Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!helios!mtecv2!al158305 From: al158305@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx (Gustavo Cordova Avila) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: 24 bit color for the Amiga Message-ID: <3385@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx> Date: 18 May 91 00:24:09 GMT References: <5117@dirac.physics.purdue.edu> Organization: ITESM. Campus Monterrey Lines: 76 murphy@gibbs.physics.purdue.edu (William J. Murphy) writes: >[...some stuff deleted...] >1) Given the number of 24 bit boards, (DCTV, HAM-E, Firecracker...) how > many of them are able to be used with the entire line of Amiga > software. A sub question would be how many are useable with the entire > line of Amiga graphics production software? e.g. Turbo Silver, SA 3D, > DPaint III, Prodraw 2.0 .... Well, all of the boards have their own prpopietary format if you want them to work at full speed, but for interchanging data (which is the question you're posing) all of them can use the IFF-24 standard, it's a normal IFF file only that it has 24 bitplanes. That efectively solves the data exchange problem (Thank God for IFF). Well, that's for 24 bit images, which would be the ones produced by renderers and such. For other normal IFF files (ham, 32 color, etc) and not so normal files (sham, dham, dyna hires) they can read them, I'm not 100% sure about the not so normal files, but normal IFF can't be a problem. >2) There was some discussion in the AW review of the quality of the various > boards, how does the quality of the output correlate with the price? > I would have to assume that those who own such beasties are going to > desire to produce video or some form of hardcopy image to share with > the rest of the world. I read in Amazing a review of DCTV, and the author says that it's one of the best things that he's used, true NTSC color (well...) and that it displays "billyuns and billyuns of colors", tv quality images, in hi-res equivalent resolution (640x400, or something, interlaced), it digitizes, has a *very* nice paint program, etc etc. And, curiously, those same comments have been sent to the net by other people who have used and/or own a DCTV box. It doesn't have RGB out, only composite out. The makers say that they'll make an RGB adaptor of some kind, can't wait for it. It works by interpreting the colors of a hires screen in a way other than normal hires, I think that it's compressed NTSC video, or something. Note that it isn't TRUE 24 bit graphics, but nontheless it's a great gadget (not my opinion). The HAM-E device works in a similar fashion, only that it doesn't have ntsc out, but rgb out. It works by interpreting a 640x400x4 screen like a 320x400x8 screen, and it has some interesting video modes. It has a sorta-HAM mode, only that with tons of colors (I think this one is true 24 bit color). It doesn't have a true 24 bit mode (where can you squeeze that kind of data in 4 bit planes?) but using the HAM-E mode, you should be able to produce some striking results. It also has direct mapped register modes, so you can display your favorite GIFs without a hitch :) An interesting thing is that since this device has a pallete for each video field, you can have difrent pallets for odd and even scan lines. The ad in AmigaWhorld sez that it also has an 18 bit register mode, I don't know anything about that. It also includes a paint prog, and graphics conversion software. It doesn't have a digitizer module, so I think that's what makes it lower cost than the DCTV device. And now, the colorburst board. This one has it's own memory, it's own video coprocessor, and some very interesting abilities. It's true 24 bit, and can paint in real time. It only uses the video port to communicate with the machine, it can change video modes and resolutions, and by changing modes you can have up to 48 bit planes. It has a mask where you can tell the board whether a certain pixel is from the board or from the Amiga, so you can mix and match. etc etc, I don't have much info about this one, but I'm waiting 'till it comes out to save my pennies and get one someday. >A side light: There was some mention of needing an RGB Encoder for some of >the boards which produced composite-only? What do these cost? The DCTV board needs this, but I don't think it's available yet. >Bill Murphy >murphy@physics.purdue.edu >West Lafayette, IN: Where progress takes a back seat to tradition. Gustavo Cordova -- | Gustavo Cordova Avila | al158305@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx | | Electronic Systems Engineering | PL158305@tecmtyvm.bitnet | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+