C64 Pic Extender version 1.1.4 released

Version 1.1.4 of the C64 Pic Extender is now available within my Software page.

This is a minor update for a few enhancements:

  • Added support for Drean

The following enhancements were included as part of version 1.1.3, which was not published by itself:

  • Multiple about dialogs under macOS won’t be erroneously created any longer
  • Non-ASCII and space characters in the application path won’t impair the execution of exomizer under *nix

You might want to check the documentation that comes within each distribution archive for more information!

ALBERT version 1.1.1 released

Version 1.1.1 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.
Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

This is a minor update delivering the following fix to a bug reported by ElfKaa:

  • Fixed the coordinate validation for flood fill to avoid a memory access violation

ALBERT version 1.1.0 released

Version 1.1.0 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.
Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

With support for rectangular selections, symmetrical drawing, image and selection flipping, and many more features, ALBERT celebrates its first year of development with a bang!

Furthermore, there’s an Easter egg in ALBERT 1.1.0. If you can find it, contact me with its details and you get a chance to prioritize a feature from the list of ALBERT’s upcoming features.

ALBERT: Christmas About dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: Christmas About dialog

Here are all changes delivered in this update:

  • Added support for rectangular selections (drag, cut, copy, and paste), solid or transparent
  • Added support for symmetrical (horizontal, vertical, quadrant, and bisected quadrant) drawing and flood fill
  • Added support for flipping (horizontally or vertically) canvas and selection contents
  • Added the option to load transparent PNG images into a separate layer to be used as a drawing reference, which can be hidden and shown as needed
  • Added the option for setting the aspect ratio of pixels (1:1, PAL, or NTSC) for the main canvas and the preview window
  • Added the option to reset image adjustment curve properties when importing PNG images
  • Added the option to set font properties for the scripting window (part of the Preferences dialog)
  • Added two new Lua functions to draw hollow and filled rectangles
  • Added two new Lua functions to draw ellipses and provide a strong reference for drawing circles when targeting PAL or NTSC displays
  • Added the option to generate random shapes using the Pareidolia menu item
  • Added shortcuts for setting the color of pen 1 to values in the range 8-15
  • When opening a project or importing a PNG image the main canvas is now zoomed for best fit
  • Corrected the display of the current graphic mode in the main window’s status bar
  • Fixed color swapping and replacing so that they only modify the editable area and correctly process color clashing
  • Multiple instances of dialogs that require user interaction cannot be erroneously created any longer by users under macOS
  • Added a few more sample projects

Merry Christmas to everyone!

IECHost GUI client version 3.8.12 released

Version 3.8.12 of the IECHost GUI client is now available within my Software page. Binaries are available for Windows, macOS (Intel), Linux x86_64 and armv7l.

This is a minor update for a few enhancements:

  • New feature: Added a counter of accessible sector errors in the disk dumping tab
  • New feature: When warpsaving to D64 also check if tracks need shifting outwards and offer to do so
  • Enhancement: Check if tracks require shifting inwards or outwards also when loading a D64 for re-reads

Details of the changes are also available through the issue tracker.

ALBERT preview version 1.0.50 released

Version 1.0.50 of ALBERT is now available within my Software page.
Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel).For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

Here are all changes delivered in this update:

  • Added support for creating hires standard artwork (with a few hardware-induced caveats)
  • Added constraints for the position of new knots in the image adjustment widget when importing PNG images
  • Non-ASCII and space characters in the application path won’t impair the execution of exomizer under *nix

ALBERT 1.0.50: support for standard hires artwork by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT 1.0.50: support for standard hires artwork

Update: The official homepage for ALBERT is now: https://www.albertpixels.com/

IECHost GUI client version 3.8.11 released

Version 3.8.11 of the IECHost GUI client is now available within my Software page. Binaries are available for Windows, macOS (Intel), Linux x86_64 and armv7l.

This is a minor update for a few enhancements and bug fixes. Here are all changes delivered in this update:

  • New feature: The file chooser dialog used to load disk images now shows the count of sectors with errors in the selected D64 file
  • New feature: The main window now shows the count of sectors with errors in the D64 file loaded for re-reads
  • Fix: Multiple copies of the same dialogs cannot be created any longer under macOS
  • Fix: When expanding the file chooser dialog for opening D64 files the vertical scrollbar is not expanded

Details of the changes are also available through the issue tracker.

Here’s a couple of screenshots that illustrate the count of sectors with errors, both accessible and inaccessible:

IECHost GUI Client: count of errors displayed in the file chooser dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

IECHost GUI Client: count of errors displayed in the file chooser dialog

IECHost GUI Client: count of errors displayed in the main window by Luigi Di Fraia

IECHost GUI Client: count of errors displayed in the main window

The count of accessible sectors with errors is of particular interest as those are the ones that can be re-read, e.g. after a disk surface is cleaned, in an attempt to fix their contents. A re-read operation can be performed when the count of “Max errors” is greater than or equal to the count of accessible sectors with errors.

I shall conclude by saying that the change was requested by Achidchild of The Transfer Team.

ALBERT preview version 1.0.49 released

Version 1.0.49 of ALBERT is now available within my Software page.
Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

Here are all changes delivered in this update:

  • The Lua function drawclear() now creates a checkpoint only if it makes changes to the canvas
  • Added the image adjustment functionality when importing PNG images
  • The project is not reset any longer when a PNG image is imported

Specifically, a new dialog is available for the PNG image import workflow in order to enhance the results of a conversion to the Commodore 64 palette and hardware.

ALBERT 1.0.49: PNG image import dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT 1.0.49: PNG image import dialog

ALBERT 1.0.49: PNG image import dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT 1.0.49: PNG image import dialog

Multiple palette conversion methods are now available: nearest match, error diffusion (Floyd–Steinberg) dithering, and ordered dithering. Each of these references the palette currently active: different palettes will produce different results at conversion time.

Furthermore, whereas the natural (Euclidean) distance is found to be unsuitable for color matching, a weighted alternative is available. The latter should produce results in line with expectations based on the luminance value of Commodore 64 palette colors.

Finally, a curves adjustment widget is provided in order to adjust each color channel separately and/or all of them at the same time.

Update: The official homepage for ALBERT is now: https://www.albertpixels.com/

More software updates

Version 1.1.2 of the C64 Pic Extender is now available within my Software page.

This is a minor update for a few enhancements. Here’s what’s been changed:

  • Added support for “Attribute Byte Format” in order to preserve individual colors when importing sprites from Sprite Pad (use the Preferences menu to activate)
  • Accept Koala Painter images even if they load at non-conventional addresses ($2000 or $4000)

Version 1.4.2 of C64 Raster Effect Editor is now available within my Software page.

This one too is a minor update. Here’s what’s been changed:

  • Accept Koala Painter images even if they load at non-conventional addresses ($2000 or $4000)

The DC2N4-LC command-line client has been replaced by the DC2N4-LC command-line utilities. The latter re-implements the former’s functionality using my most recent development framework.

Finally, the Commodore 64 Cartridge Dumper command-line client is now referred to as Commodore 64 Cartridge Dumper utilities.