Writing a custom font for arduino TV out library

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 6:32pm

Trying to create a custom font to use for my project, looking at the default fonts inside the library, there's some examples. 4x6 6x8 8x8 8x8ext seems simple enough? right? so I drew on paper a font that I might like, then drew it in paint on PC. still looked nice to me. next is to write an array holding all the data. but how to write an array for a character with 10x17 pixels? I know I need 17 lines but how to fill the data for 10 pixels wide?

is it something like this? or do I need to use a different format?:

PROGMEM const unsigned char mycustomfont[] = {
10,17,0,
// Should start with a space normally, but this is an example. #number:  0
0b0001111000,
0b0011111100,
0b0101111010,
0b1110000111,
0b1110000111,
0b1110000111,
0b1110000111,
0b0100000010,
0b0000000000,
0b0100000010,
0b1110000111,
0b1110000111,
0b1110000111,
0b1110000111,
0b0101111010,
0b0011111100,
0b0001111000,
// #number: 1
0b0000000000,
0b0000000000,
0b0000000010,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000010,
0b0000000000,
0b0000000010,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000111,
0b0000000010,
0b0000000000,
0b0000000000,
};

Update:

I got something to display on the screen changing the TVoutPalDemo. But I wonder why is it flickering in the loop so heavily? In the setup, the image is still, the numbers are still.

I was expecting the loop sequence to also be without flickering. I'm suspecting I need to sync somewhere to get no flickerings. (still images need to remain still.)

#include <TVout.h>

TVout TV;

unsigned long loops = 0;

// 'ScreenTest', 120x96px
const unsigned char ScreenTest [] PROGMEM = { 120, 96, 
	0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 
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};

// '0', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_0 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 
	0x20, 0x40, 0x00, 0x00, 0x20, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x2f, 0x40, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};
// '1', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_1 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 
	0x00, 0x40, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0x40, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00
};
// '2', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_2 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 
	0x0f, 0x40, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x2f, 0x00, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};
// '3', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_3 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 
	0x0f, 0x40, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x0f, 0x40, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};
// '4', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_4 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x20, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 
	0x2f, 0x40, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0x40, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00
};
// '5', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_5 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 
	0x2f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x0f, 0x40, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};
// '6', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_6 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 0x70, 0x00, 
	0x2f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x2f, 0x40, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};
// '7', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_7 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 
	0x00, 0x40, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0x40, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00
};
// '8', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_8 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 
	0x2f, 0x40, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x2f, 0x40, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};
// '9', 11x18px
const unsigned char number_9 [] PROGMEM = { 11, 18, 
	0x00, 0x00, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x2f, 0x40, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xe0, 
	0x2f, 0x40, 0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x40, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x0f, 0x40, 
	0x1f, 0x80, 0x0f, 0x00
};


void setup() {
  TV.begin(PAL,120,96);
  TV.bitmap(0,0,ScreenTest);
  TV.delay(5000);
  TV.clear_screen();
  TV.bitmap(0,2,number_0);
  TV.bitmap(11,2,number_1);
  TV.bitmap(23,2,number_2);
  TV.bitmap(35,2,number_3);
  TV.bitmap(47,2,number_4);
  TV.bitmap(59,2,number_5);
  TV.bitmap(71,2,number_6);
  TV.bitmap(83,2,number_7);
  TV.bitmap(95,2,number_8);
  TV.bitmap(109,2,number_9);
  TV.delay(5000);
  TV.clear_screen();
}

void loop() {

  TV.clear_screen();
  TV.bitmap(0,2,number_0);
  TV.bitmap(11,2,number_1);
  TV.bitmap(23,2,number_2);
  TV.bitmap(35,2,number_3);
  TV.bitmap(47,2,number_4);
  TV.bitmap(59,2,number_5);
  TV.bitmap(71,2,number_6);
  TV.bitmap(83,2,number_7);
  TV.bitmap(95,2,number_8);
  TV.bitmap(109,2,number_9);
  TV.delay(1000);
  
  
  loops++;
}

if I remove the TV.delay(1000); line, the whole line of numbers flickers. when I add a value, the flickering is not there on the numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 but remains on the numbers 8 and 9.

Update 2:

I got it to stop flickering. I used the wrong call. needed to use TV.delay_frame(1); instead of TV.delay(1000);

void loop() {

  TV.clear_screen();
  TV.bitmap(0,2,number_0);
  TV.bitmap(11,2,number_1);
  TV.bitmap(23,2,number_2);
  TV.bitmap(35,2,number_3);
  TV.bitmap(47,2,number_4);
  TV.bitmap(59,2,number_5);
  TV.bitmap(71,2,number_6);
  TV.bitmap(83,2,number_7);
  TV.bitmap(95,2,number_8);
  TV.bitmap(109,2,number_9);
  TV.delay_frame(1);
  
  
  loops++;
}

Update 3:

I got it to do a loop counter. (simulating scoring) and it looks nice so far. the code for it is very nasty, I won't post it yet.

virtual score counter

UKHeliBob · February 26, 2025, 6:34pm

You cannot fit 10 bits into a char. Looks like you will need to use an int and waste some bits

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 6:43pm

Thats why even the small fonts use the 0b00000000, format. Tried to find as much information about the format but couldn't fully comprehend. I would still like to create at least 1 font for TV out library but the width I want restricts me so far. Is there any good source of information online that I missed about the subject? I don't fully comprehend all the formats shown in the TV out library. It looks like I need one of those that I don't understand yet?

jremington · February 26, 2025, 7:08pm

Change

to

PROGMEM const uint16_t mycustomfont[]

Also change the program code to read and manipulate the (integer, not character) data from program memory accordingly.

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 7:17pm

Likely you mean the following lines taken from the example? That would be promising...

where it says unsigned char -> const uint16_t

Edit: wrong code block.
Edit 2: clarification why I deleted that, it was the code block for images. not fonts.

I think you mean to create a seperate TVoutPrint.cpp file that prints from fonts?

jremington · February 26, 2025, 7:20pm

Also use pgm_read_word_near()

It would be a good idea to read up on the use of PROGMEM.

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 7:56pm

I will try to find some more documentation to read into. Thank you!

jremington · February 26, 2025, 7:59pm

Have you considered actually trying the link in post #6 above?

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 8:07pm

Reading it now. Gonna take a while

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 8:21pm

I'm going to find the solution. For now I have created my "font" as 10 seperate images. 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. That I can call with TVout. So I can at least see how they look on the screen (they changed a bit (I added a white space all arround so they wouldn't stick to one another when placed next to another.)

this is the generated code to use in arduino TV out.

// '0', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_0 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19, 
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 
	0xdf, 0xb0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xdf, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0xd0, 0xb0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '1', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_1 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 
	0xff, 0xb0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0xb0, 
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '2', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_2 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 
	0xf0, 0xb0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0xd0, 0xf0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '3', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_3 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 
	0xf0, 0xb0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xf0, 0xb0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '4', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_4 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xdf, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 
	0xd0, 0xb0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0xb0, 
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '5', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_5 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 
	0xd0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xf0, 0xb0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '6', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_6 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 0x8f, 0xf0, 
	0xd0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0xd0, 0xb0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '7', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_7 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 
	0xff, 0xb0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0xb0, 
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '8', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_8 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 
	0xd0, 0xb0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0xd0, 0xb0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};
// '9', 12x19px
const unsigned char number_9 [] PROGMEM = { 12, 19,
	0xff, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xd0, 0xb0, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 0x8f, 0x10, 
	0xd0, 0xb0, 0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xb0, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xff, 0x10, 0xf0, 0xb0, 
	0xe0, 0x70, 0xf0, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xf0
};

These "data" take memory space in storage. According to image2cpp it's (Total bytes used to store images in PROGMEM = 640)

b707 · February 26, 2025, 8:48pm

PROGMEM arrays stored in flash and not take space in RAM

b707 · February 26, 2025, 8:52pm

The font is nothing more than a set of letter images, placed in a single array

crazy_bits_and_bytes · February 26, 2025, 9:01pm

Since it wasn't used to display the font when using the command to display some text on screen. It was used to display an image from array bitmap.

I see the

Serial.print(F("Write something on the Serial Monitor that is stored in FLASH"));

Notation in the documentation, but I am not printing/writing it out on the serial monitor?

system · August 25, 2025, 9:01pm

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