HPChrome v1 (Unregistered Version) HPChrome works on any Atari ST, with a H-P DeskJet 500C colour printer, or with a standard DeskJet, DeskJet Plus or DeskJet 500 fitted with the Colour Kit. HPChrome prints 16-colour picture files in DEGAS (normal or compressed) and NEO formats. It offers a choice of size and position on the page, with accuracy to 0.003in (0.08mm). Page layout can be either Portrait (upright) or Landscape (sideways). The whole image, or just a section of it, can be printed at Draft, Normal, or Best quality. Colour-correction can be applied to compensate for the differences between screen and paper colours. What you need ============= Any Atari ST computer (512K RAM upwards, colour or mono). Hewlett-Packard DeskJet, DeskJet Plus, or DeskJet 500 printer, with colour kit, - or - Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 500C, with tri-colour ink cartridge, H-P part number HP51625A. HPChrome runs in High resolution (on an Atari mono monitor) or Medium or Low resolution (on a colour monitor or TV). To make use of all the features, please use either High or Low resolution. What you get ============ *HPCHROME.PRG - the program *CONVERT.BIN - colour picture conversion module *HPCHROME.TXT - the manual (this file) The file CONVERT.BIN converts colour pics to mono so that they can be viewed on an Atari mono monitor. All files are needed for the program to run (this is to prevent distribution of incomplete or modified copies, and does not apply to the registered version). Shareware ========= HPChrome is SHAREWARE. It is NOT FREE. However, you are welcome to test and evaluate HPChrome v1 free of charge. This version can also be freely distributed, subject to the normal shareware distribution practices. If you find HPChrome a valuable addition to your collection of software then please send œ5.00 to Rufus Developments. You will then be registered as a user, and will receive the following additional benefits: (1) Registered version of the program, without the 'shareware nags' that are built into this version. (2) Printed fully illustrated manual, giving full instructions, explanation of all features and options, and hints and tips. (3) Desk accessory version, for use within DEGAS Elite, allowing you to print your art creations without the need to save your work or quit the DEGAS Elite program. (4) JETALOG, a picture cataloguing program, to print 'thumbnails' of your DEGAS and NEO pics, up to 15 per page, for loose leaf binding. (5) Technical support (if needed) and updates (as available) of HPChrome. Support and updates are ONLY available to registered users. (6) Your money back! We are currently working on a complete revision of HPChrome, an entirely new program, with full GEM event driven user interface, able to print file types including Tiny, GEM .IMG, Spectrum 512, and GIF. As a registered user of HPChrome you will receive a œ5.00 discount on the purchase price of its successor! What a deal. Colour Kit ========== On the DeskJet 500C, full colour output uses the Hewlett-Packard Tri-Colour Cartridge, which contains Cyan, Magenta and Yellow ink. For other DeskJet models, the Colour Kit converts any DeskJet, DeskJet Plus or DeskJet 500 printer into a full colour printer, creating output of the same quality as the new DeskJet 500C - or better! The Colour Kit consists of ink cartridge refills in Yellow, Cyan (blue), and Magenta (red), with which you can refill your empty black ink cartridges. Cleaning solvent, to remove all traces of black ink from the empties, is included. To print in full colour, you simply use HPChrome with the appropriate printer option. When prompted, change cartridges and re-insert the paper. Yellow, Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), and Black are printed on separate passes through the printer. When used with the Colour Kit, but not with the DeskJet 500C, HPChrome includes a Black ink pass. Black and other dark areas in your picture will be printed in a more solid, monochromatic black than is possible with the DeskJet 500C (which creates black by combining Cyan, Magenta and Yellow inks). We use and recommend the Inkmun Colour Kit, distributed in the UK by System Insight. However, other brands of Colour Kit may also be available. For further information, please contact your local computer dealer, or: System Insight Unit 2 The Hertfordshire Business Centre Alexander Road London Colney Herts AL2 1JG, UK Tel: 0727 827200 Fax: 0727 827201 or: Inkmun Inks Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730, USA How to use ========== These instructions are deliberately brief. A full manual, with explanations of all the features and options, and hints and tips, is supplied to registered users. Main Menu ========= File Click to select a file to load - default type is DEGAS. Filename is displayed. Size Click to adjust size of printout. Size is displayed. Position Click to adjust page layout. Position of pic (X and Y coordinates of top left corner) is displayed. Crop Click to select a rectangular part of the picture to print (not available in medium res). Colour Click to adjust colour rendering. View Click to view pic (not available in medium res). Options See other menu. Size/Position Menu ================== Position Drag the shaded rectangle around the white box, or use the X/Y up/down buttons. Size Drag the white square at the bottom right corner of the shaded rectangle, or use the W/H up/down buttons. When using the X/Y/W/H up/down buttons, hold the Alternate key for Coarse adjustment, or the Control key for Fine adjustment. Port/Land Click to select Portrait (upright) or Landscape (horizontal) page layout. Picture size is defaulted. 1:1 Click to select or de-select Aspect Ratio Lock (picture stays 'in pro'). Default: selected (unless the selected Crop makes this impossible). Crop Screen =========== Mark one corner of your chosen rectangle with the cross-hairs, and click the mouse. Adjust the box so that it encloses your chosen rectangle, and click again. This feature works in High and Low resolution, but not Medium. Quality Buttons =============== Draft: 150dpi, draft quality (500C: 50% depletion, no shingling) Normal: 300dpi, draft quality (500C: 25% depletion, 50% shingling) Best: 300dpi, letter quality (500C: no depletion, 25% shingling) Colour Menu =========== Click one of the 16 coloured (or patterned) boxes to select a colour. Its value in the ST palette (RGB 0 to 7) and in the H-P palette (RGB 0 to 255) are displayed. The H-P colour value is affected by whether Gamma Compensation is selected, the value of Gamma (0 to 9.9), and whether Grey Balance is selected. It can also be Nudged by up to 99 RGB levels up or down. A Cast of up to 99 RGB levels up or down can be applied to the whole palette of 16 colours. View Screen =========== The picture, with the selected rectangle (if any) outlined, is displayed. Moving the mouse around will display its current co- ordinates and the colour index of the pixel it is over. This feature works in High and Low resolution, but not Medium. Options Menu ============ Shingling and Depletion Applicable to the DeskJet 500C only. Normally determined by the Quality setting (Draft/Normal/Best). Depletion removes dots from the printed image to reduce ink coverage. Shingling prints the image in narrower stripes to avoid 'banding'. Printer DeskJet 500C (with tri-colour cartridge) - prints the whole page in one pass, with data compression. DeskJet Plus, DeskJet 500 (with Colour Kit) - prints the page in four passes (yellow, cyan, magenta, black), with data compression. DeskJet (with Colour Kit) - prints the page in four passes (yellow, cyan, magenta, black). Data compression (Graphics Mode 2) is used on DeskJet Plus and higher models. To turn it off, select DeskJet. File DEGAS or NEOchrome. Units All measurements can be displayed in inches or mm. Copies 1 to 99. Print Page Menu =============== This menu reminds you to change to the appropriate ink cartridge before each pass of the printer (not applicable to DeskJet 500C). Go! All set, go ahead and print. Skip Skip this pass and go on to the next colour. Again Repeat the previous pass. Cancel Abort printing and return to the main menu. Test Activates the printer's built-in self test routine. Printing ======== Static display shows the type of printer selected, the name of the file being printed, the quality, the current copy number, and the current colour pass. Dynamic display shows the scan row currently being processed, how much longer the current pass will take, and a visual impression of this information, updated every 16 rows. To stop printing press the ST's UNDO key. Further information =================== To register your copy of HPChrome, and receive the benefits mentioned above, please send 5.00 UK pounds to: RUFUS DEVELOPMENTS PO BOX 562 WIMBORNE DORSET BH21 2YD U.K. Thank you very much.