DVL Engine → 2006

Software Tool to generate printable .pdf documents for flyers, posters, and publications, and .tga raster graphics to send via email. In collaboration with Jack Fisher.

The design parameters for the program are translated into sets of instructions, based on the visual identity of the School of Art and Design. Compositions are generated on the fly to allow for maximum variety within the visual parameters.

Download current version 013:

Mac OS X: DVL_engine _013
Windows: DVL_engine _013
Linux: DVL_engine _013


Features:

- GUI text input
- XML input though input.data.xml file in application folder
- custom sizes (inches)
- print single frame to .pdf
- print single frame to .tga
- continuous recording
- pause

Special keys (for experimentation only):

- [b]ackground image: loads image from web URL or application root folder. Place your images as .jpg or .png into the root folder, edit and save the xml file (e.g. ) and restart the engine
- [t]extlayer (show/hide) - [SPACE] for pause
- [p]rint .pdf
- [s]ave .tga (raster image)
- [c]olor background
- [g]rayscale
- [l]ines as curves
- [r]ecord continuously (creates 0.pdf, 1.pdf, 2.pdf...)
- r[e]ctangles
- [3]Dlines

Instructions:

- download and unzip folder, start dvl_engine.app or .exe - the CPU intensive generation of the .pdf documents might delay response for the GUI, buttons show highlight when active
- default size is tabloid size 11”x17”
- all .pdf documents are generated in the folder where the application’s root folder
- the font used is Helvetica Neue Black 95. Because of different font systems on different OS, please try first without installing the font. Possible errors are blocky or light interpretation of the font. Use FontBook in OS X or Copy font icon[ .ttf] and paste it to the directory C:\windows\fonts in XP to load the font if necessary.
- the text input forms do not communicate with the clipboard, so copy paste is not supported.
However, the engine can also receive data from the input.data.xml document in the root directory of the application. You an open, edit, and save it in any text editor. When starting the application, just press 'generate' without using the input forms.


Bug fixes and new features:

Ver. Alpha_013: line breaks with \n, multiple .tga files Ver. Alpha_012: size input, resize all elements proportionally, save .tga, xml document defined image load from url or root folder

Older Versions:

version 012:

Mac OS X: DVL_engine _012
Windows: DVL_engine _012
Linux: DVL_engine _012