#Anim7 or Anim8
I'm getting rates of 20-30 fps, but that's in LoResOverscanNoLace mode
(376×240), and the deltas between frames are very low.
I'd say your problem was the resolution you used. HiRes interlace is
really overkill for HAM8 modes. You'll get much better animation rates if
you shrink the 640×400 anim down to 320×200 (or400) – just make sure the
images are anti-aliased when you scale them (this is an option in DPaint,
I believe.)
When you design your anims, try to make sure that the motion between
frames is kept low. Avoid doing things like scrolling or panning the
background, as this will wreak havoc with the delta compression scheme,
and result in huge anims. It is best to have a few isolated elements
moving over a stationary bkgd. While not very exciting, it _will_ playback
smoothly.
I have found that lores nonlaced anims look quite good, and are more than
acceptable for most purposes. Since VHS has a maximum resolution of around
240×480 lines, any benefit of higher resolutions will be lost, and most
people won't notice the fact that its non-interlaced. (They're more likely
to notice a jerky playback speed. Which is what you'd get with a higher
resolution animation.)
Another benefit of LoRes NonLace anims is that they are generally much
smaller, meaning you can get more frames in the same amount of space, and
you _might_ even be able to use the new feature of Viewtek which allows
you to play back anims direct from hard disk. (As an example, I created a
1000 frame HAM8 anim, and it only took 15MB of storage. While 15MB may
seem big, 1000 frames is alot of animation! :^)
Finally, make sure you're using Viewtek. Version 1.05 has fixed any
problems with unlocked palettes you may have noticed.
In closing, I'd like to ask for some feedback. Try these tips out, and
tell me if you notice much of an improvemnt. I am finishing up an article
on this very subject, and would like to make sure my tips actually _do_
work! :^)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom