🚀 go-pugleaf

Some helpful hints...

Those of you like me using an STe or FM may be a little put off making your
own graphics for the web pages because of the 16 colour limit. However 
the limit is only 16 colours per image and you can have lots of images.  
Remember however that most pc.s have a 256 colour palette - so use too many
16 colour palettes and pc users will get palette clashes!

Most of the software suggested here is available by FTP - though others will
have to tell you where from.

1. You need an arts package. The ones I use are not (AFAIK) available as
shareware. Canvas has some great block functions. Prism Paint copes with the
large (1240*480) virtual screen allowed by monster.prg

2. Prism Paint can save files directly in GIF(87) format. If you don't have
an arts package that will do that, you need either GemView or Speed of Light
to convert from other formats.
SOL (Speed of Light) - a GIF viewer - also allows you to clip your image to
the size you require.

3. When people upgraded to the latest version of CAB they will have seen a
folder TRANSGIF. People who didn't have web sites may well not have seen
it's purpose! If you are making a web site with a background colour or
pattern - or if people are likely to view your site on something like
Netscape where a background can be set by the user - there is a problem.
Your images will appear as a block.
TRANSGIF allows you to set a colour (usually your background colour) as
transparent - i.e. that colour will not show up on screen, instead the
background colour or pattern will show through!
That means your image of a pretty coloured ball shows up as a ball against
the background set - rather than a ball in a big white block.
Note: TRANSGIF converts to GIF(89) format which can't be loaded by some arts
programs, so you may need to use GemView or SOL to convert them back to
other formats if you want to change them.

4. Remember if you can't get an art package that allows more than a 320*200
screen - you can use a <TABLE> to stick say 4 screen size gifs together to
make a bigger image.

Also don't forget that with a little programming skill you can do clever
things with graphics using STOS. (I use it to produce seamless background
tiles).

As for screen sizes: most none-Atari users will be viewing your sites on
640*480 (or larger) screens, which means your graphics will appear half the
size they do in your art programme... CAB (with font size set to 12) and
monster will give a good indication of what your page will look like to
other users - just remember that the entire low res virtual image you see is
much bigger than what other people will see: on a typical pc. the whole
virtual screen fits onto one screen - or even just a quarter of it. So what
can look big and clumsy on the Atari can look quite delicate and detailed on
other machines! (Just as things that look good on pc.s can look terrible
when seen magnified by the ST!)
          
Now, if anyone can tell me how to get interlaced gifs on an STe I'll be
really happy!

-- 
Brian