Imagine/DCTV-Good?
34 messages in this thread
Hi, I am being talked into Imagine by my local dealer. I am new to 3D and
although I have worked with Sculpt-A 4D before, I found it very difficult
to use. I think that the 3 seperate windows threw me a curve. I know that
Imagine works this way and that is why I am a little nervous about spending
$300 on it. I am kind of leaning toward Caligari 2 because it seems much
more user friendly. Can you talk me into Imagine some more and explain how
easy it is to use and calm my nerves? I am also going to be using DCTV
with this (whichever) program and I have 5 megs of RAM. Although I only am
running at 14Mhz, speed is not important for now anyway. I work and go to
school.
I'm just trying to get my feet wet without drowning. Any help from you
guys at Impulse? Also, I understand that JPEG is a very good compression
format for graphics. Does Imagine 2.0 support this and if it does, do you
know if DCTV does too? I am buying everything at once so I will certainly
be overwhelmed at first but I think I am smart enough to be able to sort
through it all.
It just may take a while… 🙂
Thanks for any assistance you can provide!
Jon
Jonathan,
DCTV is definitely a good start. You can do pretty neat stuff including
nice painting & some animation. As for Jpeg, both Imagine & DCTV does not
support it for now. You have to get a public domain converter or buy
commercial product like Image Master & Art Department Pro. <-You can get
information on both product here on CIS.
3D software is definitely a hard decision. I use Imagine & Real 3D for
myself. Not many 3D softwares support method other than TRI-View
(Caligari2 & Draw-4DPro are NONTRIVIEW), so you'll have to get use to it
eventually. The strongest point of Imagine is its flexibility in all areas
such as Object making, Cycle editting, and several rendering method and so
on. Un-fortunately documentation on the manual is pretty bad, but this can
certainly overcomed by vast majority of Imagine user's help here on CIS or
go buy 'Understanding Imagine' by Steve Worley. But there is still a tough
learning curve!
As for Caligari2, it seem to be much easier and intuitive than any other
package (except for LightWave). Both weak and strong point of Caligari2 is
that its not a Raytracer. You can render an image pretty quick, but you
will not get the same looks as other Ray Tracing package does. As a
results, Caligari2 gives out a distinctive 'Computer image' that one may
like or dislike.
I hope this can be your help.
– THANX R.SATOH ->via Whap!
Yeah, you certainly helped out. I noticed that there are a lot of JPEG pix
in the forums. I have ADPro (the first version) and altough I haven't
checked, I think that only ADPro 2 supports JPEG. I don't have another
$170 to buy the latest version. I'm pretty tapped out after all this other
stuff I'm buying soon. You mentioned a program in the libraries to
transfer to a format that can be read by CDTV? Can you tell me what it's
called. I wasn't able to find one. Also, are there other types of
compression that DCTV supports? I don't want to be taking up a full meg on
my hard drive just for one picture. Although I have a 120 meg drive, it
isn't bottomless. I would like to be able to store the pics on a floppy if
possible. Any suggestions there? Do you like DCTV? What do you do with
it all? I will certainly take a look at the book for Imagine as it will
probably help a lot also. Any other information or suggestions you could
give would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Jon
Image Master from Black Belt Systems and Art Department Pro are the two
commercial product that supports JPEG format. Both of the program also
supports DCTV file (but you cannot load DCTV image in Art Department Pro).
They are both very valuable and very essential in graphics environment, so
definitely get it when you can afford it. For now, DCTV file format is
small so you'll probably do just fine by just archiving it as DCTV file.
One problem with JPEG and DCTV(especially) is, they are both Lossy format,
it does not retain all the information that original image should have. So
for the space you save, image quality is sacrificed. Actually, you should
never use DCTV file for your master piece, if its important.
You can get public domain JPEG<->IFF24 converter on CIS, I think its named
AUGJPEG.lzh or OCTJPEG.lzh. And for IFF24->DCTV conversion, shareware
utility name ADAM or REND24 will do a good job in batch conversion.
– THANX R.SATOH ->via Whap!
Thanks for the help!
Jon
I use DCTV alot mate and it is a GREAT LOW End Full Color Device I'm VERY
happy with DCTV and use it's Digitizing features alot for Special FX on
Pictures of People that I take with a Canon Xapshot Still Video Camera.I
love Imagines Direct to DCTV rendering as well MIDGARD GRAPHICS, CREATORS
OF QUALITY ANIMATION.
Yep, I think it looks good. Does it use the 500 for power? Or, does it
have its own power supply?
DCTV Draws power from the 500 but since I have a Bodega Bay that is NO
problem since the B Bay has a BIG power supply
OUCH! I should probably get a BIG FOOT!
ya might wanna look into that new Hi-Q Tower for the,it supposedly adds a
CPU and Video Slot so ya can use ANY card for a 2000 So far it is still
Vaporware tho
Okay, I'll look into that!
if yer looking for EASY Imagine will be a Nightmare for you,Caligari I
don;t recommend simply because the modelor is TERRIBLE in my opinion DCTV
somewhat supports JPEG with a nice little pd prg JPEG2DCTV but is 1 way
only.Imagine has some of the BEST output available currently IMHO the
Learning Curve is a bit steep for Imagine but the Possibilities Boggle The
Mind.Ya might wanna get Steve Worleys Book Understanding Imagine 2.0 BEFORE
deciding on a Raytrace pr,ya might also wanna try the PD DKB Trace to get
yer feet wet first as well MIDGARD GRAPHICS, CREATORS OF QUALITY ANIMATION.
Well, I have used Sculpt a fair amount. And, after hearing from everyone
here, I will definately stick it out with Imagine. I will surely get that
book and I think there are videos out, too! Thanks!
Jon
Yes there are quite a few Videos for Imagine,I believe Creative Computers
included 1 with the purchase of Imagine as well
Yeah, my local dealer has the same video. Hopefully, that will shed some
light.
Jon,
WARNING. I know of two Imagine videos on the market. One is by Centaur
and is strictly an introductory how-to for pirates who don't have the
manual. You'll outgrow that tape faster than you can rewind it, especially
if you have Steve Worley's book. I got rid of that video as soon as I found
someone who'd buy it from me.
The second video was created by Rick Rodriguez for Impulse, and is
titled "Imagine: the possibilities". It's a fast-moving assemblage of
hints, tips, animated and still images, designes to help the user who has
learned Imagine's basic operation. Some basic objects are created in a
jiffy, showing some nifty modeler shortcuts. This video stresses smart
_usage_ of the program's many functions. It's exactly what most people want
from a tutorial: not a rehash of WHAT functions are available, but HOW to
use them. I strongly recommend it.
Blaq!
Thanks! I'll look into that video.
This message is in reguards to Imagine: The possiblities. Is that tape
for Imagine 2.0?
Short but to the point.
Randy.
Randy,
the tape is for Imagine 1.1, so no 2.0-specific features are
covered. It remains, however, an enjoyable tape to watch and learn from.
Charles -via Fingers!
Well, I need all the help I can get. I'll definately have to have a look
at it. Thanks…. Later.
Randy.
Lightwave is the prefered tool of choice for me, but it's got one heck of a
dongle.
–Paul
Whappin' from the Wine Country
Yup one Heck of an EXPENSIVE Dongle,I plan to eventually get a toaster just
for Lightwave but for now Imagine is fine for me
I recently rendered a few pix with I2 for the gang down at our local cable
access station to use and figgered we get the best display out of their
DCTV devices, so I rendered to 24 bit ILBM and loaded it into DCTV via the
digitize/ process facility. I was rather disappointed by the overall
bluriness and lack of vibrance of the image when compared to rgb display.
Is there anyway to better this? Should I have rendered directly to DCTV
format (would it make a difference)? Any tips you could share would be
appreciated as I was planning to buy a DCTV myself till I saw the output
there!
Well mae RGB will ALWAYSbe MUCH sharper than a composite signal,no way
around that fact that I know of.Did you try using another prg for viewing?
Only thing I can say is if yer NOT satisfied with DCTV output I recommend
the Firecracker 24 from Impulse or the Rambrandt once it comes out.Remember
the old saying about NTSC-Never the Same Color Twice a NTSC signal CAN NOT
Match a RGB for color or Sharpness due to NTSC's limitations which ARE NOT
imposed on many newer 24 bit color Boards But if yer Going to Video
Eventually the point is not so important anymore IMHO DCTV is by no means
THE BEST ya can get but is a good inexpensive Psuedo 24 bit frame buffer
which acheives Excellent results MIDGARD GRAPHICS, CREATORS OF QUALITY
ANIMATION.
Oh I am aware of the NTSC trials and tribulations, just was disappointed at
how much detail was lost. I didn't know if loading in and converting a
iff24 would be any different from rendering direct to DCTV format but I
would think not. Yes, getting to video is ultimately desirable, but I need
the crispness we see on some of these professional tape releases. Any
ideas?
Try rendering as I mentioned the pics ya got may have been Jpegged
originally I'm pretty Happy with DCTV myself If You aren't I suggest look
at Firecracker 24 or a Toaster for 24 bit Frame output
BTW what is I2??????If it's Imagemaster from Black Belt Systems I've heard
complaints from a few of my buddies that it Muddies up pictures a bit.since
I have NEVER used this prg I'm simply passing on what I've been told Try to
get a hold oa Regular 24 bit Pic off this BBs or generate one with yer Fave
3D software for a better idea of what can be acheived
Perter- I2=Imagine 2.0 in my limited online vocabulary. Sorry for any
cornfusion!
okey Dokey Mate I2=Imagine 2.0 didn't know that one,I use Imagine 2.0 and
haven't had problems with DCTV Fuzziness except when I use Objects my Buddy
Earl Creates on his Atari ST and I convert to Imagine use as he uses
Saturated Colors too much and that mbe my fuzzy Factor I dunno mate other
than go RGB and use a Film Recorder like Polaroid Ci-5000 with 35 mm Pin
Registered Motion Picture Filmback for top Quality output MIDGARD GRAPHICS,
CREATORS OF QUALITY ANIMATION.
Peter,
A quibble:
I enjoy reading your messages because of the experience you have with
all that hardware you own, and expertise with Imagine and other software.
But often, I'm not sure what you're trying to say since you use little or
no punctuation. Please think about throwing a period in once in awhile to
make sure we understand you. Thanks,
Karl
– via Whap!
Ahoy Karl.I hate Periods and punctuation in Genereal.Just as a matter of
Principle,Sorry if it makes my Msgs a bit hard to follow.It is a BIG
problem of mine as I tend to hit an idea and create 1 looooooong Run on
Sentence.Are you a English Teacher by any Chance??????? Later Dude and I'll
try to curb my bad habits
<chuckle>
No, not an English teacher. Just someone who is desperate to pick up all
the good information on Imagine he can! I've been playing around with
Cycleman recently, as well as this new Lissa program. Oh, to have a job
where I could Imagine 10 hours a day; maybe I'd learn it all then!
Karl
– via Whap!
Jon,
These days, there is no excuse for discounting Imagine based on its
steep learning curve. Not when you have Steve Worley's "Understanding
Imagine 2.0" book ($20 from Impulse), Louis Markoya's "Map Master" and
"Texture Master" ($70 for both, from Impulse) and even Rick Rodriguez'
"Introduction to Imagine" videotape (watched it again today — such a
pleasure) Yes, in the old days, Imagine was a problematic proposition. But
from what I hear, Caligari has severe limitations that outweigh its ease of
use. And I honestly believe anyone can work with Imagine after reading
Steve's book. It's astoundingly clear and complete.
Blaq!
Thanks! I am waiting for my local dealer to get it in. They should have
it pretty soon. I know all that you said is true. That's why I got
Imagine instead of Caligari. Thanks