ColoRIX
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| − | '''ColoRIX''', or '''RIX''', is a raster image file format associated with the '' | + | '''ColoRIX''', or '''RIX''', is a raster image file format associated with the ''EGA Paint'' and ''ColoRIX VGA Paint'' applications for MS-DOS, developed by RIX SoftWorks. There are at least two versions of it. |
| + | |||
| + | == Format details == | ||
| + | The "new" format (with "RIX3" signature) has a 10-byte header, then an optional and rare "extension block", then a color palette, then the image data. If the image is compressed, the high bit of the byte at offset 9 is set. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The "old" format lacks the header. If the image is compressed, the high bit of the first byte of the file is set. The low 6 bits of the first 16 bytes are an EGA-style color palette. The image data starts at offset 16. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Both old and new ColoRIX files may optionally be compressed, using a fairly complex compression scheme. The compression scheme starts by splitting the image data into one or more segments. For 256-color images only, an [[Exclusive Or|XOR]] filter is applied. Then comes [[run-length encoding]], followed by [[Huffman coding]]. It is vaguely similar to [[Squeeze]], though the details are different. | ||
== Identifiers == | == Identifiers == | ||
| Line 63: | Line 70: | ||
== Identification == | == Identification == | ||
| − | + | New (VGA Paint) format: Files begin with ASCII characters "{{magic|RIX3}}". | |
Note that the VGA Paint distribution includes other files, in other formats, that also begin with "{{magic|RIX}}", but have a different fourth byte. | Note that the VGA Paint distribution includes other files, in other formats, that also begin with "{{magic|RIX}}", but have a different fourth byte. | ||
| − | ' | + | Uncompressed old format: There's no robust way to identify the format, though you could check the file size (exactly 112016 bytes for SCR format), and validate the palette. |
| + | |||
| + | Compressed old format: There's no easy way to identify the format, though it is possible to identify it by reading the file and checking for errors. | ||
== Specifications == | == Specifications == | ||
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== Software == | == Software == | ||
* [https://archive.org/details/colorix-vga-paint-1.36 ColoRIX VGA Paint 1.36] (at Internet Archive) | * [https://archive.org/details/colorix-vga-paint-1.36 ColoRIX VGA Paint 1.36] (at Internet Archive) | ||
| + | * [http://old-dos.ru/index.php?page=files&mode=files&do=show&id=6763 ColoRIX VGA Paint] - Various versions at old-dos.ru | ||
* RIXLATE.EXE - Format conversion utility for DOS, included with, e.g., ColoRIX VGA Paint 1.36 | * RIXLATE.EXE - Format conversion utility for DOS, included with, e.g., ColoRIX VGA Paint 1.36 | ||
* [[Konvertor]] | * [[Konvertor]] | ||
* [[XnView]] | * [[XnView]] | ||
* [http://pulkomandy.tk/projects/GrafX2 GrafX2] | * [http://pulkomandy.tk/projects/GrafX2 GrafX2] | ||
| + | * {{Deark}} | ||
== Sample files == | == Sample files == | ||
* {{CdTextfiles|carousel344/015/VGARIX.ZIP|VGARIX.ZIP}} → *.SCI | * {{CdTextfiles|carousel344/015/VGARIX.ZIP|VGARIX.ZIP}} → *.SCI | ||
| − | * | + | * {{DexvertSamples|image/rix}} |
* [https://archive.org/details/disc-passage-countriesofthe-world-1991 SCF Samples] | * [https://archive.org/details/disc-passage-countriesofthe-world-1991 SCF Samples] | ||
| + | * [https://archive.org/details/SDN1__793 SDN¹ Plus] → demos/colorix.zip → *.SCF | ||
* [https://archive.org/details/shareware-grab-bag Shareware Grab Bag] → 008/egaslide.arc - EGA Slide, a component of EGA Paint (?). Includes some .SCR files in an old version of the format. | * [https://archive.org/details/shareware-grab-bag Shareware Grab Bag] → 008/egaslide.arc - EGA Slide, a component of EGA Paint (?). Includes some .SCR files in an old version of the format. | ||
Latest revision as of 04:21, 28 December 2023
ColoRIX, or RIX, is a raster image file format associated with the EGA Paint and ColoRIX VGA Paint applications for MS-DOS, developed by RIX SoftWorks. There are at least two versions of it.
Contents |
[edit] Format details
The "new" format (with "RIX3" signature) has a 10-byte header, then an optional and rare "extension block", then a color palette, then the image data. If the image is compressed, the high bit of the byte at offset 9 is set.
The "old" format lacks the header. If the image is compressed, the high bit of the first byte of the file is set. The low 6 bits of the first 16 bytes are an EGA-style color palette. The image data starts at offset 16.
Both old and new ColoRIX files may optionally be compressed, using a fairly complex compression scheme. The compression scheme starts by splitting the image data into one or more segments. For 256-color images only, an XOR filter is applied. Then comes run-length encoding, followed by Huffman coding. It is vaguely similar to Squeeze, though the details are different.
[edit] Identifiers
Many filename extensions have been reported or observed. Most are listed below. Extensions beginning with "SC" are generally used for full-screen images, with the third letter a code for the screen mode.
| Ext. | Mode | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| .RIX | ? | Used generically? |
| .SCA | ? | |
| .SCB | ? | |
| .SCC | ? | |
| .SCD | 320x200x16 | |
| .SCE | 640x200x16 | |
| .SCF | 640x480x256 | |
| .SCG | 800x600x16 | |
| .SCI | 320x200x256 | |
| .SCK | 320x400x256 | |
| .SCL | 640x400x256 | |
| .SCN | 800x600x256 | |
| .SCO | 1024x768x256 | |
| .SCP | 640x480x16 | |
| .SCQ | 360x480x256 | |
| .SCR | 640x350x16 | |
| .SCT | 640x400x16 | |
| .SCU | 1024x768x16 | |
| .SCV | ? | |
| .SCW | 640x350x256 | |
| .SCX | ? | Seems to be used for various image sizes. |
| .SCY | ? | |
| .SCZ | Text mode? | |
| .VMG | Various | Default extension for non-fullscreen images saved by VGA Paint |
[edit] Identification
New (VGA Paint) format: Files begin with ASCII characters "RIX3".
Note that the VGA Paint distribution includes other files, in other formats, that also begin with "RIX", but have a different fourth byte.
Uncompressed old format: There's no robust way to identify the format, though you could check the file size (exactly 112016 bytes for SCR format), and validate the palette.
Compressed old format: There's no easy way to identify the format, though it is possible to identify it by reading the file and checking for errors.
[edit] Specifications
- RIX File Format Summary, from the Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats
- RIX image File Format
- Picture format docs (of a number of formats including this one)
- Fallout 2 RIX File Format
[edit] Software
- ColoRIX VGA Paint 1.36 (at Internet Archive)
- ColoRIX VGA Paint - Various versions at old-dos.ru
- RIXLATE.EXE - Format conversion utility for DOS, included with, e.g., ColoRIX VGA Paint 1.36
- Konvertor
- XnView
- GrafX2
- Deark
[edit] Sample files
- VGARIX.ZIP → *.SCI
- dexvert samples — image/rix
- SCF Samples
- SDN¹ Plus → demos/colorix.zip → *.SCF
- Shareware Grab Bag → 008/egaslide.arc - EGA Slide, a component of EGA Paint (?). Includes some .SCR files in an old version of the format.
[edit] The Rolex demo
Apparently, RIX SoftWorks released a "Rolex" clock demo app that loads and displays an included (old-format) RIX file.
And some people modified it to display a custom image. A few of these mods may be found by searching the Internet Archive Software Collection for "rix softworks" (some may be NSFW).
- Other examples (compressed): micky.zip, tiggs.zip, GARFY.ZIP, SMURF.ZIP, MEGCLOCK.ZIP
- Other examples (uncompressed): buny.zip, pinkp.zip, TWEET.ZIP, USA_1.ZIP, EMIKO1.ZIP
[edit] Links
- File Formats
- Electronic File Formats
- Graphics
- File formats with extension .sc?
- File formats with extension .scf
- File formats with extension .sci
- File formats with extension .scr
- File formats with extension .scx
- File formats with extension .rix
- File formats with extension .vmg
- File formats with too many extensions
