AnimGIF

[dilwyn]

A new set of programs to handle animated GIF images on SMSQ/E systems.

View animated GIFs, convert individual frames to individual PIC files or GD2 sprites, or convert the entire animation to a GD2 dynamic sprite file, compressed or uncompressed. Support for resizing, rotation and alpha transparency.

There is a GIF conversion program, and an animation file viewer/browser, along with simple SBASIC programs to handle the animations (GIF or sprite) in or alongside your own SBASIC programs.

Requires an SMSQ/E system with support for 16-bit colour modes 32 or 33. 256-colour mode support to follow (note: does not work in mode 4 or mode 8 - high colour required). Note: this is not a games sprite authoring package.

View the README_doc file first, then the individual Quill doc files for the various component parts of the AnimGIF package.

A few sample animated GIF files are included with the package. There is also a large (as in about 15,000 files) collection of animated GIF files which can be downloaded from the same page, as either an .iso image or a qxl.win of GIF files.

Download from http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/graphics/index.html

AnimGIF main menu

animgif1.jpg (10.75 KiB) Viewed 1439 times

Save As menu

animgif2.jpg (18.16 KiB) Viewed 1439 times

Resize/Rotate menu

animgif3.jpg (17.81 KiB) Viewed 1439 times

Browser

As the Forum doesn't allow me to upload .mp4 video files, here's a couple of links to short videos of the software on my website:
http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/graphics/animgif.mp4
http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/graphics/animgif2.mp4

[RalfR]

Great! Just a question: Why does the pointer flickers during animation?

[dilwyn]

Great! Just a question: Why does the pointer flickers during animation?

The load put on the system during animation, the use of MCALLT means you notice the pointer on/off between reads. Especially when viewing GIFs, less so when viewing the dynamic sprites because it takes longer to process the GIF.

Edit: (pressed submit by mistake first time): you could reduce the flicker if viewing ANIMVIEWER_bas or similar program by setting its priority lower using a command such as SPJOB -1,1. Question of balancing the animation smoothness and how much that affects other running programs.

[RalfR]

Ah, ok, thank you. I once made an animated sprite by hand (30 years ago...) That looked good, but was a lot of work. That was the time, when JMS launched his "Hot Install" with a neat animated sprite. But that all wasn't official at that time, and JMS didn't tell anything, as usual.

So I had to bug TT to send me the sources how to make it..

[pjw]

Looks fantastic, Dilwyn! Glad some people are still writing modern software for QL-type systems!
I havent had time to look at it properly yet, but I will over the next few days.
Keep up the good work!

[pjw]

Encountered a few bugs. If I can reproduce them I'll email you the details, Dilwyn.

Steve Wilhite, lead engineer at CompuServe, responsible for the development of GIF (apparently to be pronounced jiff) died quite recently - 14th March. As some disrespectful wag on Twitter quipped: He's with Jod now!

[NormanDunbar]

He's with Jod now!

[dilwyn]

Encountered a few bugs. If I can reproduce them I'll email you the details, Dilwyn.

Thanks Per (and Bob who sent a few bugs and suggestions). Glad to get some feedback.

Some progress!

Steve Wilhite, lead engineer at CompuServe, responsible for the development of GIF (apparently to be pronounced jiff) died quite recently - 14th March. As some disrespectful wag on Twitter quipped: He's with Jod now!

He he. Obviously in that case they referred to the format by the initials G I F rather than saying it as the 'word' GIF as most of us would.

Presumably Steve is now busily compressing everything up there