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Belgian Amiga Club - ADF Collection
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BS1 part 27.zip
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BS1 part 27
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PSFrameControl.adf
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ReadMeNow.txt
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1993-07-30
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=============================================================================
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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The Anim-Editor will now let you cut & paste individual filenames.
6. External fonts
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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
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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
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(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
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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