ART:
OTHER:
Programs
Introduction
Viewers
Acid View by Acid
Requirements:
Current version:
My verdict:
Score: 5 stars
DarkView by Dark Illustrated
Requirements:
Current version:
My verdict:
Score: 3.5 stars
IceView by Ice Requirements: Current version: WireTap by CIA ANS, ASC, RIP, ADF (Artwork/CiADraw Data Files), PCX, FLI (Animation Files), GIF, BIN, PCB (Text files containing PCBoard Color Codes) Requirements: Not stated. Current version: Wiretap v. 3.5 (06/97)
CiADraw by CiA
CiADraw has been made to be a powerful, easy to use and reliable program that expands the limitations of todays artists. All of the commands are at your fingertips without the worry of getting lost inside menu after menu.
Requirements:
Current version:
My verdict:
Score: unreviewed as yet
iC2-32 ANSI maker extreme for Windows 95/NT
Current version:
My verdict:
Score: 2.5 stars
Here's a list of mainly PC based programs which are used in the scene. Once again, this bit is being added to all the time. BTW, most of these words aren't mine and are from the actual docs. If you want me to review your product, e-mail me.
These programs help view the art work, each has its strengths and weaknesses.
ACiD View welcomes you to the most comprehensive Art Viewer in production. This innovative program is capable of displaying ANSI, BIN, GIF, JPG, RIPscrip and XBIN graphics. In addition, the viewer has been designed with a special the viewer has been designed with a special interest for those who multitask. ACiD View utilizes its own internal ANSI routines, making it capable of viewing ANSI without a separate device driver.
ANS, ASC, RIP, GIF, JPG, BIN, XBIN
ACiD View : 4.32 / 01-01-1997
Well, this is the definitive viewer in the market. I haven't seen any better in any format. ACiD is currently making a Java version which is in beta version and requires JDK (9 meg download :P). While I have tried it, I found it very slow, perhaps because it's Java.
Your standard viewer that every group puts out to display the talents of their coding department.
ANS, ASC, RIP, GIF, PCX, BIN
DarkView version 3.11 - (c) Dark, 1994-96
This viewer is quite good compared to many other groups. I nice feature is that it offers a nice VGA interface as a pleasant change to plain old text. There is also a limit the size of some files as this viewer does not implement EMS/XMS yet. I also found that viewer did crash sometimes.
iCEView is a "one-stop" program to view most any artwork you might come across in your art scene experience. iCEView, using proper memory techniques, will use up to 8 Megs of EMS memory. Using this memory, it will display ANSIs up to 51,200 lines long. BIN viewing is equally flexible, allowing a user to display pics at 163840x25, 2023x2023, 51200x80 or anywhere in between.
ANS, ASC, RIP?, GIF, BIN, iCEDraw format
Not stated.
ICEView v0.66 Wide Beta
Views:
These programs help edit the art work.
With CiADraw you are no longer limited to the default character set nor are you limited to the combination of sixteen default colors. If you feel that you need a curve in your picture or logo, instead of an ugly, ridged block, you can change any character to the shape of a curve that fits just right. If you feel that you need a darker shade of red that isn't provided by normal colors, you can change any of the sixteen colors to match the perfect shade.
CiADraw Public Beta Release 0.8
Quite a small program, only taking up ~120kb including docs. This version of CiADraw is only shareware and has many delays and many features disabled. I didn't really get to review this properly as it crashed on me and I didn't really give a shit enough to try it again. Perhaps later.
iC2-32 is a Windows 95/NT 4.0 program that creates ANSI graphics from 16-color 78x46 bitmaps using the 219, 220, 223, and space characters. Features include import of existing graphics from Windows icons, bitmaps, or metafiles; eight types of dithering; and brightness and contrast controls that allow the optimization of colors. The program can use all fonts available to Windows, including TrueType. Built-in sound effects and female voice clips enhance your editing experience. You may have to view ANSI graphics in DOS, but with iC2-32 you don't have to create them there. Some features are disabled in this trial version.
Version 1.0, iC2_100.zip, 1.86M, 8/17/96
After downloading the 1.86 meg file and installing the program, I found it only took up 548kb. Eh? I then figured out rest of the files were VB4 files chucked into my Windows/System directory. Ok, enough BS, on with review. Honestly, I didn't really like this program despite the 4 star review it received from ZDNET (shareware type site). This program is available on many servers probably due to better marketing than anything else. This program will not stand up in the scene because these types of programs which convert graphical formats (gif, bmp, etc..) into ANSI are looked upon as lamers tools.