If you have a VGA, MCGA, Super-VGA, 8514/A, XGA, TARGA, or TARGA+ video adapter, you can save and restore color palettes for use with any image. To load a palette onto an existing image, use the [L] command in color-cycling or palette-editing mode. To save a palette, use the [S] command in those modes. To change the default palette for an entire run, use the command line "map=" parameter.
The default filetype for color-map files is ".MAP".
These color-maps are ASCII text files set up as a series of RGB triplet values (one triplet per line, encoded as the red, green, and blue [RGB] components of the color).
Note that .MAP file color values are in GIF format - values go from 0 (low) to 255 (high), so for a VGA adapter they get divided by 4 before being stuffed into the VGA's Video-DAC registers (so '6' and '7' end up referring to the same color value).
Fractint is distributed with some sample .MAP files:
| ALTERN.MAP | the famous "Peterson-Vigneau Pseudo-Grey Scale" |
|---|---|
| BLUES.MAP | for rainy days, by Daniel Egnor |
| CHROMA.MAP | general purpose, chromatic |
| DEFAULT.MAP | the VGA start-up values |
| FIRESTRM.MAP | general purpose, muted fire colors |
| GAMMA1.MAP and GAMMA2.MAP | Lee Crocker's responses to ALTERN.MAP |
| GLASSES1.MAP | used with 3d glasses modes |
| GLASSES2.MAP | used with 3d glasses modes |
| GOODEGA.MAP | for EGA users |
| GREEN.MAP | shaded green |
| GREY.MAP | another grey variant |
| GRID.MAP | for stereo surface grid images |
| HEADACHE.MAP | major stripes, by D. Egnor (try cycling and hitting [2]) |
| LANDSCAP.MAP | Guruka Singh Khalsa's favorite map for plasma "landscapes" |
| NEON.MAP | a flashy map, by Daniel Egnor |
| PAINTJET.MAP | high resolution mode PaintJet colors |
| ROYAL.MAP | the royal purple, by Daniel Egnor |
| TOPO.MAP | Monte Davis's contribution to full color terrain |
| VOLCANO.MAP | an explosion of lava, by Daniel Egnor |
