========================================================================= (C) 1993 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May be reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt.Type XTX99437,GENIE and press [RETURN]. The system will prompt you for your information. ========================================================================== Category 2, Topic 6 Message 1 Fri Dec 11, 1992 GREG at 01:33 EST Registered users of DMJ-GIF and other DMJ products should be getting a newsletter shortly with hints of some things to come as well as news on latest versions and updates. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 2 Sat Dec 12, 1992 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 20:19 EST Greg, Rob and Dave, Thanks for the info about sending mail to Damien. I just wondered because I knew it had to make a stop or two before he got it. I am sure that I will get it before I know it. His software looks great, and I can't wait to use a register version and the new ones to come. It is great to hear that he will be in the states soon. It will be nice to hear from the man himself, even though everyone else here is great! Scott H. Saturday December 12, 1992 06:21 p.m. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 3 Tue Dec 15, 1992 J.PIERCE5 [Rob] at 00:12 EST Here is a text file Damien wanted me to post for everyone to see... -- Oh, no! Not more DMJ GIF 4 info! ----------------------------------------- Well, yes... this is sort of an update. Thanks to the efforts of Greg Kopchak and Lonny Pursell, I have acquired information on a number of picture formats. Here are all the important formats I have information on at the moment: Art Director (Low) ART DEGAS/DEGAS Elite PI1, PI2, PI3, PC1, PC2, PC3, and TT variations Fast Load FL1, FL2, FL4, FL8 GEM Image IMG GIF 87a/89a GIF IFF (even HAM) IFF, LBM JPEG JPG NeoChrome NEO PhotoChrome PCS Prism Paint PNT QRT Raw RAW Spectrum SPC, SPS, SPU SPX SPX Targa TGA TIFF TIF Tiny TNY, TN1, TN2, TN3 Vidi RGB RGB Windows BMP & MSP BMP, MSP Z-Soft PCX PCX It's amazing how many different picture formats there are. DMJ GIF 4 will support almost all of these when it is released, with the others (notably JPEG) following shortly after. It's possible that I forgot some of the formats I have info for. In any case, if you have a format you'd like to see supported that you don't see up here, let me know--and, if possible, send me sample files and specifications for those files. I'll also be introducing a custom file format with DMJ GIF 4 that will satisfactorily handle 32,000+ color pictures. Unlike PhotoChrome, DMJ GIF 4 will create 32,000+ color pictures that can be displayed on a REGULAR ST. ______________________________________________________________________________ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 4 Tue Dec 15, 1992 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 20:52 EST Rob, >I'll also be introducing a custom file format with DMJ GIF 4 that will >satisfactorily handle 32,000+ color pictures. Unlike PhotoChrome, >DMJ GIF 4 will create 32,000+ color pictures that can be displayed on >a REGULAR ST. Isn't it great! It looks like DMJ-GIF4 will beat out PhotoChrome already, especially on a regular ST! I can't wait... Scott H. Tuesday December 15, 1992 08:28 p.m. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 5 Tue Dec 15, 1992 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 21:31 EST Don't forget to put a space in front of lines you don't want reformatted, Rob. :^) Here's your list, properly formatted: -----8<----- Art Director (Low) ART DEGAS/DEGAS Elite PI1, PI2, PI3, PC1, PC2, PC3, and TT variations Fast Load FL1, FL2, FL4, FL8 GEM Image IMG GIF 87a/89a GIF IFF (even HAM) IFF, LBM JPEG JPG NeoChrome NEO PhotoChrome PCS Prism Paint PNT QRT Raw RAW Spectrum SPC, SPS, SPU SPX SPX Targa TGA TIFF TIF Tiny TNY, TN1, TN2, TN3 Vidi RGB RGB Windows BMP & MSP BMP, MSP Z-Soft PCX PCX -----8<----- If all of these formats are supported, it will be one awesome program! Thanks for the info... ((( Terry ))) *S ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 6 Fri Dec 18, 1992 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 03:43 EST Rob, It's not really GEnie's fault. It works that way for a good reason, and it's easy to get around. Al ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 7 Fri Dec 18, 1992 J.KUDRON [Jim~ST Sysop] at 13:11 EST Messages #1-192 have been archived and are in the library-File #26989. DMJ_1.ARC 4/22/92 to 12/8/92. Jim Kudron 18Dec92 ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 8 Fri Dec 18, 1992 FAIRWEATHER [David] at 21:18 EST Has anyone had any success using either the Navarone ST Sound Digitizer or the E.Arthur Brown SoundOff! cartridge to record with Soundlab? I can't get either one of these cartridges to give me a monitor level inside of Soundlab. I've tried different sources (headphone out, line out, microphone) to no avail. Both carts work fine with their own software, but are dead to Soundlab. I'm not using the latest version of Soundlab. Might a newer version make a difference? The docs on the version I have only mention compatibility with ST Replay and Datascaan carts. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 9 Fri Dec 18, 1992 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 21:46 EST I agree, Al. Although it can be a pain when we forget (or for those who don't know), I think the reformatting of messages is a good feature. ((( Terry ))) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 10 Tue Dec 22, 1992 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 19:26 EST Rob, I was wondering if you knew if Sound Lab version 1.04 recently uploaded here is a registered version? I ask this because I just received my registered copy of DMJ GIF 3.1 (with manual), but just the manual for Sound Lab with an explanation that version 1.1 will be out before Christmas and that I can get version 1.04 on GEnie. He started out his letter by telling me that he only included the disk for DMJ GIF and finished the letter telling me that all I would have to do is mail back my disks for Sound Lab when 1.1 is ready, but I didn't get any disks for Sound Lab! I plan on writing to Damien about this also. The main reason I registered is to support the software and stop the "Register Me" dialog box from popping up every second the longer you use it. I got the file and printed out the docs, I didn't need to send $20 to get a printed version of the manual. Scott H. Tuesday December 22, 1992 07:19 p.m. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 11 Tue Dec 22, 1992 J.PIERCE5 [Rob] at 20:09 EST Scott: The 1.04 version of Sound Lab that Terry uploaded is an unregistered copy. Damien only sent out one unregistered version of 1.04 -- one with the serial number of OTHERBBS.004 or something like that. He didn't send it to me (unusual, since I'm his "US Distributor" so to speak). Anyway, he wanted me to tell everyone (which I forgot to do until now) that Sound Lab 1.1 won't be out until almost the end of January. He's been very busy lately with DMJ GIF 4.0, View II, and Christmas plans, so SL1.1 is on the back burner at the moment. It turns out that View II crashes horribly on the Falcon, so he may go ahead and release it as is for now, and update it when his new commecial distributor has a Falcon to test it on. Bummer. Rob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 12 Tue Dec 22, 1992 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 21:58 EST Rob, Ignore my last message I wrote regarding Sound Lab 1.04 here on GEnie and if it is registered or not. I re-read the letter from Damien a few times and I must have been having a mental laps (must be from the holiday rush), because it all makes sense now. I won't go into detail. Just want to say that Damien seems like a great guy! I was wondering if any of you use WARP9 with DMJ GIF? I had WARP9 set so that the Screen saver would not kick in when I ran DMJ_GIF3.TOS, but that was with my non-registered version which the 3 in the file name was normal and not in superscript like it is now. I now can't set up the WARP9.DAT file to keep the screen saver from kicking in with the file name as it is. I tried renaming it, but it didn't function properly. I also left a note in the WARP 9 Topic, but thought that I would ask here too. Scott H. Tuesday December 22, 1992 09:56 p.m. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 13 Wed Dec 23, 1992 T.ZENTHOEFE1 [Tom Z.] at 03:42 EST Scott, I regards to Warp 9 and DMJ_GIF, Wwen I remember to do so I set the screensaver to wait for 99 minutes. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 14 Wed Dec 23, 1992 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 22:15 EST Tom, Why set the screensaver for 99 minutes -- why not just turn it OFF? ((( Terry ))) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 15 Thu Dec 24, 1992 T.ZENTHOEFE1 [Tom Z.] at 07:55 EST Terry, because when I turned off Warp 9 with the ACCessory it still kicked in. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 16 Thu Dec 24, 1992 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 23:33 EST Tom, That's interesting. I think you should bring that to Charles' attention. I've noted that the hot corner to turn off EOS doesn't work in DMJ GIF, but I attributed that to the custom interface/mouse. Perhaps it's something else, though... I surely hope DMJ GIF 4.0 will have a *GEM* interface! [...later...] I just tried turning off EOS with the ACC, loaded DMJ GIF and let it go for about 1/2 hour and the screensaver never came on (the timeout setting was at 1 minute). ((( Terry ))) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 17 Sat Dec 26, 1992 GREG at 16:25 EST OUTRIDER: An Update to DMJ-GIF will have a Gem interface and Falcon support. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 18 Tue Dec 29, 1992 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 03:20 EST With this 32,000+ color mode, it seems to me that he's going to use Spectrum format, but add in an extra color frame... He said there would be a noticeable flicker. That'd make sense... Added color, losing the fps needed for non- flicker... Who knows. :D Just my guess. When 4.0 comes out, I'll be buying/registering/whatever it right away. I'm glad he's added SPX and Targa format!!! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 19 Wed Dec 30, 1992 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 17:09 EST Rob, I was wondering if you knew if Damien has seen the shareware program here on GEnie called PhotoChrome (version 3)? I ask because I have an ST not STe and conversions with PhotoChrome in the STe format (viewable on an ST with SPC- 3375.PRG) are sometimes better than converting with DMJ-GIF 3.1. The BIGGEST improvement that PhotoChrome has over DMJ GIF is the lack of streaks when converting to STe format. DMJ GIF has MANY other great features, but I wanted to mention about the streaking problem (which seems non-exsistant in PhotoChrome). Maybe he could look at this program (if he hasn't already) and see what is done in one that causes no streaks. The PCS format in Super HAM is also very nice, although .PCS files are rather large. I am sure that Damien will end up MUCH better than ANY other converter! Scott H. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 20 Thu Dec 31, 1992 ROB-G [Rob] at 01:55 EST Scott: Yes, he has PhotoChrome, that's why he has plans to make DMJ GIF 4.0 better. Rob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 21 Fri Jan 01, 1993 D.BOWMAN9 [DAVE B] at 01:58 EST hello all, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE Just found and uploaded 89a_87a.prg version 1.1! Yes it does exist and is file 27150 once it clears the sysops. This version will convert giflites without having to resort to a sector editor. later, dave b 10:57:54 pm, Thursday, December 31, 1992 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 22 Fri Jan 01, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 12:51 EST Thanks, Dave! Can't wait to get version 1.1 of 89a_87a! HAPPY NEW YEAR! ((( Terry ))) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 23 Sat Jan 02, 1993 ROB-G [Rob] at 00:59 EST Um... Dave, Terry: 89a_87a v1.1 has been up for AGES. It's there, trust me. I uploaded it. Don't recall the file number though. Rob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 24 Sat Jan 02, 1993 ROB-G [Rob] at 01:03 EST I just checked. 89A_87A.LZH is file #22953. Rob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 25 Sat Jan 02, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 02:46 EST Rob, I'm almost sure I downloaded your file that was supposed to be v1.1, only to find out it was 1.0. I may try it again just to prove you wrong. ;^) ((( Terry ))) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 26 Sun Jan 03, 1993 ROB-G [Rob] at 09:39 EST Terry: Let me know if it is 1.0, and I'll have it deleted. When Damien released the newer version, there was no way to tell them apart, so I may have ended up with the older version instead. My apologies in advance to all that downloaded it in that event. Rob ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 27 Sun Jan 03, 1993 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 11:58 EST Rob, >Yes, he has PhotoChrome, that's why he has plans to make DMJ GIF 4.0 >better. That is great to hear. I was sure that he would do all he could to be the best, but thought that I would stick in my 2 cents. One other question. I (in efforts to make the WARP9.DAT file work for DMJ_GIF3.TOS) used a file editor to change all the locations that showed a superscript 3 in the program name to a normal 3 in the help file as well as the main program. All appears to run fine after doing so. Has anyone else done this, if so were there any problems? Also is there a reason other than cosmetic the files have to include a superscript 3)? Do you think that Damien might change this so that version 4 won't show as superscript also? Thanks! Scott H. Sunday January 03, 1993 11:28 a.m. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 28 Sun Jan 03, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 14:03 EST Rob, I didn't re-download it, but I specifically remember downloading that new version, looking forward to it automatically detecting GIFLITE pics, only to find out I still had to change 87a to 89a before it would work. I'm quite sure it's v1.0. -----8<----- Scott, Not to worry. There ISN'T a superscript 4 in our character set. There is only superscript 2 and 3. That's not to say he won't use a trademark symbol or something, though. I'd like to see Warp 9 accept any character, even if it's 'not quite legal.' Several of my filenames have high ascii characters in them. ((( Terry ))) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 29 Sat Jan 09, 1993 S.HOLMES1 [Scott H.] at 12:54 EST Terry, >I'd like to see Warp 9 accept any character, even if it's 'not quite >legal.' Several of my filenames have high ascii characters in them. I would like to see that too from WARP 9. It shouldn't hardly take any effort to make these type of characters compatible in the WARP9.DAT file. Maybe you could ask them if they could add this because I have already mentioned it and besides I don't think that they appreciate my suggestions although they have used quite a few (maybe it is all the stress of problem solving). Scott H. Saturday January 09, 1993 11:21 a.m. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 30 Mon Feb 22, 1993 ROB-G [Rob] at 19:59 EST Just got this from Damien: +--< Just when you thought it was safe to sample >--------------------------+ | | | Sound Lab has just been updated to version 1.1. This new version adds | | some handy features that you don't want to be without, such as: | | | | o GEM fileselector and accessory support. | | o DigiSound hardware support. | | o Automatic find for block start and end. | | o MORE SAMPLE FORMATS--.WAV, .SMP, and others. | | o Faster edit routines (hard to believe, but true!) | | | | You should be able to find the unregistered version of Sound Lab 1.1 | | online here. You can also /register/ it for just $20 and get the full | | program, a printed manual, and GFA BASIC, C, and assembly source code for | | playing digitized sound in your OWN programs IN THE BACKGROUND on a | | REGULAR ST. Just send that paltry $20 to: | | | | Damien M. Jones | | PSC 8 Box 657 | | APO AE 09109 | | | | Help support Shareware--it guarantees quality software like this will | | continue to appear. | | | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 32 Sun Mar 07, 1993 GREG at 02:13 EST Watch for a press release on some hot new software from DMJ Software. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 33 Wed Apr 07, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 16:39 EDT Hey folks, I received my registered copy of SoundLab a couple weeks ago, and I'm very pleased with the 'total package'. Damien sends you a registered version, and extra desk with samples and other goodies, and a nicely-done printed manual. A real bargain at $20.00! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 34 Thu Apr 08, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 00:49 EDT Does anyone know if the latest version of SoundLab is compatible with the TT030? --Lou T.-- ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 35 Thu Apr 08, 1993 JIM.K [Jim] at 10:19 EDT Lou, I've only tried SoundLab a couple of times, and, yes, it does work on a TT030 (TOS 3.06). Jim Kudron 8Apr93 09:49:06 ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 36 Thu Apr 08, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 23:54 EDT Jim, Thanks. I will have to get the latest version and try it. An earlier version did not. --Lou T.-- ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 37 Sat Jun 12, 1993 GREG at 00:50 EDT Damien will have a new version of SoundLab that will run on the TT and Falcon. It will be worth the wait. DMJ Software also announces View II for the ST. View II is $20.00, postpaid, from Randall Kopchak, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant, MO 63031. We will be posting a full feature list this weekend. View II does a great job with SPC format graphics on the Falcon too. The View II program does many native Atari graphics formats, sound files and text files, animation files, and more. Gives you a Windows like feel with the ST. Just click on any kind of file (Graphics, Sound, Text, Animation) and instantly view or hear it, just like the Multimedia extensions to Windows 3.1. Once you install it, you wonder how you ever lived without it. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 38 Sat Jun 12, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 03:25 EDT Does VIEW II run on the TT030? --Lou T.-- Written: Saturday, June 12, 1993 02:51 a.m. EDT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 39 Thu Jun 17, 1993 GREG at 00:20 EDT View II will run of the TT. It will also do SPC format on the Falcon. Check out topic 7, cat 9 for some Photo CD news too! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 40 Tue Jun 22, 1993 GREG at 02:43 EDT Damien Jones, of DMJ Software, now has access to GEnie. View II has been running very well on the Falcon. The ram disk included with the package has proved to be very handy with a project we are working on. A MultiTos version will be ready shortly. We'll send a free upgrade to the MultiTos version when its ready to anyone getting the standard version. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 41 Tue Jun 22, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 03:31 EDT Is DMJ GIF out yet? (The new one.. 4.0?) Can/Will it support direct to SPX conversion? Can it read Targa? JPEG? :) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 42 Tue Jun 22, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 21:49 EDT Greg, If Damien now has access to GEnie, what's his address??? Hopefully he'll now take Gift of Times, so I can finally get off my lazy..... __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 43 Wed Jun 23, 1993 GREG at 00:39 EDT For all fans of DMJ-GIF, Sound lab, View II, and the great utilities from DMJ Software, Damien Jones has moved to America from Germany and now has an account on GEnie. You can leave a "Welcome" E-mail to DMJ here. The newest version of View II will have a "plug-in module" in the configuration file to add additional file formats to the viewer/hearer desktop utility. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 44 Wed Jun 23, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 00:45 EDT SEMI-LONG MESSAGE WARNING: This message is a couple of screenfulls. Hello, all! These past few months have been unbelievably crazy. I no longer live in Germany; my new Snail Mail address is as follows: Damien M. Jones Route 1, Box 168 Milford, TX 76670 Phone: (817) 582-7373 Fax: (817) 582-7377 I haven't been back very long, but I really appreciate being back in the US. Now I can participate online here (and get a decent haircut, and a blue Slurpy at 2 AM, and burgers at a reasonable price...) A newsletter will be on its way soon (I hope) filling in details about various programs. I'd like to point out that I won't be able to write programs as much as I'd like; my job in Germany allowed me to do a lot of work on programs- -my job here /is/ programming, so I won't have as much chance to write ST/Falcon programs. I'm still trying to get settled into this new job (I *HATE* FoxPro, Windows programming, and Visual C++). I still support all the programs I've released as Shareware. View II is now available from It's All Relative--Greg Kopchak posted a notice to that effect last week, I believe. For those who don't know what View II is, I'll list the major features right here: o View text, picture, animation, sound, or archive files just by double- clicking on them from the desktop. o Works with STs, STes, Mega STes, TTs, and Falcons. o 100% assembly viewer programs for small size and fast display. o Views color pictures in mono and mono pictures in color, STe color on STs, any-speed sample playback for STes, archive extraction (requires archive programs), and other great display features. o Installed on a hard drive, uses NO MEMORY. Installed on a RAM disk, uses just 48K OR LESS. o Self-installing--just click "Smart Install" and the config program does the rest. I'll post a more complete list tomorrow. Although the current version does not operate under MultiTOS (but runs under EVERYTHING ELSE, including Falcons not running MultiTOS) version 2.1 is now under development, which will add MultiTOS support and numerous other features. /Falcon/ support is already there--the viewers take advantage of Falcon hardware to do file displays. You can order View II for $20 from It's All Relative, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant, MO 63031. hem. Thanks for the support I've received so far. I apologize if anyone has sent mail to my APO address and not received a reply; I've been bouncing around for a few weeks and I don't think too much mail was forwarded (there is still some percolating through the mail system right now). If you suspect this has happened to you, send me E-mail; I'll probably be checking my mailbox here daily. If you have registered one of my programs, your name and address are on file. However, I'd also appreciate it if you would send me your GEnie address here so I can contact you online. Just send me E-mail, and be sure to include the serial number from any of the programs you've registered. -dmj P.S. This message may have appeared garbled. I'm not all that familiar with GEnie, and I haven't used a BBS of any sort for over two years. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 45 Wed Jun 23, 1993 MIKE-ALLEN [NM~SysOp] at 02:11 EDT DMJ, good to see you on here! Don't be a stranger. Now a question that is on everyone's mind: Will you accept a GEnie Gift of Time (GOT) for shareware payment? Mike Allen ST HelpDesk~SysOp ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 46 Wed Jun 23, 1993 S.DEITZ [Steve] at 04:24 EDT DMJ, Hi Damien! Almost done w/ your snail mail letter (RSN). BTW: I gots me a Falcon!!!! ----STEVE---- /*s ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 47 Wed Jun 23, 1993 DABRUMLEVE [kidprgs] at 08:45 EDT Damien, your message turned out fine. Welcome to GEnie! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 48 Wed Jun 23, 1993 FAIRWEATHER [David] at 21:53 EDT What is the latest Sound Editor from DMJ? Is it shareware or commercial? Does it handle Falcon 16 bit stereo samples? If so, how does it deal with some of the very LONG samples that the Falcon can create? Does it handle Musicom samples? Does it handle Winrec's compressed stereo DVS samples? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 49 Wed Jun 23, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 22:13 EDT I'm interested in View II now. Will it show pictures on the TT by clicking on them in TT med rez if the picture is a ST low, med, or high, rez picture? --Lou T.-- Written: Wednesday, June 23, 1993 09:34 p.m. EDT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 50 Wed Jun 23, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 22:39 EDT Welcome to GEnie, Damien! I was wondering the same thing that Mike asked you about. Will you accept a GEnie Gift of Time as shareware payment? You're probably unfamiliar with the Gift of Time. What it does is place a credit on your account. So if I sent you a $20 Gift of Time, I would have a $20 charge on my account and you'd have a $20 credit on your account. This method of payment is VERY convenient for both parties and has no doubt increased support for many shareware programs. __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 51 Wed Jun 23, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 23:38 EDT Here's a more complete list of View II's features: Installation: o Double-click on text, picture, animation, sound, or archive files to display them. The correct viewer is automatically loaded. o Uses /no memory/ when installed on a hard drive. Uses just 48K when installed on a RAM disk. o RAM disk & file copier included. o Reset-proof clock setter included (for those who don't have a battery-backed clock). o "Smart Install" does the setup for you. o Normal "Install" lets you customize your setup. o Allows you to "Remove" the installation as well. Text viewer: o Fast text display. o Bi-directional /mouse/ scrolling. Keyboard control also with the CTRL and ALT keys (and lots of others). o Two-speed scrolling on Mega STes, TTs, and Falcons. o Properly displays VT52 graphics. o Top & Bottom function. o Case-insensitive fast search. o Print screen contents. o Print entire file, with an estimated print completion time. o Memory-conservative: uses just 20K, no matter what size file you view. Picture viewer: o Display DEGAS, Tiny, NEO, Spectrum (even Smooshed!), and other formats. o Animates colors, if the picture requires it. o Displays STe color on STs with almost no flicker. o Display Spectrum pictures properly on 50Hz or 60Hz displays. o Includes Sync-Fix for out-of-sync display of Spectrum pictures. o Slow down Mega STes to 8MHz for Spectrum display. o Displays monochrome pictures in color (instantaneous conversions). o Displays color pictures in monochrome (even Spectrum) using fast pattern dither or slower Floyd-Steinberg dither (awesome results). o Displays Spectrum pictures using the TT's 256-color mode. o Displays Spectrum pictures using the Falcon's True Color mode. Animation viewer: o Displays SEQ and DLT animations. o Reverse play at any time. o Ping-pong mode option. o Single frame advance and rewind. o With sufficient memory, animates up 60 frames per second. o Selectable animation speeds. o Play animations from disk /automatically/ if there isn't enough memory. Sound viewer: o Plays AVR, SPL, SAM, SND, and WAV formats. o Where possible, recognizes the speed automatically. o Plays through ST, STe, or Falcon hardware at any speed from 5kHz to 50kHz (up to 30kHz ST). o Quick buttons for common speeds (11 preset speeds available). o Play stereo sounds on STs (in mono). Archive viewer: o Display the contents (verbose list) of ARC and LZH files. o If the list is large, it can be scrolled (in both directions) with the mouse. o Mark individual files or the entire archive and extract them. (Appropriate archiver programs are required for extraction.) o Extract to current directory or create folder for extracted files. Compatibility: o Works with all versions of TOS up to TOS 4. o Runs on STs, STes, Mega STes, TTs, and Falcons. o Works in color or monochrome. o Works with NeoDesk 3. o Works with 512K or more--and you really only need more for large animations or sound files. All this for just twenty measly dollars. Version 2.1 is already in development and will add numerous features. Buy View II now and the upgrade to 2.1 will be free! Here are some of the features that will be added in the upgrade: o MultiTOS compatibility. o Expandability--View II (2.1) will be user-expandable. Others will be able to write extra modules for View II and allow the user to add these to View II /easily/. o You will be able to call the View II modules from a desk accessory. o All viewers will allow selection of options from a screen menu using the mouse. o You'll be able to call a text editor from the text viewer without having to exit back to the desktop. o You'll be able to load a new file into the text viewer, again without returning to the desktop. o Support for more file formats, including ZIP archives. o Much, much more. I plan to fully support this product. I use so often I hate using an ST that doesn't have it installed. Once you get it, you'll wonder how you got by without it. Speaking of getting it, it's easy. You can order View II from It's All Relative, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant MO 63031, for just $20. Still not sure? Questions about the program can be posted here, of course, or you can send me or Greg Kopchak (GREG) E-mail. -dmj Well, I hope that all made it... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 52 Wed Jun 23, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 23:43 EDT I will accept GOTs as Shareware payment. View II does display ST pictures in their native resolutions on a TT. This includes monochrome. The latest version of Sound Lab is 1.1, and should be available somewhere in the library here. It allows you to load sections of samples too large to fit in memory, but does not currently handle 16-bit samples properly. Attempting to load a /stereo/ sample will result in its conversion to mono. Both of these will be fixed in Sound Lab 2, which is on my mile-long list of things to do. Sound Lab 1.1 handles AVR and WAV files, plus a few other insignificant raw data formats. Any other formats will be added as I receive information about them. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 53 Thu Jun 24, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 20:31 EDT A belated welcome to GEnie! It's great to have you online here. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 54 Fri Jun 25, 1993 AEO.5 [Ed Krimen] at 00:37 EDT View II sounds good. Will a demo be available? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 55 Fri Jun 25, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 20:53 EDT Due to its nature, View II is not readily "demoable". It would be practically impossible to change it in any way to show the product, and still leave an incentive to purchase the product. If anyone has ideas on what I might do to it to make a demo copy, I'd be interested. But some obvious things are out. Time limits can't be used, and neither can counters, or /anything/ that requires the program to remember something between uses of the viewers (for technical reasons). On another topic, DMJ GIF 4 needs a new name. With its large list of supported formats, it's no longer just a GIF program. I'm completely out of ideas, and all the suggestions beta testers have provided just don't seem that thrilling. (No offense, guys. Most of the good names are already taken.) I think some sort of reward will be in order for the person who comes up with a decent name--the exact reward depending on how good the name is. You can either post your name suggestions here or E-mail them. I'd rather they were posted here, so there could be feedback from people other than myself. Thanks! -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 56 Fri Jun 25, 1993 MYECK.WATERS [myeck] at 22:15 EDT DMJ; Two questions about View II. 1) Does it work with graphic cards? 2) Can my dealer order it through the usual channels? (I _TRY_ to support them. It's hard, but I try.) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 57 Fri Jun 25, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 22:23 EDT Damien, Perhaps you could demo version of View II by limiting what it can do. For instance, limit it to one or two picture types, sound types, archiver types, etc. This would give the prospective user a good grasp on what the program can do without removing the incentive to buy the real deal. I don't need a demo to know that I want it, but I'm sure many people will appreciate one. I can hatch it out through AtariNet, so that it's distributed throughout much of the world. As for a name for DMJ GIF 4.0. How about "Omen IV"? Kind of a play on your name. No? Oh well... ;^) __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 58 Fri Jun 25, 1993 T.MCCOMB [=Tom=] at 23:26 EDT I may have missed it, could you repost full ordering info for View II? -Tom Thanks Ummm DMJ GIF 4... DMJ ArtVerter ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 59 Sat Jun 26, 1993 AEO.5 [Ed Krimen] at 01:36 EDT View II sounds great! It sounds like a replacement for DC Shower. Any plans for GIF and JPEG support? :-) I sure hope the text scrolling in TT medium is fast. :-) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 60 Sat Jun 26, 1993 FAIRWEATHER [David] at 02:15 EDT For the pics you could plaster "VIEW II DEMO" in a 48 point outline font across each pic. But I don't know what you could do about the sounds and archives, etc. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 61 Sat Jun 26, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 11:26 EDT How about Jiffy View Plus. :-) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 62 Sat Jun 26, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 14:12 EDT How about DMJ GIF/IFF/SP?/P??/TN?/NEO/TIF/IMG/PNT/PCX/RAW/RGB 4.0? ;^) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 63 Sat Jun 26, 1993 AEO.5 [Ed Krimen] at 15:07 EDT >On another topic, DMJ GIF 4 needs a new name. With its large list of >supported formats, it's no longer just a GIF program. I'm completely out of DMJ Image DMJ Pix ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 64 Sat Jun 26, 1993 M.JONES52 [Jonesy] at 15:25 EDT Outlook ViewMaster (may be a trademark of old slide viewer, though) ViewVert(er) Vistamat (as in VegaMatic ) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 65 Sat Jun 26, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 18:27 EDT Hmmm. Lots of good ideas, but they just don't seem to have what I'm looking for. Plenty of time yet. View II doesn't cooperate too well with graphics cards at the moment, but that is one of the things that is being addressed. The TT scroll is medium res is blazing fast. That's why it's a two- speed scroll, because otherwise it's uncontrollable. (It's that fast.) And the text isn't actually in TT medium res; text files are displayed in ST medium res. This helps keep the text blitting routine simple. (More technical reasons available on request.) A demo version: basically you want me to gut the entire program. It's not really worth it. I'd have to remove significant portions of the programs, and then /test/ the thing to make sure I haven't removed something the program needs. Changing the display isn't practical, especially with 48-point outline fonts (that requires a lot of code). I'm fairly resigned to not having a demo version... but it's only twenty bucks, guys; very few programs offer you so much functionality for such a low price. As for ordering, it's $20 from It's All Relative, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant, MO 63031. It's not available through normal dealer channels. If you send a check in the mail, please remember that it's going to take a few days. A note, lest I forget: View II is *COMMERCIAL* software, not Shareware, and as such I cannot take Gifts of Time for it. All my other programs labeled as Shareware can still be paid for with GOTs. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 66 Sat Jun 26, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 21:41 EDT Damien, You're probably right about the View II demo. It just wouldn't be worth all the trouble, especially for a $20 program. I predict word of mouth will do just about what a demo would do anyway. I trust the $20 price includes shipping, huh? Of course, if all it is is a disk, that would only be 29c shipping anyway. :^) __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 67 Sun Jun 27, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 00:11 EDT For your $20 you get one View II disk and a manual (and, currently, the update to version 2.1 for free when it becomes available). This disk contains the viewer programs, the config/install program, a custom RAM disk (with auto file copy feature--very useful!), a reset-proof clock setter program (for those who don't have battery-backed clocks), and a few sample files to play with (picture, sound, animation). I admit there's plenty of room on the disk, but that's only because the viewer programs are so dinky. (They occupy 41K.) Heck, the config program is bigger than that. Oh yes, shipping IS included. ;-) -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 68 Sun Jun 27, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 00:46 EDT DMJ, Okay, I am pretty much sold on View II. Just to clarify your response, to view an ST picture on a TT, you will have to jump to an ST video mode to view it? Or will View II allow you to see for example an ST low resolution picture in TT medium resolution by putting it into a smaller box or an option of scaling it up? Well I will look forward to View II and all that it has to offer. It sounds great so far. --Lou T.-- Written: Saturday, June 26, 1993 11:02 p.m. EDT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 69 Sun Jun 27, 1993 G.CALVIN [- Gary -] at 01:34 EDT A new name for DMJ-GIF -- how about N-Media! What's the N for? Next Generation, New, Neo, Nano? Actually, it's just to complete the anagram for "Damien" but don't give that away. ;> -Gary- ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 70 Sun Jun 27, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 02:08 EDT Lou: While in a TT resolution, the picture viewer will automatically switch to an ST resolution to display a picture; when the viewing is done, it will restore the resolution. A similar process occurs on the Falcon. -dmj *Geez* I love Aladdin. Makes this whole system usable. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 71 Sun Jun 27, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 02:46 EDT SuperView ShowMe BigView Al ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 72 Sun Jun 27, 1993 REALM [Joey] at 04:45 EDT How about "Peeping Tom"? On the Demo you might try just drawing a line over the finished image after it's loaded. for instance every 5th line could be black or something. Just enough to cause $20 worth of annoyment.:-) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 73 Sun Jun 27, 1993 BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp] at 11:35 EDT If there room on the disk, why not include sample pictures? Not everyone has GEnie [grin]. ~~~~Brian ... Written on Sunday 27 June 1993 at 11:26 a.m. ADT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 74 Sun Jun 27, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 21:08 EDT DMJ, How about a little description of what DMJ GIF 4 can do? ;) Maybe I'll come up with a decent name! :D ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 75 Sun Jun 27, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 21:27 EDT How about DMJ:TNG? :^) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 76 Mon Jun 28, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 00:14 EDT Oh, boy... I hadn't expected so many suggestions. I like the idea of DMJ:TNG, although I don't *really* think I want to get into that sort of thing. For those who don't know what DMJ GIF 4 will do, let me briefly list its expected capabilities: You will be able to take a raster image in any of over forty formats and convert it to the /same/ image in any of over forty formats (maybe even the same format it started in). In the process of the conversion you will have control over color, dithering, rotation, and sizing of the image. The program will set all of these options /automatically/, preserving as much of the original image as possible in the conversion. Batch conversions will be possible as well as single conversions. This is very useful for moving images between platforms. DMJ GIF 4 will also act as a viewer, displaying any of the formats it can read to the best ability of the computer (including support for graphics cards). For the ST this is often unsatisfactory, so DMJ GIF 4 will offer conversions to Spectrum, SPX, and SPE--PhotoChrome-style pictures without PhotoChrome's flicker /and/ 24,000 colors displayed on a regular ST. Lest I forget, one of the most important aspects of DMJ GIF 4 will be its speed. Currently the prototype program I have uses the same /averaged scaling/ (like STyle's "Scale Well" option, but in full color) as version 3, but does it approximately twenty times faster. You can perform all of these operations on images too large to fit into memory. And the file handling routines are stored externally to the program, making it easy to add new formats at a later time. (How would you like to be able to manipulate an 18- meg Photo CD image on a paltry 1-meg ST?) Anyway, that's DMJ GIF 4--or will be, when I can actually finish it. It's a fiendishly tricky process. The DEMO for DMJ GIF 4 will superimpose the program name over any image it converts. (For THIS program I can do something like that.) View II: the disk really /is/ full, because of the sample animation, sample, and picture. If I thought /everyone/ was using a Falcon030, I'd consider putting View II onto a HD disk. Anyone who would like some of the pictures I have (somewhere around 500, mostly Spectrum pics) is more than welcome to them- -just let me know and I'll send you the Spc Thumb'ed catalog. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 77 Mon Jun 28, 1993 ARCHIVIST [Charlie] at 00:23 EDT Hehehe, Terry. Charlie ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 78 Mon Jun 28, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 17:41 EDT Damien, Boy, that GIF 4 sounds good. BTW, some of us non-Falcii owners have HD drives, too... :) Al ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 79 Mon Jun 28, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 21:46 EDT Damien, What about DMJ GFX? Confuse them with abbreviations. :^) Ooops...your message about Spc Thumb reminds me that I'm not quite yet finished registering. That's another great DMJ program that I've been meaning to register. Look for another GOT soon. :^) You have any other shareware I should know about. ;^) __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 80 Tue Jun 29, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 00:49 EDT Al, I am well aware that Falcon users aren't the only ones with hard drives. I myself am one of them. (I *STILL* don't have a Falcon, which makes writing programs for them the most amazing fun. ;-) I bought my HD rather than expand the memory in my 520, and I never regretted it. I have since replaced the 520 with a 1040, but I couldn't imagine life without a hard drive. If there is anyone who doesn't have a hard drive, you have my deepest sympathies. (Not meant in a negative way.) -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 81 Tue Jun 29, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 01:21 EDT DMJ, Thanks for the info on viewing ST pics in a TT resolution. The check is in the mail! Just the utility I have been looking for! --Lou T.-- Written: Tuesday, June 29, 1993 00:13 a.m. EDT PS- yes, I love using Aladdin as well. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 82 Tue Jun 29, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 02:18 EDT I think Al was referring to "HD" meaning High Density floppy drives as per your comment that you would put View II on HD disks if there were more Falcon users out there. Al was just pointing out that there are many Mega and TT030 users here that HD floppy drives. Though to be compatible with most users, I guess a double sided, double density floppy will do (I hope there are not too many single sided drive owners still out there?) But I agree with everything you said about hard drives anyway. I can not imagine life without one now. Plus in time you feel like your hard drive can never be big enough. I using a 213 meg hard drive on my TT, and now I can't imagine how I got my with only 52 megs on my STE ;) --Lou T.-- Written: Tuesday, June 29, 1993 01:31 a.m. EDT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 83 Tue Jun 29, 1993 TOPNOTCH at 03:17 EDT RE:New Name for DMJ GIF How about Pic-o-matic or DMJ Pic-o-matic? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 84 Tue Jun 29, 1993 J.GNIEWKOWSK [GE-Lamp ST] at 18:25 EDT Okay, just had to add my nomination: OmniView FWIW, John ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 85 Tue Jun 29, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 19:27 EDT Terry: I was specifically trying to avoid abbreviations. While I worked for the University of Maryland in Germany (at a military base) we had a sign posted in the office: "An AA or BS from UM is AOK. See your EO ASAP." (At least, that's what I think it said. I might have goofed one of the abbreviations.) Anyway, there are simply too many abbreviations in this world. I was going to use the name "Tachyon" for DMJ GIF 4, but a little bird told me someone was already using that name. Can anyone verify this? B-Man: (in response to a post in the NeoDesk topic, of all places) Sound Lab does not like DC Mouse Shift; this is apparently one common incompatibility problem. I do not know whether this is DCMS's fault or Sound Lab's; although neither one is doing things totally above-board, I'd guess it's Sound Lab. If that's not it, tell me what you're using, maybe I can spot the problem. All: I've just printed the newsletter I promised to get out. Included is a half- page /printout/ from DMJ GIF 4 that looks simply excellent. They should be in the mail Wednesday or Thursday, which means they should arrive by Monday. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 86 Tue Jun 29, 1993 J.WILSON103 [John] at 20:00 EDT > >If there is anyone who doesn't have a hard drive, you have my deepest >sympathies. (Not meant in a negative way.) > > -dmj > I agree...up until I got mine, I would NEVER have believed how much I would like it. J_Dub ~~~~~ Tuesday, June 29, 1993 1:15:44 pm ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 87 Tue Jun 29, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 21:39 EDT Lou: Oops. Since I don't have a high density drive except on my 486, I didn't even think of "HD" to mean that. (My 486's main use is to play CDs while I use my Atari.) I've been thinking of using a combination DD/HD format--360K of normal stuff, accessible on any double-sided drive... and 720K of high-density stuff. It's probably not worth the trouble, though. For what it's worth, the View II disk is a single/double-sided disk; all of the programs are accessible to a single-sided drive user, and the sample files are all stored on side 2. I already had the programs to do this, and it wasn't too much trouble. This format will not be used for version 2.1; that will be distributed on a pure 720K disk. TOPNOTCH: Pic-o-matic? >wince< ;-) -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 88 Tue Jun 29, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 21:52 EDT Yes, Lou, I was referring to High Density. But Damien made a good point about the users without hard drives! Al ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 89 Tue Jun 29, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 22:35 EDT Damien, Speaking of abbreviations, HD is not a good one to use these days, for obvious reasons. Don't be too quick to take the blame for the incompatibility between Sound Lab and DCMS. DC's TSRs of the week have a history of being being incompatible with various programs, and DCMS is no exception. The newsletter sounds great! Can't wait to check it out. __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 90 Wed Jun 30, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 03:32 EDT How about DMJGrafx? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 91 Wed Jun 30, 1993 FAIRWEATHER [David] at 08:33 EDT Actually I kinda like Pic-O-Matic! Yeah Pic-o-matic has my vote! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 92 Wed Jun 30, 1993 J.WILSON103 [John] at 21:08 EDT Choice_of_Pic J_Dub ~~~~~ Wednesday, June 30, 1993 4:15:12 pm ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 93 Wed Jun 30, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 22:19 EDT John, Yeah, I kind of like the name "OmniView" myself. --Lou T.-- Written: Wednesday, June 30, 1993 09:09 p.m. EDT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 94 Wed Jun 30, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 23:09 EDT Jonathan Roy suggested "Spectral Imaging" and "ImageCon" to me in an E-mail message. Opinions, anyone? -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 95 Thu Jul 01, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 01:00 EDT Damien, Of the two, I prefer "ImageCon," but even that doesn't knock me over. How about PicIt or Nit Pic? :^) __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 96 Thu Jul 01, 1993 TOPNOTCH at 02:47 EDT It slices, it dices it shows and converts any picture format know to man! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 97 Thu Jul 01, 1993 ATARIAUSTRIA [J.Widi] at 02:49 EDT Oh well... I just felt I also had to come up with some proposals for DMJ GIF 4: Raster Master Raster Blaster Raster Man ;-) Raster Pipe Pixel Pipe ChangelIMG Transformator PicBridge Pix Matrix If someone already uses one of these for an existing product I apologize. I'm not aware of it though. Have fun. -Johannes ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 98 Thu Jul 01, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 04:39 EDT How about Image Wrangler or Pixel Jockey? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 99 Thu Jul 01, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 17:56 EDT Veg-O-Pic! Al ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 100 Thu Jul 01, 1993 FAIRWEATHER [David] at 21:56 EDT Pic-O-Matic! Pic-O-Matic! Pic-O-Matic! Pic-O-Matic! It slices! It dices! It crawls on its belly like a reptile! And if you order now, for practically no extra cost you can receive this fabulous Ginzu knife! Pic-O-Matic! Pic-O-Matic! Pic-O-matic! Pic-O-Matic! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 101 Thu Jul 01, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 21:57 EDT Johannes: I like PicBridge and Transformator. This is turning out better than I'd hoped. I should have thought of this before. Keep the suggestions coming. There have been a number of good names, but I haven't seen one that "grabs me"--you know, that seems so neat and clever that you wonder why nobody thought of it before. 'Course, that's probably because all the really good names are taken. Still, one can always hope, eh? -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 102 Fri Jul 02, 1993 R.DEAN3 [GUNNER] at 08:40 EDT Damien; Welcome back to America! How soon do you expect to ship DMJGIF v4.0? Gunner ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 103 Fri Jul 02, 1993 AEO.5 [Ed Krimen] at 21:17 EDT >Jonathan Roy suggested "Spectral Imaging" and "ImageCon" to me in >an E-mail message. Opinions, anyone? I like Spectral Imaging. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 104 Sat Jul 03, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 00:00 EDT Gunner: DMJ GIF 4 will be moving as soon as it is finished and adequately beta-tested. Since I'm incredibly SWAMPED right now, that will be several months. If I knew a good ST programmer who could help, I might have a different answer, but unfortunately, I am a /single/ person doing what I can. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 105 Sat Jul 03, 1993 J.GNIEWKOWSK [GE-Lamp ST] at 13:14 EDT Thanks Lou! "OmniView" does kinda roll off the lips! John ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 106 Sat Jul 03, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 13:36 EDT Phooey. I wanted to write up a killer image manipulation package based on UTAH or something, but it looks like you've beaten me to it. (Of course.) Bleak. Of course, there are other programs to write... :) A convertor for a dozen or more 3D object formats would be neat.. Perhaps some fractal image compression software for the ST as well. ;) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 107 Sat Jul 03, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 14:52 EDT Due to unforseen complications, the newsletter will not be mailed until Monday. My apologies to all who waited with baited breath for a glimpse of DMJ GIF 4's print routine. ;-) -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 108 Sat Jul 03, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 15:59 EDT Just work on one project at a time... :) ie: Work on 4.0 now, and drop all the other projects.. It'll work out.. Trust me.. ;) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 109 Sat Jul 03, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 18:47 EDT Jonathan, I'd love to see some fractal image compression on the ST. Unfortunately, most of the really good stuff (i.e. Michael Barnsley's work) is secret and not generally available. Barnsley did recently publish a book describing various aspects of fractal image compression, but apparently it leaves a few holes in the implementation--and even if he hadn't, his work is patented. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 110 Sat Jul 03, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 20:49 EDT John, No offense, but I think "OmniView" is a bit limiting and somewhat misleading, since DMJ GIF 4 does far more than just view files. In fact, its conversion ability is likely to be its main selling point. The name "OmniView" sounds like it would be better suited to View II. -----8<----- Damien, At the risk of annoying those who are anxiously awaiting their DMJ newsletter , I just got _mine_ in the mail, along with my registered Sound Lab and ReNameIt! disks. The newsletter is _very_ nicely done. It's well laid out and professional looking. Well done! You are absolutely right about the print quality of DMJ GIF 4! That is a fantastic looking picture. I would like to see a side-by-side comparison with PrintAll (a _fantastic_ print program for DeskJets). Is that a GIF file that you printed? The manuals for Sound Lab and DMJ GIF will no doubt come in very handy. Just skimming through the DMJ GIF manual I learned something I didn't know before. That you should use a scale factor of 3/3 for 640x480 GIFs instead of 2.4/2.4, which is what I always used. I see where you're putting up a BBS this month. What software will you be using, and is there any chance of you networking? I'd sure love to get you in AtariNet, as would many of the other dozens of AtariNet nodes throughout the world! Thanks for the prompt service on the disks and newsletter... __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 111 Sat Jul 03, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 22:02 EDT Much as I'd like to work on just one project at a time, I do not have that luxury. I write PC programs to feed my face, not because I like PCs. (I believe almost any time I've posted about PCs, I've made my feelings for them plain. ;-) I write Atari programs because I like the Atari /and/ its userbase. This doesn't make the programs any easier to write (but the difference between Windows and GEM _does_ make a difference). What I'm trying to say is that writing Atari programs isn't the only thing I do. I've only just been thrust into the PC world, which means most of the past few weeks have been spent reading Microsoft documentation on programming Windows. This is why I haven't been able to do anything with DMJ GIF 4 or View 2.1. Heck, my work log for DMJ GIF 4 shows no work done in the past month. Hopefully after this next week, my current PC project will be finished; I'll take some time to do some Atari programming--maybe get View 2.1 out the door, spend a few hours coding a screen saver module, and put the N- color conversions into DMJ GIF 4. I can't just drop everything to work on DMJ GIF 4. Doing so will get me fired, and since it's actually my boss paying for my account here, that means no more GEnie access (or at least, a short hiatus while I get it worked out for myself). I do *not* need the hassle! Sorry for writing such a rambling post. Digress mode OFF. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 112 Sun Jul 04, 1993 R.DEAN3 [GUNNER] at 14:42 EDT DMJ; I'd like a copy of that catalog, and I'd bet others here would too. How about uploading it to the files area? Gunner ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 113 Mon Jul 05, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 02:10 EDT Terry: Thanks for the compliments on the newsletter. DTP is something I enjoy, when I'm not griping about how unstable PageStream is on a 1M machine. (I know, I know... only someone who enjoys frustration and aggravation would do any sort of DTP with just 1M. But as a general rule, programmers fall into that category anyway. ;-) The picture printed is just a plain-vanilla ST Low res image. I used a 75lpi screen at 300dpi, which gave me 32 grey levels. DMJ GIF 4's halftone dither routine (which is what did the printout) is highly adjustable; it can create any size screen you want, from 150lpi (not really recommended) to 1lpi (also not recommended). The best values range from 75lpi to 35lpi, giving between 32 and 128 grey levels. For those not familiar with the "lpi" measurement, I'll explain briefly. You can't print grey on a normal laser printer, just black and white. You simulate grey by mixing black and white, and one of the best ways to do this (for printers) is by using black dots spaced evenly in a grid (or "screen"). To make a darker grey, you use bigger dots; the biggest dots bleed together and make a solid black. This is halftoning. The "lpi" measurement is just how many lines of dots there are in one inch of printed graphics; the higher lpi, the finer the screen, but the fewer grey levels. Lower lpi gives a coarser screen, but more room for defining greys. The BBS is not exactly mine. I'll be remodeling a BBS set up and used by someone else. It will be running the Major BBS from Galacticomm, thus it's running a PC. This BBS is really for those people who don't want to use GEnie to get hold of me. For the most part my online presence will be here. As for the prompt service, well, it's nice to be able to get things to people in less than a week, instead of three weeks from Germany. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 114 Mon Jul 05, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 03:10 EDT Gunner: I'll see what I can do to ZIP up my picture catalog and upload it to the library. Incidentally, I traded the entire picture collection to the ST Club last year; this netted me a nice collection of PD disks--many of which I still haven't looked through. Amazing, huh? Anyway, the collection has grown since then. I might as well point out, in case I haven't already, that there aren't any nudes in the collection. I don't collect those. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 115 Mon Jul 05, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 03:27 EDT Well, since there's Sound Lab, why not call DMJ GIF 4.0 "Image Lab"? It's even 8 characters for "IMAGELAB.PRG"! ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 116 Mon Jul 05, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 12:55 EDT Hmmm...I like "Image Lab" or "Graphics Lab"... That's my favorites so far... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 117 Mon Jul 05, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 21:03 EDT "Image Lab" isn't a bad idea. The only problem is that it implies more editing capability than is really present. Then again, the current Sound Lab's editing capabilities aren't exactly as extensive as they might be. Unless anyone can come up with a better name in, say, a week, I think I'm going to have to go with Image Lab. Now why didn't I think of that? -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 118 Tue Jul 06, 1993 ATARIAUSTRIA [J.Widi] at 04:38 EDT Damien, if You like Transformator what about T3 - The TurnTable ;-) Oh yes, and here comes 'Pixel Mixer' -Johannes ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 119 Tue Jul 06, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 19:09 EDT For those who may be interested: I uploaded the catalog of my picture collection. It is file #29264, named DMJPICAT.ZIP. As to when it will be approved for download, well, that's anyone's guess... ;-) -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 120 Wed Jul 07, 1993 GREG at 02:22 EDT Image Lab is used already. In fact I am running Image Lab on my second system right now. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 121 Wed Jul 07, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 03:46 EDT DMJ - Hopefully, you didn't think of it because you were too busy programming! I also thought "Image Lab" would help identify it and Sound Lab as being from the same developer. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 122 Wed Jul 07, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 21:56 EDT "Image Lab" is already used, huh? Figures. *&%*$%. A little while back, someone (Troy Cheek) asked me why the plans for DMJ GIF 4 restricted rotations to 90 degree increments (i.e. 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees only). My answer was that it would be a pain in the rear to program-- especially if I tried to use averaged scaling--and enormously slow as well. We discussed it (okay, we ARGUED about it) for a while before he finally accepted my explanation of why it would be impractical. It has finally dawned on me how pointless my reasons were for objecting to this capability. I did figure out a practical way of rotating images at any angle, and this capability will be in DMJ GIF 4 (or whatever it ends up being called). Moreover, it will be available with normal pixel duplication/removal techniques, OR linear interpolation techniques. And, of course, it will be _reasonably_ fast. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 123 Thu Jul 08, 1993 L.TRAPANI [Lou][Machine] at 01:04 EDT I have seen other programs on other platforms with the same name as Atari software. So if "Image Lab" is on another platform, it still probably could be used on the Atari (unless it is trade marked name). Or you can change the name around and still keep the "Lab" at the end. Visual Lab, Picture Lab, Graphics Lab, View Lab, Sight Lab, Vision Lab, etc... --Lou T.-- Written: Thursday, July 08, 1993 00:17 a.m. EDT ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 124 Thu Jul 08, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 06:22 EDT Then how about "DMJ Image"? ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 125 Thu Jul 08, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 22:01 EDT I was sorting of hoping to get a name without "DMJ" in it. To me, a name like that means you couldn't come up with anything better. I was hoping for a title with more impact. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 126 Thu Jul 08, 1993 M.HILL13 [Mike] at 22:48 EDT Image Master, Image Link. (Had to say something) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 127 Sat Jul 10, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 06:42 EDT "ImageWorks" ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 128 Sat Jul 10, 1993 L.W.BENJAMIN [Koloth] at 13:38 EDT Pictulab Pictrlab Screnlab (Screen Lab) PhotoLab (probably already used somewhere, and dependent on the Photo CD support that you mentioned) Apiclab (Atari Picture Lab) Damelab (sounds too famale?) Spectlab (Spectrum Lab) Visionlb (Vision Lab) AccuVlab (Accu-Vision Lab) Vmastlab (video master lab - video master is probably copyrighted somewhere) Hows about that ? A bunch of names and included critiques! I guess it comes from editing _2_ newsletters. :-) I've already ordered VIEW II and I hope to get it before the Blue Ridge Atarifest (July 24th) so that I can tell everyone how amazing it is! :) I got the newsletter too. Very nice! How do we incentivize you into continuing production of the newsletter ? BTW, I really liked the letter last year with the patterned background. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 129 Sat Jul 10, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 15:57 EDT Koloth: (where did THAT name come from? ;-) Thanks for the name suggestions. You must be really fond of that "Lab" connection. Following your general theme, how about "Raster Lab"? You should get View II before the Blue Ridge Atarifest. Thanks for the compliments on the newsletter. Simply mentioning that you liked and/or appreciated it is incentive to continue. As for that letter, well, I use PageStream to print my stationery. What I did was take a normal 16-color fractal image, edit the palette so half the colors were white, the other half very light grey. I imported this into PageStream and stretched it to fill the whole page. The dmj software logo is an imported .CVG graphic, which was rotated 90 degrees before importing. I then just added an extra text object near the top for my name and address and printed about 50 copies. I use another template for adding the actual text; this way I don't have to wait 10 minutes every time I want to print a letter. -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 130 Sat Jul 10, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 17:36 EDT Naa, forget Barnsley's stuff. (A number of people posting around on comp.compression and comp.compression.research don't belive he has any general fractal compression at the ratios he claims.) There are a number of PD fractal implementations, as well as PD code, and demo programs to show how it works. :) One paper I FTP'ed off the Internet a few months back is called "Fractal Image Compression". Has lots of nice examples of things, and everything you need to know to implement it. It was the course notes written by Yuval Fisher for a SigGraph '92 presentation. Fractal compression just isn't that popular yet since JPEG is around, and far faster. Fractal compression has other benefits, but it's slow in compression. (Although lightning fast in decompression.) :) Yeah, Image Lab is nice. :) That says ImageCon for my own software then. :) (Yeah, that vaporware software that'll never get written!) Bummer it's taken. :( (Responding as I read the messages...) Roataing images to any angle shouldn't be a problem. There is some good theory/papers on doing such stuff, although it's not really important these days. :) Other topics have far more weight in SigGraph than that. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 131 Sat Jul 10, 1993 R.DEAN3 [GUNNER] at 19:59 EDT DMJ How about "Kitchen Sink" for DMJ GIF 4.0? Seems to be about the only thing you left out. :) Gunner ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 132 Sat Jul 10, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 21:11 EDT Jonathan: If you could track down implementation information for fractal compression, I'd be interested. As for Barnsley's stuff, I've _seen_ it work. For those of you with multimedia PCs, I encourage you to check out Microsoft Encarta--it uses Barnsley's fractal compression. It really does give some incredible compression ratios. I believe I just pointed out that image rotation wouldn't be a problem. And you're right, it's probably not really important... but since DMJ GIF 4 is doing everything else, why not any-angle rotations as well? -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 133 Sun Jul 11, 1993 REALM [Joey] at 03:26 EDT Picture Perfect, EyeGor, Chameleon, Bit's & Pieces, Image Mechanix, Retina, FIP (Foveal Image Processor), Optic Lab. BTW the Fovea is the part of the eye that receives the sharpest image. ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 134 Sun Jul 11, 1993 OUTRIDER [Terry] at 15:04 EDT Gunner, Maybe "Kitchen Sync"? :^) __ /erry .\\ay ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 135 Sun Jul 11, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 17:15 EDT I like "Fovea" by itself. Who says the name has immediately indicate what the product does. Heck, Gribnif is coming out with 'Geneva'. ;-) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 136 Sun Jul 11, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 19:29 EDT DMJ, What hardware do you have/use? A TT and/or Falcon? Any hi-res graphics boards? Accelerated ST(e)? :) ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 137 Sun Jul 11, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 23:10 EDT Joey: Fovea would be wonderful, except for one small problem: it doesn't exactly roll off the lips! :) Optic Lab? Hmmm... Gordon: Thanks for your vote on "Fovea". Any more votes? Jonathan: Believe it or not, the only Atari system I own is a stock 8MHz 1040STf. I have both an SC1224 and SM124, and a Supra 30M HD that's old. Kinda hard to believe I've written programs that take advantage of Mega STes, TTs, and Falcons, huh? -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 138 Mon Jul 12, 1993 L.W.BENJAMIN [Koloth] at 06:32 EDT DMJ, Well, it seemed that you liked the "Lab" connection too. How would you abbreviate "Raster Lab" for a filename ? How about "Pixellab" ? I assume that you're using a deskjet or laserjet or something where it is then easy to put your "stationary" into the input tray. That's really neat! I've got to learn more about how templates work in PageStream... ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 139 Mon Jul 12, 1993 STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS] at 06:32 EDT DMJ - I like "Raster Lab." ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 140 Mon Jul 12, 1993 T.MCCOMB [=Tom=] at 10:42 EDT Transmute "Turns lead to gold and pictures to Art." ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 141 Mon Jul 12, 1993 DMJ [dmj] at 20:51 EDT Koloth: Yeah, I admit to liking the "Lab" connection. "Raster Lab" would be abbreviated to "RASTRLAB" for a filename. "Pixel Lab" isn't bad, except it implies manipulating images on a pixel-by-pixel basis, rather than as a whole image, which is what DMJ GIF 4 will be doing. As for the stationery, yep, I'm using an HP LaserJet III. Until recently, just a compatible printer, but now I've got the real thing. I've also got a LaserJet 4 in the other room (not mine) that I can get to when I need it. That 600dpi makes a big difference. DMJ GIF 4 will print images at 600dpi, of course. ;-) -dmj ------------ Category 2, Topic 6 Message 142 Mon Jul 12, 1993 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 23:57 EDT Barnsley's compression has the main problem that it takes human intervention (sometimes quite a bit) to get his 4000:1 ratios. Getting a standard 80:1 ratio or so is easily within reach of fractal compression. I just won't belive compression a 2meg 24bit picture to under 4K until I see the code and read the paper. :) Would you prefer papers, code, or what? There are at least 2 PD demo fractal programs availible, mentioned in the sci.fractals FAQ. (Should be availible in the Science RT.) I'd be happy to send along whatever you want. ;) (They run under X though, I think.) -- Here's question #6 on the comp.graphics FAQ. :) The first stop for any graphics question! And of course, Graphics Gems I-III should be a fundamental part of anyone's library, if they can afford them. :) -- 6) Rotating a raster image by an arbitrary angle. The obvious but wrong method is to loop over the pixels in the source image, transform each coordinate, and copy the pixel to the destination. This is wrong because it leaves holes in the destination. Instead, loop over the pixels in the destination image, apply the *reverse* transformation to the coordinates, and copy that pixel from the source. This method is quite general, and can be used for any one-to-one 2-D mapping, not just rotation. You can add anti-aliasing by doing sub-pixel sampling. However, there is a much faster method, with antialising included, which involves doing three shear operations. The method was originally created for the IM Raster Toolkit (see below); an implementation is also present in PBMPLUS. Reference: "A Fast Algorithm for Raster Rotation", by Alan Paeth (awpaeth@watcgl.waterloo.edu) Graphics Interface '86 (Vancouver). An article on the IM toolkit appears in the same journal. An updated version of the rotation paper appears in "Graphics Gems" (see section [1]) under the original title. ------------