CompuServe Thread

#New Imagemaster!

22 messages in this thread
#46372From: Black Belt SystemsApr 8, 1995 3:52 PM
Black Belt Systems is pleased to announce Imagemaster R/t 1.60 for the Amiga computer. IM R/t 1.60 expands the software's already impressive array of special effects to include enormously powerful powerful plasma tools, other operational enhancements, expanded interface controls and additional documentation. Black Belt Systems continues to enhance our Imagemaster R/t product, still the most powerful image manipulation system available for the Amiga, as well as offer full time technical support to our customers. More important reasons why Imagemaster R/t is the right choice for your Amiga image manipulation software! We also want you to know that should you be considering adding Windows- or Windows NT-based computers to your working environment, you should also be aware that we offer very powerful special effect, image manipulation, morphing and warping software at incredibly low prices for these platforms as well as for the Amiga. We even have versions for RISC machines such as the Alpha, MIPs and even the PowerPC, all of which are shipping right now! Currently, the big news is in the Amiga arena – here are some specifics sure to grab your interest… The plasma suite can generate flame events in still frames or over time. A number of useful types of flames are available, including gas flames, candles, log and forest fires, and even the oil wick of a hurricane lamp. This is only the tip of the iceberg, however, as all flame parameters are settable by the user. For instance, independent control over the flame's base, middle, end and tip colors allow you to tailor the burn even to rare metals such as sodium or magnesium with no trouble. You have control over how much the flame distorts the background behind it, turbulence within the flame and much, much more. Also in the plasma suite is an extensive electrical generator which excels at lightning and other electrical effects. Preset or "canned" effects include Summer Storm, Windstorm, Fibrous and Gamma Bursts. As with the flame capability, these are only a hint of the range of effects available. You have direct control over color, glow, zagging, saturation, taper, width and more. As with the flame tools all controls may be animated over time using ARexx, resulting in travelling bolts and strikes with an astounding level of realism. IM R/t 1.60 contains many other changes and improvements, including the ability to force all screens to 4-bit, 8-bit, or AGA, something that should help the performance of many of the weaker AGA emulations for the various graphics boards available for the Amiga. For more information or to place an order, call us toll-free right away at (800) 852-6442 from anywhere within the USA or Canada. Outside these areas, dial (406) 367-5513. You can also FAX us at (406) 367-2329. Black Belt Systems' business hours are from 9am to 5pm MST (MST is 2 hours later than US east coast). –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46490From: James R. OllickApr 17, 1995 8:43 PM
Hi Ben, If I ask, I suppose it is ok for you to give the price, so… what is the price of 1.6? Jim R. Ollick on a Warped 4000/040/40 Using AP 1.77 from Bergenfield, NJ
#46492From: Black Belt SystemsApr 18, 1995 1:56 AM
James, Our suggested retail price for IM R/t 1.60 is $99.95. You can get it direct from us for 1/2 that, $49.90. If you are a registered user, the upgrade is $25.00. In either case, you need to add shipping charges to that. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46494From: Zeddock MillerApr 18, 1995 9:19 AM
What is ImageMaster, exactly? Zeddock Miller
#46509From: Black Belt SystemsApr 19, 1995 3:26 AM
Imagemaster is the single most powerful image manipulation application available for the Amiga. It has everything from powerful morphing and warping to tons of preset and adjustable special effects. It's fully capable of most any image editing task most people will even need to do, and it's very inexpensive. That's it in a nutshell. 🙂 –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46651From: Asha DeVelderApr 27, 1995 6:51 PM
>Imagemaster is the single most powerful image manipulation application available for the Amiga. It has everything from powerful morphing and warping to tons of preset and adjustable special effects. It's fully capable of most any image editing task most people will even need to do, and it's very inexpensive. Sounds interesting. At the present time, I use ImageFX and Adpro for some of my work. Both (to a greater or lesser degree) support the Opal Board and the Picasso II. Does ImageMaster? If not, will it in the future? Asha
#46658From: Black Belt SystemsApr 27, 1995 11:29 PM
Imagemaster R/t has excellent support for the Opalvision. It has none at all for the Picasso, although if the Picasso people ever get the AGA emulation working 100%, it'll work as an AGA applciation. ImageFX is a great application. AdPro is not. 🙂 –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46682From: Asha DeVelderApr 28, 1995 8:41 PM
Ben, Thanks for the info on Imagemaster. If my (paying) work starts returning I'll definitely check it out. Is there a demo around anywhere that I could play around with in the meantime? Skimming through the Redwoods on AutoPilot Asha
#46694From: Black Belt SystemsApr 29, 1995 7:30 PM
No… no demo. There are some sample screen shots, etc, in dl6 of Amigavendor. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46797From: Nick CookMay 4, 1995 10:35 PM
Ben: Just a note: the more I use Imagemaster R/T, the more I like it! 🙂 [Though it does need some getting used to]. I'll be ordering the upgrade next week. I'm still "iffy" about the on-line docs. Call me old-fashioned, I still like the feel of a book! Nick
#46992From: Herman GreensteinMay 21, 1995 2:31 PM
i have an older Imagemaster r/t and the docs are bigger than the program! the program is something like 2.2M and the docs are more than 3M! how big a book would that make??
#46856From: Donald GrossMay 9, 1995 10:01 PM
Ben, I don't know what you mean by the statement that ADPro is not a great application, but I beg to differ. I have both Imagemaster and ADPro & I feel that they complement each other. ADPro w/ ProControl can automate processing easily something that Imagemaster may be capable of but not easily. Also the Migraph loader for ADPro makes scanning fun. Imagemaster has great effects and I use it for that. By the way, what is your phone #? I faxed an order for the latest upgrade over a week ago & haven't heard anything. ———————————————-Don- via Amiga 3000
#46857From: Black Belt SystemsMay 9, 1995 11:19 PM
Donald, No need to beg. 🙂 I meant what I said. AdPro is *nothing* compared to Imagemaster. YOu may feel that they complement each other and that's fine. Nontheless it remains a _fact_ that 99% of what you can do with Imagemaster, you cannot do with AdPro. And 99% of what you can do with AdPro, you CAN do with Imagemaster. As for automation, Imagemaster has MUCH easier ARexx control than does AdPro; much more complete, as well. ProControl, like the Pro Conversion pack and a bunch of other added-vaule/added cost packages certainly do extend the domain of the AdPro product – so if you want to talk about AdPro & Morph+ & ProControl & Pro Conversion Pack and all the other aftermarket stuff you can pay extra for and lump them all into one, I'd agree that's a decent package. Of course, the 99$ MSRP of IM R/t and the MSRP of that aggregate of Adpro etc products is really quite different and you STILL don't have a comparably effective package in most areas – your point about automation is well taken, however. It'd be nice if there was a similar "go from ARexx" package for IM R/t. But you know, in IM R/t's ARexx capabilities are splined control windows usable for any function you like over time, simplified application of those values to any operation… it's really quite powerful along those lines. No one has ever plugged those capabilities together into a Procontrol-like package, but it's all there waiting to happen anyway. There's much more capability FOR control than AdPro has, of course. 🙂 AdPro was always a marketing snow job as a competitive package. It's perfectly good for what it does, mind you, but it's totally balony as a feature-based competitor to IM R/t. It's a fact that there are two other packages in the Amiga marketplace that do the vast majority of the things that AdPro lays claim to, and do them better than AdPro ever could. Now that ASDG/ER/WhoeverTheHeckTheyAreNow have left you, and the rest of the Amiga users fannies hanging out in the cold, you get to learn a little bit more about the product, and the people who made it. If you're still happy, hey, that's great. I don't want you unhappy. 🙂 In the meantime, we just upgraded the package, still have all-day support, and plan more yet to come. Just one of those differences in outlook, y'know. As far as scanning being fun, I really like Imagemaster's scanning package a lot. Fun… well, I dunno,. Guess I wouldn't go that far. Needs an animation of Cheech and Chong to be *fun*. 🙂 The sales people's phone number is (800) 852-6642. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46859From: Donald GrossMay 10, 1995 8:39 PM
Ben, Thanks for the phone number. I'll call those friendly people tomorrow. I'm not about to argue with you since by the time I get to write this stuff at night after working all day I'm sure I'll set myself up to be picked apart. I LOVE Imagemaster and believe it is probably the greatest bargain in Amiga Town in a town full of bargains. ADPro is/was overpriced but I believe still essential. You have to admit its included printing capabilities are far superior to the limited printing Imagemaster does. I know what you mean by scanning normally being a chore. But with the ADPro loader for my Migraph 24 bit scanner, scans can be viewed, manipulated, and printed in ADPro without the need to save. ———————————————-Don- via Amiga 3000
#46868From: Black Belt SystemsMay 11, 1995 4:52 PM
AdPro is a great printer driver. No problem admitting that. :-)))))) Have you tried the "poster printer" in the FKEY addons? It produces pretty spectacular results… only B&W, though. AdPro's got some great color printing tools. btw, IM R/ts scanner driver also alloes preview, view, scan, manipulate prior to save. DIdn't know that, didja? <grin> –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46994From: Herman GreensteinMay 21, 1995 2:31 PM
and where is ASDG now?
#46914From: Donald GrossMay 14, 1995 10:01 PM
Ben, Are you sure about that phone #? It didn't work from Phila. ———————————————-Don- via Amiga 3000
#46917From: Black Belt SystemsMay 14, 1995 11:15 PM
Donald… What phone number??? Ours? Ours is (800) 852-6442, and it will work anywhere in the continental USA, anywhere in Canada, and anywhere in the US possessions… should be fine. Weekdays, 9-5 MST only, of course! –Ben …via AutoPilot
#46982From: Alex BakerMay 20, 1995 11:19 PM
Does Imagemaster support the Retina cards? What graphics formats will Imagemaster support?
#47002From: Black Belt SystemsMay 21, 1995 9:32 PM
Imagemaster R/t 1.6 contains new compatability modes which should help the rather weak emulations of some the cards – the retina included – perform better. The Retina people told us that if IM R/t could run on all 8-bit displays, the Retina would work. So IM R/t now has a mode where it can do that. Will it *really* work? We don't know. After all, we didn't write the Retina emulation code. 🙂 Im R/t supports many graphics formats – about 75 at last count. Which ones are important to you, and I can tell you yes or no? One we do not support any longer is GIF, which is a dead format because of what Unisys did.
#46993From: Herman GreensteinMay 21, 1995 2:31 PM
and where is ASDG now? Touche.
#47003From: Black Belt SystemsMay 21, 1995 9:32 PM
Well you may ask. 🙂 First they changed their name… then they buggered out of the Amiga fora… then someone bought them… "It's a mystery". 🙂