CompuServe Thread

I wrote the ReadPICT and WritePICT tools that come with Toaster 2.0. These programs make it easy to move Mac PICT bitmaps to and from the Toaster. In PhotoShop, just work with 752 by 480 pixel images and everything will be great for the Toaster. The easiest way to move files is to use PC disks, using Apple File Exchange on one side and an Amiga program called CrossDOS. You could use a null modem and terminal programs if you really want to. Also consider using a compression program to help fit those 24 bit PICTs on a 720K PC disk. Be sure to read Appendix 12, which details a lot of what I mention here.

Mike, Can't help you too much with the Toaster side of things, but I do regularly move files between the machines. Using a Null modem and comm software works quite well. The only thing you'll have to watch for is the macbinary headers in the files, both incoming and outgoing. Microphone II on the Mac side seems to work the best, allowing for Macbinary or 'plain' transfers, and there's a whole slew of _very_ nice Amiga communication software available right here. Note- it's the Mac's resposiblity to strip/add the proper headers, as it's the one that uses 'non-standard' file structures. Are you sure Photoshop turns out IFF? The version I have doesn't. IFF and TIFF are not the same thing. However, if your have the latest and greatest and it does export real IFF 24 bit files, use that rather than raw RGB. IFF is the native file format on the Amiga and has a lot of things supporting it. Other hints and tips- The Amiga is NOT a 'you use what we give you, or don't even bother trying' machine. It's whatever you want to make of it. Take the time to learn it, especially AmigaDOS. There's a _lot_ of power under the hood and makes things easy if you know what your doing. The GUI on the Amiga is there for ease of use for the beginner- once you get 'under' it, there's a whole new world. It's more a power-user's machine and rquires you to work for things, but rewards your efforts most handsomely. Look into Arexx as well, as the promise there is astounding. I've worked on both and always find myself drawn back to the Amiga. I like the Mac, but find it a bit limiting, almost arrogant in its assumptions of, "What's good for Apple is good for the user." Once you get beyond the neophyte stage there's a lot of walls for you to bash into. The Amiga is completely open, and you _can_ get lost in the expanse unless you're careful. And when you experience what real multitasking can do and find out that Multifinder was a sham. Anyway, I'm prejudiced, but not ignorantly so. You've now got two of <continued>

the better machines out and they can complement each other wonderously if you do things right. I'm primarily in the high-end DTP world, so I can speak knowlegably about that end. There's a LOT of video people around here, though, and many of them have a great deal of experience. Just drop your questions here, and someone will certainly be able to answer it outright or point you in the correct direction. Doug

Howdy mate,Ya might wanna Subscribe to 2 Excellent magazines AVid and the Toaster oriented Breadbox.Have fun with yer Toaster dude Null modem will work just gotta have telecomm prg for both machines of