CompuServe Thread

#Imagemaster 9.50

19 messages in this thread
#52876From: Black Belt SystemsMar 16, 1993 12:26 PM
March 16th, 1993 — Glasgow Montana — Black Belt Systems ========================================================= Black Belt Systems is in the process of releasing a major new upgrade to our Imagemaster product, designated v9.50. If you are one of the many people who have ordered Imagemaster under our "Power-Up" program, but have not yet received your copy of Imagemaster, this list should give you an idea of the benefits to you of your long wait; almost 90% of these features have been added since the Power-Up offer was made public, and you're going to get all of them at no extra charge. Thank you for your patience! For more information, call (800) 852-6442 Toll-free, or outside the USA and Canada, call (406) 367-5513. You can FAX us orders at (406) 367-2329. Our multi-line, 9600 (HST & v32) open user BBS is reachable at (406) 367-2227. —————————————————————- v9.50 New Features List – Some new features of Imagemaster v9.50 —————————————————————- – Now includes support for selected EPSON flatbed scanner models, standard with the upgrade or release. Includes ES300, ES600 and ES800. (We can provide prewired cables, also). This scanner support is based on the Metadigm "Metascan" product, an integrated version of which is now supplied with Imagemaster. (If you own the ASDG scanner driver, you can use that cable with our new driver – or, we have optional cables available for purchase). – Aspect sense; determines the exact aspect of your monitor/mode combo simply, easily and in a foolproof manner. Even takes into account any distortions introduced by monitor width/height settings. – Exact Aspect display mode; aspect ratio correct display capability. This, in combination with Aspect Sense, allows you to see and work on images exactly as they are intended to appear. – Supports AGA 800×600 for work and render output. – New image and ANIM file format support: o Reads IFF images from the Amiga ClipBoard device o Writes IFF images to the Amiga ClipBoard device o Reads ALL kinds of TIFF image files (in both IBM and Mac formats) o Writes 24-bit TIFF files o Reads Windows BMP image files o Writes Windows BMP image files o Reads AGA mode ANIM frames o Generates AGA mode ANIMS o Reads frames from Autodesk FLI/FLC Animation files (IBM PC format) o Writes AutoDesk FLI/FLC animation files o Reads MacPaint files o Reads NoteBook files o Reads Amiga .info files o Reads 12-bit General Electric MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) files o Reads PCX files o Reads WinImages:morph 24-bit filmstrip files – Many file formats that were previously only available via the F1 key route are now able to be automatically loaded thru the simple File I/O method, automatically. – Completely revamped CMY+(K) color sep capabilities for more accurate color prepress operations. – New, faster 256 preset color AGA display method for good looking preview mode that does not require new palette computation when changes are made to an image. – Completely new palette control area for AGA machines o Attractive new look display o 256 visible, modifiable colors, with individual render tags o Full 18-bit colorspace color cube onscreen at all times o Color Cube preset, prescan, FG set and BG set o "Painter's Palette" feathering and mixing area o 24-bit accurate color palette displays o On-screen range manipulation tools o Copy, Exg, Hue-Spread, RGB-Spread, Mirror-Spread, Insert Range o Hue-sort, Value Sort, Undo changes o 640×400 or 800×600 resolutions for palette, fully promotable o CMY, RGB, HSV, HSL and CMYK adjustment modes o Load and Save palettes WITH palette control information o Selected colors have live marques – quick & easy to spot o Ability to absolutely control palette for rendering images: ———————————————————– o Any color or combination of colors: "NOT TO BE USED AT ALL" o Any color or combination of colors: "USE AS IS" o Any color or combination of colors: "AUTOPICK BEST COLOR" – Single key "insta-swap" of primary and secondary images. – Complete reworked buffer-generating Perspective operation. – Brand new compose-level Perspective option. – Support for Centaur's Opalvision display board. – New scientific functions: o Add a constant o Sub a constant o Div by constant o Mult by constant o Mult by secondary o Div by secondary o Logarithm base N of X For our scientific users! o N raised to X o Raise to power o Root o Arbitrary Profiles o Arbitrary Spectrums (1-D Fast Fourier Transforms) o Variance Conversions – New higher power "Sharpening" function. – Sends images directly to GVP's ImageFX software. – Includes high quality "Poster Printer" capability. – New ARexx commands: o userload —– loads new images via the familiar user interface o simpload —– loads new images to a non-specific buffer o forcewbfront – Brings WB to front no matter the autoactivate state o forcefront — Brings IM to front no matter the autoactivate state o ehlp ——— Takes IM error numbers and reports error in english o perspect —– generates perspective operations – Small panel re-organizations in many locations for ease of use. – Control panels smooth scroll & autorepair AmigaDOS screen positioning bugs. – Radial wave now utilizes image's aspect ratio – All I/O requesters now open on Imagemaster screens; this reduces screen flipping and prevents monitor re-syncing stress when running 800×600 in either Imagemaster or another application (including the WorkBench). – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Other Imagemaster News as of v9.50 ———————————- – Syndesis introduces Mac PICT-format reader & writer (3rd party). – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Imagemaster is Copyright 1992-1993 Black Belt Systems ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52899From: Peter GreciMar 16, 1993 10:44 PM
Ben, I know this is probably getting monotonous but any idea of when we'll see this new 9.5 of IM?
#52902From: Black Belt SystemsMar 17, 1993 12:08 AM
Its shipping now – depends on where you are in the order list. It'll take us about 4-6 days to fill all the orders. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52930From: Peter GreciMar 17, 1993 4:37 PM
ooooo its shipping NOW, Very Nice. I have no idea where I fall on the list other than to say I'm on the Autoupgrade plan. Will I get a note when my "YEAR" is up and it's time to resubscribe to the Autoupgrade plan? Thanx matey.
#52962From: Black Belt SystemsMar 18, 1993 1:28 PM
Yes – all autoupgrade subscribers will get a note at the next to last shipment. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52973From: Peter GreciMar 18, 1993 5:51 PM
Danka Herr Williams, Buy new Barttles and james err Imagemaster 9.5 err system overload, core breach emminent eject eject. Silly isn't it?
#53017From: Black Belt SystemsMar 19, 1993 12:34 PM
Uh…. yeah. :^) –Ben …via AutoPilot
#53013From: JERRY HATCHETTMar 19, 1993 11:58 AM
Black Belt, I'm an auto-upgrade subscriber, but haven't gotten anything since 9.23. Is this normal?? Jerry Hatchett
#53059From: Black Belt SystemsMar 20, 1993 5:36 PM
Yep – there wasn't anything between 9.23 and 9.50 – and you should have your copy of 9.50 by the end of this coming week, I hope; we think we'll have em all out by Tuesday. It's a big job, as you may imagine! –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52947From: Mike SchillerMar 17, 1993 11:40 PM
Ben: Is 9.50 an auto upgrade for those of us with subscriptions? // -Mike Schiller \X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
#52964From: Black Belt SystemsMar 18, 1993 1:28 PM
Yes, it is. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#53026From: Antonio RosarioMar 19, 1993 2:34 PM
Ben, could you check to see if you've gotten my registration form from IM. Name: Antonio M. Rosario Locat: Brooklyn, NY, 11217 thanks. BTW, how and how much to order upgrade? ====>Tony<==== switching to…… AutoPilot….(click)
#53060From: Black Belt SystemsMar 20, 1993 5:36 PM
Nope – but just call 800 852 6442 and *they* can check for you. It's toll free, so go for it. The upgrade is $25.00 and you can order it on that same line, as long as they have your registration. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52945From: John GagerMar 17, 1993 11:05 PM
Wow!! The features for 9.50 sound really impressive Ben. Can't wait to get mine in the mail! Looks like you have been programming your heart's out the last couple of months. // \X/ John – K7KB (Who enjoys harrasing the vendors)
#52963From: Black Belt SystemsMar 18, 1993 1:28 PM
Not _me_, but the programming staff has been, you bet. There's more than is in the list as well… the list was "long enough" as they say. One of the things I'm happiest about is the elimination of quite a long list of inconsistancies and the thorough stomping of bugs; this is very likely the most reliable Imagemaster we've ever shipped, and I'm dead certain that is so with respect to features that were already there – the new features are very complex and capable, but have not (yet) been in user's hands, only the testers… that means that bugs are possible even though we've got it working well here. Users approach from many different angles and certainly can find things a developer misses… still, as far as we've been able to tell everything is 100% and that sucker is Out The Door. :^) –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52955From: Kelly JordanMar 18, 1993 6:37 AM
So what's the update cost from an earlier version of IM (or AVT Connection)? 73, Kelly
#52965From: Black Belt SystemsMar 18, 1993 1:28 PM
IM 9.50 is $25 for a one-shot upgrade. For those who purchased the $100 autoupgrade, it's part of what they get for that $100. New autoupgrade subs are now $125. ————————————————— A point I've made before, but had probably better make again, is that V10 is going to be _considerably_ more expensive (and with good reason!) than the 9.xx series and previous, but it *will* be included in the autoupgrade program, IF the user's autoupgrade is in effect when the release occurs. Although the autoupgrade program was a good deal anyway, that situation makes it a _great_ deal – and the price of the autoupgrade program will also increase substantially at release time so there's no way to fudge this at all. V10's retail price will be substantially more than double that of the current Imagemaster (which is $249.95) – and it'll be worth every penny… you can bet on it. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#52980From: JAN SIMONMar 18, 1993 9:09 PM
Ben, Can you talk a little about the 9.5 docs? Are there tutorials; examples; and printed manuals? All that power, all that experimenting, it's daunting and a little inhibiting for new users. Thanx, Jan
#53019From: Black Belt SystemsMar 19, 1993 12:35 PM
The 9.5 docs include considerably more in the way of detail; there are some tutorials new with 9.50 specifically; the morphing documentation is also much improved over most earlier releases. The docs are almost double the size of the previous docs. We are working feverishly on a complete new set of docs using a hypertext system that will replace the addendum and etc – it looks like it's about two months away from "releasability" but it's coming along *very* well. Likely it'll become available before summer and that should make things a DARN sight easier for everyone. –Ben …via AutoPilot