Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Anyone up for a picture contest? — Parallax Forums

Anyone up for a picture contest?

potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
edited 2014-05-20 14:58 in Propeller 1
I'm working on video related things right now on P1. Been thinking about our next chip, and wanted to make sure I understand some ideas I have for it.

Then it kind of just hit me. Let's have a little fun!

Over the years people have sent me a few things. I used them too. Learned a lot and I think some of those could be prizes. More on that. Just know I'm ready to ship some gear out to the winner, if nobody else does. The more the merrier!

Let's nail down the particulars. My first draft below, and discussion is welcome. Let's make it a solid contest and have fun.

So what is the contest?

Simple. Get a P1 to display the coolest picture you can! Best overall picture wins a prize, and that prize will include a Propeller chip and some goodies, maybe a board. That's what I got to put out there. You also get to be uber, which is worth a lot. Maybe we can have a few catagories, or maybe just first second and third kind of thing. I can supply one reasonable prize.

Rules:

1. Picture must be displayed on a TV or VGA compatable display.

2. It must run on a Propeller as a single load. Hit F10 and see the picture. No stuffing EEPROMS, no multiple comms to fetch additional data. The picture and the code to display it are contained in one atomic image run on a Prop chip.

3. Discrete components only. No added RAM, no helper chips, just a Prop, resistors, capacitors, transistors, inductors, and connectors, like RCA, VGA, etc.... Any crystal you want, 100Mhz Propeller clock max.

The intent here is anyone can build the circuit from their basic components library.

4. Family friendly images please.

5. Code to be posted to the forum on or before June 15, 2014, 11:59 PM GMT. (discuss?)

6. It is expected that people will run the images. This may not happen, so it is also expected to submit a capture or photo for people to judge.

Criteria

1. Overall wow factor! This is highly subjective. Pick or create your art well.

2. Technical merit. Color, resolution, display tricks, etc...

3. Best use of: ??? Could use some fleshing out.

Decision

1. Everybody has a few days to run the code and evaluate the images.

2. Voting begins on June 20.

3. Winner announced June 22.

4. Winner to be decided via simple poll here.

Discuss and lets kick this off next week! Final rules will be posted in official contest thread, combined with the announcement of prizes, etc...

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-05-11 11:38
    'Sounds like fun; animated images allowed? 'Okay to require 3D (red/green) glasses?

    -Phil
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-11 11:41
    I've been thinking about that. IMHO, I'm thinking that should be a category. Maybe another prize? My avatar is a 30K GIF... :)

    Let's say yes, and continue to flesh out things for a bit.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,703
    edited 2014-05-11 23:09
    Its a good idea.

    I think Phil's off to a great head start, with 3D and also a presentation/slide show running at some point?

    The rest of us will have to work hard...
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-11 23:25
    I got a request for an animated image in a PM, and Phil is wanting to do 3D... (cool)

    Let's collect some more of these on the thread before solidifying the rules. I don't want to say no. I do want the contest to be meaningful and encourage people to code something new for P1 during the contest time too. Maybe categories make sense, or maybe not, maybe just pick the one we think is the most awesome!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-05-12 00:31
    The 3D suggestion is entirely optional, since it requires "special equipment" to get the effect. In any event, voters lacking that equipment would put the submitter of a 3D image at an immediate disadvantage anyway. So maybe -- even if it were permissible -- there would be little point in submitting such an image.

    -Phil
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-12 00:34
    You could drive two displays and we can cross our eyes for a bit. :)
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2014-05-12 03:10
    Cool competition!

    So - no SD cards and no external ram. I've already got enough propeller bits so I'd like to see the prize go to someone else, so here are two links to some propeller eye candy that don't fit the competition criteria.

    The first is a movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMLG-5t45Ek and it fails because it uses an external SD card.

    The second fails because it uses external ram. But it has some clever code with two cogs having a race - one starts drawing a line and the other is reading data out of a ram. The second one is not as fast as the first so the first eventually catches up, but it means a line can have more pixels. Resolution can go to 256x224. Add some dithering and click on a few of the images on the first post.
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/134209-256x224-video-driver
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,703
    edited 2014-05-12 03:58
    I'm going to dig out some old 'cloud generating' code from decades ago. Kind of brownian motion / fractal kind of thing, and see how it looks.
  • AGCBAGCB Posts: 327
    edited 2014-05-12 04:51
    I think this was mentioned in post 1, tentative rules, but I hope the code can be posted for some or all so that us novices can also learn something too.
    Aaron
  • ericballericball Posts: 774
    edited 2014-05-12 05:51
    To start things off, you're going to have to beat these classic gems:

    Greyscale Lena - http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/127775-Greyscale-bitmap-TV-driver

    Bouncing & exploding Propeller Beanie - http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/112146-composite-NTSC-sprite-driver

    Note: I don't have a Propeller board anymore (housefire), so I won't be adding more to the mix.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-12 08:20
    Eric! House fire?

    How about I send you another one? :) Kind of missed you.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-12 08:23
    I think this was mentioned in post 1, tentative rules, but I hope the code can be posted for some or all so that us novices can also learn something too.

    Deffo my intent.

    And ABCG, pixel art is fun and can pack a big impact. There is a lot of existing code to draw from. Make an entry. At the end of it, we get some cool art for Propeller!
  • ericballericball Posts: 774
    edited 2014-05-12 08:42
    potatohead wrote: »
    Eric! House fire? How about I send you another one? :) Kind of missed you.
    Thank you (and Chris Wardell) for the very kind offers, but my free time keeps getting filled with other stuff and there isn't room for more Propeller projects. (I still hang out here just to see what TV stuff is getting done - like kuroneko's very impressive 1 pin 80x25 TV text.)

    The fire happened end of August 2012. Based on the burn patterns and the hole in the countertop, the fire was likely started by a 9 volt battery shorting out in the "junk basket" we kept there. The family wasn't home, so the only loss of life was our cat. (We've since adopted two rescue kittens.) And while the majority of the "fire" damage was to the kitchen, the smoke & heat damage meant most of the contents were written off. We tried to make as much lemonade as possible with the insurance money - renovating the kitchen, commercial grade bamboo flooring, new furniture, etc. etc., but in many cases not replacing stuff we didn't "need" (including the Propeller Demo Board Doug gave me).
  • AntoineDoinelAntoineDoinel Posts: 312
    edited 2014-05-12 15:58
    If animations are allowed, I'm afraid "Gameduino (Amiga bouncing) ball demo without the Gameduino" will be hard to beat:

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/142764-FYI-VGA-400x300-scanline-driver-(SVGA-timing-single-cog)?p=1153215&viewfull=1#post1153215
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2014-05-12 16:16
    Count us in if you need any prizes, potatohead.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-13 09:59
    Thanks Ken. I'll let this go another day to see what other input comes in.

    Question to all: Is a month too long, just right, or too short.

    I want new code out there, mine included. I think a month works for me, anyone else want to comment?

    Catagories:

    Picture on TV / VGA display: Static pixel art, animated.

    Wild! Anthing you want to showcase and have fun doing.

    Try hard to make it something others can run.

    Prizes in each of the three catagories TBD with Ken.

    Multiple entries encouraged!

    Aside from the time question, I think this is about ready to kick off! I'm looking forward to doing some cool pixel art!
  • kuronekokuroneko Posts: 3,623
    edited 2014-05-13 16:58
    Should this target a specific board configuration or do you expect people to e.g. change the VGA pin group and recompile? I mean yes, the source should be available (if possible) so the latter isn't an issue but what about easy-to-use binaries?
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-15 08:08
    Ok, that's long enough. The real meaningful questions got asked.

    Yes, should target specific boards. Where it's possible to generate an easy to use binary, do it. However, running the code may require a circuit. I myself will be working with the PPDB and some discretes.

    Overall, the more people who can run it easily, the better the voting might be. On the other hand, if it's really awesome, and it just requires a little more than the standard, it's good that we all see it too.

    This means entries should be clearly documented so that others can run them. If it's a binary, it probably needs to be for a specific and common board.

    I'll have a quick chat with Ken, and kick this off over the weekend.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-05-15 08:49
    May we use a "non standard" configuration?

    I've got some really wonderful 256 color images here.

    Jeff
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2014-05-15 20:25
    May I use six n-mosfets in packet? (e.g a open drain hex buffer)
    cleaner than single/dual mosfets that are made to sink 200+ mA, and I only need sink under 10mA

    http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/302/74LVC06A-188481.pdf
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-20 14:22
    UPDATE

    This is a go. For reasons I will put here later, I'm going to need to take an out of town, off grid vacation now. Good reasons.

    Three chances to win some spiffy Parallax stuff!

    1. Static Image, Standard Parallax hardware, or Propeller plus discrete components only, resistors, diodes, caps, etc... No specialized IC's other than a Propeller Chip and or what is found on any of the Parallax boards.

    2. Animated image, same conditions.

    The intent behind these two is for other people to run the code, enjoy the pictures, learn stuff, build a simple circuit. You are encouraged to share code and your circuit.

    3. Wild! Anything goes, so long as a Propeller chip is doing the vast majority of the work. If you want to show us your 1W laser with servo controlled mirrors burning your picture into a block of wood, do it!

    Contest will run about 4-6 weeks, starting right now. Expect an official announcement, prizes, and updated rules, etc... soon.
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2014-05-20 14:56
    >discrete components only, resistors, diodes, caps
    Are Transistors included? if so also mosfets?
    if so also dual-mosfets? but not open-drain hex buffer IC?

    As Cog's can only OR each other pins I'm trying to get a signal inverted using mosfet(s), it's for animation contest
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-05-20 14:58
    Anything goes in Wild!

    Let's add transistors to the discrete components. That should help.
Sign In or Register to comment.