Feature Request - 5 Color DMDs on Future Pinball

[GeorgeH773]

I would like to have this program pass the color information to the DMD that I create on my table modifications. I have created color DMDs on these tables and I will be adding more:

Medieval Madness

Attack From Mars

Avatar

Doctor Who

The way I create the colors is pretty simple. Future Pinball normally has 5 shades of black or gray on DMDs. I create the colors by substituting the shades of gray with color. I normally have one color set to some shade of black although it can be set to a different color also. I create these in an external ZIP file saved with the table that has a bit map named 464.bmp that has 5 color dots. Normally, this bit map has shades of black or gray listed from the darkest on the left to the lightest. I just change the 5 dots on the bit map to the colors I want to use.

If need be, I could provide end users with a copy of the "dmddevice.ini" file that has the 5 colors defined in RGB format, Hex or any color format that you prefer. Each table needs to have its own set of colors for the DMD. All tables that have DMDs on Future Pinball already have shade information contained in them. It is just a matter of changing the shade information to color.

I have gotten a lot of positive feedback on the color DMDs I add. The pinball cabinet guys that use this program are usually disappointed that they can't add it. I believe that others will like this tool and would probably add their own colors if it is made available.

[freezy]

Just to understand, you're statically mapping 5 colors to 5 shades of gray? And that palette doesn't change during the game? And you need an option to set an array of colors to use? Like a --colors parameter where you provide 5 hex values that then map to the colors?

[GeorgeH773]

Just to understand, you're statically mapping 5 colors to 5 shades of gray?

Yes

And that palette doesn't change during the game?

No (I wish that could be done but Future Pinball doesn't provide a way to do it)

And you need an option to set an array of colors to use? Like a --colors parameter where you provide 5 hex values that then map to the colors?

Yes

To help you understand, the following is the bit map I am using for the Williams Indiana Jones table that is contained in the zip file I mentioned in my previous message. It is not obvious but the left most dot is a black color and is used. I normally use various shades of black on the first dot but any color could be used. The original bit map used a hex value of #232323 for the first dot. The bit map has some blank space to the right of the fifth dot that is not used.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w8qj8svkt1yp4rezqizke/AOZFh2IvML7GidWVef1Ou_4?dl=0&e=1&preview=464.bmp&rlkey=z37o9o90iirus8b2hzanqzpgo

This is the original bit map that had been used in the past:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w8qj8svkt1yp4rezqizke/AOZFh2IvML7GidWVef1Ou_4?dl=0&e=2&preview=464+Original.BMP&rlkey=z37o9o90iirus8b2hzanqzpgo

If you don't include a bit map in a zip file, Future Pinball has default values that are used which I think are shades of black, gray or white. If you need to know more about this, I am sure that Ravarcade would be able to help.

The hex values for the Williams Indiana Jones table would be:

Dot 1 = #000000
Dot 2 = #8E5525
Dot 3 = #F6B832
Dot 4 = #B95B00
Dot 5 = #F3EEC4

This is a copy of one of the frames of the finished DMD:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w8qj8svkt1yp4rezqizke/AOZFh2IvML7GidWVef1Ou_4?dl=0&e=1&preview=FinishedDMD.jpg&rlkey=z37o9o90iirus8b2hzanqzpgo

This would be a way for any user or table developer to add more colors to DMDs.

[ManWorkingHere]

I would like to see this change happen. I would appreciate it since I built a cabinet with 3 monitors; DMDext runs on my third.

[GeorgeH773]

Has any progress been made on this?