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MicroDesign Plus

Started by arnoldemu, 12:22, 03 December 17

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ComSoft6128

#200
1993/94?
Raw material 3.
64K Landscape and Portrait formats.
These shapes were created by Amstrad Action type-ins or possibly a PD software program. The Ellipse file reminds me of Eye.Bas (?) which drew an eye (very slowly) that filled the whole of the standard screen and then moved the pupil from left to right - when used with the Videomaster and a large screen TV the effect was quite disconcerting.

ComSoft6128

#201
1990/91 (?)

And in the beginning (2)......

The original MicroDesign released in 1988 had no text import function. This was a major program defect.
Text could be added to the MD page by using the "Write" option but this was not a practical solution for anyone wishing to create a large body of text.
The program outlined in the scan below was written by WACCI member J. Harpur and provided the solution to this irritating problem - it was now possible to create large documents, using any of the CPC word-processors, and transfer the text to MicroDesign. A version of the program was later incorporated as one of the options in the MicroDesign Plus file conversion menu.

Info on WACCI is here:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/WACCI

ComSoft6128

#202
1992

This is the MicroDesign Plus text conversion menu - the much improved version of the file outlined in the previous post.

ComSoft6128

#203
1992 - 1996
MicroDesign Label printing.
Labels could either be printed using the Portrait or Strip formats - Strip format allowed for two high resolution labels to be printed but for convenience/speed (six labels per page) the Portrait format was my preferred choice.  Note that the two last photographs show tractor fed label sheets - these were for dot matrix printers only.  The other photographs show sheets of labels that could be used in dot matrix or ink jet printers. When printing using ink jet printers care had to be taken as the labels were less absorbent than paper and this could lead to smudging. The labels were a standard size and fitted both 3" discs and 3.5" disks.

ComSoft6128

#204
1992 - 1995 (?)
Raw Material (4)
Rombo Vidi Mode 2 screens loaded into MicroDesign Plus ready for conversion to MD format (.DR) files. Mode 1 screens could be converted/used but for best resolution Mode 2 was essential.

Gibard2 is by NZ cartoonist Les Gibbard - see earlier in the thread.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Gibbard

Girl 1 - Don't remember the source video for this one.

Jason 1 and 2 are the same image grabbed from the 1963 film "Jason and the Argonauts"  and was compulsory Saturday afternoon viewing on BBC2 for what felt like decades. If I remember correctly the screen file from Vidi grabs saved the inks (black or white) in a format which was the reverse of the default MD file so a file inversion option was included prior to saving as a MicroDesign file.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_and_the_Argonauts_(1963_film)

I think that  Laibach 1 and 2  are from a music video by the Slovenian pranksters Laibach , who are known for their use of totalitarian imagery - music videos were a good source of striking/unusual images due to the need of these videos to make a strong impact on the viewer in three or four minutes.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laibach

Oldtown - I really like this but I don't think its one of mine.

These files are just a sample of the 400 plus CPC 17K screen files (mostly mode 2 but some mode 1) that I have on Romdos D20 disks that I hope to transfer to the PC world in the near future.  When they become available on IMGUR (thanks Gryzor) I will post a link in the Forum so that they will be available to anyone in the CPC community.

ComSoft6128

#205
1994
Mode 2 Rombo Vidi screen converted using MicroDesign Plus then loaded into the main MicroDesign program ready for manipulation. This photo shows the Design page - the bottom window which normally displays the current icon set or large font options has been removed (using Ctrl/Shift/Esc) to increase the work area.


Update 9/4/19
A short video showing some simple MicroDesign functions can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5GKEzNZvjQ&t=17s

ComSoft6128

#206
This 27 minute video displays 23 files from MicroDesign Plus users. Some interesting pre 1995 designs here.
Not emulated - original hardware and software.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9vDrmpZKi0




ComSoft6128

#207
This 11 minute video shows various scans (in strip format) from MD Plus users and the Aspects Bulletin Board.
Usually a large hi-res graphic would consist of between 2-4 "strips" which could make up to a full A4 page in size.
Interestingly some of these files do not appear to be hi-res but as I know nothing about the original source
material I can't really comment on them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEA8TeMYSSE

ComSoft6128

#208
Pre 1995 Mode 2 screens captured using the ROMBO Vidi digitiser - the screens are displayed using MicroDesign Plus with one screen near the end of the video converted to MD format and then loaded into the program.
A Mode 1 screen is accidentally loaded at 5:00 which produces a strobe like effect.
Not emulated - original hardware and software.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb2H1kt12HY&t=16s


Links:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/VIDI_digitizer#Pictures


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ParaDOS


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROMDOS

ComSoft6128

#209
Modifying a ROMBO Vidi TV screen grab using MD+.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZPtC9vtbC8

Links:

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MicroDesign

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/VIDI_digitizer

Not emulated - original hardware and software
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor has

an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#210
45 PCW MicroDesign 2 files converted to CPC MicroDesign Plus format.

Large Clip-art files downloaded from the Aspects Bulletin Board sometime before 1995.
Some of these are hand drawn, some are scans and one (EASTWOOD.DR) is a digitised image captured using the PCW Rombo Vidi device.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqJHSSDW2bA


Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulleti...


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Aspec...


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Micro...

Review of the PCW ROMBO Vidi from 8000 Plus magazine

https://archive.org/details/8000-plus-magazine-09/page/n57

Not emulated - original hardware and software
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube is 16:9 but the CPC monitor has
an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#211
1991/92(?) Full A4 page - Spoof newsletter - "The CPC Times"

This MicroDesign file, and others, were available from the WACCI PD library.
Screen captured using the ROMBO Vidi digitiser.

N.B.
"OMG" was the humorous nickname  for Steve "Old Misery Guts" Williams the 2nd WACCI editor.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko5S5_fJM9g

Links:

https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/WACCI

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/VIDI_digitizer#Manual

https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MicroDesign

Review of the ROMBO Vidi in Amstrad Action and Amstrad Computer User:

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-015/page/n23
https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser25-1286/page/n47

Not emulated - original hardware and software
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#212
This short (1:55) video shows the speed at which a large graphic file can be moved on the A4 page.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXI7Rmtl1jY

Link:

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title=MicroDesign&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that the aspect ratio for YouTube is 16:9 but the CPC monitor has
an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#213
Microdesign clip-art converted from the PCW and PC.

Various PCW clip-art from Creative Technology (MicroDesign) Ltd, one converted ROMBO Vidi screen grab, one complete A4 MicroDesign Plus page and one example of a converted PC scan. The files are stored in User areas 0 - 3.
Note the use of RUN"DISC (Ctrl + F3) from Protext command mode near the beginning of the video.

Clip-art shown between 0:00 - 15:00
Full A4 design (Deadgods.dr) and Vidi grab 15:30 -21:00
Converted PC file (Falcon.dr - shown at the beginning of this thread) 23:00 to end.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxC4sj1WwrM&t=45s

Links:

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title...

https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Gold...

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Rombo...

https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/AMSDOS

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#214
Building an A4 page in six minutes.

This is the front cover of the 1992 MicroDesign Plus manual.

"Here's one I made earlier"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39vT-8Xzz54&t=15s

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#215
1993

Goldmark MD Page Printer for 24-Pin and Inkjet printers.

Instructions for this program are on page 5 of this thread.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC-bu0u4KVc



Amstrad Action review:
https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-089/page/n19/mode/1up


Other Links:
http://www.riscos.com/support/users/budgetdtp/chap10.htm#l0092


https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/28/science/peripherals-printer-problems-cured.html


https://my.okidata.com/MAN-393.NSF/MOCContents/E9783C3BA707472F852562F4003D995B?OpenDocument


https://cpcrulez.fr/info-goldmark_systems.htm


https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Goldmark_Systems


Not emulated - original hardware and software

Please note the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor has
an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#216
Pre 1992 UK disc of clip-art and larger designs for the original MicroDesign page processor which was released by Siren Software in 1988.
In this video I look at the some of the clip-art, the larger designs and load in one of the large font sets.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF7ZeN5Fl6o


Video of French PD files here:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/demos/atoutfanz-3-art-bank-by-electro-jack/

Other Links:

https://cpcrulez.fr/demostestSL_the_design_ep.htm

https://cpcrulez.fr/info-siren_software.htm

https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=staff&lenom=Siren%20Software

Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that  the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#217
MicroDesign Plus/Oxford PAO - Image Isolation


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrzhNLKujy4&t=16s

In this video I will show how easy it was/is to select one MD image from a screen of MD clip-art and remove the rest of the clip-art to allow the selected image to be used in a fanzine or poster.
Incidentally after making the video I  found that the image chosen was "borrowed" from this game:


https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=387

https://cpcrulez.fr/GamesTest/le_synopsis_de_biat.htm


Other Links:

https://cpcrulez.fr/demostestSL_atoutfanz_3_art_bank.htm

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MicroDesign

https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_PAO-micro_design_plus.htm

https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=3971


Not emulated - original hardware and software.

Please note that  the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

ComSoft6128

#218
French MicroDesign/Oxford PAO file from 1996.

MicroDesign was particularly good at document creation with the assembled page printed immediately or saved for use/modification at a later date. Alternatively, sections (size defined by the user) of the complete page could be saved as separate files (components!) for use in creating a new document - you could say that this is the "Lego" approach to DTP.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CurDqB7n2wg


MD links:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MicroDesign
https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_PAO-micro_design_plus.htm

BOXON 3 Disczine:
https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=8198

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that  the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.


ComSoft6128

#219
Oxford PAO/MicroDesign Overscan screen by Jacques De Lamar (Elektro Jack)

Well this was a pleasant surprise.
An overscan screen created using mode 2 Oxford PAO/MicroDesign
(.DR ) files.  I'll be looking at the 1996 utility that enables this in a
later video - guaranteed!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzxZeEamPYQ

Oxford PAO/MicroDesign reviews & info:
https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_PAO-micro_design_plus.htm
https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_pao-micro_design.htm?t=Uw==
https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_pao-micro_design.htm?t=Ug==
https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_pao-micro_design.htm?t=VA==
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MicroDesign
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MicroDesign_Plus


Other links:
https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=13589
https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=staff&lenom=Jacques%20DE%20LAMAR
https://cpcrulez.fr/auteur-jacques_de_lamar.htm

Not emulated - original hardware and software.
Please note that  the aspect ratio for this YouTube video is 16:9 but the CPC monitor
has an aspect ratio of 4:3 so you may wish to adjust your viewing device accordingly.

Titi

would anyone be interested in creating a paper fanzine?


m_dr_m

Quote from: Titi on 13:42, 30 March 22
would anyone be interested in creating a paper fanzine?



Yes :)

Titi

Quote from: m_dr_m on 08:07, 07 April 22
Quote from: Titi on 13:42, 30 March 22
would anyone be interested in creating a paper fanzine?




Yes :)
With micro design ok ? A fanzine like in the great era of fanzines

GUNHED

Do it in English please or even better in French, Spanish, German, English. And other languages if you find somebody to translat.

If you need a translation into German, just send me the English texts.
http://futureos.de --> Get the revolutionary FutureOS (Update: 2023.11.30)
http://futureos.cpc-live.com/files/LambdaSpeak_RSX_by_TFM.zip --> Get the RSX-ROM for LambdaSpeak :-) (Updated: 2021.12.26)

Titi

Quote from: GUNHED on 14:36, 07 April 22Do it in English please or even better in French, Spanish, German, English. And other languages if you find somebody to translat.

If you need a translation into German, just send me the English texts.
Like EUROSTRAD . Yes, it is to be discussed indeed

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