Free Software for PSP Image Sequencing
We've written a couple of posts (here and here) about the problems associated with properly ordering images for comics and other sequential image-based content on the PSP. A brief summary of these problems can be found below, but the upshot is that I decided to stop complaining and write some software to help solve the problem. Behold: PSPImageSequencer. If you are one of the three people on the planet creating comics for the PSP, this might just save you a lot of time and frustration (it saved us some of both on Issue 3 of NYC2123). I'm not really a programmer by trade, but this is very simple stuff. It's open source (GPL) and all that, but since it's written in VB.NET I guess most hackers will think I'm lame. Sorry.
Here is a longer description of the problems PSPImageSequencer was designed to solve:
Most PSP users are aware of the fact that when jpg images are transferred to the PSP, they are displayed in reverse chronological order (newest image first). To be more specific, the PSP looks at the "last modified" timestamp on each jpg, and displays them in reverse chronological order according to this timestamp. So when you flip through a folder of jpgs on your PSP, you are going to see the most recently modified file first, and so on down the line.
One problem for publishers of comics and other sequential image-based content for the PSP is that it makes sense for them to name their files in a machine- and human-readable sequential manner, such as 01.jpg, 02.jpg, 03.jpg, etc. However, if you name your images in this fashion, and then need to go back and make a change to 02.jpg, then 02.jpg will be the first image a user sees when she starts flipping through the images on her PSP. Unless, that is, you go back and save out all of the files again in the correct order from whatever application you are using to create your work. And that is a pain in the arse.
A second problem for publishers of sequential image-based content for the PSP is that not all archiving tools play nice with one another. We have seen numerous cases of jpg sequences that have been properly time stamped when they go into a zip archive, but come out the other end with incorrect timestamps. This has to do with lots of arcane stuff about how files are sorted within the archive itself, and how certain inflation (unzipping) tools (such as the Windows XP inflation tool) feel free to modify the timestamps on files as they are pulled out of the archive. So, for example, a zip archive created by WinZip, will, under certain circumstances, be inflated by the XP inflation tool in a manner that causes the files to have improper timestamps, thus causing them to appear in the wrong order when viewed on the PSP.
In summary, we thought it would be nice to have a tool that (a) looked at all of the jpg files in a directory and re-timestamped them according to their names and (b) zipped these files into an archive that could be reliably inflated by any inflation tool.
The PSPImageSequencer does this. If you use it, let us know what you think.
Here is a longer description of the problems PSPImageSequencer was designed to solve:
Most PSP users are aware of the fact that when jpg images are transferred to the PSP, they are displayed in reverse chronological order (newest image first). To be more specific, the PSP looks at the "last modified" timestamp on each jpg, and displays them in reverse chronological order according to this timestamp. So when you flip through a folder of jpgs on your PSP, you are going to see the most recently modified file first, and so on down the line.
One problem for publishers of comics and other sequential image-based content for the PSP is that it makes sense for them to name their files in a machine- and human-readable sequential manner, such as 01.jpg, 02.jpg, 03.jpg, etc. However, if you name your images in this fashion, and then need to go back and make a change to 02.jpg, then 02.jpg will be the first image a user sees when she starts flipping through the images on her PSP. Unless, that is, you go back and save out all of the files again in the correct order from whatever application you are using to create your work. And that is a pain in the arse.
A second problem for publishers of sequential image-based content for the PSP is that not all archiving tools play nice with one another. We have seen numerous cases of jpg sequences that have been properly time stamped when they go into a zip archive, but come out the other end with incorrect timestamps. This has to do with lots of arcane stuff about how files are sorted within the archive itself, and how certain inflation (unzipping) tools (such as the Windows XP inflation tool) feel free to modify the timestamps on files as they are pulled out of the archive. So, for example, a zip archive created by WinZip, will, under certain circumstances, be inflated by the XP inflation tool in a manner that causes the files to have improper timestamps, thus causing them to appear in the wrong order when viewed on the PSP.
In summary, we thought it would be nice to have a tool that (a) looked at all of the jpg files in a directory and re-timestamped them according to their names and (b) zipped these files into an archive that could be reliably inflated by any inflation tool.
The PSPImageSequencer does this. If you use it, let us know what you think.
10 Comments:
I hate to say it, but I get an error launching the setup.exe:
The loader did not find the file "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Desktop\Setup.INI"
But it sounds good! Is it me, or are the timestamps in Issue 1 skewed? I'd check, but I'm waiting for the Wipeout Gamma pack to download on dial-up... yawn
Oops. Sorry about that. This will work.
am going to reprint this with link to your site as per agreement before. let me know if you want me NOT to do this and I will delete the entry. also, japanese translation of 1 and 2 coming VERY VERY SOON. pushing for by the weekend. all we are doing now is running it by sources (read friends who love manga) to make sure the translation is understandable.
"If you are one of the three people on the planet creating comics for the PSP..."
Who's the other guy??? It's mighty lonely out here. We need to start a PSP Contents/Comic/Manga Ring.
Well, I'm counting me and Paco as one each. Plus you, that makes three. There's this guy too... So maybe there are actually four of us. Feel free to reprint, link, etc. at will. Also, try out the software when you publish your comic and let us know if helps out or not.
This is a great tool! I got my PSP 5 days ago and two days ago it hit me that it would be great to make comics for it! Great to see such fine work (by far the very best I've found through Google)
Now I have the program I just need to get to the drawing board so I be number 5! Im right behind you guys!
I thought Sony shafted me again .... But there is always someone one step ahead of me fixing their mess ups. THANKS!!!!
All i have to say is:
this is without doubt the easiest way to order those Managa's
Thanks a lot, you are a star :)
Dude, you said you used VB.NET but actually I see that you used Adobe Illustrator.
The image files are in Adobe Illustrator format. The source code for the image sequencer is vb.net. If you would like help compiling it please let me know. If you are on a Windows OS you can just download the compiled app. In either case, just follow the links in the post. K?
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