Mootjeuh/PCT's Screenshot Plugin

[mootjeuh]

Hi all,
today the Team PCT contacted me and asked me if I could create a plugin that takes screenshots while in the XMB and in-game.
This one takes screenshots in jpeg format, because it's in a much better quality than png images and almost the same size.
So just to be clear, I coded this, but the Team PCT gave me the idea.
Of course there will be updates, and they will be much more better than this basic plugin.

YOU NEED TO PULL THE L-TRIGGER TO TAKE A SCREENSHOT


Anyway, download's attached. Enjoy!

btw, a new libVSH is coming;)

[cmbeke]

no read-me? other than that nice job, any chance that we can custimize the name and save location? (and have more than one pic )

[slicer4ever]

This one takes screenshots in jpeg format, because it's in a much better quality than png images and almost the same size.

png is a lossless format, which means you do not lose quality(and since it's a screenshot, you cannot get a better quality by changing formats)

[mootjeuh]

no read-me? other than that nice job, any chance that we can custimize the name and save location? (and have more than one pic )

a readme? ah crap I forgot, you need to pull the left trigger to take a screenshot, sorry;)
like I said, there'll be more releases with much more features (config file, multiple destination formats, ...)

png is a lossless format, which means you do not lose quality(and since it's a screenshot, you cannot get a better quality by changing formats)

I don't know, when I tried taking a screenshot with the libpng, you could really see the difference between one taken with the libjpeg.

[slicer4ever]

I don't know, when I tried taking a screenshot with the libpng, you could really see the difference between one taken with the libjpeg.

than you were doing something wrong

[Auraomega]

PNG is a much better quality than JPG, although it becomes less noticeable when you save at quality level 10.

I can't test it (no PSP anymore...) so I may have the wrong end of the stick, but this will be taking screenshots every time a game requires me to press the left trigger? Seems poor design to me. Again not being able to test I may be wrong, but using JPG will cause some delay as the system is having to compress the image, using libjpeg and libpng also raises the entire output size, I'd personally be more inclined to use BMP/TGA like Fraps does. Other than that I'm sure people would appreciate having the ability to take in-game screenshots, I know I love waving my Crysis screenshots ;)

[iamafreak]

Agree with Auraomega.. Having L-trigger as the screen shot option in game is not a good idea.

I would go with the note button.

nice plugin btw

[Auraomega]

I'd be more inclined to have some obscure command like triangle + left trigger, or start + left trigger, you may still want to use the note button in game if using headphones.

[mootjeuh]

PNG is a much better quality than JPG, although it becomes less noticeable when you save at quality level 10.

I can't test it (no PSP anymore...) so I may have the wrong end of the stick, but this will be taking screenshots every time a game requires me to press the left trigger?

Omg you're totally right, I forgot all about that, I guess I'll make it Volup + Voldown. Or does anybody have a better idea?

nice plugin btw

thanks

[nickxab]

Oh cool.
What about to add an config for the button combination ?
Different for the xmb and different for the game/pops

[Auraomega]

What about to add an config for the button combination ?

This is the best idea, as I say to people, there will always be someone whose not happy with the current key combo, giving them the ability to change it keeps everyone happy :)

[mootjeuh]

This is the best idea, as I say to people, there will always be someone whose not happy with the current key combo, giving them the ability to change it keeps everyone happy :)

well it's settled then, I'll make a new version right away.

[CesarSSb]

Great, I'll use the next version

...any chance that we can custimize the name and save location? (and have more than one pic )

This would be great.

[Davee]

200KB for a plugin?! Are you serious? Please look up on developing plugins. There is no need to have the entire sdk base inside at all. You waste loads and loads of memory.

[Auraomega]

If my memory serves me right, that's due to using libjpeg, I know it adds a fair bit to prx sizes hence my suggestion of using BMP/TGA which also has the added advantage of speed.

Davee is right though, for a simple screenshot plugin I'd expect it to be around 10% of that size max, ditch what you don't need, I reckon that you've overdone your makefile though.

[Diabelski_Chojrak]

btw, a new libVSH is coming;)

Ill be wating for that.. ;)

[acidant]

YOU NEED TO PULL THE L-TRIGGER TO TAKE A SCREENSHOT

what about combo button in GAME (Note + L-trigger)?

[Auraomega]

Read the thread please, it's been covered...

[Light_AleX]

Using kernel libc or newlib?

:P

-Light_AleX

[SupaStuff]

Not sure of the status of this plugin, but theres a bug in pct_game. I tried playing riviera and the game didn't start up while pct_game was enabled. I'm not sure what it is but at least you know now if you didn't know before.

[Auraomega]

@SupaStuff:

I think I upset mootjeuh with this whole thing, however I have code that (should) work, I just need my friend to tell me if it's working or not (no compiler or PSP anymore...). I'm guessing it's a memory issue as this thing is huge, when I get some feedback on my TGA plugin I'll be releasing it so keep a watchful eye out for that :)

[mootjeuh]

@SupaStuff:

I think I upset mootjeuh with this whole thing, however I have code that (should) work, I just need my friend to tell me if it's working or not (no compiler or PSP anymore...). I'm guessing it's a memory issue as this thing is huge, when I get some feedback on my TGA plugin I'll be releasing it so keep a watchful eye out for that :)

nah man, you'll need to be a little more harsh than that to upset me =P
but I already made a third version that takes bmp screenshots, but only it's on my usb stick, and I lost it -_-
I'm looking for it as we speak. anyway, it takes bmp screenshots, and uses a user-defined combo, but the size is 115 kb. if I remove the user-defined combo and put in my own, it's then 28 kb. so I guess you know now where the size problem is coming from.

[Auraomega]

Too much unneeded stuff again. It's good to know you've reduced the size though but seriously, file reading should only be a couple of kb big. My TGA plugin sits at around 50kb apparently, but it's a full library for loading and saving uncompressed and compressed TGA files along with various other fiddles, if it's working I'll remove everything not required for a screenshot (I.E. anything that's not saving). BMP is probably a nicer format anyway, Windows recognises it without any extra apps which is always a plus.

How are you reading the file if you don't mind me asking?

EDIT: Have you passed the size optimising flag in the makefile? May knock off a few kb as well.

[mootjeuh]

How are you reading the file if you don't mind me asking?

I'm using stdio

EDIT: Have you passed the size optimising flag in the makefile? May knock off a few kb as well.

nah, never even heard of it

[Auraomega]

Use the standard PSP functions, stdio are wrappers which may or may not add extra size. Would you mind sending me the source code of the user defined section? I may be able to help you reduce some of the size if I can see where it's being introduced; better to have 2 devs working together than 2 devs working against each other :)

As for size optimisation, find the CFLAGS line and add -O3 I think, look up flags for C to find out which one it is for certain.

[SupaStuff]

@Auraomega & mootjueh

It would be great if the two of you worked together on this. here's a snapshot I accidentally took. It's a fusion of my background and the game's background and some other stuff. I guess it came out like that because I was moving in the xmb while it was saving what was on the screen from top to bottom or vice versa. hope this helps with development.

[Auraomega]

Links not working.

As for the issue, seeing as mootjeuh doesn't appear game to let me help, it's more than likely due to reading the graphics buffer without waiting for a vsync; this makes things quicker but causes tearing which is what I assume you're on about.

[mootjeuh]

No worries dude, as soon as I find my usb stick I'll send you the source code so that you'll pimp it up a bit =P
I was thinking to pause the XMB's thread right before the screenshot is taken, and resume it once it's done. That'll fix the issue.

[Auraomega]

And games? It's not really a good idea, I tried the same thing myself a few years back (pausing the XMB thread), it caused more issues than it was worth although my code was far from clean... I'll have to have a think about what other methods are open to you when I'm in a not so brain-dead mood!

EDIT:
Also if that's tearing, it's the cleanest 'tear' I've ever seen before, is there any chance you can snap another few pictures and see if the same issue occurs elsewhere?

[mootjeuh]

Hooray! I finally found my USB Stick =D
I'm gonna recode everything and then get working on pausing the XMB tomorrow then, and I'll send you the code.

See ya later!