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A fast 24-bit capable PCX picture datatype!
For 68k, OS4, WarpOS and MorphOS.
Copyright © 2003-2020 Oliver Roberts, All Rights Reserved.
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| Version: | 45.6 |
| Released: | 9 May 2020 |
 | Download |
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WarpPCX.datatype is a datatype which allows you to view and read ZSoft PC
Paintbrush (PCX) image files. A unique feature of this particular PCX
datatype is that in addition to supporting the 68k (with optimized versions
for 020, 030, 040 and 060), it also supports the PowerPC processor, with
native OS4, WarpOS and MorphOS versions. Even better, it is fast, compact,
clean and well behaved - a true plug'n'play PPC datatype. One of the key
features is its superior speed, hence the name WarpPCX. This datatype uses
the same engine as used by my other WarpDTs.
There are various user settings available, which can be changed
using the WarpDT Preferences program.
- Read standard ZSoft PC Paintbrush PCX files, including less common
non-standard modes which Cloanto Personal Paint can save
- Supports pixel bit depth of 1 or 8 and 1-8 planes of data, covering
mono 1-bit images upto 24-bit RGB, both RLE compressed and uncompressed
- Highly optimized datatype dispatch engine and PCX decoder,
resulting in a very efficient, compact and quick PCX datatype
- Asynchronous double buffering techniques (WarpOS only) and file i/o,
which speeds up image decoding
- Optimized versions for 68020, 030, 040 and 060
- PowerPC support with native OS4, WarpOS and MorphOS versions
- Alter the pen allocation precision when images are remapped to an
8-bit display
- Specific support for the AmigaOS picture.datatype v44+, when available
- The dithering feature of the AmigaOS picture.datatype v44+ can be
configured to your liking (e.g. disabled for 15/16-bit displays)
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The table below shows the time (in seconds) it took to decode 5 different
images on my A1200 603e/240MHz 060/50MHz, with BVision and CGX
picture.datatype, with other tested datatypes configured as close as
possible to WarpPCX's internal settings. However, due to the nature of PCX
files, don't expect miracles from the PPC versions.
Really, there wasn't much to benchmark my datatype against, apart from the
CGX PCX datatype. And, as you can see, there's really not a lot in it in
terms of speed. The main reason being that PCX files use a very simple RLE
compression scheme, which in turn means simpler decoding routines, and
therefore less room for optimisation. But, WarpPCX tends to be faster than
everything else, even if only small fractions of a second :-)
Benchmarked system
A1200 + BlizzardPPC 603e+/240MHz 060/50MHz,
BVision, CGX picture.datatype + SCSI2SD V6 | PowerPC | | M68K |
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| WarpOS | MorphOS |
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| WarpPCX 45.6 | CGX PCXdt
44.2 | WarpPCX
45.6 | CGX PCXdt
43.7 | C= PicDT
42.1 |
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| 833x841 1-bit compressed, 87019 bytes | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.43 | | 621x494 4-bit compressed, 153035 bytes | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.25 | x | | 461x599 24-bit compressed, 62967 bytes | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.21 | 0.26 | x | | 645x259 8-bit compressed, 130842 bytes | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.14 | x | | 268x577 8-bit compressed, 23715 bytes | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.24 |
(x = not supported)
Note: all tests were performed, multiple times, using Visage, with the following
command line: "visage test.pcx time test".
68k version
- Kickstart 3.0 or higher
- 68020 processor or higher (optimized versions included)
- picture.datatype v43 or higher (supplied with AmigaOS 3.1.4, 3.2, 3.5, 3.9, CyberGraphX, P96 or AfA OS)
WarpOS version
- Kickstart 3.0 or higher
- PPC accelerator card + 68040/060
- WarpUp Release 5.0 or higher
- picture.datatype v43 or higher (supplied with AmigaOS 3.1.4, 3.2, 3.5, 3.9, CyberGraphX, P96 or AfA OS)
OS4 version
- PPC accelerator card / AmigaOne / SAM
- AmigaOS 4.0 or higher
MorphOS version
- PPC accelerator card / Pegasos / Efika
- MorphOS 1.4 or higher
Note that a graphics card is not necessary.
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