============================================================HARDWARE: ENLIGHTEN YOUR PCW ============================================================ The TROJAN LIGHTPEN and CAD-MASTER Graphics software provide a versatile method of making custom-made designs, art-work and technical drawings. It is intended as a stand-alone program which provides a most versatile graphic designing tool for your PCW. The software has recently been updated to allow use of the keyboard making it easier and faster to use than its predecessor. The LIGHTPEN comes ready to use by simply plugging into the expansion socket beneath the Printer port at the rear of the monitor. You are advised not to plug/unplug the Lightpen while the PCW is switched on, presumably to avoid damage to the PCW and Lightpen. The lead connecting the lightpen to the rear of the PCW is of ample proportions and lightweight allowing the user to operate the pen without any restraints. During use some practice is needed to accurately position the Lightpen 'square-on' to the screen and the PCW's Brightness knob needs to be 'finely tuned' to give optimum results. The CAD-MASTER disc comes with two versions which occupy 27K of a CF2 disc; The original all-lightpen operated program and the new 'KEYS' CAD-MASTER. After loading the program from CP/M's A> prompt you are quickly presented with the main Menu which occupies the top half of the screen. From the main menu you have a choice of seven line thicknesses which can be either solid or dotted. This will affect the line width when using the other options to DRAW, create GRIDs or with the so-called GEOMETRIC tools. From the main Menu you may also choose from TEXT; COPY; FILL; WASH (useful to clear a part of the Graphics screen); ZOOM; PRINT full or PART of the screen; ERASE; DISK; NEW and EXIT. To select an option from the Main Menu you position the tip of the Lightpen over the appropriate box. To actually create a pattern on screen with the lightpen you must first activate the SCAN while the tip of the pen is touching the screen where you wish to start. This start off point may then be repositioned with the cursor keys to within pixel accuracy. Use the X and Y co-ordinates to accurately line up this position where necessary. Now the SCAN is activated again with the pen located where you wish the opposite side to be. You can reposition this point as well and with the Geometric options the design is continuously redrawn as you move it about the screen. Positioning these Geometric designs can be done extremely accurately as their X and Y co-ordinates are displayed at the bottom of the screen. The Geometric options available are LINE, BAND, RAYS, BOX, TRIANGLE, CIRCLE, ELLIPSE and CUBE (CUBE has a 3D effect). When drawing freehand using CAD-MASTER the lightpen is slowly moved around the screen to draw, or trace, the desired shape. The pen must be 'attached' to a large flashing cursor on screen as you draw. Like the Geometric designs, the thickness of the outline you draw with the pen is determined by the LINE TYPE selected from the Main Menu. I found the flashing Cursor off-putting at first but was soon drawing my own shapes quite easily. By cutting out a traced shape, say the map of United Kingdom, I found it easier to draw freehand around this template as the going tends to be quite slow and any wobbles you make are duplicated on the screen. Once the outline has been drawn, ZOOM in on any area that needs touching up. ZOOM can handle up to twelve times magnification and shows the original size graphic at the bottom of the screen. This is updated as you edit the magnified section. You have a choice of fifty-four FILL patterns which can all be INVERTED. There is an option of defining two FILL patterns yourself giving a countless variety which should satisfy even the most demanding application or fastidious user. The COPY command offers a powerful method of manipulating your graphic. You may COPY either Green only/Black only or both ie. a true copy. The X and Y direction sizes are selectable in increments up to eight times the original size. By setting the MIRROR options on the COPY sub-menu you are able to reverse (left to right) the copy, turn it upside down or reverse upside down. The TEXT option is limited to one standard font but the size is preselectable from eight widths and heights. When the graphic is finished it can be SAVEd to Disk ready to be loaded by CAD-MASTER another time. You are able to PRINT the design direct from CAD-MASTER with a choice of printing all or just a part of the graphic. You can choose between Print Size (normal or a miniature), density (High or Draft Quality) and direction (portrait or landscape). The manual covers sixteen pages giving concise instructions on using the software and a free HELP LINE is available (telephone or postal) should you need further advice. This graphics designing package is a budget priced way of adding lightpen capability to your PCW and supplementing your DTP graphics program. While budget priced it has many powerful features and is a worthwhile addition to any graphics software library.