#Film Recorders
8 messages in this thread
Has anyone here had any success with film recorders? We're interesting in
purchasing one for our presentation work, but want to make sure it will
work with AutoCAD. We would like to output SLD and RND files to slide
format. Although there is a service here in town, I have to go through a
long series of translations to get it to Targa Format (or SCODL, but who
can do that!).
I'm hopeful that someone here in the Forum has one which they can recommend
as definitely working with AutoCAD. To head off some of the replies, we DO
NOT want to use a hood and photograph the screen. Preferably we would like
a digital film recorder, though we'll consider an analog. I have read that
the digital FRs will give a better image (4000 + lines). Any help or tips
would be greatly appreciated.
Brian Boatright
Brian – fling a message at David Cohn. Cadalyst reviewed film recorders a
while back and he was on the forum not long ago recommending a favourite.
Dave
Thanks, Dave, I'll be flinging shortly. Brian.
Brian,
You should only need to go through 1 translation to get to Targa
format (which would likely be best for .RND files), using Hijaak.
Similarly, you can use Hijaak to convert HPGL or DXF. In either instance,
an Agfa Matrix film recorder is suitable, as is the Lasergraphics
recorders.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Thanks, Kevin. I'll investigate a little further — I had heard good
reports about Hijaak, too. Brian.
Brian:
As David Byrnes mentions, fling me any questions you might have. I reviewed
several film recorders in the September '91 issue of CADalyst. I also
reviewed several others a couple of years before that. Personally, I've got
a Lasergraphics LFR Plus sitting here and have managed to record just about
any graphic format that an Autodesk product is capable of producing,
although it sometimes takes a couple of steps to get it into the right
format.
As Kevin mentions, if you can get it into Targa format, you're home free.
The LFR accepts Targa, LL, and HPGL as native formats. I normally use HiJaak
to do most of my conversions, although I keep copies of Import, Metafile,
and VPIC around for when I need them.
You definitely want to go digital rather than analog. Then it's just a
matter of how much money you want to spend. There are units starting as low
as $4K. The LFR is up around $14K. The less expensive units work just fine
and produce pretty good results. But you can really see the difference
between say a Polaroid Palette and an LFR Plus.
David
PS. Don't let David Byrnes give you a hard time about the "W"…but he's
right (uh, wright) you know <g>.
Thanks, David. I'll dig around for my September issue. And I'll also look
into buying Hijaak, which seems to be the most well-rounded program of its
type.
Brian Boatwright <g>