Image to ZX Spec 1.2.1 Released

Update: Version 1.3.0(_01) has been released
Version 1.2.1(_02) of this application has now been released and is freely available.



Image to ZX Spec 1.2.1 is a multi core capable image and video converter that can produce vintage computer art images (jpeg/png) of any size and can even convert work to a real ZX Spectrum (or an emulator) as a slideshow or video. This is useful to create retro music videos, posters, mock screenshots etc etc - you do not even need a Spectrum to use this program!

Just to show you how easy it is here's one I made earlier in 15 mins:



Key features include being able to:

- Apply a "Spectrumized" effect to any size JPEG, PNG or GIF image.
- Convert AVI or MOV files to ZX Spectrum video with optional video loader.
- Convert any JPEG, PNG or GIF image, convert to a ZX Spectrum slideshow (.tap file), or to ZX Spectrum SCREEN images (.scr file).
- Choose from numerous processing options as to how the images will be converted, including customising how colour "attribute" clash is handled.
- Convert an entire directory of images in one go.
- Change all processing options on-the-fly.
- Java based - works on Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu, etc or try it online! (Requires Java 6 to be installed)

Third party artwork:
zxthetics (Hi-Fi Lo-Fi / Digital Impressionism / Faux-Bit)
Prosthetic Knowledge/More zxthetics works
8 Bit Tron

Requirements:

Java 6 or better
Online version: >256MB memory free (image size limited).
Standalone version: >512MB memory free (larger image sizes permitted).

Downloads:

Try Image to Zx Spec 1.2.1_02 online.
Image to ZX Spec 1.2.1_02 Standalone (just unzip and double click jar file to start).
Image to ZX Spec 1.2.1_02 Source code and Javadoc (note GPL 2.0 licenced).
Tutorial and demo videos

Image to ZX Spec 1.1 Released

Image to ZX Spec 1.1 is now freely available.
UPDATE: Get the latest 1.3.1 build

You can use Image to ZX Spec 1.1 online here (requires Java 6) or choose to download it.
Image to ZX Spec allows you to:

- Create retro art work, any size image can be "Spectrumized" (.png, .gif .jpg file) using
and one of 15(!) dithering modes (shading for the non techies).
- Convert JPEGS or GIFs to a ZX Spectrum slideshow (tap file).
- Convert JPEGS or GIFs to a ZX Spectrum SCREEN image (.scr file).
- Convert an entire directory of images, with previews.
- Choose from numerous processing options as to how the images will be converted.
- Change all processing options on-the-fly.



New for Version 1.1
- Added new Atrribute Favoritism feature to choose the colour set to use (greatly improves default image quality).
- Added Dither Preview feature which displays previews with different dithering algorithms (and takes advantage of multi core processors).
- Updated BASIC slideshow program with new warning to stop tape.
- Minor bug fixes to do with image conversion colour choice.
- Memory usage increased for larger image conversion (512MB min).
- Improved UI layout for Linux based systems (tested on Ubuntu)
- Main frame has splash picture, About box displays system info.

Requirements
Java 6 or better
Online version: >256MB memory free (image size limited).
Standalone version: >512MB memory free (larger image sizes permitted).

Downloads
Try Image to ZX Spec Online
Image to ZX Spec 1.1 Standalone
Image to ZX Spec 1.1 Source Code

Many thanks to Viperfang Networks for the hosting.

Image to ZX Spec 1.1 Progress

Just a quick update regarding Image to ZX Spec - multi core support has been added, dither preview is now included and Spectrum attribute favouritism option has been added greatly improving the image quality. Have a look at the preview image (click for full size image) - bear in mind these display like this on a real ZX Spectrum!

Image to ZX Spec 1.0.5 Released

UPDATE: Version 1.2.1 supersedes this revision of Image to ZX Spec you can get this here



Image to ZX Spec 1.0.5 "Omega" is now available - try it online (requires Java 6, you will be shown a security prompt) or download it (more links bottom of this post beneath changes).

You can find out more about what Image to ZX Spec can do here and here


Bill and Ted agree being Omega dithered is most excellent (click image)


Changes
-------
Version 1.0.5

• Added Bayer Ordered Dither (2x1)
• Added Omega Ordered Dither (2x2)
• Minor code changes including better error messages.
• Remembering directory locations in the file dialogs
• OpenGL hardware acceleration switch (disabled by default, source
  code only adjustment required to enable it due to instability and
  currently only rendering display improvements).
• Small UI changes

Downloads:

YouTube video tutorial

Webstart Image to ZX Spec (i.e. "online" usage - requires Java 6)

Download Image to ZX Spec 1.0.5

Download the Image to ZX Spec 1.0.5 (GPL 2) source code

Image to ZX Spec 1.0.4 Released

Hot on the heels of the 1.0.3 release I burnt out to finish 1.0.4 with a number of new ordered dithering options, performance tweaks and other nice things - try it online (requires Java 6, you will be shown a security prompt) or download it (more links bottom of this post beneath changes).

You can find out more about what Image to ZX Spec can do here

Here's a sample of the new ordered dither modes, note that although the Spectrum only has 7 effective colours (excluding half bright) the dithering achieves the appearance of many more...





Changes
-------
Version 1.0.4
- Added Ordered Dithering and a substantial number of new modes
- Added options control for ordered dither intensity
- Refactored some old code giving a small performance increase
for screen export and error diffusion dithering
- Replaced input folder option with file selector so individual
files can be processed instead

Downloads:

Webstart Image to ZX Spec (i.e. "online" usage - requires Java 6)

Download Image to ZX Spec 1.0.4

Download the Image to ZX Spec 1.0.4 (GPL 2) source code

Image to ZX Spec 1.0.3 Released

Lots of improvements in this release - as you can see! For a change list see below, for more info and screenshots see the original post.

If you don't fancy the download you can also now try Image to ZX Spec online (requires Java 6). You will be prompted about its digital signature being unverified - you will need to click the "Run" option or it won't start). You don't have to tick the "Always trust..." option.



Changes
-------
Version 1.0.3
- New options dialog (options can also be changed mid conversion!)
- New dithering options (including Low Error Atkinson)
- New jpeg image export option
- New pre-processing options such as brightness, contrast etc.
- New image scaling options (proportional scaling)
- Monochrome image mode with colour selection
- Small code refactor, improvements in speed on some operations
(speed is not a priority at the moment).

Version 1.0.2 (Internal build only)
- Numerous new dithering algorithms added
- Small bug fixes

Downloads:

Webstart Image to ZX Spec (i.e. "online" usage - requires Java 6)

Download Image to ZX Spec 1.0.3

Download the Image to ZX Spec 1.0.3 (GPL 2) source code

Image to ZX Spec 1.0.2 Progress

I thought I'd post progress on Image to ZX Spec. I've now added a number of other dither options and a separate dialog for configuration, but I guess what you really want to see is how much it's improved - the following conversions where done with my own "low error" dither based on the Atkinson dither. Click the images to see them full size. Yes... this is what the images will look like on a real ZX Spectrum!

Image to ZX Spec 1.0.1 Released

Image to ZX Spectrum has been updated.

For a full description of what this application does see the original post.

I'm not entirely happy with this release - the "Full Colour Floyd Steinberg Converter" (FCFSC) mode is still quite poor, however I'm releasing it now so users can get a feel for the "Half Colour Floyd Steinberg Converter" (HCFSC) which is new to 1.0.1 and is potentially a lot better (pre release screenshot above).

Version 1.0.2 will fix the colour issues in FCFSC.

Image to ZX Spec Released

Image to ZX Spec is now available for download

Before reading further, 1.1 has been released and 1.2 is on it's way, see here for Image to ZX Spec 1.1

Many thanks to Viperfang Networks for the hosting

Image to ZX Spec allows you to:

- Convert JPEGS or GIFs to a ZX Spectrum slideshow (tap file).
- Convert JPEGS or GIFs to a ZX Spectrum SCREEN image (.scr file).
- Create retro art work, any size image can be "Spectrumized" (.png file).
- Convert an entire directory of images, with previews.
- Choose from numerous processing optionsas to how the images will be converted.
- Change all processing options on-the-fly.

Here's a screenshot from 1.0.3 showing a comparison preview between the original image and the Spectrum image:





Downloads:

Download Image to ZX Spec 1.0.5

Download the Image to ZX Spec 1.0.5 (GPL 2) source code

Retro Art Software "Image to ZX Spec" and Blog Issues

UPDATE:
Many thanks to Viperfang Networks for the new download hosting - the site should be working normally. If you notice any broken links please drop me a comment.


I'm moving web hosting so my downloads and most other content will shortly be offline, although hopefully this should not be for too long (a few hours tops).

Unrelated, in the last week I've written Image to ZX Spec, an image converter that will take any photo and retro"ise" it, and can even create slideshows for use on the ZX Spectrum.

The downloads and source for this will be available in a few days.

Here's a sneak peak at what it can do (yes this is running on a real Spectrum emulator, and thus can be run on a real machine!)