From: dyer@nrlvx1.nrl.navy.mil (Doug Dyer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
Subject: Re: Best way to scan/obtain images?
Date: 17 Nov 92 04:59:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: nrlvx1.1992Nov17.085935.879
Organization: NRL SPACE SYSTEMS DIVISION

In article <69631@cup.portal.com>, Harv@cup.portal.com (Harv R Laser) writes:
>>Hey!
>>
>>	Whats the best way to obtain images into the computer?  Hand scanner?
>>Digi-view? Whats a "xapshot"?  
>>
>>thanks,
>>
>>-- 
>>Doug Dyer   *    STI   *    dyer@nrlvax.nrl.navy.mil    | "(2B) | !(2B) -> ?"
> 
> Don't you hate people who answer questions like this with "well, it
> depends"?? 
> 

First, thanks a LOT for you guys who posted.  I saved those articles :)

> Well, it depends. :-)
> 
> 1. How much ya wanna spend?

Assume price is no problem, but that the item must work with an A4000 so I can
take it with me :)

> 2. Ya wanna carry the digitizer around with ya?

Thats no problem.

> 3. Ya want the highest possible quality but willing to spend more for it?

The image will be used for video-tape and for kiosks, so "print-quality" might
not fit in. I don't know, I'm new at this but looking forward to it :)

> 4. Ya real cheap and yer destination images will be low-res so high
> quality isn't important?

Video tape and screen renderings are the destination.  Printing is of no
importance, so that I hope helps out :)

> 
> For flat artwork, books, magazines, etc. the best way to get the images
> into an Amiga is with a 24bit flatbed color scanner. A good one, like
> the Epson ES300C plus driver software is gonna cost ya about $1000 give
> or take.  "Hand scanners" are generally b&w only.
> 
 Is this overkill for video?

> Digiview is real cheap, but you need a camera, lights, a copy stand,
> and a helluva lotta patience to use it and its quality won't approach
> that of a good scanner, altho talented folks can do good things with it.
> 

 I hear that digiview has problems on an A4000 :(

> A framegrabber can grab frames from live television or running videotapes.
> Many are out there, quality and prices vary. Figure about $300 minimum.
> 

This could be what I want.  I have a nice4-head vcr with a solid pause, and a
camcorder.

> A slow-scan digitizer like DCTV or DigiView can grab frames from still
> video sources, or paused VCR tapes if they have a rock-solid pause
> mode, preferably digital freeze-frame although if you add a time-base
> corrector, this can make up for a less-than ideal paused source.

ahh, maybe this is what my vcr would be good at.  Does DCTV work with the
A4000?  Does scala support it?

> A Xapshot is a hand-held very compact still video camera made by
> Canon USA Inc., officially called the RC-250. It has color NTSC
> (television) output and can be input fed into a DCTV for excellent
> results. A Xapshot/DCTV combination will set you back around $700
> again give or take. 

So this would give me a slow-scan digitizer for video sources and a "camera"
for outside then?  To my needs, this seems to have an advantage over the
scanner, or is the  quality not worth it?  Is the xapshot color?


> But this combo will not approach the quality
> you'll get with a nice 24 bit flatbed scanner, because scanners
> have higher resolution. 
> 
 Do you think the higher resolution would be waisted for video uses?  I'd also
have to get photos made of my images, but I can also use this to grab anything
from magazines :)

> I've used all these devices and currently own the Epson scanner,
> the Canon Xapshot, and DCTV so I can help you with specific questions
> on those. You'd be best off finding a quality Amiga dealer who can
> demo these devices for you and show you what kind of software 
> interfaces them to an Amiga.  Such dealers do exist but they are
> rare.

I am in the DC metro area.  There is a nice shop called "Diskcovery" but they
don't have anything like this (ie: one old a500, 3 suped-up ibms).  

As for software, my base will be:
	morph+
	scala2mm (they told me it will be upgraded for a4000 support)
	a 3D software (currently imagine, but hopefully something more
			friendly, maybe caligari24..)
	sunrize 12-bit audio board
	brilliance (or, DCTV paint now that you got me thinking about it :)

So these images will be stretched and pulled rather extensively :)
> Regards, Harv

Thanks, Harv.
-- 
Doug Dyer   *    STI   *    dyer@nrlvax.nrl.navy.mil    | "(2B) | !(2B) -> ?"
DISCLAIMER:  These are my opinions, and not necessarily |  LOWLY SHOPKEEPER,  
those of STI, NRL,  and most likely you too.            | WHERE IS YOUR PEZZ!
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.multimedia