*=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=* >> Dyna Rip V1.14 << Designed & Developed by: Kevin Picone V1.14 Released 27,11,1995 © Copyright Kevin Picone 1995 of Underware Design All Rights Reserved. *=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=* >> Contents of This Doc File << * Firstly, What is Underware Design ?: * Disclaimer: * What is DYNA RIP: * How do I use DYNA RIP: * What are DYNA RIPS New Features: * Format Information: * Foreseeable Problems: * Release And Contact Information: * The Future of DYNA RIP: * Some Underware Design Hello's: * Other Stuff Firstly, What is Underware Design ? =================================== Underware Design is a (slowly) forming Amiga Only software development house, based here in Australia. The name comes simply from a mixture of a common references to Australia global location, most notably "DownUNDER" and our interests in software development. Hence 'Underware Design' seemed pretty logical and just a little more interesting ( grin ) than some of other originally proposed titles. Disclaimer: =========== I take no responsibility for any damage caused as either, a direct or indirect result of using this software, this includes but is not solely limited too, loss of data, time, etc etc etc. Hence, you are using this product entirely at your risk. Execution of the included 'Dyna Rip V1.14' program implies your in agreement with this document. What Is Dyna Rip: ================= Dyna Rip is really just a useful programmers conversion tool, which handles the removal of Dynamic Colour Palettes from AMIGA Dynamic IFF Pictures. Quite Handy for Game for and Demo development. It will convert the colour table into either direct Copper List Source, or just plain Source Code Data, Allowing programmers to include the data directly into there own masterpieces. !!! Well, that's it, that's all it does. How do I use DYNA RIP: (Walk Through) ====================== > Load DYNA RIP V1.14 > Select LOAD DYNAMIC IFF > A file requester should now appear for you to select the required Dynamic IFF Picture file for conversion. > Now Select the 'Rip & Save Palette' Button. > A Percentage bar will now appear, as the program scans the selected file for the location of the dynamic colour information. > if no DYNAMIC IFF information is found, the process is automatically aborted. > if the scanning process was indeed successful and the DYNAMIC IFF information was located, now you'll be asked to select and output file name for the converted palette, Via a file requester. Please Note: Selecting Cancel in this SAVE requester will also abort the procedure ! ) > Now, a second percentage bar will appear as the data is being converted and saved to your selected PATH and FILENAME. > When the file is finally converted Dyna Rip will return you to the main menu. > Process Complete. What are Dyna Rips New features: ================================ Quick Exit, you quit out directly from the program via pressing 'Q' on the keyboard within the main menu. Also, In this revision, I've added two menu options to help in the conversion/removal of the dynamic IFF data. "Include Colour Zero" (yes/no) This option allows you to select if the Colour $DFF180 (colour zero /backdrop colour) should be either included within the outputed data or copper list. "Colours Per Line" (1-16) This just allows you too crop unused or unwanted colours from your outputed data or copper list source. The Number of colours as always starts at $dff180 and increases upwards, with an upper limit of 16 colours per line. Also, While saving, I've now added a 'File Exists' requester if you should select to over write an existing file, then at least now your giving the chance to abort the process without any loss of data. Format Information: =================== Dyna Rip at present, Assumes that the dynamic colour palette data located within the IFF is always setup as 16 Colours Per scan line. I've not actually seen any that were not, but that's not to say that it's not possible. (I've never actually seen a proper dynamic IFF file structure) The outputed source file, is setup so that each colour is set each line, all 16 colours are set in 2 lines of source code. This enables easy handling within your source code editor, be it, for example SEKA / ASMONE etc etc.. E.g. COPPER LIST output ! Dynam_Wait=$0 Dc.w ((Dynam_Wait+$0)*$100)+$DF,$fffe Dc.w $180,$0,$182,$555,$184,$111,$186,$2,$188,$333,$18A,$668,$18C,$222,$18E,$444 Dc.w $190,$232,$192,$666,$194,$121,$196,$233,$198,$1,$19A,$777,$19C,$122,$19E,$545 Dc.w ((Dynam_Wait+$1)*$100)+$DF,$fffe Dc.w $180,$0,$182,$555,$184,$111,$186,$2,$188,$333,$18A,$668,$18C,$222,$18E,$444 Dc.w $190,$232,$192,$666,$194,$121,$196,$233,$198,$1,$19A,$777,$19C,$122,$19E,$545 Dc.w ((Dynam_Wait+$2)*$100)+$DF,$fffe Dc.w $180,$0,$182,$555,$184,$111,$186,$2,$188,$333,$18A,$656,$18C,$222,$18E,$444 Dc.w $190,$232,$192,$434,$194,$121,$196,$233,$198,$1,$19A,$545,$19C,$667,$19E,$556 and so on. As you can see I've tried to make it as easy to use as possible, by allowing you to set the starting scan line of the dynamic display. In DATA output mode only the colour data is saved, so you'll have to build your own Dynamic Copper list and hit the palettes in as your wish. Foreseeable Problems: ==================== Unfortunately, Dyna Rip V1.14 has some unsupported features that you should be made aware of. > The Outputed copper source for displays that cross the NTSC line will have incorrect copper waits. I could have fixed this via allowing you to select within Dyna Rip, the pictures top/starting scan line, but it didn't seem worth including, Sorry. > Make sure when using Dynamic HIRES displays that you cut the display back to 640-16 pixels wide, as other wise you may have some problems with the copper not having enough time to refresh all 16 registers at the end of each scanline. (this is not Dyna Rip's fault anyway) > When Converting INTERLACED dynamic IFF's you should be aware that Dyna rip will *NOT* CREATE two separate copper lists, it will simply create one overall list. Thus, you will need to split the outputed copper into the even and odd palettes by hand! SORRY, but I wrote this util for just lowres displays (320*256pal), INTERLACE never actually crossed my mind. Release & Contact Information: ============================== This release is FREE WARE, this means that you may freely distribute DYNA RIP V1.14 as much as you like, via any media you see fit, be it via, Diskette, Modem, FTP, Whatever!. But, I hence retain all respective copyrights to this program and it's related documentation. There are only two restrictions upon DYNA RIP V1.14's release, firstly, all the files included within the original archive are to be included in full, and remain unedited. Secondly, since this is meant to be a FREE WARE release, anybody, that makes this program commercially available ( apart from it's inclusion upon CDROM compilations, where there are no limitations, such as, but not limited too cdrom products like AMINET or The Fish CD's ), should only set it's price so that it covers their media costs plus the related postage and handling costs, and should *NOT* exceed 5$ Australian. ( or the equivalent in your native currency. ) To contact UNDERWARE DESIGN about DYNA RIP Bug Reports or update information write to: Mr. Kevin Picone 74 Springs Road RSD M539 BALLARAT VIC. AUSTRALIA 3352 Email: uwdesign&lin.cbl.com.au Fidonet: "Kevin Picone" 3:637/101.2 Amiganet: "Kevin Picone" 40:300/101.2 The Future of DYNA RIP ? ======================== Well, I'd say this will be the final revision of this little util, apart from any other possible bug fixes or perhaps any major format additions. Some Underware Design Hello's ============================= Ben Hemming, Lars Jensen, Steven Sheedy & Anne, Chris McCallum, Graeme Cooper, Marcus Mroczkowski, Steven Walsh, Andrew Muller, Chris leathley, Daniel Martin, Michelle, Safron, DIGI SOFT, Full Moon and all at Ballarat Amiga Users Group. OTHER STUFF: ============ If your wondering why make this tool ?, well, like a lot of small projects 'Dyna Rip's' need became rather obvious during the development of a Shoot'em up game project we were doing, titled "Thesius XII" ( it's on Aminet/ Game/shoot/TXIIv96.lha ). Within this project, I had selected to use small dynamic pictures within it's (just for show) terminal briefing section. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything that actually did what I wanted already, hence, this is what I made. So I hope it comes of some use to you. *=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=* >> End of Text << *=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=*