320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

I wanted to produce a special bitmap image on the Vic-20, using various programs that I had developed for it. This is an image made from a combination of some custom lettering, a 3-dimensional wire frame drawing and having tone applied. In the end, most of the tone work was done manually. Much use was made of the graphic system's magnify view, and moving around the image using a grid set at 3 x 3. The image was saved and loaded regularly, and worked on manually over several days.

320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

A perspective wire frame image in an appropriate position was drawn and saved from the large screen (with an aspect ratio of 1:1).

320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

Using a 3 x 3 grid to move around the screen in a regular manner, I applied a basic tone pattern by storing a halftone unit and then rendering it from appropriate cursor positions. There is a wonderful precision working in this way on a bitmap screen that is basically a large regular array that is 320 units by 352 units.

320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

I produced a tonal strip down the left hand side of the image to create a gradient from dark to light, by changing the halftone units used. I used the 19 different value halftone patterns developed earlier. I then copied and pasted that strip across the whole background, avoiding regions close to the drawing. The regions close to the drawing were manually modified pixel by pixel to get an accurate finish.

The lettering was entered manually, after applying grids over "Letraset" lettering (something I was familiar with from my background in the Graphic Arts). Originally, the letters were done black on white, but I later decided to reverse the lettering by drawing a rectangular block over it using the ‘exclusive-or’ mode of drawing.

320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

I manually removed the lines (pixel by pixel) that should be hidden from the front faces. This produced a drawing of a 'solid' model.

320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

I entered halftone patterns over the faces of the crystal. I used a hand drawing on paper to help work out what levels of tone would be appropriate to apply.

320 x 352 pixels, produced using a Vic-20 computer.

The lines defining the drawing of the crystal were removed and the halftone patterns extended where appropriate. There was a lot of manual editing, but the screen allows the user to make as many changes as they need to, without losing its precision.