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From: drtiller@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Donald Richard Tillery Jr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics
Subject: Re: 24bit display questions
Message-ID: <1991Jun21.134816.10190@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu>
Date: 21 Jun 91 13:48:16 GMT
References: <1991Jun21.002446.3856@menudo.uh.edu>
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Lines: 93

In a message from: usenet@menudo.uh.edu (USENET News System)


>I'd like to be able to display/edit 24bit images.  Here's what I know:
>
>DCTV: displays/grabs/edits 24bits in any of the supported graphics modes,
>is shipping, can be had for around $400.
>
Well, not exactly.  DCTV is COMPOSITE video and that IS NOT 24 bits.  However,
if you are going to video (tape), it is a very good choice.  It only outputs
to composite monitors (the 108x HAVE composite in) (RGB adapter coming RSN),
so if you want a true RGB and full 24 bits, this might not be what you are
after.  Also, DCTV plugs into the RGB port externally and has a pass through
for your monitor.  If you want to digitize, you must sacrifice your parallel
port (where the data comes in), because there is not a pass-through there.
Max res is not easy to state since it doesn't use a digital system.  It is
apparently (to your eye and mine) just slightly less than 768x480.  I say
less because with high resolution monitors (as opposed to TVs) the image is
a bit "unfocussed" looking.  Excellent for animations which are done by the
Amiga hardware (the DCTV box reinterprets a hi-res picture in its own way so
you just animate those hi-res frames - they look like crap without the DCTV -
as if you would any hi-res anim).  DCTV comes with what quite possibly is the
best paint program I've seen (DPaint might beat it in several areas, but
DCTV paint gives it a good run for its money).  It is only missing an UNDO
(coming in a upgrade I understand).

>
>Firecracker: displays/edits in 24bits.  Cost around $1000.  Shipping?
>
Yes, it has been shipping for quite a while (started about $1600) and can
be had for as low as $800.  The paint program is only partly finished, but
seems adequate so far.  It IS a full 24 bit board with amazing quality
pictures (that can be said for ALL full 24 bit boards).  It plugs into the
Zorro slot (so it can be used in the 3000), and you can route your video
through it for using the Firecracker display as a background (behind your
WB or whatever).  Max res is 1024x480(no PAL version).  Animation is only
possible with a single frame recorder.

>
>Colorburst: displays in 24bits, cost? shipping?
>
MAST is still waiting on FCC approval to begin shipping NTSC units.  PAL units
have been shipping for several months.  Last week it passed Class A (commercial)
and should pass Class B (public) within the next couple of weeks.  The cost if
you've already got your name on the list (mine is the first on the domestic
list) is $499, retail will be $599.  It also plugs into the RGB port but gives
true 24 bit RGB output at a max res of 768x480(580 PAL).  You can under, over,
and in-between lay graphics.  It will animate in 24 bit planes (and less), but
on-board memory is limited so full frame 24 bit animation is only possible
with a single frame recorder.  Partial 24 bit anim is possible up to 20 fps
and 256 color up to 30 fps is possible.  It will ship with a very nice paint
program.  (Shipping as soon as the FCC lets it go)

>Mimetics framebuffer/grabber: displays/grabs in 24bits, can't edit.
>cost ~$700.  (I used to own one of these, it was just fine for
>grabbing frames or displaying frames.)
>
Like you said, not an edit platform.

>What am I missing/incorrect about?  I've heard great things about


What about the Toaster?  It will real-time capture 24 bit images, display
them, edit them, and comes with the best rendering package available for the
Amiga (Oh, NEWTEK, why won't you let the rest of us buy it!?).  Cost <$1500.
It won't animate without a single frame recorder, but it will do all kinds of
fancy video effects in real-time.  It outputs composite video (a bit better
quality than DCTV).  The paint program is a souped up version of Digi-PaintIII
but isn't too bad.

>the Firecracker, but don't know anyone who owns one.  Is it worth
I know someone with one, I can ask her any questions you can ask me that I
haven't already asked her and can anser any questions you ask that I've already
asked her (follow that?).

>the $$$?  How fast can a frame be updated?  I'd like to be able
I don't think it's worth the money.  After several months of owning it, my
friend went out and got DCTV because it had a paint program, captured images
and seemed to have more support.  She hardly ever uses it any more (probably
will use it a bit more as the paint program gets finished).

It takes between 5-10 seconds to load an image (Impulse format the quickest,
Sculpt format the longest).  Not good for animations.
>to dump 24bit anims in short bursts, not a frame at a time.

Sorry, that's the only way you'll get animation with the Firecracker (so far).
>
>I'd like to hear from anyone who owns any of these devices.

I'll post a full review when I get my ColorBurst (if my money holds out until
they ship) and answer any questions then.

Rick Tillery (drtiller@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu)