-----ICORip Version 1.0 beta 1-----
Copyright 2001 Nathaniel D. Gibson
StackSwitch Software     04-15-2001

-------------<INTRODUCTION>
ICORip is a Windows icon editor that is meant to have all the functionality of a full blown image editor.  It's supposed to be as versatile as photoshop.  This version 1.0 beta 1 is meant to be a pre-demo release that simply shows the user all of the functionality of ICORip's drawing routines and special effects.

---------------<DISCLAIMER>
ICORip is a shareware program that is meant for private use only.  Distribution of the source code or program is limited to only those authorized by the author.  The demo version and beta versions are to be given freely and never to be charged for.  The final release of ICORip is meant only to be distributed by the author himself.  The user may do what he likes with the source code and modify it using it in his own program, but only if the original author is credited.  The Windows icon format is copyright Microsoft.

--------------------<INDEX>
	
- INTRODUCTION/DISCLAIMER
- USING ICORIP
	- Things to know
	- The color panel
	- The brushes panel
	- The effects panel
	- The file panel
- FUNCTIONS NOT INCLUDED
- THE FINAL PRODUCT
- CREDITS
- CONTACT INFO

-------------<USING ICORIP>
ICORip is meant to be an easy to use image editing program.  The display consits of four panels:  The color panel, The brushes panel, The effects panel, and The file panel.  This section will describe the functionality of each of the buttons on three of the panels... the file panel will not be mentioned as it has not been completed.

- THINGS TO KNOW:
.Scroll buttons.
When using a scrolling button like the up and down arrows used for selecting color values or opacity, the left mouse button allows the user to step up the value by one each time he clicks, and the right mouse button allows the user to change the value fluidly instead of clicking for each step.
.Color boxes.
When selecting colors in the color boxes, if both the left and right mouse buttons are pressed, the color inside of the color box that you click on will get transferred to the other color box.
.Brush colors.
When using any brush, depending on whether the left or mouse button is clicked, that's the color that will be used for the selected brush.  Specifically with the Circle and rectangle routines, there is a fill color and an outline color.  The first color will be the fill color and the secondary color will be the outline color.  if the user uses the right button to complete a brush, the fill and outline color swap.

- THE COLOR PANEL:
The color panel focuses on the actual colors functions that ICORip's brushes use.  
On the very left of the panel, there are two boxes on top of one another, and one has a blue outline.  These "color boxes" represent the colors that the brushes are using.  The top box represents the left mouse click color, and the bottom reperesents the right button.  To select the colors for changing, the user should simply click on the corresponding box for each button.  The blue outline will move to the color that is being edited.
The buttons directly next to the color boxes are the black and white buttons.  These simply set the color that you have selected to either black or white... they are indicated by a B and W.
The next items to the right are the RGB values for the selected color (RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue).  These values can be changed by simply clicking on the up and down arrows next to the values.  These values go from 0 to 255.
Following to the right of the RGB values is the Coord info.  This tells the user the X and Y coordinates the mouse is on inside of the icon (this is mainly for lining up points for lines).
Under the Coord Info is the Trans button, this option is not part of this beta release.  The Trans button allows the user to paint in the transparent color (it's not an alpha-blend, but actual transparency for the icon in the windows .ico format).
Under the Trans button is the Opacity level, this controls the opacity/(alpha level) of the selected brush.  The opacity level can be anything from 0 to 100.
On the very right of the Color Panel is the Preview box... this box shows exactly what your icon is going to look like in it's real size.

- THE BRUSHES PANEL:
There are many different brushes that ICORip uses.  The brushes are as follows:
The Pencil.  This brush is meant for pixel by pixel coloring, it uses the opacity tool for alpha-blending and it has no anti-aliasing mode.
The Paint Bucket.  This brush fills an area with a color. the tolerance can be changed so that the bucket will fill colors that are similar to the color meaning to be filled.
The Spray Paint.  This brush works pretty much like an actual spray paint can.  It's automatically smoothed (anti-aliased) and the opacity level effects the alpha blending level that the brush uses.  There's a slight noise added to the brush for realism.
The eraser.  This brush is not activated yet seeing as how the layers aren't activated in this beta.
The Line tool.  This brush makes a line from one point on the icon to another.  When making a line, click on the starting point of the line and then click on the ending point.  This brush also utilizes anti-aliasing so that smooth lines may be made.
The Circle tool.  This brush makes a circle from a central point.  To make a circle, click on the point that is to be the center point, and then click on a point that is to be on the outside of the circle.  This brush uses a fill utility (mentioned later in this text) that allows a user to make either a filled circle or a circle outline.  when making a filled circle, the secondary color is the outline, and the first color is the fill color. (don't worry if you don't understand right now).  This brush also uses the Opacity level.
The rectangle tool.  This brush makes a rectangle from the first point that the user clicks on, to the second point. it shares the same properties as the circle tool.
The Dropper.  This tool allows the user to select a color from any of the colors in the icon. It's quick and easy for color matching. using the right mouse button on this tool sets the color that the user clicks on to the secondary color.

- THE EFFECTS PANEL:
Tolerance.  The Tolerance serves as a color tolerance, or rather a threshold for color similarity for the fill brush.
Fill.  This button toggles the Filling of circles and rectangles on or off.
Smooth.  This button toggles anti-aliasing for the line and circle brushes
Blur.  This is an effect button that blurs the image.
Smudge.  This button allows for the Smudge brush and it smudges.
Add Noise.  This button adds noise to the image.  The amount of noise added can be determined by the opacity level.
Flip.  this set of buttons allows the user to flip the image horizontally, vertically, or both.
Rotate.  This set of buttons allows the user to rotate the image 180 degrees, 90 degrees clockwise, or 90 degrees counter clockwise.
Select.  This set of buttons allows the user to use the select brush for selecting parts of the images.  The cut, copy, and paste do exactly what they say.
Replace.  This button allows for the foreground(primary) color to be replaced by the background(secondary) color or vice-versa depending on the mouse button used.
Blend.  This option will probably not be part of the final version.
Invert.  This effects button allows the user to invert the image or the seperate layer.
Brightness and Contrast.  These allow you to change the brightness and contrast of the image.
Brush Sizes.  The four buttons stacked on top of each other represent the brush sizes... from one pixel to a large circular type of brush.  This option changes the brush size of both the pencil and the spray paint brush.
% Alpha.  This scroller changes the Opacity/(Alpha) of the selected layer.
Layer ON/OFF.  The buttons with the eyes on them are toggles for the layer being seen or not seen.
Layer selection buttons.  The buttons that read "1,2,3,4" are the buttons that select the working layer... the blue arrow next to the layer preview picture shows what the working layer is.
Undo.  The undo button undoes the last changes made to the picture.
Brush.  The undo Brush allows the user to draw using the picture when it was changed last.  This is good for erasing small  changes while keeping some of the changes previous to the undo step.

- THE FILE PANEL:
The file panel is not yet complete.  The only buttons that works in the file panel are the "New" button, which clears all of the image data and replaces it with the secondary/background color, and the "Default Load" button which autosaves the current image in the "default.icr" file when ICORip closes.  

This panel will be finished by the next beta release.

---<FUNCTIONS NOT INCLUDED>
There are many functions that are missing from ICORip simply because the program's not done yet.  Here's a list of them:
- The Trans Button
- The Eraser Brush
- Select, Cut, Copy, and Paste
- Replace, and Blend
- Brightness and Contrast
- The layering is not yet complete, some changes need to be made for it to work correctly
- The undo brush
- The entire FILE PANEL except for the New and Default load buttons.

--------<THE FINAL PROCUCT>
The final product will be able to save in ICR and ICO formats and all of the functions not included will be... included.  Also, the final release of version 1.0 will cost money.  The final demo release will be shareware and have all of the functionality of the final version exepting the .ico format.  I haven't decided yet on a price for version 1.0, but it will probably be anywhere from $20.00 to &50.00 US.  More on the pricing later though.  A possible completion date for the demo shareware version is probably sometime in June or July.  Once the demo version is released, anyone will be able to become a beta tester if they provide important information that hasn't already been brought attention to.  Anyone who helps to complete the final product or give ideas will be given a free full version of ICORip upon completion.  Furthermore, they will be able to get later versions of ICORip for free.  Although, this information has to be completely new and useful to the betterment of the program.  So if you have any suggestions, comments, or bug reports, contact me and you may be entitled to a free full version of ICORip.

------------------<CREDITS>
Coding / GUI
Original Idea ------------- Nathaniel D. Gibson (StackSwitch Software)
Extra Ideas
anti-aliasing & layering functions
line & circle algorithms
Moral support ------------- Joe Antoon (jofers)
alpha-blending function optimization --- Eclipzer
Moral support
Extra Ideas --------------- Nethergoth
Special Thanks ------------ Everyone at the QB45.com message board!

-------------<CONTACT INFO>
Any questions, comments, bugs? Contact:

Nathaniel D. Gibson (StackSwitch software)
E-Mail: ndgibson@wans.net
http://stackswitch.tripod.com
ICQ:  107620194