Short:        Soft shadows v.1.1 (flexible IFX script)
Author:       carl.licke@swipnet.se (Carl Licke)
Uploader:     carl licke swipnet se (Carl Licke)
Type:         gfx/edit
Version:      1.1
Requires:     ImageFX
Architecture: generic

Long:
                            shadow v.1.1
                            (visitware!)

                  by: Carl Licke / Turbid design
                  mailto:carl.licke@swipnet.se
                  http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-24653/

This is a great tool for creating soft shadows, for use on web or print
(or whatever you want).

It needs ImageFX. Tested successfully with version 1.52, 2.1a and 2.6.
Please report bugs/problems, or if you know how to improve it.

This script is visitware!
If you use it, you have to visit my homepage (I'm so sorry for you :-),
and have a look around:
http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-24653/

To read about my programs and see examples, click on "software: Amiga".
(I will update that page very much soon)

If you have used this script for a webpage, I would appreciate to get
the URL to it!

If you want, just drop me a mail (carl.licke@swipnet.se).


features
--------
* background pattern support
* selectable colors (background and shadow)
* adjustable softness of shadows
* adjustable direction and distance of shadow
* adjustable shade of shadow
* magic scissors support
* antialias possible
* remembers settings (until you reboot)
* GUI


installation
------------
copy shadow.ifx to ImageFX:Rexx/
(recommended, but not needed)

You also need the assign ImageFX: for your ImageFX-path.
I think you have that already.


usage
-----
Start ImageFX and load/create an image.
Select the Arexx button in ImageFX.
In the filerequester, select the shadow.ifx file and OK.
If everything went right, a GUI pops up.
There are lots of options, but you probably won't need to care about
so many of them to get a decent result.
Play with it and you will get it, or read on.
Here follows an explanation of the GUI:

x and y difference:
The position difference between object and shadow, in pixels.
The value can be negative, for example, if you select -6 -6, the
shadow will be placed up left from the object.
If you select 6 6, the shadow will be placed down right from the object.

x and y size increase:
How many pixels the image vill increase.
It should be higher if you increase x or y difference or gauss value.

shade:
How dark the shadow will be.
Or how yellow, if you selected yellow as shadowcolor.

softness:
How soft the shadow will be.

magic scissors:
If you check this, the most usual color (in the original image)
will be removed.
It will be replaced with white, or your selected background.

anti alias:
Removes ugly edges around the object.
Often needed with magic scissors.

background from swap:
Uses the swap buffer as a background pattern.
If there is no swap, it uses the main buffer as background.

pick color for shadow:
If you check this and select the Okay button, the script will
stop and wait for you to pick a color, either from the image
or from the palette.
The color of the shadow will be the one you selected.

pick color for backg.:
If you check this and select the Okay button, the script will
stop and wait for you to pick a color, either from the image
or from the palette.
The color of the background will be the one you selected.
If you check both this and the "background from swap" options,
then this won't have any effect.

save these settings:
Hmm... let me see... Ohh, yes, it saves your settings.
But they will reset on reboot.

You can change the defaults if you open the script in a
texteditor, and find the note I left for you.


history
-------
1.1 - Fixed bug which occured with softness over 2.

1.0 - Should now work with most versions of IFX.

0.9 - remembers your settings for next use (not if you reboot)
      doesn't delete the swap or alpha buffer anymore

0.8 - first release


future
------
I WILL improve it (but I don't know how, mail me if you do).