How do I make new signs?

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
February 29, 2004

Dear SW List, and Stephen!
Welcome to the SignWriting List, Stephen! And thank you for your
wonderful new web site:

Pittsburgh United For Deaf Literacy (PUDL)
http://www.pudl.info/cards.php

And thank you, Stuart, for giving Stephen information.

Ok. Now. Stephen - there is a way to type in both SignWriter DOS, and
also in SignWriter Java. But most people start with SignWriter DOS. The
typing is similar in both programs, although the DOS program is more
complete and can do more...You can run the DOS program on Windows 98,
98se, and ME, or...on XP if you also download another program called
DOSBox, that makes it possible for you to use SignWriter DOS on XP.

But you can also type with SignWriter Java.

So here are some places to go on the web. To learn how to type, I would
suggest this web page:

Instruction SignWriter Computer Program
http://www.SignWriting.org/forums/software/sw44/sw44less

The one problem with SignWriter Java is that it has bugs, and is being
re-programmed. One of the current bugs is when you first open the
program and you want to type, you need to click on the Type
Fingerspelling Button first, and then click on the Type Sign button on
the bottom. From there you will be able to start typing by just typing
on a key, and there are Key Boxes on the screen and then you type the
asdfghjkl; keys to choose the symbol you want...Go to the page above,
and download some instruction manuals!

I will write again in a day or so...so keep asking questions and
someone will answer them for you -

Val ;-)

-----------------------------




On Feb 29, 2004, at 8:25 PM, Stephen Slevinski wrote:

> Thanks Stuart,
>
> But... how do I combine symbols together and move them around?  I want
> to
> create new signs.  I'm missing something.  I saw a picture of a
> SignWriting
> keyboard layout, but I don't know how or why to use it.
>
> -Stephen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SignWriting List [mailto:SW-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA]On Behalf Of
> Stuart Thiessen
> Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 4:41 PM
> To: SW-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA
> Subject: Re: How do I make new signs?
>
>
> Hi, Stephen! I use SW Java as well. With SW Java, there is currently no
> export feature like there is for SW DOS. Typically, I use spaces with
> "type words" to get the signs lined up away from the edges of the SW
> Java screen.  Then I use the print screen feature to capture the image,
> or on Mac OS X, the Grab utility.  Then, I use a graphics program to
> isolate the sign or sign(s) I wish to work with in one graphic image.
>
> In SW DOS, there is the capability to print to postscript which is
> helpful in conjunction with Ghostscript or Acrobat to create a longer
> document in PDF format. The "look" is not as nice as SW Java, but that
> is where the technology is at the moment.
>
> I'm sure we will see improved features as Daniel Noelpp and others work
> on the updated SW Java program.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Stuart
>
> On Feb 29, 2004, at 5:30 PM, Stephen Slevinski wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> This is Stephen Slevinski.  I'm new to the list.
>>
>> I have created a SignWriting and literacy website up.  Specifically,
>> I'm
>> trying to promote the SignWriting Playing Cards.  If you have a
>> printer, you
>> can print your own deck.
>>
>> My website is very basic.  I have a dictionary I'm trying to build.
>> But,
>> I'm running XP and can only get SignWriting Java to work on my
>> computer.  So
>> I have a newbie question because I am getting lost on the website and
>> don't
>> know where to go.
>>
>> How do I make new signs?
>>
>> Is there software that will help me?
>>
>> Do I just copy and paste in a graphics program?
>>
>> I need to store the pictures as .gif images.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Stephen Slevinski
>> www.pudl.info
>>
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