STEREO BOY wrote:
Tool + tutorials are on the way …
Tool:
• included in VBDE (both Light & Pro version)
Tutorials (also included in VBDE download):
• How to prepare 3D images for the VIRTUAL BOY
• How to make a ROM from your PNG files
There’s also an updated version of the Demo Reel ROM (v1.1) attached to this post (with changes to the main menu mostly).
VUE-MASTER VBDE Pro Tutorial:
How to make a ROM from your PNG files (VBDE Pro)
This tutorial shows how to make a VUE-MASTER reel in 6 easy steps using VBDE Pro. It describes the easiest way to use the VUE-MASTER template: by replacing the 7 existing demo images with your own files.
What you will need:
• VUE-prepared PNG files, matching the VB requirements (see the Graphics Tutorial …)
• Download and unpack the latest VBDE Pro*
* VBDE is a portable application, which means you can move it anywhere, but it’s recommended to put it here: C:\vbde\
:vb: Step 1 – Preparing the VBDE project folder
• Browse C:\vbde\samples\vuengine\ and make a copy of the “vue-master” template folder. Name it after your reel’s project title.
• Replace the existing demo PNGs under: …\assets\images\VueMasterImages\ with your own files.
• Delete all existing .c-files under: …\VueMasterImage#\Binary\ for every image you’ve replaced.
:vb: Step 2 – Setting up the VBDE Light project
• Launch C:\vbde\VBDE.exe …
• If windows firewall gives you any warning like “Unknown Publisher” choose “more” > “run anyway”.
• Open the VUE-MASTER template path as a project with VBDE Pro.
• You can browse the project files in the left explorer window now.
:vb: Step 3 – Converting images to tiles
• Execute: “Tools” > “External Tools” > “CONVERT images” (or just use the quick button in the top right corner).
• New .c-files were created in the “Binary” folders.
:vb: Step 4 – Transferring tiles count (for every image)
• Open: …\VueMasterImage1\Binary\VueMasterImage1.c (neither “..Left.c” nor “..Right.c”)
◦ If the “tiles” count from the header comment (line 7) is 2033 or less: copy it.
◦ If the tiles count is more than 2033, refer to Part 2 of the Graphics Tutorial.
• Open: …\VueMasterImage1\Definition\VueMasterImage1Definition.c
• Paste/replace the tiles count of image 1 under “CharSetROMDef” (line 49).
• Now repeat this procedure (Step 4) for every image, that you have replaced before …
:vb: Step 5 – Adding titles to the main menu
• Open: …\assets\languages\Language_EN.c”
• Add your reel’s title at line 49.
• Add your reel’s description text or credits at line 51.
• Keep your text inside the quotation marks.
• You can add line breaks by pasting \n.
:vb: Step 6 – Creating the ROM
• Execute: “Run” > “External Tools” > “COMPILE” (or just use the quick button in the top right corner).
• Compiling is done when this message appears in the console: “Process finished with exit code 0”.
😎 Enjoy your stereo reel!
You will find your VUE-MASTER reel under: …\build\output.vb
Test the ROM with an emulator and flash it to your FlashBoy!
VUE-MASTER Graphics Tutorial – Part 2:
How to optimize your images and reduce tiles count
This part will give some advanced tips to tackle tiles count and create more optimized and beautiful results.
GRIT is part of VBDE and will automatically cut each view into a pattern of 48 x 28 tiles (8×8 pixels each tile) – that’s a total of 2688 for 3d images. Unfortunately, VUE-MASTER can only load a maximum of 2033 tiles (almost 76%) at a time (due to limitations of the VIRTUAL BOY):
• Tiles pattern for each view: 48 x 28 = 1344 tiles
• Two views needed for 3d images: 2688 tiles in total
• Maximum loadable tiles: 2033
GRIT also tries to solve this problem for you: it automatically identifies identical tiles in your image, so they only must be loaded once! It also finds mirrored instances! I love this tool.
But some images are just having so much individual details, that even GRIT doesn’t find enough twins. In these cases, there are different options to optimize your image …
💡 Easy way to reduce tiles count: reducing image details
To reduce the details of your image, you can:
• crop the image, making it letterboxed (can save many tiles)
• for Photoshop’s Diffusion Dithering, you can use a slider to “Specify the amount of dither” (count of saved tiles depends on your image)
💡 More sophisticated way: use repeating tiles
Tips to find or create more repeating tiles:
• Make your graphics tool show you a grid of 8×8 pixels
• Shifting 2D elements (like text or back plates) by 8px steps between 3d views (this can significantly reduce the count of tiles for larger layers!)
• And keep in mind: you can also use mirrored tiles
• Use Pattern Dithering (carefully) instead of Diffusion …
💡 Use Pattern Dithering carefully in 3D images
Using “Pattern Dithering” instead of Diffusion (GIMP: “Positioned” instead of “Floyd-Steinberg”) will create less tiles, but small patterns tend to be problematic in 3D stereo images, as they can produce random depth allocations:
Looking at Image #3 from the Demo Reel in 3D, you can experience the effects that small patterns are creating in 3D stereo: the pattern dithered background at the right edge of the image can be perceived at different depth levels (depending on your imagination) – it can appear in front of the table for example.
💡 Combine different techniques to find the optimal solution for your image
You can separate your image into fore- and background to use pattern dithering on less important areas of your image only. If you’re using 2D layers, you should even be able to pattern dither them without creating 3d problems: use the same pre-dithered layer in both views. Shift it in 8 pixel steps, to save even more tiles!
The 2D background layer of image #7 also uses pattern dithering, but the dither was rendered only once and used for both views. In contrast to image #3, your brain indicates only one perfect matching depth level for the background. The background was also shifted by 8 pixels (4 pixels in each view), to save many tiles: you can find many tiles in the left view, that are reappearing in the right view, shifted by 8px (= 1 tile).
KR155E wrote:
These are great, StereoBoy, minimal and very readable! I like the bottom middle one best. I think you should add a black outline to the controller in the front like you did to the ones in the top row images, so the two controllers can be better distinguished from each other.
THX! Think you’re right – another black line is a good idea 🙂
Maybe we should make a new thread for link cable logo layouts …? 😉
Attachments:
Got my cable today – it works just perfect with the patched ROM of Mario’s Tennis! Thanks for the patch and looking forward to the 3rd mode! :thumpup: 🙂
Morintari wrote:
I like both of these Stereoboy, I like the second one better though.
Thank you, Morintari! I’ve played around with some more variants meanwhile – think I like the left bottom one (v04) …
Attachments:
Hi LEGIT. As far as I know, the vbde-folder needs to be placed directly on the main directory of your hard drive (see screenshot). You can start VBDE by double clicking the link file (“VBDE”) in the vbde-folder (see marked file on the screenshot). Via File > Open … you can then choose a project folder …
KR155E has made another nice VUEngine template, that we are going to post soon along with a step-by-step guide: the “Stereo Viewer” template allows you, to merge your own 3D images into a VB ROM and view them on the Virtual Boy. I don’t have any programming skills too and this template was a nice and easy entry to VBDE for me …
Attachments:
😀 It’s working!! 🙂
:vb: <-------------> :vb:
I picked up my cable from the customs office today and tested it with Mario’s Tennis – work’s perfectly!
The cable looks and feels great – very good work, mellott! Thank You so much!
The 3D photos attached are optimised for cross-eyed viewing …
This find and the patch are AWESOME!! Can’t wait to pick up my cable from the customs office 🙂
Here also comes my ‘offical submission’ for the GameLink logo 😉
Credits: I used KR155E’s logo and Hedgetrimmer’s controller 3d model to render these previews.
It could also be drawn as a high res vektor logo without too much work, I think …
