#PAR frames in Video Post
8 messages in this thread
I've been trying to composite an image from the DPS PAR with a bitmap sequence
that has an alpha channel. However, I can't seem to get the frames to come in
right off the PAR, no matter how I have it set.
Naturally, in Video Post, if I ask for an ANI file with the PAR in normal mode,
it won't recognize the format. However, when I use PARINIT to turn the read
files into .TGA format, I can't get them to sequence right. As expected, the
STILL option just pulls in the first .ANI frame, not matter what. I'm not sure
how the FILENAME option is supposed to work (I got no literature from this,
specifically, from my dealer), but it doesn't seem to help much. When placing
the INCREMENT option on, it increments by *2* frames, each time. I can only
figure it's doing this because each time it reads, it increments once, and
increments again when it writes the rendered image back to the PAR.
I've tried using an ANI file with just four characters, and tried using no
asterisk and an asterisk. It never works when using an asterisk. I just comes
back saying "unable to get frame XX of {file}. I'm referring to naming
conventions in the video post section, naturally.
What can I do to get these filenames to work correctly? You'd think the PAR
would deliver TGA's with the NAME0000.TGA format when being read from the PAR
drive, but unless I'm missing something, here – that's not the case.
Hopefully someone will be here to read this message soon…
Jerome,
you need to put the par in filename output mode and use an .ifl for the
sequence of images you want. Works great.
>>you need to put the par in filename output mode and use an .ifl for the
sequence of images you want. Works great.
An IFL? I can't just yank the stuff off the PAR?
Something else confused me royally just a few minutes ago… I indeed put the
PAR in filename output, and HAD IT WORKING. I tried several different renders,
changing a few things, but there was one filename that needed to be changed,
and since I wanted to do something else, too – I exited 3DS. upon going back
in, I set EVERYTHING the exact same, and nonetheless it would NOT work again,
no matter what I tried. Talk about frustration!
I'll indeed try the IFL, but God help me to understand why it worked once under
the same settingsm then not again a few minutes later under the exact same
scenario.
Thanx for the input! -jk
I put a text file up in the libraries that describes the step by step procedure
to do this. Its for rotoscoping with the PAR. Can't remember where it's at
right now but you can do a search using my ID as contributor and it should find
it easily as I haven't put much up there.
Yes, I found your message regarding rotoscoping shortly after my last reply to
the last message I had read here.
Yup, the IFL file was exactly what the doctor ordered. Everything else I was
already doing correctly. What is odd is that it worked properly WITHOUT the
IFL file, for a while, accessing the ANI as filenames directly.
Thanx!
jk
Yes it will work for awhile. As you discovered the frame order won't work
without the IFL.
Jerome, Here's the file info that DonL mentioned to you about. Take a look at
it. It's worked for me in the past.
[71673,3612] Don Landis Lib: 6 PAR2RO.
Text, Bytes: 4412, Count: 336, 19-Jan-95
Title : Rotoscoping with the PAR
Keywords: ROTOSCOPE PAR
This is a text file describing the procedure for doing animated texture
maps and animated backgrounds with the DPS PAR.
[dl time at 2400 baud: 1 min]
>>Jerome, Here's the file info that DonL mentioned to you about. Take a look at
it. It's worked for me in the past.
Yup – saw it. Thanx, tho!