NAME

       load_bitmap - Loads any supported bitmap from a file. Allegro game programming library.

SYNOPSIS

       #include <allegro.h>

       BITMAP *load_bitmap(const char *filename, RGB *pal);

DESCRIPTION

       Loads a bitmap from a file. The palette data will be stored in the second parameter, which
       should be an array of 256 RGB structures. At present this function supports BMP, LBM, PCX,
       and TGA files, determining the type from the file extension.

       If   the  file  contains  a  truecolor  image,  you  must  set  the  video  mode  or  call
       set_color_conversion() before loading it. In this case, if the destination color depth  is
       8-bit,  the  palette  will  be  generated  by  calling generate_optimized_palette() on the
       bitmap;   otherwise,   the   returned   palette   will    be    generated    by    calling
       generate_332_palette().

       The  pal  argument  may  be  NULL. In this case, the palette data are simply not returned.
       Additionally, if the file is a truecolor image and the destination color depth  is  8-bit,
       the  color  conversion  process  will  use  the  current  palette instead of generating an
       optimized one.

       Example:

          BITMAP *bmp;
          PALETTE palette;
          ...
          bmp = load_bitmap("image.pcx", palette);
          if (!bmp)
             abort_on_error("Couldn't load image.pcx!");
          ...
          destroy_bitmap(bmp);

RETURN VALUE

       Returns a pointer to the bitmap or NULL on error. Remember that you  are  responsible  for
       destroying the bitmap when you are finished with it to avoid memory leaks.

SEE ALSO

       load_bmp(3alleg4),      load_lbm(3alleg4),      load_pcx(3alleg4),      load_tga(3alleg4),
       destroy_bitmap(3alleg4),     save_bitmap(3alleg4),     register_bitmap_file_type(3alleg4),
       set_color_depth(3alleg4),                                   set_color_conversion(3alleg4),
       generate_optimized_palette(3alleg4), generate_332_palette(3alleg4)