V1.1

Instructions on how to create raw image files for the imgserial tool

Author: michalin

examples/imgserial/readme.md

@@ -16,11 +16,28 @@ It is important to have a 10µF Capacitor between the RST pin of the Arduino and
 In a shell type `./imgserial.linux file.data port`.
 Port is the same as used by the Arduino IDE, for example /dev/USB0.
 A capacitor is not needed here.
-
-### Compilation
+***
+## Compilation
 The example comes with precompiled binaries, but the source file can be compiled with `g++ imgserial.cpp -o imgserial.<extension> <-static>`
 
-On Windows, Cygwin with Gnu C++ compilers (GCC) must be installed. The executable needs the cygwin1.dll or a Cygwin environment to run. If there is no Cygwin environment on the target machine, the Windows libraries needs to be statically linked into the executable by the *-static* option. For example `g++ imgserial.cpp -o imgserial.exe -static`.
+On Windows, Msys64 with Gnu C compilers (GCC) must be installed. The executable needs the cygwin1.dll or a Cygwin environment to run. If there is no Cygwin environment on the target machine, the Windows libraries needs to be statically linked into the executable by the *-static* option. For example `g++ imgserial.cpp -o imgserial.exe -static`.
+
+***
+## Create data files from images
+I recommend Gimp to convert the images. Before you can proceed, import the *tms9918.gpl* color palette file into Gimp.
+
+1. Crop and scale the image until it has a size of 256x192 pixels
+2. Open Jannone's MSX Screen Image Converter https://msx.jannone.org/conv/
+3. Upload the file (Must be JPG, PNG or GIF; up to 400 kb). Select `"MSX 1 Colors"` and try the options below until you find the one that looks best <br>
+![screenshot](/html/msxconv1.jpg)
+
+4. Download the preview image <br>
+![screenshot](/html/msxconv2.jpg)
 
+5. Open Preview in Gimp. Assign the *tms9918* color palette: ```Image->Mode->Indexed...``` Select *tms9918.gpl* as custom palette in the dialog and click ```Convert```. <br>
+![screenshot](/html/gimp1.JPG)
 
+6. Export image as raw image data file ```(File->Export)```. <br>
+![screenshot](/html/export.JPG)
 
+The .data file must have a size of 48KB

examples/imgserial/tms9918.gpl

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+GIMP Palette
+Name: TMS9918
+Columns: 16
+#
+  0   0   0	Untitled
+ 33 200  66	Untitled
+ 94 220 120	Untitled
+ 84  85 237	Untitled
+125 118 252	Untitled
+212  82  77	Untitled
+ 66 235 245	Untitled
+252  85  84	Untitled
+255 121 120	Untitled
+212 193  84	Untitled
+230 206 128	Untitled
+ 33 176  59	Untitled
+201  91 186	Untitled
+204 204 204	Untitled (occurs 4769)
+255 255 255	Untitled (occurs 855)
+  0   0   0	Untitled

html/export.JPG

@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@ Copy all to the *library* folder of your Arduino IDE to install the library. Che
 
 ## Watch video to learn more about the TMS9918.
 [![Youtube video](html/thumbnail.jpg)](https://youtu.be/smgGB_CsXns)
+
+## Build a TMS9918 based graphic card.
+[![Youtube video](html/thumbnail2.jpg)](https://youtu.be/GUQpiGspY08)