Creating Anims in ImageFX4.5?

[sdesros]

I tried yesterday to creat an anim file using IFX4.5. (4.5 doesn't seem to come with it's own booklet.  I got the book for 4.0 and my original 3.0 book.  [I guess I should hunt around for the docs on the CD].)

I was wondering if someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong?

I've got 2 images (they are 24bit iff images [which might be my problem right there?]).  They ar both the same size 180x151.  I load the first image, open the layers menu, select "create new frame" [only anim related menu option], then select "load frame" and load in my second image.  I've got 3 images, delete the extreneous one.

I then click on each image and set the "rate".

Then I try and select "Save as sequence..." and select "Anim".  I get an error stating the that images need to have a colormap?  I thought it might be an error because I'm using 24 bit images, so for fun I select "gif" and it says I've got the wrong colour depth.

Anyway, so what am I doing wrong?

[sprocket]

Both .anim and .gif are colormapped formats and have fewer colors than the 24 bit images in your buffer.

Image FX needs you to convert the buffer to colormapped images first.  It's very powerful but you need to know some stuff about formats and stuff to use it.

Open the "Color" requestor with the button on the toolbar.
There you'll see "Convert to CMAP" fifth from the bottom.
(Make sure you have your animated buffer selected first.) Click on it and you'll get some options....choose what you want and it will convert all the frames in your anim buffer to colormapped frames.  Then you can save to either .anim or .gif.

BTW, you can save 24 bit animations in the native Image FX format of INGF.

Hope this helps.

[cecilia]

Then I try and select "Save as sequence..."

first off, a "Sequence" means separate frames, or files that are numbered sequentially. this is not what you want. the menu from the layers menu window will only save sequences.

if you want to save an ANIM (a single file of compressed frames all together in a lump), you have to use the normal SAVE button on the toolbox.

now, a gif anim is a colormapped image (256 colors or less). gif can never be 24 bit. The only time amigas can make 24 bit "anims is when you make a flyer clip. and that generally happens (i believe) if you have a flyer. I'm guessing you don't  :-P

mpgs and such are also 24bit but you have to compile separate single frames together to get them into that format. IFX doesn't really directly save to mpg. you can, save the 24 bit frames from IFX.

if you have enough memory you can play the anim from the layers menu. but that doesn't have anything to do with saving. just thought i'd point it out. :lol:

right now I forget the exact location of the tool to transform the buffer into a colormapped image. Color>...eh, something. I'm so used to where it is I don't look at the names anymore.

do you know about the IFX mailing list?
very useful place to get answers to all sorts of problems.

[sdesros]

Great thanks!

I'll try it once I'm at home.  Yes, I did save my animation as INGF format but it doesn't seem to save the frame rate.  Not that it matters as there are only two frames is the animation at the moment.

Thanks alot!

[sdesros]

first off, a "Sequence" means separate frames, or files that are numbered sequentially. this is not what you want. the menu from the layers menu window will only save sequences.

That's what I thought, but it's strange as when I tried to initially save via the save menu and selected anim I got a message stating that the save didn't support full anim and will only save the first frame?

Anyway, I'll need to experiment a bit more...

[cecilia]

but it's strange as when I tried to initially save via the save menu and selected anim I got a message stating that the save didn't support full anim and will only save the first frame?

that's because it's expecting a colormapped image(s). as it's 24 bit it can't save an anim, so it just can save the first buffer.
or the buffer that is showing at the moment.