVGA, then you can start to play with the program. [4]. On line help system The help system is activated by pressing F1 in the menu mode. Press the space bar for the topic selection list. Type in or use arrow keys to scroll for the topic you want, and then press Enter for the topic. For all list selections, ImgFun will match the topic name with the keystrokes as you type in, usually two or three keystrokes will be enough. For example, to select a format from a list of GIF, PCX, BMP, JPEG. To select BMP, then just type 'B', if you change your mind, and want to select GIF, then just type 'GG'. ImgFun will notice this change and switch to the GIF format. The first 'G' which is not a following letter, 'M' of 'BMP'makes ImgFun to rematch from subsequent letters and abandon the current selection. The second 'G' let ImgFun jump to the GIF selection for closest matching. It will be better for users to try on this feature several times for learning fast selection through out the package. This is especially useful when locating a particular file in a long file list. [5]. For the viewer There are two ways to view images. First use the File, VIEW function. This function dumps output to the screen directly like other image viewers. This function is always available even after you loaded two images. Another powerful viewer is available AFTER YOU LOADED THE IMAGE, by the function File, LOAD. Then try the following keystrokes: Press F5: then the image will be displayed in the screen. Press Page Up several times to zoom in. Press Page Down to zoom out. Press: Left, Right, Up, Down keys to scroll. So far, I have not seen any package can do this software zoom as fast as ImgFun. Enjoy your images, especially gifs.!!! A manual slide show is implemented in the Utility, Slide show function. Read the help file for its usage. The slide show part will be much more powerful in future versions of ImgFun. [7]. Transparent Disk compression systems (Stacker for example) : If you use Stacker or other disk compression programs on your hard disk, there's no need for lossless compression of your files by LHA, LZEXE, or PKZIP, and etc. programs. BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR JPEG LOSSY COMPRESSION!!!! YOU CAN GAIN DISK SPACE EVEN ON A TRANSPARENT DISK COMPRESSION SYSTEM BY COMPRESSING YOUR IMAGES USING THE IMGFUN PACKAGE!!! [8]. the undo(F2) and update(F4) mechanism You can undo all changes made to the loaded image 1 by pressing F2. The undo function will remove all the changes since the last time you update the image. After some processings on the image, you must press, F4, (update) to make the changes permanent. The update and undo should work as a pair. This makes it possible for an unlimited step undo without more memory than a one step undo. If you prefer one step undo like other packages, just press F4:update to accept the change you just made, or F2:undo to undo the change you just did on the image after every step of processings. [7]. Read the file, ImgFun.txt and Register.txt. Please DO READ the documents, many answers are in those two files. [8]. Please REGISTER to support the development of this program!!! I have a lot ideas for playing with images. But I do need your registration to finance me to develop these ideas into ImgFun. Right now I am working on a lossless compression of 256 color gifs. If it works the registered users will be informed first. The $35.00 registration fee guarantee you the life time use of the DOS version of ImgFun package, and mailed notices of new versions available. You can get new versions for $5 in 1993 for the media, mailing and processing fees upon your request. And you'll receive a bonus package including some useful utilities. Currently, a stand alone gif to jpeg and, vice versa programs and image print out programs for EPSON compatible dot matrix printers or HP compatible laser jets are available and complete LHA and LZEXE packages!!! LHA is used for the self-extracting file of this package, and LZEXE is used in imgfun.exe to reduce the file size. Please register to receive these two data compression packages along with the complete ImgFun package. Chin-Chi ,Hsu at Speedy Software author member of Association of Shareware Professionals 173 Franklin Ave. San Gabriel, CA 91775 CompuServe ID : 71551,3641 (the best way to contact me) TEL: 818-282-8018 PS. All trademarks mentioned belong to the proper owners.