This web-page last updated: wed.16.jul.2003.230am:
Click for: WEBPAGE INDEX
This web page and sub pages is about the new GS8 that is being
worked on and is not released yet except to testers.
The only released version so far is the pre-release.
This page has now been reorganised into several pages.
Overview of Turboprint developments
(Sun.27.apr.2003.930pm)
Turboprint: breakthroughs and progress updates
(Sun.27.apr.2003.930pm)
Direction of the new GS8
Other progress updates
(tue.3.jun.2003.9pm)
Miscellaneous updates, downloads, topics etc
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16th July 2003 230am:
Well the port is essentially complete, right at the very last moment
some minor fixes are being done. Mainly now I am creating the documentation
and the program will be released in less than one week! I wont be more
precise than that. The release will happen regardless of any further problems
encountered. I need to plan the exact logistics of the release as
well, the uploads and the announces all need to be done in one non stop action.
Announces will be done on more than one forum.
Sorry about the recent lack of web activity but with the very hot
weather here I am feeling very unenergetic. Also I am very weary now of
this project, I've spent a bit too long on it, but am pleased with
achieving an all round reasonably polished product. There are a few known minor
glitches, but that is how life is!
So very soon people will be able to see that everything talked about
on this website is for real its not some disinformation.
24th June 2003 145 am:
Well from the AGA POV the port is complete, yes there are various
things I would like it to have and do that it doesnt, but you have to
draw a line somewhere. A s/w project once it reaches a certain point
can literally go on forever.
Imperfection today is better than perfection tomorrow.
The Cybergraphics viewers are kind of complete but need external testing.
Code that runs fine on one graphics card doesnt run on another. There have
been problems regarding allocating struct BitMaps.
Graphics cards use non standard struct BitMaps so you
have to be careful how you allocate them. Amongst other things there is a
flag called BMF_MINPLANES which if not set can lead to problems.
The Turboprint device is also complete, fully done, no further comment
necessary!
SCREENSHOT:
tue.3.jun.2003.9pm: this is a
close up of the eye of the tiger
on my -sDEVICE=whoosh scrolling WB viewer on an
AGA 8 colour 666 x 273 hi-res WB screen.
This is a subset of a 2132 x 1375 pixel tiger image.
A 24-bit-colour Cybergraphics version will also be available,
BACKPEDALLING!:
tue.3.jun.2003.9pm: A few days after the message below I had
to give up using gcc-3.2.2 as it is too memory hungry,
dozens of source files refused to compile due to insufficient memory.
Each successive version of gcc is more memory greedy than its
predecessor, gcc2.95.3-4 seems to be the last in the line of gcc that
will fit in my 2 + 4 + 8 meg A1200. I refuse to upgrade my memory any
further, all further investments will be on eg an A1. Lattice 6.50
compiles no probs in 4 meg, why cant gcc? Lattice also produces
smaller faster code than gcc. Stop making gcc faster, and start
making it more memory efficient, ditto all unix ports, is someone
at Unix central listening? No? I have managed to tweak gs8 so it
will now leave the user at least 5meg free. I am sure the same could
be done for gcc, somewhere in some header file will be some #define's
that need changing to reduce the memory overhead.
MAJOR NEW THING!
wed.14.may.2003.1245am I am going to now switch compilers to
gcc-3.2.2. The pre-release was done with gcc2.7.0, and the current
work with gcc2.95.3-4. See todays progress update for further info.
LATEST HEADLINE:
Fri 9th May 2003 415am
Full 12 bitplane 4096 colour printing available for AmigaOS printer
via -sDEVICE=whoosh, its printing with correct aspect also.
see this page for further info
Wed 7th May 2003 330am, A whole suite of fast inbuilt viewing options are now written.
These include scrolling Cyber WB window viewer, custom screen
Cyber WB viewer (fastest possible viewing method of the viewing options),
colour AGA scrolling WB window viewers for all depths + resolutions of WB,
eg view ps + pdf in colour on a scrolling window on 8 colour WB screen.
The turboprint subdevices are now essentially complete. They probably
need a few further checking through the details but are fully + correctly
printing.
Sun 27th April 2003 930pm:
View for yourself tiny fonts
done with the new gs8 24 bit rgb turboprint subdevice. This is a
jpeg of a closeup of a scan of a printout via a
Canon_S820 printer by tester DarkAngel@blackbunker.de
In the top line the "A" is 2mm high and in the lowest
line it is 0.5mm high. Have a look at the "%"'s and
see that the circles are perfectly formed.
You can view it with whooshjpeg.
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The 2 turboprint testers are currently the only
external people who have current versions of this new work. There are
2 other people who I will try to send current versions to for general
trying out
:preparing the setup for an external person is quite
an effort + demoralizing hence the delay. Other testers eg for 68040
will be sent this when I reach that stage.
I am interested also to look into Print Studio support, if someone
could point me to where I can get hold of developer material + preferably
example code I will see if it is feasible for -sDEVICE=whoosh
to output via Print Studio as well. Better still if someone can binmail me the
developer material! Is there a mechanism for it to print 24 bit rgb?
People often ask: "does it have turboprint support" I could then
answer: "yes, and it also does Print Studio!". It would be worth putting
in Print Studio support just to be able to make that reply!
