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[ral-clan]

Hi,

I'm a pretty advanced ImageFX user, but I really have only used it for still images in the past. Recently I obtained the ability to import video frames into ImageFX, and so I've started playing with frames processing in the layer/frames manager.

I keep reading about how ImageFX was so useful for applying effects to animations or a sequence of video frames: i.e. the Lightning, Lens Flare and Fire effects are all supposed to be able to work across frames for animation of these effects.

However, the manual (which is generally pretty good) is VERY sparse for these animated effects (which were only added in the final versions). Is there anyone out there who remembers how to do this kind of stuff with ImageFX? Once I figure it out I hope to write up a little "how to" and put it in the the Yahoo Groups ImageFX file area to help others.

I know that ImageFX's animated effects were used for some pretty neat stuff like the TV series Children of Dune and "From the Earth to the Moon", so I know it's capable of pretty great stuff - just how to get it working?

I've heard about the Catalyzer tutorial videos, but I wonder if they covered this. Then there's the problem of actually tracking down a copy of the videos to buy (even though they may be posted for sale, they are often not actually in stock).

I would be interested in any discussion here of advanced ImageFX techniques, especially involving frames and animations.

[Matt_H]

The ImageFX manual was recently revised and reissued through print-on-demand... maybe it'll have that information?

[ral-clan]

Originally Posted by Matt_H

The ImageFX manual was recently revised and reissued through print-on-demand... maybe it'll have that information?

No....the re-issued manual is just a combination of the old 2.0 manual and the 4.0 supplement. I already have both of these - and while they are great, they just don't have much information on the animation features.

I hoped there were still some old ImageFX pros around on this board.

[AJS]

well there's young Cecilia on here she's an ImageFX wizard
hopefully she will see this thread

[amigadave]

Originally Posted by ral-clan

No....the re-issued manual is just a combination of the old 2.0 manual and the 4.0 supplement. I already have both of these - and while they are great, they just don't have much information on the animation features.

I hoped there were still some old ImageFX pros around on this board.

That is disappointing, I thought that a comprehensive re-write of the manual was in process, or recently completed that would bring it up-to-date with all the newer features. Nothing beats a good printed manual to increase your proficiency with a complicated, or many featured piece of software. Video tutorial tapes are nice too, but I still prefer to have a book in my hands to learn something new, or refresh my memory about something I am working on or with.

I have purchased the latest ImageFX4.5 because I try to support as many active Amiga software developers as I can when possible, but I have not used it hardly at all since my purchase many months ago. I was primarily an AdPro user in the earlier Amiga days and though I purchased ImageFX2.6 a long time ago, I found it harder to use and never got the hang of the interface as well as I did the AdPro interface. I have been meaning to learn more about it as I constantly see other Amiga users giving ImageFX a more favorable comparison over AdPro. And since ImageFX was developed longer than AdPro, I am sure it has more advanced features than the last version of AdPro (2.5 I think was the last).

[ral-clan]

Originally Posted by amigadave

That is disappointing, I thought that a comprehensive re-write of the manual was in process, or recently completed that would bring it up-to-date with all the newer features. Nothing beats a good printed manual to increase your proficiency with a complicated, or many featured piece of software. Video tutorial tapes are nice too, but I still prefer to have a book in my hands to learn something new, or refresh my memory about something I am working on or with.

Don't get me wrong though. The existing (re-released) manual is VERY helpful. I would certainly recommend it. True, it only lightly touches upon the very latest features like frame processing, but for the other 90% of features it's very helpful.