Raw images
 

Are there any painting programs that can read raw files? *.rw

I have tried ImageFX and DP5 with no luck.

Thanks

Volt.

Raw graphics data is just that, the raw graphics data only.

No details about the height, width, depth or colourmap of the graphics is contained in the data so there is no way for a paint program to know what those should be.

As PMC noted, no program knows by itself image size and color depth of a RAW file, because they are a simple stream of bytes.

You should input these data into ImageFX upon opening the file (provided ImageFX supports opening RAW files - which I don't know). I use PicCon or ImageStudio for such a task.

How can you tell image size and resolution of a RAW file? Well, you can deduce them from the size of the file, provided some knowledge of the Amiga video modes, it's just some math involved.

If you hand the file, I can try :-)

jman: that's true to some extent - you can certainly make guesses at the height, width and depth of an image from its size but you can't work it out for certain.

For example: is a raw file that is 20480 bytes two bitplanes worth of 256 40 bytes wide lines or is it one bitplane's worth of 256 80 bytes wide lines?

The answer is: you don't know without guessing. You could try at least making educated guesses by looking at the code that works with the data as well as looking at the data size and seeing if you can work out the dimensions from that though I suppose...

You can use ArtPro or other tool to convert
If you look at project.Sprites some people are good at guessing

Thanks a lot for you answers. So what I understand. You make an image in IFF fx. and then convert it to raw via PicCon.

Volt.

Yeah, make your graphics file for example in DPaint or wherever and convert it with PicCon or Kefrens IFF Converter or any other IFF to raw converter and then you can include that raw data in your sources.

... and to stop people ripping the raw data you can encrypt the data before including it in your program and include a small decrypt routine too. Though users of emulators can rip graphics quite easily, images larger than 1 screen are harder to rip.
The images (and text) in my upcoming demo are now encrypted (as of this week). If anyone is going to rip graphics from me (or anyone that created them for me) they will have to work for it! ;)


Regards,
Lonewolf10

I can sorta see that as being interesting to do, but is it really worth it? I can't see many people robbing Amiga graphics these days :D

Maybe that's just me :D

I believe PPaint has a raw image saver...

http://aminet.net/biz/cloan/PPaint.lha

@Lonewolf10
Encrypting data is a waste of time unless you are just compressing it and calling it encrypted. You could spend days figuring out ways to protect your gfx data and there would be guys on here that could rip it in 1/2 hour easy. If you really want to "protect it" then don't make it a challenge. Make it available for anyone to use and no one will use it. That's the state of the Amiga :/.

Why on earth bother doing that...?

You have to waste your time encrypting the data, waste your demo's raster time decrypting it and, assuming that your demo decrypts the data prior to using it, isn't it then sitting in memory decrypted ready to be ripped anyway?

And I totally agree with matthey - putting out a statement like: "all data is encrypted so you can't rip it" normally means that someone *will* rip it just to show that they can.

Yes, and don't forget to generate also a palette file. A palette file will be included in your source code (assuming you need a RAW image for programming purposes) and will give proper colours to the various bitplanes composing your image.

Especially for graphics this is rather pointless since you have to display them at some point. Now, what stops anyone using a freezer to rip your graphics then? There are ways to top freezers of course, but I hope you can catch my drift.

Unless you have invented a very tricky encryption this won't be much work. It's a matter of "let me look at your decryption code and I'll decrypt your data in no time".


Exactly! :D

Encryption for an Amiga demo? What a waste of time. It's not as if your livelihood depends on it ;)

Thanks for answering my question ;)

Yet another question.

How is the order of colors in an image. Will the first color in the paint program also be the first color when making a palette in ASM?


How do I make a custom sized image file in DP5? I need an image at resolution 320*70.
It seems I can only save files in standard resolutions or am I wrong there?

Volt.

No time is wasted encrypting it - I found it to be a good learning experience. Decrypting it also wastes zero time if you are clever with when you decrypt it.


I never stated that all data was encrypted ;)


Yeah, but they have to find that code first.

Nothing I guess, but it still requires some work from them - which would be harder for images larger than the screen, or when graphics are displayed over a background image.

So you've never made any demo's with encrypted music or images?


Regards,
Lonewolf10

@Lonewolf10: If you feel more comfortable using encryption in your upcoming demo then, of course, that is your prerogative, but please don't let this escalate into a heated argument. The other coders here are only giving you their advice based on their experience.

I guess you could argue the same about compressing your demos - that it's useless because everyone has large harddrives today, but everyone still does it.

I think it's a cool idea and exercise, and nothing to bash him about. Hope you come up with some clever way of encrypting your graphics.

That certainly is a worthwhile reason to do it. I'm not sure how worthwhile encryption is in itself as already stated but if your understanding has increased by trying it then all power to you. :)

I'm betting Sting could most certainly find it... :D

I don't think any of us are arguing at all. Various of us have expressed an opinion and Lonewolf10 has expressed his own opinion. I think it's cool all round. People having different points of view leads to healthy discussion where we can all learn things. :)

True, but:

1. Sometimes you need to get your demo in under 64Kb to enter the compo and

2. Decrunch colours are cool :D

If you use any of the various converters (PicCon, ArtPRO etc.) you don't have to worry about your palette order. It'll be the same as in your original picture.

It's been a long time that I last used DPaint, anyway, I would just use a "normal" screen mode (320x256 in this case) and then cut a brush of 320x70 pixels. Any of the above mentioned converters can do that.


Since decrypting needs CPU instructions I highly doubt that it wastes "zero" time!


Which is not very hard since you have to access the encrypted data in one way or another.


I have. And so have many others. Most encryption schemes are incredibly simple to break thus I find it quite pointless these days.


I don't see any bashing here.


Can nothing but agree! :) :great