Editorial
It's been a year since we last focused on graphics in START. It´s time that we take another look at the state of graphics and animation on the ST.
To lead off, in Yes, But Is It Art?, we look over the shoulders of three artists who use their STs as a part of their creative processes. Jon Fordyce is a sculptor, Marcus Badgley runs a commercial graphics business and Darrel Anderson is one of the sharpest computer artists around. Despite the STs relatively limited palette, these artists have made excellent use of the computer's power to create works of art that may well survive them. How much am I bid for a genuine Anderson?
We've also focused our START disk on graphics this issue, and oh, what a disk it is! Tom Hudson's DEGAS Elite may have set the standard for ST graphics programs, but this issue we offer SEURAT as serious competition. SEURAT runs in all three resolutions and offers up to eight screens, each with its own palette, powerful block options and more fills and features than you can imagine. We think SEURAT will find a place in every ST artist's program library.
We've also included the ST Coloring Book, a marvelous "little" program that's supposedly for the younger artists among us. It's so good and so much fun that adults will enjoy it as much as kids. Take a look at this program even if you don't have children.
Assembly language programming is the next step for many BASIC programmers seeking greater control over the ST's inwards. It's not easy to master assembly language techniques for handling graphics and sound, but our demonstration program, Assembled Saucers, will give you budding assembly language programmers insights into how to handle the tricky stuff.
Commercial graphics and CAD programs have come a long way in the past year. Marcus Badgley, our resident graphics guru, has placed three of the best graphics programs, Art/Film Director, Unispec and Cyber Paint, on his palette and gives you his evaluations this issue. And Dave Edwards, a CAD professional, has updated his Electronic T-Square CAD overview in CAD Goes Pro to focus on the newest and best CAD software.
There are also a few minor changes this issue: Were taking a short break from Programming in BASIC to give you a look at Prolog, the language of artificial intelligence. And Dave Small has been building Spectre 128 cartridges so fast and furiously that we decided to give him a break from Small Tools this issue. He will return next issue with even more on Hard Disks.
Finally, we have a Special Offer this issue: if you use your ST to make beautiful music, then you'll definitely want to read Online With START. Through a special arrangement with PAN, the Professional Artist's Network, we are able to offer START readers a free sign-on. This is only available during the month of February, so act fast!
We think that we've put together a great issue for you. We hope that you'll enjoy it.
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Andrew Reese |