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From: mikep@hpmwtd.HP.COM (Mike Powell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Toaster Questions
Message-ID: <730020@hpmwngf.HP.COM>
Date: 27 Nov 90 04:54:06 GMT
References: <4230@cerberus.oakhill.UUCP>
Organization: HP Microwave Tech. - Santa Rosa, Ca.
Lines: 97

/ hpmwngf:comp.sys.amiga / hunter@oakhill.UUCP (Hunter Scales) /  2:42 pm  Nov 22, 1990 /
	[stuff deleted]

	1. I understand that the Toaster will physically fit in only the
	Amiga 2000/2500 box.  Since the machine does its special effects
	in hardware, is there any reason to get more horsepower than a 
	an A2000?
	-----------
		Yes, there is a reason....  If you plan on using Lightwave
		much (the 3D rendering program), more horsepower is
		important....  Toaster includes floating-point versions
		of Lightwave and Modeler.
	-----------

	2. What is a reasonable configuration for use with the Toaster:
	memory, monitors, etc.

	-----------

		A good configuration is a 5Meg machine with a 40mb hard drive
		and a good NTSC video monitor....

		A great configuration is a 7-10Meg accelerated machine with
		100+mb hard drive and two NTSC video monitors (this is in 
		addition to the Amiga monitor...)

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	3. What is a reasonable cost for a used A2000 with this configuration?

	----------

		$2000-$6000 + Toaster  ???

	----------

	4. Will the Toaster perform the same functions as one of the
	dedicated "color processors" such as the Azdens?  I was told
	that the ChromaFX functions operated on the luminance signal, is
	there any chrominance processing?

	---------- 
		
		Sorry.... don't know much about ChromaFX yet...

	----------

	5. Is possible to do "colorization" of monochrome video ala Ted
	Turner?  i.e. can you save frames of BW video, "paint" them and
	the replay?

	----------

		It should be possible, but a difficult task to be sure...
		It would require a mastery of Toaster Paint, and a single
		frame viseo recording system to allow the colorized frames
		to be stored back to video format for playback.

	----------

	6. What software is shipped with the Toaster?  Is the rendering
	package included?

	----------
		
		Yes, The rendering package is included, and it is FANTASTIC!
		There is also Toaster Paint, ChromaFX, TOaster Character
		Generator, and the Switcher.
	----------

	7. For someone who *has* a Toaster, has it been reliable?

	----------

		Yes.

	----------

	8. Does the Toaster use a standard graphics file format, i.e.
	can I use my favorite raytracer on a fast RISC machine and
	user the file with the Toaster?

	----------
		The Toaster can save images in three formats... it's own
		Frame Store format, IFF 24, and RGB.  If you have a
		Ray-Tracer that can output in IFF 24 then it should work
		fine... and I'm not too sure about the RGB format.
	
	----------

	Whew. I know that was a  lot of questions.  I hope someone out there
	with the knowledge has the patience to answer.  Thanks a bunch.
Motorola Semiconductor Inc.                Hunter Scales

	----------

		-Mike Powell-