#anim: mac?amiga?
13 messages in this thread
I've been looking at the right machine to get for animation to video,
want to do professional quality work and have best software for the price,
etc. Looking at Mac and Amiga. A recent Amiga magazine had an article
about Disney animators using Amigas (for stuff like the planes in TAIL
SPIN, etc.) and mentioned one animator working up a model in 3-D Sculpt on
his Amiga, then (somehow) finishing the work on his Mac II because of its
24-bit board and ability to find more houses that could output the file.
What the story doesn't explain and I don't understand is how he moved the
art from an Amiga software draw or paint program to the Mac!? Anyone know
how it can be done?
Story mentioned that the animator felt the Amiga had the best software
and was easiest for this kind of work. Also, an ad in same issue from
Disney Software, for an animator program for the Amiga.
In the case of the person doing the Sculpt 3D model, that's easy… The
Sculpt 3D program originally was developed on the Amiga, then ported to the
Mac. Since both versions use the same object format, he just moved the
file across and it worked. Sculpt 3D is less an Animation package than a
3D raytracing package.
If you want to do cel-style animation, then Disney Animation Studio is
supposed to be superb and easy to use, and there are a number of other
packages on the Amiga one can use.
A lot of your choices are going to depend on your precise needs, also. It
might not be a bad idea to find a local dealer willing to demo some of the
software.
–>Steve Bennett
I should add here that in this day the Mac may not be necessary, as there
is growing suppport for Amiga 24-bit graphics, allowing complete 24-bit
rendering with Amiga products.
awright! Now I just need to find someone who's doing what I want to do
(fullscale professional art and video output on an Amiga, got any idea
where I can start?
Don, I suggest as a start buzzing by the AmigaVend forum and checking into
the NewTek and Impulse message-sections. These companies make the
VideoToaster (NewTek) and the VD-1 and FireCracker (Impulse) video boards.
Mimetics has made a 24-bit board called the 'FrameBufer' for a couple years
now.
In the lower-end market, there is the HAM-E board by BlackBelt Systems
with a 256K palette and can even be made to work with alot of existing
graphics/animation programs. DCTV is put out by another company and has a
24-bit palette.
Also, ASDG's "The Art Department" software seems to have quickly become a
mainstay in conversion between various 24-bit (and many other) graphics
formats.
Not to be a pain in the rump or anything, but DCTV, like all of the other
composite NTSC efforts, does not, and will never, be able to display 24 bit
resolution. COmposite isn't capable of carrying that kind of precision.
Claims to that effect are bunk.
:^)
That goes for the Mimetics FrameBuffer, the Toaster, DCTV, and anything
really good like the FireCracker, ColorBurst, or HAM-E once you've stuffed
what _was_ a good signal thru the nasty auspices of a composite conversion.
S-VHS is much better, still not quite 24 bit.
Also, we use high performance dithering in our RGB 18 bit space to
represent a full 24 bits. Works great.
Ben
Amateur Radio Callsign is A A 7 A S
Well, you are being a pain in the rump! 🙂
No matter how much the conversion to composite degrades a picture, it's
gotta be done to get it on videotape and you might as well start with the
best picture possible (within practical limits). Do I think using 24 bit
graphics for composite output is overkill? Yes, I do, but that's what some
people think they require. Would I recommend a HAM-E over a DCTV? From the
specs, in most cases, yes. But comparing those two to the likes of the
FireCracker is an Apples/Oranges matter.
I am just trying to make it clear that there is a range of graphics
hardware options for the Amiga, and aquiring a Mac-II to display
Amiga-generated images isn't a very good choice anymore.
Uh… comparing the HAM-E to the FireCracker is more like different flavors
of Apples, at least for the "stock" version of the FireCracker. The HAM-E
is a great deal faster than the FireCracker, from what I have heard so far
– though (I would think) the FireCracker times may have been render
times… ???
The FireCracker is what – 512×480, compared to 384×480 and soon to be
768×480 for a HAM-E…
We do render in an 18 bit space, but we dither to 24 bits accuracy. You
have to see what that accomplishes to really get an idea, but obviously, it
extends the resolution. It turns out that you can extend all the way to 24
bits – and the dither (being in 18 bit pixels) is too subtle to see without
nailing your eye to a monitor with the contrast turned all the way up.
A good HAM-E pix is quite something to see.
Another thing is that the HAM-E is able to use a good deal of the current
technology; we can do std ANIM type animations, color cycling, page
flipping animations – all those things that are either extremely rough or
impossible for the FireCracker.
Now the price… :^) Well, there, you have crabapples and mandarin oranges.
:^))))
Ben
Amateur Radio Callsign is A A 7 A S
I agree with alot of what you say, but some people require a certain degree
of resolution and full 24-bit color, and will trade-off realtime animation
AND pay more to get it.
Others (most, I think) would rather stick with realtime animation and pay
less (using up less of your time and money).
It sounds like HAM-E's resolution will be increased, from your statement.
Can you fill us in on a few details?
Time frame is January February or so. Output horizontal pixel resolution
will go to 640, 768 in overscan. This is a 100% compatible upgrade for
buyers of current units, and the cost for the upgrade will be _exactly_
what the difference between the current HAM-E price is to the new, higher
resolution HAM-E price. Memory loading is identical, and previously
generated HAM-E images will have an additional 320/384 pixels "synthesized"
by the hardware automatically, actually a hardware form of 24 bit
anti-aliasing.
The upgrade is currently planned to be installable at Black Belt only, but
there will not be a charge for this service. The upgrade includes a new
type of power supply to handle the extra current requirements of the new
circuitry.
We will see who requires what, I guess. :^)
Ben
Amateur Radio Callsign is A A 7 A S
Christopher;
Yes composite degrades pristine RGB 24 bit video, however, not in the
same ways as less than 24 bit schemes. The result is unaceptable
quantizing errors and severe color distortion in subtle shading situations.
All our graphics originate in full 24 bit, with the exception of Amiga real
time color cycles and reveals which are keyed in behind 24 bit stuff done
on high end systems.
Keith
You could try calling Amigination in NYC,they are a Amiga only store plus
they Do lotsa video work and support a club at the School for Visual Arts
called Amuse,which meets twice a month and has a Demo of the Totally
awesome NewTek Video Toaster Dec 11.Unfortunately I only have there BBS #
handy 1-212-727-3294 or Voice(guess I was wrong) 1-212-727-3290
Well Bro if ya get the Newtek Video Toaster it has 2 24 bit frame
buffers,but to do animation to video ya need a VTR capable of recording
single frame at a time. s