ALBERT version 2.0.0 released

Version 2.0.0 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.

Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

This update delivers the following changes:

  • When the pixel pen tool is active, pressing Shift and a mouse click draws a connecting line to the mouse pointer position
  • Persist the open/closed state of the script and preview windows too
  • Fixed the lookup of sprite attribute byte from the previous row when color switching is not allowed
  • Added the option to drag the program into the Applications folder when mounting the DMG for macOS
  • Rationalised several UI items/wording
  • Added support for embedding a preview in project files (not backward compatible)
  • Show ‘(unsaved)’ in the app title bar to advise a project has changes not yet saved to file
  • Added the “Open Recent” menu, including dynamical removal of invalid entries
    PRG files are saved and exomized in a temporary folder before being moved to their user-selected location
  • PRG file export runs in a separate thread
  • Added support for sending PRG files to an Ultimate device
  • The actual fraction of work completed is now tracked by the progress bar while loading/saving a project or saving workstages
  • Added a context menu to keep the preview window on top

A few more sample projects are also included in each distribution package and in a separate archive.

Dulcis in fundo, I am including a few visuals here:

ALBERT: About dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: About dialog

ALBERT: open project dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: open project dialog

ALBERT: open recent menu by Luigi DI Fraia

ALBERT: open recent menu

ALBERT: macOS drag to install window by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: macOS drag to install window

IECHost GUI client version 3.9.0 released

Version 3.9.0 of the IECHost GUI client is now available within my Software page. Binaries are available for Windows, macOS (Intel), Linux x86_64 and armv7l.

This is a minor update for a few enhancements:

  • New feature: Detect and log loops in the directory t/s chain
  • New feature: Select the last open file in the file chooser dialog for opening D64 files
  • New feature: Enabled the “Special” menu in the 40-track version of the client

Details of the changes are also available through the issue tracker.

Finally, I had initially meant to publish this update as version 3.8.13 but then I decided to align application versioning to what’s specified in semantic versioning 2.0.0 and opted for 3.9.0 instead. This is something I will try to keep in mind for all future updates of my applications.

Stay tuned for more!

ALBERT version 1.2.1 released

Version 1.2.1 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.

Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

This is a minor update delivering the following changes:

  • Fixed the logic for saving project files

In fact, there was an issue in version 1.2.0 where a bit was not set correctly when saving an extended image project to disk.

Stay tuned for more!

ALBERT version 1.2.0 released

Version 1.2.0 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.

Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

This update delivers the following changes:

  • Added support for creating non-extended images
  • Fixed background/border color display widget update when starting a new project

A few more sample projects are also included in each distribution package and in a separate archive, contributed by Joachim.

Stay tuned for more!

ALBERT version 1.1.2 released

Version 1.1.2 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage. Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

ALBERT: About dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: About dialog

This is a minor update delivering the following changes:

  • Fixed syntax highlighting for the scripting window under macOS
  • Revised the drawstar() Lua function to only accept the star’s width and automatically calculate its height to guarantee radial symmetry
  • Added support for Drean (PAL-N) systems to the stable code for the Commodore 64
  • Added avatars to the About dialog and slightly refactored its contents
  • Added another sample project

Happy Easter to Everyone!

C64 Pic Extender version 1.1.4 released

Version 1.1.4 of the C64 Pic Extender is now available within my Software page.

This is a minor update for a few enhancements:

  • Added support for Drean

The following enhancements were included as part of version 1.1.3, which was not published by itself:

  • Multiple about dialogs under macOS won’t be erroneously created any longer
  • Non-ASCII and space characters in the application path won’t impair the execution of exomizer under *nix

You might want to check the documentation that comes within each distribution archive for more information!

ALBERT version 1.1.1 released

Version 1.1.1 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.
Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

This is a minor update delivering the following fix to a bug reported by ElfKaa:

  • Fixed the coordinate validation for flood fill to avoid a memory access violation

ALBERT version 1.1.0 released

Version 1.1.0 of ALBERT, the pixel art editor for creating extended Commodore 64 images, is now available on its official homepage.
Binaries are available for Windows and macOS (Intel). For Linux users, Docker images are published on Docker Hub here.

With support for rectangular selections, symmetrical drawing, image and selection flipping, and many more features, ALBERT celebrates its first year of development with a bang!

Furthermore, there’s an Easter egg in ALBERT 1.1.0. If you can find it, contact me with its details and you get a chance to prioritize a feature from the list of ALBERT’s upcoming features.

ALBERT: Christmas About dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: Christmas About dialog

Here are all changes delivered in this update:

  • Added support for rectangular selections (drag, cut, copy, and paste), solid or transparent
  • Added support for symmetrical (horizontal, vertical, quadrant, and bisected quadrant) drawing and flood fill
  • Added support for flipping (horizontally or vertically) canvas and selection contents
  • Added the option to load transparent PNG images into a separate layer to be used as a drawing reference, which can be hidden and shown as needed
  • Added the option for setting the aspect ratio of pixels (1:1, PAL, or NTSC) for the main canvas and the preview window
  • Added the option to reset image adjustment curve properties when importing PNG images
  • Added the option to set font properties for the scripting window (part of the Preferences dialog)
  • Added two new Lua functions to draw hollow and filled rectangles
  • Added two new Lua functions to draw ellipses and provide a strong reference for drawing circles when targeting PAL or NTSC displays
  • Added the option to generate random shapes using the Pareidolia menu item
  • Added shortcuts for setting the color of pen 1 to values in the range 8-15
  • When opening a project or importing a PNG image the main canvas is now zoomed for best fit
  • Corrected the display of the current graphic mode in the main window’s status bar
  • Fixed color swapping and replacing so that they only modify the editable area and correctly process color clashing
  • Multiple instances of dialogs that require user interaction cannot be erroneously created any longer by users under macOS
  • Added a few more sample projects

Merry Christmas to everyone!