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# Converting and Sending Image Vars to a TI-84 Plus C

The TI‑84 Plus C has the ability to display background images (Image Vars) as well as the familiar Pic Vars functionality of the TI‑84 Plus. These variables display in the graph area. TI‑84 Plus C Image and Pic Vars will not link to a TI‑84 Plus given the difference in the screen resolution of the two graphing calculators.

### Image Vars

A TI‑84 Plus C Image Var is created by converting your picture (gif, tif, png, jpg, or bmp) to 83 x 133 pixels (width by height) using the TI Connect™ software. You can then send the Image Var to your TI‑84 Plus C or save it to your computer as an *.8ca file. An Image Var can also be loaded into the TI‑84 Plus C emulator view in TI‑SmartView™ software.

Your picture may not display in the graph area as expected given the conversion to the pixel dimensions of 83 x 133. The conversion to the Image Var uses 16-bit color.

On the TI‑84 Plus C, an Image Var displays as the background in the graph area only. An Image Var will display scaled for the MODE screen settings of Full, Horizontal, and Graph-Table preserving any mathematical modeling done on an Image Var. Image Vars cannot be edited while working on the TI‑84 Plus C. Image Vars run and are stored in Archive memory.

Note: A screen capture of the graph area includes the full screen of the TI‑84 Plus C, status bar, graph border, and the graph area. TI Connect™ software allows you to crop the graph size area only to create an Image Var if desired.

### Pic Vars

Pic Vars are created and modified on the TI‑84 Plus C. Pic Vars are 266 x 166 pixels and use the 15 colors available on the TI‑84 Plus C. Pic Vars display as an overlay on the graph screen area exactly as on the TI‑84 Plus. Pics Vars display from the upper left corner of the graph area and do not scale for the MODE screen settings Full, Horizontal, and Graph-Table. Pic Vars can be opened to view in the TI Connect™ Screen Capture software. They can be saved as computer files with the file extension *.8ci. Pic Vars run and are stored in Archive memory. Note that Pic Vars on the TI‑84 Plus run and are stored in RAM memory but also can be stored in Archive memory. Please note this difference when clearing RAM.

Note: TI Connect™ software will not convert a Pic Var (*.8ci) to an Image Var (*.8ca).

### Creating and Sending Image Vars to your TI-84 Plus C

Background Image Vars are created, sent, or saved using either:

| • | TI Connect™ software for the Mac® using Device Explorer or Create a Group

| • | TI Connect™ software for the PC using Device Explorer or Screen Capture

### Creating and Sending an Image Var to a Connected TI-84 Plus C

The following steps show you how to create an Image Var if you have a TI‑84 Plus C graphing calculator connected to your computer. You can create the Image Var, save it to your computer, and display it in the graph area of the TI‑84 Plus C.

| 1. | Choose the image you want to convert. Allowed picture file types are tif, gif, png, jpg, or bmp.

| 2. | Open TI Connect™ software.

| 3. | Using the USB Computer Cable, connect the TI‑84 Plus C to the computer. Turn on the TI‑84 Plus C.

| 4. | Open Device Explorer.

| 5. | Drag the picture to the Device Explorer.

| 6. | Select an Image# name from the drop-down menu, such as Image0 - Image9. This will be the name of the image on the TI-84 Plus C.

Note: Since this Image# name is internal to the conversion process, it is important to remember what Image# name you assigned. It is recommended that you keep this information in the filename so you know where the Image Var will be stored on the TI-84 Plus C if you send or share this file in the future.

| 7. | Click OK.

You can preview the Image Var, save it on your computer, and display it in the graph area of the TI-84 Plus C.

| • | To preview the Image Var:

| - | On a PC, open Background and double-click the Image#. The Image Var preview opens in the Screen Capture window.

| - | On a Mac®, expand the calculator directory and double-click the Image#. The Image Var preview opens in a Preview window.

| • | To save the Image Var on your computer, drag the Image# from the TI Connect™ Device Explorer to your desktop, or to the folder where you want to save it.

| • | To display your new Image Var in the graph area of the TI-84 Plus C, press 2nd FORMAT , change the Background setting to the Image# you just sent to the device (example: Image5), and press GRAPH.

### TI Connect™ software for the PC: Creating an Image Var Without a Connected Device

The following steps show you how to create an Image Var if you do not have a TI‑84 Plus C graphing calculator connected to your PC. You can create the Image Var, save it to your computer, and load it into TI‑SmartView™ software to view.

| 1. | Choose the image you want to convert. Allowed picture file types are tif, gif, png, jpg, or bmp.

| 2. | Open TI Connect™ software.

| 3. | Open Screen Capture.

| 4. | Drag the picture to Screen Capture.

| 5. | Click File > Save As.

| 6. | Choose the directory where you want to save the file.

| 7. | Choose TI-84 Plus C Image (.8ca) as the file type.

| 8. | Click Save.

| 9. | Select an Image# name from the drop-down menu, such as Image0 - Image9. This will be the name of the image on the TI-84 Plus C.

Note: Since this Image# name is internal to the conversion process, it is important to remember what Image# name you assigned. It is recommended that you keep this information in the filename so you know where the Image Var will be stored on the TI‑84 Plus C if you send or share this file in the future.

| 10. | Click OK to convert the image to a TI‑84 Plus C (.8ca) file.

See the steps below for loading the Image Var into the TI-SmartView™ software.

### TI Connect™ software for the Mac®: Creating an Image Var Without a Connected Device

The following steps show you how to create an Image Var if you do not have a TI‑84 Plus C graphing calculator connected to your Mac®. The Create a group feature is used to convert an image without a connected device. You can create the Image Var, save it to your computer, and load it into TI-SmartView™ software to view.

| 1. | Choose the image you want to convert. Allowed picture file types are tif, gif, png, jpg, or bmp.

| 2. | Open TI Connect™ software.

| 3. | Click the Create drop-down menu at the bottom of the TI Connect™ window and choose Create a group.

| 4. | Drag the picture from your desktop to the Group window.

| 5. | Select the calculator you want to use.

| 6. | Select an Image# name from the drop-down menu, such as Image0 - Image9. This will be the name of the image on the TI‑84 Plus C.

Note: Since this Image# name is internal to the conversion process, it is important to remember what Image# name you assigned. It is recommended that you keep this information in the filename so you know where the Image Var will be stored on the TI‑84 Plus C if you send or share this file in the future.

| 7. | Click OK to convert the image to a TI‑84 Plus C (.8ca) file.

| 8. | To save the Image Var on your computer, drag the Image# from the Group window to your desktop, or to the folder where you want to save it.

See the steps below for loading the Image Var into the TI‑SmartView™ software.

### Loading an Image Var into the TI‑SmartView™ software for the TI‑84 Plus C Emulator View

Once your create and save an Image Var (.8ca) file using TI Connect™ software, you can load that file into the TI‑84 Plus C emulator view in TI‑SmartView™ software, similar to any calculator file.

| 1. | Select File > Load File in TI‑SmartView™ software.

| 2. | Select All Calculator Files (*.8c?).

| 3. | Locate your Image Var. Remember that the internal image name of Image# is in the file. In this example, the file was named BRIDGE_IMAGE5.8ca. You will receive no prompt to pick a new Image# calculator name.

| 4. | Select Open and the file will load to the emulator.

| 5. | To display your new Image Var in the graph area of the TI‑84 Plus C emulator, press 2nd FORMAT , change the Background setting to the Image# you just sent to the device (example: Image5), and press GRAPH.

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