Format: IFF DEEP (uncompressed)
Load: Yes
Save: Yes
Autodetect: Yes
IFF Deep was developed as a replacement for the Commodore IFF-24 format (which is very inefficient and slow). Although it has not gained massive popularity it is a good format, even though it is uncompressed (and therefore takes up lots of hard disk space) it is the fastest way to work with 24-bit files in Photogenics. It is also the native file format for the Photogenics Virtual Image system.
Format: IFF-ILBM (InterLeaved BitMap)
Load: Yes (2-256 colour, Extra-Halfbrite, HAM6, HAM8 & IFF-24)
Save: Yes (2-256 colour, HAM6, HAM8 and IFF24)
Autodetect: Yes
IFF-ILBM is the standard graphics file format of the Amiga. It is supported by almost every Amiga application that can create or use graphics. If you want to load in a graphics file created by another Amiga program, chances are it will be an IFF-ILBM file of some sort.
The ILBM saver can save in the following formats (selected with Render Mode):
2 to 256 colour: The image is rendered to a palette containing 2 to 256 colours. This is quite a complex process and will result in loss of quality compared to your original 24-bit image, but it will allow you to export images that can be used in Deluxe Paint, Scala, Workbench Backdrops and other applications.HAM 6: This is the original HAM format (for Hold And Modify) available on every Amiga model. It allows up to 4096 colours per image, but uses special tricks in order to get this number of colours that on some images leave strange 'artifacts', often colour haloes around the right hand side of image edges, but for many images this can produce very high quality output.
HAM 8: With the Amiga 4000 and Amiga 1200, Commodore introduced the AGA chipset which offers an enhanced version of the HAM mode, called HAM8. Essentially it works on the same principal of operation as HAM6, but at a much higher quality. For the best quality photographic image reproduction on standard Amiga 1200 and Amiga 4000 computers, Ham8 should almost always be used.
IFF-24: This is the standard Amiga format for storing 24-bit graphics. Any image saved from Photogenics in IFF-24 format can be loaded back in with no loss of quality (unlike all other ILBM variants). It is not as fast as IFF-Deep, so that is generally preferable for day-to-day Photogenics work.
Other options selectable on the ILBM saver are:-
Palette Mode: What palette should be created to render the image (not valid for IFF24 images). This can be either Greyscale, Keep Current Palette (where the palette loaded from the original image, or the palette you created in the colours window is used), Fixed Palette (only for 256 colour mode - a fixed colour palette somewhat like the palette Photogenics runs with on a 256 colour screen. Ideal if you want to make sure several images share a common palette) and, the most useful, Calculated Palette, which generates a new palette for the image based on the image.
Dither Mode: This specifies what type of dither should be used to increase the quality of the image (again, not valid for IFF24 images). Most frequently you will use Floyd-Steinberg or Large Ordered Light dithers, the others are there for you to experiment with.
Compressed: You can specify whether you want to use Run-Length compression or not for your image. Almost all images benefit from using compression, but in some cases you may need to save an image uncompressed. This works with all format IFF images
Encryption: We have added a relatively secure encryption system for IFF images into Photogenics. Using this you will be asked for an encryption string of at least eight characters. The image is then encrypted and is virtually impossible to reload without knowing the original encryption string. Be very careful! If you lose your encryption string there is no way the you, Almathera or anyone else can guarantee to get your image data back! This is very handy if you want to keep images 'secure' from prying eyes on your system.
Format: Gem IMG (Image)
Load: Yes
Save: No
Autodetect: No
Gem IMG is the standard clip-art format for the Atari ST computer.
Photogenics can load in most 2-colour IMG clip-art files
Format: Impulse RGB8/RGBN
Load: Yes
Save: No
Autodetect: Yes
Impulse RGB8 and RGBN formats are used by the TurboSilver and Imagine Ray-Tracer programs.