*************************
Time Machine v2.06
Steve Chapple 23/8//2000
steve.chapple@mcr1.poptel.org.uk
*************************
Overview
--------
Time Machine can be thought of as "AutoFX on layers" - a
series of stills, sequences, videoclips etc are loaded into
ImageFX as layers, positioned, processed, flattened and
saved.
It has the advantage of being able to load images of
different sizes, being able to position layers visually and
does not require video clip style file formats to be broken
down into single frames, or single images to be multiplied
before being combined together.
Requirements:
-------------
ImageFXv3+; lots of RAM and other goodies can't hurt.
The Gui4cli system (included) by Demetris Keletsekis.
(http://users.hol.gr/~dck/gcmain.htm)
Installation:
-------------
Copy the files Gui and Gui4cli to your c: directory
Copy the TimeMachine directory to the root of your ImageFX
directory. (e.g. it should be on the same level as storage,
rexx etc.)
Copy the TM_Effects directory to your ImageFX/Rexx directory
Starting Time Machine:
----------------------
Time Machine is designed to be used from the "windowed" version of ImageFX.
Please do not attempt to run it from the Classic version.
From the "Arexx" button on the main ImageFX panel run the
"Start_TM.ifx" script in the TimeMachine directory.
On the title screen you will be asked if you want to start a new
project, or load a TM project from disk. If starting a new project you
will be prompted for the number of frames in the finished project, the
image format for the background layer, and a filename, if appropriate.
Image sequences should be defined as a "basename", that is
the filename common to all files, without any frame number
extension. For example, if your sequence is named
effect0001, effect0002 ..... effect1234 enter "effect" as
the basename in the sequence file requester.(Note that
sequences named "effect.0001" should be entered as
"effect.", and currently Time Machine does not recognise
sequences not ending in up to six digits, or not starting at
frame 1. "pic0001.jpg", for example, will not be
recognised).
For image sequences, ANIMs, JStreams and Flyerclips you will be
asked which frame you wish to load on frame 1 of your
project.
For Anim files and video clip formats there is the option of setting
a "freeze frame" - the frame number specified in the "start frame"
dialogue will be loaded on all frames of the Time Machine project.
Saves having to break apart a file to get at one picture (and I'm
told loads faster with some PPC loader modules than using a single
image).
Due to the way IFX works if you load an ANIM as the background layer
it won't allow any more layers to be loaded, because the background
is a CMAP image. Time Machine catches this (and CMAP still images),
and won't load the ANIM in the first place. You can load CMAP layers
on top of an RGB background, however, so quickest work-around is to
make your background layer a blank frame, and load the ANIM as Layer 1.
(Remember to add a GreytoColor command at the start of any Arexx
scripts on ANIM or CMAP layers to allow use of the full set of IFX commands.)
*** I believe that IFX users who have upgraded to version 4.1 will no
longer be able to load ANIM files due to a change in the way that the
ANIM loader works. I hope that this may be rectified in the future. ***
ImageFX Controls
----------------
Selecting layers in the Time Machine project is done in the ImageFX layers
palette as usual. When saving ANIM files the render toolbar will be opened,
the colour depth, dithering etc. can be set here. If the settings are not
correct at the prompt cancel rendering, alter the render settings and then
press "Render" on the Time Machine toolbar again.
Toolbar
-------
Currently Time Machine has three items on the toolbar:
Load Layer
Loads a new layer to the project.
Render
Start the Time Machine!
Your project will step forward frame by frame, loading the
necessary files into the layer system, setting the saved
layer parameters, processing, and flattening the image for
saving.
Quit
Quit Time Machine, and close the current buffer.
Menus
-----
(Note, the menus will only be visible with the Time Machine
toolbar highlighted)
Project/Load
Loads a project from file
Project/Save
Save all TM settings for the current project to file
Project/Restart
Delete the current project, and reset all saved parameters.
You will be prompted for a new project length, then proceed
adding layers as usual.
Layer/Snapshot Position
Save the layer offset for the currently selected layer. Only
one "global" value is currently saved.
Layer/Snapshot Blend
As above, but for layer blend
Layer/Snapshot Mode
As above, but for layer mode. (This includes whether a layer
is a "mask" layer. If you want to use an image stream as a
mask for the layers above it's currently best to set it as a
mask than try and load it as an alpha channel in a layer)
Process/Layer Script
Apply a previously saved Arexx script to the selected layer.
Again, one script per layer is supported. AutoFX scripts should be avoided,
as they use variables set by the AutoFX hook.
Process/Post Script
Apply a previously saved Arexx script to the final,
flattened image.
Save formats
------------
Sequence: saves a series of 24 bit files with a 4 digit frame
extension (file0001, file0002,.....file9999). You can choose between
standard Amiga ILBM files, or JPEG files with quality of 85 or 50.
JStream: writes a new JStream (you will be prompted for an
existing file to clone compression settings from), or appends to an
existing file.
Flyerclip: Well, God knows? Hopefully someone will tell me if it
works!
Anim: Anim5/7 anims with or without locked palette.
Warnings and other strangeness:
-------------------------------
Do not try and delete layers or try and swap them around: at
the moment TM is not smart enough to realise you've done it!
This has the hidden benefit, however, that you can create a new
layer, play about with it so it fits with the currently loaded
layers, save the layer to disk, delete it, then load it back in
through TM's Load Layer button. TM doesn't know you've done any
work on a layer, so there is a little room for experimentation
with scripts and such like. All TM will remember when you press
"Render" is what has been set from the TM menus and toolbar.
Thanks and greets
-----------------
Thanks to everyone who has tested TM, especially Don Paul, Ed Vishoot
and Ron Jensen. Big shout to everyone on the IFX mailing list
(www.egroups.com/group/imagefx). Thanks to Tom and Kermit for
making IFX in the first place. Hello Mum.
History
-------
v2.06 Added render frame number tracking to make incremental
hooks such as clouds work from TM.
Added some TM_Effects scripts for fire, clouds etc.
v2.05 Lots of housekeeping and error trapping.
Fixed the Gui4cli console appearing when cancelling a requester.
Added saving sequences as .jpgs.
v2.04 Fixed some foolishness in the load projects script - still
something odd in saving?
Added saving projects as ANIM files
v2.03 Added Freeze frame option to loading Anim/Jstream/FClip
files (Don)
Made default load path the same as IFX prefs. Will now return
to the last used directory for loading new layers.
Added trap to prevent loading grey/Cmap buffers on the background.
Added load/save project function.
v2.02 Added saving JStream files, and possibly Flyerclips.
v2.01 Added Anim5/7 loading. Actually turned on Flyerclip loading
at render time.
v2.0 First release to interested parties
|
aminet net>