#Following Letters Effect
17 messages in this thread
Hello Steven, and all,
I enjoyed playing around with the effect you outlined in 3DS Special
Effects. Very informative. I am just beginning to scratch the surface
regarding the use of paths, it seems.
After customizing the .prj file I decided to render to disk, for later
transfer to tape. I rendered backwards from 2756 to 0 by increments of -12, as
suggested. I rendered as .TGA files. So now I have GLOB0008.TGA,
GLOB0020.TGA, …. GLOB2756.TGA.
I have tried all kinds of ways to have Video Post recognize this sequence
of frames, but am having no luck. I must be missing something obvious.
I have tried putting GLOB*.TGA in the queue, then experimenting with all
manner of ranges in the rendering dialog box, ranges for Video Post, and such.
For example, Video Post sees 227 frames, I believe. But I can't get it to
render frame 226, or frame 2756 for that matter. I am stumped. I know I can
render a flic, then go to tape, or just render to tape, but I want to save the
TGA's. How can I get these to tape in "backwards" order? Is there an easy way
to rename them 0000 to 0226?
All my map-paths are OK, and the TGA's are fine.
Paul S.
Paul:
PMJI, but I ran into a similar problem recently. I had about 300 files
rendered at every 15th frame in reverse order. There is probably an easier way
that the more experienced users know, but here is what here is what I did to
create a batch file that would rename all the files for me to get them numbered
0000, 0001, etc.:
1. Used DIR and piped the file list to a text file.
2. Imported the file into Microsoft Excel 5.0 and deleted all but the file
name and extension columns.
3. Used the AutoFill feature to quickly add columns for new file names, the
REN command, etc.
4. Imported the Excel file into Word 6.0 (comma delimited, I think) and used
Search and Replace a couple of times to remove or replace commas and
spaces, etc.
The whole process took about ten minutes if I remember correctly, and although
it wasn't exactly pretty, it worked perfectly the first time (one of the few
times in my life _that_ has ever happened <g>)!
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info. I don't own Excel or Word, but perhaps some of my
wordprocessing software has similar features. I ended up doing an .ifl by
hand. It took a loooong time.
Paul S.
Paul;
A quick and easy way to create an .IFL that works is this:
dir *.tga /on /b >name.ifl
the /on command orders the files by number, the /b command makes it so that
only the file names show up, no dates or sizes, the > directs the results into
a file.
Give it a try and let me know how this works for you.
Zac (AZ-TECH)
Berkeley
Thanks for the .ifl info. My project is done, and I don't have time to go
back and try your advice, but I filed it for future reference. I was shown one
solution which involved the 3ds.set file's n-th frame setting.
Paul S.
Paul;
Yes I know the trick w/ the Nth setting in the 3DS.set file, but usually I
like to keep the file numbers equal to that within the Project file. It makes
it easier to find glitches or just to know the intervals that you rendered.
Anyway, glad you got through you project.
Zac (AZ-TECH)
Berkeley
Hi Paul,
<< I have tried putting GLOB*.TGA in the queue, then experimenting with all
manner of ranges in the rendering dialog box, ranges for Video Post, and such.
>>
Look up *.ifl (image file lists) in the 3ds Ref Manual and type "makeifl" at
the dos prompt in the 3ds directory. This may be what you are looking for.
jonas[adesk]
Hi Jonas,
I ended making an .ifl by hand last night. It took a long time (300
frames). I used MAKEIFL today, creating an .ifl from frame 2756 to 0. I then
rendered the .ifl in Video Post from 0 to 2756 by 12. Looked like it was
working fine. Thanks! NRN
Paul S.
Hi Paul,
Even if you check out using IFL's as Jonas suggested; you should look at your
3DS.SET file and examine the line NTH-SERIAL=OFF. If you change this line to
NTH-SERIAL=ON then your TGA's will be saved with sequential numbers regardless
of the Nth setting at render time.
Steven
Hi Steven,
>> 3DS.SET file and examine the line NTH-SERIAL=OFF… <<
Found it! I remember seeing it before. One of those many items that I
don't understand the usefullness for upon first look… <g> Thanks for the tip
and the nice effect.
Paul S.
PMJI
I have found Bridge Tools from Softbridge to be incredibly useful for
automating all kinds of tasks involving large numbers of numbered
files. Renaming files as in your example would be easy with this program as
well as all kinds of other things.
>> Bridge Tools from Softbridge… <<
Thanks for the info.
Paul S.
Create an ifl file. Read up on them in the manual.
dir glob*.tga >glob.ifl /on/b
This will create glob.ifl; load this ifl in VP or as a background.
dir glob*.tga >glob.ifl /o-n/b
This lists the same sequence in reverse.
Plus there's also a routine, MAKIFL.EXE, that comes w/ 3DS(???? not sure) or
can be found in the libraries that does the same as above.
Plus, plus there's a whole set of routines by John Ellis here in the libraries
that perform various name manipulations to sequences of files. The name of the
.zip file….???? Help!
Hi Wade,
<< the name….?>>
File Info for 3DSUTI.ZIP
Section: HWare/OpSys/Video Contributor: 72440,3046 Size: 284426
Submitted: 4/12/94 Type: Binary Accesses: 156
Title: 3DSUTI.ZIP TARGA IMAGES UTILITIES
Keys: TARGA UTILITIES NUMBERING IMAGES
Updated 3DSUTI.ZIP. Ten programs for use with Targa files,: COPY3DS,
DEL3DS, REN3DS, SHOW3DS, SHIFT3DS, IFLGEN, DUMMY, ADD03DS, DEL03DS.
The programs help you manage 3D Studio-generated Targa files which
have leading zeros. The ADD03DS and DEL03DS programs add leading
zeros and delete leading zeros from sequentially numbered files. The
names imply their function with a self explanatory dialog on
activation of the particular program. Check them out, they are great
time savers!
(Approximate download time at 2400 bps using CIS B: 18:00)
Bingo and Happy New Year.
Thanks for the info.
Paul S.
No problemo.