home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
FishMarket 1.0
/
FishMarket v1.0.iso
/
fishies
/
051-075
/
disk_073
/
lmv
/
readme
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-05-06
|
11KB
|
141 lines
*****************************************************************************
* *
* LMV: A movie machine for your Amiga *
* --- ------------------------------ *
* *
* Copyright (C) 1987 *
* by Jim Webster, *
* Widdershins Productions *
* *
* This is a SHAREWARE program. C source code and an update can be *
* obtained by sending $10.00 ($15.00 if outside U.S.) to: *
* *
* Jim Webster *
* 335 Lowell Ave *
* Palo Alto, CA 94301 *
* tele. 415/328-7477 or 368-3632 *
* *
* Feel free to copy and pass this program around, but please do *
* not sell it. Thank you. *
* *
*****************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************
* *
* ABOUT THIS PROGRAM *
* ----- ---- ------- *
* *
* LMV stands for Long Movie. AmigaDos 1.2 is required and expansion ram *
* is recommended to run this program, which I designed for the purpose of *
* recording computer animations on my Sony SF-HL1000 Betamax VCR. *
* *
* LMV reads up to 100 images off 1 or 2 disks (IFF format only) and *
* allows you to display them rapidly in succession, producing an effect *
* similar to animation. The pictures MUST be in 320x200, lo-res format; a *
* future version will allow for different resolutions and (hopefully) HAM *
* pictures as well. The pictures CAN have different color palettes and *
* different palette sizes (2,4,8,16 or 32 colors). The pictures can also *
* be played backwards or forwards, in any subrange of frames. Please note:*
* THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF IMAGES YOU CAN DISPLAY IN ONE MOVIE DEPENDS ON BOTH *
* THE AMOUNT OF MEMORY YOUR SYSTEM HAS, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF COLORS *
* (BITPLANES) IN THE IMAGES. *
* *
* LMV requires AmigaDos 1.2, and expansion memory is a must. With my 2 *
* meg expansion board, I can load about 50 32-color images. If you don't *
* have expansion memory, I am putting together another program, called MV, *
* that will be able to animate about 7 32-color images. Since these images*
* will all be stored in CHIP ram, MV will be able to flash them much faster*
* than this program. You may want to use MV even if you have expansion ram,*
* if it is important that you be able animate at 30 frames per second. MV * *
* will be included free with the next version of this program. *
* *
* In the current version, LMV will only run from CLI, and makes no use *
* of windows, menus, etc. A future version will be "clickable" from the *
* the workbench. One of the reasons I haven't used intuition is to *
* conserve memory, to allow the maximum number of images to be loaded. *
* *
* To run LMV, type "LMV," followed by the names of the files you wish to *
* use (don't forget to use pathnames!). For example, if you have files *
* named pic1, pic2 and pic3 on the disk in your external drive, type *
* "LMV df1:pic1 df1:pic2 df1:pic3" and hit return. The program will load, *
* and ask if you want to use 1 or 2 disks. If you choose to use 2 disks, *
* the file names on the second disk must be identical to those on the *
* first disk, although of course the actual images on each disk can be *
* different. My method of using this program is as follows: Each disk of *
* images that I save has all its files named 00,01,02.. etc. to 29. I *
* created a batch file named "xf00-29" using ED that goes: *
* *
* LMV df1:00 df1:01 df1:02 df1:03 df1:04 df1:05 df1:06 df1:07 df1:08 *
* df1:09 df1:10 df1:11 df1:12 df1:13 df1:14 df1:15 df1:16 df1:17 df1:18 *
* df1:19 df1:20 df1:21 df1:22 df1:23 df1:24 df1:25 df1:26 df1:27 df1:28 *
* df1:29 *
* *
* Then I use the EXECUTE command: "execute xf00-29" to run the program. *
* *
* After asking for 1 or 2 disks, the program reads each file and *
* displays the filename, number of bitplanes, and the memory available *
* after file has been processed. If a file is unreadable or in the wrong *
* format, you will be given the option of quitting, skipping that file, or *
* starting animation immediately. *
* *
* Next, you are asked to enter the number of the first frame and the *
* number of the last frame. For instance, if you loaded five files and *
* you wish to use all of them, enter 0 (not 1!) for first frame and 4 (not *
* 5!) for last frame. To do animation in reverse, you'd enter 4 for first *
* frame and 0 for last frame. *
* *
* You are then asked to enter the DELAY between the images. LMV is *
* capable of displaying up to about 19 frames per second (zero delay). If *
* you want 15 frames per second for 32-color images, enter a delay value of*
* 1010 (this is a close approximation); for 7 1/2 frames per second, enter *
* 6750. The fewer the number of bitplanes in an image, the less time it *
* takes to display it, so use shorter values for other sized palettes. You *
* may want to experiment, especially if you are recording on videotape. * *
* *
* After asking for the number of times you want to loop through the *
* animation sequence, LMV will ask you how you want to begin and end the *
* animation. You may wish to start the animation immediately, and return *
* to your CLI screen immediately. Or, you may choose to first display *
* either the first image in the sequence or a black screen, and begin *
* animation by entering a number (any number) from the keyboard. With *
* this method, you have to enter another (any)number to RETURN to the CLI *
* screen as well. This is useful if you are taping your animation, since *
* it guarantees that you will be able to eliminate any signs of the CLI *
* screen appearing on your tape. NOTE: if you use this method, either the *
* last frame in the sequence, or a black screen, will be displayed on the *
* screen after the animation is complete. You will NOT be prompted to *
* enter a number, of course, since to do so would ruin the image! A *
* future version will use mouse clicks to perform this function. *
* *
* One more note: this version does not hide the workbench pointer. For *
* now, I recommend using Preferences to create your own pointer image that *
* is very small, then hide it by moving it to a corner of the screen before*
* starting animation. You will not need to do this with a future version. *
* *
* Guess that's about it. Any questions can be directed to me at the *
* above address or phone number. Happy animating! *
* *
* P.S. I just added a new feature that allows you to alternate the *
* animation sequence if you're doing more than one loop. If you choose *
* this feature, every "odd" loop will run forwards and every "even" loop *
* run backwards. I've included on my distribution disk a sample sequence *
* of 15 images (one seconds worth) digitized from a videotape of Jimmy *
* Stewart. The image files are named 00,01,02...14. *
* *
* P.P.S. I've included on this disk a SECOND version of LMV called LMV2. *
* LMV2 has a few more fancy tricks for you to try. It runs the same as *
* LMV, but it has more options. You can try color cycling, fade to black, *
* fade to white, or fade to a defined colormap. Color cycling can either *
* be done as one cycle per every frame (this slows down the show *
* considerably) or as one cycle over a range of frames. With each of these*
* color options, you must specify the range of frames over which it *
* applies, as well as the range of colors affected. Note: I haven't taken *
* the time to do bullet-proof data entry, so make sure the values you enter*
* are within the correct range. Or would you prefer to meet Mr. Guru *
* again? On the other hand, experiment. It's fun! *
* *
* One more reminder, this IS a SHAREWARE program. I've got more tricks *
* up my sleeve, so keep that money rollin' in, folks... *
* *
*****************************************************************************