Barco Strike!
Encyclopedia
Barco Strike was a vector
Vector-based graphical user interface
A vector-based graphical user interface is a mostly conceptual type of graphical user interface where elements are drawn using vector, rather than raster information.-Pros and Cons:...

-based drawing program targeted at the repro and print shop markets. It was developed by the Graphics division of the Barco Group from 1993 to the late 1990s on both Barco's own proprietary workstations and SGI
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...

 computers. It was meant both as a replacement for the proprietary Aesthedes systems, and as a companion linework product to the Creator continuous tone software.

Software modules

Like Barco Creator, Strike was set up as a modular system. The base was the "LW-Brix" linework software library (unlimited zoom, unlimited undo/redo, spline data, editable text, transparency etc.).

File formats

Strike could import PostScript
PostScript
PostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...

 data and convert this to the custom Barco format. It was also possible for Strike to use the optional PS-Outline software to output files in Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Adobe Systems. Illustrator is similar in scope, intended market, and functionality to its competitors, CorelDraw, Xara Designer Pro and Macromedia FreeHand....

 format.

Hardware

Strike! ran on the proprietary Barco BG-2000 workstation, as well as the SGI Indigo, Indy and Crimson workstations.

Release history

Version Hardware O/S Release date Price Significant changes (selected)
Strike! 1.0 BG-2000, Indigo, Crimson IRIX/? September 1993 $20.000 ?
Strike! 1.4 Indy IRIX/? September 1994 $15.000
  • Alpha channel for all image formats
  • Extended typesetting features
  • DesignRules (lock certain functions)
  • DesignLink (networking w/mac)
Strike! 1.5 ? IRIX/? ? ? ?
Strike! 2.0 ? IRIX/? ? ? ?
Strike! 2.1 ? IRIX/? 1997? ? ?
Strike! 2.2 ? IRIX/? 1998? ? ?
Strike! 2.3 ? IRIX/? 1999? ? ?

Availability

Barco Strike was discontinued in the late 1990s, and was not picked up by Purup-Eskofot after it purchased the Graphics division of Barco
Barco
Barco N.V. is a display hardware manufacturer specialising in video projectors, LCD projectors, DLP projectors, LCoS projectors, LED displays, video walls, flat panel displays, automated luminaires, digital lighting and lighting controls....

. Demo versions of both Barco Strike and Creator are available on the SGI Hot Mix 7 promotional CD-ROM.
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