The Pan# User Manual
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3
The Pan# Viewer
The Pan viewer selects the Pan program to execute, manages the image
controls for a running program, and saves images
and settings. Here we describe the menus provided by the viewer.
File >> Open
The "Open" command selects a .pan file to execute and view.
If the file has already been
compiled (a .dll with the same name newer than the .pan
file exists) the previously compiled program will load and run.
Occasionally it is necessary to delete a .dll by hand to get a
program to compile. If there is an error during compilation, the
system will display a
brief error message and abort compilation. Compilation will fail if
the .pan is in use by a different viewer process.
File >> Save Settings, File >> Restore Settings
The "Save Settings" and "Restore Settings" commands capture and
restore the position of all controls attached to the current picture.
This creates or restores a snapshot of the current settings of all
controls attached to an image. A .panset file saves the
control information
but not the program itself. When you open a .panset file it
must be in the same directory that the associated .pan file.
File >> Copy
The "Copy" command places the current image on the clipboard. By
default, the image will be the same size as the current viewing
window. You can select a different canvas size with the
"Preferences" command - this allows you to create an image bigger than
the screen size. Increasing the screen size does not normally make an
image bigger - it usually just shows more of an image. If you want to
be able to increase the resolution of your image as the canvas size
increases, use a fit function to precisely indicate the region
you wish to see. For example, if the interesting part of your picture
is found in the unit square, do the following:
picture = fit ((0,0), (1,1)) picture1
picture1 = ...
File >> Preferences
The "Preferences" command sets the canvas size of
images saved to disk or the clipboard.. The canvas size resets
the current window size anytime the viewing window is resized.
Anti-aliasing passes improve
the image quality but slow down rendering.
File >> Save Picture
The "Save Picture" command works in the same manner as the "Copy"
command, placing the image in a file instead of on the
clipboard. Pictures can be saved in either gif or jpg format.
File >> Make Movie
The "Make Movie" command applies only to images that contain one or more timer
controls. This command writes a succession of images out to a
selected directory. You need to use a gif animator or other movie
creation program to convert this directory of images into
quicktime movie or animated gif format. The first frame of the movie is
always at time 0; the time increment between frames and the duration
of the movie are selected in the control panel.
Controls >> Pause
Stop the motion of all timers in the image.
Controls >> Reset Timers
Reset all timers to 0.
Controls >> Separate Window
The controls (sliders, image selectors, and such) for an image may be
placed in the same window as the image or in a separate window. This
command attaches or detaches the controls from an image.
Controls >> Show Controls
Bring a detached control window to the front.
Controls >> Randomize
Use the "Randomize" command to select a new set of random numbers
to parameterize the image. This only applies to images that have the
randoms or randoms2 controls.
Controls >> Reset Randoms
Similar to "Randomize" except the same set of random numbers is
always generated.
View >> Pan Sourcecode
Selecting the "pan sourcecode" command places the current program in
the Wordpad editor. If you change the program in the editor window
you will need to exit the viewer and open the source code in a new
viewer.
View >> Show Movable Points
When an image contains movable points (one of the control devices) the
"Show Movable Points" command will paint small circles over
each movable point. These circles go away when a point
is selected.
3
.1 Using Pan Controls
Most of the control devices operate in an obvious manner. Here are
some of the more subtle aspects of the controls.
- Sliders allow you to enter the value directly as text as well as use the
mouse to adjust the slider. If you enter a value outside the range
of the slider you can enter a new maximum and minimum for the
slider.
- An image selector has two buttons: one that looks in the same
directory as the .pan file and another, labeled "M", that
goes to the Media directory that comes with Pan#.
- Timers can either start over or stop when they reach the end of their range,
depending on the check box on the timer. A timer always starts from
0.
- An image that uses movable points should make the location of these
points visible in the picture so that the user know where the
adjustable points are found.
- The mouse control only tracks the mouse when it is down over the
viewing window. At other times it stays at the last place moused in
the view window.
The Pan# User Manual
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March, 2004