Video Modes

[Therx]

I'm considering changing the Video Mode I use for my OS. And don't know whether its better to have a high resolution with less colours or a low resolution. The high resolution would also be slightly slower. What's your oppinion?

[Tim]

It's impossible to say, "this mode is better!" It depends completely on what you're doing.

[Therx]

I know there's no 'best' but I was wondering whether I should use 640x480x16 because then text would be much clearer and look better. But as so many people and old games use 320x200x256 I though that there must be a big advantage. but how do you make things not look pixelated on such a low resolution?

[Tim]

I know there's no 'best' but I was wondering whether I should use 640x480x16 because then text would be much clearer and look better.

Right.

But as so many people and old games use 320x200x256 I though that there must be a big advantage. but how do you make things not look pixelated on such a low resolution?

I think you've answered your own question. Games used 320x200x256 because it gives more colours; the lower resolution was generally not a problem. 256-colour modes are easier to program because every pixel is a byte (16-colour modes require port fiddling to plot shapes).

Unless you start using VESA modes, you'll have to make a choice between higher resolution and larger number of colours.

[Curufir]

... but how do you make things not look pixelated on such a low resolution?

Dithering, and even then at such a low resolution your straight lines are still going to look jagged.

[Tim]

Antialiasing (of text and lines) is another way of apparently increasing the resolution. Dithering is a good idea, but make sure you leave enough solid colours that the commonly antialiased colours (e.g. black on white) don't get dithered. Find attached a good 8bpp dithering routine (not mine).

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