CompuServe Thread

#Hollwyood FX

9 messages in this thread
#91885From: Fred BerneyOct 4, 1994 8:00 PM
Michael, A few weeks ago, you mentioned that you purchased Hollywood FX and would post a message as to how you found the program. Can you say anthing yet? Fred
#91893From: Michael MiloffOct 4, 1994 9:11 PM
Hi Fred, I can't say anything yet because first, there was a mix up in my order and I didn't get it when I thought. They were extremely co-operative after they found out about the mix up, but then didn't send me all the disks.. Then, we got a warp engine and started shifting our 2 machines around, and my 1 employee was off work for awhile—-so…………….. I am very eager to look at it, partly, because we have a beta flyer on order and I want to see what kind of layering we can do. As soon as we have started doing anything, I will post stuff here. I think we will start in a couple of days, so maybe in a week from now. Are there any specific questions you have at t his point. Michael
#92034From: Fred BerneyOct 6, 1994 10:27 PM
Michael, The only thing I know about the program is what I have read from an ad, one review, and two postings on this board. If I understand the programs correctly, it creates effects by rendering them. How many effects come with the program? Are they pre-set effects or do you design the effects? One person said it is a front end for Lightwave. Does this mean that you can use the program to handle Lightwave procedures? Is it worth the price? or with a little extra work, could you do whatever it does, on your own through Lightwave? You did ask if I had any specific questions. (g) Fred
#92099From: Joe MaulucciOct 8, 1994 11:10 AM
Hollywood FX does create 41 effects by rendering through LW, using backgrounds and/or image sequences. They are preset effects, you do have some choices (resolution, anti-aliasing, field render etc.). You cannot alter anything directly in LW — HFX does not make LW.scene files. Once rendering is done, HFX removes the scene from LW. Yes you could do what HFX does on your own using LW and Modler. But HFX is a "time saver" program, a couple clicks of the mouse and you're done. If you have PAR, Broadcast 32, V-Lab or Flyer — HFX will come in handy. A Raptor would help speed things up too. HFX plans to come out with more effects, and welcomes any ideas for them. Joe Maulucci >>> Accadia Electronic Arts AMIGA DTV & DTP BBS 1-716-882-1774
#92119From: Fred BerneyOct 8, 1994 6:52 PM
Joe, I have a Flyer on order. I guess we all do. However, until it arrives, the only way I have for playing animation is to use the 5 second anim files that are created by Lightwave on the 4000. Would I be able to use HFX in this same way until the Flyer arrives? Fred
#92143From: Joe MaulucciOct 8, 1994 10:45 PM
Fred, If you keep them down to 5 seconds, they should work like any LW anim. I believe that the Flyer will act like any single frame recorder, so HFX should be useful there. Some of the higher end NLEs let you preview an edit using a simple DVE moves (like the ones now on the toaster), when you have things the way you want, then your render out the higher resolution effect (like the way HFX does). I do not know if this is how the Flyer will run. Anyone? Joe Maulucci >>> Accadia Electronic Arts AMIGA DTV & DTP BBS 1-716-882-1774
#92316From: Fred BerneyOct 10, 1994 10:34 PM
Joe, Thanks for your reply. You answered my question about playing aniamtion created by HFX. From what NewTeks representatives have told me, the Flyer will handle rendering from Lightwave just as a single frame recorder would or the PAR system does. So, HFX would work fine with the Flyer. Your letting me know that a 5 second effect would playback in real time after rendering as an Anim file, is a big help, since it means that I could buy and use the program now until the Flyer arrives. Fred
#91898From: Joe lasenOct 4, 1994 9:37 PM
PMFJI, I got Hollywood FX and I find the major drawback is that you can't go in and tweak the scenefiles and fix the motion files, which are less than I expected. It works flawlessly with the PAR and granted the efects are set up well but the motions just don't hold up well enough to use. I mean, what do you say to a client, "Well thats it, take it or leave it." I think not. Joe Clasen Joe's DB&G
#91940From: Frank VanellaOct 5, 1994 11:11 AM
Fred, I found Hollywood FX to be very useful with my Lightwave PAR TBCIV combo. The plug and play simplicity is really nice. Although you can change certain global aspects of the animation (duration & render quality) I would have liked to see more flexibility in arrangement of objects and keyframes. With other LW front ends like Wavemaker you can open a saved scene file and tweek things, at some point there should be a version of Hollywood FX that allows the same thing, but not so in the current version. Frank