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1995-12-21
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-Play KiSS 0.88-
A program designed to play KISS data sets on an Amiga computer
equiped with OS 3.0. The AGA chip set (or equiv) is required to play
sets with more than 32 colors.
Usage is simple, and not much documentation should be required...
A few notes:
To run from CLI, you can specify the kiss set as the first argument.
To run from WB, you can shift-double-click on a kiss .CNF file,
provided it has an icon. Play KiSS supports default tools inside
project icons this way. So you can add project icons to .CNF files.
Maybe a whatis/dopus class?? hint hint.
Other tooltypes and arguments are supported to set up your
environment. These are listed in the icon, and from CLI by using ?.
They should be self explanatory once you've used the program a few
times.
Play KiSS handles low-memory situations VERY BADLY. That's why the
available memory is listed everywhere. Keep an eye on this. Don't
use the buffered dragging if you are running short. Delete background
.CEL's if need be. And remember that Play KiSS loads *ALL* CELs at
once, even if there are not displayed!
"Play KiSS" was meant to overcome a few of AmiKiss's shortcomings.
But it's not perfect. Here is a point by point comparison:
Play KiSS AmiKiss
224c compat? Yes Yes
Kiss/GS compat? Yes, upto GS4 No
Maximum colors 256 16
Maximum play area Limited by hardware 640x400
Saves set coords? Yes No
Movement type ClipBlit, bad flicker GELS, little flicker
Layered dragging? Yes, bad flicker No
Memory handling BAD Will crash Good. Informs user
Dynamic CEL loading? Caches in FAST Caches from disk
Minimum system OS 3.0 OS 2.1 (1.3?)
I've talked to the author of AmiKiss briefly, and he stated he would
be able to add many of the missing features, (save .cnf mainly), but
would be unable to add 256 color support. This was when I decided to
put my offering out. I don't want to start some competition. I wrote
this program FOR MYSELF, and am offering to others freely. I did not
spend much time on it (it shows in spots), and therefore I'm not
asking for anything in return.
btw, if you want to pass out cash, give some to the original AmiKiss
author. He's the one that opened my eyes to the kiss phenom.
-Edit CEL 0.78-
A simple IFF->CEL program with a GUI interface.
NOT TESTED much.
Usage should be self explanatory.
It's opened to future expansion, as I need it.
-KISSUTILS archive-
This entire archive is being claimed PUBLIC DOMAIN by it's author,
Chad Randall. As far as the author knows, everything included within
this archive is original material, and therefore under his control.
If this is not the case, then remember that any prior copyrights have
precedence.
files in the archive:
bin/ppmtocel
bin/celtoppm
bin/maptokcf
bin/kcftomap
bin/makemap
src/ppmtocel.e
src/celtoppm.e
src/maptokcf.e
src/kcftomap.e
src/makemap.e
this doc file
Required programs:
netppm from Aminet:gfx/pbm : Please read appropriate .readme's.
"pcxtoppm" - Converts "PaperDoll" pcx files to ppms.
"ppmtomap" - Converts a .ppm into a .map file.
"quantppm" - Reduces the amount of colors, and optionally remaps.
"ilbmtoppm"- Converts IFFs into ppms
"ppmtoilbm"- Convers ppms into IFFS
spat and list from your S: and C: directories.
AmiKiss - Displays kiss data files.
You should already have this, but if not, it's available on:
venice.tcp.com:pub/anime-manga/incoming/AmiKiss11.lha
ftp.netcom.com:pub/mughi/Kiss/program/AmiKiss11.lha
ftp.funet.fi:unknown directory (?)
I believe it was removed from Aminet due to nudity. It's not in the
INDEX, although I originally got it from there.
Some basic terminology.
KISS- A japanese set of programs to play paper doll with images,
mainly anime girls, although not limited to this. Graphics were
originally limited to 16 colors, but you will run into newer 256 color
versions. AmiKiss is currently limited to 16. If it refuses to load
data, saying the images are over 1000 pixels wide, then it's the wrong
type of data.
PAPERDOLL- An australian program (part of an unreleased game), that is
similar to KISS, but not as powerful. The images are in PCX format,
and can be easily converted to cells. A sample session is at the end
of this .doc.
CEL- An image or part of a bigger image. This is the main file type
of KISS datas.
KCF- A palette file consisting of 10 seperate "sets" of palettes.
Usually only the first one is usable.
CNF- A file describing what CEL files, and which KCF file is used for
the environment. The data format is in text, and can be easily
edited. See the AmiKiss.guide file, or "sampkiss.cnf" file for the
layout.
PPM- A portable pixmap file. There are two sub-types of a .ppm, P3
and P6. P3 is in a text-only format, whereas P6's are in binary.
Only type P6's are supported by my KissUtils. You should use these
anyways, as they are usually 1/2-1/3 in size comapared to P3's.
MAP- Also a portable pixmap file, but used to describe a palette. The
bitmap is as wide as the number of colors, and only one pixel high.
Each pixel is a palette entry.
218 or 224c- The older KISS formats. Only 16 colors, and 12 bits per
color are supported. Play area was limited to 448x320 and 640x400.
KISS/GS- A newer standard KISS format datatype, also known as
KISS/GS1, KISS/GS2, KISS/GS3, KISS/GS4, or just GS. Lower numbers
denote smaller requirements, mainly based on limited VGA card
resolutions.
ppmtocel
Usage: ppmtocel sourcefile [destinationfile] mapfile [OLD]
Examples:
ppmtocel image.ppm MAP=image.map
ppmtocel image.ppm image.cel image.map
ppmtocel image.ppm image.cel MAP image.map
Function:
Converts a pnm type 6 (P6) into a .CEL, using a .map file as a
reference to recolor. Both type "KiSS" and older 224c types are
supported.
If the destination file is left out, or is specified as "", then the
sourcefile name will be used, minus the ".ppm", and a ".CEL" tacked
on.
Notes:
If ppmtocel complains about too many colors, use "ppmquant -map
image.map image.ppm >image2.ppm" to reduce the amount of colors, and
match them to the .map file.
Use the "OLD" switch to save a 224c type file. These are required for
the current release of AmiKiss.
Known Bugs:
The source file must be a standard P6 type, support for P 1-5 is
not implemented
The .map file must have at least 10 colors, and no more than 16.
celtoppm
Usage celtoppm sourcefile [destinationfile] kcffile
Examples:
celtoppm image.cel KCF=image.kcf
celtoppm image.cel image.map image.kcf
celtoppm image.cel image.map KCF image.kcf
Function:
Converts a .cel file into a type P6 .ppm file. The .kcf supplies
vital color information, and is required.
If the destination file is left out, or is specified as "", then the
sourcefile name will be used, minus the ".CEL", and a ".ppm" tacked
on.
Known Bugs:
Only the first palette in the .KCF file is used.
Only supports the older 224c types.
maptokcf
Usage maptokcf sourcefile destinationfile
Examples:
maptokcf image.map image.kcf
Function:
Converts a .map (type P6), into a .KCF file.
Known Bugs:
Only one .kcf palette is supported, and is copied into the upper 9,
giving 10 duplicate palette entries.
The .map file must contain at least 10 entries, and no more than 99.
The height must be at least 1, and no more than 9. (A standard map
file is always 1 pixel high!)
Only supports the older 224c types.
kcftomap
Usage kcftomap sourcefile destinationfile
Examples:
kcftomap image.kcf image.map
Function:
Converts a .kcf file into a standard type P6 .map file.
Known Bugs:
Only the first palette is used.
Only supports the older 224c types.
makemap
Usage:
makemap im#?.ppm izjus1?.ppm image.map
makemap image#?.ppm image.map
makemap #? image.map
makemap a#? b#? c#? d#? e#? f#? image.map
Function:
Scans .ppm files, collecting the first 16 unique colors.
Standard AmigaDOS wildcards, and multiple source patterns are supported.
Known Bugs:
To make sure the first palette entry is the transparent background,
you may wish to specify a file you know to have that color at the
upper-left pixel!
Only type P6 ppm files are supported. Therefore, it is impossible to
edit your own using a text editor.
Only supports the older 224c types.
Converting a PaperDoll set into a Kiss one.
It seems alot of people like PaperDoll better than Kiss, as many Kiss
sets have been converted to PaperDoll format. As far as I can tell,
PaperDoll is not nearly as powerful as Kiss, so why people do use it,
I don't know.
But there are a few unique paperdoll sets already. I originaly wrote
these utils to do just this, and it's been more than successful.
You should be proficient in the use of a shell, and have at least 4+
megs of available harddrive space.
Below, replace "name" with the name of the paperdoll set. All
paperdoll sets use one base name, so it's not hard to figure out.
unarc (UnARJ) the paperdoll set into it's OWN directory.
Use 'spat pcx2ppmmulti name.F#?'
Then 'makemap name.F#?.ppm name.map'
'list name.F#?.ppm LFORMAT "ppmtocel %s MAP=name.map" >ram:exme'
'Execute ram:exme'
If for anyreason, a ppm file comes out with more than the base 16
colors, you'll need to remap it. Use 'ppmquant' as detailed
previously.
You'll need to write a 'name.CNF' file. Just edit the 'name.TXT'
file, flipping the order of which the names appear! Also, add a set
line to place all the cels out of the upper-left corner. If you're
not sure how to do this, take a look at some sample .CNF files.