ArtToSpr
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Purpose: Create sprites from Artworks and Draw files
Author:  Tony Houghton <tonyh@tcp.co.uk>
Version: 1.02 (9 April 1998)

Requirements
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RISC OS 3.1 or later
2MB or greater
Toolbox and Drawfile modules
Artworks modules (in AWViewer)

Special features/advantages
___________________________

Full control over scaling and rotation of source picture.


Instructions
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ArtToSpr is quite simple, so this Help file won't describe it in detail. Use
Interactive Help (!Help in your Apps folder) to find the purpose of any icon
or window.

Having said that, there are a few points that would benefit from further
explanation:

Units
-----
Dimensions in output options are given in OS units, but the size of the
sprite in the info window is given in pixels.

Scaling in conjunction with rotation
------------------------------------
Scaling always takes place after rotation, which may need to be borne in mind
when combining a rotation with inequal horizontal and vertical scale factors.

Aspect ratios
-------------
When a picture is scaled to fit a sprite of a given size it may need to be
scaled by different horizontal and vertical factors to achieve a perfect fit
(see also previous paragraph). To avoid this distortion, you can click
"Preserve aspect ratio". This will mean that the picture will probably only
fit the sprite in one direction, leaving some wasted rows or columns in the
sprite; there are 3 options for dealing with this:

Edge -   Plots the picture at the bottom/left of the sprite, leaving the
         blank rows at top or right.

Centre - Plots the picture in the middle of the sprite, leaving an equal
         amount of blank space at each edge.

Trim -   Removes the blank rows or columns, leaving the sprite smaller than
         specified in one direction.


Author's addresses
__________________

Tony Houghton
271 Upper Weston Lane
Woolston
Southampton
SO19 9HY

Email:   tonyh@tcp.co.uk
WWW:     http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~tonyh/

Licence
_______

This version is freeware. It may be freely copied as long as all files are
left intact and permission is sought before distributing it on a cover disc
or CD collection.
