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1989-12-17
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VGA2CGA (c) Copr. 1989 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 on a TRIAL BASIS only; this means that you may
freely evaluate the usefulness of this program for 10 DAY TRIAL PERIOD.
Should you find this program useful, you must register it (see last
section of this manual). You will then be provided with the latest
releases of applications that will run on your system.
You may freely distribute copies of this program in its UNMODIFIED state
provided you do not include it in other software packages, with the
exception of distributing it as part of a bundle of Public Domain or
shareware programs on a single diskette. You may not charge more that
$3.50 for copying and/or distributing this program in the absence of
recognized Users Group guidelines (e.g., Association of Shareware
Professionals or New York Amateur Computer Club)
WHAT IS VGA2CGA ?
VGA2CGA is a utility that converts/views colored GIF pictures (256 colors
and less) and any of the following listed below to [1] error-distributed,
4-color dithered CGA or 16-Color CGA pictures, with a special unsupported
mode; CGA users can convert/view up to 405 colors (from 16 color dither
patterns). VGA2CGA saves to GIF or .CGX (for the unsupported mode); you
can use VGA2CGA as a CGA viewer for use in batch (.BAT) files.
1) ANY colored GIF picture (32 colors and up recommended), with any
size (up to 2048 x 2048 x 256).
2) ANY VIEWABLE VGA/MCGA 320x200x256 picture captured with VGACAP;
3) VGACAD pictures;
4) 16-color pictures converted to 320x200x256 with EGA2VGA or SQZGIF".
VGA2CGA uses a unique error-distribution algorithm; it uses a Floyd-
Steinberg matrix with Stucki filter values (8,4,2,2). Users can
individually adjust the color and contrast levels and dither density.
CGA2VGA supports a "quarter-resolution" mode by direct manipulation of
CGA registers. 16 colors can be displayed at any time. The effective
pixel resolution is 640x200x16 with 405 color dither combinations.
SEE THOSE 256 COLOR GIF PICTURES ON CGA !
REQUIREMENTS
VGA2CGA requires, at the minimum, a 100% IBM Hardware Compatible CGA
card. Hercules users with HGCIBM may find that the program works on
their system, BUT ONLY WITH OPTION (1) AT THE MAIN MENU.
SVGA and EEGA card users must set CGA hardware emulation to see the
unsupported 160x100x16 or 80x100x"405" mode (e.g, "SETMODE IBMCGA" on
STB VGA cards). About 512KB of memory is required, although it uses
about 2/3 of that.
LOADING PICTURES INTO VGA2CGA
Two formats are accepted by VGA2CGA: GIF and BLD/PLT files; At the start
of the program, you will be prompted to select [G]IF or [B]LD files to to
selected or [Q]uit to exit.
All pictures are interpolated to a 320x200 size. As such, SuperVGA GIF
files (e.g., 640x480x256, 800x600x256 and 1024x768x256) are interpolated
to 320x200x256; SQZGIF is recommended for LARGE GIF pictures to retain
more color information and better color rendition.
16-color EGA/EEGA/VGA pictures will also be interpolated; use EGA2VGA to
process such pictures before loading into VGA2CGA.
You can select any filename by moving a highlighted bar (with the arrow
keys) and pressing the <return> key. Pressing <Spc> allows you to select
a different PATH, while <Esc> exits. When selecting a *.BLD file, be
sure it has a corresponding *.PLT file or a error message will result.
THE MAIN MENU
After loading a picture, these are the viewing options:
(1) Red-Grn-Yel Plane Dithering 320 x 200 x 4 (IBM-STD w/ GIF save)
(2) EGA Low Contrast Emulation 160 x 100 x 16 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
(3) EGA Med Contrast Emulation 160 x 100 x 16 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
(4) EGA Hi Contrast Emulation 160 x 100 x 16 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
(5) EGA Monochrome Emulation 160 x 100 x 16 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
(6) HI Color Averaged Dithering 80 x 100 x 405 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
(7) LO Color Averaged Dithering 80 x 100 x 405 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
(8) Grey Averaged Dithering 80 x 100 x 13 (NON-STD w/ CGX save)
VIEWING & SAVING
Whenever you select a viewing mode you will have the option change the
path and file names for saving.
Pathname : C:\GIF\
Filename : NONAME.GIF
While viewing the picture in CGA 320x200x4 mode you can change the
palette to alter the tone of the picture by pressing numbers 0-9.
Pressing [B]inary save, will BSAVE an image in a BASIC 'bload' format;
this applies only to the 4-color 320x200x4 mode.
10 SCREEN 1 'CALL CGA 320X200X4 MODE
20 BLOAD "NONAME.BIN" 'POP IT INTO MEMORY - THAT'S ALL
With unsupproted modes 2 to 8, only saves to a CGX file are allowed since
it is a weird text screen format; the .CGX extension is provided to avoid
confusion with your other .BIN files. To use VGA2CGA as a viewer type
"VGA2CGA [picname]" without the extension.
Pressing <return> while viweing saves your converted picture; pressing
<Esc> aborts processing and saving.
FINE TUNING
To get the BEST color dithering or color matching, interactively adjust
the color levels, contrast levels and dither density levels.
When you select (F)ine Tuning, you can adjust the global amounts of Red,
Green and Blue in you picture. At default it is 100%; this can be
increased up to 200% The CGA 320x200x4 color mode uses only red and
Green; Blue is disregarded.
While "fine tuning", you can adjust the contrast levels for each of the
RGB planes; this has no effect on color-averaging and is limited to the
red-green-yellow dithering 320x200x4 mode. Increasing the contrast will
increase the amount of "black" in the picture by making a sharp cutoff
(i.e., no color will be plotted).
Dither Density is how closely packed neighboring pixel will be; at
default this is set to 1 - the highest density possible. If you want to
"spread the dots" you can increase this level up to 200.
THE CHAINED VGACAD ENVIRONMENT
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION OF VGA2CGA 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' VGA2CGA.
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 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 images 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., scanner output 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 pictures 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.
MVGAVU - EGA/MCGA/EEGA/VGA/SVGA viewer for GIF and BLD/PLT files. Smart
slideshows - picks best mode. 320x400x256, 360x480x256 and 640x400x16
modes on regular VGA. EGA posterization. EEGA/SVGA support.
Auto-sizing. Contrast/Brightness. 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 increased capabilities (e.g.,
expanded memory, virtual screen, SVGA functions, other graphics formats),
we are developing VGACBT, a 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
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Graphics Interchange Format and GIF are trademarks (tm)
of CompuServe Inc. an H&R Block Company.