#Convert IFF to GIF
22 messages in this thread
Would like to be able to convert a few IFF24 "Framestores", to GIF
Files which can be used on a PC. Is there any program – or
preferably Library file – which has this ability ?
Regards, Hilary
Framestores aren't really IFF spec. They're a format similar in many
ways to IFF, but were created by Newtek for their Video Toaster
software. ImageFX 2.0 can translate these into any other format,
including GIF, easily.
Thank you Kermit for the info'.
Here's what I have in mind… and what is required.
1). Make a Framestore with the Amiga Toaster.
2). Take the Framestore and convert to GIF.
3). Transfer the GIF from an Amiga disk to a PC disk.
4). Give to client for viewing on his PC.
I do have the CrossDOS software to read and write on the Amiga. Do
suppose that there is just ONE formulation of GIF… and that the
idea will work. Any comment ?
All the best, Hilary
Hilary,
In your conversion process from IFF to GIF;
You will need to reduce the colors of the IFF (and therefore the file size) to
256 colors. This will require a product such as ADPRO. The GIF save capability
is a standard saver in ADPRO 2.0 and above.
Frank
PMFJI, but I upload Amiga gif files as email, and retrieve them on my IBM.
I save the Toaster files in Adpro as Gif by adjusting the render screen to
colormapped 256 colors.
Jim
Jaywal Productions, Inc.
I was not aware that the Amiga could produce GIF files of images. Let me into
the secret of how this is done. It may solve my present problem without much
fuss or frolic.
Regards, Hilary
Not only can Amigas produce GIF pics, but many other formats, as well.
OS3.x also allows Amigas to display GIF's and other formats direct.
If you just want to produce GIF's, you can use one of the image processors
for the Amiga.
-= Vance =- Image Master
Internet: viking@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Thanks fot your reply.
The problem is simple.
My clients want GIF pictures of 1.44Meg 3.5" floppies, which they can pop into
their PC's.
How do I get from Framestore and/or IFF24 to GIF on the Amiga ?
All the best, Hilary
If you have an Amiga image processing program, you can convert Framestores
and IFF24's to GIF with any of these top programs: Imagemaster R/t,
ImageFX, or The Art Department Professional.
I mentioned Imagemaster R/t first, because it is the least cost with the
most features. You can order a copy from DevWare for $70. If you only need
to convert for this one client, you can contact someone here to do the
conversions for you via c-mail user-to-user file transfers. You might
arrange to cover their dl'ing charges.
When they're finished, they send you the GIF's and you download to your
hard drive or directly to 1.44MB disks.
If you do make the conversions yourself, you need around 6 mb of ram or
virtual memory, because of the space that 24 bit pictures require.
-= Vance =- Image Master
Internet: viking@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Thanks for the info' Vance.
Had hoped that perhaps there was some sort of small program in our Library (or
in the Amiga Forums) to give the conversion a tryout.
I presume whatever program I use to do the job on an Amiga, I end up with a GIF
file on an Amiga high density floppy. Can one – the by the use of CrossDOS,
pop in a PC floppy and copy to it the one from the Amiga…. and do I presume
correctly, that I can then take the PC floppy… put it into a PC and see the
GIF image?
Correct me if I am wrong.
Regards, Hilary
I currently don't have an Amiga high density drive (horrors!). *8)
I haven't used CrossDOS to save to a PC high density floppy, so I couldn't
say how well it works. Theoretically, you should be able to, if you have a
HD Amiga drive to use with CrossDOS.
If you have the high density floppy drive, I would use Imagemaster R/t
(cheapest option) to convert the pics and save to CrossDOS's PC0:
(equivalent to the PC's drive A:).
To manually convert the Framestores, you just load the image and hit F2.
You'll be given a requester of file formats to save as. Just pic one and
make any adjustments to the filename you may like and save the file.
That's all. If you were doing this on a regular basis, you could make/use
an ARexx macro to automate the process completely for all of the pictures.
-= Vance =- Image Master
Internet: viking@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Thanks for all the trouble you are taking to advise me on this, Vance.
At the moment, most of my spending is in the direction of the PC – rather than
the Amiga. Unless things improve as regards the future for Amiga, it would
seem the prudent thing to look more closely at the PC…. as I just don't want
to be stuck again with a computer – that was good – but in the end did not make
the grade.
Will see what the New Year of 1995 brings.
All the best, Hilary
Hilary,
It's probably not necessary to write to high density floppies. Those
GIF files are smaller than 24 bit framestores. I do this all the
time. ADPRO converts the file to GIF (or PCX or BMP). CrossDOS writes
it onto a 720K pc format disk. You don't even have to specicially
copy the file from an Amiga disk to a PC disk. Just format a disk
with CROSSDOS and use the conversion program to write it out directly
to PC0: The clones 1.4 meg drive can easily read the 720 k format. I
have a BMP version of one of my Framestores loaded in as a backdrop
on my Windoze machine at work.
I transfer files all the time from my A4000 to the PC world and back.
The A4000s came with a high density drive and the floppy part of the
CrossDOS software is included with Amiga OS 2.1 and up.
Keep in mind that when you do name your files for PC it is generally
restricted to eight characters, a dot, and then a three character file
extension. EXS: BUFFALOS.GIF BFLO1645.TIF BFLOBILL.JPG
Hilary,
PMJI, I have extensively used IMR/t to create GIFs, BMPs and TIFFs for
transfers to Mac and PC systems and it works quite well.
As for the diskette: yes your assumption is correct, use CrossDOS to
write a IBM HD diskette. I have had some problems which may be due to
the cheap diskettes I was using, or the external HDD, the Amiga OS or
even CrossDos. Use good diskettes and I tend to stop multitasking
while writing to the HD disk (there may be a connection to how much
the computer is working and the incidence of read errors).
Also, if you have Photoshop you can use it to read Amiga IFF files.
Glad you think the CrossDOS procedure will work Andrew.
After Christmas… if my creditors are not hammering at my door, and I have a
few cents left… will think about a conversion program.
In the meantime, thanks to you and others for giving me some "steerage" with
the idea.
All the best, Hilary
Hilary,
As I suggested over in DeskTop Video Forum (GO DTVForum), purchase a program to
do the conversions. IM/RT, ImageFX, ADPro … all excellent. Personal opinion,
if you can't charge back to your client or are not paid enough for the purchase
(we're talking well under $100 for IM/RT), you don't have much of a client!
-sja
Thanks Steve.
Certainly after my VAST expenditures for Christmas, will take a look
at the conversion programs suggested.
As for my clients… please don't spoil my forthcoming holidays by
making me think of them. Even when I smile at them, they look at my
gold inlays… thinking how they can extract them from my mouth.
They are a mean bunch… sent by the Almighty to punish me for
selecting an Amiga… or something.
All the best, Hilary
Hilary,
I use Adpro for my conversions. I do 24 bit scans and gif or jpeg them
for transfer. Also Toaster Framestores and RGB files.
This has been available for a few years. ImageMaster also converts, but I
don't have it.
Oh yeah, the Amiga does it all. All the way to the Smithsonian??? But I
hope the caption reads, "The early Amiga, father of the computers in every
household in the world. It succeeded because of great design and users
who wouldn't let it die."
Adpro is now Elastic Reality Inc. and is in the vendor section, ready to
answer your questions, and ship your order.
Go for it.
Jim
Jaywal Productions, Inc.
GIF files are easily produced using ImageFX. Simply load any source image
you want, render it to 256 colors, save as GIF. ImageFX has many controls
for improving the GIF such as bi-directional dithering and error thresholds
that prevent the "patterned" look that other packages give.
Kermit Woodall
Nova Design, Inc.
After processing to GIF on an Amiga – can I ten transfer them – with the use of
CrossDOS (or similar) on to a PC 3.5" disk put into the Amiga ? Will they then
work of a PC?
Best regards, Hilary
I transfer ImageFX created GIFs to PCs all the time. Its very reliable and
easy. My 3000 handles double density and high density equally well, but the
GIFs are rarely so large as to require a high density drive.
Kermit Woodall
Nova Design, Inc.