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General discussion (archive)Question about image stretch in DOS games...(30 posts)solved(30 posts)solved
(30 posts)solved
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Posted January 14, 2012
I'm currently preparing to play Ultima IV, but I have a widescreen monitor would like to play without the image stretching. Is there a way to do that in DOSbox config settings or a way to do that with other settings without it being a hassle? I'm not very experienced with this stuff.
Specs:
17 inch monitor 16:10 widescreen with a maximum res of 1440x900 (I think...)
Windows XP Pro SP3
ATI Radeon 3450 HD (a crap card, but it runs older games fine)

Thanks in advance for any answers.
This question / problem has been solved by SirPrimalformimage
Posted January 14, 2012
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haydenaurion: I'm currently preparing to play Ultima IV, but I have a widescreen monitor would like to play without the image stretching. Is there a way to do that in DOSbox config settings or a way to do that with other settings without it being a hassle? I'm not very experienced with this stuff.
Specs:
17 inch monitor 16:10 widescreen with a maximum res of 1440x900 (I think...)
Windows XP Pro SP3
ATI Radeon 3450 HD (a crap card, but it runs older games fine)

Thanks in advance for any answers.
Disable GPU scaling/set it to maintain aspect ratio in the admin panel I guess, though that still won't do all that well because of the screwed up horizontal rate of DOS games. It will at least keep it from stretching all over the screen though, making the stretching much smaller.
Posted January 15, 2012
I did notice when playing XCom in DOSBox that if I used the windows button to bring up the desktop it would minimize the game. Then when I open it again it opens in 800x400 windowed mode.

Kinda cool being able to watch videos while playing "Enemy Unknown".
Posted January 15, 2012
I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
Posted January 15, 2012
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haydenaurion: I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
AMD or Nvidia?

If AMD, go into CCC (Nowadays called VISION Engine Control Center) -> My Digital Flat-Panels -> Properties (Digital Flat-Panel) -> Image Scaling. There, set Image Scaling to on and then "Maintain Aspect Ratio" or "Centered Timings".
Posted January 15, 2012
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haydenaurion: I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
Fear not! You can configure DOSBox to run at your screen's native resolution and it maintains aspect ratio by itself.

You need to track down the dosbox config file in the game folder. It should be called something along the lines of 'dosboxU4.conf' but it may be something else similar.

Open this in notepad and change these things:

1. Change 'Fullresolution' from =original to =0x0
2. Change 'output' to =ddraw
3. Scroll down a bit until you find an option called 'aspect'. Change this from =false to =true.

Save it and give it a go and let me know if it works or if you have any problems.
Posted January 15, 2012
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haydenaurion: I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
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Tizzysawr: AMD or Nvidia?

If AMD, go into CCC (Nowadays called VISION Engine Control Center) -> My Digital Flat-Panels -> Properties (Digital Flat-Panel) -> Image Scaling. There, set Image Scaling to on and then "Maintain Aspect Ratio" or "Centered Timings".
I don't see anything like those options. I see Information Center, Displays Manager, Display Options, Monitor Properties 1, 3D, Color, Avivo Video, VPU Recover and not one of those have an option for GPU Scaling. I'm running an ATI card.
Post edited January 15, 2012 by haydenaurion
Posted January 15, 2012
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urknighterrant: I did notice when playing XCom in DOSBox that if I used the windows button to bring up the desktop it would minimize the game. Then when I open it again it opens in 800x400 windowed mode.
You can just press Alt-Enter to switch between windowed and fullscreen mode. You can also specify exactly how large the window should be in the DOSBox configuration file. :)
Posted January 15, 2012
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haydenaurion: I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
Refer to this page for instructions.

EDIT: you must be running the Control Center in Advanced Mode to see these options. If you aren't already in Advanced Mode click the Preferences button in the Control Center and choose it there.
Post edited January 15, 2012 by Arkose
Posted January 15, 2012
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haydenaurion: I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
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Arkose: Refer to this page for instructions.

EDIT: you must be running the Control Center in Advanced Mode to see these options. If you aren't already in Advanced Mode click the Preferences button in the Control Center and choose it there.
Could also have something to do with the version of CCC he has. I'm using driver/package 12.01a.
Posted January 15, 2012
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Tizzysawr: Could also have something to do with the version of CCC he has. I'm using driver/package 12.01a.
The Control Center overhaul happened quite a while back now, so as long as he is on a recent-ish driver it should look like that as long as it's in Advanced Mode. :)
Posted January 15, 2012
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haydenaurion: I can't seem to find a GPU scaling option anywhere. I might just have to get used to the image stretch. It doesn't look that bad, but I thought i'd see if I could figure out how to keep it from stretching.
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SirPrimalform: Fear not! You can configure DOSBox to run at your screen's native resolution and it maintains aspect ratio by itself.

You need to track down the dosbox config file in the game folder. It should be called something along the lines of 'dosboxU4.conf' but it may be something else similar.

Open this in notepad and change these things:

1. Change 'Fullresolution' from =original to =0x0
2. Change 'output' to =ddraw
3. Scroll down a bit until you find an option called 'aspect'. Change this from =false to =true.

Save it and give it a go and let me know if it works or if you have any problems.
That did it! I tested it using my Alone in the Dark install and it worked! Many thanks friend.
By the way, I saw two listings for "aspect" (another one a little further down) and changed them both to "true", is that okay to do?
Posted January 15, 2012
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SirPrimalform: Fear not! You can configure DOSBox to run at your screen's native resolution and it maintains aspect ratio by itself.

You need to track down the dosbox config file in the game folder. It should be called something along the lines of 'dosboxU4.conf' but it may be something else similar.

Open this in notepad and change these things:

1. Change 'Fullresolution' from =original to =0x0
2. Change 'output' to =ddraw
3. Scroll down a bit until you find an option called 'aspect'. Change this from =false to =true.

Save it and give it a go and let me know if it works or if you have any problems.
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haydenaurion: That did it! I tested it using my Alone in the Dark install and it worked! Many thanks friend.
By the way, I saw two listings for "aspect" (another one a little further down) and changed them both to "true", is that okay to do?
Hmm, the two entries for aspect is quite mysterious... could you do me a favour and make a copy of that .conf file, rename the extension of the file to .jpg and upload it here? I can download it, change the extension back and then have a look.

The reason for the .jpg messing around is that GOG only lets you attach image files normally.
Post edited January 15, 2012 by SirPrimalform
Posted January 15, 2012
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Tizzysawr: Could also have something to do with the version of CCC he has. I'm using driver/package 12.01a.
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Arkose: The Control Center overhaul happened quite a while back now, so as long as he is on a recent-ish driver it should look like that as long as it's in Advanced Mode. :)
I think i'm running an older driver version, but to be honest i'm afraid to try and update it as the process sounds a bit more complicated than a standard update and i'm terrified of messing something up big time. I'm not that experienced with that kind of stuff.
Posted January 15, 2012
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Arkose: The Control Center overhaul happened quite a while back now, so as long as he is on a recent-ish driver it should look like that as long as it's in Advanced Mode. :)
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haydenaurion: I think i'm running an older driver version, but to be honest i'm afraid to try and update it as the process sounds a bit more complicated than a standard update and i'm terrified of messing something up big time. I'm not that experienced with that kind of stuff.
Dunno, in Vista all drivers during the last two years or so consist of just download and run the exect, let it update itself. No restarts needed.
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General discussion (archive)Question about image stretch in DOS games...(30 posts)solved(30 posts)solved
(30 posts)solved