What can CopyShape do ?
The purpose of CopyShape is to draw specific shapes. These pictures can be used as Brushes in paint programs like Mirage (Bauhaus Software) or PDPro (Project Dogwaffle).
The picture is drawn in black and white. It can have an alpha channel, the white background is then transparent. (Your paint program must be able to handle this feature).
The picture can be saved to BMP or TGA file, both in 24 or 32 bits.
The picture can be send to Clipboard. You may paste it in your paint program.
The picture can be sent directly as brush or picture to Mirage and PDPro.
You can store your favorite shapes settings in a preset list.
How does it work ?
Start CopyShape. Select the style of shape you want to create. Adjust your shape with its specific parameters.
Save your work or send it to your paint program with the clipboard. It is easy and convenient.
The main window is divided into 3 areas : the Menu, the Working area and the Picture Preview.
You have also a status bar in this window.
Fig.1 : CopyShape interface. a. Small mode - b. Full
The interface mode
The interface can be used in small or full mode (see Fig.1). The small mode is set by default, when you start CopyShape.
The small mode takes less space and is perfect when you use CopyShape as a plug-in for a paint program.
The Full Mode shows more buttons for functions that you can find in the menu.
You can switch between small and full Interface from the menu item : Interface/Small .
You have also an Stay on top option that force CopyShape to be in front of other programs, always visible.
This option is available from the menu or as a checkbox in full mode.
The shape selection
In the Small interface, you must select your shape from the Shape menu.
In the Small interface, you cant select your shape from the Shape menu or click on the radio button list, in the working area.
When you select a shape, the list of parameters will change.
The next page of this manual will show you the 18 shapes.
The shape settings
Each shape has its own list of specific settings.
These settings are numeric values that you can adjust in the Shape parameters group of control, in the Working area.
There are also some common parameters for all the shapes.
The first is Rotation. It allows you to turn your shape, from -360 to +360 degrees.
Anti aliasing will smooth the edge of the shape when checked.
Outline will draw only the border of the shape when checked, the thickness of this border can be set with the numeric value, up to 20 pixels.
Editing the values
You can modify the values typing a new value in the edit box.
To validate the value, hit [enter] or exit the edit box by clicking somewhere in the interface.
If the entered value is out of range, the minimum value will be set instead.
The numeric values can also be modified with a little gadget called -button slider -. 
Click on it with the left mouse button and while holding this button pressed, move your mouse (or Pen) to the left for a value decrease or to the right for a value increase.
The shape preview is updated while you use a button slider.
However, for speed reason, the preview don't use Anti-Aliasing (even if it is checked) until you release the mouse button.
The presets
If you want to keep your current shape settings for later use, you can save them in the preset list.
The preset list is loaded when you start CopyShape and saved to the preset file when you quit.
The preset file is named Copyshape.pst and is located in the same folder as the main CopyShape.exe file.
To save the current settings, enter a name in the edit box first at the bottom of the list. Then hit the plus button.
If you want to reuse the values stored in a preset, double click on it, in the list.
To delete a preset, click on it in the list and hit the minus button.
You can change a preset position in the list with the up and down arrow buttons.
You can store up to 100 presets.
The picture preview
The picture preview will change when you modify any values.
The program will raise the interface size to be able to show the full picture.
The colors
You can change the shape and background color from the Colors menu. The background color willl only be used if you export the picture in 24 bit. In 32 bit, the Background is always transparent.
The Black and white menu sets the shape color to black and the background color to white.
The Echange menu swaps the shape and the background colors.
The Negative menu sets the shape and the background colors to their negative values.