#Starting fron scratch
4 messages in this thread
Jon,
Since no one has replied as yet, and I believe I can at least point you in the
right direction, I'll line up a
basic system for you; this sort of animation is one of my interests.
A "starter" system might include at least the following:
Amiga 1200 with 2 Megs extra RAM. A 500 could work, but with fewer colors,
and slower playback rates.
Extra disk storage — a hard drive is really a necessity. 80 megs or more
(much more!).
Digitizer–NewTek Digiview is an excellent low-cost digitizing solution. It
takes several seconds to grab
an image from a video camera.
Video camera–Any camera can be used, but best results are abtained with a
high-res B&W camera.
(Red, green, and blue are handled through a color wheel.)
Genlock–prices vary, but so does quality. Digital Creations SuperGen is a
good choice for many.
Film output–If preferred, files can be sent to special service laboratories,
for a fee. Or, do-it-yourself
film recording straight from the screen can be done (although there is
some noticeable warping).
Software–Electronic Arts' DeluxePaintIV is still the king of paint, although
Digital Creations' Brilliance
is gaining much popularity. DPaint offers cell animation techniques like
onion skinning.
This is a very basic system, but with a little time, energy, and creativity, it
can go a long way. I've become
somewhat of an "expert" at running bare-bones systems (because of my
"bare-bones" wallet…!).
I am sure others can help you fine tune and even price a basic system. I bid
you well on your endeavor!
JFR
Thanks John, "basic" was just what I was looking for.
I'm passing the info on to Linda (my coz). Don't you just get spoiled on
Compuserve? S'funny; a few days to get an answer and it takes a reality check
before you realize you're not being hard done by!!!
I'll pop down the Tottenham Court Road (London's cheapo electronic/computing
shops) to do some pricing this weekend.
Happy Animating
Jon
Jon,
Glad to be of service to you.
I know there is always "another opinion" regarding hardware/software, but
hopefully the "basics" as I see them will help you as you go shopping (or have
you aready finished?).
May I ask what the phrase "you're not being hard done by" means exactly?
Although EMail can tone down the differences in our accents, sometimes a phrase
can lose something in its trip over the pond…
JFR
John,
Sorry to be obscure. Sometimes a phrase you could have sworn was International
English turns out to be British English. I can recall a conversation with an
American girl 20 years ago when the word "slut" in British English meant
nothing more than a slovenly woman! I was only trying to tell her that her
room was a dump and I still bear the scars.
To be hard done by is to have lost out, to have not gotten the breaks, to be
put upon by life.
(Hopefully at least one of those phrases will be common currency! If not,
better use EMAIL because I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks and the thread
will probably have scrolled off.)
It'll probably be some time before any hardware gets purchased but I'll drop
back in the forum in a month or two and let you know what happened.
Thanks again
Jon