Author Topic: Mini guide to TI-84+CSE gradients (for drawing graphics under limited colors)  (Read 5767 times)

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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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I thought I would make a mini guide on how to draw gradients for TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition BASIC games. Some people might like to mimic old school game graphics, but feel too limited by the 15 colors palette. Of course, now you got SourceCoder that can convert images for you, but in some cases, you will not be satisfied by the results (usually, too many elements will be converted to grayscale). In case you might want to draw something by hand or using BASIC drawing commands, this is the closest possible thing I could find as gradient for 6 colors:




Of course, it isn't very ideal in some cases, but it can help a lot when you convert images using color replacing tools. Some adjustments are usually required in the original image and you have to colors parts of it separately, but here is an idea of what I could end up with:




I thought, however, that the grass was a little too dark compared to the sand. However, making the grass leafs green and the rest yellow looked too bright for the eyes, so I decided to try inverting them so the leaves are brighter than the rest and it looks better.

Of course, I doubt that people would use graphics this complex in pure BASIC and that ASM libs would allow far more colors, meaning this might not be very useful to everyone, but we never know.

What do you think?
« Last Edit: June 18, 2013, 03:37:43 am by DJ Omnimaga »

Offline Streetwalrus

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TLDR :P
Though I hope it'll be usefull to someone. :D

Offline Sorunome

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Yeah, hope it would be useful! (even though I like the original one most :P)
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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Thanks. The original is mainly for xLIB CSE actually. Also, now that I think about it, this might be handy if someone decided to use scaled up 8x8 sprites using 3x3 pt-on commands, but even that is slow. :P
« Last Edit: June 18, 2013, 04:10:00 am by DJ Omnimaga »

Offline dreamdragon

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I thought I would make a mini guide on how to draw gradients for TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition BASIC games. Some people might like to mimic old school game graphics, but feel too limited by the 15 colors palette. Of course, now you got SourceCoder that can convert images for you, but in some cases, you will not be satisfied by the results (usually, too many elements will be converted to grayscale). In case you might want to draw something by hand or using BASIC drawing commands, this is the closest possible thing I could find as gradient for 6 colors:




Of course, it isn't very ideal in some cases, but it can help a lot when you convert images using color replacing tools. Some adjustments are usually required in the original image and you have to colors parts of it separately, but here is an idea of what I could end up with:




I thought, however, that the grass was a little too dark compared to the sand. However, making the grass leafs green and the rest yellow looked too bright for the eyes, so I decided to try inverting them so the leaves are brighter than the rest and it looks better.

Of course, I doubt that people would use graphics this complex in pure BASIC and that ASM libs would allow far more colors, meaning this might not be very useful to everyone, but we never know.

What do you think?


dj!
the manual you uploaded is empty....i cant open it! D:

Offline TIfanx1999

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You realize that both of the attachments are picture files right?

*Edit* Gradients are definitely one way you could go. When working with a limited pallet, I tend to try to use more neutral tones. That way it attempts to minimize some of the contrast issues you might have. This pallet really lacks green and yellows, so it might be easier to utilize the colors we have more shades of; The blues, grays, and reds. This mockup takes advantage of the large number of grays available, and uses the dark redish brown as brown (since it's really the only brown we have. :P).
« Last Edit: February 18, 2014, 01:37:21 pm by Art_of_camelot »

Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Oh that looks nice art :D

Btw Celtic II CSE supports sprites but with those colors, so that could be handy if someone makes a game but don't want to use xLIBC due to sprites being larger and scaled 2x. :)

@Dreamdragon it is most likely a problem on your end (especially if you use Internet Explorer 6), because I can see file attachments and images fine