PCD8544 Paint

Powered by Python 3.10.5, pygame-ce 2.4.1, NumPy, Pillow, pySerial and tkinter (Tk interface)

Code (Python script, procedural) by Kyuchumimo
UI Graphics by Alexx Dip

CHANGELOG 2024.04.27
- PCD8544 now has the ability to compare software versions every time it starts up. If you have a version lower than the latest version, a window will appear asking if you want to download this version. This functionality depends on Web Scrapping in the project description.
To fully enjoy this feature, your system is required to have an internet connection.
- focus_force() was added to the 'new' option window and code generator window.
-Added emblem icons for all tkinter windows.
-When closing the program, besides asking if you want to save or not the drawing, you will also be asked if you want to cancel the action.

"A custom tool for creating graphics for the PCD8544 LCD display by interacting with microcontrollers"

SUPPORTED IMAGE FORMAT

BMP	Windows Bitmap Format
JPEG	Joint Photographic Experts Group
PNG	Portable Network Graphics
TGA	Truevision Graphics Adapter

CONTROLS

KEYBOARD

1	Paintbrush / Eraser (thickness 1)
2	Paintbrush / Eraser (thickness 2)
3	Paintbrush / Eraser (thickness 3)
Q	Rectangle
W	Ellipse
E	Line
A	Filled rectangle
S	Filled ellipse
D	Eraser (toggle)
Z	Fill
X	Rectangular selection
LCTRL + Z	Undo (up to 50 actions)
LCTRL + Y	Redo (up to 50 actions)
LCTRL + V	Preview rectangular selection (release V key to paste rectangular selection at pointer position or release LCTRL key to cancel)
LCTRL + N	New ...
LCTRL + S / LCTRL + LSHIFT + S	Save ... / Save as ...
LCTRL + O	Open ...
LCTRL + B	Grab image from clipboard
DELETE	Erase canvas
ESCAPE	Close software

MOUSE

POINTER (OPTIC / LASER / MOUSEBALL / TOUCHPAD / TOUCHSCREEN / PEN TABLET)	Cursor
LEFT-CLICK	Draw /  Tool selection
RIGHT-CLICK	Suspend draw (press) / Restart draw (release)
DRAG AND DROP	Load image

KEYBOARD + MOUSE @ POINTER

LSHIFT + LEFT-CLICK @ SAVE ICON

Save as ...

PREVIEW FEATURE
At the moment, the software is only compatible with the Raspberry Pi Pico development board with MicroPython, but there are plans to make it compatible with other MicroPython-compatible development boards such as ESP8266 and ESP32.
This feature works by talking MicroPython REPL commands with the microcontroller using pySerial.
The software can detect if you have more than one serial device connected to your computer (e.g. Bluetooth, USB-to-Serial), in these cases, you must make a selection to continue.

To display the graphics on the LCD, you need to have the micropython-pcd8544 library installed on your microcontroller:
https://github.com/mcauser/micropython-pcd8544
But if you wish, this software can install this library on your microcontroller for you.

The LCD connection pins are fixed for the moment and are as follows:

RESET	GP22 (pin 29)
CHIP ENABLE	GP21 (pin 27)
DATA / COMMAND	GP20 (pin 26)
SERIAL DATA INPUT	GP19 (pin 25)
SERIAL CLOCK INPUT	GP18 (pin 24)
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (VCC)	3V3 (OUT) (pin 36)
BACKLIGHT	GP17 (pin 22)
GROUND	GND (pin 23)

CODE GENERATOR
This feature only appears when you close the software.

This code is only intended to be used in programs written in the MicroPython language for MicroPython-compatible development boards.