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Running Games and Apps.

Sprites

Andrew Miller

Posts 352
30 Nov 2021 16:34


If I'm using something like LibreSprite or its paid version, is there a specific way I would have to export them so I can use them on the Amiga?
  As looking at some examples the colour pallet is separate from the sprite image on Amiga, but I'm not sure if this software can do that.
 
  Anyone know?

Edit: Looks like I'd have to convert from .png to .iff.
Might buy PPaint.


Samuel Crow

Posts 424
30 Nov 2021 17:52


It depends on whether you want to use the OS functions or not.  PNG is supported by the AROS datatypes and can be used to convert to IFF if other utilities need IFF.  I'm not sure what datatypes ApolloOS comes with but on the AmigaOS version of Multiview you can save a file as IFF without needing to buy Personal Paint.  PPaint is also available in an older version as freeware but it's probably worth it if you only want to work in 256 color screenmodes or less.


Andrew Miller

Posts 352
30 Nov 2021 18:46


I managed to find the PPaint website, might just try the free one for a while. Though the paid version isnt that expensive.

Only starting looking at sprites at the moment.
Creating them seems to be the easy part, I'm just having difficulty getting my head round setting the colours, can I load these, or have to set them manually? (Its probably really simple I'm just not finding the right info)


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
30 Nov 2021 18:46


Andrew Miller wrote:

As looking at some examples the colour pallet is separate from the sprite image on Amiga,

Amiga Sprites have some limitations in Size and Colors.
Maybe you can help us and explain what your goal is, then we can give better recommendations.
What do you want to do?



Andrew Miller

Posts 352
30 Nov 2021 19:06


Very basic, just looking to draw a sprite, export it then load it and display it on the screen.

Mainly for experience, once I can do that it shouldnt be much of an effort to move it, swap one sprite for another by changing the pointers to add animation to it.

Might even be better not using hardware sprites, but one thing at a time :)


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
30 Nov 2021 19:38


Andrew Miller wrote:

  Very basic, just looking to draw a sprite, export it then load it and display it on the screen.
 

 
Normal Amiga sprites are 16 pixel wide with 4 colors.
They are stored in memory as 2 panes after each other,= 2 Words per row.
AGA Sprites can be wider. (32/64 pixel)
And Super-AGA Sprites can have more colors (16 colors stored with 4 planes per row)

Sprites on Amiga are often stored RAW or in dc.w values.
PICCON is the program that many coders on AMIGA used for converting Pictures to sprite format. You can find this program on Aminet.


Andrew Miller

Posts 352
30 Nov 2021 20:35


Lets say I have an image, how would I export/save this image so I can then include the image and the colour pallet and use as a sprite in an assembly program?
 
 
Edit: not even necessarily a sprite as I'm sure the same basic include of image and pallet would be the same.


Andrew Miller

Posts 352
01 Dec 2021 12:06


The issues I keep coming across for coding for Amiga always seem to be basic omissions.

There are plenty of tutorials on how to use sprites, screens etc, but not actually creating the sprites or what format these take or what software to use.

I'm going to be reduced to creating them manually rather than being able to use DPaint, PPaint, or any other package, it shouldn't be this difficult to get the info.


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
01 Dec 2021 12:36


Andrew Miller wrote:

  There are plenty of tutorials on how to use sprites, screens etc, but not actually creating the sprites or what format these take or what software to use.
 

 
You seem to have overlooked what I wrote you before:
Most coders on Amiga use the program PicCon for this.
You can download it from Aminet. It comes with manual.

Happy coding! :-)



Andrew Miller

Posts 352
01 Dec 2021 16:58


Yes I can convert an image using PICCON.
 
  Can I use PPaint instead or do I have to use both?
 
  What is the format of a stored sprite?

Edit: I'll find out when I get time on my v4 this weekend.


Stephan Hamers

Posts 22
21 Aug 2022 19:48


Wait, no one answered this in more than 1,5 years?
Well, I was just browsing the Apollo forum and just for completion:

Sprites aren't stored in a specific format per se, as far as I know, but Dpaint and PPaint use brushes, which you can use as sprites. Just so you dont have to store an entire picture.
Dunno if piccon can convert it, but I'm trying to work on a microprogram in bLitz that will just use GetAShape() for grabbing multiple sprites after you load an IFF picture, and then using a nice 2.0 requester to save a raw file.
Just to increase development speed for myself. :)
gReetz! :)


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
22 Aug 2022 07:21


Stephan Hamers wrote:

  Wait, no one answered this in more than 1,5 years?
 

 
Was this not answered?
 
PICCON is right the Amiga program for converting IFF images from paint program to RAW or DC.w format to be used in games or demos.
The PICCON program is very good and very popular.

posts 12