Lets get this going!
13 messages in this thread
It looks as if I have the honor of being the first to post a message here.
I welcome discussions relating to use of the OpalVision card (OpalPaint
etc.), the Video Processor card (if it ever really ships), animation using
Brilliance!, Imagine, and the PAR card.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
Hi Jim,
Just so you know the Video Processor card is real and should be shipping
to end-users any time now. We are beta-testing one now. I haven't had a
chance to play around with the OpalVision system, as much as I would have
liked to, yet.
What sort of animation are you doing know with Imagine, Brilliance and the
PAR board. I imagine (no pun intended) that you might be able to do some
pretty neat stuff. I am especially interested in your usage of Brilliance
for 2D animation and any tricks, tips, or traps you may have in using it
with the PAR board. Do you have a TBC-IV and get into rotoscoping at all?
-John
John,
I have an Opalvision Main Board and am waiting for my card instructing my
to send in my board for the mounting of the VP card an chip. I received a
letter from Centaur a while back stating that my order was one that would
receive the board from the first batch produced.
I use the programs mentioned to animate logos and characters (cartoons).
Mostly logos though. My company has been in business since 1989 (using
Amigas). 🙂 I have 8 Telly Awards for my work, six Bronze and two
silver.
Most of my work appears on Cable TV spots but a few aired on the networks
out of NYC. One animation was also imported to Europe and one went
nationwide.
I use the PAR/TBC-IV for image grabing and the PAR for playback of
Brilliance animations that slow down the 4000 below 30 fps. I also render
Imagine animations to the PAR. I output to 3/4" U-Matic, SVHS and HI-8.
I can not brag about Brilliance enough. I used DPaint till Brilliance came
out and believe Brilliance is light years ahead of DPaint. I just wish
that TrueBrilliance had a gadget for saving an animation out to 24-bit
files in sequence since it keeps them that way in its' buffer. I have to
convert Brilliance created animations for both 256 color and HAM-8
animations to 24-bit files for the PAR to accept them. This is time
consuming, I have asked DPS to write into their software, conversions for
these instead of just 24-bit but my request came upon deaf ears.
I have not done any rotoscoping other than expermental, you know the
story, so may ideas, so little time, especially since I only do this part
time. Alas, I wish it would pay all my bills. I must have my toys you
know.
I have a Warp 040/40 and a NEC 3X CD-ROM on order and hope to have them by
the end of the week. This way I won't have to load in 60 disks when the VP
finally comes in.
I am also working on a background video for the videographers out there
that don't have enough time or the equipment to do it.
Isn't OpalPaint great! The producers that see it can't believe that it
costs so little. In the other platform world, you'd pay that price or more
for just the software.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
Jim,
It's great to here from someone that is so productive with his tools. I
am sure that the Gold Telly Award is just a matter of time away. What is
a Telly award, anyway. Is it given by an Advertising Production or Cable
Association, if so which?
Brilliance got a bad knock in its initial release, what with the dongle
and all, so I am just getting to play with it more and more. I have never
been very artsie, so I really need the features provided by programs like
Brilliance.
I have installed a number of WARP 040s so If you have any questions or
problems don't hesitate to ask. You are really going to get a kick out of
the speed increase in Imagine and Brilliance…
Have you had any thoughts about getting the Stand-Alone version of
Lightwave or do you still love Imagine too much? I have used a number of
Amiga based 3D modeling and animation systems over the years, including
Imagine, but the only one that _I_ was ever actually able to get something
pretty done in was LightWave. There must be something special about it, I
figure.
-John
The Silver Telly is their highest award, I guess they can not afford gold.
:')
The Telly awards are "A national competition honoring Non-Broadcast
Television Commercials and Programs, and Non-Broadcast Video and Film
Productions." 1994 was their 15th year, there were 7,913 entries this
year. The entrants list reads like a who's who in the advertising and
production business. ie: Harpo Productions (Oprah Winfrey Show), MTV, Grey
Advertising, Sony, Buena Vista Television, Paramount TV, PIXAR, etc..
The Telly awards are an entity within itself and not run by an ad agency
or association.
I have never tried Lightwave so I don't know if I would like it better or
not. I have been with Imagine since it was known as Silver.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
James,
Hah! That sounds like quite the accomplishment then! Thanks for
filling me in as to what a Telly is!
Lightwave has converted some pretty die-hard Imagine fans with its
lay-out and animating interface. Many of them still prefer Imagine for
Modeling, however I think Lightwave Modeler is beginning to catch up.
-John
If business is good in '95 I'll check LW out. I just purchased a Warp
4040, a NEC 3X CD-ROM and an additional 8 megs of RAM so the business
checkbook is a little low right now.
Jim R. Ollick on a Warped 4000/040/40
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
James,
A Warp 40/40 really speeds things up … from 75% to 400%+ on a 4000 (assuming
you add fast onboard ram) depending on what you're doing. However, you may want
to consider getting a slot fan or some other method of keeping your machine
cool — the Warp runs very hot and without proper ventilation you will
experience frequent thermal shutdowns.
-sja
ARGH! I have 3 slots filled and I would Imagine that the Opal Video
Processor will block the one I have left. I had Micro R&D upgrade my power
supply to a 300 Watt supply, at that time they also replaces the fan. I
think the new fan has a higher cfm rating, so I hope it helps. I used to
cook breakfast on my '040. :') With the new supply/fan setup and keeping
the computer elevated allowing air to circulate under it, the top of the
case just gets warm, not very hot as it used to. I'll have to keep my
fingers crossed I guess. If I experience Thermal shotdowns, I'll have to
do someting about it.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
I received the WARP yesterday and installed it. Unfortunately the 12 megs
of RAM I had was mixed: 4 megs at 80ns, 4 at 70 and 4 at 60. I put the 70
and 80ns simms on the WARP and set it for one wait state. I'll have to get
more 60ns simms and sell the 70 and 80ns simms in order to experience all
the speed the WARP can produce. I used to get 16 mips and now I get 24.4
mips.
As far as heat goes, we'll just have to see what happens.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
PMFJI but haven't the Opal folks been saying RSN for about 2 years now?
Peter,
Yup, they have. But… I think that there is a big difference between RSN
to everyone and RSN to non-dealers/beta-testers. Like I say, we have a
physical product and I believe that they are going to ship this product to
end-users, RSN. (sorry, couldn't resist).
-John
ps. Keep in mind, these guys want to make money…
John, EVERYBODY wants to make $$$ 🙂
I hope the units ARE released and do well. I just wish companies would
define THEIR idea of RSN to us mere mortals. My idea of RSN is under 3
months. To others it seems 2 Years is RSN