CompuServe Thread

Imagine Questions

3 messages in this thread
#45231From: ron floryOct 8, 1992 3:13 PM
I am trying to generate long (400-800 frame) animations on my system, and I would like to know if Imagine can call (execute) a script file following generation of each frame. I would like to compress/offload each frame as it is rendered to free-up space for the next frame. I am using Imagine 2.0 on an 11-mbyte A-2000 with hard disks. I am creating seperate RGB files and then converting those into TARGA format for export to another system. Knowing how big TARGA files are, you should see the situation I am talking about. A 'called' script file would allow me to transfer the data to another system or compress the data for use later. Ideally, the script file would be passed the sequence-number (0001 etc) of the frame just generated. This would allow me to create quite long sequences without regard to how much (or little) disk space is available. I know that you are probably going recommend that I break the sequence into several short 'runs', but that would increase the amount of manual intervention required. Do you have any suggestion for creating a 'granite' texture. Camo looks a little flat when I try to make it look like granite. Thanks. Ron Flory, 71053,3551
#45343From: Stan Kalisher (Impulse)Oct 10, 1992 1:45 PM
Perhaps someone else here remembers a shareware or PD program called ADAM or something like that. As I understand it, the program uses or used ARexx to detect when a file is saved under a certain name in the target directory and then executed various commands. Something like that will do the trick for you, but there is nothing in Imagine to do it. I am not positive, but I think Essence from Apex Software has a granite texture. Steve Gillmor Impulse, Inc.
#45482From: Charles BlaquiereOct 13, 1992 9:59 PM
Ron, what I suggest is a script which uses the AmigaDOS 'exists' function to detect when a certain file is created. Since you can't tell whether Imagine is finished with frame X or not, what you do is loop on an 'exists' test for frame X+1. As soon as frame X+1 is created, you can be sure that the current frame is done, and you can start processing it. This method forces you to create an 801th frame, or else the 800th frame would never get processed. As for the granite texture, I whipped up a quick & dirty brush in DPaint, which I'll send you by ConpuServe Mail. Maybe it can serve a purpose until you find a better one. Blaq!