CompuServe Thread

#ImageMaster Upset!

11 messages in this thread
#185789From: Hilary SzymanowskiFeb 17, 1995 6:36 PM
Two days ao I bought the ImageMaster R/T Software. Reason was to be able to use it to touch up IFF24 and Toaster framestores. It arrived MINUS any instructions or manual. Just a terse message to let me know that there was no manual…. as the program was constantly changing. Probably what is happening is that Black Belt Systems (who make the thing), ran out of Manuals…. and just wanted to dump the sets of disks as quickly as possible – due to Amiga's death. There is no Tutorial. One does just has to grope around. After 24 hours of this annoyance, I am no further nearer understanding it than when I started. Does anyone have a book, manual or printed text that they could lend me? Regards, Hilary.
#185790From: Steve AhlstromFeb 17, 1995 6:39 PM
There is no manual, never has been. If you install the program try hitting the help key … there is full online documentation. You could have tried directly asking Black Belt about it also in there section in AmigaVendor Forum.
#185795From: Hilary SzymanowskiFeb 17, 1995 7:39 PM
Thank you for a very prompt reply Steve. No sooner had I put my grumbles on to CIS… then back it came. The main problem is that I usually like to know what I am trying to do BEFORE I try and do it…. not during the hassle with the program. Thus I am completely lost when the unexpected happens. The bits of paper provided with the desks did mention a TUTORIAL. I have searched for this… but alas cannot find it. Is there such a thing? Hilary.
#185848From: Hilary SzymanowskiFeb 18, 1995 9:52 AM
Steve… a further question. Having nearly now worn out the HELP key in fumbling around with the ImageMaster R/T… one main thing defeats me. That is the SIZE of the picture. These pictures come from "Montage" working with the Toaster. Their ultimate use is backgrounds for titles. I get the pix' OK, fiddle around with them and save the results. When I try and use them back on "Montage" I find that threy will NOT fully fill the screen. They are like posters on a wall – with a blank surrounding area. As I am a simple old man, can you – or any other expert in Black Belt techniques, let me into the mystery of just HOW I can make my lovely pictures fill the screen, so that they can compete for an Oscar ? At such a point…. my blessings will flow to you (and any other informants). Hilary.
#185859From: Steve AhlstromFeb 18, 1995 11:35 AM
You might post your questions to Black Belts Systems in their support section in AmigaVendor Forum.
#185964From: Hilary SzymanowskiFeb 19, 1995 8:11 AM
Thank you Steve. I have already done so. No doubt their advice will allow me to give the necessary Karate chop… to the program. Regards, Hilary.
#186098From: Stephen SponagleFeb 20, 1995 11:54 AM
Hilary, What no one seems to be answering for you is that Imagemaster automatically resizes an image to almost fill the screen. This is so you can "See the whole picture". So, even if your image was postage stamp size or billboard size you are going to see the whole thing on your screen. Of course you can use the zoom to work on a smaller area of your image. Internally, IM is not resizing your image, you are just seeing it blown up or shrunken down. Everything you apply to the image is performed at the image's size and resolution, except, of course, scaling. Good Luck with it. Postscript: Ahh!!! After reading more of this conversation, I think I know what your problem is… Don't try to get a full screen/overscan image from within Imagemaster, just do the things you want to do to your image, save it, then go back to the program that originally made the image and load it and display it from there! IM will always (as far as I know) display your image with a border around it. -Steve
#186108From: Hilary SzymanowskiFeb 20, 1995 1:25 PM
Thanks Stephen. This morning got a very explicit… "Do this… and then do that" set of instructions from the good John Bennett. Have printed them out… will go to the studio and confront the beast lurking inside ImageMaster. If my next outpouring is sweet and gentle, you will know that at least I have made just a tny bit of progress… If not… well I hate to think what will happen! All the best, Hilary.
#185915From: Hank DuckmanFeb 18, 1995 6:58 PM
Hilary; You might try "Set image aspect and DPI" in the Clipping subsection of the Process section. You can scale your image, or any part of it,and adjust the resolution of your image, or any part of it. Before clicking on the "Set image…", select the top button for whole image. As you move your cursor over the top button controls, a readout (I think it's on the bottom of the screen) will tell you what the button's for. Hank
#185971From: Hilary SzymanowskiFeb 19, 1995 9:36 AM
Thank you VERY much Hank. Your suggestions were the first that I have read which I think (and hope) I can understand. One big question. Does one set the size of the picture in the IM R/T…. BEFORE loading a picture into ImageMaster? Up to now I have first been loading the picture and THEN been trying to re-size it, needless to say without any success? Another question…. Once one has the pix inside IM R/T…. have fiddled with it, and then want to save for use within Montage/Toaster, do you have to again adjust the size before saving, or does the original pix …. which hopefully you have already re-sized on entry… still remain in its full screen glory? The bits of paper which came with the 7 disks mention a Tutorial. Cannot find same… even looking thru' the files of the program. Have I missed something? Again, thanks for your help. Hilary.
#186041From: Hank DuckmanFeb 19, 1995 9:08 PM
Hilary; There is no need to set the image size before loading. The "set up" panel controls your display parameters-how you see your graphic on the IM/RT screen while working on it. The important parameter is that for saving your graphic after you have processed it. Once you lload your graphic file into IM/RT, click on info, in the opening panel and check your imsge size. After you process it, before saving, you can repeat this to assure yourself you are working with the same size image. Assuming you are working with 24-bit ilbm files, if you click on file i/o after processing your graphic, and save it as 24 bit ilbm, you should get eaxactly the same size file as you put in (assuming you have not purposely changed the size while working on it). There are only 2 tutorials and they are both for morphing. They are accessed in the index of the Help files. Hank