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Autodesk Multimedia Forum · Hware/OpSys/video

#RAZOR PRO/PAR users

14 messages in this thread

#152540From: alec jasonFeb 12, 1995 3:56 AM

Don, I thought you might understand this: When I create a targa image in Photoshop, I specify the 752×480 size. But when I bring that targa into the PAR, it appears to have the wrong aspect ratio. I tried it with a circle, and the circle clearly looks stretched vertically. If I change the image size in Photoshop to 752×400, the aspect ratio will then appear correct but the image will not fill the TV monitor screen. Any idea what I'm missing in all this? Thanks, Alec Jason

#152543From: Gus GrubbaFeb 12, 1995 5:48 AM

Regardless what resolution you use in Photoshop, it will always have a square aspect ratio (1.00). This is because the screen you use has a 1.0 aspect ratio (640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, etc.). The only way to have the PAR a/r would be to have the image displayed on the PAR monitor (won't do). I don't know Photoshop well enough to know if it allows you to specify the aspect ratio of an image. I guess not as Photoshop wasn't meant to do video. Even that would be weird as if it tried to keep the aspect ratio right in both scenarios (in your VGA while you work and on the PAR once you save) it would be a tricky thing. Because the PAR is "wider" than you VGA, it would have to scale up the image horizontally introducing artifacts in the process. What you can do is work with a larger buffer, say 1024×660 and when you're done, shrink it down to 752×480 (make sure the "keep aspect ratio" is off). That way you are working with a 1.0 a/r and when you scale down to 752×480, you will be reducing the aspect ratio to match the PAR's.

#152603From: Don LandisFeb 12, 1995 1:44 PM

Gus: Good idea but I've tried this and it introduces other problems when rescaling the pixel count on TC art work such as interpolation artifacts, aliasing etc.. Also, Photoshop is not able to convert AR's. The only way I found to do this is to physically change the AR on the VGA monitor. This is easily accomplished by adjusting the height and/or width of the screen raster. See my response to Alec.

#152644From: alec jasonFeb 12, 1995 6:11 PM

Thanks Gus, I now understand the problem and I'm going to try Don's fix. BTW, I'm now using the 1.5 version of the Par software. I can't discern any difference between the v1.34 and this new one — other than the screen graphics. But one annoying thing keeps occuring. Each time I quit the Par, it reverts back to "targa" mode so when I get into windows and then try to use Razor, it will not see any .ani files. I have to run the "pardrv.exe /p" to kick it back into .ani mode. Is there any way to keep the .ani mode automatically? I tried adding the "/p" to the pardrv line in my batch file but it doesn't work. Thanks, Alec Jason

#152674From: Gus GrubbaFeb 12, 1995 10:29 PM

I don't know. I haven't seen 1.5 yet. There should be a Windows tool to change the PAR parameters. I don't know if DPS has one. I wrote one myself over a year ago (for my own use). I will go back and see if I can find it.

#152693From: Mike MorganFeb 13, 1995 12:11 AM

>>PMJI Alec, I noticed your comment about the new 1.5 PAR software >>it reverts back to the "targa " mode<< I came upon this same problem and discovered that the new install of the PAR software defaulted the EXPORT mode to "targa". All you have to do is change this in the software and exit. This will write it in the Par.ini file and you should be set. The only changes I have noticed is a few more settings are saved correctly in the PAR.INI file (i.e. files filter, path now shows correct drive and path upon startup of the software) and a new feature called PLAY-N-GRAB. Don't forget about PARSET.EXE for windows this works great for a quick update on the PAR. Hope this helps!! Mike Morgan, CAD Forms Inc.

#152702From: alec jasonFeb 13, 1995 2:07 AM

Hi Mike, Thanks for your suggestion. You were quite right. A simple fix when you know what's happening. Thanks, Alec Jason

#152775From: Mike MorganFeb 13, 1995 11:13 AM

No problem, Glad to help. –Mike

#152556From: Don LandisFeb 12, 1995 7:56 AM

>>Any idea what I'm missing in all this? Yes, the aspect ratio is 0.851 for the PAR at 752×480 and for your computer screen it is 1.0. Sorry, but if you want to create graphics in Photoshop on your computer screen with 1.0 pixel AR and display them on the PAR 0.851 AR you will have to create them with stretched circles. I'm sure you would like my simple work around: Since it is not possible to just adjust the pixel count and still properly fill the NTSC screen you have to solve the problem using a more direct approach. Most computer monitors have height and width adjustments. Shoot a test frame of a circle with a video camera and frame grab it in the PAR. Take this frame into Photoshop and adjust the AR of your monitor and now when you design in photoshop your pixels will no longer be square on the monitor but the right AR for the PAR. Now size the area to be 752X480. This is how I do it.

#152643From: alec jasonFeb 12, 1995 6:10 PM

Thanks Don, Once again you have already encountered the problem and found a fix. But I sure wish there was a cleaner way to do this. Thanks again, Alec Jason

#154043From: Rich MathewsFeb 18, 1995 9:06 AM

Sorry to change the subject a little. But are you reading and writing to the PAR from Photoshop? I have been only able to read from the PAR. I get an unknown device or my Windows locks when I try to write. Any suggestions? Rich…

#154264From: alec jasonFeb 19, 1995 3:40 PM

<< Are you reading and writing to the PAR from Photoshop? >> No, no. I just save the images as .tgas and then import them into the PAR. Alec Jason

#154706From: David McLaughlinFeb 21, 1995 1:06 PM

Try increaseing your buffer size for the PAR driver, as per page 109 of your manual. This will eliminate the GPF 's in Windows when saving to the PAR from Photoshop. David McLaughlin Mill Valley Ca.

#155683From: Rich MathewsFeb 25, 1995 7:34 PM

Thanks David!! I will give it a try. I thought I already increased the buffer size but I will check. I've been making alot of changes to my .bat files. Rich….