Convert PC cliparts to shapes to use on your MSX.
MSX graphic editors and their formats
1. Graphos III
Graphos III was developed by Renato Degiovani, and probably the best MSX 1 graphic editor ever created. This editor brings interesting tools and it is also compatible with color images. Thus, it has specific tools for working with B&W images such as the famous shapes.
Formats:
- Shape (.shp) - The shape file is a screen 2 clip area, having 4 different formats. Although dealing with colored shapes (type 2 and 4), the most used are the B&W. Minimum size of 8x8 and maximum of 240x176.
- Layout (.lay) - Screen file, where only the pattern table (ink) is compressed and saved.
- Compac (.vdc) e (.atc) - Screen files, where both pattern (ink) and color (paper) tables are compressed and saved in two files.
- Display (.scr) - Screen file, where both pattern (ink) and color (paper) tables are compressed into a single file. In addiction, a load animation (display) is introduced.
- Fonts (.alf) - MSX character map. The project MSX Font Editor works with ".alf" files.
2. Page-Maker
Created by a brazilian company Nemesis, aims at newspapers and posters developing in B&W format. Works like Dynamic Publisher, and many file formats are compatible with Graphos III.
Formats:
- Shape (.shp) - Same as Graphos III format.
- PC shape (.sdr) e (.shp) - PC shapes from Print Master.
- Layout (.lay) - Same as Graphos III format.
- Display (.scr) - Same as Graphos III format.
- Alfabeto (.alf) - Same as Graphos III format.
- Dump Screen 2 (.grp) - File with both screen 2 pattern and color tables.
- Page-Maker (*.PM?) - 4 maps with screen 2 pattern table stacked vertically. Each PM file has the dimensions of 512x192 pixels. The whole image has 512x768 pixels.
3. Aquarela
Developed by Paulisoft, it was an alternative for Graphos III in Brazil. The interesting stuff is the 16x16 font.
Formats:
- Dump Screen 2 (.grp) - File with both screen 2 pattern and color tables.
- Font (.fnt) - 16x16 pixels fonts file.
- Sprites (.spr) - 32 monocromathic 16x16 pixels pictures.
- Pattern (.prd) - 16 monocromathic 8x8 pixels pictures for filling.
4. Dynamic Publisher
A MSX 2 desktop publishing program developed by the dutch company Radarsoft in 1987. Probably the best desktop publishing editor for MSX.
Formats:
Obs: click on the format links to read more about them.
