The "Beam Me Up" effect is a good example of using a number of independent features of PhotoMorph, layered together to create a single effect. These features are: Alpha Channels, Multiple Filtering, Transitions, and Overlays.
Before starting this discussion, I recommend reading Chapter 9 - Advanced Topics, in the PhotoMorph 2 manual. This chapter provides information on Multiple Filter Layers and Alpha Channels through tutorials and examples.
I'll start this discussion with some basics about Alpha Channels and 32-bit images.
Alpha Channels are synonymous with 32-bit images. By definition, a 32-bit image contains 24 bits of color and 8 bits of alpha channel information. The alpha channel provides a mask that defines areas of transparency. Some areas can be transparent, some opaque, and others can be varying degrees of transparent or opaque.
PhotoMorph will directly import images that have an alpha channel defined. Two examples that ship with PhotoMorph, ELK32.TIF and HORSE32.TIF, are 32-bit images whose masks have been defined such that the background is transparent.
For those who do not have the luxury of image compositing software that can create Alpha Channels, PhotoMorph allows any image (or video clip) to be used to provide Alpha Channel information. In the Options section of the Project Editor, a Start and End Mask can be substituted. By placing a image or video clip in this area, the Alpha Channel for the Start and End image can be determined.
For example, suppose you wanted to create a mask that makes transparent the background of the PhotoMorph image, FROG.JPG. However, the only image editing software you have is Paintbrush - the paint program that comes with Windows. Follow the following steps:
1. Load the image into PhotoMorph by choosing Image... Open from the file menu.
2. Save the image as a .BMP (which Paintbrush can read) by choosing Image... Save As from the File menu. Change the "Save file as type" dialog box to "Windows Bitmap" and save the image with the filename: FROGMASK.BMP.
3. Close PhotoMorph and enter Paintbrush. (Found in your accessories group)
4. Load FROGMASK.BMP
5. Paint black in the background of the image. This will indicate transparent areas in PhotoMorph.
6. Paint white on the foreground of the image. This will indicate opaque areas. The idea is to paint the frog white (opaque) and the background black (transparent).
7. Save the file, exit paintbrush and re-enter PhotoMorph.
8. In the Project Editor choose FROG.JPG as your start image.
9. Press Options, load FROGMASK.BMP as your start mask, and press OK.
The mask and the image are now linked together in this filter of this project. If you are using a 32-bit image already, such as ELK32.TIF, a mask would not need to be specified in the Options section.
Now that we've created an object with a transparent background, let's "Beam it Up".
Continuing where we left off above:
10. Load FARM.JPG as your end image.
12. For your filter type, choose Transition and press Edit.
13. Underneath the start and end images in the transition editor, the fader is specified. Since we want the image to speckle away in a random fashion, choose Random for both fades. Press OK.
14. This completes the first filter. Using Preview will show what's happening. The Frog is speckling away, revealing the field. However, the frog's background is still green. This is where the Alpha Channel that we've defined will come into place.
15. Press [123]. This advances you to the second filter. This effect will be applied while the pixelization is occurring concurrently.
16. For the filter type, choose Overlay.
17. The start image has defaulted to <<Filter 1>>; this is what we want to be overlaid on top of something. The something will be FARM.JPG. Load it as the end image. This specifies FARM.JPG as the background image.
18. Press Edit to edit the Overlay. For the Overlay type, choose Alpha. This will specify the transparency to be the mask we've specified. Slide the preview slider, and watch the frog "Beam Up". Press OK.
19. Press Create Animation. The finished video will show the frog beaming away!
Thus, by combining Alpha Channels, Overlays, Transitions, and multiple filters, incredible special effects can be created with PhotoMorph 2.
This document is Copyright (c) 1995 Andover Advanced Technologies, inc. and is intended for users of PhotoMorph 2 only. All rights reserved. No portion may be reprinted without permision of Andover Advanced Technologies, inc.
