En:Epimgconv
The PC -> EP image converter program can be downloaded here. After unpacking (e.g with WinZip) it can be used in DOS prompt.
Using Epimgconv
An example for using it:
epimgconv foo.jpg foo.com
JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF and XPM input file formats are supported.
Parameters
Video mode can be chosen by -mode parameter, using the next values:
* 0: 2 colours (black and white), normal vertical resolution * 1: 4 colours, normal függőleges felbontás * 2: 16 colours; a picture dithered to 256 colours is being converted into a picture of 16 colours without dither (default setting), normal függőleges felbontás * 3: 16 colours; it generates the same palette as mode 2 but the original picture is being dithered to 16 colours, normal függőleges felbontás * 4: 16 colours; it tries to mix generating palette and dithering but it's very slow, normal függőleges felbontás * 5: 256 colours, normal függőleges felbontás * 6: attribute mode, normal függőleges felbontás
* 10: 2 colours (black and white), interlace * 11: 4 colours, interlace * 12: 16 colours; a picture dithered to 256 colours is being converted into a picture of 16 colours without dither, interlace * 13: 16 colours; it generates the same palette as mode 2 but the original picture is being dithered to 16 colours, interlace * 14: 16 colours; it tries to mix generating palette and dithering but it's very slow, interlace * 15: 256 colours, interlace * 16: attribute mode, interlace
So -mode 0-6 uses the normal függőleges felbontást and -mode 10-16 uses the interlace.
- -raw 1 parameter enables to save in raw format, instead of the default .com application format; this way the size also can be larger (if the output format is application, size can be at maximum 46 characters * 288 lines only).
- -size W H enables to set picture size. W = Width in characters, H = Height in (interlace: half image???félkép) lines.
- As default, Epimgconv converts images into the largest possible size, but by using -scale X Y and -offset X Y parameters the image can be enlarged and offset.
- -color0 ... -color7 parameters can set fix palette colours (actually setting of avoid using certain colours is not available).
- -bias parameter sets fixbias - maybe better quality is availalble than with automatically selected colours. The colours can be given in #RGB format as well, e.g. #773 is white or #331 means bias=31.
If the .com file is too large (>48K), it'll be automatically compressed; so EXOS (being lucky) can load it though it starts much slowlier.
IstvanV
Suggestions, tips
I used the following methods and combined them:
- attribute mode results the best quality and then the 4 colour mode;
- I picked pictures containing not too complex structures;
- I cut the better part from the picture but in the way that its composition remain pretty;
- I looked for pictures where it's useful that there are lots of colours in the horizontally separated parts;
- I picked pictures of strong colours and of many, diverse colours.
The better conversions were where these factors turned up the best way.
Endi
Version history
07 06 2008: -color0-7, -bias parameters also can be given; if the .com file is >48K, it'll be compressed.
02 06 2008: Attribute and interlace mode options.
31 05 2008: First version, no attribute and interlace modes, only the black-and-white mode was with interlace.