#LW Hair Brain Wish
17 messages in this thread
John,
I have another LIghtwave Wish for the list. Allow configuration of the
destination of the recrder commands. For instance, allow selection of an
Arexx port instead of the serial port. That way you could have and Arexx
host that took lightwave frames, called Toaster paint to get IFF24s
called a graphics pakage for manipulation, and compression then…. See
what I mean? Just be able to send commands anywhere, not just to the
serial port.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
Why not save the Lightwave frame as IFF24, then use one of the many Arexx
scripts out there to batch process to ADPro for manipulation then re-save
with compression in Toasterpaint or with JPEG? Most of what you ask is
available already. Karl
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
Karl:
Can you advise me on one or more of the Arexx scripts you mentioned.
I have been looking for an Adpro script that would:
Basicly I would like to use ADPro as though it was Rend24, but with more
varialbes.
Thanks….
Brad Hayes
Brad,
There are scripts to batch process both framestores and 24bit iffs. There
are several scripts for framestore compression. There is also a new (pay)
product out called ADP Tools. This will batch process animation frames,
preform multiple Adpro operations and allows you to build your own macros.
It also doesn't require Arexx. There isn't much out there to compete with
Rend24 in function. If you let me know what you need to do maybe I can
help. Karl
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
Brad,
There is a new program coming out from Axiom Spftware (Pixel 3D folks)
called Anim Manager which uses ADPro to process LW frames as they are
rendered and can save in anim format. It's not shipping yet, but look for
it soon
JGross
I want to be able to have it happen as part of the rendering process
instead of having to render a bunch, process a bunch, redner a bunch
more…. If I could send an ARexx command to a host that received the
frame/IFF24, processed then returned to LW for the next render, it could
all be part of a single operation.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
I have 2 2000's linked through a cable using the "parnet" network
software. This lets you address another computer as a device. I will try
rendering to the other computer and batch processing on the fly. Everyone
that has a Toaster has a 2nd 2000 to work on while the first is rendering,
don't they? I'll keep you posted on the results. This network software is
shareware and supported well. The cable costs about $30.00
Karl
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
Karl,
I don't have a 2nd machine yet. I was holding off until I see if the
Toaster is going to get AGA compatible and if some of the other boards may
work as well as the Toaster for basic editting, framebuffering, and CG
stuff and be better supported. I was originally thinking two Toasters so
that while one was rendreing I could be modelling/editing on the other.
But after getting stuck a couple of times, I began to think that maybe
diversity might be a safer way to go. That way if I got stuck and hung
out to dry on one product, I might be able to workaround the problem on
the other. And, if I find something that works with AGA I have an excuse
to hold out for the 4000T! :^} I'm hoping that the EditMaster and Vivid24
live up to their potential, but I see them being another year – 2years
away from significant software support for animation, CG and editing
(Vivid24, I believe, can be used as a 2 input switcher and a frame buffer
with an optional encoder).
What would really be nice is a network version of Lightwave that could
render on a host while you continue modelling or doing layouts or other
Toaster work on a Toasterized terminal. That might also lead to a stand-
alone LW in the process – one that can render Framestores or IFF24 without
ToasterPaint and/or the Toaster hardware. I know people who work in
studios who would like to be able to do some LW work at home without
having to buy a personal Toaster. But I suspect both of those ideas are
95% rewrites and probably not financially feasible for NewTek to do.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Yeh. It's pretty easy to pirate a copy of standalone LW. Pretty tough to
get the same deal on a "pirated" Toaster. Personally, I think NewTek would
be nuts to let out a stand alone LW. They'd lose their shirts on it.
Maybe that's one of the reasons NewTek makes so much money – their great
software products are always tied to hardware dongles, but people don't
call them dongles, they call them DigiView and Toaster. 🙂
If NewTek was worried about people pirating a standalone LightWave they
could just include a REAL dongle. I could handle the concept of a joystick
port dongle if it would get me a copy of LightWave without having to buy a
Toaster. It wouldn't be much trouble to take the dongle home with you if
you want to to some modeling in the evening.
Of course you couldn't leave the Toaster rendering while you are working
at home, but most license agreements say you can only run the program on 1
machine at a time anyway. For companies that need more than 1 copy of
LightWave NewTek could have "site licenses" or give you a discount on
additional copies.
Amiga people tend to whine a lot about copy protection or dongles, but 3D
Studio on the PC uses a dongle, and most Iris 3D programs are keyed to the
machines ID number.
Worried about losing the dongle or having it stop working??? May as well
worry about losing your Toaster or having it stop working! I'm sure NewTek
would be more willing to replace a dead dongle 'no questions asked' than
they'd be willing to replace a dead Toaster.
Sorry. I keep forgetting about pirates. Maybe the standalone version
could have "manual key word" protection or some such.
BTW there was a RUMOR on another forum that LW 3.0 will be relased in afew
months, that it will cost about $1000 unbundled from the rest of the
Toaster software and that there will be a standalone version of it.
For $1000 I hope its got LOTS of new and useable features (not 'use it
once in a blue moon' stuff either).
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
Rumors are just that…rumors. Don't believe everything you read. Check
out the next issue of VTU for a new LW preview.
JGross, back online…
John, When did you get your VTU I haven't seen one since december. What is
the issue date?
Edward, Toasting from sunny CURACAO!
Edward,
The last issue out was the Dec/Jan issue with "Timing is Everything" on the
cover. The issue I was refering to is the next issue which hasn't been
released yet. Look for it soon….
JGross
Wayne,
The rumor mill (mostly reliable source) says the Toaster for the 4000
will use the ECS mode not the AGA. That source says the new lightwave mod
will not be released alone and it will not be on CD rom. This news came
supposedly came from the NewTek booth at the show. It will be interesting
to say the least. That means we probably won't see an AGA Toaster anytime
soon. BTW, The rendering to the other machine worked fine and so did the
batch conversions on the fly. Karl
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
I was reasonably certain the render to anothe machine (device in LW's
eyes) would not be a problem. What I would like to do is be able to
(without having a Toaster in the second machine) tell LW to actualld DO
the rendering on the second machine so I can continue doing other Toaster
and non Toaster stuff on the first machine which DOES have a Toaster in
it. I know, I'm dreaming…. :^{
wmc – via Autopilot!