FLC2GIF freeware conversion utility for Windows 95/NT
(c) 1996 Paul Johnston
This simple utility converts Autodesk FLC, FLI, or CEL files to animated GIF 89a, suitable for use on the World Wide Web.
FILE OPTIMIZATIONS
FLC2GIF will eliminate some redundant pixels in the animation it produces. By analyzing each frame of the Autodesk video file, it outputs a file in GIF89a format with frames consisting only of a rectangular area of pixels whose color values have changed since the previous frame. This is intended to minimize the overall file size. Because of this, not every frame in the resultant GIF will be the same size, though the first frame will always be the original size. By design, the first frame 'reserves' the total animation dimensions and each subsequent frame contains only enough information to complete the animation. Alignment of images whose frame dimensions may be smaller than others within the same GIF animation is taken care of by FLC2GIF.
There are currently no features for optimization of color palettes.
Although it does optimize certain aspects of the resultant GIf animation(s) which it produces, FLC2GIF has limits concerning the optimization it can perform. Using FLC2GIF in conjunction with other optimization tools is an ideal way to quickly create highly efficient GIF animations from Autodesk video files.
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TIMING ASSUMPTIONS
FLC2GIF assumes that you are using an Autodesk application in which you can adjust either the number of jiffies (timing delay increments), or frames per second in the playback of the video/sequenced frames. FLC2GIF uses the settings embedded in the video file to set the playback speed of the resultant GIF. The only real requirement is that you input a valid Autodesk video file (FLC/FLI/CEL). Be advised that some Netscape browsers won't favorably display GIFs resulting from video files whose jiffy timing delay is set to zero or one. Setting the time delay within the Autodesk application, specifically Animator/Animator Pro, could be critical to favorable playback of the animated GIF.
If there is an occasion when you need a particular frame of your animated GIF to display for a longer duration, simply increment the occurences of the intended frame as many times as needed in the Autodesk application, specifically Animator/Animator Pro, to lengthen the time. FLC2GIF detects the duplicate frame(s) and does not include multiple instances of the frame, but simply lengthens the time that frame is displayed.
FLC2GIF will set continuous repeat iteration in the animation. Meaning that the animated GIF will loop indefinitely. This cannot currently be altered.
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OTHER SUPPORTED FEATURES
FLC2GIF supports transparency in the resultant animation. By default, FLC2GIF uses color register value 0 as the transparent color. However, you may optionally specify the number of the particular register in the 256-color palette containing the value that you would like to make transparent. Be advised that an animation created using transparency will be larger than the equivalent, non-transparency animation. This cannot be helped except by not applying transparency. Also, if all of the frames in an animation with intended transparency do not have the same dimensions, the resultant animation may not be what you expect. It is up to the GIF artist to provide FLC2GIF with images that will produce the desired animation.
Currently, FLC2GIF does not contain options for controlling how frames are replaced during playback.
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SYNTAX AND OPTIONS
Syntax: FLC2GIF [options: /t#] <flic/input name> [output name]
FLC2GIF has but one option in this version -- that of turning on transparency. To turn default transparency on (using the color value in palette register 0), specify /t on the command line. If you have a different color register in mind for transparency, you may specify the register index number (between 0 and 255) immediately following the /t.
The input video file name does not require the appended extension if you are converting a '.FLC' video file. If you want to convert a '.FLI' or '.CEL' video file, you need to accompany the file name with its extension. The animated GIF will be created with a name that matches the original video file with the '.GIF' file name extension appended (assuming you haven't specified an output file name).
The output file name is optional. FLC2GIF uses the original input video file name as the resultant GIF animation file name by default.
Be advised, FLC2GIF does not warn before overwriting existing files.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
The only difficulty you may encounter while trying to run FLC2GIF from a DOS/command prompt under Windows 95/NT is due to the setting in the advanced DOS prompt shortcut configuration that allows you to 'prevent DOS applications from detecting Windows'. Disable this option and FLC2GIF will work properly.
If you encounter quirks in this freeware, want to suggest improvements, need tips on how to better use FLC2GIF, or if you appreciate the software and just want to let us know, contact us by e-mail.
Paul can help with requests for 'enhancements' to the program itself. Jason can answer questions regarding creation of animated GIFs using FLC2GIF, including the use of Autodesk Animator, Animator Pro, Animator Studio, 3D Studio, and 3D Studio Max in conjunction with the FLC2GIF utility.
Our e-mail addresses:
Paul Johnston -- pjohnst@worldnet.att.net
Jason Lutes -- lutes@inconnect.com
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