[Tool] Whip's Image To LCD Converter

Howdy!
Intro
This is an image converter that I created to convert images into a format that can be used in vanilla Space Engineers.
This is my first windows app, and I spent a lot of time on this. I hope y'all enjoy!

Description
This code utilizes a variety of dithering methods to convert each image pixel from a 24 bit color into a 9 bit color. By reducing the number of colors in an image, we can use the color pixels in the Monospace font in Space Engineers to "draw" the image on a text panel without the need for mods.

Where do I get the program?
Here -> https://github.com/Whiplash141/Whips-Image-Converter/releases/latest

Interface

How to use

1. Browse for your desired image file.
2. Select resizing option.
3. Select dithering option.
4. Click "Convert".
5. Copy and Paste all of the text in the "Converted String" output into your in-game LCD panel. Make the font size 0.1 and the font MONOSPACED.

Examples
Some more examples can be found here:
https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=821975894

Author's Notes
This is my first windows app and I am very proud of it. I've had this in a closed-ish beta environment for a while, but now I want to stress test the program and get a larger feedback pool. If you notice any bugs/have any suggestions, leave a comment here

Current Release
Version 1.1.4.3 - November 18th, 2017

 

What would you say is the optimal size/resolution for a picture that's going to be converted? Brilliant work by the way

 

What is a source file and how do I download it. Sorry for being such a noob.

It seems to function just fine without it. Unless I did it by accident... You are the best Whiplash, This will be huge for my big faction game on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169032303212085/) thank you.

 

Depends on the LCD type. I have set up the optimal settings for the LCDs in the selection box

You only need the source files if you wish to compile it yourself

The source files are all the files in my github directory

 

I was watching a stream, and w4sted pulled out an image and put it in an LCD. As soon as he mentioned the author, I ran a Google search and found this. It works as intended. One practical use in this compared to inserting these images as mods, you don't need to harass the host of a multiplayer server simply to add a single image, and it's a lot easier... granted I've never tried this via a mod.

 

Hehe I guess I should make a more public release

 

But... but it is public...

 

I mean like a proper release with a video and a workshop demo world

 

I've published my first official GitHub release!
https://github.com/Whiplash141/Whips-Image-Converter/releases/latest

 

Updated application to check for updates on start-up

 

I'm rather new to the Space Engineers world, but going through the workshop mods, I've noticed just about every single LCD-related mod was broke due to a rather recent update. I sort of read up on what the issue is, but it seems that it's up to the modders to compile their code to get the LCD's to work properly again... which it seems like a lot of popular mods/modders are going on hiatus due to an overabundance of mod-breaking updates over the past year or so. My question is, am I able to use your software and the images used in the mods (which I assume are stored locally once subscribed to), to re-create them for my use in my single player game? Or is it more complicated than that? I wouldn't upload them to the workshop of course, but they look like a really awesome addition for my solo play.

 

This tool uses feature of monospace font which now is a part of vanilla game. If keen does not broke monospace font and if you have image in suitable format - it must work.

 

This works in vanilla. No mods as @krypt-lynx stated

 

I realized after I had made my first post, that most of the lcd mods actually do work (at least for me I guess). The one that prompted me to post, LCD Picture Pack 2 @ https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=474847236, was the first lcd mod I tried and the screens are all too dark to read, so I assumed it was the same for all the others, especially since the comments for each of them didn't look very promising. After dabbling with the dds for one of the screens of that mod, I realized that Whiplash's tool wouldn't work in this case, as you guys mentioned... please forgive my ignorance lol (very nice tool btw though!).

After several failed attempts at getting an lcd to work from the picture pack, I was wondering if you guys knew how to fix the emission/alpha channel or if those screens would need to go through a redesign of some sort? Not to step on Rowch's (creator) toes or anything, but I don't see a fix coming for them, and would like to use them in my solo play. Shoot, if it's an easy enough fix, I wouldn't mind updating them all and making them available for everyone again... with his permission of course. I saw in another post that it could be a new parameter that Keen added, but this mod only uses an xml based structure pointing to the location of the dds's. Opacity was already set to 100% for all of them as well, leading me to think that they just need to be redone in general.

 

Keen just broke emission of modded lcds. Community slowly fixing it.
As far as I know it related to modded lcd blocks, not textures. Because text on those lcds is also have no emission.
--- Automerge ---
Hmm... I wondering, that KeenSWH will do in case if they will have broke monospace font? Because they have no sources of this font.

 

Finally got around using it and this tool really works great, considering output is only 178x178 pixels.
Cool and useful tool!

 

Conversion of pictures into script works like a dream. I found this tool very smooth to handle. Great.
However, I am lost at the question HOW I am supposed to insert the processed script for a picture into the LCD.
I am totally new to this. So I ask stupid questions:
Copy and paste from windows where I have a txt file with this script seems impossible, so what's the trick bringing the code for a picture on the LCD?

 

I find the simplest way is to have the game open first, alt-tab out to the converter tool, once the conversion is good, hit the 'copy to clipboard' button, then switch back into the game, select the panel, hit the 'edit text' button and control-V to paste the text into the panel, and check the font 'monospace' selected at (generally) minimum size (0.100) and the 'show text on screen' option is enabled..

 

I'll try this, thank you, Roxette.

 

Yeah, this application converts the image into a loooooong string that you can then paste in a text panel's text field. Set to monospace font and set size to minimum.

 

13 wide screens, and the need to reload the whole game for every couple or so of them, that took hours today to complete my billboard station sign. *uff*
I appreciated the possibilities of resizing and turning in 90 degrees for that task.

 

Oh uh... Your system hates you for that sign. Probably in this exact case to create an lcd texture mod is better way.

 

It's not yet complete. Next to the 13 letters I am planning to place six square LCDs for a graphical logo for my station, I will have to cut the picture in six sections and feed each LCD with one. As they appear to be seamless next to each other you can create video walls with them just nicely.
Whiplash's tool is just perfect for such things.

 

Update 1.1.3.1 has been released:

• You should notice massive performance increases!
• Version checking is now done asynchronously so that the application wont appear to "hang" while searching for updates

 

Just wanted to say that I have enjoyed this tool greatly, and have had 0 problems. On a side note, several of your scripts are considered "Must Have" in any save I play. Thank you for doing what you do.

 

I love this feature this program and the fact keen added a font specially for it.
theres something magic about a slightly lower detailed image on a high tech spaceship.

reminds me of system shock 2 i guess...thats...erm...a hd texture pack.

 

First off, awesome tool and very easy to use, but you NEED (yes capital letters) a function for Multilcd, like when i have a row of 4x4 lcds and i want ONE picture on it.
Some certan tool have this function but you cant select widescreens on that. And since yours works so smooth ....

 

Issue is that multi-LCD images take a steaming shit on servers due to all 'dem pixels.

Additionally, I have no idea how I'd redesign the UI to make that remotely intuitive with my current system.

 

Whip, don't be lazy, don't make me write my own tool Yours already have a fatal flaw: it is not written by me
You can use grid of some kind instead of single copy button

 

K.