Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    The FRAMEGRABBER by PP&S does grab (in real time) 24 bits, can be
    colour or 3 B&W images (R,G and B) which the software will combine to
    make a colour frame.  It hooks up to the parallel port thus no need for
    a "slot".  It is NOT a display device so you will not be able to see
    the output unless you have a 24 bit frame buffer or a DCTV with which
    it is compatible.
    
    Jean
    

    Really?  I thought Framegrabber was only 12 bit.  Awesome!
    
    Mike

    Ok, major contradiction here.  Unless there is an upgrade to the
    Framegrabber to make it 24 bit, I think you're mistaken about it.  My
    ADPro manual which has the Framegrabber loader (to capture directly
    from the device) says specifically that it is a 12 bit color device (of
    course meaning that whether you do color seps or not, you are limited
    to 4096 colors).
    
    The version of ADPro I'm running is very recent; it's 2.0.1 (I got it a
    few weeks ago).
    
    I can hardly see that they have a misprint.  Can someone verify the
    color resolution of said device?
    
    Mike

    The Framegrabber WILL grab 8 bits per color (3 x 8 = 24 in my book) 
    The software will display ALL Amiga resolutions BUT will be able to
    save the image in something like 6 or 7 formats, like the 21 bit format
    used by Digiview (do you beleive Digiview digitizes 7 bits per color?)
    and IFF24 which DCTV uses.  The software will also allow you to save R,
    G and B as different files, it will also do the inverse (combine three
    separate files into one image)
    
    The Amiga's resolution(s) ARE 12 bit color (3 x 4) for a possible 4096
    different colors on screen at the same time.
    
    
    Jean
    

    I completely understand the Amiga side and the file formats...not
    intended as a slam unless your comment was.
    
    But for all the notes I've read, and the AC's guide descriptions
    (including the latest Winter '91) the Framegrabber is only *12* bit. 
    They listed a Framegrabber 256, that will grab 8 bits of gray scale,
    which I could use with filters to compose 24 bit color.  But the
    original says "digitizes in 4096 colors."
    
    I could be wrong and they simply didn't mention that it grabs in 24 bit
    but you can only display 12 without an external board, but that would
    be a serious marketing mistake, IMO.
    
    It's kinda pricey for my tastes, even if it is 24 bit.  DCTV keeps
    looking better and better... (i.e. it displays them too)
    
    Mike

    I think DCTV IS great.  It does both display AND digitize, but it is a
    slow scan digitizer (even if it is faster than digiview and does it in
    color) plus it wasn't around when I got my frame grabber.
    
    Jean
    
    (no offence taken or given)
    

    Well I must admit I'm full of it, the Framegrabber IS only 12 bits (4
    per color).  The SOFTWARE will allow loading of 24 bit images (8 per
    color) for processing.
    
    Reading the manual can really shatter your illusions, that's why I
    always leave mine in a safe place.
    
    Oh well
    
    Happy new year
    Bonne ann�e
    
    Jean
    

    What, you don't throw your manuals out when you open the box?   ;-D
    
    Ok, now for some fun technical stuff I have no clue about:  how does
    DCTV encrypt its data and therefore what is the "color bandwidth" of
    the beast?  I have no idea about what I'm saying except that I know it
    isn't really true 24 bit and I'm wondering how close it is.
    
    Any takers?
    
    Mike

    From memory:  DCTV senses a "magic cookie" pattern in the video data
    stream near the top of the frame.  This kicks it into high-color-res
    mode, where every two pixels worth of data from chip RAM becomes one
    pixel on screen.  Tradeoff:  more colors, but a high-res screen in
    memory shows as low-res (number of pixels) on the display.
    
    That's the basic part of it.
    
    Wes

Also, try the AMIGA_HARDWARE conference.