r/MSX • u/RSS130871 • 15d ago
Tooling
For those wondering what kind of tool I used for the pixelart: EXCEL!!!
There's a macro in there that exports the picture into three linked BASIC programs, that once run create a 16kb binary file that you can BLOAD straight into VRAM...
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u/HEXdidnt 15d ago
Wow... And I tell people I like making my own life more difficult than it needs to be,,,
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u/RSS130871 15d ago
It's EASY when you've built it yourself and know ALL the ins and outs.
Plus, I can import BMP's straight into it...1
u/altgraph 14d ago
Do you import BMPs specifically into EXCEL? Is the actual pixel art done in another program first?
It's such an interesting workflow and using EXCEL for this is really innovative!
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u/RSS130871 14d ago
I have a REALLY OLD "Delphi" program that converts 256colour BMP's to CSV (comma separated values), which I can then import in EXCEL.
I use Paint Shop Pro to decrease the number of colours used in the BMP to 16, and then EXCEL to change those 16 into the 16 that the MSX has.
In Excel I have a macro that checks how many bytes have more than two colours (it marks them by changing the colour of the value in the cell.
For added detail I use (up to) 32 sprites.1
u/altgraph 12d ago
Thanks for the breakdown! You should make a video of it! Showcase some more pixelart on the MSX!
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u/DarkKodKod 14d ago
People dont get that when you need a tool to do what you want, it is difficult to find the right tool and it is better to adapt what's out there. Excel is already great as a grid tool and with all programming power you ever want. You can actually achieve a lot from level design to map editor. Great job. Looks awesomeÂ
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u/RSS130871 14d ago
EXACTLY! A tool that I make myself gives me EVERYTHING i need, exactly as I want it.
I have macros that can MIRROR parts of a screen, or use a specific colour as a mask to super-impose a second bitmap on top of another. Stuff like that...
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u/glimsky 14d ago
Interesting.... What is the workflow? You import a jpg/PNG into Excel and it exports to the binary blob? Or are you somehow drawing in Excel?
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u/RSS130871 14d ago
I have a REALLY OLD "Delphi" program that converts 256colour BMP's to CSV (comma separated values), which I can then import in EXCEL.
I use Paint Shop Pro to decrease the number of colours used in the BMP to 16, and then EXCEL to change those 16 into the 16 that the MSX has.
In Excel I have a macro that checks how many bytes have more than two colours (it marks them by changing the colour of the value in the cell. Other macros can MIRROR parts of a screen, or use a specific colour as a mask to super-impose a second bitmap on top of another. Stuff like that...
For added detail I use (up to) 32 sprites.
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u/tarambana 9d ago
Just curious, why are you using excel? Could I write some tool for you that helps you use some better drawing program?
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u/RSS130871 8d ago
I use Excel for a number of reasons. First and foremost, because I LOVE Excel. Second because I can customize it to do ANYTHING I need. Mirror a selection, draw a planetary orbit, search and replace colours, you name it. Did I mention that with a handy macro it exports BASIC code automatically...?
But most of al, it's what I'm used to an what I've built by workflow on.
Thanks very much for your offer to build a tool, but I'm honestly happy with what I've got!
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u/TransportLayer 15d ago
This is so stupid. Love it! 🙂