Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: punkyclown on October 24, 2015, 01:19:53 AM

Title: 64 color backdrops
Post by: punkyclown on October 24, 2015, 01:19:53 AM
Hi, Can anyone point me to some good or interesting 64 color backdrops.  I see lots of nice Workbench images with cool backdrops but I have no idea where to look for any.
Thanks

Brad
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on October 24, 2015, 05:14:39 AM
Quote from: punkyclown;797994
Hi, Can anyone point me to some good or interesting 64 color backdrops.  I see lots of nice Workbench images with cool backdrops but I have no idea where to look for any.

Well, I would say get ahold of some nice 24-bit bitmaps and then use a copy of AdPro to reduce them down to 64 colors... but given that other thread on that software going on right now, would that just be trolling?  LOL.  :lol:

TL;DR.  ImageFX or other software can do that for you as well.  Heck, I used to have the Rebel 16-color palette (http://www.mfilos.com/2012/01/guide-making-workbench-prettier-using.html) mapped in Photoshop on my PC, down to the exact RGB values, and I'd scale images down for my Amiga that way.  :)
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: dschallock on October 24, 2015, 06:26:54 AM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;798002
... and then use a copy of AdPro to reduce them down to 64 colors...

:roflmao::rofl::roflmao:
 (http://www.amiga.org//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/)
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: vince_6 on October 24, 2015, 08:58:39 AM
I use PPaint to reduce colors and resolution with dithering on.
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: punkyclown on October 24, 2015, 08:27:49 PM
The only trouble with doing this is even though they look good in the graphics program,
when you put them in as a backdrop it displays differently, not as well.  Wish someone
would explain that to me.  Thanks
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Rob on October 24, 2015, 09:06:43 PM
Quote from: punkyclown;798053
The only trouble with doing this is even though they look good in the graphics program,
when you put them in as a backdrop it displays differently, not as well.  Wish someone
would explain that to me.  Thanks


Are you making sure you scaled the images to the same size as your workbench screen first?

The scaling routines in art packages may be better than that of the OS.
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on October 24, 2015, 09:17:54 PM
Crop the image to the exact resolution of your Workbench prior to setting it. Color reduction is performed by datatypes, try upgrading to the WarpDT's (http://www.warpdt.co.uk/) for better performance. Also check your palette, many optimizations can be made there - e.g., set the image to use the exact same colors as your Workbench. Recommend reading things like mfilos's guide to the Rebel palette (linked to above) for a better understanding. :)
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: vince_6 on October 24, 2015, 09:30:45 PM
Indeed, you must lock some colors as sys default like icons or else the image will look strange.
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on October 24, 2015, 09:47:05 PM
Two other tips:  If you're not already using Peter K.'s icon library, you should:  http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/IconLib_46.4

A new version of it was just uploaded a couple days ago.  This will provide you much faster icon rendering and more accurate color reduction, especially if you're using something like 3.9 GlowIcons or Ken's Icons.

And I assume you know about these options, right?:
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: number6 on October 24, 2015, 11:01:06 PM
Quote from: punkyclown;797994
Hi, Can anyone point me to some good or interesting 64 color backdrops.  I see lots of nice Workbench images with cool backdrops but I have no idea where to look for any.
Thanks

Brad


16 and 256 optimized color palettes that can hardly be optimized any further already exist.
One issue I see mentioned is reserved pens. This depends somewhat on what icon set you are using. For example, for MagicWorkbench you would want to copy the palette for the icons into the first 8 registers and lock the palette.

There's a different path here depending on whether you want to render a specific image with the best palette available for THAT image or...whether you are trying to create the best palette for all images you might use.

example of a locked 64 color palette that accomodates different icon sets (http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1628&d=1011133932)

from this thread (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=51657)

The reason your image looks different in WB is the result of WB palette picking, which is horrible.
It gets worse when you load a 2nd picture while still displaying the first, etc.
This is the reason why locked palettes were created. You can't get perfection out of 64 or 256 colors, but by using a locked palette, each picture is basically the identical overall quality, regardless of how many you have showing on the WB simultaneously.

#6
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: vince_6 on October 25, 2015, 09:56:18 AM
With a 4 or 5 bit palette you can have some good results too.

4bit
http://s26.postimg.org/h81yfenx5/A600_WB.jpg

5bit
http://s26.postimg.org/omra7s9sp/A1200.jpg
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Yasu on October 25, 2015, 10:53:57 AM
Quote from: vince_6;798084

4bit
http://s26.postimg.org/h81yfenx5/A600_WB.jpg


Where did you find that wallpaper?
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: vince_6 on October 25, 2015, 11:13:02 AM
Quote from: Yasu;798091
Where did you find that wallpaper?


I think it was from a manga cd that was around for the amiga.
anime_babes.
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Yasu on October 25, 2015, 05:49:18 PM
Thanks :)
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: NovaCoder on November 02, 2015, 06:39:25 AM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;798059
Two other tips:  If you're not already using Peter K.'s icon library, you should:  http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/IconLib_46.4


Another vote for Peter's icon.library here :)

[youtube]8C-YBBU5Yjo[/youtube]
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: punkyclown on December 11, 2015, 10:13:07 PM
Hey All,

just ran into an issue of WarpDT's 30 eval notice.  How do I get this thing
removed?
Thanks
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: lionstorm on December 11, 2015, 10:22:58 PM
buy them !
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: mechy on December 11, 2015, 10:36:37 PM
Quote from: punkyclown;800114
Hey All,

just ran into an issue of WarpDT's 30 eval notice.  How do I get this thing
removed?
Thanks

http://www.warpdt.co.uk/register.html
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: punkyclown on December 13, 2015, 03:00:56 AM
Right, that is what I just did.  I have an issue not hard to imagine
to know or not know which software is currently supported and
which is not.  Took a minute to realized that it was support software.
Brad
Title: Re: 64 color backdrops
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on December 13, 2015, 05:00:56 AM
Quote from: punkyclown;800168
Right, that is what I just did.  I have an issue not hard to imagine
to know or not know which software is currently supported and
which is not.  Took a minute to realized that it was support software

Totally understandable!  The person who wrote those DT's (and other software) is still active in the Amiga community.

In the past I've registered other software, not necessarily because I expected the author to magically come back, but only because it felt right - for example if it was something that I'd pirated many years ago.

In any case, WarpDT's are great and well worth supporting.  Cheers!  :)