From: rlakin@eis.calstate.edu (Rick Lakin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics
Subject: Re: OpalVision questions
Date: 29 Dec 92 17:18:58 GMT
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services

val@news.ccutah.edu (Val Kartchner) writes:
>      I'm going to be getting a 24-bit display device soon.  I have a few
> questions about the OpalVision main board:
> 
> 	1) Is it truely 24-bit or does it have color registers?
> 
> 	2) Does it come with all of the memory to do 24-bit double-buffering?
> 
> 	3) Will it require a VGA monitor, or does it output in NTSC?
> 
> 	4) The ad says that it animates at 60fps.  Can it really deliver?
> 
> 	5) Is there anything else that you would care to add?
> --

Here is some information from the latest OpalTech Newsletter.  I have the
OpalVision and I am very happy with it.  

 


 Contents

 1.1	Developer, Distributer, and End User Multiline BBS

 1.2	OpalVision Add-On Modules

 1.3	Keyboard Shortcuts

 1.4	Selection by Tolerance

 1.5	Stencils 

 1.6	Gradients 

 1.7	Image Processing Modes 

 1.8	Brushes and Extras 

 1.9	Scaling Images 

 1.10	Scaled Gradients 

 1.11	Backgrounds, Paper types 

 1.12	Fonts 

 1.13	ARexx 

 1.14	Background Fixing 

 1.15	OpalPaint Features to be implemented

 1.16	Third Party Support 

 1.17	Technical Information - Upgrades - Bugs - Fixes

 1.18	OpalVision with 1080 and 2002 monitors (See Figure 1)

 1.19	External Genlocks and OpalVision Main Board (See Figure 2)

 1.20	OpalVision and '040 Boards:

 1.21	OpalVision and the Amiga 4000 

 1.22	OpalVision Timing Adjustment (See Figure 1)

 1.23	Missing Red Signal (See Figure 1)



 1.1
	 Developer, Distributer, and End User Multiline BBS


We have a new BBS on line to support OpalVision and act as a forum for
information exchange and upgrades.  The new numbers are listed below:

Sprint	:	01 310 793 7142
AT&T 	:	01 310 793 9543

 1.2
	 OpalVision Add-On Modules


Genlock/FrameGrabber, Roaster Chip, Switcher, Scan-Rate Converter

Some  Module Features: ( Genlock/FrameGrabber, Roaster, Switcher )

ChromaKey on any color, Lumakey, Alpha channel, Multiple input switcher
with CV,
SVHS, YUV, and RGB - ALL with extensive computer control.  We've also designed
in various signal processing controls like chroma phase and horizontal
positioning (as well as others) from software.  There are of course many good
ways to combine OpalVision and Amiga graphics, and add to that  various keying
methods, wipes and transitions for both graphics and live video and you
have a
very powerful video processing system.

 1.3
	 Keyboard Shortcuts


Many keyboard shortcuts are available and can significantly reduce the
amount of
time and effort that goes into using the OpalPaint software effectively.
Whenever possible keyboard shortcuts are equivalent to those used by the
popular
Deluxe Paint program.

 1.4
 	 Selection by tolerance 


One of OpalPaint's main strengths is the ability to select brushes based on
ranges of hue, saturation, and value (HSV).  This is a very powerful tool that
takes some getting used to.  Fortunately there are now features built into the
program to simplify tolerance selection. When entering the Extras menu an
information box at the bottom right of the menu will show the current HSV
values
of the pixel under the drawing tool cursor.  These values should be
studied to
get a good understanding of how to really control the paint program.  To
effectively use tolerances you must know the ranges that make up brush. 
Moving
your cursor over a defined part of a picture, say a cloud, while holding
the ALT
key pressed, will cause the HSV numbers to show how much variation there
is in
the area touched by the cursor.
 This new feature will help make tolerance
selection much easier to understand. The Palette Menu is another good
place to
get familiar with HSV and a great place just to learn about mixing colors and
setting up ranges.

 1.5
	 Stencils 


The same range (or tolerance) selection is available for stencils and
fills and
makes it much easier to work on large complex 24 bit images.  You can even set
up multiple stencils with one of the stencils having priority for isolating
specific areas of an image for painting, brush pickup, and stencilling.  Of
course standard Mask stencils are available for use either separately or with
Color Stencils.

 1.6
	 Gradients 


We also have powerful gradient controls for fills, including separate
transparency controls to specify see-through areas of the gradient fill, the
ability to use HSV or RGB, and to easily setup rainbow gradients.   A new
feature for the gradient mode includes the ability to save and load up to 8
gradients.


 1.7
	 Image Processing Modes 


OpalVision's designer, Gary Rayner, took a large 24 bit picture, one of the
pictures included with OpalPaint, grabbed a brush of most of the picture,
reduced the size of the brush and then tiled the brush onto another large
blank
24 bit canvas using a brush fill function. Next he applied an image processing
mode to each small picture and nicely subtitled the mode name under each tiled
image.  This takes a lot of the guess work, experimentation, and learning
curve
out of using the Mode tools.  There are 45 image processing modes currently
included with OpalPaint, and more will be made available in the future.  The
'Modes' picture can be found on the Centaur BBS.  A new feature (added
10-26-92)
gives the ability to have a real time preview of many of the pallette mapped
modes like 'Contrast', 'Brighten' and 'Color'. The result is a slider under
mouse control that gives real time numeric and full screen visual feedback of
the selected Mode's effects.  This means that you will be able to select the
desired mode intensity  without any guesswork. 


 1.8
	 Brushes and Extras 


There are multiple brushes and pages, relative and absolute rub throughs, the
ability to zap an entire image with a particular effect or mode, a redo
function, and 24 bit thumbnails of your pictures.  This is great for quickly
finding the correct picture.  A new  brush density control allows soft edged
brushes and completely controllable tranparent areas. Another new feature
of the
Brush selection tools includes picking up brushes easily and quickly from a
solid background color using the right mouse button for brush pickup
.  Please
contact Centaur or call our BBS for more information.

 1.9	Scaling Images 


Images can be scaled after being loaded simply by entering Preferences and
selecting Page Format.  By entering different numbers in the canvas size text
gadgets and pressing enter the program will prompt you to scale the image
to the
new size or cancel.  If you scale the image you will get the new size.  If you
'cancel' the operation the program will place your picture in the upper left
hand corner of the canvas and add black borders to the bottom and right to
accomodate the additional pixels.

 1.10	Scaled Gradients 


The scaling of images can be used to good effect by simply filling a standard
paint screen (640x400 or 640x512) with a gradient using the standard gradient
fill tools and simply scaling the image to any size you desire.

 1.11	Backgrounds, Paper types

b to fix or free the
background.  This is very useful for testing effects on portions of an
image and
can be a valuable time saver.


 1.15	OpalPaint Features to be implemented:


The only original OpalPaint software modules still in development include
thtly all on-screen pages must be in ram.  Another temporary limitation is
that the painting area is a maximum of 640x400 (NTSC) oof this revision of
the software.  With the next major revision we should be
painting in the overscan area, and eventually we will be amplete for
OpalPaint and consists of 155 commands
and complete control of any function available in the paint program.  When
using
ARexx the control available for OpalPaint becomes much more powerful.  With
numeric input for most functions and complete I/O for integration into other
third party ARexx compatible products the possibilities are endless.
  Contact
Centaur or the the OpalVision BBS for more information.

 1.14	Background Fixing 


 Backgrounds can now be fixed using the AMIGA-B or AMIGA-b to fix or free the
background.  This is very useful for testing effects on portions of an
image and
can be a valuable time saver.


 1.15	OpalPaint Features to be implemented:


The only original OpalPaint software modules still in development include
thtly all on-screen pages must be in ram.  Another temporary limitation is
that the painting area is a maximum of 640x400 (NTSC) oof this revision of
the software.  With the next major revision we should be
painting in the overscan area, and eventually we will be able to paint in the
scaled down full page view.  As you can see, we really are trying to look
at the
BIG picture (and pain OpalPaint to configure properly.  A future software
release will make these steps unnecessary, and there are probably methods
which
are much more elegant currently available.

Recently completed in house software upgrades and support for OpalPaint
include
approximately 15 complete turns of adjustment, and usually the display
will be
stable for about 6 to 10 of those turns.  Determine the number of turns during
which the display is stable and adjust for half of that amount from either
pointa RGB outputs, inplay just becomesL as well as for the 31Khz
De-interlaced output of the A3000.  The monitor has been a real workhorse
for me
and has been going strong for several years.

On an A3000 it was necessary for me to use more than one PD program (PAL and
ScreenMode) to get my machine to boot OpalPaint in PAL from a stock NTSC
machine
without actually going and changing a jumper on the Amiga motherboard.  I put
PAL and Screenmode in my startup-sequence.  I then simply run overscan
prefs and
save them.  This allows s short circuit on the output RGB
pins with no damage to the output drivers.  Manufacturing processes now
include
tighter conrols and we are adding pre-testing and qualification of bare
circuit
boards with final assembly powered burn-in to improve
reliabilapproximately 15 complete turns of adjustment, and usually the
display will be
stable for about 6 to 10 of those turns.  Determine the number of turns during
which the display is stable and adjust for half of that amount from either
point
at which the display just becomes stable.
 
1.23	Missing Red Signal   (See Figure 1)


  We have seen an unexpected number of failures due the the premature
demise of
the driver transistor for the Red output of the OpalVision Board.  This
problem
has been tracked down to a manufacturing process control defect.  When
replacing
the transistor the problem has NOT resurfaced to our knowledge on any boards
that have been repaired.  We have added protection circuitry to the RGB output
drivers that will allow a complete continuous short circuit on the output RGB
pins with no damage to the output drivers.  Manufacturing processes now
include
tighter conrols and we are adding pre-testing and qualification of bare
circuit
boards with final assembly powered burn-in to improve reliability and
quality.



In conclusion, we are looking at all of the latest and best video technology,
and have
some more surprises in store for everybody...till next time.



Kelly Keith
OpalVision Technical Support


I hope this helps.  They have released the beta version up to rev 1.2 of
the software.

					Rick Lakin
					rlakin@eis.calstate.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics