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https://github.com/fieserwolf/convertron3000

Convertron3000 commodore 64 graphics converter
https://github.com/fieserwolf/convertron3000

c64 commodore-64 converter graphics retrocomputing

Last synced: 22 days ago
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Convertron3000 commodore 64 graphics converter

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README 

          
# Convertron3000



Convertron3000 is a graphics converter for Commodore 64 computers.

It runs on Linux, MacOS, Windows and other systems supported by Python. 



![screenshot](./screenshot.png)



# Why Convertron3000?



reason | description

---|---

open source | easy to modify and to improve, any useful contribution is highly welcome

portable | available on Linux, MacOS, Windows and any other system supported by Python3

instant preview | just fiddle around with the sliders and see the result before converting

deal with color clashes | visualize color clashes instantly or read out their position from an optional json-file



# Author



* fieserWolF/Abyss-Connection - *initial work* - [https://github.com/fieserWolF](https://github.com/fieserWolF) [https://csdb.dk/scener/?id=3623](https://csdb.dk/scener/?id=3623)



# Acknowledgments



* thanks to [Green/ATW](http://csdb.dk/scener/?id=20695) for spontaneously naming Convertron3000 :)

* thanks to people on [csdb.dk](http://csdb.dk/release/?id=155606) for commenting and giving ideas how to improve

* thanks to Henrik Blidh for his hitherdither library [https://github.com/hbldh/hitherdither](https://github.com/hbldh/hitherdither) which I use

# Using Convertron 3000



## Usage



Using Convertron3000 is pretty straight-forward:



* Open some image.

* Adjust the sliders or apply an effect.

* Convert to koala or hires format.

* optional: Check position of color-clashes.

* Save the resulting image.



## shortcuts



key | function

---|---

F1 | help

Alt-o | open image

Alt-s | save image (koala or hires format)

Alt-c | convert image

Alt-p | open settings

Alt-v | save settings

Alt-q | quit



## Dithering



As of now, Convertron3000 offers various dithering methods.

As the PIL-library only implements "floyd-steinberg"-dithering, all other dithering methods were taken from the hitherdither library.



reason | description

---|---

floyd-steinberg dithering | speedy performance from the PIL-library

bayer-ordered dithering | the speedy standard, my favourite for C64 pictures

line dithering | a modified bayer-ordered dithering method, sometimes looks better than normal ordered dithering

dot dithering | not my favourite, but might give nice results on some pictures

yliluomas1 dithering | Warning: Painfully slow - use with care! The results are stunningly good sometimes, though.



Please, take note that all dithering implementations except "floyd-steinberg"-dithering are quite slow when using the "Brightness palette"-mode, which is described below.



## Brightness palette



Sometimes converted images look better when applying a palette based on brightness values.



* Select "brightness palette" mode.

* Choose one of the presets ("purple", "brown" etc.).



You can also create your own palette like this:



* Edit the .json file: In the .json file you specify the size of your palette and the C64-colors like in one of the examples provided.

* Open your .json file. You find this option in the drop-down menu under "open custom gradient".

* Choose "custom" as your brightness palette.



## File Formats



The multicolor bitmap is stored in the widely-spread KoalaPainter (.koa) format:



* 2 bytes load address

* 8000 bytes raw bitmap data

* 1000 bytes raw "Video Matrix" (screen) data

* 1000 bytes raw "Color RAM" data

* 1 byte background data



The hires bitmap is stored in the widely-spread Advanced Art Studio (.art) format:



* 2 bytes load address

* 8000 bytes raw bitmap data

* 1000 bytes raw "Video Matrix" (screen) data



# Commandline options



	CONVERTRON3000 v1.34 [build 251229-205604] *** by fieserWolF

	usage: convertron.py [-h] [-i INPUT_IMAGE] [-g FILE_GRADIENT] [-s FILE_SETTINGS] [-d]



	This program reads an image-file, lets the user adjust settings and converts it to a C64 koala or hires image.



	options:

	  -h, --help            show this help message and exit

	  -i, --image INPUT_IMAGE

							image file)

	  -g, --gradient FILE_GRADIENT

							filename of custom gradient file (JSON) to be loaded

	  -s, --settings FILE_SETTINGS

							filename of settings file (JSON) to be loaded

	  -d, --debug           show color-clashes on consule



	Example: ./convertron.py -i image.png -g 8color_gradient-brown.json -s settings.json -d

# Getting Started



Convertron3000 comes in two flavors:



- Python3 script if you have python3 installed on your system (preferred method)

- executable for Linux and Windows (see [releases](https://github.com/fieserWolF/convertron3000/releases))



## Run the executable



Just download your zip-bundle at [releases](https://github.com/fieserWolF/convertron3000/releases), extract it to a folder of your choice and enjoy.



### Note for Windows users



If some antivirus scanner puts Convertron3000 into quarantine because it suspects a trojan or virus, simply put it out there again.

It isn`t harmful, I used PyInstaller to bundle the standalone executable for you.

Unfortunately, the PyInstaller bootloader triggers a false alarm on some systems.

I even tried my best and re-compiled the PyInstaller bootloader so that this should not happen anymore. Keep your fingers crossed ;)



### Note for MacOS users



In [releases](https://github.com/fieserWolF/convertron3000/releases) you also find older versions of Convertron 3000 compiled as standalone executables.

You may use this, but your system might complain that the code is not signed by a certificated developer. Well, I am not, so I signed the program on my own. 

```

"Convertron3000" can`t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.

```

You need to right-click or Control-click the app and select “Open”.



## Run the Python3 script directly



### Prerequisites



At least this is needed to run the script directly:



- python 3

- python tkinter module

- python "The Python Imaging Library" (PIL)

- python "argparse" library

- python "hitherdither" library



Normally, you would use pip like this:

```

pip3 install pillow argparse git+https://www.github.com/hbldh/hitherdither

```

You might need to install git (apt install git) first.



On my Debian GNU/Linux machine I use apt-get to install everything needed:

```

apt update

apt install python3 python3-tk python3-pil python3-pil.imagetk

pip3 install git+https://www.github.com/hbldh/hitherdither

```



### Download Convertron3000



* Go to [https://github.com/fieserWolF/convertron3000](https://github.com/fieserWolF/convertron3000).

* Click on the green "Code" button and "Download ZIP".

* Extract the downloaded ZIP-file to any folder.



# Changelog



## Future plans



- custom brightness palette editor



Any help and support in any form is highly appreciated.



If you have a feature request, a bug report or if you want to offer help, please, contact me:



[http://csdb.dk/scener/?id=3623](http://csdb.dk/scener/?id=3623)

or

[wolf@abyss-connection.de](wolf@abyss-connection.de)



## Changes in 1.35



- resizable image windows

- various bug fixes



## Changes in 1.34 (on Dream210 Party 2025)



- all settings can now be written to a file and restored to a file (json format)

- rearranged the main layout to simplify the workflow (all controls are closer by now)

- rewritten the whole code, split up into parts

- rearranged the documentation

- responsive GUI

- bug fix: proper file-not-found handling when opening images

- bug fix: fixed crash when not finding reasonable color replacement in hires mode (thanks slesinger for the bug report)



## Changes in 1.33



- added: color-clashes can be saved as image and as json

- bug fixes



## Changes in 1.32



- added proper commandline argument parsing (try "convertron.py --help")

- added json output of color clashes (can be read from other tools to work on color clashes)

- fixed: removed leftover saving debug image "/tmp/1.png"



## Changes in 1.31



- fixed: wrong hires image dimensions when using line dithering



## Changes in 1.3 (on X2024)



- fixed: proper scaling, better conversion

- show position of color clashes in GUI and on console



## Changes in 1.2



- proper dithering support: bayer-ordered, line dither and some others

- GUI improvements

- moved standalone executables to [releases](https://github.com/fieserWolF/convertron3000/releases)



## Changes in 1.1



- transfered whole code to Python3

- great speed improvement, converts much faster now

- new feature: specify image on the command-line, e.g. "convertron.py picture.jpg"

- standalone executables for 64bit-systems: Linux, Darwin (MacOS) and Windows

- GUI design adjusted for MacOS/Darwin

- numpy library not used any more

- documentation

- custom brightness palette now uses .json format



## Changes in 1.01



- added licenses

- added to github with proper README.md



## Changes in 1.0



- hires mode

- colodore palette

- button: reset color modifiers to default

- start address now in hex

- custom brightness palette (config file)



## Changes in 0.1



- initial release



# License



_Convertron3000 is a graphics converter for Commodore 64 computers._



_Copyright (C) 2026 fieserWolF / Abyss-Connection_



This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.



This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;

without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

See the GNU General Public License for more details.



You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program.

If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/](http://www.gnu.org/licenses/).



See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.



For further questions, please contact me at

[http://csdb.dk/scener/?id=3623](http://csdb.dk/scener/?id=3623)

or

[wolf@abyss-connection.de](wolf@abyss-connection.de)



For Python3, The Python Imaging Library (PIL), Tcl/Tk and other used source licenses see file [LICENSE_OTHERS](LICENSE_OTHERS).