============================================================================= Thank you for purchasing The Personal Single Frame Controller. To install The Personal SFC simply double click the HDInstall icon and follow the prompts. If you later wish to relocate the SFC software you can either re-install it from this disk or move the two installed files : Personal_SFC, and Personal_SFC.info to another location on your disk. Keep the files together wherever you move them. ============================================================================= reqtools.library Included in this distribution is the reqtools.library. ReqTools is Copyright (c) Nico François. This excellent library aids the programmer in streamlining the look of requestors and messaging to the user. ============================================================================= iff.library The included iff.library (ver. 22.1), written by Christian A. Weber, is freely distributable. The iff.library is an easy to use Amiga library which gives the programmer some powerful routines to deal with IFF files, like ILBM (pictures), ANIM (animations) and 8SVX (digitized sounds). Thanks for the effort Christian. ============================================================================= JPEG Loader/Saver Starting with version 2.02, this software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. This loading/saving module supports the unpatented Huffman mode of decompression and not the patented arithmetic coding method which only provides a small margin of gain. ============================================================================= Scenery Animator The SCENERY.JPG file on this disk is scenery created using Brett Casebolt's "Scenery Animator 2.0" product. Not only can you create imaginary fractal landscapes, but also real-world landscapes using geological survey files (a number of samples are provided). The full power of the program is realized when you record a number of sequential IFF24 images and play them back in real time. (I've now 'flown' through the Grand Canyon following the Colorado River). To see the image add it into the SFC sequence list, choose a display device, double click the image name and do a SHOW. This is a truely impressive piece of work. Contact your local dealer or call: Natural Graphics - (916)624-1436 ============================================================================= Registration If you are a new purchaser, please fill out and return the registration card. Print or type as clearly as possible - we have had a hard time reading some of them and have not been able to notify these users of updates. Unregistered users will not be supported by our technical assistance staff beyond the installation phase and we will also not be able to notify you of future upgrades. And please, please don't give this program to others. We depend on the income the sale of this program generates to support our business and our families. Once again, thank-you for choosing The Personal SFC. ============================================================================= ****** Changes ***** Changes ***** Changes ***** Changes ***** Changes ****** A quick summary of the changes in 2.50 (since v2.18): 1. Direct loading of IFF24 files to the Toaster (not ToasterPaint) ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ This version of the SFC now has the ability to directly load IFF24 files to the Toaster without the need of ToasterPaint. This process decreases the load time by approximately 30%. All images are converted to a size of 752x480 before they are displayed. If the image is larger than these dimensions, it will be centered & cropped. If the image is smaller, then it will be padded with black borders. This option may not work correctly on all versions of the Toaster (it is intended for the 2.0 release of the Switcher). The direct mode is enabled by selecting the 'Use Switcher' option (this is accessed through the "DevParams" gadget). Other non-framestore formats will be internally converted to IFF24s & then displayed in a similar fashion. 2. Render Farm ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The Render Farm option (selected in the same fashion as the "Remote Render" or "Toaster Render") allows the recording of dynamically created images (ie images which do not yet exist on disk, but their filenames are already known). After selecting the "Render Farm", you will be prompted for a template of the image names that you wish to record. The images must be sequentially numbered (starting at a number greater than 0). Enter '?' symbols where you wish the SFC to insert the digits. A typical template for a framestore would be "???.FS.MyImage". The SFC will ask you for the starting & ending frame numbers. After selecting "Okay" on the requester, a standard Anim-List will be built. If the width of the frame number exceeds the specified space, then extra digits will be inserted at the left hand side of the digits. If you wish to render more than 1000 framestores with Lightwave, you would enter a template similar to "???.FS.MyImage". The SFC will add the filenames "001.FS.MyImage","002.FS.MyImage" etc. upto "999.FS.MyImage". It will then expand the digit block by left-inserting a 1000's digit. It will add "1000.FS.MyImage" then "1001.FS.MyImage" and so on. If you do not want any leading zeros, then simply enter one '?' for the digit number (ie MyPic.?). The SFC will add MyPic.1, .. MyPic.9, MyPic.10, .. etc. Once you are ready to begin, hit the START gadget on the Anim-Editor. The SFC will ask you if you wish to move or delete the recorded frames. This action is only performed after the frame has been successfully recorded (if an error occured, the frame will remain intact). If you select "Move", then enter the name of the directory to move the frames to. Lastly, you will be asked for the number of frames that the SFC should wait for before beginning the recording. Notes: - The "move" pathname will be saved along with the Anim-List - The SFC will check the source directory every 10 seconds - Different source filenames can be entered, but they MUST be in the same source directory (the SFC will use the pathname of the first source image name in the list) 3. Fast (almost instant!) FrameStore previews ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The SFC now has the ability to directly load & generate previews of FrameStore2.0 files. It takes less than half a second to convert a framestore, so now the only limiting factor is your harddrive/controller. On the average it will take about 2.5 to 3 seconds to convert one frame. The final result is also of a higher quality than the ToastPaint method. It also allows you generate previews of FrameStores on machines which do not have Toasters installed. The SFC will ask you if you wish to use these "fast framestores" when you generate the preview. 4. Fast Greyscale FrameStore viewing ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ If the Switcher is not running (or even present), the SFC will now automatically show a greyscale version of FrameStore images. 5. Cut & Paste Improvements ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The Anim-Editor will now let you cut & paste individual filenames. 6. External fonts ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The SFC now has its own fonts built in and no longer requires the external font files "SBV","SBVdigi" etc. 7. Amiga IFF/IV24/Ham-E image centering ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The SFC will now let you adjust the horizontal & vertical positioning of displayed images relative to their normal centered position. Currently, this only has an effect on "AmigaGS",Grey scale framestores, IV24, HAM-E and the DCTV. 8. Direct IFF24 to FrameStore or FrameStore to IFF24 Batch Conversions ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ (via the SAVE_FS or SAVE_IFF24 display device) If the Direct FrameStore loading is selected, then the SFC will also perform direct conversions between IFF24 (or others) & FrameStore files. This is typically three to 4 times faster than the older ToasterPaint method. 9. Fast FrameStore Compression ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ To perform fast framestore compression, select the "Save_FStore" display device and add the source FrameStore files to the Anim-List. When you select "Start", the SFC will ask you if you wish to compress the FrameStores. There are also many other "behind the scenes" enhancements/features which you will discover. G.Evans (Mar 16, '93) ============================================================================= ***** Late News *** Late News *** Late News *** Late News *** Late News ***** ****** Version 2.50 - 11/May/1993 ****** There really isn't much late news at this stage in time, but here are a few things that didn't rate the manual. 1) There is an additional utility on this disk called "ShowFS". It's function is to perform a quick full screen greyscale viewing of a 2.0 FrameStore file to your normal Amiga screen. It can be used from CLI by simply typing : ShowFS 019.FS.MyFrame The filename does not have to follow the XXX.FS.XXXXX template - "Fred" would be just as good. This utility should work on any Amiga. 2) Previews created with versions of The Personal SFC prior to revision 2.00 are not compatible with this and subsequent versions. 3) The EDIT button on the Main SFC Screen is not implemented. It will be the access button to The Personal Editor when it is available. 4) If this is an update disk from ver.1.0 you will find two captive screws to replace the ones that are currently in the DB9 end of the SFC cable. Simply loosen (no need to remove) the two locking screws on the main body of the connector and take out the old captive screws. Replace them with the new ones and tighten the locking screws. These new screws will match the thread of your editing VTR. ============================================================================= In addition to the above - please report any other relevant problems that you run into along the way. You will be notified about particularly significant updates to the software that may be of benefit to you. Our general policy is that updates due to encountered bugs are free and that new feature upgrades will be made available at low cost (30.00 - 40.00). Terry Smallwood