CompuServe Messages

>> I'm looking for a software package that I can combine computer animation with real video. Is Imagine a product I can do this with? Imagine can indeed combine video with computer animation, within certain constraints, the main one being that it needs the video somehow captured into the computer. Several questions: 1. What is your desired final output medium – video or computer display? 2. How long is your project? 3. Where is the video coming from (TV, VHS VCR, pro tape, laser disk)? 4. How much computer equipment do you have and/or how much are you willing to spend for more equipment & software? 5. How complex a merging do you want to do? Typical scenarios include: – using video as a background for computer animation (trivial) – using video inside an animation, say, as the contents of a TV screen within a computer-generated image (fairly simple) – actually having the video and the computer animation interact, i.e. live actors interacting with computer-generated characters (more complicated) With this information, I can help you specify programs and hardware more accurately. In my work, we merge graphics, animation, and live video all the time. I use Imagine exclusively for 3D work, and some simple compositing. We also use other hardware & software, depending on the project. Jim Shields Regal Rodent Development