danny@idacom.UUCP (Danny Wilson) (06/04/89)
I am trying to display a file generated from a ray tracing program
on a DN3000c.
Using SR9.7 and our somewhat outdated documentation (9.0)
we do a gpr_$init with gpr_$borrow and use gpr_$write_pixels
to generate the image.
However, I am confused about the color capabilities of this system.
The manual states that you can use gpr_$set_imaging_format
to select between different number of planes for colors.
But all calls to this routine fail with a bad status code.
Question: How many planes of graphics do I have on this machine
(and how do I tell, if it is configurable) Is is possible to
display the high-quality images without any special HW etc??
Notes: SR9.7, DN3000 color node purchased as a 'BoardStation' from
Mentor Graphics
/com/netstat -config reports:
NODE CONFIGURATION
Node Type: DN3000
Display type: 1024 x 800 color display
68881 Floating Point Unit present.
Peripheral configuration:
Disks: winchester
Networks: Ring
Peripheral bus: AT-bus
Tapes: none
Disk types: MSD-170M
Thanks,
--
Danny Wilson
IDACOM Electronics danny@idacom.uucp
Edmonton, Alberta alberta!idacom!danny
C A N A D AFERGUSON@TMASL.EXXON.COM (06/05/89)
I believe that the gpr_$set_imaging_format can only be used on machines with some special hardware, like DN600's, 590's, etc. There isn't a way to get more colors by quartering the size and making them act like more planes on a 3000. If I'm wrong, I sure would like to know about it. Scott Ferguson ferguson@erevax.bitnet Exxon Research & Engineering Annandale, NJ 08801 (201) 730-2339
krowitz@RICHTER.MIT.EDU (David Krowitz) (06/05/89)
The GPR_$SET_IMAGING_MODE call is meant to be used on a DN550/560 or DN660 node which can operate either as an 8-plane 1024x1024 with an additional 8-planes by 1024x1024 of hidden display memory, or as a 24-plane 512x512 screen (with, I believe, 24x512x512 or hidden display memory). None of the current DN3xxx/4xxx display controllers have this capability. -- David Krowitz krowitz@richter.mit.edu (18.83.0.109) krowitz%richter@eddie.mit.edu krowitz%richter@athena.mit.edu krowitz%richter.mit.edu@mitvma.bitnet (in order of decreasing preference)
krowitz@RICHTER.MIT.EDU (David Krowitz) (06/05/89)
An afterthought ... even though the display controllers on the DN3xxx/4xxx don't have a 24-bit mode, you can display 24-plane bitmaps on an 8-plane screen. You must convert the 24-plane bitmap to an 8-plane bitmap using a 2x2 or 3x3, 6-level, orered dithering which will give you (6*4)**3 or (6*9)**3 colors at a cost of a slight blurring of the image. -- David Krowitz krowitz@richter.mit.edu (18.83.0.109) krowitz%richter@eddie.mit.edu krowitz%richter@athena.mit.edu krowitz%richter.mit.edu@mitvma.bitnet (in order of decreasing preference)