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                        PhotoCaster v1.1.2
                              
                              README

                             11/14/96
1-800-282-5361                                     Media Lab,Inc.
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1. What is PhotoCaster?
2. PhotoCaster Features
3. What Does This Archive Include?
4. Pricing
5. Ordering And Unlocking
6. Version History
7. Other Media Lab Xtras
8. Cracking history


        **************** 1. WHAT IS PHOTOCASTER?  *****************
        
PhotoCaster is an Xtra for Director 5 that imports Photoshop 3.0 files directly into the Director cast.  Each of your Photoshop layers is brought in as its own castmember.  Photocaster preserves the registration, name, and anti-aliasing of each layer, making the transfer of your Photoshop files into Director as painlessas possible.  It will save you hours of development time.

Free updates and other software demos and offers in the future are availbale on our Web page.

                   http://www.medialab.com/software/



        **************** 2. PHOTOCASTER FEATURES  *****************
        
*  imports Photoshop 3.0 files directly into your Director 5 cast

*  creates individual cast members from layers

*  optionally flattens the image on import to make just one cast member

*  controls color mapping:  24 bit, current palette, or custom palette

*  integrated into Director's interface - just pull down a menu

*  generates a super-palette derived from the layers in your Photoshop file

*  keeps layer registration
  
*  preserves anti-aliasing between layers

*  flattens linked layers into single cast members

*  optionally ignores hidden layers

*  saves time and money

*  reduces frustration

*  no Lingo required


        **************** 3. WHAT DOES THIS ARCHIVE INCLUDE?  *****************
        
This archive includes the unlocking demo of PhotoCaster version 1.1.1.  It is a fully functional version.  However, it defaces any castmembers created with red lines.  Try it out!  If you think you'd like the full version give us a call at 800-282-5361, and we'll give you an unlock code with which you can be up and running in a matter of minutes.  See the following sections for more ordering information.

Along with this READ ME file, you should have received the following files:

   PhotoC.x32                    The Xtra.  Place it in the Xtras folder.   
   PhotoC.hlp                    The PhotoCaster documentation in WinHelp format.
   Order.txt                    An e-mail or fax order form for Windows.



        ********************** 4. PRICING  ************************
        
  *******************
  *    ELECTRONIC   *  $199    for the electronic-only version 
  *******************          (which you have in your hands right now!)
  
  *******************
  *    PACKAGED     *  $249    for the packaged version.
  *******************
  
PhotoCaster v costs (US) $249 plus shipping.  But there is a special
electronic-only offer of $199 if you simply need an unlock code and no printed
documentation or packaging.  The electronic version has the same
documentation that comes in printed form with the packaged version.
  
        **************** 5. ORDERING AND UNLOCKING  ***************
        
  ******
ELECTRONIC   Before ordering your unlock code, you will need your product ID.
  ******       
                  1. install and launch PhotoCaster
                  2. open the 'Advanced' options.
                  3. Click 'About'

In the About box for PhotoCaster you will find the 7 digit PhotoCaster product
ID.  Simply phone, fax, or e-mail that number to us with your order and we'll
give you your product unlock code.  Enter that unlock code into the
'unlock' field in the About box and you're done!  Keep that code safe somewhere
in case you have to re-install PhotoCaster or Director for any reason.

                                   PhotoCaster locks itself to the copy of
                                   Director in which it is installed.  It
             *** IMPORTANT **      cannot be moved to a different copy of
                                   Director with a different serial number.  So
                                   make sure you are getting your product code
                                   while using the copy of Director you expect to be
                                   using with PhotoCaster.

 ******
PACKAGED     Though not required, you may want to have the last 10 digits of
 ******      your Director serial # when you call in to order a packaged
             version.  This will save you from having to call back later to
             get an unlock code when you receive the packaged version.
             
             
    **********
   HOW TO ORDER
    **********
    
*   Automated

Just connect to our web page and you can quickly order unlock codes from our
automated commerce server.

*   Phone                     
       
   In the U.S:     1-800-282-5361    - If ordering an electronic unlock code
International:    +1.303.499.5411      be sure to have your product ID ready.

Phone orders can be taken Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Mountain Standard
Time.

*   E-Mail
               xtra-sales@medialab.com    - There is an e-mail order
                                       form (ORDER.TXT) provided with the
                                       electronic download.  Fill in all the
                                       information it requests, and e-mail back.

        **************** 6. VERSION HISTORY  *****************
v1.1.2 (MacOS & Win)  Crash with certain Photoshop files when used with AlphaMania fixed
                      More stable in general
                      Now supports Photoshop files created with Adobe After Effects

v1.1.1 (MacOS & Win)  Released September 1996
                      Fixed small AM connection glitch.  Mac now can 'see' Photoshop files
                      created on the PC.

v1.1 (MacOS & Win)    Released September 1996
                      Tons of new features and improvements in this free upgrade.
                      The big ones include vastly improved dithering, the ability 
                      to select individual layers for import, and the ability 
                      to work with AlphaMania.

v1.02 (MacOS & Win)   Released June 19, 1996
                      Eliminates crashes caused by an undocumented perversity in
                      the  Photoshop 3.0 file format.  (This bug was better known as
                      the "rename the problem layer and now it works" bug.)  
                      Also plugs a small Mac memory leak.

v1.01 (MacOS)         Released April 16, 1996
                      Fixed bug that sometimes crashed 68k Macs when creating
                      super-palette.  Corrected phone number listed in MacOS
                      PhotoCaster About box

v1.0  (MacOS & Win)   Released April 8, 1996. Whoohoo!!

        **************** 7. OTHER MEDIA LAB XTRAS  *****************

ALPHAMANIA!!!
=============
AlphaMania, a new Xtra for Director 5, provides authors with a bitmap cast member
which supports live alpha channel rendering.  This means that your graphics can
now dynamically anti-alias to anything behind them, just like Director 5s rich
text.  AlphaMania can also use an alpha channel to support  transparency to
achieve myriad never-before-possible effects.  Glass buttons!  True dynamically
feathered shadows and glows!  All effects are independent of sprite location,
color depth, and changing backgrounds.  AlphaMania imports PICT, TGA, and, in
conjunction with Media Labs PhotoCaster Xtra,  Photoshop layers complete with
their alpha channel information.

o  Dynamic anti-aliasing bitmaps
o  True shadows & glows
o  Live transparency for glass and highlight effects
        
        **************** 8. CRACKING HISTORY  ****************

kast asked for the crack in march 97
cracked april 4 97
also cracked ALPHAMANIA!!!
