From: rasure@borris.eece.unm.edu (John Rasure)
Newsgroups: comp.soft-sys.khoros
Subject: Re: Sun4 khoros 256 gray levels 8 bits images display and hardcopy.
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:00:44 GMT


In "Sun4 khoros 256 gray levels 8 bits images display and hardcopy.", Daniel Albrecht writes:
+ 
+ Hi,
+ 
+ I am responsible for an Image Processing lab. in a research center
+ of the European Communities. We mainly process interferometric
+ images obtained by LASER techniques.
+ 
+ I am on the verge to buy a new Image Processing machine for my lab.
+ 
+ I am making some tests on a ( BORROWED from a colleague ) Sun4 machine,
+ O.S. 4.1.2, with OpenWindows 2.0, an 8 bit display(GX) and KHOROS.
+ Khoros compilation seems successfull, I am therefore a new Khoros member !

Khoros does not work with OpenWindows 2.0 - you should use 3.0

+ 
+ Before to order this new machine, I would like to be convinced
+ that my images :
+ 
+    a) TODAY, 8 bits (256 Grey levels) + (RGB) 3*256 input LUT,
+       Look Up Table (Pseudo-color) .
+    b) In the FUTURE my images will be TRUE color
+       (3 bands (8 bits /band) r-g-b).
+ 
+ may be loaded and processed within the Khoros "environment".

Khoros limps with 24 bit displays - it seems that all 24 bit X Servers are
not created equal.  We will emphasize SUN and SGI 24 bit displays in Khoros
2.0.

+ 
+ - On a PC frame grabber board, (a) works very well.
+ 
+ - However on Sun4, after some tests the case (a) already presents
+   some TROUBLES.
+   As stated in "KHOROS Frequently Asked Questions", at Q24-A24.
+ 
+ Q24:
+ + When I display images (ex.:$KHOROS_HOME/data/images/ball.xv)
+ + it comes up with colored speckles in it, or strangely colored
+ + in some way. This condition rights itself when I move
+ + the cursor into the image, but then the colors in my user
+ + interface get messed up.
+ 
+ A24:
+ + It is NOT a bug in Khoros. The bug is in the X server.
+ + Khoros managed to work around the bug with the above drawbacks.
+ + With OpenWindows 3.0, likely, this X server bug is fixed.
+ 
+   But what about the drawback(arbitrarily colored speckle) ???
+ 
+   My questions:
+   ------------
+   If I buy my new Sun4 + [GX(8 bits) or GS(24 bits) display board,
+                          O.S. 4.1.2, OpenWindows 3.0,
+                          Khoros 1.0(Patch level 5)],
+ 
+   1) would the case (a) work correctly or not ???
+      I mean 8 bits (256 Grey levels) + (RGB) 3*256 input LUT
+      for pseudo-color.
+      What then about the user interface colors ?

The 8-bit display works well and user interface colors work well.  I am not
actually fully aware of all of the problems using 24 bit color on SUNS.  It
is only partially implemented, but things like putimage should work fine.

+   2) would the case (b) work correctly. ???
+      I mean TRUE color images(3 bands (8 bits/band) r-g-b).

Putimage should be fine, but editimage is only partially operational.

+   3) Is Khoros environment suited for those requirements.
+   4) In case questions 1 to 3 are OK, may someone tell me where I can
+      find a tool(possibly in Europe) to make HARDCOPIES of
+      my 8bits/24bits result images (Xwindows) to drive my Tektronix
+      color Printer-4693DX- on a // Centronics port.
+      (with a Tek 4693DX software driver).
+      Tektronix Italy only has a 8 bit hardcopy tool, but NOT a 24 bits
+      hardcopy tool.
+ 
+ I am rather enthousiastic about khoros.
+ I only want to be sure of what I can do with it.
+ 
+ Regards.
End of message from Daniel Albrecht