Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!uflorida!gatech!mcnc!ncsuvx!news From: kdarling@hobbes.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: 24 bit color boards Message-ID: <1990Dec4.013744.10286@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> Date: 4 Dec 90 01:37:44 GMT References: <6015@crash.cts.com> Reply-To: kdarling@hobbes.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) Organization: NCSU Computing Center Lines: 67 bobl@pro-graphics.cts.com (Bob Lindabury, SysAdmin) writes: > Kent is correct. The HAM-E and DCTV are =NOT= 24 bit frame buffers > or boards. They get their color information from lookup tables or > some such thing. Animation with the HAM-E can only be done by flipping > full pages, unless you count writing your own software to create > animations and such. Don't be fooled by crafty advertising. If you > want true 24-bit, you'd best get a toaster or Firecracker. --Bob Well now. Normally, I try to be reasonable when people make honest mistakes. When, on the other hand, someone acts like they know it all, when they clearly know nothing (or perhaps slightly less, as in this case), I tend to get a little sweaty. Not in any particular order, but: The Firecracker, as stated, is a true 24 bit board. At least you got _one_ thing right. The toaster, in sharp contrast to the publicity, is not a 24 bit board, as NTSC composite won't modulate to 24 bits precision in any case. As soon as you go composite (which the toaster always is) you don't have 24 bits. Likewise for DCTV - technically. The HAM-E offers two modes; one is 256 colors with a 24 bit palette; this is 256 grey level accurate RGB but is not "true 24 bit" in the sense that any pixel can be any 24 bit value independant of another pixel. The other mode is an 18 bit mode, with 24 bit pixels mixed in here and there. We use dither to achieve full 24 bit representation of images in a color space that is always at least 18 bits (1/4 million colors) and sometimes more, depending on where the registers are used. The HAM-E is fully capable of full screen animation as noted above, however, it is ALSO capable of standard ANIM type animation, blitter "BOB" type animation, color cycle animation, and glow range animation. This is because these are, underneath, simply hi res Amiga screens. You don't need to write your own software, in fact you can use the brush anims in DPaint, of all things, to make path animations. Blitter animation is clearly demonstrated by the use of fully stenciled brushes in our paint software (You can look at this by DL'ing the paint from our BBS at (406) 367-ABBS) I'd like to close by pointing out an interesting contrast. Bob signs himself as (apparently) representing the "Pro-Graphics" BBS. Personally, I'd be a little cautious of dealing with a BBS where those who run or handle it prove, in silly messages on the nets, that they don't know what 24 bit graphics means, expound upon devices they _obviously_ have not taken the time to find out about (or, if they did, didn't understand what they were told), and give advice that tells the reader to, without question, get a $1500.00 device over a $300.00 device when he's not clear on the facts he bases his recomendation upon. In short, Bob, shut up, eh? Or else learn the subject. Oh yeah - please note that the HAM-E has not been advertised in print as of yet - the ads are being placed now, since we've been shipping for about 60 days - company policy not to go to print ads until things are ready, FCC approved, etc. Just so you're clear that your remark about "crafty advertising" could not have possibly applied to us... though if you're as accurate about your evaluation of ads as you are about 24 bit gfx, perhaps you're not sure who you ARE talking about. Ben Williams, for Black Belt Systems <76004.1771@compuserve.com> December 2nd, 1990, in response to a quote forwarded from comp.sys.amiga [ Please email replies to Ben, not me! - kev]