Converting
Bitmap files into 4 colour 2bp format
| bmp2bp |
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| Tascal Soft |
| 176 KB |
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| CESD-S-0013 |
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| 3 Min 36 Seconds |
| 1.71MB |
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CESD-S-0013Applies To:
- Windows 95, A, B, C
- Windows 98, 98 SE
- Windows Millennium
- Windows NT 4.0, SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP6a
- Windows 2000, SP1, SP2, SP3
- Windows XP Home, XP Professional, SP1
- Windows CE for Handheld PC
- Windows CE for Palm-size PC
Overview:
Users of monochrome devices who use desktop wallpapers on their
devices often need more space on their device to store a large colour
image. Windows CE supports it's own native Bitmap format with the
extension .2bp. 2bp files are 4 Tone Monochrome bitmap files, designed
for use on the limited displays of early Windows CE devices.
Tascal Software made an application that allows users to convert
BMP files into 2BP format on their host desktop systems. This allows
End Users and Wallpaper artists to make their packages available
for lower colour depth devices, such as the 4 Tone Monochrome hp
320lx and the 16 Tone Monochrome 360lx.
The utility also allows users to back convert 2BP files into similar
BMP files. The back conversion process will create a BMP copy of
the 2BP file, it will not restore colour information
The Tascal application, bmp2bp was only made available with Japanese menu's
and Dialogues. This article discusses how to use Tascal bmp2bp and explains
what the English translations of the menu's and dialogues are.
This article is primarily based around the CESD-S-0013 Multimedia
Tutorial.
How-to-Guide:
The following how-to steps describe how to convert
an image. It assumes that the user is familiar with the language
translations provided in the Multimedia Tutorial.
Tascal Soft's bmp2bp must be run on a computer
with H/PC Explorer, Windows CE Services or ActiveSync installed
on it. The .2bp filters are provided with the Windows CE Synchronisation
software and are required to save .2bp files.
Running the program on a system without Windows CE Synchronisation
software will export the converted files into Windows BitMap.
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Launch Tascal bmp2bp
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Import the BMP or 2BP image you wish to
convert by:
or
Dragging the bmp file onto the bmp2bp window
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The imported image will be displayed in
the bmp2bp window in the resolution and colour depth that
it was originally encoded in.
bmp2bp will not change the resolution of
the image to fit to the Handheld Device's screen. To ensure
that your images fit on the screen ensure that the dimensions
meet the following criteria:
Full VGA:
640 x 454 + 26
Half VGA (Clam Shell):
640 x 214 + 26
From the 'Edit' Menu choose the 2bp transform
method you want to apply to the image
Demonstration Image © BBC,
Snell & Wilcox
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Pattern Dissolve:
The Pattern Dissolve method takes the original
image and uses diffusion variants of the 4 monochromatic shades
to give the impression of more tones of Grey.
Use the Pattern Dissolve method when converting
photographic images, and complex images with many colours
or shades as you'll see from the central photographic image.
To undo the action, choose 'Undo' from the 'Edit'
Menu
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Strict Mono:
The Strict Mono method converts the image's
pixels to their nearest neighbours on the 4 Tone Monochrome
pallet. This method does not provide any shading and does
not differentiate between objects.
Use the Strict Mono method to convert less complex
images and graphics to 2bp format. As demonstrated by the
coloured boxes in the outer border of the image. Strict Mono
2bp files are smaller than Pattern Dissolve converted images.
To undo the action, choose ' Undo' from the
'Edit' Menu
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Once you have the final version of the image save it by choosing:
The default image method is .2bp. If you with to create a
Windows CE Compatible .bmp, change the suffix .2bp to .bmp.
The image will be saved in the 4 Tone Mono conversion as a
regular BitMap file.
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To Close the current BitMap:
- Open the 'File' menu
- Choose the 'Close' option
To Exit Tascal bmp2bp choose
- Select 'File'
- Choose the 'Exit' option
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Links:
Tascal Soft Japanese Home Page: http://www2r.biglobe.ne.jp/~tascal/index.htm
Tascal Soft English Home Page: http://www2r.biglobe.ne.jp/~tascal/index_e.htm
Snell & Wilcox Home Page: http://www.snellwilcox.com/internet/
BBC Home Page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Acknowledgements:
With thanks to Nicolas for translation assistance and for working with us on
this support article.
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