CompuServe Thread

#ScalaA500 Demo-Worth It?

9 messages in this thread
#17360From: Tim ByersMar 14, 1992 3:29 PM
Did any of you get the Scala demo with your AmigaWorld Video & Animation issue? It demonstrates the titling capabilities of their low-end A500 program: basic titles of various kinds and transitions, with some scripting. I am working on a corporate training video which for the most part is a lot of "text-bullets" describing the concept, intermixed with some animations and color-cylcing animations to further explain. So, the Scala product seems like a dream when compared to using DPaint IV and my default fonts (no 3-D, no huge sizes, can't animate transitions). Anyway, since my presentation is primarily titling, this A500 version of Scala seems ideal. The special offer is for $109. Is that a good deal? What else could give me quick titling and transitions for less than that? (emphasis on quick). Thanks for any opinions.
#17383From: john meggieMar 15, 1992 11:32 AM
Tim, if I wanted to do quick titling with big fonts and easily made animated transitions I would use DPaint IV. Why not? Why are you using the default font? John
#17432From: Tim ByersMar 16, 1992 1:00 PM
I have a few fonts but they're not too exciting. Scala allows editing of colors, outline/3D/Shadow combinations, layout control (centering, tabs, etc.) and it can all be edited on the fly- no erasing bitmapped images. Since I'm using a lot of text on the screens I like the ability to word wrap and make changes like a word processor.
#17415From: Steve Bennett/SYSOPMar 15, 1992 8:15 PM
Everything I've seen of Scala indicates that it is a *really* nice program. If I had any need for presentations or titling, I'd probably use it. –>Steve Bennett
#17433From: Tim ByersMar 16, 1992 1:01 PM
Thanks, Steve!
#17423From: Wayne ColeMar 16, 1992 5:36 AM
Tim, I would echo Johns sentiment. DPaint Iv for animated titles, transitions and logos is fairly easy and relatively good looking from a speed pint of view. Spend a day with the animation tutorials, make your self some BIG fonts (I made up to 108 point from Helvetica and ZapfChancery cgfonts using ProPage makefont utility.) Then set them into motion, collor 'm up, so some animated merges etc. Most of these presentation thingies expect the animation to be done already. They string together pictures, anims sounds and provide some transitions for stuff you create in other packages. wmc
#17434From: Tim ByersMar 16, 1992 1:05 PM
Wayne, I've used DPaint for some of the things you've described but I'm really attracted to the text manipulation and transitions afforded by Scala. My presentation will have many slides of text bullets and DPaint is not very convenient for making changes to sentences etc. For the fancier effects I'd stick with DPaint, but I still think Scala would do better on the text. Thanks. Tim
#17463From: Wayne ColeMar 17, 1992 4:48 AM
Tim, Your point about text is well taken. 'Course, you could do away with the text in favor of animation/actors and video and use the 'slides' as supplementary handouts!!?? :^} wmc
#17486From: Tim ByersMar 17, 1992 8:33 PM
Wayne, You're exactly right… but much of the "creative" control is in the hands of a text oriented guy. For now, that is… He's coming along to the power of the Amiga! Actually, we're converting a presentation into a video. We're on a tight schedule and no budget, trying to convince our corporate management that the Amiga's the way to go for training videos… But I'm with you… why use text? That's what we're fleeing from (in the MS-DOS world)! Tim