IMSI Presentation Graphics Version 4.0 Copyright 1989 David Batterson The presentation graphics software industry continues on its high-growth curve. Visual aids are a vital part of doing business; constant improvements in graphics adapters and monitors have made these programs popular. It is always a quandary for a software company to decide what to include in a graphics package, and what to leave out. Another crucial factor is: how compatible is the package with other graphics software? (Today, software publishers cannot ignore the other applications you use, as they once did!) Transparencies and 35mm slides still dominate business presentations, followed by printed handouts, computer on-screen slideshows, and flip charts. Companies are reluctant to give up their Carousel slide projectors and overhead projectors, but still want to make the best use of their PCs. Having said all that, let's take a look at IMSI Presentation Graphics. First of all, it's a remake of The Magician (which is still sold). But IMSI Presentation Graphics Ver. 4.0 has a significant number of improvements. Images are saved (or imported) in the Microsoft Windows (.MSP) and PC Paintbrush (.PCX) formats, allowing you to use your creations in Ventura Publisher, PageMaker, WordPerfect, Springboard Publisher, and many other desktop publishing programs. The fonts provided include both Bitstream-compatible bit-mapped fonts, and vector (or outline) fonts. There is support of the full 256 ASCII characters, not just the usual keyboard letters, numbers and symbols. Font sizes range from 12 to a whopping 256 points. Charts and graphs (14 different types) are either created manually by typing data into the 12-column by 370-row spreadsheet, or you can import data from Lotus 1-2-3 and dBASE. Then the variables begin, as you choose the type of chart, select colors and type font, pick the location for the legend, and so forth. It's best to experiment here, changing the variables repeatedly until you see what you like. You then save your charts and graphs as a bit-mapped .PCX or .MSP file, for printing or use in a presentation. Text-only charts can be created easily too. If you want to preserve the data in your chart or graph, you save it in the .PRN format (remember that this is raw data ONLY, not an image file). The screen drawing section works like most paint programs, letting you draw boxes, circles, lines and arcs, either for reworking graphics files and clip art, or for original drawings. With VGA, there's a palette of 262,144 colors, plus 20 brush shapes, 12 line styles, and four drawing thicknesses. There are also five different overlay types: Combine, Superimpose, Color Invert, Absolute, and Image Invert. These take some time to really learn how to make the best artistic use of them. The Tool Window pops up when you want it, by simply pressing the right mouse button. Then you make your choice of drawing color, fill type (color, grey or patterns), along with brush shape, line width and style. The most interesting (and powerful) part of IMSI Presentation Graphics is the XScript programming language, which is similar to Adobe's PostScript page description language. Like PostScript, XScript programs are written entirely in ASCII text. There are several advantages using this vector-based language. One is that writing and editing the program is easier. Secondly, graphics descriptions take up only about 1-5% of a similar bit-mapped image file. Also, XScript-created images can be scaled, rotated and translated [change size, orientation & position], with no loss of resolution. At this writing, IMSI Presentation Graphics doesn't support PostScript (and compatible) laser printers, only HP LaserJet (and compatible). However, PostScript support is coming, so such users should call IMSI for information. You can, however, print an XScript file to an HPGL file (plotter format). I did so in my testing, and then converted the .HPG files to PostScript (.EPS). This worked just fine. You can also convert a .PCX or .MSP file to .EPS, but then you sacrifice image quality. Included on disk are XScript clip art files, some of which are quite usable; others are "cartoony" and not for serious use. There are no reproductions of the clip art in the manual, though. You have to load the *-SHO.XST file in each clip art subdirectory, to view a screen showing small depictions of each drawing. You can make on-screen slideshows, either animated with XScript files, or with your .MSP and .PCX graphics files. For actual 35mm slides, check with a service bureau about converting files to slides. Transparencies can be printed on your laser printer or plotter. Extensive on-screen help is available for IMSI Presentation Graphics when you need it. And you will for awhile, as there is a lot to learn here. I plan to spend more time mastering XScript programming. Suggested list price is $199.95 (after an introductory price of $99.95). For information contact IMSI, 1299 Fourth St., San Rafael, CA; 800-222-GRAF, 800-562-GRAF (CA), 415-454-7101, fax: 415-454-8901. # David Batterson never met a graphics program he didn't like. Contact him (MCI Mail: DBATTERSON) with your comments.