Everything looks better in scanlines!

[mr_lou]

My problem with the last one is that the scanlines have different distances between each other.
While the average distance may be closer to the real thing, I just prefer the first one where it's the same distance.

I wonder if I need to create a poll. I obviously want to use the one that'll make most people happy.

[Gryzor]

I was going to say the same - the resizing made the effect uneven and it's pretty obvious, so I'd go with the previous result myself

[robcfg]

Yep, definitely the previous version is way better The uneven scanlines ruin the whole image.

[||C|-|E||]

My GF prefers the first one as well... I must be the only one that prefers the hi-res approach 

[remax]

I prefer the first one, even if colors are not perfect...

[mr_lou]

Yea, nothing is perfect in this mission.

I think I'll end up using the first Wec Le Mans one, but I admit I'm still conflicted.

1080p would give me slightly better scanline-effect, but then I'd only have 25 fps available. I'd really like to keep 50fps, but that means I'm stuck with 720p

...unless I turn the whole thing into an Ultra HD Blu-ray project, in which case I can get 4k resolution with 50 fps. That would solve everything.
But then I'd have no recipients because no one has an Ultra HD Blu-ray player. 

Choices choices choices.

I'll have to stick with the 720p 50fps option I think....

[Apollo]

Wouldn't be 1080i50 be an option? You can still provide the 1080p50 AVC for download if you master with that and in the last step for the BD make a 1080i50 encoding.

[Apollo]

Here is the same picture scaled to 4k - RGB-elements filter applied - glow-filter applied - scaled back to 720p using Sinc (Lanczos3) filter.

I think Lanczos could be the wrong method for downscaling as it emphasizes sharpness which can lead to aliasing or a kind of moiré pattern with regular fine details. Try with a more simple downscale filters if they give better results.

[KaosOverride]

What is your 720p formula? I will try to add a filter to capriceRPI. I have yet made for basic scanlines and interlaced. Easy to add one more!!!

[mr_lou]

Wouldn't be 1080i50 be an option? You can still provide the 1080p50 AVC for download if you master with that and in the last step for the BD make a 1080i50 encoding.

I don't think 1080i50 would look right. I also don't think it's an option for Blu-ray.
Encoding Video for Blu-Ray using H264/AVC - Doom9's Forum

I think Lanczos could be the wrong method for downscaling as it emphasizes sharpness which can lead to aliasing or a kind of moiré pattern with regular fine details. Try with a more simple downscale filters if they give better results.

I've only tried the down-scale fllters available in GiMP. Sinc gave the best result I think.

What is your 720p formula? I will try to add a filter to capriceRPI. I have yet made for basic scanlines and interlaced. Easy to add one more!!!

I don't think an emulator can do it fast enough real-time.

First I scale to 720p and then I apply my RGB-elements pattern by AND'ing the values to the image.
(Used multiply formula previously).

Code Select Expand


  private static final int CPC_R = 0xffff0000;
  private static final int CPC_G = 0xff00ff00;
  private static final int CPC_B = 0xff0000ff;
  private static final int[][] CPC_RGB = {
    {CPC_R, CPC_G, CPC_B}
  };

    int outPixels[] = new int[destImage.width() * destImage.height()];

    for (int xx = destImage.getWidth() - 1; xx >= 0; xx--) {
      for (int yy = destImage.getHeight() - 1; yy >= 0; yy--) {
        int pos = yy * (destImage.getWidth()) + xx;
        int dr = (outPixels[pos] & 0xff0000) >> 16;
        int dg =(outPixels[pos] & 0xff00) >> 8;
        int db =(outPixels[pos] & 0xff);
        int cr = (CPC_RGB[yy % CPC_RGB.length][xx % CPC_RGB[0].length] & 0xff0000) >> 16;
        int cg = (CPC_RGB[yy % CPC_RGB.length][xx % CPC_RGB[0].length] & 0xff00) >> 8;
        int cb = (CPC_RGB[yy % CPC_RGB.length][xx % CPC_RGB[0].length] & 0xff);
        int nr = dr & cr;
        int ng = dg & cg;
        int nb = db & cb;
        int newcolor = 0xff000000 | (nr << 16) | (ng << 8) | (nb);
        outPixels[pos] = newcolor;
      }
    }


After that I apply some filters, using a library I downloaded from here:
Jerry's Java Image Processing Pages

I currently use GaussianFilter followed by a LevelsFilter, and then GaussianFilter again followed by LevelsFilter again.

Code Select Expand


    GaussianFilter gf = new GaussianFilter();
    gf.setRadius(2);
    destImage = gf.filter(srcImage, null);

    srcImage = destImage;
    LevelsFilter lf = new LevelsFilter();
    lf.setLowLevel(0f);
    lf.setHighLevel(0.58f);
    destImage = lf.filter(srcImage, null);

    srcImage = destImage;
    GaussianFilter gf = new GaussianFilter();
    gf.setRadius(2);
    destImage = gf.filter(srcImage, null);

    srcImage = destImage;
    LevelsFilter lf = new LevelsFilter();
    lf.setLowLevel(0f);
    lf.setHighLevel(0.58f);
    destImage = lf.filter(srcImage, null);


I've also tried the GlowEffect which I think gave a nice impression, but it doesn't seem to work that well with the current RGB-elements pattern I'm using.
Probably works better when the RGB-pattern includes some black as well. (See the last Radzone example).

[mr_lou]

I can have 25 fps with 1080i though.

Would you rather have 25fps + a better scanline effect, rather than 50fps with the current scanline effect?

I always felt the 50fps was more important, but now I'm not sure.
Most games run at 25fps anyway, and the 50fps will only be visible briefly sometimes....

[PulkoMandy]

I think 50fps is more important. Games are not always at full 50 fps speed, but they are not necessarily at 25fps either. They could refresh one every 3 frames at 50fps for example, which would then interfere with the 25fps display for even worse results.

[mr_lou]

I also prefer the 50fps, but I also would really like a proper CTM-look.

I can't believe the amount of time I've spent on trying to come up with an acceptable result. It seems I just can't.
Currently actually leaning towards giving it up completely and just do plain videos with blocky pixel graphics.

Spent all day (again) trying to get an acceptable result. Need a break now.

[KaosOverride]

Thanks, it gives me an idea of how to manipulate the pixels. Just because an emulator can't lose so much time with pixel manipulation then I will try some precast tables. RPI  has not a superpower full cpu but has enough ram.

With caprice hires mode a cpc pixel has 2x2 real pixels, well, time for some calculations

[TotO]

It is too much computing for finaly not look like a CTM...

[mr_lou]

Ok, I'm trying a new approach.

What's your opinion on these?

[TotO]

Yes, look interresting!

[robcfg]

Not bad!


It's simpler and yet it gives a nice glowing pixel grid effect.

[||C|-|E||]

I like it! 

[KaosOverride]

Great!! It comes closer to CRT 

Well, all I have reached at 768x544 is some kind of dithering.... not great but... emulation does not suffer...

Ugly photos from the screen...

[Phi2x]

.

[KaosOverride]

CapriceRPI also has that scanline mode 

Also I did an interlaced mode (Try with the double-res Orion-Prime intro!!)

As I said before, I only have 2x2 pixels for each CPC pixel, so I haven't enought resolution.

I'm making some tests with different values (I have precalculated a secondary palette with half bright values and switch between normal and darker when writing pixels. I have tried 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 values and I'm not very convinced. I think I must try to lower 1/2 bright and try to give a semi grey tone but holding the colour as the main component of that pixel

[KaosOverride]

And don't try that scanline mode playing with SilkWorm and pressing the T key!!!! you have scanline from scanline!!!!!

[ZbyniuR]

Horizontal scanlines look real as emulation of Green monitor - only.

Filter from #115 at first sight look interesting and good, much better than scanlines, could stay like this. I think only with zoom look different but more pretty than real monitor. I think most close to real CMT was in #82.

[mr_lou]

Your results are a lot better than the dumb horizontal scanlines approach that we can see in some CPC emulators.

I was just thinking about that yesterday, how strange it is that some emulators offer this when the CPC monitor never looked like that.

Maybe there were many people who used a TV instead?

Filter from #115 at first sight look interesting and good, much better than scanlines, could stay like this. I think only with zoom look different but more pretty than real monitor. I think most close to real CMT was in #82.

I agree that #82 gives a cool look, but I don't think it resembles the CTM properly. In #82 each vertical scanline is 1 CPC MODE 1 pixel wide. This is what gives the cool look, but it's just not how the CTM looks.
#115 isn't how it looks either though, but I think it comes a bit closer at least. Still not quite happy with the colours or brightness though.