[SPARCbook] color depth

[Bob Krzaczek]

Thus spake jon fabian:
; how many colors is a sparcbook 3gx capable of displaying on the tft?
; i _thought_ it was 24-bit color ... but i can't seem to get either
; gnustep/ windowmaker or cde to run in any mode other mode than 8-bit
; pseudocolor.

You didn't mention which version of Solaris you're using; I'm going to 
presume 2.6 and go from there.

Are you familiar with the `fbconfig' utility? Check out its man page
for full details on setting it up, driving all sorts of external
monitors, and other fun stuff, but here's the fast version:

Modes 0 and 1 are 8 bits per pixel.
Modes 2 and 3 are 16 bits per pixel.
Modes 4 and 5 are 24 bits per pixel.
Modes 1, 3, and 5 enable external video; modes 0, 2, and 4 disable it.

When your Sparcbook boots (unless you've changed something), it will
be in mode 0 by default.  Running `fbconfig' with no options will show
you the current setting.

I suggest you try running `fbconfig -m 4' before starting your X
server; your windows should then be presented to you in glorious 24
bit color. :) (Well, okay, your Sparcbook's LCD display isn't capable
of that much colorspace resolution, but your X server doesn't need to
know that...)

A few caveats that might save you a headache or two:

Don't bother with modes 2 and 3; many (most?) X clients lack the extra
code to properly handle 16 bit pixel depths.  Stick with 8bpp for
speed, 24bpp for depth.

Also, when you're running with 24bpp depths, don't expect things that
want 8bpp indexed colormaps to work.  Many modern X servers provide
simultaneous 8 and 24 bit pixel depths; this one doesn't.  If you need
indexed color, you'll have to switch back to 8bpp.  This probably
won't be a problem for you, but just in case... now the first time it
hits you, at least now you'll know what's going on.

Good luck.


// boba

-- 
// Bob Krzaczek, RIT Center for Imaging Science, <boba at cis.rit.edu>