Apple II Double Hi-Res Graphics

File types:

  • BIN ($06) / any: uncompressed double hi-res image (16KB file)
  • FOT ($08) / $0000-3fff: uncompressed double hi-res image (16KB file)
  • FOT ($08) / $4001: compressed double hi-res image (PackBytes)

Primary references:

  • //e TN #3, "Double High-Resolution Graphics"
  • Apple IIgs Hardware Reference, chapter 4
  • Apple II File Type Note $08/0000, "Apple II Graphics File"
  • Apple II File Type Note $08/4001, "Packed Apple II Double Hi-Res Graphics File"
  • IIgs TN #63, "Master Color Values"

Format

Double hi-res graphics screens are generally stored as a 16KB file. The first 8KB holds the aux RAM portion, the second 8KB holds the main RAM portion.

The screen layout in memory and color generation is described in great detail in Apple //e Technical Note #3.

Summary: the basic layout is similar to standard hi-res, but pixel data is byte-interleaved between main and auxiliary 8K pages. Seven pixels of each byte contribute to the image; the high bit of each byte is ignored. The screen can be regarded as 560x192 in black & white, or 140x192 with 16 colors (4 bits) per pixel.

The colors are from the same palette as the lo-res graphics colors.

Color Conversion

Generating a 560x140 black & white image is straightforward.

Color is more difficult. The interference patterns caused by adjacent colors are difficult to model accurately, especially given that RGB and composite outputs seem to be different. A literal translation that treats the screen as 140 pixels with 4-bit color values will be very different from what real hardware displays. A better approximation can be generated by emulating a sliding 4-bit window for 560 individual color pixels.

In any event, to maintain the original proportions, the output should be 560x384. The Apple II didn't have square pixels, but it's close enough.