readme.txt

ImageMagick library of image with Visual C++6

ImageMagick wrapper components for Delphi
=========================================

Date: 20 June 2003
Readme written for Version 1.3

In this archive you can find a Delphi component wrapper for the fabulous ImageMagick
library that can be found here:
http://studio.imagemagick.org/

The wrapper class is named the TMagickImage class, descending from TGraphic. It supports
assignment to TBitmap, so you can easily load an ImageMagick image, then assign it to
a standard TBitmap for visualisation.

Some key methods of TMagickImage:

- LoadFromFile(const Filename: string);
Load an image from disk into TMagickImage. TMagickImage uses the filename's extension
to determine which kind of file it is. A complete list of supported formats can be
found here:
http://studio.imagemagick.org/www/formats.html

- SaveToFile(const Filename: string);
Save an image to disk, again the filename determines in which format the file will be
saved.

- AssignTo
Use this one to assign to any TBitmap. Showing a TMagickImage in a TImage component is
as easy as Image1.Picture.Bitmap.Assign(MyMagic);

The library automatically registers itself with TPicture so you can preview all types in
the standard Open Picture and Save Picture dialog boxes.


Archive structure
=================
It is advised to extract files from this archive using the ZIP option "use folder names".

Main Directory:
magickImage.pas:     Contains the wrapper component in the file
magickgeneral.pas:   Some general library constants, for instance the file format list
ImageMagickAPI.pas:  The fabulous translation of Ian Stuart
ImError.pas
ImSemaphore.pas

test1 Directory:  "Test Magick" application that demonstrates loading/saving/editing with
                  the new wrapper component. If you want to learn how to use TMagickImage
                  then I suggest you look at this demo application.

test2 Directory:  Sample console application, PDF to TIF conversion

Installation
============
It is advised to make two additional subdirectories:

Dcu: 
This will hold all compiled .dcu files

Exe: 
This will hold the .exe files. It is advised to store the ImageMagick DLL files in here as 
well. This will avoid having to update your "path" variable. You can get the ImageMagick DLL
files by downloading a precompiled default Windows binary distribution at the ImageMagick 
website.
Last time I checked, this was here:
ftp://ftp.imagemagick.org/pub/ImageMagick/binaries/ImageMagick-i686-pc-windows.exe

These files should be present as a minimum:
CORE_RL_bzlib_.dll
CORE_RL_lcms_.dll
CORE_RL_magick_.dll
CORE_RL_ttf_.dll
CORE_RL_zlib_.dll
X11.dll

These are recommended in order to suport a large set of formats:
CORE_RL_jbig_.dll
CORE_RL_jpeg_.dll
CORE_RL_fpx_.dll
CORE_RL_libxml_.dll
CORE_RL_png_.dll
CORE_RL_tiff_.dll
CORE_RL_xlib_.dll

Registry Entry:
==============
If you get the error "NoDecodeDelegateForThisImageFormat" for obviously supported image formats,
then you probably didn't install the ImageMagick library correctly. With current DLL files,
you should always install default binary distribution of the library from ImageMagick's website. 

You can check this by using "regedit" and checking for the presence of this key:
HKLM\Software\ImageMagick\5.5.6\Q16
(or any other current version number)


ImageMagick Documentation
=========================
There comes a lot of documentation with the standard ImageMagick install. Check the "www\api"
folder for information (in html format). You can also check out the website and the links there.

Future Development
==================
If you want to participate in developing the wrapper components any further, then please do so. 
I am interested in any updates. If someone wants to turn this project into a SourceForge
project then please do so as well.

DISCLAIMER
==========
Software distributed under the License is distributed on an
"AS IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or
implied. See the License for the specific language governing
rights and limitations under the License.

Contact Information
===================
For information and bug fixes please contact:
Nils Haeck M.Sc.
http://www.simdesign.nl
Email: [e-mail]
- I may not always be able to reply fast due to:
   - incredibly complex demanding projects going on
   - travels around the world
   - beer drinking

Webpage on ImageMagick:
http://www.simdesign.nl/components/imagemagick.html

Yahoogroup:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delphimagick