360 Systems MAXX-6T - Manual (Page 71)

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MAXX 6T Owner’s Manual Page 71
Importing TARGA Graphics Files
The Image Server will recognize and ingest single-frame TARGA files via FTP from most network-
attached graphics workstations. TARGA files have a .tga extension, and may contain an alpha (or
key) channel. During transfer, the Image Server will split the TARGA file into a Fill frame, and a
Key frame if it exists. These will be converted to high-resolution MPEG-2 files, one frame in length.
For example, if an original file is named Logo.tga, the MPEG-2 files created will be named Logo.mxf
(the fill file) and Logo_.mxf (the key file). Note the trailing underscore “_” added to the file name of
the key. This allows the TARGA file to be used for key and fill applications when channels 2 and 3
are ganged together.
Once a TARGA file is ingested, it exists only as an MXF MPEG-2 file. The processed file may be
transferred to-and-from network-attached storage, another Image Server, or a graphics workstation,
as two separate MXF MPEG-2 files.
The resolution of a TARGA image should be 720 x 480 for NTSC video or 720 x 576 for PAL. If the
original TARGA image is not of this resolution, the Image Server will re-scale it, possibly
introducing some dimensional distortion. The bit depth of the files must be 24 or 32 bit. The Image
Server does not support Targa sequences, only single frame graphics.
Animation Import
From the Image Server’s standpoint, an “animation” is a clip with a minimum length of two
seconds. Clips used in back to back seamless playback must be a minimum of four seconds long. A
separate Alpha channel may or may not be present. Any graphics workstation capable of exporting
files supported by the Image Server can make transfers to it via FTP. If an alpha channel is present,
the naming conventions of the Key/Fill Mode apply: the file name for the key video is the same as
the filename for the fill video with the addition of an underscore character ( _ ). Many software
programs have the ability to create content compatible with the Image Server , including Final Cut
Pro® 4, Avid® DV Xpress, DV/Pro, Liquid Edition, Vegas video, and Adobe® After Effects®,
Premiere® and Photoshop®.
Still Frames
A single-frame clip (a “still”) may be inserted into a playlist. The length of a still will appear as one
frame in the clip list. When a still is encountered, the playlist will pause and hold the still image
until a Play command is issued, at which point the playlist will continue to the next clip in the list.
When using the GUI, the space bar (a keyboard shortcut) will also advance the playlist. Stills may
be placed anywhere in a playlist. In fact, a playlist may be entirely composed of stills.
A still frame clip in a playlist can have a duration assigned to it (See Page 57). It will then play for
that duration and the list will continue automatically.
Stills are created when TARGA files are ingested. (See page 75for a description of TARGA file
ingest.) It is also possible to create still frames from video clips that use a 1 frame GOP (I-frame
only.) When editing the clip, make the In and Out points the same frame. This frame will be
displayed when the clip is played in the Playlist.