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The Scrolling LED Bitmap Generator is a small tool to create animated gifs. As of version 2 it is completely rewritten in C#.NET. During the installation the setup will check if you have the .NET framework installed. If the .NET framework isn't installed, the setup will ask you if you wish to install the .NET framework now.

 

Version 3.2.0 is released. Read more information about it below or download it straight away here or here. Or go to tucows to download it from a server that might be closer to where you live.

If you have 3.1.0 or older installed, you might have to uninstall those older versions first (or install to another than the default directory), there have been some reports that the install doesn't go correct if trying to install over an older version.

 

You can look here for some of the animated gifs created with this tool (some gifs are quite large though).

If you are still not convinced, here are some screenshots

If you are fully convinced and don't want to read on, you can download it right here or from my mirror here

For the more curious ppl, I got some more information:

Purpose

Features

Change log

Download or Mirrored download

Purpose

The idea to the Scrolling LED Bitmap Generator is to create an animated gif with a scrolling text on it that seems to be displayed by LED’s.

Features

The Scrolling LED Bitmap Generator has the following features:

  • Can directly generate animated GIF files.

  • Optional generation of bitmaps that can be combined into an animated gif by a 3rd party tool to allow for even greater control over the animated gif.

  • Preview with controllable update speed.

  • 4 different ways to scroll the text. With 'advanced' options to further customize the effect

  • Optional after effect to enhance (or screw up ;) the effect), with additional options to futher customize the effect

  • Variable width

  • Height set automatically through font selection

  • Create new fonts of varying height

  • Create new graphic layouts through new colorsets that specify border and LEDOn/LEDOff indication. Add 4 more colors to use in the advanced 'after effects'.

Current version is: 3.2.0

Version history:
 + = major change
 - = minor change
 ! = bug fix

Version 3.2.0
+ New animation plugin: Build Up / Break Down. The short description is that it allows a configurable translation from 1 static text to another static text. For the long description, see the help file, it has way to many options.
- Extended the functionality in PluginTypeLibrary to make frame handling easier.
- Added context menu to the preview window.
! The list of LEDs in the LED Style window will now scale horizontal with the window if it is resized.
! Disabled multi-select in the animation information list.
! Fixed minor issue with preview that the window wasn’t sized correctly when it was shown and the animation was to large in image height.
! Fixed small issue where during rendering, objects wheren’t disposed as soon as possible, resulting in more memory being used than was absolutely necessary.

Version 3.1.0
+ Did some optimization in GIF generation. The generated gifs are now quite a bit smaller without reducing image quality. Tests show size will be reduced by about 50%, depending on what type of animation is used. There is still room for improvement but it is a big step forward. (you can use the color depth to reduce the size futher._
+ Added setting to change color depth of the GIF. This can be used to reduce the GIF size. It could also reduce image quality, depending on new color depth, LED Style and use of background image.
- Set default button in window to set timing. You can now just enter a value and press enter to accept the value instead of using the mouse to click on the OK button.
- Extended Stripes after effect. You can now choose to apply it to the On LEDs (foreground) or Off LEDs (background).
- Added some menu options to set the background image from the menu or toolbar.
- Changed icons on the panes, also increased the size of the buttons on the toolbar. I think some of the icons work better at this 32x32 size.
- Preview added. Seem to have forgotten to transfer it in version 3 somehow.
- changed layout of ‘Check for update’ window. The changes are easier to read as they have more space. This means I can put some useful information there instead of just a few words.
- Reduced size of the executable by making the icons used only in the used sizes and not in 128x128. This makes the size from 2.8 MB now only a bit less than 500 kilo byte.
! Fixed some issues with Windows XP systems using Style XP where the last character of a button text would disappear. I thought I solved all of these problems earlier, but apparently I didn’t.
! The AfterEffect Info button, would not give the info, but the advanced settings of the selected after effect.

Version 3.0.0
+ Completely reworked the user interface. I’ve used the EyeFinder, SandDock and SandBar by Tim Dawson (www.divil.co.uk), looks pretty darned good if I do say so myself ;).
+ Tighter control over generated animation possible. You can now remove individual images in the animation. It is also possible to have control over how long each separate image in the animation is displayed in the animated GIF.
+ Added support for background image. You can position the text animation over the background image. Note that there is no way to stretch/shrink the background image from inside the Scrolling LED Bitmap Generator. 
+ Added Animation Information window that contains information like size, frames, etc. of the animation. Acts as a summary of the animation. You can keep it floating, or dock it with the main window.

Version 2.3.0
+ Implemented direct Animated GIF generation. The ‘old’ bitmap generation is still supported; together with a 3rd party application it might allow greater control over the generated animated gif. 
+ Implemented ‘Check for update’ window that allows the user to check if a new update is available. Accessible through the options menu. For now it only checks if updates are available, it still requires you to go to the website and download the latest installer. This will be made easier in a future version (just checking out how it works now).
+ Implemented a Wizard. Instead of following step 1 – 6 in one single screen, it lets you take each step at a time in a single wizard like fashion. The first time you start the Scrolling LED Bitmap Generator you are automatically asked if you want to start it. The wizard does not support the preview.
+More control over the randomized color after effect. You can now specify how often the random colors change (in a per frame bases, the same as the stripes).
- Made an option to disable the Special Character feature. Default they Special Characters are now disabled.
- Changed mouse cursor when rendering bitmaps or preview.
- Changed setup so you don’t have to install all the plugins.
- Minor changes to the help file: removed the quick start as there is a wizard now, most screenshots now got hotspots that send you to the correct paragraph if you click on them.
! Fixed some minor spelling issues (probably about a thousand of them left :-) )

Version 2.2.0

+ Added new after effect: Randomized colors

Version 2.1.1
- Changed setup. It will now ask if it has to install .NET environment. It may even ask to install it even if you have already have it. If you do have the .NET framework installed, just select No and the setup will continue.
! Fixed bug with vertical scroll where the last character would not be rendered.
! Fixed bug with vertical scroll where the wave style did not render properly. The first image already showed too much of the text.

Version 2.1.0
+ Added vertical scrolling plugin.
+ Added new after effect: Inverter. Toggles the state of all LEDs: LEDs that are ON, are turned OFF, and LEDs that are OFF are turned ON.
! Minor bug in font editor: when window is initially shown, there is no check made on the size. So if the ‘a’ (the ‘a’ is always selected when the window is shown) is larger, the arrows to resize don’t appear.
! Fixed bug where double clicking on the main window could result in showing the font editor.
 

Version 2.0.1
- Increased speed range of Stripes after effect. Now goes from 50 frames / LED to 50 LEDs / frame. Making it more useful for the Character Pop animation style.
- Changed setup a bit.
! Fixed problem with StyleXP themes. Sometimes the last character or word on a button or other control was gone. (Adding a space at the end fixes this… weird).
 

Version 2.0.0
Complete rewrite (not a single line of code of version 1.x survived):
+ Extendible by additional plugins (must be .NET assemblies, contact me for info)
+ Improved performance (no more tricks with hidden windows)
+ Improved responsiveness of interface (Using separate render thread)

The full download is right here: Scrolling LED Bitmap Generator Installer or here for the mirror(4 MB)

For questions you can mail me.

Thanks to

  •  [FOX]Necrolyte for the concept, alpha testing, beta testing, and not getting upset for me distributing it further :-P.

Other credits & Copyright notice