= Now we talk about images !! =

Ok. Let me tell you that it maybe not very easy...It's easy but you need read this carefully.

I don't include this tutorials in zapi83 functions section because it isn't a zapi83 application....ops, you are confuse? I will try explain better to you: I created a program or what you want call, that read 'compressed pics' and package it in a program that you can run (in your basic programs) it and display the 'pics' (that are inside the program) in your programs/games. I hope you understand. But lets start and with the examples you will understand better.

1. What programs you will need?

  • Zapic package That was made by me (and come with the zapi83), should include the following files:

    asm.bat
    Devpac83.com
    ion.inc
    RLE.asm
    Tasm.exe
    Tasm80.tab
    Zapic.exe

 

  • IMAGE STUDIO By Matthew Johnson from ACZ
    Version 1.0 (or maybe latter)
    Go to the Links section and download the program in the ACZ main page.

 

  • Paint Program Examples:
    - Windows Paint (not recommended)
    - Paint Shop Pro (Recommended)
    - Photo Shop Pro (not very recommended if you don't know work with them).
    - Others...

2. How to paint the pictures with the programs?

  • I don't tell you how to draw and paint...but I will tell the things that you need to be in mind when you are going create the final file.... Let me see...ok...uhhmm All Right - First you need the the Paint program isn't? I recommend the Paint Shop pro because it should come with PC magazines and more else... and it's powerful and easy... I don't recommend the Paint that comes with your windows because it's very basic...but...rrr don't use them. (It's from Microsoft :) So...In the Paint Shop pro (PSP) and in the Photo Shop pro (PSP too :), I when talk in PSP is from two...because they are similarly...but Photo Shop is more professional..., .... OK ok...SO...in the PSP you need create a new picture with the following characteristics: 94x63 2 colors What's that?? This mean that your pic need that the width be equal 94 the height equal 63 and 2 colors depth. The color depth in the Photo Shop is harder to change go in to the menus Image//Mode//indexed color// Pallet=uniform Colors=2.

 

  • uff I told you that Photo Shop is more hard...uhmm I think I will explain that only with the Paint Shop pro...PSP again.. SO you have now the 94x63 image in font of you... Start paint ! :) I recommend you that you if you aren't secure with the PSP you need train a lot if you want make really good GFX ... But...I suppose you know work very well with the programs. :)

 

  • For advance PSP users I remember the functions that can convert xxx depth colors image to 2 colors. All of you can work with text...shapes...images import... and a lot of other stuff with PSP. If you don't know work very well with PSP I advice you claim for help to a friend or else you will hast a lot of time training pictures with PSP...

 

  • Final Resume: Your Picture should have the resolution of 96x63 and 2 colors and you need save them in BMP format. Got it??? So let's continue...

3. Converting the BMP files to ASM files...

  • Now you need the Image Studio to continue our work (work ?:)
    and now you need pay more attention with the IStudio and following the next steps very careful.

  1.  Open with IStudio your saved BMP file.

  2. Now... attention that you need to do this every time you convert our BMP file: Go to the Image menu//Image mode and select Monochrome (2 colors)... Look that if you don't do that your final file will be two or more times big than what it should be...

  3. Go File // Export and a rectangle appears...you need only to select RLE compression but make sure the selected items are Text file (.asm text format) // Z80 (.db) and the RLE compression.

  4. Click in OK button.

  5. Save the .asm file where you want.  

You can convert next more BMP files...

3. Converting the ASM files to the TI program file...

  1. You should now have the Zapic package in your work directory and all the asm files with the pics.

  2. Now run my program, the Zapic.exe , it are asking you for the number of pics you want pack... type it. If you want one type 1, logic :)

  3. After that it will be ask for the name of the output file... it's the final name of your program in 83p/8xp format.

  4. Now you need type the name of the files that you convert for example: you want that the file pic1.asm is the first so type that name for the pic. one.

  5. The program will ask you for the name of the files for wish pic. until the max number of pictures you choose pack (lol) understand??

  6. You should have a file with the name you choose in the beginning with the extension Z80.

  7. Finally you need run the ASM.bat with the command: ASM (name_of_file) without extension. You can create other file .bat to do it for you...

 

4. Run the program in your calculator.

  1. Put the program in your calculator.

  2. You need for the TI83 the program ZASMLOAD for the 83+ you don't need :)

  3. Create a new program called for example: ZCALLPIC and put that code:

TI83
PROGRAM:ZCALLPIC
:"ProgramName
:Send(9prgmZASMLOAD
:Return

Program name is the name of the program that you send with the pics for ti83.

TI83+
PROGRAM:ZCALLPIC
:Asm(ProgramName
:Return
  1. Now when you want for example display the picture one storage one ~in the the x var and call the program ZCALLPIC

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