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HIDIMG (C) v3.0 Copyright 1993-94 John Çaputlu-Wilson All Rights Reserved Hidden Image AutoStereograms All other copyrights(C) and trademarks(TM) mentioned herein are hereby acknowledged, including specifically: Windows (C) Microsoft UNIVBE (C) SciTech Software SVGA Drivers (C) Jordan Hargraphix Software etc. *************************************************************** * * * Create your own professional-looking hidden images like the * * ones seen in the malls. Put your own message or picture in * * the hidden image and hide it with any covering pattern. * * * *************************************************************** To get started QUICK (if you have SVGA 800x600x256 or higher): Run the program by typing HIDIMG30 at the DOS prompt Press the (H) Key ///Hide the Current Image/// Press the <Enter> Key Twice ///Use Default Resolution/// -------------------------------------- PACKING LIST INTRODUCTION REGISTRATION HOW TO USE THE HIDIMG PROGRAM COMMAND LIST Command Line Parameters Creating Hidden Images Changing Settings Displaying Files On-Screen Changing Screen Modes Modifying Image Colors On-Screen Showing File Information Generating Standard Files Halting Screen Drawing Quitting the HIDIMG Program USING WINDOWS PAINTBRUSH SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS & TROUBLE-SHOOTING VERSION HISTORY THANKS DISCLAIMER & LEGAL NOTICE -------------------------------------- PACKING LIST ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ FileName: FileSize: ─────────────────────┐ HIDIMG30.EXE 66025_├─ The SHAREWARE program HIDIMG30.KEY 2608_├─ The Key to make it hide HIDIMG30.DOC 53507 │ INVOICE.DOC 1945 ├─ Documentation and Registration Info VENDOR.DOC 2362_│ HIDIMG.PAL 162_├─ Windows Paintbrush 16 Color Palette PT1.BMP 83502 │ PTFRACT.BMP 27482 │ PTDAZ0.BMP 13478 ├─ A few Pattern files PTDAZ1.BMP 10608 │ PT1CY.BMP 11078 │ PT2CY.BMP 10998 │ PT3CY.BMP 12498 │ PT4CY.BMP 10798 │ PT5CY.BMP 10798_│ SHAPES.BMP 11312 │ P51.BMP 22268 ├─ A few Input image files (compressed) TORUS.BMP 82786_│ You can always (G)enerate more... HID1.MAP 3328 │ HID2.MAP 3328 ├─ 256 Color (RGB Triplet) Maps RAINBOWJ.MAP 2127_│ UVBE50BD.ZIP 55130 ├─ VESA video driver ─────────────────────┤ RLE2BMP.EXE 20093_├─ Image File Converter v2.0┐ TIPS.DOC 6779_├─ More Docs ├─ REGISTERED VERSION!! HIDIM30R.EXE 66024_├─ The REGISTERED Program │ 3SHIP.BMP 74765 │ │ BIPLANE.BMP 29350 │ │ CAR.BMP 29926 │ │ CYCLE.BMP 41064 │ │ F14.BMP 25222 ├─ Good pic files donated to│ KLING.BMP 19698 │ me by a registered user │ STREK.BMP 17472 │ │ THETR.BMP 72654 │ │ ─────────────────────┘ ┘ INTRODUCTION ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ HIDIMG is a program which creates autostereograms from any color BMP (bitmap) file included with program or that the user supplies. An autostereogram is a picture which appears 3-dimensional when viewed in the correct manner. Unlike other stereogram programs, HIDIMG is not limited in color or in the surface pattern displayed. Most other programs only create black and white SIRDS. A SIRDS is a Single Image Random Dot Stereogram. HIDIMG can use full 256 color and whatever surface pattern the user desires, not just random dots. That means that you can create pictures similar to those that are done professionally and sold in the malls and other shopping areas. The hidden image is then saved into a BMP file which the user may edit or print out as desired (using other programs). You can "hide" any image that you can create. HIDIMG now comes with files that allow one to use Windows Paintbrush to create input and pattern files. The Windows wallpaper patterns can be used as good covering patterns. Since HIDIMG uses the BMP picture format, Windows paintbrush can also be used to print the pictures. In any case, have fun making posters, post cards, invitations, ads, pictures, nameplates, etc. Without exception, everyone I have met who has "seen" a hidden image picture has thought that it was very neat. Sometimes it takes a little while to "see" the images, but it is usually worth the effort. Even if you have already "seen" the pictures, it is great to see someone else's face when they finally "see" it too. At that point you share their sense of wonder and prove that you really are not crazy! All the images that I have printed out have looked great! I have found that they make very entertaining gifts. REGISTRATION ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ HIDIMG is a SHAREWARE program. Shareware programs are great because they allow a limited trial period before actually purchasing the program. If you do not like the program, then it costs nothing. You simply quit using it. Users may use HIDIMG for a trial period of 30 days. At that time they may either register (if they haven't done so already) or quit using the program. The registration price is US $35.00 + S/H. All images created by an unregistered user are for personal use only; they may not be sold or used commercially. They may be displayed of course, so that other people can find out where to get the program. Permission is granted for the distribution (uploading, downloading, etc.) of the unregistered version. Feel free to let your friends and others try out the unregistered shareware program and see if they would like to order the registered version. Vendors may charge no more than $5 over the cost of media for this program. Registration information is in the INVOICE.DOC file. Ask about other available programs if you call. The REGISTERED version of HIDIMG has the following: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All features of UNREGISTERED version, including: full SVGA 256 color, as well as 16 color and Text display modes manipulation of image colors and hidden effects, including z-scaling, repeat scale, inverse viewing, several different hiding algorithms, color cycling, shimmering, randomized palettes, etc. works on picture, pattern, and color map files included or supplied by user images displayed on screen and saved in BMP form for later editing or printing by user full Windows BMP file information, including headers, palette, and image display for 2,16,256 and false color 2^24. allows 80x50x16 text mode resolution allows from 320x200x2 up to 1280x1024x256 resolution on-screen allows up to 12000x(space available)x256 in file disk-video mode "height analyze" feature for helping in the creation of good input files (G)enerate files feature in case of program seperation from included files in the .ZIP package -- inputs, patterns, color maps, and of course hidden images !!!!!!!!!!!!PLUS!!!!!!!!!!!! no annoying SHAREWARE screens or registration incentives, just "Thanks for Registering" HIDIMG (C) copyright message is not "stamped" on hidden pictures images created by program may be freely used, no copyright restrictions on registered user-made images tips on how to create good images, start to finish extra input & pattern files -- these are some good input files which were donated to me by a registered member. These are free with registration of the HIDIMG program. They look good on my system and include: a motorcycle, some airplanes, star trek ships, a car, a building program RLE2BMP.EXE v2.0 to convert RLE files to BMP files Note: RLE files are one of the formats used to transmit picture files over the Internet. It is used by some other SIRDS programs (notably the MINDIM20.ZIP SIRDS program). These files can be converted to BMP's. Some of these .RLE file pictures are copyrighted. You must get the artist's permission for other than personal viewing of those files. Also, do not mistake these files with Windows RLE compressed BMP's. They are two different things. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************************************************************* * Remember, registered programs or images from a registered * * program make great gifts for family and friends!!! * ************************************************************* HOW TO USE HIDIMG PROGRAM ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Basically, HIDIMG takes an input file and "hides" it by covering it with a pattern file using a special algorithm. The pattern is repeated, though not exactly to get the 3D effect. The resulting image is displayed on-screen. There are triangular indicators on the image to help in "locking-in" on the image. The user must change his/her focus until the indicators appear to merge in the center. This can be done by "looking through" the picture, or by crossing the eyes for inverse viewing. At the correct point of focus, the hidden effect should be noticeable in the image. The colors of this image may be modified with several different commands. When the user is finished looking at the picture, it is saved to the output file. If you choose to make your own pictures, you need to create them in a special way. The picture must be in the form of a topographical map, i.e. the palette numbers that you use must correspond to the heights that you wish that color to be at. For example, the following values would give a pyramid structure: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ┌─────────┐ 1│2 2 2 2 2│1 │ ┌─────┐ │ 1│2│3 3 3│2│1 │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ 1│2│3│4│3│2│1 │ │ └─┘ │ │ 1│2│3 3 3│2│1 │ └─────┘ │ 1│2 2 2 2 2│1 └─────────┘ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 All numbers not shown are 0. These numbers represent the palette numbers in the drawing program. Note that the colors which are assigned to the palette numbers are arbitrary. You can make them whatever colors you like. Think of it like this; your palette numbers correspond to 256 boxes into which you will put whatever color of paint that you want. What color of paint goes into which box is up to the you. When you want to make a topographic structure however, you must use the paint from the correct palette box that is at the height you want that figure to be at. The "4" at the center of the pyramid indicates that it is at height "4", and it came from palette box #4. Notice that it is surrounded by colors at height "3", and so forth. Thus, the highest point is at the center, with the sides sloping down to form a pyramid. If you are using a painting program to make your own BMP input files, I have a few suggestions. First of all, set the entire background color palette number 0. This is usually the color black. If you are using a program that tells you the palette numbers, then draw something with low palette numbers, around 1-20. If your program doesn't tell the palette numbers, draw a few objects with each a different color and write down what color each object was. Then, go to the HIDIMG program. If you used low palette numbers against a 0 height background, then a normal "hide" should work. If you used colors but don't know the heights, then you will have to play with the (Z) scaling factor. Try setting this to about 0.1 to 0.2 and look at the resulting hidden picture. What that does is takes each palette number and multiply it by the Z scale before displaying. Thus the number 240 would be sent to 24, a much more reasonable height, with a much greater chance of being seen in the hidden effect. However, it will also take the number 5 down to 0, so those low numbers will get lost. Therefore, it is REALLY helpful to use a program that tells you the palette numbers and use Z scale of 1. Under the (G)enerate Input command, there is a choice called Test Pattern. It creates a file with all of the 256 colors in ascending order as you read a page. You may be able to import it into your painting program and find out what color corresponds to what palette number. I have now added a few more options to help out with this palette number = height business. Once you have (D)isplayed the (I)nput image on the graphics screen (preferably SVGA256), use the (W)hat-Height Analyze command. A box with number 0 will be flashing, along with anything else at height 0. Use the up and down arrows to change the current palette number. You should notice the 3D structure of the included files if you try this. Another way of seeing the 3D structure is to set the Screen (M)ode to (T)ext Video. Then try (D)isplay (I)nput file. It will make a text map of the image with the heights indicated by number and color. See the part about this under the Text Video Mode section. DISK SPACE: Make sure that you have LOTS of it. HIDIMG can read in compressed or uncompressed BMP's, but it only creates uncompressed 256 color files. The reason for this is that a large number of the hidden pictures have larger compressed BMP files than uncompressed. This is due to the way that the Windows RLE compression works. You might try converting the files to other formats and see if they work better. I would suggest a hard drive with at least 2-5M of free space. HIDIMG will try to save hidden images to the file HIDDENBMP unless the default is changed. This is intended to keep your disk from getting overrun with hidden image files. If you want to keep an image that you like, I would rename it to something else, so that you don't inadvertently write over it on the next hidden generation. Another reason for the uncompressed files is that they get displayed faster. This program is math intensive; the faster your system the better. Speaking of slowing something down, HIDIMG is capable of very high rez disk-video modes of up to 12000x(available_space)x256. These files take a LONG time and take a LOT of disk space (≈4.2M for 2048x2048). However, there are some programs that can use them so here they are. Just run the program normally and select whatever resolution you like. HIDIMG is really a disk file-to-disk file converter. The images displayed on-screen are actually virtual. They do not affect the size of the images which are created in the hiding process. The output file size will be the same as the input file size, although all files will be saved in 256 color uncompressed BMP format. HIDIMG COMMANDS ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ----------------------- Command Line Parameters ----------------------- At the DOS prompt: type hidimg30 ? to get the command line parameters. +i<Input *.BMP> +p<Pattern *.BMP> +o<Output *.BMP> +m<Color Map *.MAP> +e<ExecuteMode (MENU,BATCH)> +a<Algorithm (LTR,SYMM,RTL,LTR-EC,RTL-EC,LTR-ECX,THIMB,THIMB-H)> +v<ViewStyle (NORMAL,INVERT)> +z<Z-Scale (0..20)> ? {Help} ---------------------- Creating Hidden Images ---------------------- (H) Hide the Input file *** The Heart of HIDIMG *** The current input file is hidden with the current pattern, displayed on the screen at a selectable resolution, and saved in the output file. The image colors may be modified while the image is on-screen using the color palette changing commands. The final colors will be saved with the file information. Focusing indicators will appear at the top of the picture. Try to make the indicators merge and your eyes should be approximately at the correct focusing distance to "see" the image. Make sure that you have a lot of disk space availiable, especially if you use the high-rez modes. This is the shortcut key for generating an output file. ----------------- Changing Settings ----------------- (C) Change a File Setting Each of the different file types; input, pattern, output, and color map may be changed with this command. It will go to a submenu from which the choice (I,P,O,C) can be made. From there, a list of files will be displayed. Use the arrows keys to move around and the page up/down keys to change pages if necessary. Alternatively, if there is a file you know about but is not listed, use the (W)rite filename command. It must be the appropriate kind of file. If you spell a filename incorrectly, or escape from the menu, it will be shown as "NUL", and you will have to change it again or generate a new file. (I) Change the Input file A list of *.BMP files in the directory will be displayed. A file may be chosen by pressing <Enter>. Note that the uncompressed files will load and be displayed much more quickly than the compressed ones. As of version 2.1, all uncompressed 2,16,256 color BMP's, as well as compressed 256 color BMP's should work as input files. Beginners should probably try to use 16 color input files to begin with, as these should be easier to "see", since there will be fewer levels and the levels will be relatively close to one another. Still use the SVGA256 mode if your machine supports it, however, since it is the colors of the pattern file which make the surface interesting. (P) Change the Pattern file A list of the pattern PT*.BMP files in the directory will be displayed. A file may be chosen by pressing <Enter>. Note other files may be used as patterns, but only those starting with the letters "PT" will be listed. You can always use the DOS REN command to change your file names. Remember that pattern files should be at least 30 pixels wide. Anything less than that will be almost impossible to see. Also, make sure that your pattern has enough contrast in it so that the hidden effect can be seen. Try to use patterns that use all 256 colors, as these usually look better. You can make pattern files whatever size you want, 200x768, 100x100, 50x480, whatever. A good way to make patterns is to clip out a section of some picture that you like so that it has the right dimensions to make a good covering. If you use the PTxCY.BMP files provided, make sure to use the (O)riginal file colors option once they are displayed. (O) Change the Output file The user may chose a filename. A default file may be chosen by pressing <Enter>. If you do not wish to create a hidden output file, perhaps to save filespace, set this to "NUL". The picture will be displayed on screen but no file will be created. (C) Change the Color Map file A list of the *.MAP files in the directory will be displayed. A file may be chosen by pressing <Enter>. A .MAP file is a color palette text file which contains a list of the Red, Green, and Blue intensity values for each color used by the image. These files are identical to those used by the FRACTINT fractal generation program. A maximum of 256 colors will be used. (B) Beep Toggle Turn the display finished-generating beep sound on/off. (Z) Change the Z-Scale parameter The Z-Scale parameter controls the apparent depth of the hidden image. A large Z-Scale value gives the picture a lot of 3Dness. A small Z-Scale values makes the picture look more flattened. Too large a value destroys the hidden effect. Too small a value makes everything flat. The original Z-Scale value of an input file is 1. The generated standard files work best at values near 1. The input file palette numbers are multiplied by this factor before being displayed on the screen. (R) Change the Repeat parameter The Repeat parameter controls the apparent distance of the hidden image. A large Repeat value makes the image appear further away. A small Repeat value makes the image appear closer. Too small a Repeat value destroys the hidden effect. This parameter is useful in making the hidden image easier to see in terms of the focusing ability of the viewer. The two triangular indicators on the hidden image screen are controlled by this parameter. Larger Repeats make the indicators move apart, smaller make them move together. The original Repeat value is the width of the Pattern file. For most comfortable viewing, the indicators should be about an inch apart. For most screens, this means that the Repeat value should be: (Screen Width in Pixels)/10, approximately. The initial repeat value is the set to the width of the pattern file that you are using. It will not go above this. Using a smaller repeat actually chops out portions of the pattern picture, so it is usually better to resize your pattern file if you want a good image. (A) Change the Algorithm/Symmetry HIDIMG supports several different symmetry algorithms for hiding the images: LTR, SYMM, RTL, and various error-correcting algorithms, LTR-EC, SYMM-EC, RTL-EC, and LTR-ECX. The SYMM or symmetric algorithm tries to hide the picture from the center towards the sides. The result is usually good, unless there is a lot of depth, in which case some of the picture near the center gets lost. LTR and RTL are the Left-To-Right and Right-To-Left algorithms. These will not lose any of the picture's data, but the surface pattern will appear distorted more on one side as the algorithm runs across the picture. The error-correcting algorithms work like the above, but they attempt to eliminate the "ghost" line effects that occur as the pattern is repeated. These do not always work, and sometimes make the thing look even worse, but at least you have the option to try it. The EC ones use an average value, and the experimental one tries to make a gradient. Ocassionally, the SYMM algorithms will make a stripe across the center, especially when the repeat scale factor is less than maximum, so it would be better to use the LTR or RTL for those pictures or use a different pattern. As of version 3.0, the Thimbleby, et.al. method is included, with or without hidden line removal. This method is supposed to create a much better SIRDS image, but the covering patterns for SIS are directionally biased as before. The hidden line removal increases the time required quite a bit. The Repeat scale does not work with this method, a picture width is limited to 1280. If anyone knows of better algorithms that you would like to see added, let me know. (V) Change the View Style Pictures may be hidden in either Normal or Inverted form. Normal form has higher palette numbers appearing closer to the viewer, while the inverted forms have higher palette numbers appearing further from the viewer. Typically the normal images appear upraised or embossed, while the inverted images appear depressed, like footprints. Sometimes the inverted images are fairly difficult to "see". I have heard that these two types are sometimes called wall-eyed and cross-eyed. This program assumes that the wall-eyed view is normal and the cross-eyed view is inverted. In any case, you can change from upraised to depressed, or vice versa by simply changing to the other view style. -------------------------- Displaying Files On-Screen -------------------------- (D) Display a File On-Screen This option will display on-screen any of the file types; input, pattern, output, or color map. A beep will be sounded when the image is finished being made. The user can then modify the color palette of the image using the color palette changing commands (0..9,O,M,C,G,S,H,R,G,B,V,W,I, etc. See the Modifying Colors section). This command goes to the choice of file submenu. As of version 1.9, 2-color, 16-color, and 256-color uncompressed files should be capable of being displayed on-screen, making HIDIMG useful as a BMP viewer. 256-color compressed BMP's should also work. During the display, a progress indicator line should be visible at the top of the screen; when it reaches the left side of the screen, the display should be finished. As of version 3.0, 24-bit 2^24 color BMP should be displayable in false color or grayscale. (I) Display the Input file on-screen Reads in the current Input file listed in the current settings and shows it on-screen at a selectable resolution. Again, the text mode allows the "height levels" to be seen with this option. (P) Display the Pattern file on-screen Reads in the current Pattern file listed in the current settings and shows it on-screen at a selectable resolution. This is the image that will get "repeated" across the picture. You can either make the vertical length of the file the same as the resolution, or less and it will be repeated in that dimension as well. A good pattern image can make the difference between an interesting or a boring picture. (O) Display the Output file on-screen If a hidden image has been created, then reads in the current Output file listed in the current settings and shows it on-screen at a selectable resolution. Note, hidden image files displayed this way do not have the focusing indicators included. Also, these files are not affected by the "hidden effect" parameters, although palette changing commands can be used. At this point, the program is simply drawing an already made picture, whether that picture is a hidden image or not. (C) Display the Color Map file on-screen Reads in the current Color Map file listed in the current settings and shows an on-screen palette in a 16x16 grid for 256 col or a 16x1 grid for 16 col. The palette number and the (R,G,B) components are displayed. This option should be chosen at 640x480 resolution or above to see the numbers and components. Note that this is for the 256 color mode. 16 color mode will usually give strange results. ------------------------ Changing the Screen Mode ------------------------ (automatic from (H)ide/(D)isplay/(G)enerate) HIDIMG now supports several screen modes, including the original SVGA256, and now SVGA16 & a 50 line text mode. Now includes tweak modes. If you have trouble with your video card, try using the UNIVBE program included with the shareware version of HIDIMG. This is an alternate SVGA driver that usually works much better than the standard ones. See the UNIVBE docs for more info. (1) SVGA16 Mode This driver mode "should" run standard EGA and VGA cards at 16 colors. This is included for those people who don't have SVGA. Recommendation from the author: Get SVGA, it's worth it. Even if you load in a 16-color input file, try viewing it with 256-color mode. Make sure that all the pattern files are 256-color, since these look MUCH better. (2) SVGA256 Mode This is the original driver, capable of running many SVGA and VESA cards. Unfortunately, not all cards are alike, so this may not help all people. Try turning on the VESA capability of your card before giving up all hope. After that, try running the UNIVBE program. If this still doesn't work and you think your card is definitely SVGA, then tell me where I can get the drivers that will run your card. (2) SVGA2^24 GrayScale Mode This allows 24-bit BMP files to be displayed in GrayScale or false color. Height levels of these picture are equal to the grayscale value. There is a modification you can make to POV-Ray to output grayscaled images based on heights. Try hiding these with HIDIMG. Lots of Z-Scale adjustments may be necessary. Use the (W)hat-Height function to get the levels into low ranges 0..64 for monitor displayable high-rez usually. (T)ext Video Mode This is really just a text mode in case neither of the above drivers works on your computer. The nice thing about it is that now you can get a primitive "height" map of your input files. Each point is at the height indicated by the number and color. The height levels are indicated by lines at the top and bottom of the screen. Heights 0-9 at one color, 10-19 are another, 20-29 are another and so forth. The top line indicates heights from 0-79, and the bottom from 80-149. Much to my surprise, the text mode display of a hidden file will sometimes appear in stereo 3D, just like the image displays. These are not usually good since the text is only an approximation of the pixels, but the effect is definitely there sometimes. Be ready for sore eyes and head if you try it, however. -------------------------------- Modifying Image Colors On-Screen -------------------------------- When an image is first displayed on-screen, it is shown in the current palette of whatever system you are working on. If you don't like these colors, or at least get tired of them, you may change them to the possible palette colors listed below. The final color selection that you choose will be the color information that gets stored with the hidden file. (0..8) Random Color Palette Once an image is being displayed on the screen, press a number from 0 to 8 to use a random color palette on the image. The value indicates the degree of randomness in the color patterns, with 0 giving the smoothest color transitions and 8 giving very rough, random color transitions. On certain pattern files, such at PT1.BMP, a value of 8 creates random dot hidden images much like the other SIRDS viewers. Note that pressing 8 several times also gives the same effect as many of the SIRDS animation programs, which vary the patterns slightly to help lock in on the 3D effect. See the NEW (S)himmer option. (O) Original File Color Palette Once an image is being displayed on the screen, press O to use the original color palette that was saved with the file. The image is initially displayed in whatever are the standard colors of that system. This is useful for simply using HIDIMG as a BMP viewer. The colors should now be working correctly for 2, 16, & 256 color files. (M) Map File Color Palette Once an image is being displayed on the screen, press M to use the color palette of the current .MAP file. These are the same files as used in FRACTINT. This will load in the 256 RGB color triplets, which may be created with a simple DOS editor. (H) Height-GrayScale Display Uses a grayscale palette. Due to the way that the SVGA256 driver works, the gray levels are in blocks of 4, i.e. 0-3 are black, 4-7 are dark,dark,dark gray, ..., 252-255 are white. (R),(G),(B) Reds, Greens, Blues Palette Uses a colored Height Display, as above, but in color. (V) Varying Display Uses a Gray-Red-Green-Blue pattern, with the gray colors 0-63, red 64-127, green 128-191, and blue 192-255. The colors increase in brightness with increasing height. (I)nverse the Current Display Inverses the colors of the current display. Essentially, all colors are subtracted from the color white. Thus, White->Black, Black->White, Red->Cyan, Green->Magenta, Blue->Yellow, etc. A 2nd Inverse restores the previous colors. (W) What-Height Analyze Display -- uses up/down arrow keys This is the much-requested-for function. The currently selected palette number will be flashing, and the number itself will be diplayed on the left side of the screen. This function is used to determine what palette number, or "height", each section of the screen is. When it is first turned on, the number zero will be displayed and all parts the image at height zero will be flashing. The up/down arrow keys may be used to change the palette number, which will cause that palette number to be the flashing one; the other will stop. By using this, one can tell if an input image has been correctly made. If you want a smoothly sloped object, then the palette numbers or heights of closeby sections of that object should be placed at adjacent heights. My suggestion is to make sure that the entire background of your picture is at height zero. Then use low heights (about 1-20) in your pictures until you are familar with how the hidden generation works. Once you are finished, use the (Q)uit key to return to the normal color changing mode. Unfortunately, this function does not work so well with the SVGA16 color driver. The palette numbers in 16 color mode only allow for 16 heights, but still have 64 some palette numbers, in nonsequential order mostly. It would be better to use the 256 color display or use the Text Display Input to get a better feel for the actual "heights" of the input file. May not work on all monitors. If your system crashes with this mode, try using the (T)ext Display mode instead to find the heights. Remember that you can now use Windows paintbrush to make pictures by using the HIDIMG.PAL colors. See the section about Using Windows Paintbrush. (C) Color-cycling -- uses up/down arrow keys NEW! This works just like color-cycling in FRACTINT. The colors of the selected palette are rotated sequentially. The speed of cycling may be altered with the up/down arrow keys. This mode works best with pattern files that use lots of colors and are smoothly varing. See the program FRACTINT for good examples. Try this on the PT1.BMP May not work on all monitors. (S) Shimmering -- uses up/down arrow keys NEW! This shimmers the picture colors. It selects all new random colors at each screen update. The result is similar to the SHIMMER SIRDS program. It helps some people to lock on the image a little easier. The up/down arrow keys alter the speed of the shimmering. For the best effect, use the 100% Peppered Pattern file from the (G)enerate (P)attern selection or the PT1.BMP. May not work on all monitors. ------------------------ Showing File Information ------------------------ (I) Information about a File This option allows the information about the different files types to be seen. It goes to the file choice submenu. The input, pattern, and output files are all bitmaps (BMP), and the information given is the information contained in the file headers of the images. This includes picture size, compression, color info, etc. The Color Map Information gives the palette numbers and (R,G,B) values of the file. This information is given on a 50-line text mode. (I) Show Input file information Gives BMP bitmap info on the Input file such as image and file sizes, compression and color info, etc. (P) Show Pattern file information Gives BMP bitmap info on the Pattern file such as image and files sizes, compression and color info, etc. (O) Show Output file information Gives BMP bitmap info on the Output file such as image and file sizes, compression and color info, etc. (C) Show Color Map file information Gives the Palette numbers and Red,Green,Blue color values of the current Color Map file listed in the current setting section. ------------------------- Generating Standard Files ------------------------- (G) Generate Standard Files This feature is a protection in case some of the other files with HIDIMG get lost. Using this feature creates a Color Map file called HIDIMG.MAP, a Pattern file called PTHIDIMG.BMP, an Input file called HIDIMG.BMP, or the Output file called HIDDEN.BMP which is based on the current file settings. Note that the last option is the same as pressing the (H) key. The size of the Output file is determined by the resolution selected during the generation. Make sure that you have plenty of disk space available during the creation, since the high-rez files can be quite large (a 1024x768x256 BMP occupies about 800KB). Please be patient during file generation, it could take a while on some machines. There will be a beep when the generation is finished, at which point the colors may be modified as described above for input files. Do not attempt to generate files in the "TextVid" mode. This mode requires the graphics mode to work, as it uses built-in graphics routines to draw stuff. (I) Generate Standard Input File This option will create some standard BMP files which may be used as input files. The file created will be saved as HIDIMG.BMP. It will be saved at the resolution selected. There are a number of choices, including a message. If you choose it, then the program will wait for you to put in a short message such a "Hello", or your name or whatever. Long messages may not show up because messages extending beyond the screen dimensions get totally cut, not just clipped off. Also, it is best if there is some space between any letters and the edge; otherwise the ends of your message will not be in the 3D part of the images. The sides "blur" with the edge of the monitor. Some people have reported that their video cards didn't support the character fonts at high-rez. (P) Generate Pattern File This option will create a pattern file which may be used to cover the hidden images. It will be saved as PTHIDIMG.BMP. It is a selectable size file, with several pattern options available. Generally, you should make pattern files a width such that the repeat distance is about an inch. The height can be the height of the input file or smaller. Also try using the Windows wallpaper files as patterns. (O) Generate Output File This option is exactly the same as the (H)ide the Image key. The standard name is HIDDEN.BMP. (M) Generate a Color Map File This option creates a color map file of 256 palette colors. The palette color options may be used. The standard name is HIDIMG.MAP. The format used is the same as that used in FRACTINT. There is a RGB triplet, each from range 0 to 255. Thus, 0 255 0 is 0 redness, 255 blueness, 0 greeness, yielding very bright blue overall. ---------------------- Halting Screen Drawing ---------------------- <ESC> or (Q) Halts the Screen Drawing or palette flashing and goes to next program step --------------------------- Quitting the HIDIMG Program --------------------------- (Q) Quit from Main Menu <Control-Break> <Control-C> Return to the system prompt. ** Any key not listed should escape the user one level back in menu selection. Once at the main menu, it will page back and forth between the shareware ad/user support and the main menu. ** USING WINDOWS PAINTBRUSH ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ The file HIDIMG.PAL is now included with the HIDIMG package. This allows users to create their own input and pattern files using Windows Paintbrush. Use the following procedure to create an input picture: Go into Windows and click into the Paintbrush Application. Click Options, then Image Attributes. Set Units to Pels(pixels), Color, and Set the desired Width and Height. Optimum dimensions are those displayed by HIDIMG, i.e. 320x200, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, etc. ** MOST IMPORTANT! *** Click Options, then Get_Colors Use the HIDIMG.PAL colors in whichever directory you have placed HIDIMG This will load in a 16 color palette which will create good pictures. You should see these colors: ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │black dk-red dk-green dk-yellow dk-blue dk-magenta dk-cyan lt-gray│ │dk-gray lt-red lt-green lt-yellow lt-blue lt-magenta lt-cyan white │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ These correspond to heights: ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 │ │ 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Select the black box = height 0. Click the FloodFill tool and set the background to black. You might need to set the viewport to full size. Windows only colors the parts of the screen that are showing. Now, select other colors to draw your picture. Remember that you can write messages by using the text option, and the font can be changed in type and size by clicking Font. Use bold, solid fonts for the best effect. Do not draw to close to the right or left edges of the screen. These areas will get washed out by the hiding algorithm. Once you are finished, click File and then the Save_As command. Change to the directory containing HIDIMG and name your picture file. Make sure that you save it as a 16 color BMP file! You can also use the 256 and 2^24 color formats, but the colors may not be displayed correctly in HIDIMG, and therefore the heights not be at the correct levels. If you wish to use the 2^24 color format, use a grayscale to get the correct height levels. You are now ready to run HIDIMG. You can either quit to DOS and run it from there, or just run it from the Windows File Manager Application. Or, you can create a .PIF file to make a HIDIMG program group and icon. Look in your Windows manual to see how to do this. Once your picture is complete, you can analyze it in HIDIMG. Run HIDIMG and (C)hange the (I)nput file to the name you just made. Then (D)isplay the (I)nput file. It should then give you the SVGA mode options. Make sure that you use SVGA256 mode if possible. HIDIMG will then draw your picture on the screen in the system default colors. These are probably different from the colors that you used in Windows paintbrush. Just hit the (O)riginal file colors keys to restore the proper file colors. The picture should look correct now. To analyze the picture, hit the (W)hat-Height analyze key. The screen background should start flashing, along with everything else at height 0. Now press the up arrow key. Everything at height 0 should stabilize and everything at height 1 should start flashing. In addition, the number 1 should appear in a box on the left side of the screen. Using the up/down arrow keys, you should be able to determine the heights of all the objects that you painted. Once you are satisfied with this, press the (Q)uit key once to leave the analyze mode and once more to get to the main menu. Now press the (H)ide key and see what you get. The screen should draw your picture, and then it should cover it up with a pattern. When it is finished, two markers should appear at the top. These are the "look through" markers. You need to "look through" the picture until these markers merge in the center. At this point you should be able to see the 3D image on the screen. Other interesting tidbits: Windows comes with wallpaper files which are perfect for use as pattern files. To use these, just copy the desired BMP files to the directory containing HIDIMG. Then, run HIDIMG. Choose the (C)hange (P)attern command and then the (W)rite filename command. Then type the name of the Windows wallpaper file that you want to use. Select (H)ide when you have all of your other parameters set the way that you want them. If you want HIDIMG to list these files as Pattern files, then you will have to change their names using the DOS REN command. Set the first two letters to PT. For example: ren leaves.bmp ptleaves.bmp From now on, HIDIMG will list PTLEAVES.BMP as a valid pattern file selectable by arrow keys. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS & TROUBLE-SHOOTING ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Minimum requirements: DOS system on a 286+ machine with 196KB free RAM WARNING!: Do not tamper with the HIDIMG.KEY file. HIDIMG will not hide images unless the original KEY file is in the same directory. Preferred system: Fast machine/SVGA card to run HIDIMG in graphics mode (Video Problems) VGA card: try the low rez (320x200) SVGA256 or the SVGA16 video drivers SVGA card: try SVGA256 mode to the maximum rez of your system If problems:try turning on the VESA BIOS capability of your SVGA card If still problems: try using the UNIVBE package included with the shareware version of HIDIMG (This is a very good alternate VESA video driver which cures most of the video problems of all kinds of SVGA cards). Note: UNIVBE is itself a shareware program so read its docs about registering it. If still problems: use the (T)ext Display option in MENU mode, or use the command line parameters in BATCH mode. Then use whatever other software you have to view the pictures. (HIDIMG Problems) Make sure that all necessary files are listed in MENU mode. Press the (?) Help Key in MENU mode or type HIDIMG30 ? at the DOS prompt. Read the documentation (this file HIDIMG.DOC) ("I can't see stereograms") If you have tried for hours and hours, think your friends are crazy, etc. and still have not seen a stereogram: Is one of your eyes significantly stronger than the other? If so, then you might not ever see a stereogram. The physics of stereo vision, not the psychology or intelligence of the person, requires two approximately equal strength eyeballs. If your eyes are approximately equal strength, then the psychology becomes important. You must focus your eyes at a different depth than your brain thinks it should. Some people get this condition by becoming "dreamy-eyed" or cross-eyed. Others can concentrate to get it. Personally, after working on this program for so long, I can see any stereogram almost instantly. All you have to do is overlap the repeating patterns. That's the only trick. HIDIMG uses the SVGA drivers from the Jordan Hargraphix package SVGABG52.ZIP. These are a set of files which allow Borland/Turbo Pascal/C++ programmers to use high-rez video modes in their programs. The package is available in the SimTel MSDOS collection under the /borland directory. Check it out. VERSION HISTORY ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ v0.0-v1.6 --------- Numerous Unreleased versions, all growing bigger and better, capable of doing more and more stuff v1.7 ---- 1st Public Release -- early Jan 1994 Main sites-SimTel MSDOS directory /graphics (The everything site(s)) katz.anu.edu.au /pub/stereograms/...(A great stereogram site) v1.8 ---- General Clean-up of v1.7 based on user feedback and further testing. Lots of minor detail cleaning. Increase overall "smartness" of program. Added <Control-Break>ing and <ESC>ing. Added more warnings about required files and filenames and disk space. Added more pattern files. Added display line indicator to show progress of file display. Partial fix of color palette problem. Discovery of EXE compressor. v1.9 ---- Bug fix of v1.8 Complete fix of color palette problem -- I think. Complete fix of 2,16,256 color file display -- I think. Replaced some slow real code with faster bit operations. Added a Test Pattern of 256 colors to the Generate Input Menu. Fixed Video Default Resolution. v2.0 ---- Fix of BMP save mode for sizes which have width mod 4 byte<>0. "You know, it would be nice if I actually had the specs on the BMP image format. You people are looking at the result of sending known signals into a black box, and seeing what you get out. Hopefully, I have explored all of the cave by now, but when you don't have a light, who can tell? Who invented this format anyway, and what the heck were they thinking at the time? Just send me a message if you have any problems and I'll do some more spelunking...". Added the much-requested-for palette display of height levels/palette numbers for input images--Use 256 mode. Using a new version of SVGA256.BGI. This should cure the problems for a few more video card types, but no guarantees. The kit is in the SimTel MSDOS directory under /borland -- svgabg52.zip I believe. v2.1 ---- Added SVGA16 video support, this should allow the EGA/VGA cards to work if they don't at 256. These colors may not match when viewed on other viewers. Added "TextVid" Mode which is really just a non-graphics mode. Can do a limited "display" of files with the numbers appearing on screen based on their heights. All File Outputs will now be at 256-Color Uncompressed Mode, the others were giving me a headache trying to make work. Files saved in grayscale if no color changes are made, instead of all colors being black. v3.0 ---- Using newer versions of SVGA256/16.BGI (should run more cards). Added Tweak Mode Video Drivers. Adding UNIVBE package to shareware version (should run lots more cards). Fix of file checker routine which causes problems for some OS/2 users. Fix BMP's (again; someday I'll figure these things out; most should work now). Updates of docs based on user feedback. Added 24-hour FAX number for users to register at any time, day or night (hint hint ;-). Added direct DACblock color changing--much, much faster and better colors now. I believe that all the colors are correctly displayed now, so HIDIMG can be used as a BMP viewer. Added many new palette changing commands, including (S)himmering and (C)olor-cycling. Now uses menu based file selection (much easier to use). Added more error checking. Added several new built-in input and pattern files with variable parameters. Automatic link-in of BGI files. Includes programming for using Windows Paintbrush and Windows wallpaper. Added new algorithm based on the Thimbleby SIRDS paper. Registered version includes extra input pictures. Overall debugging and redo of entire program, procedure by procedure (Massively better now). Change in the SVGA mode selection. Added command line parameters. Added support of 24-bit 2^24 color BMP's, but only in grayscale. Heights are equal to grayscale 0-255. Increased max file width to 12000. That's 20 inches at 600dpi. Hope you have LOTS of harddisk space. Lots of other little stuff... v3.1-4.0 -------- You guys let me know what you want and add some more registrations... :) THANKS ▄▄▄▄▄▄ Special Thanks to my wife Serpil, whose infinite patience with me staring at a computer screen for weeks on end made this program possible. Special Thanks to my dad for supporting HIDIMG in every aspect along to completion. Thanks to J. Michael Gibbs and Frank D. (Tony) Smith, whose help originally made this program possible. Also thanks to Harald Zappe, and to all the other users who have written to me, whose comments and suggestions have be very helpful. Finally, thanks to FHS Supply, Inc. for all the help in getting the program out to the world. While my first shareware project is not exactly paying my rent yet, it is doing pretty well. For technical support/comments/suggestions for improvement/etc., contact the HIDIMG (C) Hidden Image AutoStereograms author/programmer: John Çaputlu-Wilson 1451 Mecaslin St NW #8303 Atlanta, GA 30309-2288 (404) 875-4384 gt2346a@prism.gatech.edu For more info about Stereograms: There are now several stereogram books available commercially. Read one. Try the Internet site: katz.anu.edu.au in the /pub/stereograms directory There are info files, programs, pictures, etc. there. Look for the SIRDS.FAQ file or similar. It is the info file of choice. DISCLAIMER AND LEGAL NOTICE ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ All files included in this package must be distributed together and may not be modified in ANY WAY by anyone other than John Çaputlu-Wilson. I reserve the right to refuse anyone the right to distribute this software with a written notice. In no way will John Çaputlu-Wilson or any other mentioned party accept ANY RESPONSIBILITY for ANY damages, real or otherwise, that this program, or images produced by it, may cause. This software is provided AS IS, USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK! None of the parties above guarantee that the program will work as described. Now with that out of the way, have fun in the world of Hidden Image AutoStereo 3D!!! H H H H H H H H H H H H H i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m g g g g g g g g g g g g g