****As of now pin2dmd isn't compatible with RGB.DMD. Mostly documenting the process. Hopefully it'll evolve and be compatible or something else will come along****

Doesn't look like there is a thread specifically about using the Pin2DMD software to colorize files for use on the rgbDMD project. Figured I would start one!

I am sure there will be a lot of questions and it would be cool to share some data dumps off PinMame......for us on Macs it's tough and then the only PC I have will run PinMame but not visual pinball so I have to play the game in simulation which......is not a lot of fun.

SO colorizing techniques, data dumps, whatever!

First thing first. You need to get the Pin2DMD editor:

http://go-dmd.de/

In german BUT google will translate it for you if you ask nicely.

Secondly, and this is a little over my head you need a data dump from Pinmame (or I think there is talk of being able to get the feed directly from the rgbDMD board down the road once a host client can be setup)

To do this you need to replace your old boring .dll file with a special .dll file in your PinMame folder:

http://go-dmd.de/VPinMAME.zip

Another German tutorial that Google will translate. This reviews the process of outputting the DMD animation data:
http://go-dmd.de/2015/03/17/go-dmd-animationen-aufnehmen-mit-visualpinball/

MAKE SURE to create the tmp directory on your system drive (C: or whatever the root of your Windows drive is). Then zip up the text file in a 7z archive using 7-Zip and load the 7z file into the goDMD animation editor.

Once you have the data you need to bring it into Pin2DMD editor. Here is a video about that process.

Ok. Now that should get you started. Now let's play!

So I started the process of learning how to use the software. At this point (Feb 2016) I don't think you can use the exports from this app in rgbDMD BUT the two teams are working to fix that.

AT first I was a little daunted. I am a video producer and do a lot of animation and motion graphics. So I am used to SOME of the concepts used in this application. Still on the learning curve BUT one thing I realized is that in a given animation, especially one that stays on screen for a period of time, there are only a few frames that repeat. To figure out which ones you need to concern yourself with you refer to the checksum address in the left hand corner.

It was then that I realized that out of 23 frames there were really only 11 unique frames (red highlighted frames). And then they repeat. Not sure the best way to go out about it. But my plan is to colorize a frame, then look for where it repeats. Once you are on a repeating frame you can hit the "Redo" button and it'll do the same thing you did last to that frame. Once I get to the point they start repeating more regularly (in this instance you can see it takes about 23 frames before they start going into a more regular pattern) I'll cut the scene, then go back and do another one of the 11 frames.

Again, just an idea of an interpretation of a guess so I could be wrong.....but I have some time to mess around.

Ok kids. Share your thoughts, data dumps, coloring ideas, etc!

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rgbDMD is the name of the board Eli is building. Pin2DMD is the name of the board lucky1 is building. Also the name of the editing software.

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Thanks for that. I was pushing people to the tutorial for that stuff but I think it's worth it to mention here. Edited my post.

I think things are up in the air. I THINK Eli's board will be just 4 colors and Lucky1's is 16. That said.....with this new alliance (I think) with the Pin2DMD editor guys we might see 16 colors on RGB.DMD as well as Pin2DMD board. As of now you are right it's just palette swapping BUT this is all VERY new so I'm not too concerned with that yet. From what I have experienced it's still pretty cool.

I'm very interested to see how the upload feature works as I normally work in PS, AE, and AI and would prefer to do my editing there then upload an image. I'm sure we'll get people chiming in. I am going to refrain as much as I can from hear/say and let the developers talk about their products and the capabilities. AGAIN, my plan is to sit tight and see where the ball falls.

It will let me use more than 4 colors, yes. BUT......will they upload the the RGB.DMD board.... I have no idea. That's all still in development. I believe you get 16 with the Pin2DMD board. There was a lot swirling around about porting that over to RGB.DMD boards AND also some talk about compatibility and not want to cross any copyright lines or step on any toes.

So as I said, I'm not an expert, I can just tell you what I am seeing. So far all I have been able to do on the ACTUAL board in practice is set one 4 color palette. MAINLY because the way the checksums come out of this it's only compatible with the PIn2DMD board.....as of now.

BUT there are wheels turning.

SO simple answer is.... wait and see hahah

Interestingly in practice I have found that just having 5 colors does a lot to WPC games. They are very simple graphics and honestly for this era I don't know how much beyond......10 colors is really going to do for you.

I guess we could look to the new colorized DMD on MMr. SO there is that, but those were all totally re-done......if I invested that much time into a game I might be inclined to sell the files, hahah. By which I mean... I'm prob not that motivated, ha.

I'll be messing with files most of today but I don't want to get tooooooo involved until RGB.DMD are supported so I can do a scene and test some concepts.

For some reason I am having trouble using my mac on this program. It works, but little bugs keep popping up. But that said I think a newer version is coming out....maybe so....

Anyone else working on a Mac?

UPDATE. Just tried it on a PC and I am having the same issue so i am sure I am just doing something wrong. When I define a pallete and then cut a scene the scene defaults to a different pallet, coloring everything differently and I can't get it to switch to the one I just created so all the colors default to the ones I want. SO I basically have to go in and re-color by hand.

This version APPEARS to be different than the one in the YouTube video.

Yeah. Like I said, I am going to site back and allow this to progress a little. I have no idea at all what I am doing......hahaha. CRC....calculate....right now I am happy to dream, test, and have one 4 color pallet. It REALLY does look cool!

I see what you mean Eli. On the PC version (which is just Java I believe) I THINK I see where it just selects part of the frame.....think. But I think that's one of those 1 frame, then 2 frames, etc......I don't know. Anyway, seems that option is not in the Mac version. Not saying thats what we are looking for....hoping there is a way to select just that section.

I'll dig into pure animations rather than ones that are part of the dynamic score or whatever. And be on the look out when they switch to 4 bytes on the CRC.......

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Ahh, I was just getting on to ask that!!! Thanks!

Steve, sooo many questions for you. Like thoughts on your work, maybe direction, to becoming compatible with RGB.DMD, dynamic elements, maybe an updated tutorial as it seems like there are new features not covered like uploading frames, palettes, how to switch palettes, etc.

I know there was discussion of doing the same CRC detection. Where are you with that.

And above all how can we help?

Great. And this will be available for RGB.DMD?

Ok that's understandable. That said if we could keep discussion here to just RGB.DMD that would be useful.

I want this thread to be about what RGB.DMD can and can't do.

Perhaps it will end up that it needs its own software. We'll see.

I have sent a pm to unclesash and I hope to get a pin2dmd when they are back in stock. When I get one I'll start a thread about pin2DMD and pin2dmd editor. Or if someone else wants to start one that would be cool.

I know you are new on this forum. Lots of people will be looking at this thread years from now (hopefully) to get info about using pin2DMD editor with the RGB.DMD board. I just want the answers to be easier to find and not mixed with discussion of other boards.

As time goes on we'll see how it shapes up. Anyone is welcome to pm me about this or if I can be of help in anyway.

Well that answers that! Thanks!

This thread is about using it with rgb. I'll step away from the thread and focus on RGB untill it is supported ( which at this point there is no use or support) or I have a pin2dmd and will start a new thread.

Again, there is no use at all to talking about how to use the pin2dmd board in this thread.

There should be a separate thread.

To be honest I feel these two boards should not be mixed. They don't have a lot interchangeable.

So with that said I'll leave this thread. God speed.