How to create Wallpaper with your Windows Graphics Application

The Windows BMP Wallpaper, WINENG.BMP, was created using three Window applications: Arts and Letters Graphics Editor 3.0 by Computer Support Corporation, Metaplay 1.1 available though the National Windows Users Group members data library, and Windows Paintbrush.

a)Assuming you have a completed graphic in Arts&Letters 3.0 (this technique works with over a dozen Window applications), highlight the graphic and copy to the clipboard. Launch the clipboard to see if the graphic metafile has succesfully transferred out of the graphics application. In many cases, the graphic application will tell you that the graphic contains too much data for clipboard transfer. If this is the case, eliminate parts of drawing. Though Win 3.0 applications can support highly complex Window metafile graphics, few of the applications have been enhanced to support large metafiles.

b)Assuming the graphic is on the clipboard, lLaunch Metaplay and proceed to paste the metafile. Activate your graphics application and close the application. Always good to conserve memory!

c)Use Metaplay's Edit.Copy.BMP option to copy the screen metafile to a Windows compatible BMP clipboard image. Check the clipboard to see if the image was successfully rasterized to a bitmap.

d)Launch Windows Paintbrush and proceed to Edit.Zoom.Out. When Paintbrush is in ZoomOut mode, the copy/paste tool (crosshairs) are activated. Select Edit.Paste. You will see a gradient rectangle formed on your paint easel space. Click on any white spot and you will see the image appear. Proceed to view in normal view and save the image to your Win 3 directory.

Metaplay's ability to rasterize Window metafiles is an alternative to using screen capture utilities to vector images from your Winapp. The autocenter and autoaspect options of metaplay also allow one to manipulate the current metafile to your discretion.

Further advanced graphic manipulation techniques are just one of many features in the WUGNET Journal, the bimonthly technical resource for the MS Window user and developer. For further infomration, drop by the WINAPB Forum, Section 8.

Howard Sobel, 76102,1356