Universe Image Creator v1.6 by Diard Software at www.diardsoftware.com

About the Tools: How to use the different tools, ie. star field, nebula, planets, etc... These are listed in order as they appear on the design menu and on the toolbar starting with the "Select" tool. Select This allows you to choose part of the image. This is especially handy if you made a mistake and need to remove it from the image. Just select a box around the mistake and then click on the clear tool. The box will now be blank (whatever the background color is selected). Then immediately choose and click on the starfield tool. This will add a star field into the selected area and will usually blend with the original image. You can also use the unlimited "Undo"/"Redo" items listed in the Edit menu to "undo" items added to your Universe. Star Field This tool operates similar to the flood fill tool in a standard paint program. You can fill the current selection with the ‘star field’ texture by selecting this tool and then left clicking anywhere in the image.
Density | Controls the number of stars generated. Larger values result in more stars.
Brightness | Controls color distribution of stars. Larger values result in brighter stars.
Large Stars | Controls the percentage of ‘large stars’ that are generated. Larger values result in more large stars and fewer small (1 pixel) stars.
Color | All stars generated will have the same hue and saturation as the color chosen. The luminance will vary according to the brightness setting.
Hint: Use this first and place your background image of stars before you place your other space objects. If you don't the stars have a tendency to appear as if they are on top of the other objects, which, of course, in real life is not the case. Globular Cluster This tool fills an elliptical region with a ‘star field’ texture. The default settings create an effect similar to a globular cluster. Nebula This tool fills an elliptical region with a ‘nebula’ texture. The most realistic nebula can be created by repeated applications of this tool using different intensities and colors.
Drop Off | Controls rate of falloff of nebula to empty space. Larger values result in a faster falloff.
Intensity | Controls coverage of nebula texture. Larger values result in more coverage.
Color Frequency | Controls repetition of inner and outer color from the center of the region. Larger values result in more repetitions. Larger values can be used to simulate the appearance of novas or explosions.
Inner Color, Outer Color | Controls the colors used in rendering the nebula. The inner color is used nearest the center of the nebula. This color is mixed with the outer color as a function of the distance from the nebula center.
Star This tool fills an elliptical region with a ‘star’ texture.
Drop Off | Controls rate of falloff of stars corona to empty space. Larger values result in a faster falloff.
Radius | The radius of the star core. This value is normalized from 0 to 1.
Core Color, Corona Color | Controls the colors used in rendering the star.
Interstellar Gas This tool fills an elliptical region with an ‘interstellar gas’ texture.
Intensity | Controls the ‘brightness’ of the gas.
Add Turbulence | If checked, turbulence will be added to the gas. This gives the gas a ‘billowing’ look.
Frequency | Controls the frequency of the turbulence. Higher frequencies result in more ‘billows’ at a smaller size than lower frequencies.
Color | Controls the color of the gas.
Vortex This tool fills an elliptical region with a ‘vortex’ texture.
Drop Off | Controls rate of falloff of the vortex to empty space. Larger values result in a faster falloff.
Intensity | Controls coverage of vortex texture. Larger values result in more coverage.
Color Frequency | Controls repetition of inner and outer color from the center of the region. Larger values result in more repetitions.
Inner Color, Outer Color | Controls the colors used in rendering the vortex. The inner color is used nearest the center of the vortex. This color is mixed with the outer color as a function of the distance from the vortex center.
Inner Radius | The radius of the vortex center. This value is normalized from 0 to 1.
Swirl Frequency | Controls the number of swirls around the vortex. Larger values result in more swirls.
Galaxy
Type | common galaxy types
Core Color | Controls the colors used in rendering the core of the galaxy.
Stars Color | Controls the colors used in rendering the arms of the galaxy
Density | Controls the number of stars generated in the arms and core of the galaxy. Larger values result in more stars.
Gas Cloud: |
Texture | A bitmap or JPEG image that is mapped to the galaxy. Several are provided to choose from or you can specify your own images. Place images in the Galaxy directory which is located in the Universe directory you specified when installing Universe.
Browse | Allows you to choose different images to be used as the gas cloud's texture.
Color | The color chosen Black is 0; White is 1; Red adds a red tint like you're looking through a red filter.
Scale Factor | The scale that the gas cloud image is applied. If it is set to zero, no gas cloud image is textured onto the galaxy. If it is set to 10 (the highest setting), it may extend to far and appear as if it has been chopped off. 6.0 is probably a good setting for most images.
Default Properties | This returns all of the settings on this control to its original settings. Otherwise, the most recent settings are saved and will appear the next time the control is used.
Lens Flare This tool fills an elliptical region with a ‘lens flare’ texture.
Drop Off | Controls rate of falloff of the lens flare to empty space. Larger values result in a faster falloff.
Intensity | Controls coverage of vortex texture. Larger values result in more coverage.
Streaks | The number of streaks and intensity of the streaks can be set. Checking Add secondary streaks adds smaller streaks in between the primary streaks.
Flare Components | Controls the colors used in rendering the lens flare.
Ring On | Check to turn the outer ring on.
Venus This tool fills an circular region with a ‘Venus’ type planet.
Cloud, Surface Color | Controls the colors used to render Venus.
Fractal Dimension | Controls the frequency of the texture. Smaller values give more transitions in the texture.
Coriolis Effect | Simulates effect of planet rotation on atmosphere.
Moon This tool fills an circular region with a ‘moon’ type planet.
Maria, Highlands Color | Controls the colors used to render the moon.
Fractal Dimension | Controls the frequency of the texture. Smaller values give more transitions in the texture.
Amount of Maria | Controls amount of maria in the moon.
Bump Map | Simulates surface height by linear or periodic perturbation of the surface normal.
Earth This tool fills an circular region with a ‘earth’ type planet.
Sea Level | Controls the colors used to render the planet.
Ice Caps | Controls the latitude where the ice caps start. 0 is the equator and 1 is the pole.
Landscape Fractal Dimension | Controls the frequency of the landmass texture. Smaller values give more transitions in the texture.
Landscape Climate | Change landmass between warmer and cooler climates. Larger values are cooler (more green, more ice).
Clouds Fractal Dimension | Controls the frequency of the cloud texture. Smaller values give more transitions in the texture.
Clouds Coverage | Controls the amount of coverage of the clouds. Larger values give more cloud coverage.
Using the Planet tools: Lighting Each planet effect uses the lighting dialog to control the orientation and intensity of the light illuminating the planet. The Polar View slider positions sets the x-z location of the light. You are looking down on the planet form the north pole, so the light is moving in a circle around the equator of the planet. The y slider sets the height of the light with respect to the planet. The 0 setting is the equator of the planet. You are positioning the light on a cylinder surrounding the planet as the following diagram illustrates. The intensity of the light is controlled with the intensity slider. How do I change the landmass distribution on the earth? For any of the effects you can generate a new sequence of random numbers by clicking the preview window in the effect dialog. This is most useful with the planet effects. Click until you have the look you want. The effect will not match the preview exactly since the effect is using the same sequence over a larger area. More Tools - As listed from the Edit Menu Undo/Redo - "Undo" will remove the most recently added object. "Redo" will place the most recently removed object back. Both of these tools are unlimited. That is, all of your additions/changes are remembered and can be "Undone" and then, alternatively, "Redone". Cut/Copy/Paste/ - These will cut, copy, or paste the most recently selected item. Paste File - allows you to paste files into your Universe image. Tip: Universe has the ability to Paste bitmaps from the clipboard as well as a bitmap file. When pasting using the "Paste File..." selection under the Edit menu, you can hold down the SHIFT key and a ‘transparent paste’ will be performed. This allows you to create a library of space effects and use them in later images. The transparent color is set in the Transparent Paste dialog under Edit/Options. You can also specify a tolerance around the transparent color. Frequently, what appears to be a solid color such as black to the naked eye is actually a small value such as RGB(5, 5, 5). With the tolerance setting these colors will be treated as transparent as well. For example, if you set your transparent color to black - RGB(0, 0, 0) and your tolerance to RGB(5, 5, 5), then all colors less than RGB(5, 5, 5) will be treated as transparent. Clear - This clears the image area, leaving the background color displayed. The background color can be chosen in the "Options..." selection which is defined below and is also located in the Edit menu. Options Transparent Paste -Universe has the ability to Paste bitmaps from the clipboard as well as a bitmap file. When pasting using the "Paste File..." selection under the Edit menu, you can hold down the SHIFT key and a ‘transparent paste’ will be performed. This allows you to create a library of space effects and use them in later images. The transparent color is set in the Transparent Paste dialog under Edit/Options. You can also specify a tolerance around the transparent color. Frequently, what appears to be a solid color such as black to the naked eye is actually a small value such as RGB(5, 5, 5). With the tolerance setting these colors will be treated as transparent as well. For example, if you set your transparent color to black - RGB(0, 0, 0) and your tolerance to RGB(5, 5, 5), then all colors less than RGB(5, 5, 5) will be treated as transparent. Preview - In the preview window for each space object (star, etc.), the changes made in the settings area will be displayed immediately after each change is made when the "Automatic" method is chosen. This is the default method. For slower computers or for many changes, you may want to choose the manual method. If manual method is chosen, you must click the cursor in the preview window to see the selected changes appear. You can also choose "Automatic" method and decrease the frequency of window updates by the number of seconds displayed in the "Delay after Changes: " box. Background - this is the color that will be used as the background to your image. The default setting is black but can be changed in the Options window. The most recently selected color will become the default setting until a different one is chosen. The View Menu - You can choose to display the status bar and the toolbar by clicking on desired selection. A "check" will appear if the desired bar is displayed.