========================================================================== GoDot - C64 Image Processing System ========================================================================== Demonstration Version (c) Arndt Dettke & Wolfgang Kling Minden, Germany god.ADettke@t-online.de klinx@t-online.de ========================================================================== NO WARRANTY 1. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. 2. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. This archive contains a full working copy of the program, but lacks the ability to export your work. The complete version will be distributed by CMD. If you can`t wait to get hold of a full working version, contact Creative Micro Designs, Inc. P.O. Box 646 East Longmeadow, MA 01028 Tel.: (800) 6383-CMD Fax : (413) 525-0147 http://www.cmdweb.com GoDot website at http://members.aol.com/howtogodot/welcome.htm Programmers ask the authors for an optional package containing some important sources and a printed reference guide ("Inside GoDot"). The documentation and tutorials for GoDot are part of the CMD distribution package. Please read the `Savers` section for information about export modules. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to install the GoDot Demo Package ------------------------------------- The LNX file needs to be dissolved to a 1541 disk. The D64 file is a 1541 disk image for use with C64 emulators like Frodo or C64S. System requirements ------------------- GoDot needs at least a C64 and a 15xx or compatible floppy drive (incl. any type of CMD drive). It will also work with a C128(D) in C64 mode and can take advantage of the VDC ram (16 or 64k). Additional drives are recognized and supported, as is any type of CBM ram expansion units. The Pagefox cartridge ram is the only third party ram type currently supported, there are special modules to launch the Pagefox software from the GoDot program without loosing your work. Additional ram may be used as a data backup buffer (not VDC16k), as alternative visual output (VDC only) and/ or as silicon disk for the program`s modules (CBM REUs only). Some modules to support third party in/output hardware such as scanners, video digiti- zers and printers (9-24pin, color and b/w) are available as part of the GoDot package, others as public domain or shareware. GoDot can be used by mouse, joystick, or keyboard. Pagefox is (c) Scanntronik The GoDot GUI ------------- If you know ART DEPARTMENT PROFESSIONAL (c) by Elastic Reality, it will be easy for you to use GoDot because it uses a similar GUI layout. If you don`t, go and buy it, it is a wonderful peace ;-) of software with many functions not found in many so called high end software packages. +--------------------------------+--------------+---------------+ | install loader | redisplay | program info | +-----------------------------------------------+---------------+ | install saver | load picture | save picture | +--------------------------------+ +---------------+ | | | end program | | +----------------------+------------------------------+ | | change dither type | | +--------------------------------+ | | activate balancing window | +---------------+ +--------------------------------+ | | | activate palette window | | picture | +--------------------------------+ | preview | | toggle display mode | | | +--------------------------------+--------------+---------------+ | | colors used | | | +---------------+------------------------------+ | | clip on/off | install module | +----------------+---------------+------------------------------+ | render new display | execute module | +--------------------------------+------------------------------+ Understanding GoDot ------------------- The software consists of different types of files, all being handled by a main program routine. - godot : launches the system, the launch drive (8-11) will be set as SYStem drive, unless a REU was recognized - god.ini : editable preferences - god.main : yep! - god.set : program data - god.upmem : the render routines - dev.REU : the ram disk device handler - ini.blah : optional preferences file may be used by `LOAD"GODOT",8:"BLAH" ...yes it works, and it would have worked in 1983 ! Loaders ------- To import pictures, GoDot needs at least one loader module (LDR.BLAH). There are loaders for C64 type pictures such as Koala, Doodle and other commercial paint packages, but also for several file types generated by some editors using enhanced display routines (FLI/IFLI). GoDot has access to foreign file types as well, currently supported are GIF (2-256 colors), Amiga ILBM (2-4096 colors, except AGA), PCX (2-256 colors) and Atari Degas (2 colors). Once data has been stored in the GoDot 4BIT format, it can be reimported via the 4BIT loaders while being merged, overlayed, or mixed with existing pictures. Savers ------ To export pictures, GoDot needs at least one saver module (SVR.BLAH). The demonstration version contains only the saver for the internal GoDot 4BIT file format, the full package will provide savers for - CBM hires and multicolor bitmaps - Koala - Doodle - Geos - Plus4 multicolor - Amiga ILBM - PCX - various (I)FLI types - and many others ... Modules ------- The whole picture data is stored in a 32000 byte buffer, containing a 320 x 200 16 color image. Actually GoDot is using 16 shades of gray, but as every c64 color is assigned to a gray level, colors may also be processed by special modules. If the saturation level of your monitor or TV set is turned down to a minimum, only 9 different levels of gray can be identified, a fact some software developers should have thought of. The image data can now be processed by different modules (MOD.BLAH). There are some modules providing functions as seen on high level image processing systems (look at the mighty convolve module), but also C64 specific modules for enhancing visual output. Well... ------- For additional information see the c64 format readme module. From now on, you are on your own. Feel free to fiddle around with all supplied modules, try to create beautyful pictures never seen on your C64. If you like it and you do want more, buy the whole package. The development has not been stopped, and there are a bunch of third party programmers who have already produced some amazing add-ons such as a direct Amiga-C64 transfer module and a SIRDS generator. If you have any suggestions, don`t hesitate to contact us (see the GoDot readme module). BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! -------------------- As you might have noticed, some modules are marked with a dot. These are SYStem modules, because they do not change any image data, but the system parameters. - .PatternEd will modify the dither pattern - .NewPointer will install a new mouse pointer - .FirstDrive will change the system path - .FileType will try to identify a chosen file and... - .FileCopy is a two (any type) drive filecopy program THIS DOCUMENT IS A ONE PASS WORK. AS I AM NOT A NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER, THERE MAY BE SOME PARTS WHICH NEED CORRECTIONS. DO IT IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO, BUT DON`T TELL ME ! Have fun with GoDot! Wolfgang Kling & Arndt Dettke Jan 1998