[CF List] png images

[scott]

The only reason to go to unlimited colors from 256 would be if
there was a significant feature improvement.  To go to unlimited
colors only because it allows artists to use unlimited colors is
not a sufficient reason.  Images of items can clearly be done with
a limited number of colors.  There needs to be something tangible
to justify go to unlimited colors.  For instance, if there was an
artist interested in greatly expanding the number of fireball
images to create a far more visually exciting effect then going 
to unlimited colors might be justified.  Such a situation would
probably also suggest solutions on how to go to unlimited colors
and still support 256 bit color displays.

I think Norbert Irmer's suggestion on how to set up a true color
palette on an 8 bit display undercuts the need for supporting
unlimited colors.  If one can get a true color palette on an 8 bit
display then what need is there for supporting unlimited colors?
If there were useful colors not included in the 256 supported
colors then there would be a greater need for supported unlimited
colors.  But if one can get "quite acceptable" results within a
256 bit color map then it should be quite acceptable for CF to
support only 256 colors.

CF is not a 3D imersion game where limited colors interfer with
the desired realism.  It is an overhead map with objects on squares.
Rings are almost as large as players and so on.  The goal is not
realism, but recognition.  The question is whether the player can
easily see and identify the item.  It has not been demonstrated that
more colors make objects easier to recognize.  If someone wants to
show some unlimited color images as compared to the current 256 color
image then that would be an important part of justifying going to
unlimited colors.
 
>
     
     Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 20:14:23 -0700
     
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     From: Mark Wedel <
      
      mwedel at scruznet.com
      
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     Subject: Re: [CF List] png images
     
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     Norbert Irmer wrote:
     
     >>
     
     
     >
     
     
     >>
     
      I think it would do no harm to allow the number of colors to be 
     
     unlimited,
>>
     
     
     >>
     
      Since you can setup a true color palette even on a 8 bit display, for 
     
     example
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      by using 3 bits for red, 3 bits for green, and 2 bits for blue.
     
     >>
     
     
     >>
     
      (I did this a few years ago when using a self written opengl renderer 
     
     on an old
>>
     
      sun workstation with 8 bit display, and the results were quite 
     
     acceptable)
>>
     
     
     >>
     
      Then the game would still still be playable on old 8 bit displays, 
     
     and the
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      artists have any freedom they want.
     
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      I think there is a difference of philosphy here.
     
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      While there may be some workarounds/changes that can be done for the 
     
     client, as
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     I've stated in the past, I see no reason to go that route unless it is 
     
     really
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     needed.
     
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      Having it be 'more convenient' to have unlimited colors for png does 
     
     not
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     qualify in there really needed category.  It strikes me as the easy way 
     
     out
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     (which in terms of crossfire, I generally despise, as these easy ways 
     
     out then
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     tend to get fixed up by someone else later).
     
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      Given that, most likely only images which follow the color scheme set 
     
     forth are
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     ever likely to make it into the official distribution.  If someone says 
     
     'well,
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     there is no color close to what I really need so I want to add another 
     
     one', I
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     don't have a problem with that.  If instead, the image doesn't use any 
     
     of the
>
     
     colors and the reason is 'I just didn't want to look at the approved 
     
     color
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     list', that image is unlikely to get into the official tree.
     
     >
     
     
     >
     
      This is fairly harsh standards.  OTOH, the current images with the 
     
     limited
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     color set look very good, and to me, that sort of says that even with 
     
     limited
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     color sets, very good artwork can be done, so ability to use every 
     
     color is not
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     needed.
     
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      Note that if you really want the freedom to develope in any color you 
     
     want,
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     feel free.  It probably would not be hard at all to write a simple 
     
     script the
>
     
     uses the netpbm utilities to convert whatever images to the 'approved' 
     
     colors.
>
     
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