ENTERING THE CONVERSION CODE

{[0,0,1](A)} The Converter produces a picture with the format and palette of one
of the templates in the SOTemplates drawer, such as {[P21,4,7] LowResBlack.IFF }.

When the Converter scans a picture, it assigns an "intensity value" to
each pixel.  This is a number between 0 and 90 that describes the difference
in brightness between the pixel and the background color.  For example, the
intensities of a white pixel on a black background and of a black pixel on
a white background are both 90.

The conversion code that adjusts the settings consists of four numbers, each
between 0 and 90, separated by hyphens.  The default setting, for example,
is 18-36-54-72.  Think of each number as the boundary between two colors.
The Stereoptic system doesn't use colors 0, 1, and 2.  Therefore, if (in the
example) the intensity of a scanned pixel is less than 18, then color 3 (the
background color) is given to the corresponding pixel in the converted
picture.

A pixel with an intensity between 18 and 36 is converted to color 4.  One
between 36 and 54 becomes color 5, and so on.  The greater the difference
between the boundary numbers of a color, the greater the chance that that
color will appear in the converted picture.

Examine the Converter screen.  Besides the three buttons labelled OK, BATCH,
GUIDE, and EXIT, there are three boxes.  From RIGHT to LEFT, they're the
Preset Selector, the Code Editor, and the Preview Screen. 

THE PRESET SELECTOR is a scrolling list of 18 preset conversion codes and
one item named Custom.  Click the left mouse key above or below the scroll-
bar handle to scroll the list one item at a time.  Hold down both keys to
scroll more rapidly.  Select an item by clicking it with the left mouse key.

THE CODE EDITOR: When you select a preset code name, the name and the code
will appear in the Code Editor.  You can revise and use any of the preset
codes, but the revision will be lost when you select another preset item.
However, if you select Custom and enter a code, the new code will be added
to the presets and will be retained until you revise it or quit Stereopticon.

THE PREVIEW SCREEN gives you an immediate impression of the relative balance
of the five colors for the code you select or enter.

{[0,0,1]>>} After you type a code into the Editor, press RETURN twice or click the
Preview Screen to register the new code.  The Preview Screen will flash
briefly, then show the new color balance.

DITHERING: If you add a D, R, M, H, or V to the end of the code, a dithering
system will be used to add the effect of 12 additional shades of grey.
Dithering is recommended for pictures with shading and many colors.  Use D
for an ordered dither, R for a random dither, M for a mixed dither, H for a
horizontal dither, or V for a vertical dither.  {[0,0,1]>>} Only one dither letter
may be used at a time.  Examples: 20-40-60-80D, 15-30-45-75R, 24-48-68-78M.  

If you add a W to the code, the Converter will use a palette with a white
background (like the template LowResWhite.IFF).  You may combine W with one
dither letter.  Examples: 25-45-55-65W, 30-40-60-80WD.

To copy a preset code into the Editor, select the code in the Preset
Selector, then press LEFT-AMIGA-F1 to enter it into the Editor.  For example,
to write a Custom code based on the Default code, select the Default code in
the Preset Selector, then select Custom in the Preset Selector, make sure
the Editor is blank, and press LEFT-AMIGA-F1.
 
Try converting a 32-colour picture using each of the pre-sets and note the
differences.  Or click {[P10,4,7] this box } to see what the Converter did with Deluxe
Paint's famous gorilla.

You'll get the best results by using the pre-sets only as guides and working
out your own conversion codes.  For each picture there's a different optimum
code that brings out the most detail and produces the best shading.  Finding
it takes trial and error (there are more than 16 million combinations), but
you can speed the process by using the grabber to test small, carefully-
selected rectangles.