02-03-2003 11:10									#1
	Lossless Screenshots Enter the AD-FREE zone

I'd like to make a request that all official map or minimap screenshots be saved in a lossless format. GIF would be best, but JPG works if you set quality up to 100%. It makes the files larger, but really helps in being able to accurately figure out what the FoW is hiding among other things.

	02-03-2003 13:28									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

I have .jpegs at 95%... is that okay?

	02-03-2003 14:18									#3
	Remove this text

JPG changes some pixels at anything less than 100%. The artifacts make it hard to pinpoint specific terrain tiles on the FoW border in most cases.

	02-03-2003 14:21									#4
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

The difference between 5% compression and no extra compression for the jpeg was nearly 100 kb (132 to 223 kb). I don't have that much space in ftp.

	02-03-2003 16:30									#5
	Got spare money?

Actually, for the default Civ3 tileset, it is best to use GIF instead of lossless or very little lossy JPEG (a sample screenshot of our latest ISDG position saved as 189kB GIF, but took as much as 670kB as very-hi-quality JPEG...). JPEG is inefficient for this type of pictures (AFAIK, Civ3 runs in 256 colors and screenshots are thus "dithered" - and that's the reason why JPEG fails to compress them properly).

OTOH, I can imagine that the watercolor tileset Trip uses may be quite suitable for JPEG, as there are lots of smooth color transitions, which are very suitable for JPEG compression.

I will continue using GIFs, which are lossless. Also, note please, that by clicking on the map image visible in the Turn Report & Summaries, you can display a full scale map - exactly what you would be able to see ingame. No non-black colour pixels should ever be left our of the map image there.

	02-03-2003 20:29									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Trip The difference between 5% compression and no extra compression for the jpeg was nearly 100 kb (132 to 223 kb). I don't have that much space in ftp.

You upload the pics to your homepage and link them from there to apo' ?

I know what Shiber is going to say about this

	02-03-2003 21:38									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Is the following correct:

In Civ/PTW, you can make your own graphics. No matter the graphics set the game uses, certain tiles at the border of your World Map are partially shown. So - if you add little coloured dots (or whatever code) that you'll be able to decipher to the edges of your graphics, you can always see one tile further than normal.

	03-03-2003 02:02									#8
	Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: Originally posted by alva You upload the pics to your homepage and link them from there to apo' ? I know what Shiber is going to say about this

I was in the process of moving them over now, don't worry.

	03-03-2003 02:03									#9
	Suffering from ads?

quote: Originally posted by BigFurryMonster Is the following correct: In Civ/PTW, you can make your own graphics. No matter the graphics set the game uses, certain tiles at the border of your World Map are partially shown. So - if you add little coloured dots (or whatever code) that you'll be able to decipher to the edges of your graphics, you can always see one tile further than normal.

That's correct.

	03-03-2003 02:07									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by alva I know what Shiber is going to say about this

	03-03-2003 02:09									#11
	Suffering from ads?

Done.