From: blackbelt@cup.portal.com (Ben - Williams)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics
Subject: Re: Trying to find the perfect morpher
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 14:29:49 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: world
  <69307@cup.portal.com>

Re: "Morph Wars" charts
-----------------------
ASDG has recently released a chart that purports to represent a complete set
of features of the morphing software currently available in the Amiga market.
As of Imagemaster 9.22, which is the currently shipping version, the
following updates are made to the ASDG chart for the Imagemaster entries.

We've kept all the original ASDG chart entries, and added some that are
oriented towards the paradigms that Imagemaster uses.  We've also corrected
the many errors ASDG made in evaluating Imagemaster's morphing capabilities.
Items with letter suffixes or beyond the line marked "Plus" in each group
were added by Black Belt.

All original classifications remain unchanged, other than a few being
restated so they would fit on a line - we took the SAME meanings for any that
were restated for our answers.

We've not involved GVP in this, though they are *very* welcome to jump in;
they should add their own chart elements if required, of course. :^)

The only chart notation besides "Yes" and "No" we've used is "$$$", which
means "extra-cost option".

                                    Chart
                                  ---------
                                                        ASDG  BB
                                                   MP1.0        IM9.22
                                                        =========
1.  Operates as part of Art Department Professional     Yes   No
----------------Plus...                                 ---   ---
2.  Operates as part of Imagemaster                     No    Yes
3.  Compatible to Image F/x:Morph, the Windows 3.1 tool No    Yes
4.  Image file formats compatible with AdPro            Yes   Yes
5.  Image file formats compatible with Imagemaster      Yes   Yes

User Interface Elements                                 ASDG  BB
=================================================================
1.  Single window interface for visible vector ops      Yes   Yes
1a. Dual Window interface for seeing frames separately  No    Yes
2.  Variable onionskin interface                        Yes   Yes
2a. Utilizes full screen area for Onionskin             No    Yes
3.  Fast, asynchronous zoom in/out                      Yes   Yes
3a. Fast, asynch independant frame zooming              No    Yes
4.  Fast, asynch scrolling                              Yes   Yes
4a. Fast, asynch independant frame scrolling            No    Yes
5.  Fast, asynch brightness + contrast in Onionskin     Yes   Yes
5a. Fast, asynch brightness + contrast in Dual Windows  No    Yes
6.  Selectively deal with specific layers & groups      Yes   Yes
7.  Full-motion preview of morph control vectors        Yes   No
7a. Full-motion preview of actual morph image frames    No    Yes
----------------Plus...                                 ---   ---
8.  Integrated ARexx presave script                     Yes   Yes
9.  Integrated ARexx postsave script                    No    Yes
10. Integrated ARexx presequence script                 No    Yes
11. Integrated ARexx postsequence script                No    Yes
12. Ability to use predefined shapes as control regions No    Yes
13. Translation (moving) vector groups                  Yes   Yes
14. Resizing of vector groups                           No    Yes
15. Rotation of vector groups                           No    Yes
16. Image editing (f/x, etc) in std or new AGA modes    $$$   Yes
17. All image operations are WYSIWYG                    No    Yes
18. Direct support of framebuffers                      $$$   Yes

Warping Technology                                      ASDG  BB
================================================================
1.  Create and control folds                            Yes   No
2.  Precisely isolate regions                           Yes   Yes
3.  Guarantee image boundary integrity                  Yes   Yes
4.  Create travelling mattes while warping              Yes   No
5.  Depth arrange sections of the image                 Yes   No
6.  Unsusceptible to the "bottleneck" problem           Yes   Yes
7.  Minimized penalty for complicated warps             Yes   Yes
8.  Time independent variable motion control            Yes   Yes
8a. Velocity applicable to isolated vectors             No    Yes
8b. Velocity smoothly interpolatable outside groups     No    Yes
8c. Velocity lockable inside groups                     Yes   Yes
9.  Controllable overshoot and undershoot               Yes   Yes
10. Collect related vectors into named groups           Yes   Yes
----------------Plus...                                 ---   ---
11. Free vector control of warp topology                Yes   Yes
12. Constrained grid control of warp topology           No    Yes
13. Vector endpoints control of warp topology           No    Yes
14. Velocity associatively drives transparency          No    Yes
15. Vectors promotable to splines for organic motion    No    Yes

Morphing Technology                                     ASDG  BB
================================================================
1.  Control dissolve rate regionally                    Yes   Yes
2.  Precisely define dissolve regions                   Yes   Yes
2a. Transparency applicable to isolated vectors         No    Yes
2b. Transparency created as smooth global maps          No    Yes
2c. Tranparency smoothly interpolatable outside groups  No    Yes
2d. Transparency lockable inside groups                 Yes   Yes
3.  Warp "before" image differently than "after" image  Yes   No

Other issues of direct interest to consumers            ASDG  BB
=================================================================
Retail Price:---------------------------------------->  $300  $250
1.  Provides 24-bit touchup paintbox                    No    Yes
2.  Provides suite of image-processing tools            $$$   Yes
3.  Provides suite of image composition tools           $$$   Yes
4.  Provides suite of image analysis tools              No    Yes
5.  Outputs highest quality Amiga-mode images           No    Yes
6.  Free developer support in every package shipped     No    Yes
7.  Monthly performance upgrades available              No    $$$
8.  Free multiline user-support BBS                     No    Yes
9.  Toll-free sales/literature line                     No    Yes
10. Originally brought morphing inexpensively to PC's   No    Yes
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics