GIF Loader problem ?
10 messages in this thread
Hi Perry,
Been noticing something strange about the GIF loader. It seems to want
my entire systems ram no matter what it "really" needs. I have a 3.5 meg
system (3 fast .5 chip) and I use a 1 meg rad: disk leaving 2.5 meg.
However, even when loading a small 11k Gif, Tad forces me to get rid of my
rad or else I get an image too large "oops". For the largest IFF files
I've used (200k +), the most clearing of space I've needed to do is a
reboot leaving my rad intack and usable while single tasking TAD. This is
fine even for 640 x 400 aham/arz0 images which I would think take much more
space than an 11k Gif would.
I'm learning more about this thing every day. The combinations of
commands are remarkable. One more question though, is it impossible to
enlarge on one scale and reduce on the other on one pass ? While TAD is
fast enough to not make this a real bother, it would be nice to do.
Thanks……Jim Marias (75436,126)
Something that most people don't understand (so I better start explaining!)
is that TAD may expand a very tiny file into a very large file as part of
its normal operation. Here's how/why:
If TAD notices an image file contains color (non-grays) it will convert the
image into a 24 bit-plane data set. So, let's say you have a huge image
with only 2 colors (say 2K by 2K with only red and black). Because it is
only two colors the image might be only a few kilobytes on disk…but that
will try to load it in 24 bit-planes by 2K by 2K. That's a HUGE file.
The reason we do this is to allow all those nifty processing capabilities
to work.
Perhaps in a future release we'll have to address this situation in a
better way because you're not the first to comment about it.
At one time…you can either reduce or enlarge but not both. This
restriction allowed us to make some optimizations which really speed up the
most common cases at the expense of the less common case (wanting to expand
and reduce at the same time).
Please keep those comments coming…cuz we're hard at work on Release 2 for
a SomeDay release. Your input is very much appreciated.
pk
Perry,
Thanks for the quick reply ! (and the math lesson) It was baffling in
that when loaded and immediately saved in IFF ham format (no other
changes), I could load in the IFF file with much less memory available.
As for the enlarge/shrink combo, no problem. Waiting an extra 10
seconds occasionally is obviously no big deal.
Thanks……… Jim
Perry….
If, by chance, you are talking to any of the Canadian folks who distribute
ASDG products, could you convince them to order a TON of Art Departments'
please? My local dealer has yet to get some, and I think the distributors
themselves need to be sold on it…I keep hearing these incredible reports
on it, and I want one right away!
Long time no type….congratulations on yet another excellent new product..
please get these crazy canuck distributors to stock them up to the
rafters..
Much appreciated…
Jim Ogilvie CBM Ottawa
We don't prsently do business with anyone in Canada directly. American
is supposedly selling to North American, but that's about it. Could you
hook us up with some additional Canadian representation? (Or previous
distributor [Phase 4] had a habit of not paying us).
pk
Jim:
Have had a difficult time trying to get someone to get the Art
Department here in Toronto, as dealers I've contacted here don't seem to
like dealing with North American…..finally this past week talked one of
the dealers to order The Art Department for me. He said I should get one by
the end of this week.
Rob.
Please, we'd like to have a greater presence in that great market to the
north. If you know a fair, reputable and honest distributor…please let
us know.
pk
Perry:
I'll check with the dealers I know, and see who they deal with. I saw
your comments on Phase 4, and seem to recall that one of the dealers either
was 1) Having trouble with them or 2) Phase 4 was going out of business.
Since I was not paying attention to that particaular conversation ( I was
talking to one person while trying to listen to 2 conversations…) I did
not hear exactly what was said.
Rob.
And if you know of a fair, reputable and honest Amiga distributor anywhere
in the world, let *me* know, OK? 🙂
Can you please describe the Art Department?
Raman