ASCII 1.1

ASCII saver © 1993 Paul Huxham
ImageFX © 1992, 1993 Nova Design

ASCII is freely redistributable


WHAT IS IT ?
  An ImageFX saver module that converts the main image buffer into a series
of ASCII characters that when printed in small print will look similar
to the original image.

  There are 4 demo images in the demo drawer. 2 of them are larger than 80
columns, so use a text editor or a small font shell to view them.


INSTALLATION
  Copy the ASCII module into ImageFX:modules/savers.
  Load ImageFX.


USING ASCII
  Load an image into the main ImageFX buffer.

  Select Save and choose ASCII. You must use the 24 bit buffer save option.

	Choose a file - BE CAREFUL not to overwrite your original picture.

  You will be asked how many characters across you would like the image. The
default value should fit the image 'on screen'.

  Next how many vertical characters make up the image. Aspect ratios are
discussed below.

  Finally you are asked how many 'grey' levels the image should contain.
This represents how many character values ASCII has to choose from when
converting the grey scales in the image to actual characters.

  After a short time (on a '040 at least) the image should be completed.

	The top line of the generated file contains the actual width, height and
number of grey levels so you can recreate the image.


OPERATIONAL TIPS
  Make the images twice as large as the default and use a font half as
large as normal topaz 8 to view the images to increase the amount of
information on screen.

  Convert the image to grey scale first and make sure there is an even
spread of grey levels across the image.

  Crop the image to remove unwanted portions of the picture first and then
convert to characters.


ASPECT RATIOS
  Heres a guide for some of the various display modes:

Lores &
Hires Interlaced   Are already 1:1 so no adjustments are necessary.

Lores Interlaced   Either double the size horizontally or halve vertically.
Hires              Either halve the size horizontally or double vertically.


BUGS
  At the moment, ASCII only looks at the RED portion of an image to save
time whereas I should look at a greyscale representation of the RGB values.
There are better algorithms around, I should convert one.


CONTACT
  The author can be contacted via email:

paulh@Perth.DIALix.oz.au

or via standard mail:

PO Box 875
Morley, Perth
Western Australia 6943