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What's
the Difference Between
Graphics Tools Standard and Pro?
More Graphics Windows While Graphics Tools Standard allows your
programs to create as many as four (4) graphics windows at the same time,
Graphics Tools Pro can create up to 256. Make them
visible, or use the extra windows as hidden "scratch pads" where your
programs can draw behind the scenes, then transfer the finished drawing to a
visible window. Great for GET/PUT style graphics programming!
Sizable and Movable Graphics Windows
Graphics Tools Pro can create movable and resizable graphics windows
with horizontal and vertical scroll bars, and much more. If
you like you can allow your users to resize and
move graphics windows manually, using the mouse. You can even create
"stretchable" graphics windows with images that
expand and contract as the window is resized.
Improved Control Over the Graphics Window The
Pro version's GfxMove,
GfxResize, and GfxScroll
functions can be used to control graphics windows
programmatically.
Gradients Most Graphics Tools figures (circles, rectangles,
polygons, pies, cubes, etc.) can be filled using
the Pro version's Gradients instead of solid
colors. In addition to the familiar "blue fade", gradients provide a huge
selection of very impressive color
effects! Predefined gradients can be loaded
with the GradientLoad function, or you can
create your own with the UseGradient and
GradientValue functions. Tell Graphics Tools
which figures should be filled with a Gradient instead of a Brush by using
the GradientBrush function, save your Gradients
for future use with the GradientSave function,
and access the colors of your gradients one by one with the
GradientColor function.
The DrawTube Function DrawTube
draws a cylinder without an "end cap", resulting in a realistic
tube effect when an appropriate Gradient is used.
Combine the Pro version's Gradients with the new 3D figures, and you
won't believe your eyes!
Drag-Drop Capability The GfxDroppedFiles
function gives you the names of disk files that
have been dragged and dropped on a graphics window, as well as the exact
location where the drop occurred.
Auto-Play of Animated Icons and Cursors
The new AutoPlayCursor,
AutoPlayIcon, and
AutoPlayControl functions allow your programs to play animations
continuously, without any extra "play loop" code.
Printing of Images Graphics Tools Pro supports the printing of
high-resolution, full-color graphics images. The
GfxPrintWindow and GfxPrintArea
functions can print all or part of any graphics window's image, and the
GfxPrintSetup and
GfxPrintPageSetup functions can be used to provide the user with
standard printing-oriented dialog boxes. The
GfxPrintStatus function reports the status
of the most recently submitted print job, the
GfxPrintParam function can be used to set certain printing parameters
programmatically, and GfxPrintDefaults resets
the printing functions to use the system default printer.
Display JPEG Files The new
DisplayJpeg, StretchJpeg,
and CropJpeg functions allow the display of
JPEG image files on any system. (Graphics Tools Standard can display
JPEGs, but only if Windows is configured to
support JPEGs. Graphics Tools Pro can display JPEGs on any
Windows computer.)
Save JPEG Files The
SaveGfxWindow and
SaveGfxArea functions have been enhanced to allow Graphics Tools
programs to save internet-compatible JPEG files
with 4:1:1 or 4:2:2 sampling,
in a variety of quality levels. (Graphics Tools Standard cannot
save JPEG files.)
JPEG File Information The Pro version also includes the
JpegParam function, which can retrieve "size"
information from a JPEG file without displaying it.
Clip Areas The Pro version's
flexible GfxClipArea function can be used to
define areas of a graphics window where drawing will be allowed or rejected.
A clip area can be any size and shape that you want to define -- you can
even define multiple clip areas -- and any drawing operations that take
place outside the specified area will not be visible. Clip areas are
indispensable for creating a wide variety of otherwise hard-to-draw figures!
The
most powerful and flexible features
are
available only in Graphics Tools Pro!
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