Subj : Sixels
To   : Nigel Reed
From : AKAcastor
Date : Tue Mar 19 2024 11:56:04

Hi Nigel, replying here from previous discussion in FSX_NET.

 >> I have a script converting the Astronomy Picture Of The Day to SIXEL for
 >> viewing in Syncterm (or other sixel-supporting terminal) on my BBS, so have
 >> been checking it every morning and I panic when it's not updated. :)

 NR> I have the same but I just pick up the last image so if I don't have the  NR> most recent then it'll display something, at least.

Great minds think alike!  :)

I connected to your BBS to take a look, and on my first call was greeted with a wonderful sixel graphic in your login screen.  Very nice!  I reconnected a few more times and saw some of your other login screens, I like the variety.

Do you do any kind of aspect ratio correction to images when converting to sixel?  I noticed that on my system, when I connect with SyncTerm with the window in 4:3 aspect ratio, I had to adjust the aspect ratio of the images so they don't appear squished.

I'm not sure that resizing the images the way I am doing it is the best way (I think for other terminals it results in stretched images).  I don't know if it's even reasonable to assume people are using a 4:3 aspect ratio terminal these days.

FYI for anyone interested, I am using ImageMagick to convert:

# adjust aspect ratio
convert -resize 100%x83%! APODxxxx.JPG 4X3.JPG

# resize to maximum dimensions 640x360 and convert to sixel
convert -resize 640x360\> 4X3.JPG APOD.SIX


Chris/akacastor

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