CompuServe Thread

#hicolor player Targa

16 messages in this thread
#80921From: Ron GrantFeb 3, 1994 5:15 AM
Hello, I am a 3DS/Targa user/developer who has written a Targa animation recorder/player to allow viewing/VCR-recording animation clips. Frame rates as high as 30 fps full screen with limited motion, i.e. small or slow object motion with generally static camera. None of the hi-color players appear to support output to a Targa Board. Including most recently (DTA208.ZIP and HCMAKE.ZIP/HCPLAY.ZIP). o Input 24-Bit Targa compressed/uncompressed files (NameNNNN.TGA) o Output hicolor (15bpp) compressed image file DGM (Delta Graphics (Movie format) -> player loads in XMS for play to Targa o Variable resolution & Display Modes, both up to 720×486 o Command line interface o Limited support for a remote pause VCR control for clip assembly o Also 32 bit in/out version for live animation (w/alpha) over video Please REPLY here,email or by phone if you are interested,have suggestions, or know of any product that is competitive. This will help coax me into packaging the program for distribution. Thanks! Ron Grant – Delta Graphics (214) 252-8760
#81123From: John TissavaryFeb 3, 1994 8:09 PM
I don't have any suggestions =(, but wish you the best. It sounds like it'll be a very usefull product when you get it done!
#81331From: Ron GrantFeb 4, 1994 3:09 PM
John, Thanks for the encouraging words. I have enjoyed being able to get some fairly decent animation to video tape. I have about 50 clips of 60 to 280 frames sitting out on disk right now and they can all be pumped out to my VCR in a matter of minutes – and I don't need any of that messy equipment – single frame decks, PARs, MAXs,… But then if everyting you do requires dynamic cameras flying around in complex scenes at 30fps full-screen, DGM-Targa, would not be for you. Ron – Delta Graphics.
#81208From: MARTIN G FOSTERFeb 4, 1994 3:49 AM
Ron, I'd be interested in it – providing it worked with the targa+ 16/32.
#81330From: Ron GrantFeb 4, 1994 3:09 PM
Martin, Yes, the Targa player (DGMPLAY) works with Targa+ 16/32. I am using a Targa+ 64 for development, but only using one page of graphics (1MB of VRAM when in 32bpp mode) at present. Thanks for your reply – Ron.
#81349From: Fred W. HeidingsfelderFeb 4, 1994 4:30 PM
Ron, I'm confused, is this a program that is available now or are you asking for support in developing it. If it exists where can I get a copy to try, if you are developing it, keep at it and let us know when we can try it. Fred
#81473From: Ron GrantFeb 5, 1994 8:06 AM
Fred, Thanks for posting your "I'd like to try it" vote. My Targa player is not available yet, but it is not Vapor, I promise! I am interested in knowing if anyone has seen or is using anything like what I described in the root of this thread. As far as my own experience with playing animation on the Targa: I started out using Videotex's TTOOLS (a nice collection of Targa command line utilities) to playback animation from numbered Targa files stored on RAM Disk, but the performace was unacceptable in any window larger than about 1/8 of the screen. Also, having to keep bunches of numbered TGA files around is really messy and disk space consuming! Ron.
#81488From: Jim PopeFeb 5, 1994 11:11 AM
Any thoughts of adding a Matrox Illuminator PRO to your supported boards? One might be made available for a limited time. Let me know. JP
#81798From: Ron GrantFeb 7, 1994 4:15 AM
Jim, RE: DGM-Targa Yes,I would consider supporting the Illuminator Pro, but I think it best to see how the Targa version is received. Do you know anyone with technical information on the Illuminator? Matrox wants $600 for their dev. kit which I find prohibitive in my current state. I am curious – How fast is the illuminator Pro, e.g. how fast can you load full-screen images from RAM disk? What is your platform? My Targa system (486-60) will do 3 fps for a 512x486x16 "image load". The movie playback frame rates are as high as 30 fps for 512x486x16 with limited scene motion, i.e. 30 fps with 10% pixels changing frame to frame. Thanks for your offer & interest. Ron Grant – Delta Graphics
#82082From: Jim PopeFeb 7, 1994 11:41 PM
I am not sure of the speed, I think we could find out though, but since the Illuminator Pro is the device used by MAX, I would assume that the speed is a minimal issue. I have a copy of the DOS developers kit for Illuminator Pro, Just gathering dust, would consider providing it in return for some level of rights to Illuminator version/ or it's distribution. Think about it. Jim Pope
#82113From: John TissavaryFeb 8, 1994 1:40 AM
I think your Targa+ flic viewer will be VERY well recieved if it can play back flics useably. John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
#82398From: Ron GrantFeb 8, 1994 9:42 PM
John, Thanks. Just to make one point clear that DGM-Targa compiles a numbered series of Targa files into its own .DGM "flic" file format for playback to the Targa. Ron.
#82487From: merlin farmerFeb 9, 1994 4:53 AM
Ron, Saw your message and I am interested in the TARGA player, can you give me some info on where to find it? Merlin G. Farmer
#82776From: Ron GrantFeb 10, 1994 6:48 AM
Merlin, DGM-Targa is not available yet. Give me about a week and you will find a message posted in the "What's New" message section. The file will be placed in the "What's New" library (#9 I think.) Ron
#81527From: DONALD NEWLANDSFeb 5, 1994 3:31 PM
Ron, Sounds like a really useful product for Targa users! Please let me know when you finish, I also would really like to try it!
#82135From: Conrad StolzeFeb 8, 1994 2:04 AM
Ron, I must have lost some earlier threads regarding your program. What is your program capable of doing and when do you expect it to be completed. CS