
							 ANIMATE - Version 1.00
								17th April, 1998

					   Copyright (c) 1998, Alan McFarlane

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	ANIMATE is a small DOS based utility for converting a series of images
	into an animated GIF, suitable for displaying in www browsers.

	Features:

	*	Selectable background color (for cropping or transparencies)

	*	Cropping of images to reduce image size and required bandwidth

	*	Selectable delay period between images

	*	Optional repeat values

	*	Built in color quantization (based on the octree algorithm)

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Formats:

		Input:

			24 bit .TGA images

			I use POV-Ray - The Persistence of Vision Ray-Tracer - to create
			all the images I use on www pages.

		Output:

			8 bit NETSCAPE 2.0 enhanced animated .GIF images

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Cost:

		Not a bean - Free - Zero - Nil - Bugger All - Ziltch - Nothing - FOC

		Well, okay, send me a note saying how much you like it (preferably a
		ten pound note!)

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Restrictions:

		ANIMATE as a package must be distributed in its original unmodified
		form. Currently, that is the file ANIM-100.ZIP.

		You MUST NOT distribute ANIMATE in any other form.

		You MUST NOT alter any of the contents of the distribution file.

		You MUST NOT claim this package as your own.

		You MAY upload this package (in its original undmodifed form) to
		any bulletin board, web site, or ftp site.

		Anyone wishing to bundle this package on a magazine cover disk MUST
		contact me before-hand via email to ensure that they recieve the
		most current version.

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Disclaimer:

		#include <std\disclaimer.h>

		I cannot be held responsible for any problems which ANIMATE may
		generate. If you do not agree to this, DO NOT USE IT.

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Requirements:

		486+, 4Mb RAM (required for DPMI services - I think)

		CWSDPMI server - which is made available alongside this package. The
		file CWSDPMI.EXE must be in the path.

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Using ANIMATE under different operating systems:

		DOS				Okay

		Windows 3.1x	Not tested

		Windows 95		Works in a DOS shell (on my machine anyway)

		Windows NT		Not tested

		OS/2 (Warp)		Not tested - give me a break

		If you do use ANIMATE under any of these environments or any others
		then please let so know so I can update this documentation.

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Contacting me:

		Currently, you can contact me via email, at:

			amcfarlane@bigfoot.com

		or visit my web pages at Xoom:

			http://members.xoom.com/amcfarlane

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	What's New

		Nothing - This is version 1.00 after all...

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	What's Coming

	*	The ability to extract images from ZIP files

	*	Support for more input image formats - .BMP, .PCX, .JPG

	*	Selectable color reduction (quantization) methods

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Usage:

		ANIMATE [option(s)] filename(s)

	Options:

		/Bcolor		Background color for cropping/transparency
		/C			Crop images
		/Ddelay		Delay period between frames
		/Ofilename	Output filename
		/Rrepeat	Repeat count
		/T			Make background color transparent
		/V			Verbose mode

	Description:

		Background Color:								Default: #000000

			The background color is used during cropping and for making
			transparent image and should be specified in the following form:

				#RRGGBB

			This is a "color triplet" some examples of which are shown
			below:

				#000000		Black
				#000080		Navy
				#C0C0C0		Silver
				#FFFFFF		White

			Further examples are shown later, complete with their POV-Ray
			color value.

		Cropping:										Default: Disabled

			Images can be cropped

		Delay Period:									Default: 0

			The delay period is actually the delay between displaying each
			frame of the animation, given in 1/100ths of a second. Valid
			periods are 0 (no delay) to 65535 (almost 11 minutes).

		Output Filename:								Default: see below

			If you don't specify an output file name, ANIMATE will use the
			name of the first input file without any trailing numbers:

			ie:

				ANIMATE /Osample *.tga

					produces sample.gif from logo01.tga, logo02.tga

				ANIMATE *.tga

					would produce logo.gif from the same set of files

		Repeat Count:									Default: 0

			The repeat count is the number of times to repeat the animation.
			Valid range is 1 to 65535. Specifying a repeat count of 0 will
			repeat the animation indefinetly.

		Transparency:									Default: Disabled

			By enabling transparency, any pixel that matches the background
			color will be made transparent. Beware when using anti-aliased
			images as the background color of the image, if it does not
			match the target background, will produce a strange outline.

		Verbose Mode:									Default: Disabled

			Turning this on results in information being presented to you at
			each step of the process. It's only of general interest, but can
			be usefull when converting a large number of frames just so you
			know that something is happening.

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Examples:

		Come on, it's not that difficult. Just try

			ANIMATE *.tga

		and see what happens!

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Background Color Examples:

		Color Name				Triplet		POV color code

		AliceBlue				#F0F8FF		rgb <0.941176,0.972549,1.000000>
		AntiqueWhite			#FAEBD7		rgb <0.980392,0.921569,0.843137>
		Aqua					#00FFFF		rgb <0.000000,1.000000,1.000000>
		Aquamarine				#7FFFD4		rgb <0.498039,1.000000,0.831373>
		Azure					#F0FFFF		rgb <0.941176,1.000000,1.000000>
		Beige					#F5F5DC		rgb <0.960784,0.960784,0.862745>
		Bisque					#FFE4C4		rgb <1.000000,0.894118,0.768627>
		Black					#000000		rgb <0.000000,0.000000,0.000000>
		BlanchedAlmond			#FFEBCD		rgb <1.000000,0.921569,0.803922>
		Blue					#0000FF		rgb <0.000000,0.000000,1.000000>
		BlueViolet				#8A2BE2		rgb <0.541176,0.168627,0.886275>
		Brown					#A52A2A		rgb <0.647059,0.164706,0.164706>
		BurlyWood				#DEB887		rgb <0.870588,0.721569,0.529412>
		CadetBlue				#5F9EA0		rgb <0.372549,0.619608,0.627451>
		Chartreuse				#7FFF00		rgb <0.498039,1.000000,0.000000>
		Chocolate				#D2691E		rgb <0.823529,0.411765,0.117647>
		Coral					#FF7F50		rgb <1.000000,0.498039,0.313725>
		CornflowerBlue			#6495ED		rgb <0.392157,0.584314,0.929412>
		Cornsilk				#FFF8DC		rgb <1.000000,0.972549,0.862745>
		Crimson					#DC143C		rgb <0.862745,0.078431,0.235294>
		Cyan					#00FFFF		rgb <0.000000,1.000000,1.000000>
		DarkBlue				#00008B		rgb <0.000000,0.000000,0.545098>
		DarkCyan				#008B8B		rgb <0.000000,0.545098,0.545098>
		DarkGoldenrod			#B8860B		rgb <0.721569,0.525490,0.043137>
		DarkGray				#A9A9A9		rgb <0.662745,0.662745,0.662745>
		DarkGreen				#006400		rgb <0.000000,0.392157,0.000000>
		DarkKhaki				#BDB76B		rgb <0.741176,0.717647,0.419608>
		DarkMagenta				#8B008B		rgb <0.545098,0.000000,0.545098>
		DarkOliveGreen			#556B2F		rgb <0.333333,0.419608,0.184314>
		DarkOrange				#FF8C00		rgb <1.000000,0.549020,0.000000>
		DarkOrchid				#9932CC		rgb <0.600000,0.196078,0.800000>
		DarkRed					#8B0000		rgb <0.545098,0.000000,0.000000>
		DarkSalmon				#E9967A		rgb <0.913725,0.588235,0.478431>
		DarkSeaGreen			#8FBC8F		rgb <0.560784,0.737255,0.560784>
		DarkSlateBlue			#483D8B		rgb <0.282353,0.239216,0.545098>
		DarkSlateGray			#2F4F4F		rgb <0.184314,0.309804,0.309804>
		DarkTurquoise			#00CED1		rgb <0.000000,0.807843,0.819608>
		DarkViolet				#9400D3		rgb <0.580392,0.000000,0.827451>
		DeepPink				#FF1493		rgb <1.000000,0.078431,0.576471>
		DeepSkyBlue				#00BFFF		rgb <0.000000,0.749020,1.000000>
		DimGray					#696969		rgb <0.411765,0.411765,0.411765>
		DodgerBlue				#1E900F		rgb <0.117647,0.564706,0.058824>
		FireBrick				#B22222		rgb <0.698039,0.133333,0.133333>
		FloralWhite				#FFFAF0		rgb <1.000000,0.980392,0.941176>
		ForestGreen				#228B22		rgb <0.133333,0.545098,0.133333>
		Fuchsia					#FF00FF		rgb <1.000000,0.000000,1.000000>
		Gainsboro				#DCDCDC		rgb <0.862745,0.862745,0.862745>
		GhostWhite				#F8F8FF		rgb <0.972549,0.972549,1.000000>
		Gold					#FFD700		rgb <1.000000,0.843137,0.000000>
		Goldenrod				#DAA520		rgb <0.854902,0.647059,0.125490>
		Gray					#808080		rgb <0.501961,0.501961,0.501961>
		Green					#008000		rgb <0.000000,0.501961,0.000000>
		GreenWellow				#ADFF2F		rgb <0.678431,1.000000,0.184314>
		Honeydew				#F0FFF0		rgb <0.941176,1.000000,0.941176>
		HotPink					#FF69B4		rgb <1.000000,0.411765,0.705882>
		IndianRed				#CD5C5C		rgb <0.803922,0.360784,0.360784>
		Indigo					#4B0082		rgb <0.294118,0.000000,0.509804>
		Ivory					#FFFFF0		rgb <1.000000,1.000000,0.941176>
		Khaki					#F0E68C		rgb <0.941176,0.901961,0.549020>
		Lavender				#E6E6FA		rgb <0.901961,0.901961,0.980392>
		LavenderBlush			#FFF0F5		rgb <1.000000,0.941176,0.960784>
		LawnGreen				#7CFC00		rgb <0.486275,0.988235,0.000000>
		LemonChiffon			#FFFACD		rgb <1.000000,0.980392,0.803922>
		LightBlue				#ADD8E6		rgb <0.678431,0.847059,0.901961>
		LightCoral				#F08080		rgb <0.941176,0.501961,0.501961>
		LightCyan				#E0FFFF		rgb <0.878431,1.000000,1.000000>
		LightGoldenrodYellow	#FAFAD2		rgb <0.980392,0.980392,0.823529>
		LightGreen				#90EE90		rgb <0.564706,0.933333,0.564706>
		LightGrey				#D3D3D3		rgb <0.827451,0.827451,0.827451>
		LightPink				#FFB6C1		rgb <1.000000,0.713725,0.756863>
		LightSalmon				#FFA07A		rgb <1.000000,0.627451,0.478431>
		LightSeaGreen			#200B2A		rgb <0.125490,0.043137,0.164706>
		LightSkyBlue			#87CEFA		rgb <0.529412,0.807843,0.980392>
		LightSlateGray			#778899		rgb <0.466667,0.533333,0.600000>
		LightSteelBlue			#B00C4D		rgb <0.690196,0.047059,0.301961>
		LightYellow				#FFFFE0		rgb <1.000000,1.000000,0.878431>
		Lime					#00FF00		rgb <0.000000,1.000000,0.000000>
		LimeGreen				#32CD32		rgb <0.196078,0.803922,0.196078>
		Linen					#FAF0E6		rgb <0.980392,0.941176,0.901961>
		Magenta					#FF00FF		rgb <1.000000,0.000000,1.000000>
		Maroon					#800000		rgb <0.501961,0.000000,0.000000>
		MediumAquamarine		#66CDAA		rgb <0.400000,0.803922,0.666667>
		MediumBlue				#0000CD		rgb <0.000000,0.000000,0.803922>
		MediumOrchid			#BA55D3		rgb <0.729412,0.333333,0.827451>
		MediumPurple			#9370DB		rgb <0.576471,0.439216,0.858824>
		MediumSeaGreen			#3CB371		rgb <0.235294,0.701961,0.443137>
		MediumSlateBlue			#7B68EE		rgb <0.482353,0.407843,0.933333>
		MediumSpringGreen		#00FA9A		rgb <0.000000,0.980392,0.603922>
		MediumTurquoise			#48D1CC		rgb <0.282353,0.819608,0.800000>
		MediumVioletRed			#C71585		rgb <0.780392,0.082353,0.521569>
		MidnightBlue			#191970		rgb <0.098039,0.098039,0.439216>
		MintCream				#F5FFFA		rgb <0.960784,1.000000,0.980392>
		MistyRose				#FFE4E1		rgb <1.000000,0.894118,0.882353>
		Moccasin				#FFE4B5		rgb <1.000000,0.894118,0.709804>
		NavajoWhite				#FFDEAD		rgb <1.000000,0.870588,0.678431>
		Navy					#000080		rgb <0.000000,0.000000,0.501961>
		OldLace					#FDF5E6		rgb <0.992157,0.960784,0.901961>
		Olive					#808000		rgb <0.501961,0.501961,0.000000>
		OliveDrab				#6B8E23		rgb <0.419608,0.556863,0.137255>
		Orange					#FFA500		rgb <1.000000,0.647059,0.000000>
		OrangeRed				#FF4500		rgb <1.000000,0.270588,0.000000>
		Orchid					#DA70D6		rgb <0.854902,0.439216,0.839216>
		PaleGoldenrod			#EEE8AA		rgb <0.933333,0.909804,0.666667>
		PaleGreen				#98FB98		rgb <0.596078,0.984314,0.596078>
		PaleTurquoise			#AFEEEE		rgb <0.686275,0.933333,0.933333>
		PaleVioletRed			#DB7093		rgb <0.858824,0.439216,0.576471>
		PapayaWhip				#FFEFD5		rgb <1.000000,0.937255,0.835294>
		PeachPuff				#FFDAB9		rgb <1.000000,0.854902,0.725490>
		Peru					#CD853F		rgb <0.803922,0.521569,0.247059>
		Pink					#FFC0CB		rgb <1.000000,0.752941,0.796078>
		Plum					#DDA0DD		rgb <0.866667,0.627451,0.866667>
		PowderBlue				#B0E0E6		rgb <0.690196,0.878431,0.901961>
		Purple					#800080		rgb <0.501961,0.000000,0.501961>
		Red						#FF0000		rgb <1.000000,0.000000,0.000000>
		RosyBrown				#BC8F8F		rgb <0.737255,0.560784,0.560784>
		RoyalBlue				#4169E1		rgb <0.254902,0.411765,0.882353>
		SaddleBrown				#8B4513		rgb <0.545098,0.270588,0.074510>
		Salmon					#FA8072		rgb <0.980392,0.501961,0.447059>
		SandyBrown				#F4A460		rgb <0.956863,0.643137,0.376471>
		SeaGreen				#2E8B57		rgb <0.180392,0.545098,0.341176>
		SeaShell				#FFF5EE		rgb <1.000000,0.960784,0.933333>
		Sienna					#A0522D		rgb <0.627451,0.321569,0.176471>
		Silver					#C0C0C0		rgb <0.752941,0.752941,0.752941>
		SkyBlue					#87CEEB		rgb <0.529412,0.807843,0.921569>
		SlateBlue				#6A5ACD		rgb <0.415686,0.352941,0.803922>
		SlateGray				#708090		rgb <0.439216,0.501961,0.564706>
		Snow					#FFFAFA		rgb <1.000000,0.980392,0.980392>
		SpringGreen				#00FF7F		rgb <0.000000,1.000000,0.498039>
		SteelBlue				#4682B4		rgb <0.274510,0.509804,0.705882>
		Tan						#D2B48C		rgb <0.823529,0.705882,0.549020>
		Teal					#008080		rgb <0.000000,0.501961,0.501961>
		Thistle					#D8BFD8		rgb <0.847059,0.749020,0.847059>
		Tomato					#FF6347		rgb <1.000000,0.388235,0.278431>
		Turquoise				#40E0D0		rgb <0.250980,0.878431,0.815686>
		Violet					#EE82EE		rgb <0.933333,0.509804,0.933333>
		Wheat					#F5DEB3		rgb <0.960784,0.870588,0.701961>
		White					#FFFFFF		rgb <1.000000,1.000000,1.000000>
		WhiteSmoke				#F5F5F5		rgb <0.960784,0.960784,0.960784>
		Yellow					#FFFF00		rgb <1.000000,1.000000,0.000000>
		YellowGreen				#9ACD32		rgb <0.603922,0.803922,0.196078>

		These colors were NOT taken from POV, but from a web page
		demonstrating the use of color triplets in HTML documents. The only
		ones I personally use are Black, Silver, and White.

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Credits:

		The Graphics Interchange Format(c) is the Copyright property of
		CompuServe Incorporated. GIF(sm) is a Service Mark property of
		CompuServe Incorporated.

		The comp.graphics.rendering.raytracing newsgroup for NOT supplying
		me with something that could do the job - so I was forced into
		writing my own - Cheers folks!
