
=-=-=-= LBMVIEW v1.0b =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= (C) 1997 DEVOTiON =-=-=-=-=

        LBMVIEW is a viewer for IFF ILBM/PBM pictures, created in
DeluxePaint II or DeluxePaint II Enhanced, converted from another
format, or copyed from Amiga. It handles both compressed and raw, ILBM
and PBM formats with color depth up to 8 bits (i.e. maximum 256
colors). Viewer shows correctly masked images (QPV 1.7c have problems
with them). It works fine with odd width images (CSHOW 9.04a don't
works correctly with such files). And finaly it is free and comes with
source code.

        You can test viewer right now with picture ash.lbm from this
package. BTW: I'm at the center ;-)

        LBMVIEW can be useful as a DOS executable, but the primary
goal of this project is to provide everyone with clear bug-free
source code of IFF ILBM/PBM loader. If you are involved in demo or
game creation activity, you probably know, that Deluxe Paint II
Enhanced v3.0 is simply the *best* graphics editor for DOS. And IFF
ILBM/PBM is it's native format. This format is less efficient then GIF
or any other Lempel-Ziff-* based formats, but it is the best from RLE
series. Why? Because, for example, PCX file with 320x200 bitmap, in
wich all pixels are different (the worstest thing for RLE compression
scheme), will be 128Kb in size (in two times bigger, then raw bitmap).
But the same bitmap in IFF ILBM/PBM format will be ~65Kb. And this is
a rule: virtualy all bitmaps in IFF ILBM/PBM format will be smaller in
size, then PCX, TGA or any other RLE compression based format.

        I tested IFF ILBM/PBM loading routine for virtualy all posible
situations, so it must work fine. But as you know, nothing is perfect
in this world. I'm sure that somebody will meet a problem using my
routine. If this is your case (and if you are sure that the problem
is serious, i.e. you don't try to display a GIF file, renamed to
*.LBM with this viewer) please send me a message via e-mail (see
address at the end of file) with detailed description of your problem.
If problem appears on specific picture (not true-color, they aren't
supported yet), please attach this bitmap to your letter. Sincerly,
I'll be happy if you'll drop me a message even if you don't have
any problems :). I'll be even more happy if you'll attach some nice
pictures to your letter. You may consider it a registration ;-)

        Note about mask types: mask type is equal to zero for regular
ILBM and PBM pictures, but it is 1 for normal brushes and, as I
understand, 2 for warped. I didn't maked any special support for files
with mask, but they seems to work just ok. At least better then
QPV 1.7c.

        This viewer uses Allegro 2.1 library for graphics output.
Allegro is the *ultimate* game programming library for DOS.
It is developed by Shawn Hargreaves. As far as I know, the latest
official version is 2.11. Also WIP (Work In Progress) version is
available at Shawn's home-page. Probably my load_lbm() routine will be
incorporated in WIP soon.

        LBMVIEW was compiled using DJGPP 2.01 - free 32-bit (any DPMI)
C/C++/Pascal compiler. It is one of the best compilers for DOS target.
If you want to find more information on DJGPP, please visit web site
www.delorie.com. For BP/BC fans: DJGPP have now an integrated developer
environment - RHIDE, wich looks and feels like native Borland's ide
(well, atleast nearly like Borland's). Like any other DJGPP program,
LBMVIEW requires DPMI server for it's work. If you don't ran in
environment with DPMI host, like Windows, OS/2, Linux DOSemu or QEMM,
then please unzip and put somethere in path CSWDPMI.EXE dos extender.
On startup, if no DPMI host detected, CSWDPMI.EXE is loaded
automaticly.

        I'd like to send some greets to following people:

To all people at djgpp mail list and news group; to all demo sceners;
to all people from the first gymnasium of Surgut (Tiumeni oblasti,
Russia); to my friends from Moldavian State University; to guys from
the RIT Labs; to guys from iD.

        Special greets goes to:

All DEVOTiON members; SET (Salvador Eduardo Tropea); all Imphobia Crew
members; DJ Delorie; Shawn Hargreaves; Eli Zaretski; Robert Hoehne;
John M. Aldrich.

        Few personal messages to some of my friends, who lives to far
from me:   :~(

Andrew Veltchev: Hello, Andy! How it goes in San Francisco? Are you
still a champ in DOOM? What is the status of your breaking-thru
system programming skills? If you'll read this, please drop a message
to me via e-mail or snail.

Unreal / Pulse: Hi, Unreal! Take a look at my work. I think it is not
too bad for a newbie ;)  I know that you are the fan of IFF format too,
and that you implemented IFF loader in assembly (probably much faster
then mine). But this one is for *any* resolutions, colordepth (up to 8
bits as I sayd before). It is written completly in C (i.e. high
portability), and it is still fast enough. I think one day I'll be
able to do some cool productions, as you currently doing. C YA, drop
a msg to me.

Synoptic / DEVOTiON: Hi, man! Do you like my first production under
DEVOTiON mark? Not? Common man, it's just a first try of skills. Soon
I'll make my FreePaint, then 3D engine, and then we'll shock the
public!

Koala / DEVOTiON: Hello, Koalla! Too sad I can't see you or Synoptic,
and probably I'll never see you (except some scans, may be). All this
week-end (January 26, 1997) I maded this piece of code. Please, don't
mess up it with piece of sh*t ;) Ok, I finished it now (Jan. 27, 00:59),
and tomorrow I'll gonna start to build promised rotating "burned" logo
effect for your swiss compo intro. Don't forget to drop me a msg.
C YA.

        Other projects:

        Currently I work under one big project - FreePaint. FreePaint
is planed to be a freeware DP2e v3.0 clone with 100% functionality of
original plus some extras. As addition to graphics editor, FreePaint
package will contine a picture grabber with smart screen and videomemory
state detection, and fast picture viewer (QPV analogue, but with
different design).

        How you can reach the author:

Ok, if you need me for something (consulting, code works, beer drinking,
philosofy disputs - in no particular order ;) ), please use e-mail, if
available:

        ash@cinf.usm.md or oboroc@cinf.usm.md

If you don't have access to Internet or any other net with gate to Internet
(like CompuServe, FidoNet or Relcom), then please drop a snail to following
address:

        Adrian Oboroc
        202/1 Alba-Iulia str., apt. 137
        Chisinau, 2071
        R.Moldova

=-=-=-= EOF =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
