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MVGAVU (c) Copr. 1989-91 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 (eg., ASP).
WHAT IS MVGAVU ?
MVGAVU is a GIF decoder/viewer/slideshow utility and component of VGACAD.
MVGAVU handles GIFs up to 2KBx2KBx256and shows the whole picture w/out
scrolling; it also features a UNIQUE 256-color rendering scheme in
16-color EGA/VGA/SVGA modes. As a versatile slideshow, it automatically
determines the BEST viewing mode.
NEW! MVGAVU supports TARGA file (16/24/32 bits) viewing via a unique
16/256-color rendering schemes to view all those THOUSANDS of "colors"
in ALL modes supported by MVGAVU.
REQUIREMENTS
MVGAVU requires a PS/2 or EGA/MCGA/VGA/SVGA video card. 512KB of
RAM is required, although it uses less than that. The BRUN41.exe
runtime module MUST be present in your DOS path.
LOADING PICTURES INTO MVGAVU
MVGAVU accepts [G]IF, [T]GA (uncompressed, unmapped TARGA) or [B]LD/PLT
file types. Select any filename by moving a highlighted bar (with arrow
keys) and pressing <return> key. Pressing <Spc> allows changes to the
PATH, while <Esc> exits. BLD files MUST have a corresponding *.PLT file
or a error message will follow.
CONFIGURING MVGAVU
BEFORE DOING ANYTHING, configure MVGAVU by typing
"MVGAVU -C" <ret>.
A list of Video card "types", based on their chipset family, are
presented. Enter the number that matches your card. When selecting
SVGA cards, check your manual or manufacturer for the chipset (e.g.,
Tseng, Paradise, Video7, etc..); when in doubt, select choices 253, 254
or 255. BE SURE THAT MVGAVU.EXE IS LOCATED IN YOUR DEFAULT DRIVE/PATH
TO ENSURE HARCODED CONFIGURATION.
COMPATIBILITY
There are several COMMAND LINE OPTIONS that are NOT available from the
MVGAVU Main Menu. All other processing options described in a latter
section of this manual can be invoked despite these option settings.
MVGAVU -D <ret>
"-D" Disable Auto-Expanded Memory usage. Expanded memory is required
for those GIF89a "crashers" that require MASSIVE amounts of memory to
restore a screen. The LIM 4.0 EMS spec is required to use expanded
memory, if your EMS driver does not conform then unpredictable results
will happen such as getting strange colors in restored areas. Disable
Auto-EMS usage to allocate 64KB of low RAM for screen storage; this
should work with most GIF 89a images that conform to Jim Burton's
"Rules for GIF89a MIGs".
MVGAVU -E <ret>
"-E" EGA only mode forces EGA 640x350x16 to be the ONLY mode to be
selected by the user or MVGAVU during automatic mode selection (ie.,
hiting <return> key.
If you are having compatibility problems with MVGAVU please contact
Lawrence Gozum by:
1) E-plex at CompuServe [73437,2372]
2) E-mail at the CompuServe PICs Forum
3) Telephone (416) 923-3387
4) Regular Mail at
One Oriole Rd. #206
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4V 2E7
VIEWING TARGA FILES IN MVGAVU v4.1
o Only UNCOMPRESSED, UNMAPPED Targa (16/24/32 bit) files are supported.
o TARGA files must be <= 1024x2048.
o Targa files must be viewed from the Main Menu.
o With SVGA 256-color modes, "32768 color" matching/rendering is used.
o With 360x480x256 or less a 256-color matching algorithm is used.
o With any 16-color mode, 256-color matching algorithm is applied, then
a 16-color matching/rendering algorithm is used.
o Slideshows are disabled.
o AutoCentering is disabled.
o HercGS 640x480x32768 mode replaces 640x480x256 mode when TARGA files
are selected; saving the screen in this mode is disabled.
SELECTING VIDEO MODES
Pressing <return> after picking a GIF file triggers automatic mode
selection. MVGAVU selects the BEST video mode, based on your video
card configuration. Pressing <Esc> aborts viewing and lets you
reselect a new file.
Unsupported 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; it should
run on any "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 replicates "what the originator saw". If the 320x400x256 mode
fails, your card is BIOS-COMPATIBLE ONLY !
The 360x480x256 mode pushes generic VGA cards to its theoretical limits!
With 270% more resolution, view 640x480x256 GIFs with more detail and
less "jaggies". If the 360x480x256 mode fails, your card is not as
"register-compatible" as it claims to be.
The 640x400x256 Tseng SVGA was created to view 320x200x256 GIFs more
clearly due to 400% more resolution - aside from adding the missing
mode to its SVGA repertoire. Amiga, Atari and MacII GIFs use this
aspect ratio multiple and look as close as possible to "what the
originator saw" with it.
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.
Preset SVGA modes
MVGAVU has hardcoded support for many SVGA chipsets based on your video
card configuration. SVGA MODES ARE NOT VERIFIED; YOUR VIDEO RAM AND
CHIPSET LIMITS YOUR CHOICES; CHECK YOUR MANUAL !!!
SVGA/EEGA User modes
To use User modes, press [U]ser Mode. On default, this mode is set to
EGA 640x200x16. To set your own modes specify the Screen Width, Screen
Height, colors (16 or 256), Video Mode, and Chip type (9=EEGA). Several
*.CFG files are included; copy a special video mode (e.g., 512x480x256)
to MVGAVU.CFG and it will be invoked when you use the "U" option. CHECK
YOUR CARD'S MANUAL TO DETERMINE IF IT SUPPORTS IT!
To set a 256 or 16 color mode, press [R]evise. 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" CHARACTERS.
16-COLOR MODES (UP TO 800x600 EXCEPT EVEREX & VIDEO7 MODES) MUST ALWAYS
USE "9" (for EEGA) SINCE IT WILL TELL MVGAVU TO USE THE HARDCODED
STANDARD PROCEDURE. FOR MODES ABOVE 800x600 (e.g. 1024x768), YOU MUST
USE THE CORRECT CHIPSET (e.g., PARADISE, TSENG, VIDEO7, ...).
EGA/EEGA/VGA 16-Color Modes
If a GIF has more than 16 colors (e.g, 256) then a unique 16-color
dithering method will be rendered in 16-color modes (eg., 640x350x16).
Viewing 1024x768x256 GIFs in 1024x768x16 will yield more detail than
viewing in interpolated 640x480x256.
MAIN MENU PROCESSING OPTIONS
There are SEVEN (7) Main Menu processing options:
Safety w/ MIGs
Normal w/ MIGs
OneMeg w/ MIGs
Fit to Screen
Fix Aspect 1:1
Fix Aspect 5:6
Fix Aspect TGA
The first five options can be triggered from the command line.
"Normal w/ MIGs" - this is the optimal processing option. Multiple
Image Graphics/GIFs (87a and 89a) will be rendered. Depending on your
card configuration, when using automatic mode selection (ie., <return>)
or command line viewing, the best video mode will be selected; this will
include 800x600x256 and 1024x768x16 modes, if available.
"Safety w/ MIGs" - this option is the DEFAULT; it is similar to "Normal
w/ MIGs" but excludes the 800x600 and 1024x768 modes, even if they are
available to ensure that fixed-frequency monitors, with 640x480 as its
max, will not be affected. Moreover, setting this option will avoid
calling the 800x600x256 mode which is excluded by some video cards
(eg., Paradise PVGA and some Trident cards).
"OneMeg w/ MIGs" - this is essentially similar to the "Normal w/ MIGs"
option but includes the 1024x768x256 mode, if available.
"Fit to Screen" - this option decodes the FIRST image and fits that
image to maximum screen dimensions. This is useful for resizing GIFs
and subsequently saving/encoding them with the [tab] option described in
a latter section of this manual. AutoMode <return> key is disabled.
"Fix Aspect 1:1" - with this option, certain GIFs that have the same
screen and image descriptors (e.g.CARMEN2) will be corrected for
accurate rendering (otherwise they will seem distorted). "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, 800x600
and 1024x768 modes should have "square" aspect ratios. Use this option
to fix such GIFs (e.g., SYLVIA.GIF, PAULINA.GIF, FMAID.GIF, ... ).
AutoMode <return> key is disabled.
"Fix Aspect 5:6" - this mode is similar to the 1:1 processing option but
assumes that the originator was using a 320x200 or 640x400 screen aspect
ratio (eg., Amiga, Atari or MacII). AutoMode <return> key is disabled.
"Fix Aspect TGA" - this mode is intended for viewing TARGA (*.TGA) files
which typically originates from a 512x480 screen.
ADJUSTING THE VIDEO MODE
This feature is disabled when using extended Hercules Graphics Card
video modes.
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) 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/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
[Esc] exit
ADJUSTING CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS
This feature is disabled when using extended Hercules Graphics Card
video modes.
If you view in any mode except EGA, you can adjust contrast, brightness,
and color level. Virtually ALL palette modifications can be emulated
with these "knobs". Moreover, you can add or substract individual
quanta of red, green or blue components.
Make sure your NUMLOCK key is OFF !
[Esc] or any other key (e.g., [return] or [spc]) will exit.
[->] increase brightness [+] increase color level
[<-] decrease brightness [-] decrease color level
[dn] increase contrast [*] reset palette
[up] decrease contrast [A] Adjust Monitor
The following keys are CASE SENSITIVE.
[R] increase RED level [r] decrease RED level
[G] increase GRN level [g] decrease GRN level
[B] increase BLU level [b] decrease BLU level
With VGACAD 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.
SAVING RESIZED MVGA/SVGA GIFs OR MIGS (Multiple Image Graphics/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). View your GIF with any video mode and
press the [tab] key.
MVGASCRN.RAW and MVGASCRN.PLT files will be created for GIF, PCX or BMP
(Windows 3.0) encoding with VGAFIL. NYBLSCRN.RAW and NYBLSCRN.PLT files
will be created for 16-color GIF encoding with VGAFIL. Subsequent saves
overwrite these files; encode with VGAFIL (which can be found in the
*.ZIP files of VGACAD (v2.0 and up) or VGACAP (v6.0 and up), and rename
immediately to preserve them.
MIGs are usually several 'overlayed' images which simulate animation.
MVGAVU supports GIF MIGs. Since MIGs tend to change what you initially
see from what you see at the end of the GIF, you may want to save the
final rendered image rather than the first one for editing with VGACAD
or conversion to another image format or mode. Simply save the final
rendered image as you would a resized image (ie., using the [tab] key)
and convert it with VGAFIL. VGAFIL supports GIF, PCX, TGA (Targa 16)
and BMP (Windows 3.0) encoding to edit the image with any program that
supports those file formats.
GIF SLIDESHOWS
Up to 167 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. After selecting files press [S]how to start
and you will be presented with transition options . You can adjust the
"delay" factor between each "slide" by adding pauses up to 30 secs and
use one of the various transition effects. During the show, press any
key (three to four times) while the show is running to exit. MVGAVU
selects optimal video modes based on your video card configuration and
processing option selected.
COMMAND LINE VIEWING & BATCH PRESENTATIONS
Targa files cannot be viewed via Command Line; they can ONLY be viewed
from the Main Menu.
MVGAVU can be used in batch (*.BAT) files for presentations. In Command
Line mode, only your picture is displayed and pressing any key (except
[tab], [backspace], [A]djust Monitor and Color/Picture adjustment keys)
after its display will end the program. No menus or prompts interfere.
Type "MVGAVU ?" for help or type
"MVGAVU [processing option] filename <ret>"
-S Safety w/ MIGs (default)
-N Normal w/ MIGs
-M OneMeg w/ MIGs
-E EGA w/ MIGs
-F Fit to Screen
-A Fix Aspect 1:1
with no extension and optional path (e.g.,MVGAVU \gif\wett). GIFs are
viewed via automatic mode selection; the range of video modes selected
from and how the graphic is rendered depends on your video card
configuration and processing option selected.
MVGAVU searches for the first matching *.GIF then it searches for a
*.BLD file which can be viewed only in MCGA 320x200x256 mode and must
have matching *.PLT files in the same drive/directory.
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
DOS PATH has access to. MVGAVU is a part of VGACAD. 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 images desktop
publishing (DTP) as .PCX (Ventura, First Publisher, Publisher's
Paintbrush, WP, Pagemaker). Variable sizing/contrast/brightness.
Includes printing on IBM/Epson, HP Laser and compatible printers.
Variable sizes. 8 pics/page and/or Single/Double Pass printing on
dot matrix printers. Preview in CGA/HGC/EGA/VGA/EEGA/SVGA. Histogram-
equalization. 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 or
printing, or VGA2EGA conversion - it edits those "scan line jitters".
Viewing modes in MCGA/VGA/SVGA. No graphics card required.
SQZGIF/EGA2VGA - converts LARGE GIF/PCX pics (to 2KBx2KBx256) to
several sizes and video modes using "color averaging" to blend/smooth
"jaggies" or fast interpolation. Variable sizing. Also, converts
GIFs (16 colors and below) and creates up to 256 new colors; outputs
directly to GIFPUB, GIFDOT, VGACAD, MVGAVU, VGA2CGA or VGA2EGA.
No graphics card required.
GIFHEX (formerly VGA2EGA) - converts 256-color pictures to 16-color
EGA or VGA . Error-distributed dithering. User support to 1024x768.
Variable sizing/RGBICMY/contrast. EGA/MCGA/VGA required.
MVGAVU - latest version.
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 ! Full screen SuperVGA editing
and image processing function to 1024x768x256. 360x480x256 support.
MCGA/VGA 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.
VGACAP - resident utility to capture 256-color MCGA/VGA or SVGA images.
FAST SVGA 640x480x256 or 800x600x256 screen grabs.
VGAFIL - GIF, PCX, BMP (Windows 3.0) and TGA (targa 16) encoding
utility. Accepts ALL RAW file formats used by our utilites as well as
BLD/PLT files. This utility replaces RAW2GIF, RAW2PCX and BLD2GIF.
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. We will try to develop and integrate more image
processing functions for all our applications; if you have any image
processing functions you would like to see, please let us know.
In the short term, we are developing RGBLAB. This is a color reduction
utility to 'downsize' 24-bit or 16 Million-color pictures to 256-colors.
RAW red, green and blue files, TIFF (*.TIF), TARGA (*.TGA) and Windows
3.0 (*.BMP) files will be the main input sources. IDTVGA dithering will
play a key role in previewing or rendering 24-bit images in SVGA
256-color modes.
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 your Shareware copies.
To register, send the registration form and check or money order payable
in USD to:
Dr. Marvin Gozum
2 Independence Place #1105, 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, Trident,
Everex, C&T, ATI, Oak chipsets and source for the popular 360x480x256
mode. 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.