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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

65.0. "Deluxe Video" by HYSTER::DEARBORN (The One to Watch <>) Mon Jul 14 1986 18:14

Deluxe Video offers some interesting alternatives to Aegis 
Animator.  It uses a 'video spreadsheet' for laying out animation 
sequences.  It allows you to use sampled sound effects and music. 
It runs in med-res, limiting your palette to 16 colors.  It has a 
built-in translator for lo-res Deluxe Paint images.  It has 
countless built in visual effects, and is pretty easy to use.

What it doesn't have is smooth animation.  The larger the image, 
or the more pieces on the screen at once--the bigger the jumps in 
movement.  It takes a lot of work to get the animation smooth.  
And just like Aegis Animator, it can get 'crash happy.'  The 
moral of the story is to keep saving your work, as you create it.

I have had a lot of fun working with it.  I can't wait for 
Genlock so that I can overlay this stuff on video footage.  Once 
again, Electronic Arts has done their homework pretty well.  
There are three disks in the package, and only one is copy 
protected.  This allows you to send copies of your finished 
animations to other people to play back, without having to send 
them your master disk.  The master disk is used to create the 
animations, but is not needed for playback.

If you are looking for an animation alternative to Aegis 
Animator, this is it.  It's not perfect, but it's got a lot going 
for it.

Randy
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
65.1More thoughts, one week later...HYSTER::DEARBORNThe One to Watch <>Tue Jul 22 1986 16:5225
    The more I use it, the more I like it.  There are so many different
    'things' built into this program.  Every time I work with it, I
    discover something new.  One of the drawbacks is how it uses up
    memory.  This seems to be unpredictable.  At least it warns you
    when things are getting tight and gives you some options.  It does
    crash from time to time.  This usually happens when you are using
    the pull down menus.  If you use them too quickly, it will lock
    up.  Always allow the program to completely refresh the screen before
    selecting something else.
    
    The cursor control keys duplicate the 'vcr remote control' functions.
    This allows you to control playback without having the remote control
    on the screen.  I've noticed that you get smoother playback if you
    let the video run more than once.  It seems that the first time,
    it slows down because it is loading in or learning some of the different 
    effects or images.  The next time through, it will run smoother,
    becuase the video already 'knows' what it needs to know.
                                                       
    By carefully setting up your color palette when creating images
    with Deluxe Paint, using only the first two columns of colors in
    the palette, you can create some very nice effects.  Images transfered
    to Deluxe Video are converted to Med-Res, giving you only 16 colors
    instead of 32.
65.2DeluxeVideo comes to DEC?HYSTER::DEARBORNThe One to Watch <>Thu Aug 14 1986 11:0019
    Our group may be using the Amiga and DeluxeVideo for the next State
    of the Company meeting!  We are currently evalutating it's capability
    for live speech support, to replace the existing use of slides.
    There has been a lot of interest about this method.  I have been
    performing a few tests, to see just how well it would work--how
    easy is it to create, link and store visuals--and so far the Amiga
    is passing the tests with flying colors.  The visuals would be
    projected with a GE Light Valve Video Projector.
    
    One of the nice features is that the 'slides' can be 'advanced'
    from the keyboard, or by a switch wired into the left button of
    the mouse.  The advantage over slides is that the visuals move,
    but the 'user interface' is the same as a single tray slideshow,
    a single button.                     
    
    I'll keep you posted.
    
    Randy