Dexxa TIFF

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|released=~1987
 
|released=~1987
 
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This article describes an usual variant of [[TIFF]] that is the native color image format of ''RainBow Paint'', ''PaintShow'', ''PaintShow Plus'', and possibly ''Paint It!''. These are names of different versions of a paint program for DOS by Dexxa International and/or Logitech.
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This article describes an unusual variant of [[TIFF]] that is the native color image format of ''RainBow Paint'', ''PaintShow'', ''PaintShow Plus'', and possibly ''Paint It!''. These are names of different versions of a paint program for DOS by Dexxa International and/or Logitech. The software was sometimes packaged with Logitech/Dexxa mice.
  
The software includes a TIF2PCX.EXE utility that can convert the format to [[PCX]].
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The software includes TIF2PCX.EXE, a utility to convert the format to [[PCX]].
  
 
== Disambiguation ==
 
== Disambiguation ==
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== Format details ==
 
== Format details ==
The color "Dexxa TIFF" format is not compatible with standard TIFF (at least not TIFF revision 4 or higher).
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The color mode can be selected by setting an environment variable prior to running the software. For example:
 +
* "<code>SET GRAFMODE=VGACOL</code>" - 16-color
 +
* "<code>SET GRAFMODE=CGACOL</code>" - 4-color
 +
* "<code>SET GRAFMODE=VGABW</code>" - black and white
 +
 
 +
=== 16-color images ===
 +
The 16-color format is not compatible with standard TIFF (at least not TIFF revision 4 or higher).
  
 
The image is labeled as RGB color, but in fact is palette color. The default 16-color PC/CGA palette is used, and is not stored in the file. (Note that some versions of the software predate TIFF 5.0, which introduced support for palette color.)
 
The image is labeled as RGB color, but in fact is palette color. The default 16-color PC/CGA palette is used, and is not stored in the file. (Note that some versions of the software predate TIFF 5.0, which introduced support for palette color.)
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The image is labeled as planar, 4 samples/pixel, and usually 1 bit/sample, though 4 bits/sample is also possible (e.g. TRAIN1.TIF included with PaintShow 1.1).
 
The image is labeled as planar, 4 samples/pixel, and usually 1 bit/sample, though 4 bits/sample is also possible (e.g. TRAIN1.TIF included with PaintShow 1.1).
  
Some versions of the software support black and white images, in which case a standard TIFF format is used.
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=== 4-color images ===
 +
4-color images appear to use a reasonably standard grayscale TIFF format, interpreted in a nonstandard way. This might depend on the type of compression selected.
  
The software seems to resemble [[MacPaint]].
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=== Black and white images ===
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Bi-level black and white images use a standard TIFF format.
  
 
== Software ==
 
== Software ==
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* [https://winworldpc.com/product/paintshow-plus/2x PaintShow Plus 2.x] by Logitech (at WinWorld)
 
* [https://winworldpc.com/product/paintshow-plus/2x PaintShow Plus 2.x] by Logitech (at WinWorld)
 
* [https://archive.org/details/paint_20201126 RainBow Paint 2.2] by Dexxa
 
* [https://archive.org/details/paint_20201126 RainBow Paint 2.2] by Dexxa
* {{Deark}}
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* {{Deark}} - Supports 16-color images
  
 
== Sample files ==
 
== Sample files ==

Latest revision as of 17:05, 30 April 2022

File Format
Name Dexxa TIFF
Ontology
Extension(s) .tif
Released ~1987

This article describes an unusual variant of TIFF that is the native color image format of RainBow Paint, PaintShow, PaintShow Plus, and possibly Paint It!. These are names of different versions of a paint program for DOS by Dexxa International and/or Logitech. The software was sometimes packaged with Logitech/Dexxa mice.

The software includes TIF2PCX.EXE, a utility to convert the format to PCX.

Contents

[edit] Disambiguation

RainBow Paint is not to be confused with Rainbow Painter.

[edit] Format details

The color mode can be selected by setting an environment variable prior to running the software. For example:

  • "SET GRAFMODE=VGACOL" - 16-color
  • "SET GRAFMODE=CGACOL" - 4-color
  • "SET GRAFMODE=VGABW" - black and white

[edit] 16-color images

The 16-color format is not compatible with standard TIFF (at least not TIFF revision 4 or higher).

The image is labeled as RGB color, but in fact is palette color. The default 16-color PC/CGA palette is used, and is not stored in the file. (Note that some versions of the software predate TIFF 5.0, which introduced support for palette color.)

The image is labeled as planar, 4 samples/pixel, and usually 1 bit/sample, though 4 bits/sample is also possible (e.g. TRAIN1.TIF included with PaintShow 1.1).

[edit] 4-color images

4-color images appear to use a reasonably standard grayscale TIFF format, interpreted in a nonstandard way. This might depend on the type of compression selected.

[edit] Black and white images

Bi-level black and white images use a standard TIFF format.

[edit] Software

[edit] Sample files

  • Some example files are included with PaintShow 1.1, and PaintShow Plus 2.0-2.1.

[edit] Links

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