Description
PictConv is a tool that can be used to convert pictures created with a standard PC paint program (PaintShopPro, PhotoShop, ...), in a format displayable on the Oric.
Utilisation
To convert a picture:
%OSDK%\bin\PictConv [switches] source_picture destination_file
Supported formats for the source picture are BMP, PCX, PNG, TGA and TIFF.
Switches
-f0[z] => output a MONOCHROME picture -f1 => output a COLORED picture -f2 => output a RGB picture -f3 => output a picture using Twilight's embeded masks -f4 => output a RB picture -f5 => output a Shifter picture (Atari ST)For f0, 'z' is used to disable setting the bit 6
-d0 => No dithering (0/1) -d1 => Alternate dithering (0/0.5/1) -d2 => Ordered dithering (4x4 matrix, 8 levels) -d3 => Riemersma dithering (based on hilbert curves)
-o0 => Tape format, including a BASIC loader -o1 => Tape format, simply the picture -o2 => RAW format. No header. -o3[label name] => C source code -o4[label name] => S source code -o5 => Output a PC picture format -o6 => 2 bytes (dx,dy) size followed by RAW pictureFor o3 and o4, if "label name" is not defined, the default "LabelPicture" is used.
-t0 => Testing disabled -t1 => Testing enabled
-m0 => Oric -m1 => Atari ST
-n16 => Output 16 values each line -n40 => Output 40 values each line
Some picture samples
Here are some conversion samples, with the parameters used.
-f0 | -f2 | |
---|---|---|
-d0 | ![]() |
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-d1 | ![]() |
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-d2 | ![]() |
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-d3 | ![]() |
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-f0 | -f2 | |
---|---|---|
-d0 | ![]() |
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-d1 | ![]() |
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-d2 | ![]() |
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-d3 | ![]() |
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-f0 | -f2 | |
---|---|---|
-d0 | ![]() |
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-d1 | ![]() |
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-d2 | ![]() |
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-d3 | ![]() |
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-f0 | -f2 | |
---|---|---|
-d0 | ![]() |
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-d1 | ![]() |
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-d2 | ![]() |
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-d3 | ![]() |
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Frequently Asked Questions
In colored mode, free size pictures are not accepted. Why ???
Try to imagine how you could scroll horizontaly a picture containing attributes changes without having huge color changes. This is not possible. Free vertical size is allowed anyway, but it's buggy right now :))
In colored mode, the converted picture contains some lines that are black and white.
These scanlines cannot be converted. A colored pictures should use Oric constraints, be in at most 8 colors, no more than 2 colors per 6 pixel bloc, and so on...
In colored mode, PictConv decided to use strange paper and ink changes.
Actually PictConv simply tries all the possible combinations of paper, ink, video inverse changes that could work to convert the picture. When it find one working combination, it moves to the next scanline.
Historic
Here is the list of all releases with a short description of things that changed:
Version 0.010
- If there is something specified after -o3 or -o4 modes, it's used as a label name to use when generating source code data. - If there is a 'z' specified after -f0 mode (monochrome conversion), it means that bit 6 should not be set in converted bytes - Added -n switch to set the number of values per line (stolen from Bin2Txt !)Version 0.009
- New option for generating 'masks' in bits 6 and 7 based on what is presents in bits 0/1/2 and 3/4/5.Version 0.008
- Added "test" mode that's usefull to debug a picture in colored modeVersion 0.007
- Removed the timer check in the colored conversion mode. It was producing bad conversion on slow computers. Anyway, if you are unlucky, a conversion could now take hours to perform if the tool has to perform ALL possible combinations.Version 0.006
- A message is given if the picture is not found or invalid.Version 0.005
- Debugged the -o6 format.Version 0.004
- Allow free size pictures (bigger than screen size except for colored mode)Version 0.003
- Riemersman dithering implementedVersion 0.002
- New version with basic ditheringVersion 0.001
- First beta release