      --> SYMBOLS Embroidery Charting System <--
	           by James Lehman
               Extra Stimulus Software

This is the demonstration of Symbols.
It is designed to create only one chart called Chart.BMP.

The program will notify you that a file of over 7 meg
will be produced by running this program.
That is why these charts are so easy to read;
super high resolution !

After running Symbols.EXE,
Chart.BMP will appear in the same directory as Symbols.EXE.

Obviously, this application can not be run from a floppy disk.

Sampler.BMP is included in this zip only as a reference.
Changing the contents of this file will have no effect
on the results of running the application.

Also, all of the symbols used in this demonstration
are separate files; 1.BMP through 11.BMP.
Only 10 unique symbols (colors of thread) are used in this chart,
and the eleventh symbol is blank (no thread, no symbol).

This demonstration is actually a part of BMPtools.ZIP,
and each of these bitmaps contains a unique color palette
for use by another application demonstration
(P_change.EXE included in BMPtools.ZIP).

Palette information is not even read from these files by Symbols.EXE.
Only the pixel index byte map (the picture itself) is read.

If you view the bitmaps included with this zip, and "save"
them back to disk, the application might not work properly.
Some image editors rearrange the order of the palette upon saving.
You might have to unzip Symbols.ZIP again, and start all over.

In the registered version of Symbols, you can apply the charting system
to any 8 bit 256 color palette bitmap (within reasonable size limits),
and all of the individual symbols come from only one bitmap;
simply called Symbols.BMP.

Open Sampler.BMP in your favorite image editor.
Zoom into the picture so that it fills up the screen,
and you can see each individual pixel as a square

This is how you would go about creating your own design:

1.	Using your favorite Windows image editor,
	create a new image file (8 bit, 256 color palette).
	Select the size of this file (height and width) based on
	the number of threads per inch of your cloth, and its size.
	ie: if you are using 14 count cloth, and you want a 5 inch
	square picture, that would be 14 x 5 = 70 pixels square.
	(Not very big at all, is it ?)
	File dpi is irrelevant, but just for laughs, make it 14.
	Zoom into this blank image so that it fills the screen,
	and find out how to display and edit the palette.

2.	Make sure that the background of this new bitmap is all set
	to palette index 255, and that palette index 255 is set to 
	a good color to represent your cloth (usually white).

3.	Pick the charting symbols (by number) that you want to use for the
	colors of thread that will be in the design, and set the corresponding 
	palette indexes to those colors. Only the first 87 indexes
	(0 through 86) have corresponding chart symbols; unless you define
	your own symbols in the 20 extra blank spaces provided in Symbols.BMP
	(indexes 87 to 107).

4.	Use the colors (palette indexes) you have picked to draw your design.
	Each pixel you set to a chosen color on the screen,
	will represent one stitch, and will be replaced by a
	symbol for that color in the resultant chart.

5.	When you have finished your design, name it, and save it to the disk.
	It must be saved as an 8 bit 256 color BMP file, or else Symbols.EXE
	will not be able to read it properly.

6.	Run Symbols.EXE by double clicking on its icon.
	Find, and open your file using the "Open File" dialog box that appears.
	The program will create a new name for the resultant chart.
	You can change this name, if you like.

7.	Select "OK" and the program will begin.
	First, it will check to see if your design was properly rendered.
	If all seems to be well, it will then go about making your chart.
	Depending on the speed of your system, and the size of your original
	design, this might take a while (3 minutes to an hour or more).
	Hey, it could be a HUGE chart.
	
8.	When it's all done, open up the chart in an image editor, and print it.
	Do not use screen matching color correction.
	If your printer is not 360 dot per inch, you will have to change
	the dpi of the file to match that of your printer.
	You might want to download BMPtools.ZIP.
	It contains a lot of computer graphics and printing information
	that might be useful in using this program most effectively.

9.	If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me anytime.

If you like what you see, for any reason, please contact me either by Email or Snail mail.

I am asking $45 (US) for a fully functional installation of Symbols.
That would include several example designs, methods for printing an ordered list
of all available symbols, instructions on use of the program,
and all the Email support you need. 

If you are interested in obtaining a registered copy of Symbols, I can either
mail disks to you, or attach it to an Email letter. I prefer US Postal Money Orders.
Make payable to James Lehman.

james@rainbow-akron.com

James Lehman
P. O. Box 1054
Akron, Ohio  44309
