Mark Pelczarski
Encyclopedia
Mark Pelczarski wrote and published some of the earliest digital multimedia computer software. In 1979 while teaching computer science at Northern Illinois University
, he self-published Magic Paintbrush, which was one of the first digital paint programs for the Apple II
, the first consumer computer that had color graphics capabilities.
Pelczarski was hired as an editor at SoftSide
magazine in 1980, but then left to start Penguin Software
in 1981 to publish his optimistically-titled Complete Graphics System, which included digital imaging and 3D wireframe rendering.
In the next year he co-wrote and published Special Effects and Graphics Magician with David Lubar
, who was then writing for Creative Computing
magazine. Special Effects produced digital effects with images and also contained one of the first uses of digital paintbrushes. Graphics Magician featured one of the first uses of vector graphics for image compression, as well as animation routines that made it easy for programmers to add animation to their software. Graphics Magician was licensed by most of the software publishers in the early 1980s for adding graphics and animation to their games and educational software, won numerous awards, and was one of the best selling programs of the time. It was the forerunner of software like Adobe Flash
for compressed images and animation.
In 1986 Pelczarski wrote and published one of the first digital music performance programs, MIDI Onstage, which allowed control of MIDI devices to accompany live performances. Soon after, he built the digital portion of recording studios for Jimmy Buffett
and Dan Fogelberg
.
Pelczarski returned to college teaching and taught one of the first online courses in 1996. As part of the development for the course he wrote Dialogue, one of the first web forum applications, which was made available free to dozens of other universities around the world as they entered into online education.
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
, he self-published Magic Paintbrush, which was one of the first digital paint programs for the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
, the first consumer computer that had color graphics capabilities.
Pelczarski was hired as an editor at SoftSide
SoftSide
SoftSide Magazine is a defunct computer magazine, begun in October 1978 by Roger Robitaille and published by SoftSide Publications of Milford, New Hampshire.-History:...
magazine in 1980, but then left to start Penguin Software
Penguin Software
Penguin Software was a video game publisher from Geneva, Illinois that produced graphics software and games for the Apple II, Macintosh, IBM, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari 8-bit, and Atari ST computers...
in 1981 to publish his optimistically-titled Complete Graphics System, which included digital imaging and 3D wireframe rendering.
In the next year he co-wrote and published Special Effects and Graphics Magician with David Lubar
David Lubar
David Lubar is an author of numerous books for teens. He is also an electronic game programmer, who programmedSuper Breakout for the Nintendo Game Boy, and Frogger for both the SNES and Game Boy. As a game designer, he designed the game Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for the Nintendo Game Boy Color...
, who was then writing for Creative Computing
Creative Computing
Creative Computing was one of the earliest magazines covering the microcomputer revolution. Published from 1974 until December 1985, Creative Computing covered the whole spectrum of hobbyist/home/personal computing in a more accessible format than the rather technically-oriented BYTE. The magazine...
magazine. Special Effects produced digital effects with images and also contained one of the first uses of digital paintbrushes. Graphics Magician featured one of the first uses of vector graphics for image compression, as well as animation routines that made it easy for programmers to add animation to their software. Graphics Magician was licensed by most of the software publishers in the early 1980s for adding graphics and animation to their games and educational software, won numerous awards, and was one of the best selling programs of the time. It was the forerunner of software like Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
for compressed images and animation.
In 1986 Pelczarski wrote and published one of the first digital music performance programs, MIDI Onstage, which allowed control of MIDI devices to accompany live performances. Soon after, he built the digital portion of recording studios for Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
and Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg
Daniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music...
.
Pelczarski returned to college teaching and taught one of the first online courses in 1996. As part of the development for the course he wrote Dialogue, one of the first web forum applications, which was made available free to dozens of other universities around the world as they entered into online education.
External links
- Graphics Magician - Windows C++ Graphics, Animation, and Sound using DirectX and Visual C++
- http://graphicsmagician.com/polarware