Concept <---             Back              ---> Processor

Introduction

Converter Parts

• Input

Normally this is the first thing that you select. Here you specify what you want to work on.
Wildfire looks for the number of frames that the selected input has. It asks you if all the variables and effect ranges should be resized to use the new number of frames. This makes it possible to use the sessions that are saved for example using 30 frames with 80 frames, too, without changing anything by the user.
The same goes for the dimension of the input. If you (for example) created a script for a 320x256 pixel sized image and you load a 688x560 pixel sized image (or animation) as input then Wildfire ask`s you if it should change all size dependent settings and size dependend variables (!) concerning the new size. Wildfire decides itself if the variables/settings are size dependant.
Example
The width inside a scale operator is size dependent when you selected insde the scale operator that the value is a pixel value. So this variable/value will be scaled to fit the new size of the image.
If you selected that this value/variable is in percent then it is not scaled, of course!
• Animations

MPEG, QT, AVI, YAFA and IFF animations are supported
If you select an animation file then Wildfire recognizes it and it catches the first image and it will be displayed. Furtheron the number of frames will be checked and selected as maximum frame value for this session. The image size of the input will be checked too and the standard settings will be changed.
• Picture List

As Input you can specify a list of pictures, too. If your pictures are a sequence (image.0001, image.0002, ...) then please use the `Image Sequence` as input.
The images may have different basenames and may be in different directorys on your harddisk.
• Black Frames

If you want to create images yourself using Wildfire`s special effects then you need no image as input. In this case you can use this input. Here you can choose what default size should be used (important for all the previews and other program parts) and what number of frames should be created. Wildfire create`s then black images of the selected size.
• Image Sequence

Here you can specify image sequences which have the following structure:
image.0001
image.0002
image.0003
....
image.9999
The only thing you have to enter is the basename of the sequence (in the example case it would be image) and that`s it. You can select the first image of the sequence, too, if that`s easier for you.
JPEG, ILBM, PNG¸ PPM, EPS and datatype images are supported.
• Effects

Select what kind of effects do you want to use. Please read the section about the effect processor to get more informations.
• Linear

These are the `standard` effects known from the older versions. Here the input gives the current frame inside the `STREAM` buffer to the effect processor. There is a list of effects which will be calculated from the top to the bottom and the image which is at the end of the script inside the `STREAM` buffer will be given to the output.
• Non Linear

This is the new effect part where you do not have to care about the name of the buffers. Everything works with drag`n`drop. The converter gives the current input image to the effect processor. You see this input image in the upper right corner. You can drag`n`drop it to the inputs of your effects. The output of your effects may be connected with other effect inputs or with the output image on the effect page which is situated in the lower right corner. This image will be transferred to the output of the converter.
• No Effects

Using this option you turn off the effects. So you have a direct connection between the input and the output and the only thing you can change is the format of the images.
• Output

Here you specify what should be done with the images that you get from the effect processor or directly from the input.
• YAFA Animation

Create a YAFA Animation. You have to specify the name of the animation. YAFA is our own animation format.
• IFF Animation

Create an IFF Animation. You have to specify the name of the animation.
• MPEG Animation

Create an MPEG Animation. You have to specify the name of the animation. MPEG I and MPEG II are supported.
• GIF Animation

Sorry, this was dropped some days before the release because of too high copyright fees.
• Image Sequence

Create a sequence of images from the calculated images. You have to specify the basename of the sequence and Wildfire will add the current frame number from .0001 to .9999
Rendered (1 - 8 bit) and TrueColor (24 Bit) Images are supported.
• Display Only

Do not save the results (NIL:). If you turn the preview on then you can see what results you would get.
• Ranges

If you want to calculate only parts of the animations then this is the gadget you are looking for. Wildfire`s ranges are very complex. Please have a look at the bubble help!
• Input Range

Do not use all of the input images to create the animation.
Furtheron you can select the Transition Mode here and specify the length of the transition!
• Output Range

Do not create all output images but only a part of it. If you want for instance render images 250 to 299 of your session then this is the right place for you.
• Preview

Here you can select what kind of preview should be used while converting.
• No Preview

Display no preview at all to save some memory.
• Screen

Display the preview on a screen. You have to select a your setup fitting screenmode.
• Window

Display a preview inside a window on your public screen. If the output is deeper (has more colors) than your screen then this is not possible. Wildfire will display the preview on a screen in that case.
• Calculation

Finally we are here. Please save your session (use `Save` from inside the menu) before you press on one of these buttons. Here you can start the render process.
• Single Image

Calculate only one single image using the currently displayed image inside the preview below the input and the currently selected effect frame on the bottom of Wildfire`s window. If you want to use the same input frame than the selected effect frame, then mark the `Connect` gadget below the preview of the input.
• Convert

Start to calculate the whole session from frame 1 to the last frame. This may take some time...
• Render Preview

Here you can render a small version of your session. You can specify the start-and the endframe and a skip value that tells Wildfire how many frames it should skip between the single frames.
Wildfire will use the size of the preview from inside the effect page (normally 50%).
This is fast and gives you a good impression on how the real result will look like.
• Test (lower right side of the window)

This function is the same like the single image button but does not save the result. It only displays it using the screen selected as preview-screen.
 
 

Concept <---             Back              ---> Processor

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