MANDELBROT EYE CANDY                Programmer: Brian J. Melancon
Version 0.75b CARD-WARE                 E-Mail: melancon@memphisonline.com
Copyright (c) 1997                     Address: 1769 S. Perkins Rd.
Released July 15, 1997                          Memphis, TN   38117-7011

=============================================================================

Mandelbrot Eye Candy is an easy to use program to explore the spectacular
patterns and designs contained within the Mandelbrot set.  


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
MS-DOS 3.0+  
286+ (486DX 33+ recommended for speed) 
About 400K free disk space (can be run from a floppy)
Microsoft compatible mouse
SVGA monitor and card 
  -This progam exclusively uses VESA version 1.2 mode 103h 800x600x256
   It has only been tested (so far) on Avance Logic and Trident chipsets
   with 1 meg of video RAM, it -SHOULD- work on others and with 512K.

=============================================================================

INSTALLATION
------------
Just unZip mandec75.zip into its own directory and type "mandec" to run.
The archive should contain the following files:

        mandec.exe  -  the main executable
        smmand.pic  -  the picture used for the "You Are Here" map
        lgmand.pic  -  the picture of the whole set, the program loads this 
                       picture on startup or restart to speed up the process
        readme.txt  -  this file

=============================================================================
This program is released as CARD-WARE.  This means that you are not required
to send any money, but if you like and use it you are required to send me
either an E-Mail or a postcard telling me what you think of the program.

There are lots of Mandelbrot viewers out there, and at this stage this one
is not feature packed.  It does, however render high quality images and is
easy to use.  I am releasing what I feel to be an incomplete program in order 
to get some feedback to determine whether or not I should continue the effort 
to expand it.

Plans for future releases:
--------------------------
- Save/Load both of graphics and/or mathmatical coordinates
- Support for other video modes
- Panning around image at same scale
- Ability to define a box on main image to zoom into
- Variable zoom amounts
- Animations
- Windows version (if I can get enough money for a Windows compiler)
  NOTE: This program does work running as a DOS program under Windows
- Adjustable/savable palettes
- Assembly optimization of drawing routine to increase speed
- Random location finder - might be nice as a screen saver
- Possibly implement graphing of other fractal formulas in addition to 
  the Mandelbrot set
- Whatever else I can think of (got any suggestions??)

=============================================================================

                                INSTRUCTIONS
                               --------------

QUICK SEARCH WINDOW
-------------------
This is the heart of the program.  Click inside the window to select the
new center of the display and zoom in.  Click on the [DRAW] button to 
expand the small image to the main display.  

This smaller window draws much more quickly than the main display.  It makes
it possible to quickly browse around and search for interesting areas without
waiting on the main display to render the much more detailed version.


YOU ARE HERE
------------
My wife came up with this idea.  She wanted to have an idea of where she 
was within the set, since it is easy to get lost.  This works well and  
also helps to illustrate how the various parts of the Mandelbrot set have 
characteristic patterns and shapes.  

The little square within the window simply shows (not to scale) your  
approximate location within the main set.  In future releases I may modify
this to allow the user to move the square to a desired location, but 
currently it is display only.


BUTTONS
-------
The buttons are mostly self-explanatory, but here is the break-down anyway:

      [CYCLE ON] -  Toggles color cycling (shown when cycling is off)
      [NO CYCLE] -  (shown when cycling is on)    
          
        [CYCLE+] -  When color cycling is off this button   
                    cycles the colors one step at a time

      [ZOOM OUT] -  Zoom out - this operates on the Quick Search window

       [ZOOM IN] -  Zoom in - this too operates on Quick Search

       [RESTART] -  Start back at the initial position and scale 
                    This also reloads the big screen (off disk for speed)
           
          [QUIT] -  Exit the program

          [DRAW] -  Render the detailed main image of the scaled down
                    Quick Search window

=============================================================================

As stated above, you are not required to send any money, but donations
will be accepted (to go towards purchasing a newer compiler).  If you 
donate $10.00 US or more (and send me your mailing address) you will be sent 
a registered version of the next release on a 3.5" disk.  That release will 
include most of the items listed above under "Plans For Future Releases". 

If you find any problems or have any suggestions, please let me know.


DISCLAIMER:
This software is guaranteed only to take up disk space.  It has been tested  
on only a limited number of machines, and appears to work properly on them, 
but is not guaranteed to work on yours.  Although to the author's knowledge
this software is perfectly safe, installing and using new software always 
involves a certain amount of risk.  By installing/using this software you 
agree to assume all responsiblity for anything and everything that might 
happen to your computer system as a result.

Batteries not included.  If swallowed, do not induce vommiting.  Not for use 
with some accessories.  Avoid prolonged contact with skin.  Friends don't let
friends use AOL.  Do not wash with bleach.  Tastes filling.  Just ask why. 
Keep away from flames.  Do not eat.  Choking hazard, contains small electrons.
If rash or irritation developes, discontinue use.  Use daily for best results.
Contains at least 50% post consumer recycled electrons.  For indoor use only.
Shake well before using.  No user servicable parts inside.
