ClashState – A new image converter

ClashState allows you to convert JPEG, GIF or PNG images the native formats of 8-bit computers.

The software is written in Python and uses DearPyGUI for the GUI.

The conversion algorithm is an evolution of the module I developed for RetroBBS, it makes use of HitherDither de Henrik Blidh (with some changes), Pillow and Kmeans via OpenCV.

Features

Supports the following graphic modes:

• Commodore 64 HiRes: 320×200 pixels 16 colours – 2 colours per 8×8 pixels attribute.
• Commodore 64 Multicolor: 160×200 pixels 16 colours – 4 colours per 4×8 pixels attribute, 1 of them fixed for the whole image.
• Commodore 64 AFLI: 296×200 pixels 16 colours – 2 colours per 8×1 pixels attribute.
• Commodore 64 Unrestricted: Fantasy mode, 320×200 pixels 16 colours, no restrictions.
• MSX 1 Screen 2: 256×192 pixels 15 colours – 2 colours per 8×1 pixels attribute.
• MSX 1 Unrestricted: Fantasy mode, 256×192 pixels 15 colours, no restrictions.
• ZX Spectrum: 256×192 pixels 15 colours – 2 colours per 8×8 pixels attribute.
• ZX Spectrum Unrestricted: Fantasy mode, 256×192 pixels 15 colours, no restrictions.

Free positioning and scaling of the input image: Click and drag the input image to set the position/cropping. Use your mouse wheel for zooming.

Real time adjustment of:

• Contrast
• Brightness
• Hue
• Saturation
• Sharpness

Dithering, color quantization:

• 2-step quantization: luminance and final. The optional luminance step is applied only over the input image luminance channel and either the selected color palette’s luminance channel or over black and white.
• Ten types of dithering/quantization:
  • None: Nearest color, or no effect when selected for the luminance step
  • Bayer 2×2
  • Bayer 4×4
  • Bayer 4×4 (Odd)
  • Bayer 4×4 (Even)
  • Bayer 4×4 (Spotty)
  • Bayer 8×8
  • Yliluoma
  • Cluster dot
  • Floyd Steinberg
• With the exception of Yliluoma and Floyd Steinberg, the quantization threshold can be adjusted from 1 (darker) to 5 (lighter).
• Selection for Euclidean distance o CCIR 601 color comparison (found in the Options menu). Ylilouma and Floyd Steinberg use their own methods.

Color Palettes:

• Quantization and preview palettes can be independently selected
• Each color in the palette can be enabled/disabled individually, for fine tuning the conversion result.
• When enabling only 2 colors the quantization can be made over the real color values treat the quantization palette as pure black and white.