July 2001 Archives
I wonder if?
No matter that I have no Idea
why, how or wherefore...
I just wonder what would happen if..
I did this
•
so tìnkëríng is
on a level
on that level
on another level
moves on up a level
Quantum Leaps
Just checking things out, everything seems to be in order. Not sure what to use this for yet. Suppose the old mosses should be put up here at least.
Particularly interested in Mac OS X hacks. But with the system so new and still in a state of flux I'm not sure its time to start these yet. Still a few bootpanels can't be hard.
Traditionally, most Mac OS Splash Screens (MOSS) have been simple,
pixel bitmaps (pixmaps) where the resultant image data is directly
drawn unmodified to the screen just like the Apple default MOSS. This
technique has produced some amazing creations, significantly enhancing Mac
startup.
PICT is the only format supported for a MOSS. As the default image format
for the MacOS, it is the only format available at this point in the startup
process. The MOSS cannot take advantage of the many media types supported
by Quicktime, as it is not loaded yet.
The Colour PICT format (PICT2) is complex, with a large number of
capabilities not utilised by traditional MOSS designs.
Within the PICT2 data structure you can specify how the pixmap (being drawn
at startup) interacts with the pixels in the destination region. To ensure
greater control, the pixmap can be drawn to a user defined position on the
destination region. It is possible to embed vector structures within the same
PICT as pixmaps. Also, it is simple to have multiple pixmaps within one PICT.
Utilising these advanced capabilities brings a new realm of possibilities
to MOSS creation.
This is log is intended to be an expanded version of the hacking page that has existed on my site for many years. I have been involved with Macs for many years and over that time made the acquaintance of many who love to tinker with their machines to make them truly theirs.
My Mac Hacking section is pitifully out of date, but still seems to get a lot of hits even if the content is now useless. I hope this section will have the dynamic nature to keep users coming back.
Initially there will be 3 Authors on this log, myself, David Robinson & Peter McHugh.
David is a longtime friend and often co-conspirator on hacks.
Peter is my father who after a late introduction to computers has taken tinkering to a new level with his customisation related hacks.
It is intended that the focus of this log will be mainly resource fork and graphically orientated.
Most importantly, information regarding illegal practices is not welcome here. Instead I welcome material which is artistic, inventive or technically orientated.
