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- >Andrew!
- >
- >[For the PAR] Can that SETUP=0 be set to -5 (super black = less than 0 IRE)
- >and can the same be true for the PVR?
- >
- >I just wrote an inquiry here regarding anims over such black
- >values and didn't see this thread yet.
- >
- >Is there any other way? For example, I'm having anim frames
- >from a PC transfered to bernulli (amiga format) and then
- >converted into a Flyer clip... anyway to sub-black them?
- >
- >
-
- Sounds logical, but I don't think -5 will work. We're talking binary here so
- it's either 0 or 1, on or off. There might be a trimmer pot somewhere on the
- board that sets zeroblack reference and could be cranked down for
- superblack, but I don't know. Call DPS to find out.
-
- The PVR hides all this Setup=0 nonsense from the user by providing a button
- to do the same thing. There is a line in its config file that states SETUP=0
- or 1, but there is no reason to fool with it.
-
- As far as the Flyer, I can't tell you as I have never actually used one. But
- my experience with the Toaster would indicate no, it can't output animations
- over zeroblack. It is true that the Toaster will grab, save and display
- Framestores (not RGB files) with zero or superblack in them, but only for
- images grabbed from an outside source. LightWave and TPaint cannot generate
- such images. One time I thought I came up with a cheat for this, and tried
- using a framestore with superblack as a background image in LW. But it
- simply elevated the frame to 7.5 IRE. This makes sense, considering the
- lowest RGB value LightWave can deal with is 0,0,0. And the Toaster is
- internally calibrated so that 0,0,0 is locked at 7.5 IRE. There is no
- provision in LW for negative RGB values. Framestores somehow handle this
- differently, but even their superblack is numerically inaccessible to LightWave.
-
- Before I had the PAR/PVR, I used the following approach. It requires an
- outboard switcher or second Toaster.
-
- 1) Obtain a source for a zero or superblack signal, like a TBC or camera
- with its setup cranked below normal.
- 2) Render your animation so it is deliberately overexposed, making it easier
- to key over 7.5 IRE.
- 3) Key the animation straight off your Flyer and over the superblack signal.
- Use a dissolve transition to control the animation's brightness. This way
- you can bring it back down to broadcast limits (using a W/V scope), yet
- still obtain a decent key despite rendering over 7.5 IRE black. Now don't
- touch the T-bar!
- 4) Lay the animation off to tape.
-
- I'm not sure, but a second switcher may not be needed if you're using a
- Flyer. I would, however, check for trailing-edge artifact problems when
- using the Toaster for keying.
-
- If the end client is using a nonlinear system or has three source decks, you
- could render out an alpha channel anim and sidestep keying altogether.
-
-
- Andy Hofman
- LumaQuest Productions
- Animation and Dual Raptor 3 Rendering
- andyh@erinet.com
- 513-643-7333
-
-
-