how to play the first image test pattern puzzle?

[DrExK]

Sorry there is simply no instruction, so Im completely lost. Some guide is appreciate.

I've finished all the puzzles prior to the image-related ones.

Thank you.

[GuiltyBystander]

The pdf does have instruction about it on the last page, but they are a little cryptic and it took me a while to understand it too.

If you want to draw something, you start by sending it an X coordinate. Then you send it a Y coordinate. Now, when you send it a value 0-4, it will paint that pixel a color (use the manual) and advance the virtual cursor by 1 to the right. When you send another color value, it will paint the next pixel. When you're done painting the current line of pixels, just send it any negative value.

[DamnedEyez]

Originally posted by GuiltyBystander:

and advance the virtual cursor by 1 to the right. When you send another color value, it will paint the next pixel. When you're done painting the current line of pixels, just send it any negative value.

I....but...wait, what?

Well that explains why my image solutions were always so much larger than everyone else on the graph. I had it in my head each pixel needed four numbers...which doesn't make sense, now.

[DrExK]

thank you guiltybystander for your explanation. this part of the puzzle seriously needs a better illustration than the few lines in the manual.

[kschang77]

Nope, you just need to think like a programmer. :D

The instructions were very explicit, perhaps TOO explicit that you keep trying to figure out if there's anything else you're missing.

[DrExK]

"... and advance the virtual cursor by 1 to the right. When you send another color value, it will paint the next pixel. When you're done painting the current line of pixels, just send it any negative value."

This additional information by guiltybystander is missing from the manual, but rather crucial in tackling level 1 of the image pattern set.

[mendel]

Originally posted by DrExK:

"... and advance the virtual cursor by 1 to the right. When you send another color value, it will paint the next pixel. When you're done painting the current line of pixels, just send it any negative value."

This additional information by guiltybystander is missing from the manual, but rather crucial in tackling level 1 of the image pattern set.

The manual says you send "one or more color values, and a terminating negative value". What happens when you send more than one color value is easily found by experimentation.

[Eye of Newt]

Originally posted by GuiltyBystander:

If you want to draw something, you start by sending it an X coordinate. Then you send it a Y coordinate. Now, when you send it a value 0-4, it will paint that pixel a color (use the manual) and advance the virtual cursor by 1 to the right. When you send another color value, it will paint the next pixel. When you're done painting the current line of pixels, just send it any negative value.

it automatically increments along x? Jeeez, that's one well-hidden spec. Yes, you can sort of figure it out from the second sample line, but still.

TBH I don't fully understand this mechanic, but I guess it only ever uses a value in the accumulator for the color as long as you don't send the value of -1 to the image output which I guess clears X and Y to (0, 0) again.