Display colors and reso

[Ral-Clan]

Roger_S wrote:
I found out the monitor installation procedure. but I can't figure out how to display more than 256 colors.

I'm assuming you have an AGA Amiga (i.e. A1200/4000).

Short answer: you can't increase colours beyond 256.

Long answer: Some graphics programs will allow you to use the Amiga's special HAM-8 mode for more than 256 colours, but this is only for still images, and not for Workbench/games.  Alternatively, you can buy an expensive graphics card to get more than 256 colours.

[Ral-Clan]

Roger_S wrote:
That was not the answer I was hoping for. How does a graphicscard fit in an a1200D when I already have a turboboard and scsi expansion built in?

You need to buy an expensive PCI slot adaptor or Zorro daughter board for the A1200 (like the Mediator), then plug the expensive graphics card into that.  With most slot expansion boards, you also need to towerize your A1200 to make it all fit (another expensive option).

[Ral-Clan]

No stock Amiga, even an Amiga 1200 or 4000, has ever been able to display more than 256 colours on a Workbench screen.  This specification is widely available on the internet.

The only exception is the static display mode HAM-8, which is not useable for the purpose you desire (only for creating still graphics images & animations).

[Ral-Clan]

The OS3.9 drivers (also in OS3.1) will allow you to use a regular PC VGA monitor with an Amiga in special DoubleScan non-flickery modes, but I'm afraid they will not expand the range of colours.

In fact, I think most of those Double Scan modes (certainly Productivity Multiscan mode) will actually reduce the number of on-screen colours to four.

Again, though, these modes are limited (only Workbench & some applications - no games).

[Ral-Clan]

Krusher wrote:

Check this out for ham6 and ham8 on Workbench:

http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/hamwb

I didn't know this was possible.  Does it work?  I would love to see a screenshot or know if it's actually useable, or just a gimmick.

EDIT: Did some quick searching on the internet and there's not much mention of this program.  I would think that if it did what is said succesfully, almost ever Amiga user would have it installed.  Seems like it might be a bear to get working.  It's intriguing, still, as an exercise.  

[Ral-Clan]

"NOT ON" is U.K. slang for "not possible".

You're reading it too literally.  :-)

If I hadn't known that, I would have been confused too.  We don't use "NOT ON" in that way in N. America.