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1990-01-28
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MVGAVU (c) Copr. 1989-90 Lawrence Gozum & Marvin Gozum
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
User Manual
DISCLAIMER
This product is distributed AS IS. The authors specifically disclaim all
warranties ,expressed or implied, including ,but not limited to, implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with
respect to defects in the diskette and documentation, and program license
granted herein, in particular, and without limiting operation of the
program license with respect to any particular application use or
purpose. In no event shall the authors be liable for any loss of profit
or any other commercial damage including but not limited to special,
incidental, consequential or other damages.
LICENSING AGREEMENT
You may use this program for a 10 DAY TRIAL PERIOD. Should you find this
program useful, you MUST register it; you will then be provided with the
latest releases of the VGACAD system see last section of this manual).
Freely distribute unmodified MVGAVU copies provided you charge $10 max.
for distribution, in lieu of recognized Users Group guidelines (e.g., ASP
or NYACC).
WHAT IS MVGAVU ?
MVGAVU is a GIF and BLD/PLT (BLoaD and PaLleTte) viewer, GIF slideshow
program, and integrated component of VGACAD v1.6 (and up). MVGAVU is
EASY TO USE, MENU-DRIVEN; unsupported and popular SVGA modes are already
hardcoded. MVGAVU has unsupported modes; 320x400x256 DOUBLES your MCGA
resolution, while 360x480x256 almost TRIPLES (270%) it - giving close to
SVGA capability on generic VGA cards. In addition, a VGA 640x400x16 mode
and Tseng 640x400x256 SVGA mode have been created. MVGAVU interpolates
GIFs that are larger (up to 2KBx2KBx256) than your viewing mode to see
the whole picture w/out scrolling and/or posterizes in 16-color EGA/VGA
modes. As a versatile slideshow, it determines the best viewing mode for
any GIF - automatically, maximizing your card's capability by displaying
the optimal MCGA, EGA, VGA, or SVGA mode.
WHAT IS VGACAP ?
VGACAP is a tiny resident utility that captures 256 color pics in
VGA/MCGA 320x200x256 or SVGA 640x480x256/800x600x256 modes. VGACAP saves
320x200x256 pics in a BASIC 'BLoaD' format; SVGA 640x480x256/800x600x256
pics are saved in a *.RAW format ('GIF' them with RAW2GIF included).
REQUIREMENTS
MVGAVU requires a PS/2 or EGA/EEGA/MCGA/VGA/SVGA video card. About 512KB
of RAM is required, although it uses less than that. The BRUN41.exe
runtime module MUST be present in your path. A MCGA/VGA adaptor and
analog monitor is required for VGACAP; it uses about 2KB of RAM.
HOW TO USE VGACAP
Run VGACAP before viewing a picture. Press <Alt-F4>, while viewing to
saved *.BLD/*.PLT files (for 320x200x256) or *.RAW/*.PLT files (for
640x480x256 and 800x600x256). The first time you run the program it will
save your screen and palette to SCREEN00.BLD (or SCREEN00.RAW) and
SCREEN00.PLT respectively. If there is an existing SCREENxx.BLD (.RAW)
or SCREENxx.PLT file, then it will increment to the next higher number.
Use your favorite memory manager or reboot to release it from memory.
When using a picture viewer (e.g., PICEM or VPIC) or application which
requires a keypress to continue, hit another key after <Alt-F4>.
LOADING PICTURES INTO MVGAVU
MVGAVU accepts GIF and BLD/PLT files; at the start of the program, select
[G]IF or [B]LD file types or [Q]uit to exit. You can select any filename
by moving a highlighted bar (with arrow keys) and pressing <return> key.
Pressing <Spc> allows changes the PATH, while <Esc> exits. A *.BLD file,
must have a corresponding *.PLT file or a error message will follow.
All pictures are interpolated to your selected mode; SVGA GIFs (e.g.,
640x400x256 to 1024x768x256) are interpolated to "fit to screen" when
they are larger than your screen.
USING RAW2GIF
Use RAW2GIF to convert 640x480x256 and 800x600x256 captures to GIF. Run
it and select filenames as you would in MVGAVU; RAW2GIF converts it
automatically. To convert a single *.RAW file, pass the filename at the
Command-line (e,g., "RAW2GIF SCREEN00" <return>)
VIDEO MODE SELECTION
Using standard IBM and PS/2 modes are the safest. When selecting SVGA
modes, check with your manual or manufacturer for the chip set (e.g.,
Tseng, Paradise, Video7, Trident, etc..) before selecting. TECMAR USERS
MUST USE THE USER MODE SINCE IT USES NON-STANDARD VIDEO CALLING NUMBERS.
MVGA (Medium-resolution VGA) modes
The 320x400x256 mode is the safest since it uses minimal VGA register
modification and is safely within tolerances of PS/2 monitors and should
run on the least "register-compatible" VGA card. It has an interesting
aspect ratio - double the vertical resolution of MCGA/VGA 320x200x256;
many Amiga, Atari and MacII GIFs have this aspect ratio; viewing GIFs in
this mode closely replicates "what the originator saw". When MVGAVU is
invoked via Command-line this mode is the default since it is the safest.
If VGA is not detected then MCGA 320x200x256 is used; if MCGA is not
detected then EGA 640x350x16 mode (posterized if req.) is used; thereon
an error message follows.
The 360x480x256 mode pushes generic VGA cards to its theoretical limits!
It has the same vertical resolution of the SVGA 640x480x256 mode - the
most popular SVGA format so far. With 270% more resolution, you can view
640x480x256 GIFs with more detail and less "jaggies". If a GIF has a 360
pixel width and larger screen height (e.g., 360x960x256 LESTER), MVGAVU
will automatically correct the aspect ratio and interpolate the picture
to "fit to screen". If the 360x480x256 mode fails, your card is not as
"register-compatible" as it claims to be; use the 320x400x256 mode
instead. If the 320x400x256 mode fails, it is BIOS-COMPATIBLE ONLY !
A new mode has been added - 640x400x16 (w/posterization if req.) - to
view those Amiga HAM 640x400x16 GIFs (e.g., ANDI, and BARBARA) the way
they were created; like the 360x480x256 mode, a "register-compatible" VGA
card or PS/2 Model 50(and up) is required.
Preset SVGA modes
MVGAVU has hardcoded support for popular SVGA chipsets - Tseng (Orchid,
STB,Genoa,Willow...), Paradise (Dell,AST,Compaq,Olivetti...), Video7 (V7
FW/VRAM, new Dell...), Trident (Logix, Maxon, Imtec...), Everex, ATI and
C&T. SVGA MODES ARE NOT VERIFIED; YOUR TOTAL VIDEO RAM AND CARD VERSION
LIMITS YOUR CHOICES; CHECK YOUR MANUAL TO ENSURE THAT IT SUPPORTS IT.
A 640x400x256 Tseng SVGA was created since viewing your 320x200x256 GIFs
with it, is much CLEARER due to 400% more resolution. Moreover, VGACAD
v1.6 (and up) uses "Virtual Screens" for cutting and pasting 320x200x256
pics into SVGA GIFs - composite 320x200x256 screens look great in this
mode. Amiga, Atari and MacII GIFs use this aspect ratio multiple and
look as close as possible to "what the originator saw".
View Jovian VIA scans (320x240x256 GIFs) in 640x480x256 or 800x600x256;
these GIFs have the same aspect ratio and have the same effect of viewing
320x200x256 GIFs in the 640x400x256 mode.
SVGA/EEGA User modes
To set your own modes specify the Screen Width, Screen Height, colors (16
or 256), Video Mode, and Chip type (9=BIOS). Several *.CFG files are
included; copy a special video mode (e.g., 800x600x16 and 1024x768x16) to
MVGAVU.CFG and it will be invoked when you use the "X" option. CHECK
YOUR CARD'S MANUAL TO DETERMINE IF IT SUPPORTS IT! To set a 256 or 16
color mode, press "P"arameters. Once edited, it is saved and recalled
anytime. Type the video mode in decimal (e.g. 255) or hex (e.g. &HFF);
HEX ENTRIES *MUST* BE PRECEDED BY THE "&H" CHARACATERS. 16-COLOR MODES
(UP TO 800x600 EXCEPT EVEREX & VIDEO7 MODES) MUST ALWAYS USE "9" (for
BIOS) SINCE IT WILL TELL MVGAVU TO USE THE HARDCODED STANDARD PROCEDURE.
FOR MODES ABOVE 800x600 (e.g. 1024x768), YOU MUST USE CORRECT CHIPSET.
(e.g., TSENG, VIDEO7, TRIDENT, etc). WHEN IN DOUBT, USE "9" (for BIOS).
EV-673 users MUST use the "Everex" Chip type; EV-678 must specify the
"EV678" Chip type. Since TECMAR cards are Tseng-based but use different
calling modes, all its popular modes have been included as *.CFG files.
EGA/EEGA/VGA 16-Color Modes and Posterization
There are still a lot of GIFs in EGA 640x350x16 and VGA 640x480x16 modes,
so we have included them in MVGAVU. If a GIF has more than 16 colors
(e.g, 256) then the "best 16 of 64" EGA colors are selected/posterized.
For a novel way of viewing of your 640x480x256 GIFs, view them again in
640x480x16 or 640x350x16 (posterized) - quite interesting !
Fixing Aspect Ratios
Some GIFs have the same screen and image descriptors (e.g.CARMEN2); these
large GIFs result in distorted aspect ratios or require scrolling to view
correctly (assuming you select a mode with matching aspect ratio).
"5:6" aspect assumes originator was using a 320x200 or 640x400 screen
aspect ratio (normally Amiga, Atari or MacII). Select this option to
adjust for optimum screen size and correct the aspect ratio.
"1:1" aspect assumes originator was using a "square" aspect ratio. If
you have 100 pixels on all sides of a sqaure, the square should appear as
a SQUARE on your monitor, not some rectangle. 320x240(Jovian VIA),
640x480 (EEGA/MCGA/VGA/SVGA), 800x600 (EEGA/SVGA), and 1024x768 (SVGA)
modes (should) have "square" aspect ratios. Select this option to fix
such GIFs (e.g., SYLVIA.GIF, PAULINA.GIF, FMAID.GIF, ... ).
ADJUSTING THE VIDEO MODE
WARNING: TO USE THIS FEATURE YOU *MUST* HAVE A REGISTER-COMPATIBLE VGA
CARD AND MULTIFREQUENCY MONITOR. DEPENDING ON SOPHISTICATION OF YOUR
HARDWARE, MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO VIDEO MODES MAY TOTALLY DISRUPT THE VIDEO
SYNCING PROCESS, BE PREPARED TO PRESS THE "*" KEY TO RESET IF SYNC
SIGNALS ARE UNFAVORABLY DISRUPTED.
Some video modes (e.g., 800x600 and 960x720) have distorted aspect ratios
(i.e., supposed to have 1:1 aspect ratios but isn't). To correct this,
you can (1) compress the image vertically or horizontally or (2) offset
the image on your monitor as if you were adjusting the vertical and
horizontal scanning controls of your monitor. If you set your monitor
for 1024x768x16, you will normally find that modes such as 960x720x16
tend to be distorted.
There is a growing amateur interest in VIDEO GRAPHICS via 'GENLOCK'
add-on cards (e.g., Jovian VIN, Willow VGA-TV). By adjusting the video
mode you can control the aspect ratio and overall image size sent to your
TV or video tape. 320x200 and 640x400 modes tend to send images that are
smaller than the total TV/Video image; centering may be required. With
640x480 or greater modes, the image may tend to be larger or distorted;
aspect ratio, image size and location adjustments may be required to
match 'real' video images with your computer graphic images.
After an image is displayed, press "[A]djust Monitor. The following key
options will be activated; this feature can be invoked in any video mode.
[->] move image right [ - ] compress horizontal aspect
[<-] move image left [ + ] decompress horizontal aspect
[dn] move image down [Ins] compress vertical aspect
[up] move image up [Del] decompress vertical aspect
[ * ] RESET ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTING CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS
If you view a non-posterized GIF or BLD/PLT pic you can adjust contrast
and brightness. You have to do this for those Amiga, Atari and MACII
GIFs since they usually have some "gamma error" - particularly brightness
<sheesh>. Anyway, use the arrow keys to increase or decrease brightness
and contrast. Make sure your NUMLOCK key is OFF !
[Esc] restores the original palette, while pressing any other key (e.g.,
[return] or [spc] will exit vewing. Contrast and brightness adjustment
levels can be increased or decreased with the [+] or [-] keys followed by
corresponding rising or falling tones.
[->] increase brightness [+] increase adjustment level
[<-] decrease brightness [-] decrease adjustment level
[dn] increase contrast [*] reset adjustment level
[up] decrease contrast [A] Adjust Monitor
With VGACAD v1.6 (and up) you can import the adjusted palette in your
edited picture by pressing [backspace] key. When editing a SVGA GIF via
VSCRN (i.e., "virtual screen"); eNCODe that GIF and view it with MVGAVU;
adjust the palette, press [backspace] then exit to import that palette.
ALL ADJUSTMENTS ARE PERMANANET !
CREATING/SAVING MVGA 320x400x256 & 360x480x256 OR SVGA GIFs
You can 'downsize' (squeeze) SVGA GIFs (e.g., 640x480x256) or expand
small GIFs (e.g., 320x200x256) to 320x400x256 or 360x480x256. Downsize
SVGA GIFs for fast-decoding or enlarge small GIFs for enhanced image
processing with VGACAD or reduce odd SVGA GIFs (e.g., DGNLDY) to smaller
SVGA modes (e.g., 640x400x256). Simply view your GIF any SVGA 256-color
mode and press the [tab] key. MVGASCRN.RAW and MVGASCRN.PLT files will
be created for GIF conversion with RAW2GIF. Subsequent saves overwrite
these files; encode with RAW2GIF and rename immediately to preserve them.
GIF SLIDESHOWS, COMMAND LINE VIEWING & BATCH PRESENTATIONS
Up to 60 GIFs can be viewed in a slideshow. Press [S]how after selecting
[G]IF. Move the cursor to select files and press [+] key to mark or [-]
to unmark. [D]elay adds pauses (to 60 secs.) between GIFs. [V]ideo mode
will cycle through "Maximum Modes". Press [S]how again to start show;
press any key while the slideshow is running to stop. You can select
different "Maximum Modes" but USE ONLY SVGA "Maximum Modes" THAT YOUR
VIDEO CARD SUPPORTS! Thereafter, MVGAVU selects optimal modes.
In EGA 640x350x16, ALL pictures are interpolated and posterized, if
necessary. Use this mode to see all your GIFs "posterized". 64KB MCGA
cards will output as EGA 640x350x4 grey shades.
With MVGA 320x400x256, MCGA 320x200x256 and EGA 640x350x16 modes are
automatically selected from; if you select this mode on an EGA or MCGA
card, MVGAVU will adjust accordingly. If MVGA 360x480x256 is chosen,
MVGAVU assumes a "register-compatible" VGA card present and selects from
the above and MVGA 640x400x16 as well.
You can also set SVGA 640x400x256, 640x480x256 and 800x600x256 for any of
the SVGA chipsets supported by MVGAVU. THESE MODES ARE NOT VERIFIED AND
ASSUME YOUR VIDEO CARD SUPPORTS IT.
Command Line Viewing & Batch Presentations
MVGAVU can be used in a batch (*.BAT) file for presentations. In Command
Line mode, only your picture is displayed and pressing any key (except
[tab], [backspace], [A]djust Monitor and Contrast/Brightness adjustment
keys) after its display will end the program. No menus or prompts
interfere. Type "MVGAVU [file] <ret>" with no extension and optional
path (e.g., MVGAVU \gif\svga\zoe). MVGAVU searches for the first
matching *.GIF then it searches for a *.BLD file which can abe viewed
only in MCGA 320x200x256 mode and must have matching *.PLT files in the
same drive/directory. GIFs are viewed with 320x400x256 as "Maximum Mode"
(described above) and will optimally select between MCGA 320x200x256, EGA
640x350x15 and MVGA 320x400x256 - and interpolate (or posterize)
accordingly; MVGAVU selects the 'best' mode.
THE CHAINED VGACAD ENVIRONMENT
BRUN41.exe is a runtime module distributed under licence with Microsoft
in connection with this program. Place it with MVGAVU or anywhere your
PATH has access to. MVGAVU is a part of VGACAD (v1.6 and up). ONLY ONE
COPY OF BRUN41.EXE IS REQUIRED.
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION OF MVGAVU IS BASED ON 'PERSONAL USAGE'. CORPORATE OR
ORGANIZATIONAL USERS *MUST* REGISTER ALL COPIES USED ON AN INDIVIDUAL
BASIS; A SPECIFIC PERSON (NAME) MUST BE EXPLICITLY ASSIGNED TO EACH
REGISTRANT WHO WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRESPONDING REGISTER.OVL FILE TO
INDICATE REGISTERED USAGE. REGISTRATION GRANTS A SPECIFIC PERSON (NOT A
JURIDICAL PERSON OR CORPORATE ENTITY) THE RIGHT TO 'USE' MVGAVU.
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ALTHOUGH WE WILL TRY TO RESPOND TO YOUR REGISTRATION IN 2-3 WEEKS,│
│ PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 4-6 WEEKS DELAY TO PROCESS YOUR REGISTRATION. │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
As token of our appreciation (i.e., to registered users), we will send
you the the latest version of the VGACAD system; many of the programs
listed below do not require a graphics card.
GIFPUB - converts 256 color GIF/PCX files to B&W for desktop publishing
(DTP) as .PCX (Ventura, First Publisher, Publisher's Paintbrush, WP,
Pagemaker). Variable sizing/contrast/brightness. Histogram-equalization.
No graphics card required.
GIFDOT - has all the features of GIFPUB for printing on IBM/Epson
printers. Several sizes. 8 pics/page. Single/Double Pass printing.
Preview in CGA/HGC/EGA/VGA/EEGA/SVGA. No graphics card required.
GIFBIT - converts B&W PCX files (e.g., scans to 32KBx32KB !) to grey
shades for VGACAD image processing, GIFPUB redithering, GIFDOT printing,
or VGA2EGA conversion - it edits those "scan line jitters". Viewing
modes in MCGA/VGA/SVGA. No graphics card required.
SQZGIF - converts LARGE GIFs (up to 2048x2048x256) to several sizes and
video modes using "color averaging" to blend/smooth "jaggies" and retain
a maximum of color information; use outputs in GIFPUB, GIFDOT, VGACAD,
MVGAVU, VGA2CGA or VGA2EGA. No graphics card required.
EGA2VGA - converts GIFs (16 colors and below) or ANY VIEWABLE 2-16 color
EGA/EEGA picture to 320x200x256; creates 256 new colors; outputs directly
to GIFPUB, GIFDOT, VGACAD, MVGAVU, VGA2CGA or VGA2EGA.
No graphics card required.
VGA2CGA - converts 256 color GIFs to CGA! See "405" colors in an
unsupported 160x100x16 CGA mode. CGA/EGA/MCGA/VGA required.
MAC2GIF - converts .MAC ("readmac") pictures to 5-16 grey shades or color
and saves to .GIF or BLD/PLT file. EGA/MCGA/VGA required.
VGA2EGA - converts 256 color pics to 16-color EGA. Error-distributed
dithering. Variable sizing/RGBICMY/contrast/dithering levels. EEGA
support up to 800x600. GIF or optional PCX save to 4 RGBI planes for
Desktop Color Separation. EGA/MCGA/VGA required.
VGACAP - tiny TSR, captures MCGA/VGA/SVGA screens (from 320x200x256 to
800x600x256). MCGA/VGA required.
RAW2GIF - converts SVGA screen captures of VGACAP to GIF.
BLD2GIF - converts MCGA/VGA screen captures of VGACAP to GIF.
VGACAD - extensive paint/image processing program for VGA/MCGA users
(edit GIFs up to 32KBx32KBx256 !!!); airbrushes, color and grey image
processing functions (smoothing, noise removal, shading, contrast
stretching, edge detection, ...), splines, Cut&Paste, variable sizing,
256-color gradient/pattern fills, MORE ! MCGA/VGA required.
WHAT'S NEXT ?
Aside from enhancing existing releases with greater capabilities (e.g.,
expanded memory, virtual screen, SVGA functions, other graphics formats),
we are developing VGACBT (Computer-Based Training program) and MANNEQUIN
for Advertising/Fashion Design or creating your own artistic nudes.
Support maverick authors like us and we will continue developing products
like nothing seen commercially - otherwise they will simply "DIE" from
lack of support ! Compare the cost/benefit ratio of any of our products
with commercial products. You, and you alone, determine whether it will
be worthwhile to continue developing. Support the User-Supported
(Shareware) concept. Register you Shareware copies. To register, send
the registration form and check or money order payable in USD to:
Dr. Marvin Gozum
2 Independence Place #303-2, 6th & Locust
Philadelphia, PA 19106
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank John Bridges for releasing VGAKIT.ARC which
included source code for 'bank switching' the Tseng, Paradise, Cirrus,
Trident, Everex, C&T and VGA Wonder chips and source for the now, popular
360x480x256 mode. Also, we would like to thank Mike Abrash for
publishing source code (in Programmer's Journal) for the 320x400x256
mode. Seminal variants have been developed based on their evolving work
into MVGAVU. We are grateful to Don Babcock, for QBASM's GIF adaptations
of Tom Pfau's Public Domain LZW source (in LZW.ARC) for QB4 linking,
which provided invaluable guidance in resolving QB4 memory allocation
problems. Thanks a meg - John, Mike, Don and Tom !
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Graphics Interchange Format and GIF are trademarks (tm)
of CompuServe Inc. an H&R Block Company.