Cloud Effects
18 messages in this thread
That would be a virtual endless supply of Pic maps. I'm thinking about
buying a DCTV so I can digitize some stuff for brush mapping. Then all I
would need is a camera. This hobby is getting way to expensive…
May I make a suggestion here.If yer gonna use a Camera to Digitize with
DCTV to create Texture Maps take a GOOD look at the Canon Xapshot.I have
one and have used a friends DCTV with it and it makes EXCELLENT digi pics
Peter, re your use of the XapShot camera…. I've come 'this close' to
getting one, but haven't yet…. cause I cannot find anyone who can SHOW me
a picture taken with it displayed on the Amiga. Would it be possible for
you to upload a basic image (ie. landcape, portrait, etc) that you've
digitized, so that I could see the general quality of the images?
You use DCTV to digitize, right? I was planning on using DigiView with it,
assuming I get it. Do you know of any differences in digitizing quality
(re the ZapShot) between the two?
Thanks in advance…. if you can't upload something I understand; I'm just
very curious about it.
BTW, did you have to purchase the 'sports' package to get the tripod
connector? Someone else told me that the basic camera doesn't even have a
tripod screw… that you have to purchase the extra package in order to use
a tripod? True?
–jp–seattle–
I have a Mavica and I grilled the Canon salespeeps at MacExpo. I had them
show me on a Mac what the Zapshot image looked like. For all I can tell its
the same quality as the Mavice. The cheapest Zapshot I've seen is about
$360.00 mailorder, I got my Mavice for $200.00 from WholeEarth. Now the
Zapshot has two features the Mavica doesn't, it has a Macro so you can get
about 15" from the image, the Mavica is 3 ft. The other feature is that you
can tell the Zapshot not to flash, can't do that with the Mavica. Autoflash
in hopeless lighting situations – like inside on a white background does
not help. You might do better if you could turn off the flash and do the
lighting with video lights. You can always put a piece of tape over the
Mavica flash. Canon has a new $2000.00 camera, it gives you a frame instead
of a field picture, so there is no horizontal stepping on a full screen
picture. It has a faster lens, a 2.0 (whatever that would mean for a
digital camera). I use the DCTV filter in Black Belt's IP to remove the
horizontal stepping and it does a wonderful job! If you use the Zapshot or
Mavica pictures quarter screen on a 640X400(480) screen, they look just
fine. Not good for closeup stuff, Digiview and a still video camera look
better.
The Mavica sounds great. What I want is 1/4 to 1/3 screen images anyway,
not full screen (for windows in interactive stuff).
Could you build a little switch to enable/disable the flash on it? In any
case it sounds like I could deal with the flash somehow. I don't think the
macro lens is that important to me either; I'll have to consider that.
Does the Mavica have a build-in tripod screw? So that I can hook it up to
any camera/video tripod? I understand that is an 'extra cost' item with
the XapShot, but I'm still checking it.
You use DigiView and IP… good, that's how I was planning on going too.
BTW, are you using WB2.0? If so, how are you getting the DigiView buffer
command to work? Mine is broke (boo) right now. Ben says I need the new
2.0 compatible DigiView, which is on the way. Hope it works then. I
really miss the DigiView buffer command. TTFN
–jp–seattle–
No, the Mavica does not have a tripod screw but you could probably work
something out. I wouldn't bother with a flash switch, I'd just get a piece
of draftsman's tape and cover the flash – low tech solution. I use the
Digiview and the Color Splitter with the auto cable. I'm not doing 2.0 with
my 500 'till I get the accelerator in there and all is quiet. Remember
that the Mavica and the Xap Shot are really point and shoot cameras. The
quality is low but if you bring the image in at 640X400+ (which exceeds the
range of the camera really), and scale it to 1/4 screen, it looks fine. IP
does what it can with the stepping. In some respects this softens the
image. Some shots just don't need it, especially if you don't have a lot of
45 degree angles in the picture.
Thanks…. I'll check out the Mavica in some mail order places. I know
that if I walked into any local camera store and asked about either the
ZapShot or the Mavica I'd get a blank stare. I have no idea of how to
order from Whole Earth; didn't even know they had a 'store' or 'catalog' 🙂
–jp–seattle–
You could try directory service to Berkeley, ask for Whole Earth Store
Electronics and Computers, they'll route you. I believe, pretty sure they
do mail order. There are two Mavicas, one that is $100.00 more with a 15
sec sound bite capability. Get the cheaper one. Comes with one battery and
a disk. Disks are cheaper NY Mail order (get Shutterbug at the newstand).
If the have extra batteries, you might want one, but they are expensive
$40.00. Not sure if yee old Vidiot supply has that battery size or the
camera but they might.
The package I have Has the Tripod Screw Wether it was the "sports" Package
or not I have NO idea.As to me ULing a Digitized pic done with Xapshot at
the moment I have No Digitizer for the Amiga,I had done my Testing at a
Friends Studio.BTW For some Reason the Toaster Had Trouble Digitizing from
the Xapshot.I dunno why since I don't own a Toaster I used my Buddies
Equipment.I keep holding off buying new equipment like even the DCTV cuz my
ol lady is unemployed and we're living off my Check's
My Mavica couldn't digitize to the Toaster, needs a TBC?
That may very well ber the problem,we didn't go thru his TBC either
I just tried it once in a casual way as I just had the camera and the
player. Could not get it to do more than mess up the screen. After I
digitized the pics and made them 24bit, they toasted just fine.
Thanks for the reply. Margaret Copeland has been very nice to give me
advice on the Mavica too, so I think I have enough info to work with now.
–jp–seattle–
John:
I can send you some shots done on the Xapshot. Would jpeg images be OK?
(shorter upload/download times) If not, I can send a 24bit image. These
were digitized using an Impulse VD-1 digitizer, and also the output of the
Xapshot was run thru a TBC.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike, that would be great. It sounds like yours would be 'better' than any
I would get, cause I'd use DigiView and no TBC, but it would show me what
the darn thing is capable of. I have a pretty good idea from descriptions
of Margaret (Mavica) and Peter G (Xapshot), but 'seeing is believing' 🙂
JPEG is fine. Just a good sample image. Thanks.
Do you find your VD-1 and the TBC add 'significantly' to the quality of
your digitizing with the XapShot?
–jp–seattle–
John:
When you say 'add significantly', I'd have to say yes, as without them (and
Impulse's VDZ program) I wouldn't be able to digitize at all, would you
consider that significant? I'll try and upload a couple of pix in the next
couple of days, but can't give any promises, as I've been having trouble
uploading to CIS lately.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike, forget about loading the pics, I think. Given the generally positive
comments I see from others I think I have enough info to make a decision
with. I may be back to you with some questions on it later, though!
–jp–seattle–
I may have to look into that later on. After buying my new machine and
the DCTV, I'm just a little broke. Anyways, thanks for the info. Later.
Randy.