RetroPIC, by Marlow75, is an invaluable tool for retro machine owners. It allows you to convert modern images into a format that can be displayed on classic platforms like the Commodore 64 and Amiga. To initiate this transformation, one needs only drag and drop their picture over the machine options panel within RetroPIC’s interface. With just a few clicks, a contemporary image can now be presented in an antiquated style.
Supported machines
- C64, hires, multicolor.
- ZX Spectrum 48/+.
- Amstrad CPC series mode0, mode1.
- Atari ST, 320×200 in 16 on-screen from 512 palette colors.
- Amiga 500/1000, PAL 320×256 in 32 colors or in HAM6 encoding, 4096 palette colors.
- Amiga 1200/4000, PAL 320×256 in 256 colors or in HAM8 encoding, 16M palette colors.
Graphics formats
- PRG, Koala Paint, ArtStudio for C64
- ZX SCR format
- ArtStudio for CPC machines
- DEGAS for Atari
- IFF format for Delux Paint – Amiga
Conversion options
Try all options available.
- Color distance – how color distance in the RGB cube is measured: euclidean, redmean simple approximation (perceived), picking the highest luminance color.
- Dithering – pictures are dithered using Floyds-Steinberg or Atkinson algorithms.
Commodore C64
16 colors total, 4 modes, 2 useful for graphics.
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none, floyds, apple – first pass dithering, colors of the original picture are replaced by retro machine palette.
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320×200 – use 2 colors in 8×8 screen cell.
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160×200 – use 4 colors in a 4×8 screen cell, average or brightest colors are chosen when shrinking to 320->160.
Exports to executable PRG or to Art Studio (hires) and Koala Paint (multicolor).
Amiga 500
4096 colors total, 2 modes useful for graphics.
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none, floyds, apple – first pass dithering, colors of the original picture are replaced by retro machine palette.
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320×256 – use 32 colors, the palette is the result of Kohonen pixel classification.
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320×256 – use HAM6 coding, 16 color palette as a result of Kohonen classification, the best neuron takes all.
Export to Deluxe Paint IFF file format.
Amiga 1200
16M colors total, 2 modes useful for graphics.
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none, floyds, apple – first pass dithering used only for 256 colors pictures. The colors of the original picture are replaced by a retro machine palette.
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320×256 – use 256 colors, the palette is the result of Kohonen pixel classification.
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320×256 – use HAM8 coding, 64 color palette as a result of Kohonen classification, the best neuron takes all.
Export to Deluxe Paint IFF file format.
To learn more and get your own copy of RetroPIC click here to visit Marlow75’s GitHub page.