Introduction
This is version 1.0 of the computerized "Fly Patterns of the Midwest" on CDROM. If this offering is well received, we will try to improve and update the content before releasing a new version. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Remember though that if you want to see it done better, you should be prepared to help! If a new version is released, you are entitled to one free upgrade, for the cost of the media, and shipping, probably around $5.00.
Computer Requirements
This product was produced with Adobe PageMill, an HTML authoring tool. As with all HTML documents, the performance is dependant upon the actual resources of your computer - browser, plug-ins, CDROM, memory, et cetera. This product has been tested with newer versions of both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The HTML files do not contain a lot of "fancy stuff", but your browser must at least be able to handle "frames" (standard in all browser versions for several years...).
MAC versus PC
This CDROM will only work on a PC. Because these CD's are individually made on writable CD's, it's not possible to make both a PC and a Mac version without special "stuff" which I don't have. If someone would like to try making a Mac version, I will be happy to share the files.
CDROM Requirements
Writable CD's can be read by about 95% of the CDROM drives currently in use. The exception seems to be some of the older x1 and x2 drives. The only solution is to upgrade your CDROM drive.
Picture Quality
There are two versions of each of the 200 fly images on this CDROM. They are in JPEG format, and can be accessed directly by Photoshop, or most other image editing programs. The images shown on each fly pattern page are 75 dots per inch, and about 4 inches by 3 inches in size. In general these have been sharpened and brightened in Photoshop to try to give the best low resolution image possible. For each low resolution image, there is a corresponding high resolution image, at 600 dots per inch, that has not been modified in any way. These can be printed out from your image editing software to your color printer to give excellant reproductions of the original photos.
Why 75 Dots per Inch?
The screen resolution of most monitors is between 70 and 90 dots per inch. Browsers expect to see images of similar resolution. If you link to a 4 inch x 3 inch image that is 600 dots per inch, the browser will likely expand it to a much larger size, but still just show it at the inherent resolution of the monitor. Some smarter browsers might be capable of "rendering" the image to the correct size, but that's exactly what I have already done in Photoshop to make the low resolution images. If anyone knows how to make higher quality images for web pages.... please let me know!