WIZARDS OF VIDEO ARE PROUD TO PRESENT: ************************************** * * * AW_DeFlicker for ADPRO * * * * RELEASE INFORMATION * * * * Written by: * * Steve Haaz * * * * * * Copyright 1997 Arthur Wilkins Ltd. * * * ************************************** Content of this readme: - What is it? - What is the purpose? - The AW Treatment - Installation - Operation - Tips - ARexx - The demo limitation - Price (boring, pathetic note to pirates) - System requirements - How do I buy it right now??! - The AWSW satisfaction guarantee - Technical support - Legal Issues - Other fine products from AWSW - MovieShop and PC users! ********************************************************************** ENJOY! WHAT IS IT? *********** It is an operator for one of the leading image processing software on the Amiga, Art Deparment Professional. It removes interlace flicker from a computer generated / video image, WITHOUT any loss of resolution, and NO visible blur! WHAT IS THE PURPOSE? ******************** Today's video standards (PAL, SECAM, NTSC) are interlaced. It means that the TV 'draws' each FRAME in two rounds. This is the first field (ODD) - half vertical resolution ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- . . . This is the second field (EVEN) - half vertical resolution ++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++ . . . The fields are displayed 50 times in a second (50Hz) in PAL and SECAM, and 60 times (60Hz) in NTSC. The two fields are displayed INTERLACED, and the two fields draw out one FRAME - full resolution - like this: --------------- +++++++++++++++ --------------- +++++++++++++++ --------------- +++++++++++++++ . . . So, this really is one full resolution FRAME of video. In fact only 25 or 30 FRAMES are displayed every second, and that's only 25 or 30Hz refresh rate, and that's why it flickers. Interlace is a trick, to make the video standard more efficient. It is a very good idea, but it has some limitations. 1. When there is a high contrast between two lines above each other, the effective refresh rate is only 25 or 30Hz and that is VERY flickering, annoying to the eye. 2. In case of motion picture, when the two fields contain two different video images (or even a slight differences) - it is not possible to freeze a full resolution steady FRAME. When you "pause" a video, either the resolution is reduced to one field, or if the resolution is not halved, then the motion between the fields flicker like hell. Note, that it DOES NOT matter, if you use a high-scanning (SVGA, Multiscan) monitor on your computer. When you transfer the image to video it will flicker! TIP: When you work for video, always check your design in a video (PAL, NTSC) display mode, to check for flicker. A very flickering title, or texture, is simply not professional. Ok, sorry for the lengthy explanation, possibly you already knew this, all too well... :) This is where we come into the picture: AWDeFlicker removes the interlace flicker WITHOUT any loss of resolution, and visible blur! It will NOT modify the picture where it is not neccessary. If you look at the before and after images on a high-scanning monitor you will hardly notice ANY difference. But when you display it in PAL or NTSC, the before picture flickers, and the after is ROCK STEADY. Ever wondered how it is possible that those high-tech TV commercials and openings are so rock steady on video, and why your Amiga (and other) computer video dubs are just so unprofessional? This is why... DeFlicker is suitable for: - Primary use is to remove flicker from computer generated stills. Remove the flicker from SCALA inserts, and inserts generated by any paint software! Make sure you always DeFlicker before recording to video! - It is perfectly suitable for removing flicker from NON field-rendered animations - like DPaint cartoons, or even non field-rendered 3D. Well, it's better to use field rendering with 3D. - It MAY work well with motion picture video sequences and field-rendered animations, but there can be some artifacts in case of fast motion. You should check it by not overwriting the original. - It is the BEST way to freeze a still in video, IF there is no heavy motion between fields. Check it, and if you're not satisfied with the result, then use AW-Freeze for the BEST POSSIBLE result. Check the readme for AW-Freeze for further information. THE AW TREATMENT **************** Before transfering any computer generated insert to video tape, make sure you use both AW-AfterAlias (see later) AND AW-DeFlicker to produce outstanding, rock-steady, professional quality! INSTALLATION ************ Copy the file into the operators directory of ADPro, and start / restart ADPro. That's all. OPERATION ********* 1. Load the image. 2. Choose the operator from the list window, and apply the effect to image that is currently in the buffer of ADPro. DeFlicker has no options, there's no need for any settings. 3. Save the image. The DeFlicker operator is BLAZINGLY fast. For further information refer to the ADPro manual. TIPS **** - Don't overwrite the original before actually seeing, that the result is what you need. - We suggest that you check the result on an individual frame before applying it to a long sequence of frames. - Check the AWSW site for the latest tips AREXX ***** You can of course invoke the operator from ARexx scripts very simply, or you can apply it to a sequence of frames by FRED (or similar ARexx ADPro front-ends). Syntax: OPERATOR AW_DeFlicker THE DEMO LIMITATION ******************* We give you a chance to testdrive our products, to make sure you are not fooled by the marketing hype. The demo version: 1. applies changes only to the upper half of the image 2. writes the word DEMO in the middle. 3. maximum vertical resolution is 580 pixels 4. ARexx does not work. PRICE: ****** HOT INTRODUCTORY DEALS!!! Check out with the distributors! Prices are too low to print... Act fast, this is a time limited offer! Our commitment is to bring you high quality software at the shareware price-tag. We can't tell the exact price for the whole product, because it may vary from country to country, and distributor to distributor. We strongly believe that this is a useful product and you will buy it for the small ammount of money we charge. You will save a lot of time AND produce results that never were possible before. Usual pathetic note to pirates: PLEASE don't. We let you try before you buy and we sell it really cheap, so there's no excuse. Well, maybe the fun of cracking software. But there's not any protection! It would be stupid of us to believe it worths anything against a cracker... Please do the right thing, otherwise you stop good people like us from producing high quality products at this real low price. There's this thing with the Amiga. Software is stolen on every platform -information wants to be free by Nature. That's all right. But on other platforms we can do with 5-10% of people who actually buy. After what happened to the Amiga, if only 5-10% of the few fine folks who are still out there will buy instead of copy it from friends would mean we must work for some other platform. Well, there's no way to stop a real 'pirate' from stealing software - no matter what we are saying here. Real pirates are naughty by nature, but if YOU want to use our product for work, please do pay for it. Consider it as a commitment for letting us bring you the coolest stuff in the future for a really affordable price. Now, was this pathetic enough? :) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: ******************** - Any Amiga computer that is capable of running ADPro. - Art Department Professional 2.5 software HOW DO I BUY IT RIGHT NOW?! *************************** AWSW products are available from distributors, we do not sell directly to end-users. US distributor: VideoWorks USA 559 Hastings Hill Road Kernersville, NC 27284 Phone: (910) 785-2117 E-mail: BobBennet@kernersville.com URL: http://www.kernersville.com/awsw Shipping to USA and Canada. Fast electronic delivery for MC / VISA orders. Hungary: ACOMP KFT. - POLUS CENTER Telefon: 419-4091, 419-4092 E-mail: acomp@acomp.hu URL: http://www.acomp.hu Only shipping to Hungary. Szóval itt lehet megvenni... :) Bocs, hogy nincs sok magyar szöveg. Sweden: rebro Videoreklam Slottsg. 12 s-703 61 OREBRO SWEDEN E-mail: videoking@mbox200.swipnet.se URL: http://www.flevel.co.uk/videoking Shipping to Sweden and Europe. DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME! If you can't get hold of our products from the above distributors, please contact us directly: Arthur Wilkins Software 1141 Budapest Malyva u.32 Hungary Tel/Fax: (36-1) 221-2287 E-mail: ben@mail.datanet.hu URL: www.acomp.hu/awsw THE AWSW SATISFACTION GUARANTEE ******************************* 1. Do try before you buy! 2. Any improvements in speed, compatibility, in existing features will be available to you as free upgrades. You will only pay for NEW features - if you want to. 3. Expert help is an e-mail away if you're stuck with a problem. 4. Check our web-site for great demo pictures, tips, new products, and technical support (in the unlikely event of...) 5. Subscribe the AWSW newsletter (on our site) for immediate update on new information related to our products. TECHNICAL SUPPORT ***************** If you have any problems or questions, send them to: By fax: Arthur Wilkins Ltd. Attn: Steve Haaz (00-36-1) 221-2287 E-mail: ben@mail.datanet.hu LEGAL ISSUES ************ AW_DeFlicker_DEMO is freeware. You may copy it freely to other users, and include it in software libraries and disk supplements without permission, provided the content of the archive remains intact. Please send us a notification - or a sample copy of the media. AW_DeFlicker is copyrighted product, it's not in the public domain. Copyright 1997 Arthur Wilkins Ltd. All rights reserved. Users are entitled to make one backup copy of this software for archival purposes. All other forms of duplication, whether electronic or physical, are expressly forbidden by Arthur Wilkins Ltd. All other products in this manual are trademarks of their respective owners. Arthur Wilkins Ltd. assumes no responsibility as to the suitability of this product for any commercial or non-commercial application. Arthur Wilkins Ltd. assumes no liability for any direct or indirect harm or loss or destruction of data resulting from the use or misuse of this product. Use of this program indicates your acceptance of the terms stated above. OTHER FINE PRODUCTS FROM AWSW ***************************** AW-AfterAlias It is just another must-have for any videgrapher. It applies perfect anti-aliasing to a jaggied image, AFTER it has been drawn, rendered. It is dream for any cartoonist. You must see to believe it! AW-Freeze Eliminate motion between fields of a video grab with interpolation. It will freeze a rock-steady still by eliminating one of the fields, and generates the lost information by interpolation. AW-Mask* Generate a mask for a variety of sophisticated video effects with ease and power. AW-Shiny* Generate extremely realistic star-filter shines on a sequence of rendered or video images. Shiny finds the suitable spots for shines in the image automatically. AW-Repaint* Repaint any object in an image to another colour with ease and without any artifacts on the edges. Change the colour of skin, eyes, jeans, etc, or turn a red car into a blue car without modifying the rest of the picture. It works great! AW-LightFX* Ever rendered a Ligtwave animation just for those fancy lens-flares? Now you can do that and MUCH MORE, with this extremely good light effects generator. AW-StarField* Create extremely realistic animated starfield animations easily with a professional touch. Shaded, sub-pixel anti-aliased stars move VERY smoothly, and shine up as the come closer. Nothing like this was available so cheaply for the professional videographer. ------------ BIGDISK* Now you can get rid of the 4GB limitation of AmigaDOS. With bigdisk.device, you can use hardisks of any size, for example those great 9GB hardisks from Seagate and Micropolis. Without BIGDISK any data written above 4GB of a hardisk OVERWRITES information in the beginning of the hardisk and results in severe data loss. BIGDISK is compatible with the DraCo and the MovieShop software (VLM version as well). ------------ * indicates shortly upcomming product. Make sure to check out our web-site for latest info, and new releases. MOVIESHOP AND PC USERS! *********************** Would you like our video effects to become available as MovieShop effect modules, or Adobe PhotoShop compatible filters? Drop us a line to: E-mail:ben@mail.datanet.hu Arthur Wilkins Ltd. 1141 Budapest Malyva u.32 Hungary 02/03/1997, Budapest