Matre 81 is an interesting graphics program with some unusual functions for the 16K ZX81. Probably the most unique is 'kaleidoscope' where anything drawn in the top right hand quadrant of the screen is mirrored in the other three quadrants.

There are some thirty functions in all. To start, you are presented with a blank screen and asked how many pictures you wish to draw - up to eight separate pictures can be handled by the computer.

In Draw mode you move the cursor around the screen to produce the required pattern or picture. You can move horizontally, vertically, and diagonally (eight directions in all). The drawing area has 43 vertical and 64 horizontal pixels, so picture resolution is not all that good.

Function mode can be caled up at any time. Each function is called by a single character, and you are asked to confirm that any selected function is indeed required before it is operated. This slows things up a little, but does reduce the probability of error. The functions available include the usual Copy, Save and Load routines as well as such features as Invert, Fill (to fill the screen with a specified character), Charborder (to get a border using your own choice of character), Store and Recall (to get pictures into and out of memory) and Cursoring (which moves the cursor directly to a specifiedcorner of the screen).

There is an animate function which displays each picture consecutively. However as there is a maximum of eight pictures, animation is strictly limited.

All the features worked as indicated on the comprehensive sheet that is included with the cassette. The program is entertaining and is very easy to use. I am afraid that I am unable to illustrate this review with any of my doodles as my Sinclair printer has thrown a wobbly - well I did drop it. Is there anyone out there who can repair the little beasties?

Matre 81 costs £3.75 (cheque payable for MG Huggins) from Arctan Software, Sute 2, Assurance House, 35-41 Hazelwood Road, Northampton NN1 1LG.