#
version 0.9.14

### A simple drawing program for children

Copyright 2004 by Bill Kendrick
New Breed Software

bill@newbreedsoftware.com
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/

June 14, 2002 - September 24, 2004

# About

> ## What Is 'Tux Paint?'

> > Tux Paint is a free drawing program designed for young children (kids ages 3 and up). It has a simple, easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who helps guide children as they use the program. It provides a blank canvas and a variety of drawing tools to help your child be creative.

> ## License:

> > Tux Paint is an Open Source project, Free Software released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). It is free, and the 'source code' behind the program is available. (This allows others to add features, fix bugs, and use parts of the program in their own GPL'd software.)

> > See COPYING.txt for the full text of the GPL license.

> ## Objectives:

> > Easy and Fun
> >   Tux Paint is meant to be a simple drawing program for young children. It is not meant as a general-purpose drawing tool. It is meant to be fun and easy to use. Sound effects and a cartoon character help let the user know what's going on, and keeps them entertained. There are also extra-large cartoon-style mouse pointer shapes.
> > Extensibility
> >   Tux Paint is extensible. Brushes and "rubber stamp" shapes can be dropped in and pulled out. For example, a teacher can drop in a collection of animal shapes and ask their students to draw an ecosystem. Each shape can have a sound which is played, and textual facts which are displayed, when the child selects the shape.
> > Portability
> >   Tux Paint is portable among various computer platforms: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, etc. The interface looks the same among them all. Tux Paint runs suitably well on older systems (like a Pentium 133), and can be built to run better on slow systems.
> > Simplicity
> >   There is no direct access to the computer's underlying intricacies. The current image is kept when the program quits, and reappears when it is restarted. Saving images requires no need to create filenames or use the keyboard. Opening an image is done by selecting it from a collection of thumbnails. Access to other files on the computer is restricted.

# Using Tux Paint

> ## Loading Tux Paint

> > ### Linux/Unix Users

> > > Tux Paint should have placed a laucher icon in your KDE and/or GNOME menus, under 'Graphics.'

> > > Alternatively, you can run the following command at a shell prompt (e.g., "$"):

> > > > `$ tuxpaint`

> > > If any errors occur, they will be displayed on the terminal (to "stderr").

> > ### Windows Users

> > > Tux Paint

> > > If you installed Tux Paint on your computer using the 'Tux Paint Installer,' it will have asked you whether you wanted a 'Start' menu short-cut, and/or a desktop shortcut. If you agreed, you can simply run Tux Paint from the 'Tux Paint' section of your 'Start' menu (e.g., under "All Programs" on Windows XP), or by double-clicking the "Tux Paint" icon on your desktop.

> > > If you installed Tux Paint using the 'ZIP-file' download, or if you used the 'Tux Paint Installer,' but chose not to have shortcuts installed, you'll need to double-click the "`tuxpaint.exe`" icon in the 'Tux Paint' folder on your computer.

> > > By default, the 'Tux Paint Installer' will put Tux Paint's folder in "`C:\Program Files\`", though you may have changed this when the installer ran.

> > > If you used the 'ZIP-file' download, Tux Paint's folder will be wherever you put it when you unzipped the ZIP file.

> > ### Mac OS X Users

> > > Simply double-click the "Tux Paint" icon.

> ## Title Screen

> > When Tux Paint first loads, a title/credits screen will appear.

> > Once loading is complete, press a key or click on the mouse to continue. (Or, after about 30 seconds, the title screen will go away automatically.)

> ## Main Screen

> > The main screen is divided into the following sections:
> > Left Side: Toolbar

> >   The toolbar contains the drawing and editing controls.

> > Middle: Drawing Canvas

> >   The largest part of the screen, in the center, is the drawing canvas. This is, obviously, where you draw!

> > Right Side: Selector

> >   Depending on the current tool, the selector shows different things. e.g., when the Paint Brush tool is selected, it shows the various brushes available. When the Rubber Stamp tool is selected, it shows the different shapes you can use.

> > Lower: Colors

> >   A palette of available colors are shown near the bottom of the screen.

> > Bottom: Help Area

> >   At the very bottom of the screen, Tux, the Linux Penguin, provides tips and other information while you draw.

> ## Available Tools

> > ### Drawing Tools

> > > Paint (Brush)

> > >   The Paint Brush tool lets you draw freehand, using various brushes (chosen in the Selector on the right) and colors (chosen in the Color palette towards the bottom).

> > >   If you hold the mouse button down, and move the mouse, it will draw as you move.

> > >   As you draw, a sound is played. The bigger the brush, the lower the pitch.

> > > Stamp (Rubber Stamp)

> > >   The Stamp tool is like a rubber stamp, or stickers. It lets you paste pre-drawn or photographic images (like a picture of a horse, or a tree, or the moon) in your picture.

> > >   As you move the mouse around, an outline follows the mouse, showing where the stamp will be placed.

> > >   Different stamps can have different sound effects. Some stamps can be colored or tinted.

> > >   Stamps can be shrunk and expanded, and many stamps can be flipped vertically, or displayed as a mirror-image, using controls at the bottom right of the screen.

> > >   (NOTE: If the "`nostampcontrols`" option is set, Tux Paint won't display the Mirror, Flip, Shrink and Grow controls for stamps. See the "Options" documentation.)

> > > Lines

> > >   This tool lets you draw straight lines using the various brushes and colors you normally use with the Paint Brush.

> > >   Click the mouse and hold it to choose the starting point of the line. As you move the mouse around, a thin 'rubber-band' line will show where the line will be drawn.

> > >   Let go of the mouse to complete the line. A "sproing!" sound will play.

> > > Shapes

> > >   This tool lets you draw some simple filled, and un-filled shapes.

> > >   Select a shape from the selector on the right (circle, square, oval, etc.).

> > >   In the canvas, click the mouse and hold it to stretch the shape out from where you clicked. Some shapes can change proportion (e.g., rectangle and oval), others cannot (e.g., square and circle).

> > >   Let go of the mouse when you're done stretching.

> > >   Normal Mode

> > >     Now you can move the mouse around the canvas to rotate the shape.

> > >     Click the mouse button again and the shape will be drawn in the current color.

> > >   Simple Shapes Mode
> > >     If simple shapes are enabled (e.g., with the "`--simpleshapes`" option), the shape will be drawn on the canvas when you let go of the mouse button. (There's no rotation step.)

> > > Text

> > >   Choose a font (from the 'Letters' available on the right) and a color (from the color palette near the bottom). Click on the screen and a cursor will appear. Type text and it will show up on the screen.

> > >   Press [Enter] or [Return] and the text will be drawn onto the picture and the cursor will move down one line.

> > >   Click elsewhere in the picture and the current line of text will move there, where you can continue editing.

> > > Magic (Special Effects)

> > >   The 'Magic' tool is actually a set of special tools. Select one of the "magic" effects from the selector on the right, and then click and drag around the picture to apply the effect.

> > >   Rainbow
> > >     This is similar to the paint brush, but as you move the mouse around, it goes through all of the colors in the rainbow.
> > >   Sparkles
> > >     This draws glowing yellow sparkles on the picture.
> > >   Mirror
> > >     When you click the mouse in your picture with the "Mirror" magic effect selected, the entire image will be reversed, turning it into a mirror image.
> > >   Flip
> > >     Similar to "Mirror." Click and the entire image will be turned upside-down.
> > >   Blur
> > >     This makes the picture fuzzy wherever you drag the mouse.
> > >   Blocks
> > >     This makes the picture blocky looking ("pixelated") wherever you drag the mouse.
> > >   Negative
> > >     This inverts the colors wherever you drag the mouse. (e.g., white becomes black, and vice versa.)
> > >   Fade
> > >     This fades the colors wherever you drag the mouse. (Do it to the same spot many times, and it will eventually become white.)
> > >   Chalk
> > >     This makes parts of the picture (where you move the mouse) look like a chalk drawing.
> > >   Drip
> > >     This makes the paint "drip" wherever you move the mouse.
> > >   Thick
> > >     This makes the darker colors in the picture become thicker wherever you drag the mouse.
> > >   Thin
> > >     Similar to "Thick," except dark colors become thinner (light colors become thicker).
> > >   Fill
> > >     This floods the picture with a color. It lets you quickly fill parts of the picture, as if it were a coloring book.

> > > Eraser

> > >   This tool is similar to the Paint Brush. Wherever you click (or click and drag), the picture will be erased either to white, or to the background picture, if you began the current drawing with a 'Starter' image.

> > >   A number of eraser sizes are available.

> > >   As you move the mouse around, a square outline follows the pointer, showing what part of the picture will be erased to white.

> > >   As you erase, a "squeaky clean" eraser/wiping sound is played.

> > ### Other Controls

> > > Undo

> > >   Clicking this tool will undo the last drawing action. You can even undo more than once!

> > >   Note: You can also press [Control]-[Z] on the keyboard to undo.

> > > Redo

> > >   Clicking this tool will redo the drawing action you just "undid" with the 'Undo' button.

> > >   As long as you don't draw again, you can redo as many times as you had "undone!"

> > >   Note: You can also press [Control]-[R] on the keyboard to redo.

> > > New

> > >   Clicking the "New" button will start a new drawing. You will first be asked whether you really want to do this.

> > >   Note: You can also press [Control]-[N] on the keyboard to start a new drawing.

> > > Open

> > >   This shows you a list of all of the pictures you've saved. If there are more than can fit on the screen, use the "Up" and "Down" arrows at the top and bottom of the list to scroll through the list of pictures.

> > >   Click a picture to select it, then...

> > >   > - Click the green "Open" button at the lower left of the list to load the selected picture.

> > >   >   (Alternatively, you can double-click a picture's icon to load it.)

> > >   > - Click the brown "Erase" (trash can) button at the lower right of the list to erase the selected picture. (You will be asked to confirm.)

> > >   > - Or click the red "Back" arrow button at the lower right of the list to cancel and return to the picture you were drawing.

> > >   'Starter' Images

> > >   > Along with pictures you've created, Tux Paint can provided 'Starter' images. Opening them is like creating a new picture, except that the picture isn't blank. 'Starters' can be like a page from a coloring book (a black-and-white outline of a picture, which you can then color in), or like a 3D photograph, where you draw the bits in between.

> > >   > 'Starter' images have a green background in the 'Open' screen. (Normal images have a blue background.) When you load a 'Starter,' draw on it, and then click 'Save,' it creates a new picture (it doesn't overwrite the original 'Starter,' so you can use it again later).

> > >   If choose to open a picture, and your current drawing hasn't been saved, you will be prompted as to whether you want to save it or not. (See "Save," below.)

> > >   Note: You can also press [Control]-[O] on the keyboard to get the 'Open' dialog.

> > > Save

> > >   This saves your current picture.

> > >   If you haven't saved it before, it will create a new entry in the list of saved images. (i.e., it will create a new file)

> > >   Note: It won't ask you anything (e.g., for a filename). It will simply save the picture, and play a "camera shutter" sound effect.

> > >   If you HAVE saved the picture before, or this is a picture you just loaded using the "Open" command, you will first be asked whether you want to save over the old version, or create a new entry (a new file).

> > >   (NOTE: If either the "`saveover`" or "`saveovernew`" options are set, it won't ask before saving over. See the "Options" documentation.)

> > >   Note: You can also press [Control]-[S] on the keyboard to save.

> > > Print

> > >   Click this button and your picture will be printed!

> > >   Disabling Printing

> > >     If the "noprint" option was set (either with "`noprint=yes`" in Tux Paint's configuration file, or using "`--noprint`" on the command-line), the "Print" button will be disabled.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.)

> > >   Restricting Printing

> > >     If the "printdelay" option was used (either with "`printdelay=SECONDS`" in the configuration file, or using "`--printdelay=SECONDS`" on the command-line), you can only print once every SECONDS seconds.

> > >     For example, with "`printdelay=60`", you can print only once a minute.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.)

> > >   Printing Command

> > >     (Linux and Unix only)

> > >     The command used to print is actually a set of commands that convert a PNG to a PostScript and send it to the printer:

> > >     > `pngtopnm | pnmtops | lpr`

> > >     This command can be changed by setting the "printcommand" value in Tux Paint's configuration file.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.)

> > >   Printer Settings

> > >     (Windows only)

> > >     By default, Tux Paint simply prints to the default printer with default settings when the 'Print' button is pushed.

> > >     However, if you hold the [ALT] key on the keyboard while pushing the button, as long as you're not in fullscreen mode, a Windows print dialog will appear, where you can change the settings.

> > >     You can have the printer configuration changes stored by using the "printcfg" option, either by using "`--printcfg`" on the command-line, or "`printcfg=yes`" in Tux Paint's own configuration file ("`tuxpaint.cfg`").

> > >     If the "printcfg" option is used, printer settings will be loaded from the file "`userdata/print.cfg`". Any changes will be saved there as well.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.)

> > > Quit

> > >   Clicking the "Quit" button, closing the Tux Paint window, or pushing the "Escape" key will quit Tux Paint.

> > >   (NOTE: The "Quit" button can be disabled (e.g., with the "`--noquit`" command-line option), but the [Escape] key will still work. See the "Options" documentation.)

> > >   You will first be prompted as to whether you really want to quit.

> > >   If you choose to quit, and you haven't saved the current picture, you will first be asked if wish to save it. If it's not a new image, you will then be asked if you want to save over the old version, or create a new entry. (See "Save" above.)

> > >   NOTE: If the image is saved, it will be reloaded automatically the next time you run Tux Paint!

# Loading Other Pictures into Tux Paint

> Since Tux Paint's 'Open' dialog only displays pictures you created with Tux Paint, what if you want to load some other picture or photograph into Tux Paint to edit?

> To do so, you simply need to convert the picture into a PNG (Portable Network Graphic) image file, and place it in Tux Paint's "saved" directory. ("`~/.tuxpaint/saved/`" under Linux and Unix, "`userdata\saved\`" under Windows, "`Library/Preferences/tuxpaint/saved/`" under Mac OS X.)

> ## Using '`tuxpaint-import`'

> > Linux and Unix users can use the "`tuxpaint-import`" shell script which gets installed when you install Tux Paint. It uses some NetPBM tools to convert the image ("`anytopnm`"), resize it so that it will fit in Tux Paint's canvas ("`pnmscale`"), and convert it to a PNG ("`pnmtopng`").

> > It also uses the "`date`" command to get the current time and date, which is the file-naming convention Tux Paint uses for saved files. (Remember, you are never asked for a 'filename' when you go to Save or Open pictures!)

> > To use '`tuxpaint-import`', simply run the command from a command-line prompt and provide it the name(s) of the file(s) you wish to convert.

> > They will be converted and placed in your Tux Paint 'saved' directory. (Note: If you're doing this for a different user - e.g., your child, you'll need to make sure to run the command under their account.)

> > Example:

> > > `$ tuxpaint-import grandma.jpg
> > > grandma.jpg -> /home/username/.tuxpaint/saved/20020921123456.png
> > > jpegtopnm: WRITING A PPM FILE`

> > The first line ("`tuxpaint-import grandma.jpg`") is the command to run. The following two lines are output from the program while it's working.

> > Now you can load Tux Paint, and a version of that original picture will be available under the 'Open' dialog. Just double-click its icon!

> ## Doing it Manually

> > Windows, Mac OS X and BeOS users must currently do the conversion manually.

> > Load a graphics program that is capable of both loading your picture and saving a PNG format file. (See the documentation file "PNG.txt" for a list of suggested software, and other references.)

> > Reduce the size of the image to no wider than 448 pixels across and no taller than 376 pixels tall. (i.e., the maximum size is 448 x 376 pixels)

> > Save the picture in PNG format. It is highly recommended that you name the filename using the current date and time, since that's the convention Tux Paint uses:

> > > `YYYYMMDDhhmmss.png`

> > - YYYY = Year
> > - MM = Month (01-12)
> > - DD = Day (01-31)
> > - HH = Hour, in 24-hour format (00-23)
> > - mm = Minute (00-59)
> > - ss = Second (00-59)

> > e.g.:

> > > `20020921130500` - for September 21, 2002, 1:05:00pm

> > Place this PNG file in your Tux Paint '`saved`' directory. (See above.)

> > Under Windows, this is in the "`userdata`" folder. Under Mac OS X, this is in "`Library/Preferences/tuxpaint/`" in your home directory.

# Extending Tux Paint

> If you wish to add or change things like Brushes and Rubber Stamps used by Tux Paint, you can do it fairly easily by simply putting or removing files on your hard disk.

> Note: You'll need to restart Tux Paint for the changes to take effect.

> ## Where Files Go

> > ### Standard Files

> > > Tux Paint looks for its various data files in its 'data' directory.

> > > #### Linux and Unix

> > > > Where this directory goes depends on what value was set for "`DATA_PREFIX`" when Tux Paint was built. See INSTALL.txt for details.

> > > > By default, though, the directory is:

> > > > > `/usr/local/share/tuxpaint/`

> > > > If you installed from a package, it is more likely to be:

> > > > > `/usr/share/tuxpaint/`

> > > #### Windows

> > > > Tux Paint looks for a directory called 'data' in the same directory as the executable. This is the directory that the installer used when installing Tux Paint e.g.:

> > > > > `C:\Program Files\TuxPaint\data`

> > > #### Mac OS X

> > > > Tux Paint stores files in your account's "Libraries" folder, under "Preferences", e.g.:

> > > > > `/Users/Joe/Library/Preferences/`

> > ### Personal Files

> > > You can also create brushes, stamps, fonts and 'starters' in your own directory for Tux Paint to find.

> > > #### Linux and Unix

> > > > Your personal Tux Paint directory is "`~/.tuxpaint/`".

> > > > That is, if your home directory is "`/home/karl`", then your Tux Paint directory is "`/home/karl/.tuxpaint/`".

> > > > Don't forget the period ("`.`") before the '`tuxpaint`'!

> > > #### Windows

> > > > Your personal Tux Paint directory is named "userdata" and is in the same directory as the executable e.g.:

> > > > > `C:\Program Files\TuxPaint\userdata`

> > > To add brushes, stamps fonts, and 'starters,' create subdirectories under your personal Tux Paint directory named "`brushes`", "`stamps`", "`fonts`" and "`starters`" respectively.

> > > (For example, if you created a brush named "`flower.png`", you would put it in "`~/.tuxpaint/brushes/`" under Linux or Unix.)

> ## Brushes

> > The brushes used for drawing with the 'Brush' and 'Lines' tools in Tux Paint are simply greyscale PNG images.

> > The alpha (transparency) of the PNG image is used to determine the shape of the brush, which means that the shape can be 'anti-aliased' and even partially-transparent!

> > Brush images should be no wider than 40 pixels across and no taller than 40 pixels high. (i.e., the maximum size can be 40 x 40.)

> > Just place them in the "`brushes`" directory.

> > Note: If your new brushes all come out as solid squares or rectangles, it's because you forgot to use alpha transparency! See the documentation file "PNG.txt" for more information and tips.

> ## Stamps

> > All stamp-related files go in the "`stamps`" directory. It's useful to create subdirectories and sub-subdirectories there to organize the stamps. (For example, you can have a "`holidays`" folder with "`halloween`" and "`christmas`" sub-folders.)

> > ### Images

> > > Rubber Stamps in Tux Paint can be made up of a number of separate files. The one file that is required is, of course, the picture itself.

> > > The Stamps used by Tux Paint are PNG pictures. They can be full-color or greyscale. The alpha (transparency) of the PNG is used to determine the actual shape of the picture (otherwise you'll stamp a large rectangle on your drawings).

> > > The PNGs can be any size, but in practice, a 100 pixels wide by 100 pixels tall (100 x 100) is quite large for Tux Paint.

> > > Note: If your new stamps all have solid rectangular-shaped outlines of a solid color (e.g., white or black), it's because you forgot to use alpha transparency! See the documentation file "PNG.txt" for more information and tips.

> > ### Description Text

> > > Text (".TXT") files with the same name as the PNG. (e.g., "`picture.png`"'s description is stored in "`picture.txt`" in the same directory.)

> > > The first line of the text file will be used as the US English description of the stamp's image. It must be encoded in UTF-8.

> > > #### Language Support

> > > > Additional lines can be added to the text file to provide translations of the description, to be displayed when Tux Paint is running in a different locale (like French or Spanish).

> > > > The beginning of the line should correspond to the language code of the language in question (e.g., "`fr`" for French, and "`zh_tw`" for Traditional Chinese), followed by "`.utf8=`" and the translated description (encoded in UTF-8).

> > > > There are scripts in the "`po`" directory for converting the text files to PO format (and back) for easy translation to different languages. Therefore you should never add or change translations in the .txt files directly.

> > > > If no translation is available for the language Tux Paint is currently running in, the US English text is used.

> > > #### Windows Users

> > > > Use NotePad or WordPad to edit/create these files. Be sure to save them as Plain Text, and make sure they have "`.txt`" at the end of the filename...

> > ### Sound Effects

> > > WAVE (".WAV") files with the same name as the PNG. (e.g., "`picture.png`"'s sound effect is the sound "`picture.wav`" in the same directory.)

> > > #### Language Support

> > > > For sounds for different locales (e.g., if the sound is someone saying a word, and you want translated versions of the word said), also create WAV files with the locale's label in the filename, in the form: "`STAMP_LOCALE.wav`"

> > > > "`picture.png`"'s sound effect, when Tux Paint is run in Spanish mode, would be "`picture_es.wav`". In French mode, "`picture_fr.wav`". And so on...

> > > > If no localized sound effect can be loaded, Tux Paint will attempt to load the 'default' sound file. (e.g., "`picture.wav`")

> > ### Stamp Options

> > > Aside from a graphical shape, a textual description, and a sound effect, stamps can also be given other attributes. To do this, you need to create a 'data file' for the stamp.

> > > A stamp data file is simply a text file containing the options.

> > > The file has the same name as the PNG image, but a "`.dat`" extension. (e.g., "`picture.png`"'s data file is the text file "`picture.dat`" in the same directory.)

> > > #### Colored Stamps

> > > > Stamps can be made to be either "colorable" or "tintable."

> > > > ##### Colorable

> > > > > "Colorable" stamps they work much like brushes - you pick the stamp to get the shape, and then pick the color you want it to be. (Symbol stamps, like the mathematical and musical ones, are an example.)

> > > > > Nothing about the original image is used except the transparency ("alpha" channel). The color of the stamp comes out solid.

> > > > > Add the word "`colorable`" to the stamp's data file.

> > > > ##### Tinted

> > > > > "Tinted" stamps are similar to "colorable" ones, except the details of the original image are kept. (To put it technically, the original image is used, but its hue is changed, based on the currently-selected color.)

> > > > > Add the word "`tintable`" to the stamp's data file.

> > > > > Sometimes you don't want the white or gray parts of an image tinted (see for example the dry erase marker stamp in the default stamp package). You can add the word "`notintgray`" to the stamp's data file to accomplish this. Only areas with saturation over 25 % are then tinted.

> > > #### Unalterable Stamps

> > > > By default, a stamp can be flipped upside down, shown as a mirror image, or both. This is done using the control buttons below the stamp selector, at the lower right side of the screen in Tux Paint.

> > > > Sometimes, it doesn't make sense for a stamp to be flippable or mirrored; for example, stamps of letters or numbers. Sometimes stamps are symmetrical, so letting the user flip or mirror them isn't useful.

> > > > To make a stamp un-flippable, add the option "`noflip`" to the stamp's data file.

> > > > To keep a stamp from being mirrored, add the option "`nomirror`" to the stamp's data file.

> > > #### Windows Users

> > > > You can use NotePad or WordPad to create these file. Be sure to save it as Plain Text, and make sure the filename has "`.dat`" at the end, and not "`.txt`"...

> > ### Pre-Mirrored Images

> > > In some cases, you may wish to provide a pre-drawn version of a stamp's mirror-image. For example, imagine a picture of a fire truck with the words "Fire Department" written across the side. You probably do not want that text to appear backwards when the image is flipped!

> > > To create a mirrored version of a stamp that you want Tux Paint to use, rather than mirroring one on its own, simply create a second "`.png`" graphics file with the same name, except with the string "`_mirror`" before the filename extension.

> > > For example, for the stamp "`truck.png`" you would create another file named "`truck_mirror.png`", which will be used when the stamp is mirrored (rather than using a backwards version of '`truck.png`').

> ## Fonts

> > The fonts used by Tux Paint are TrueType Fonts (TTF).

> > Simply place them in the "`fonts`" directory. Tux Paint will load the font and provide four different sizes in the 'Letters' selector when using the 'Text' tool.

> ## 'Starters'

> > 'Starter' images appear in the 'Open' dialog, along with pictures you've created. They have a green button background, instead of blue.

> > Unlike your saved pictures, however, when you select and open a 'starter,' you're actually creating a new drawing. Instead of being blank, though, the new drawing contains the contents of the 'starter.' Additionally, as you edit your new picture, the contents of the original 'starter' affect it.

> > Coloring-Book Style

> > > The most basic kind of 'starter' is similar to a picture in a coloring book. It's an outline of a shape which you can then color in and add details to. In Tux Paint, as you draw, type text, or stamp stamps, the outline remains 'above' what you draw. You can erase the parts of the drawing you made, but you can't erase the outline.

> > > To create this kind of 'starter' image, simply draw an outlined picture in a paint program, make the rest of the graphic transparent (that will come out as white in Tux Paint), and save it as a PNG format file.

> > Scene-Style

> > > Along with the 'coloring-book' style overlay, you can also provide a separate background image as part of a 'starter' picture. The overlay acts the same: it can't be drawn over, erased, or affected by 'Magic' tools. However, the background can be!

> > > When the 'Eraser' tool is used on a picture based on this kind of 'starter' image, rather than turning the canvas white, it returns that part of the canvas to the original background picture.

> > > By creating both an overlay and a background, you can create a 'starter' which simulates depth. Imagine a background that shows the ocean, and an overlay that's a picture of a reef. You can then draw (or stamp) fish in the picture. They'll appear in the ocean, but never 'in front of' the reef.

> > > To create this kind of 'starter' picture, simply create an overlay (with alpha transparency) as described above, and save it as a PNG. Then create another image (without transparency), and save it with the same filename, but with "`-back`" appended to the name. (e.g., "`reef-back.png`" would be the background ocean picture that corresponds to the "`reef.png`" overlay, or foreground.)

> > The 'starter' images should be the same size as Tux Paint's canvas. In the default 640x480 mode, that is 448x376 pixels. (If you're using 800x600 mode, it should be 608x496.)

> > Place them in the "`starters`" directory. When the 'Open' dialog is accessed in Tux Paint, the 'starter' images will appear at the beginning of the list with a green background.

> > Note: 'Starters' can't be saved over from within Tux Paint, since loading a 'starter' is really like creating a new image. (Instead of being blank, though there's already something there to work with.) The 'Save' command simply creates a new picture, like it would if the 'New' command had been used.

> > Note: 'Starters' are 'attached' to saved pictures, via a small text file that has the same name as the saved file, but with "`.dat`" as the extension. This allows the overlay and background, if any, to continue to affect the drawing even after Tux Paint has been quit, or another picture loaded or started. (In other words, if you base a drawing on a 'starter' image, it will always be affected by it.)

# Further Reading

> Other documentation included with Tux Paint (in the "`docs`" folder/directory) include:
> - AUTHORS.txt
>   List of authors and contributors
> - CHANGES.txt
>   Summary of changed between releases
> - COPYING.txt
>   Copying license (The GNU General Public License)
> - INSTALL.txt
>   Instructions for compiling/installing, when applicable
> - OPTIONS.html
>   Detailed instructions on command-line and configuration-file options, for those who don't want to use Tux Paint Config.
> - PNG.txt
>   Notes on creating PNG format images for use in Tux Paint
> - TODO.txt
>   A list of pending features or bugs needing fixed

# How to Get Help

> If you need help, feel free to contact New Breed Software:

> > http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/

> You may also wish to participate in the numerous Tux Paint mailing lists:

> > http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/lists/