Aquarius Bitmap Graphics Tool

[jaybird3rd]

Thanks for that write-up, Martin. My suggestion to use a cartridge ROM was really only intended for testing individual routines, but your procedure allows these routines to then be integrated into BASIC programs. I knew it was possible to do this, but I've never done it myself, so I couldn't provide much help on that point.

 

@chjmartin2: This technique, by the way, can be used to optimize any sort of routine that would be very time-consuming to perform entirely in BASIC, or to perform functions that can't be done in BASIC at all. Some examples (besides filling the screen) are reading the hand controllers, or playing sounds and music using the AY-3-8910 chip in the Mini-Expander.

[chjmartin2]

Look how far I have come... Ha! How do you make the cool indent code things on a post by the way?

 

Here is my output:

 

5 x=0:i=0:n=0

10 DATA 33,40,52,6,0,205,17,125,33,40,52,6,17,205,17,125,201,17,192,3

20 DATA 112,35,27,122,179,32,249,201, -1

 

40 n=32000:

50 POKE 14341,INT(N/256):POKE 14340,N-256*PEEK(14341)

60 READ I:IF I=-1 GOTO 75

70 POKE N,I:N=N+1:GOTO 60

75 print chr$(11);

110 x=usr(0)

120 goto 110

 

It flickers between two colors. The problem is that I have no idea how fast it is going or will go on a real aquarius.

 

Can use the In command to load the VSYNC flag from port (253)? I think I should wait for the VSYNC flag to go high before I draw the screen, then wait again.

 

It gets much more difficult from here on in. This has been great so far - I want more registers (keep thinking of them like variables, whoops.) My mind doesn't seem to be wired right for machine language yet - so no worries on hand-holding - just hope you don't get too annoyed.

 

Another question. Let's say that I have an address loading in the HL registers and I want to move it up by 40. I don't have to INC it 40 times do I?

[mvdsteenoven]

Look how far I have come... Ha! How do you make the cool indent code things on a post by the way?

 

You can create those indents with the code macro by using the "<>" button in the editor bar.

 

Here is my output:

You could remove the first RET command in the machinecode and replace it for a jump back to the beginning.

Your program is now dropping back to BASIC and then the machinecode is restarted. BASIC is way slower then machinecode, so if you keep looping inside machinecode you will get a higher performance. But good work so far!

 

Can use the In command to load the VSYNC flag from port (253)? I think I should wait for the VSYNC flag to go high before I draw the screen, then wait again.

We had a discussion at yahoo groups regarding the figure Peter Pepper of Burgertime. I did some experimenting with the VSYNC signal as well, but got corrected by Emucompboy. Look at message #874 in the discussion "The Legend of Peter Pepper". You might have to read the full discussion and download the examples that are available.

 

I want more registers (keep thinking of them like variables, whoops.)

Why? You can use every available memory location as a variable.

 

Another question. Let's say that I have an address loading in the HL registers and I want to move it up by 40. I don't have to INC it 40 times do I?

That is an easy question:

LD HL, 12328
LD DE, 40
ADD HL,DE

Edited December 21, 2010 by mvdsteenoven

[mvdsteenoven]

Maybe we should open a new discussion?

E.g. Machinecode on an Aquarius system?

[chjmartin2]

We probably should because now all of this chatter is in the bitmap tool thread.

[Chuck D. Head]

We probably should because now all of this chatter is in the bitmap tool thread.

Yeah, you guys are blowing my limited mind! I was inspired enough to go back and listen to an old Retrobits on assembly language where Earl explained the difference between machine language, assembly code, and basic programs and I think I can at least understand a bit (heh, heh) of what y'all are saying now..........

[jaybird3rd]

Maybe we should open a new discussion?

E.g. Machinecode on an Aquarius system?

That's a good idea. I created a new topic called "Machine Language Programming on the Aquarius", which is where I'll be making my subsequent posts about programming in machine language on the Aquarius. A separate topic about programming in Aquarius BASIC might also be a good idea; your post about adding inline machine code using DATA statements would make a great beginning.

[mvdsteenoven]

Back to the original topic,

I am trying to convert a BMP but I am getting a lot of non-graphical characters, like letters and [, ].

The examples do not show these.

Any tips on how I can avoid these characters, so the output will be more blocks?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Regs

Martin

[mvdsteenoven]

Any tips on how I can avoid these characters, so the output will be more blocks?

 

BTW, I am using GIMP and I also tried the Aquarius color palette that have been published earlier

[chjmartin2]

Any tips on how I can avoid these characters, so the output will be more blocks?

 

BTW, I am using GIMP and I also tried the Aquarius color palette that have been published earlier

 

Martin,

 

I wanted to limit the palette to blocks only in a future version, but didn't do it yet. If you post the bitmap then I can work it to only convert blocks. Also, the original converter ONLY used the 80x72 blocks and that would work for your application. Please let me do the conversion for you because you've helped me out so much.

 

Chris

[mvdsteenoven]

Also, the original converter ONLY used the 80x72 blocks and that would work for your application. Please let me do the conversion for you because you've helped me out so much.

 

Thanks Chris,

I have also tried the original converter with FreeBasic, but it gave an error at the line "FILES "*.BAS"".

I need to finalize the images, then I give the original converter one more try.

If it doesn't work then I will take you up on your offer.

 

Regs

Martin

[chjmartin2]

Also, the original converter ONLY used the 80x72 blocks and that would work for your application. Please let me do the conversion for you because you've helped me out so much.

 

Thanks Chris,

I have also tried the original converter with FreeBasic, but it gave an error at the line "FILES "*.BAS"".

I need to finalize the images, then I give the original converter one more try.

If it doesn't work then I will take you up on your offer.

 

Regs

Martin

 

Martin,

 

This will fix you up. Here is a version that is in Freebasic, that has the proper open file dialog box for windows AND is limited to the bloxel characters. Should fix you right up.

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

BMPAQV1.zip

[mvdsteenoven]

Martin,

 

This will fix you up. Here is a version that is in Freebasic, that has the proper open file dialog box for windows AND is limited to the bloxel characters. Should fix you right up.

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

 

Thanks Chris,

I did found an QBasic and started to work with it, but QBasic is a CPU hog. I will test this version tomorrow, and post my end-result when it is finished. Probally after X-Mas.

Which reminds, to anyone on this board have a happy christmas and all the best wishes for the new year.

 

Regs

Martin

[jaybird3rd]

Which reminds, to anyone on this board have a happy christmas and all the best wishes for the new year.

Thanks, Martin, and the same to you! It's been a great year for the Aquarius, and I think the best is yet to come!

[chjmartin2]

Which reminds, to anyone on this board have a happy christmas and all the best wishes for the new year.

Thanks, Martin, and the same to you! It's been a great year for the Aquarius, and I think the best is yet to come!

 

Yes, Merry Christmas and thanks for all of your help. The best should be yet to come because when I get a multicart I won't have to load my programs from a casette tape!

[+MattelAquarius]

I've been converting tons of 7800 & Intellivision game pics to Aquarius for my own personal enjoyment.

 

I just did 7800 Ikari Warriors, and was amused at the outcome. Our warriors seem to be well endowed, and have a lot of junk in the trunk.

 

Before:

 

 

After:

[chjmartin2]

I've been converting tons of 7800 & Intellivision game pics to Aquarius for my own personal enjoyment.

 

I just did 7800 Ikari Warriors, and was amused at the outcome. Our warriors seem to be well endowed, and have a lot of junk in the trunk.

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

Jay,

 

Since you are the only power user - what other features would you like?

 

Chris

[nitrofurano]

we must start to think more seriously on being more active in the Aquarius retro scene, organizing illustration/demo/intro/game contest (original stuff, of course, like used to happen on these contests), and letting people like from pouet.net know about - Aquarius is sadly still too hidden in the retro scene, i think it's up to us to revert this!

[+MattelAquarius]

 

 

Jay,

 

Since you are the only power user - what other features would you like?

 

Chris

 

Chris,

 

Yes, I have a great time using your program. Thanks again for putting the time into it.

 

Other than the previously mentioned user-selectable character set for conversion, and being able to import the converter's output to Jay's editor, I can't think of much else that is needed.

 

My only other ideas (dreams?) fall outside the scope of your current program.

 

I imagine a Paint-like program where I can paste in a screen or portion of screen, and see an instant real-time Aquarius conversion. Then, as I scale, slide, or rotate the graphic, it continues to convert in real-time.

 

Now, I know that is not practical, but it would be the ultimate Aquarius conversion tool.

 

So, what I'm really saying is that your program already does as much as one could expect.

 

In fact, I think I'll go convert something, right now.

 

-Jason

[nitrofurano]

 

 

Jay,

 

Since you are the only power user - what other features would you like?

 

Chris

 

an interesting feature would be like having the result into a image tape file, and the resulting picture being loaded as binary file instead of a tokenized basic file? who can help us on this?

[nitrofurano]

Any tips on how I can avoid these characters, so the output will be more blocks?

 

BTW, I am using GIMP and I also tried the Aquarius color palette that have been published earlier

 

i don't know if this Aquarius GIMP palette is good enough: http://pastebin.com/1YQccQyT - if you're using anything better (like from real captured yuv values from a real machine), please share with us!

[chjmartin2]

Any tips on how I can avoid these characters, so the output will be more blocks?

 

BTW, I am using GIMP and I also tried the Aquarius color palette that have been published earlier

 

i don't know if this Aquarius GIMP palette is good enough: http://pastebin.com/1YQccQyT - if you're using anything better (like from real captured yuv values from a real machine), please share with us!

 

I have been hanging out over with the Atari 2600 folks recently - working on a converter over there. Anyway, I think there is enough of a desire to limit the output to blocks that I will go ahead and make that conversion. There will be three character palettes, 1) pure 2x3 blocks only, 2) mixed graphics only blocks and 3) all characters. I think I will also add dithering as an option because for my Atari 2600 converter I had to learn how to code Floyd-Steinberg and that should help on picture like conversions for the AQ. I also think the I will take a stab at outputting the tape file and using the loader that Martin put together to allow you to choose either a pure basic file output or an array with a basic loader. (Cart output would be nice, but not needed at this point.) Lastly, did Jay's editor come out or was it just a screen shot? If there is an editor available I am sure I could hobble together a file to be loaded into it. I don't believe that I will be writing an editor (I'm a bit too lazy for that.)

 

I want to finish up one more thing on my 2600 program and then I'll come back and tackle these enhancements. Couple of weeks.

[+MattelAquarius]

Lastly, did Jay's editor come out or was it just a screen shot? If there is an editor available I am sure I could hobble together a file to be loaded into it. I don't believe that I will be writing an editor (I'm a bit too lazy for that.)

 

I want to finish up one more thing on my 2600 program and then I'll come back and tackle these enhancements. Couple of weeks.

 

No, he hasn't released it yet. I think it will coincide with the AquariCart, but I'm not sure.

 

I'm not sure how you two could best coordinate this effort, but it would be great. I don't blame you for not wanting to write a screen editor, especially since Jay is already on it. No need to duplicate efforts in the limited Aquarius coding arena.

 

I'm looking forward to your (final?) updates, but will wait patiently. Meanwhile, I'll lool for your efforts on the 2600.

 

-Jason

[jaybird3rd]

Lastly, did Jay's editor come out or was it just a screen shot? If there is an editor available I am sure I could hobble together a file to be loaded into it. I don't believe that I will be writing an editor (I'm a bit too lazy for that.)

Jason is correct: I posted a screenshot because I have the editor working well enough for my purposes, but it needs a rewrite before it will be ready for a public release. I really need to get the Aquaricart finished (getting close!), and after that's done, I'll revisit the editor.

 

I'm very interested in adding a bitmap import feature of some kind, because it seems like that would be a logical extension of what I've already done with the editor: it can currently import plain text files, for example. It also supports exporting to a "slideshow" cartridge image (a bankswitched ROM for my SuperCart I boards or a regular 16K ROM), so you can create as many instantly-loading screens as you want without having to have any extra RAM at all. Unfortunately, running it on a real Aquarius still requires burning an EPROM, but that's something I'll remedy at some point.

[chjmartin2]

Lastly, did Jay's editor come out or was it just a screen shot? If there is an editor available I am sure I could hobble together a file to be loaded into it. I don't believe that I will be writing an editor (I'm a bit too lazy for that.)

Jason is correct: I posted a screenshot because I have the editor working well enough for my purposes, but it needs a rewrite before it will be ready for a public release. I really need to get the Aquaricart finished (getting close!), and after that's done, I'll revisit the editor.

 

I'm very interested in adding a bitmap import feature of some kind, because it seems like that would be a logical extension of what I've already done with the editor: it can currently import plain text files, for example. It also supports exporting to a "slideshow" cartridge image (a bankswitched ROM for my SuperCart I boards or a regular 16K ROM), so you can create as many instantly-loading screens as you want without having to have any extra RAM at all. Unfortunately, running it on a real Aquarius still requires burning an EPROM, but that's something I'll remedy at some point.

 

Well... let me know if you want a "module" for your editor - may not be the cleanest implementation, but I'd be willing to create any output format you want with a command-line program that has no output, so you could call it from your program. If we're talking Win32 - if we're talking something else then I am probably too lazy to do it! ha... But there is a Freebasic compiler for Linux... dunno... just offering to help if I can.