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CEGFlash

Converts a 16- or 24-bit Targa image to Edsun CEG with Flash method


Syntax

CEGFLASH <cINFILE.TGA> <cOUTFILE.CEG>


Arguments

<cINFILE.TGA>
The 16- or 24-bit Targa image to be converted.

<cOUTFILE.CEG>
The file to save the Edsun CEG image to after conversion.


Remarks

CEG (Continuous Edge Graphics) images must be created from 16- or 24-bit 
Targa images. CEG requires all of the image information contained in these 
large files in order to calculate the 8-bit CEG image.

There are two methods of creating Advanced 8 Edsun CEG files:

CEG DPL - conversion requires that the current SVGA card have an Edsun 
CEG/DAC chip installed for the conversion from Targa and for display, as it 
uses the CEG/DAC services and video memory to create the best CEG quality. 
It creates an optimum CEG palette from the 24-bit image data, using an 
array of Dynamic Palette Locations (DPL) and mix codes for a combination of 
additional colors and anti-aliasing according to seven processing rules. 
Conversion is slow due to the extensive calculations and is best done in a 
batch mode, at a non-critical time. This is the method to use for DOS 
presentation quality. Upon display, CEG - DPL images produces harmless 
flashing in conflict with a graphic mouse. This is distracting, and should 
not be used within Microsoft Windows. It happens when a graphic mouse cursor 
passes over active DPLs or mix code locations. The palette of the mouse 
cursor is not the correct palette for that location in the image. Since DPLS 
and mix codes are dynamic and active, they process the mouse colors as if a 
part of the image, causing the "psychedelic" display.

CEG Flash - conversion from 16- or 24-bit Targa uses a fixed, predetermined, 
default CEG Palette that does not require DPLs for processing to CEG. It 
does create an array of mix codes. It is a file-to-file conversion method 
that does not require the services of an Edsun CEG/DAC to be installed for 
conversion. The CEG/DAC is only required for display. This conversion method 
is very fast and produces very good quality but not quite as good as 
CEG - DPL. This is the recommended method for display under Microsoft 
Windows. Unusual effects caused by a graphic mouse cursor are minimal.

Note: Since the CEG image is an array of active image information that is 
coordinate specific, you may not scale, clip, or otherwise modify a CEG 
image. You must process the image while as a Targa image prior to conversion 
or use CEG2TGA to convert CEGs back to Targa for modification.

The Edsun CEG RAMDAC is a compatible CEG/DAC chip used in place of standard 
ColorDACs on SVGA cards. All existing VGA display software and drivers work 
normally with the CEG RAMDAC in power-up compatibility mode. However, when 
the CEG portion of the RAMDAC is turned on by the Sunshow application, the 
additional CEG logic contained between the RAM and the DAC blocks is 
activated. This extra logic decodes the special video opcodes which were 
placed directly in the image by TGA2CEG or CEGFlash, and performs a special 
blending in the palette RAM to produce new display colors at specific 
coordinates.

The best quality images (because they contain full image data) are 24-bit 
true color files having 16.8 million colors displayed on video cards that 
are capable of 24-bit display. 24-bit files are very large, slow to load, 
and use system resources to the maximum. Mapping the 24-bit files to 8-bit 
SVGA compatible file produces strongly degraded images. Edsun CEG is an 
ideal, inexpensive alternative, having the high quality of 24-bit with fast 
display and small filesize of 8-bit images.


Example

To convert a 16- or 24-bit Targa file, teacup.tga to Edsun CEG with the 
Flash method:

CEGFLASH TEACUP.TGA TEACUP.CEG