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.
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     David Batterson never met a graphics program he didn't like.  Contact him
(MCI Mail: DBATTERSON) with your comments.