Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!mcnc!ncsuvx!news From: kdarling@hobbes.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: Animation Standards JPEG Message-ID: <1991Feb7.133258.18343@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> Date: 7 Feb 91 13:32:58 GMT References: <277@ncmicro.lonestar.org> <1991Feb1.052809.18439@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> <1991Feb5.042435.16823@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> Sender: news@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu (USENET News System) Organization: NCSU Computing Center Lines: 42 In vinsci@nic.funet.fi (Leonard Norrgard) writes: > [your pardon if I pick out the wrong points :-] > I think we are dealing with two separate problems here, one being the > already existing variety of hardware, the other being new whiz-bang > hardware featuring things that haven't been thought of yet > [...] > For the first part of the problem, it seems there need to be a goal for > the file format. This could be either generality or capability; or both > [...] > I think many are prepared to trade some time/cost to > have a more capable format converted to their system and get a higher > quality animation, rather than having simple/very_fast conversion with > a format that can't do things they'd like it to. Keep the format general, with lots of hints embedded, and it can be converted, and enhanced or degraded, as need be on each machine. This indicates a time/cost tradeoff, so I agree there. > Capability is much harder, the problem being where to stop: > Should the format support blitters [or fast CPU's if that is what a Nope :-). If one machine can play back faster, it shouldn't matter to the file format... as long as there's a time value in there. The point is the exchange of data, not the exact hardware playing it back. Eg: my video chip can realtime display color RLE data... yet I wouldn't want to force everyone to be able to convert from/to my special format. > Extra channels? (Why not?) > Should it have support for other scene transitions than "cut"? (I > think so. These animations are going to grow to films...) [...] > How does sound get synch'ed with the animation? SMPTE? In a separate file? Good points. Exactly what we need to discuss. I believe there's an ANSI committee looking into this, too. Anyone know more about that? > Not being an MS (or PC for that matter) developer, where can I get the > RIFF specs? (FTP?) I'll try to re-find that info. Or call Microsoft... they'll send the docs. A request of my own in turn: since I know nothing about PC anim formats, can someone point me to (or post) some info on popular ones? thanks! best regards, kevin (in a rush today - sorry)