[Feature Request] Cartridge embedded in PNG export for easy sharing

[ElfEars]

The ability to create a png with a .tic cartridge embedded and the game's f7 cover image displayed (and also subsequently easily being able to load it) would be extremely useful.
A png image is much easier to share than a .tic file as nearly every website accepts .pngs (provided no compression is done) with very few accepting indeterminate file types.
It also adds a visual element helping tic cartridges naturally stand out on webpages and in filesystem thumbnails and being able to easily distinguish between them.

Several similar fantasy consoles also have this feature and it is a very popular way to share creations.

[nesbox]

It can be done with LSB based image steganography I think.
Let's try :)

[zenith391]

why not use the tEXt PNG chunk ? Althought it says it should not contains null characters, since it isn't meant for display this shouldn't matter much as the text string is not null-terminated.

However with this method, data will be lost if converting from PNG to any other image format.
But it has the added benefit of being way easier to implement.

[joshgoebel]

why not use the tEXt PNG chunk ?

Some sites will strip this data as it's not relevant for display.

[nesbox]

I did some experiments with embedding a cart to png image on png-test branch.

Original 256x256 image (9 877 bytes):

With embedded BALMUNG cart (80 663 bytes):

Very pleased with the result, almost no difference is visible.
Also, we have to design a 256x256 cartridge template with a cover and game info now...

[SDMelipone]

Looks like an opportunity for a design contest. Having a simple, recognizable, and striking design could be an important part of TIC-80's visibility.

[nesbox]

Welcome if you have ideas :)

[Anrock]

Is there any specific requirements like size of the image, dimensions, some ares dedicated for user to draw on like redshift disks have?

[nesbox]

I think 256x256 with 240x136 cover inside is the main requirement.

[nesbox]

How the cartridge could look (WIP)

[joshgoebel]

Could we put the cartridge "size" on the outside maybe? Some calculation of # of banks used + code size, etc...

[borbware]

i like this idea very much! the wip cartridge has already a nice look.

some thoughts & questions:

• text "TIC-80" should be present somewhere
• maybe the TIC-80 mascot, too!
• pins at bottom instead of top?
• it would be nice to be able to decide the color of the cartridge, famicom style
• could one fit pro cartridges in 256*256 images as well?

[nesbox]

Some progress:

Thank you for the thoughts :)
Pro carts fit 256x256 without any problems.

[RobLoach]

Looks great! Personally, I like the dark one (the first) the most. Keeping with the Sweetie-16 color palette and feel is important.

[nesbox]

Me too :)