Software
24 messages in this thread
One for the wish list: (Software)
Would anyone be interested in developing the following?
Given, that there is now Arexx, MicroIllusions' Transport Controller, The
Art Dept (with Arexx to be added, we hope), and a few popular frame
controllers for the Amiga (from BCD and VideoMedia); and, that there will
sooner or later be frame buffers from Impulse, and eventually Digital
Creations (not to mention the exisiting Mimetics board): what is needed
*is*, something like this:
A program to automate frame grabs from time-coded videotape. A
specific application I can think of right away is to take a segment of
video, and, frame by frame,
1)grab a frame (in 24-bit)
2)use TAD to reduce to b/w 'outline' art
3)save the frame to disk or,
(working from a video dub) replace the frame we just grabbed
with the 'affected/colorized/altered' version, back to tape.
4)repeat for as much disk space or tape you wish to use. I can see
other uses, such as automated grabs saved as 24-bit IFF files, to add a few
seconds of brush-wrapped video to an "Imagine" animated object. I would
find this worth paying for, although I probably couldn't afford to
underwrite all the development costs.
This sort of thing will be possible in ADPro (Art Department Professional).
Are registered owners of TAD going to get a notification of availability
and upgrade cost for ADPro when it's ready? What are some of the features
ADPro will have that TAD doesn't? Thanks …
Harry
All registered TAD owners will be notified by post card about ADPro. The
principal differences between the two products are: (1) ADPro can save in
any format it can read. (2) ADPro is fully ARexx driven. (3) ADPro can
render up to 256 colors. (4) ADPro has an enhanced palette mode which
greatly increases image quality when creating images for NON-amiga display.
(5) there are so many other things…it would take a while to type them in.
pk
I just noticed this thread, when is the guestimated release date of ADPro?
Clint <VRLI>
My crystal ball says sometime in the next three months. This is firm since
it was supposed to be released by September 15th. We just keep adding cool
things. We'll get it out the door soon.
pk
Perry:
Thanks! I'm looking forward to it. Looks like yet another tool that
I can't live without. <grin>
Clint <VRLI>
While its in my mind…. How about including a DELETE gadget in the
program.
Bill, K3OZM
The thought has crossed our minds. But the conventional wisdom says if you
make it harder for people to delete a file, it is less likely for them to
accidentally delete a needed file. For the foreseeable future, a delete
file command is not likely. But we are keeping it on the list of maybes.
How about a delete command accessible only via Arexx? That way, those who
want to can add it, and those that don't, won't. –Eet–
I disagree with every word you say, but I'll defend to your death your
right to say it! Director of Mayhem — Extra Terrestrial Imports, Ltd.
Perry –
Thanks for the info. Now to go get a rag to clean the drool off my
keyboard … 8^). I know it's probably too early, but any hints on what the
upgrade cost might be?
Harry
Does your 'render in upto 256 colors' mean HAM-E support? If not, via
which board? (I assume you mean Amiga video, not other systems)… thanks
–jp–
HAM-E support is defintely in the cards. 🙂
pk
Perry,
How is support for the Mimetics Framebuffer coming along for TAD?
73, Kelly
Perry,
I'm a little puzzled as to what you mean by "ADPro can render up to 256
colors". Could you perhaps be a little more explicit?
Glad to hear about the ARexx support. Will ADPro take advantage of
AmigaOS 2.0-specific features? Will it render directly in the new ECS
modes? (I've got some 4-level greyscale scanned images that look great at
640×960.)
My checkbook awaits your upgrade notice. 8^)
-Dave
ADPro can render in up to 256 “true'' colors.
HAM has 4096 colors, true. But they are created using a special
encoding (the hold and modify encoding). The Art Department can
render up to 5 bit-planes (32 colors) without resorting to some
trick like HAM or EHB.
ADPro can render in up to 8 bit-planes (256 colors) without re-
quiring you to be in a special Amiga only mode. A 256 colors i-
mage cannot be directly displayed on an Amiga, of course. But
they look fantastic on a MAC or PC.
We will not be supporting any of the new ECS modes since they are
for all intents and purposes, useless and un-Amiga like.
pk
Will the new ADPro support 8-bit plane (256 colors) display with the Black
Belt HAM-E device?
And, what is the release date of ADPro? (projected release date 🙂 )
Perry,
Ah…I follow ya. True 8-bit rendering will be great for creating GIF
images…and for HAM-E's REG mode of course. 8^)
I disagree with you to an extent about the ECS modes. True, they are
severely limited, but one can still get useful results image-wise within
those limitations. I've done a 4-level greyscale version of a Robert
Johnson photo (also available in AmigaArts in a 16-level 640×400 version)
that looks real good at 640×960. Of course I'll still be able to create
such images whether ADPro supports the ECS modes or not, but it would be
nice to get that immediate feedback while I'm processing such images. Oh
well….
-Dave-
Perry,
Something else I forgot to ask you re ADPro: will it contain any edge
detection and/or sharpness algorithms? I know a number of DigiView users
who would be thrilled to have something like Digi-View's Sharpness control
added to TAD's image-processing arsenal.
-Dave-
I variable sharpness/blur function is planned. But hasn't been implemented
yet. We hope to have it in the first release.