This is the readme file for Bricksaic.

Bricksaic is and always will be Free Ware!

Any comments or suggestions will be gladly accepted.
    
 
About:

    A program used to make Lego Mosaics.  You choose the image, the stud width and the type of bricks to use and 
    you instantly have an LDraw file to make the mosaic from.  
    
    I may or may not continue working on this program.  It just depends on if someone finds a use for it and bugs 
    me about finishing it.
    
    Very big images(stud width) make huge LDraw files.  Try using smaller images first.  Or chopping a large 
    image into smaller parts with a graphics program.


Features:
    - Choose the image
    - Choose the stud width of the mosaic
    - Choose from 7 different Dithering routines
    - Use up to 41 colors in the color palete
    - Makes an LDraw file
    - Prints a color map
    - Loads an Ldraw file made with Bricksaic
    - Choose to use plates or bricks and studs up or studs out from these selections:
        1x Plates - studs up
        2x Plates - studs up  (2 studs thick)
        1x Bricks - studs up
        2x Bricks - studs up  (2 studs thick)
        1x Plates - studs out
        2x Plates - studs out
        1x Bricks - studs out
        2x Bricks - studs out


Want List (Things that need to be added/done):
    - All features implimented 
      
      
Bugs (confirmed and unconfirmed):   
    Tons but none have been found yet.
    - If your LDraw file is all Teal then you need to set your screen resolution to 32 bit.  
      Right click on your computer desktop
      Select properties
      Select the 'Settings' tab
      Under the 'Colors' drop down box pick the option that says 32 bit
      If there is no 32 bit option then you are out of luck.  Sorry.
    
      
    
History:

Version 0.1.18 07-23-13 (Requested by Dave Shaddix)
    - added 6x6 overlay grid on printed and saved map

Version 0.1.17 04-23-13 (Requested by Ryan McNaught)
    - added the ability to out put a png were each brick is 16 pixels x 16 pixels

Version 0.1.16 05-09-12
    - Fixed the label on maps that have more than 26 cells.

Version 0.1.15 05-03-12 (Requested by Robin Sather)
    - added the ability to print 6x6 and 8x8 maps.

Version 0.1.14 12-30-11
    - added the ability to print the map number in all black if you want
    - fixed problem with part count on map
    - can now save and load images as a png
    - can now save the map as a png
    - <ctrl>-Z short cut for undo button
    - fixed problem with eye dropper if image is scrolled
    - can now pan the image if the spacebar and mouse button are both pushed down. (duplicates photoshop and illustrator behavior)

Version 0.1.13 10-24-06  (Requested by Robin Sather)
    - added the ability to load pre dithered images (actually this just allows you to load any image and skip the dithering step)
    - fixes to the opacity slider.
    
Version 0.1.12 07-13-06  (Requested by Anil Natha)
    - Can now save and load your settings
    - Reset buttons added to all the brightness and contrast controls
    - New opacity slider.  Can super impose the original image on top of the mosaic

Version 0.1.11 05-15-06 (Bug found by Anil Natha)
    - Fixed a problem with loading ldr files made with Bricksaic.  In version 0.1.8 ldr files were switched to 
      bottom up.  I forgot to change the ldr load to make images bottom up from an ldr file.  whoops.

Version 0.1.10 03-20-06 (Requested by Michael Moran)
    - Added map coordinates to the sides of the map so you can easily find for example the 8x8 block A6.

Version 0.1.9 06-28-05  (Requested by Steve Barlie and Corey Sanders)
    - Added 1x plate studs out optimization.  Bricksaic spits out 6 different LDraw files.  Each uses a
      different algorithm for optimization.  Tries to place 1x, 2x and 4x plates in the LDraw file.
      You can choose the size of plates that get used.

    I know that the size choosing is a little weird and may need some clarification.

Version 0.1.8 06-14-05
    - LDraw files are now made bottom up.  
    - Each row in the Ldraw file is now a step
    - Can now choose the size of the bricks and plates to use when making an LDraw file

Version 0.1.7 05-07-05  (Requested by Steve Barlie)
    - Will now auto dither/mosaic when you add remove colors if you have them checked
    - Will now auto dither/mosaic when you add change dither method if you have it checked
    - Lots of changes to how the LDraw files are made.  you won't notice a difference but
      it will make it easier for me to optimize them when i get a chance.
    - All settings are now remembered from the last time you ran the program.
    - '2x brick studs up' is now optimized (or should it be called reinforced) tries to reinforce the second
      plain of the mosaic so you don't have tall columns of same shaped bricks.

Version 0.1.6 04-29-05
    - Fixed bug when scrolling the image and then painting. (found by Debbie Rabin)
    - Added default button.  Will check the 7 default or most available colors.
    - Now remembers what colors were checked from last time it was run.
    - Added multiple undo for pen and fill tool.  Works really nice with the pen but may run into problems with the fill.

Version 0.1.5 04-21-05  (Requested by Steve Barlie)
    - Make map now has a number coralating each color region in the mosaic to the color key
    - Make map you can now choose grids on or off, color fill on or off, numbers in all squares, and choose between 48x48 or 
      32x32 panel size
    - Make map now has an inventory count report
    - Can now save or print the map.  The map is saved by panel as a series of jpgs
    
Version 0.1.4 04-20-05  (Requested by Steve Barlie)
    - Added Auto Dither and Auto Mosaic.

Version 0.1.3 04-20-05  (Requested by Steve Barlie)
    - Added contrast, brightness, saturation, darkness, lightness and splitlight settings.  Really makes a difference 
      when dithering.  I have been setting the Splitlight to 1 and either the contrast or Saturation to 125.

Version 0.1.2 04-08-05
    - Fixed a problem with being able to pick the red line color.  You can't pick this color any more.
    - Added flood fill.  Hold down the Ctrl button while moving over the image.  A Paint bucket icon will appear.
      Press the mouse button to fill the current color in the region you clicked on.

Version 0.1.1 04-07-05
    - Fixed a small dithering problem when the grid boxes are checked on.
    - When making a 1x Plate studs up LDraw file 4 .ldr files will be made.  Each is optimized a different way.  I can't
      figure out which one is optimized the best so i left them all in there.

Version 0.1.0 01-26-05
    - LDraw file now has proper file name on the 0 Name: line
    - Can now read in the new ldconfig.ldr
    - Added New LDraw colors to the pallet.  Transparent, rubber and metalic colors are not in the pallet.  Why should they be if no bricks
      or plates are made in these colors?
    - Aspect ratio for studs up orientation is now fixed.  Round objects now stay round.
    - Can now dither the image before the mosaic is made.
    - Can now zoom in on the mosaic.
    - Can turn on Black grid that will enclose same color regions in the mosaic.
    - Can turn on Gray grid that will seperate similar colored regions in the mosaic.
    - Can turn on a Red grid that will seperate every 8 cells in the mosaic.
    - Can now hand tweek cells in the mosaic.
        After the 'Make Mosaic' button is pressed you can roll over the mosaic and a pencil will appear.
        Click on any cell in the mosaic and its color will be changed to the current color.
        Hold down the 'Alt' key and an eyedropper will appear.  
        Click on any cell in the mosaic and the color of that cell will be come the current color for the pencil tool.
        You can also click on any of the color picker colors if you want to add new colors to the mosaic.
        If you press the 'Dither Image' or 'Original Image' buttons your color changes will be lost.
    - Now prints a list of colors used in the .ldr file that is created.
    - Now prints a color map on paper.  The map is 48 x 48 studs in size.  Large mosaics will be spread across several pages.
      The grid boxes that are selected will be printed on the map.  Don't like the gray grid?  Then uncheck it and it will not print.
      Also prints a color key at the bottom of the page.
    - Can now save the current image as a bmp file.
    - Can now load an LDraw file that was made with Bricksaic.

Version 0.0.7beta 01-10-05
    - Dithering has been re-writen.
    - Other changes were made but are un-known

Version 0.0.6beta 04-28-04 (these bugs were reported by Frank Murray)
    - Removed all the test images that were writen to d:\downloads
    - Removed the i/o error 103 warning and replaced it with a warning stating that the ldconfig.ldr file is missing.

Version 0.0.5beta 03-23-04
    - Changed to use the ldconfig.ldr color file that comes with LDraw.  Bricksaic uses 37 of the colors in this file.  It 
      does not use an of the transparent colors or the 2 rubber colors.
    - Fixed the problem with selecting all colors and then selecting none of the colors. All the colors were still in the pallet.  If
      none are selected then only white is in the pallet.  (this may still be a problem if you don't want white in the mosaic)
    - Fixed the dithering so that colors that are not in the pallet are not used to anti-alias when the image is resized and dithered.
    - Will now make the following Ldraw files:
      1x Plates - studs up
      2x Plates - studs up
      1x Bricks - studs up
      2x Bricks - studs up
      1x Plates - studs out
      2x Plates - studs out
      1x Bricks - studs out
      2x Bricks - studs out    

Version 0.0.4beta 03-01-04
    - Now lets you choose which directory to save the LDraw file.
    - Now lets you choose how many studs thick to make the mosaic.  only 1 or 2 studs for now.

Version 0.0.3beta 09-24-03
    - Added color depth and dithering option

Version 0.0.2beta 09-23-03
   - Fixed the problem with the ldraw file.

Version 0.0.1beta 09-23-03
    - Fist release
    - only creates an LDraw file for 1x bricks.
    - color mapping is not 100% correct
    - LDraw file has some errors in it. (don't have time to figure it out right now)
    

Copyright & Acknowledgments:

    Bricksaic - A program used to make Lego Mosaics.

    Copyright (C) 2003 - 2011  Bob Kojima

    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
    (at your option) any later version.

    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    GNU General Public License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA



Disclaimer:

    Bricksaic is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, 
    the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.  The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or 
    consequential, which may result from the use of Bricksaic.

    Bricksaic is not affiliated with or endorsed by The LEGO Group.  Lego is a registered trademark of The LEGO Group. 
    
    
Contact:

      Bob Kojima
      bob.k.kojima@gmail.com
      www.brickshirts.com
      www.bong69.com	(software updates can be found here)