Pinnacle Speakers FXDEKO manual

280 N. Bernardo, Mountain View, CA 94043 FXD EKO TM Bringing a new level of Effects to Character Generators User’s Guide Software Version 4.1 PPN 51002588 Revision F[...]

COPYRIGHT Copyright © 2001 Pinnacle Systems, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Portions of the software described in this document Copyright © 1985-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Portions of the software described in this document Copyright © 1991-2001 Arthur D. Applegate. All Rights Reserved. The Sentry Spelling Checker Engine Copyri[...]

3 FXDeko User’s Guide Table of Contents Introduction Welcome! ............................................................................................................................ 9 How to Use This Manual ............................................................................................... 10 Other Documents .....................[...]

4 Table of Contents FXDeko User’s Guide Composing Text (cont.) Justifying Text ................................................................................................................. 40 Tab Stops ......................................................................................................................... 42 Spell Checking Te[...]

Table of Contents 5 FXDeko User’s Guide Graphics and Layers (cont.) Text Field Properties ....................................................................................................... 88 Adding a Rectangle Layer ............................................................................................. 89 Adding an Ellipse Layer .....[...]

6 Table of Contents FXDeko User’s Guide Managing Files Opening Files ................................................................................................................. 136 Closing Files ................................................................................................................... 137 Saving Files ..............[...]

Table of Contents 7 FXDeko User’s Guide Clip ................................................................................................................................... 194 Menu Commands (cont.) Edit ................................................................................................................................... 194 File[...]

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9 FXDeko User’s Guide Introduction W ELCOME ! This is the User’s Guide for FXDeko, a full-color video character generator from Pinnacle Systems, Inc. Based on the Windows NT operating system, FXDeko offers unprecedented performance in a broadcast-quality character generator, including: • The highest picture quality currently available for tel[...]

10 Introduction FXDeko User’s Guide H OW TO U SE T HIS M ANUAL The FXDeko User’s Guide is a reference manual that describes the operation of FXDeko. The User’s Guide is derived largely from FXDeko’s on-line Help screens—you’ll find pretty much the same information in both places. One difference between this manual and the on-line Help i[...]

Using this Manual and Contacting Pinnacle 11 FXDeko User’s Guide H OW TO C ONTACT P INNACLE S YSTEMS Pinnacle Systems, Inc. 280 N. Bernardo Avenue Mountain View, CA 94043 What to do before you call: Whenever you contact Pinnacle Systems for technical support, please have the following information available: • Product name and software version n[...]

12 Introduction FXDeko User’s Guide S TARTING W INDOWS NT To start Windows NT: 1. Turn on the power to the PC. The computer monitor shows a series of diagnostic screens, then displays the Windows NT startup screen. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to log on. 2. Enter your user name and password, then press Enter. If you don’t have a user name, log on as u[...]

Starting and Exiting FXDeko 13 FXDeko User’s Guide To have FXDeko prompt before exiting: 1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences 2. Choose Prompts at the top of the Preferences dialog box. 3. Check Prompt before exiting FXDeko. To use other applications without exiting FXDeko: 1. Do one of the following: • Click the minimize button in the [...]

14 Introduction FXDeko User’s Guide another user can log back on. Shared files are not accessible from other networked workstations.[...]

15 FXDeko User’s Guide Overview of FXDeko T HE FXD EKO D ESKTOP All creation and playback of FXDeko graphics are done using the mouse and keyboard to interact with the various controls and windows on FXDeko’s desktop . The appearance of the desktop depends on the current layout , as selected from the Window menu. FXDeko offers eight standard la[...]

16 Overview of FXDeko FXDeko User’s Guide P ROGRAM AND P REVIEW All graphics are created in a Preview or Program window. The Program window shows the current on-air graphic. The contents of this window match FXDeko's video output, plus a cursor, safe-title lines and other markers. There can be one or two Program windows. The Preview window s[...]

Creating and Saving Graphic s 17 FXDeko User’s Guide C REATING A G RAPHIC To create a FXDeko graphic: 1. Activate a Program or Preview window. If desired, clear any previous graphic by pressing F8 once, or press F8 twice to clear the background, too. 2. Use the cursor keys or click the mouse to position the text cursor . 3. Type any desired text.[...]

18 Overview of FXDeko FXDeko User’s Guide 4. Click OK or press Enter. To specify whether or not to save character glyphs: 1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12). 2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options. 3. Select whether to save graphic files with pre-rendered glyphs Always, Never or If not already in pre-rendered style. [...]

Creating and Saving Graphic s 19 FXDeko User’s Guide 3. Under When saving TIFF and Targa files, check Save with alpha channel (32-bit). 4. Click OK or press Enter.[...]

20 Overview of FXDeko FXDeko User’s Guide O PENING A G RAPHIC F ILE To open a graphic file: 1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9). 2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the file. 3. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press [...]

Opening Graphics 21 FXDeko User’s Guide To open a graphic recorded under a different aspect ratio: 1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9). 2. In the dialog box, choose Options. 3. Choose one of the following in the File Open Options dialog box: For native (.dko) files of non-native aspect ratio: • Clip to fit. Scales a 4 x 3 graphic [...]

22 Overview of FXDeko FXDeko User’s Guide To re-open the graphic file in the active window: From the File menu, choose Revert.[...]

Keying and Frame Grabbing 23 FXDeko User’s Guide To transfer a GF/Halo/Kseries/Presto image to FXDeko: 1. <Record> the GF/Halo image as a still or Kseries/Presto as ppic. 2. Insert a compatible disk formatted for DOS into one of the GF/Halo drives. 3. <Do> dos export. Export the GF/Halo still to the DOS disk as a DOS file with a .gf e[...]

24 Overview of FXDeko FXDeko User’s Guide To output only the key of a graphic: From the Channel menu, choose Show Key Output. F RAME G RABBING To set grab options: Do one of the following: • In the Channel menu, click Grab Options, then click to select or de-select options from the drop-down menu. A checkmark next to an option indicates that it[...]

Keying and Frame Grabbing 25 FXDeko User’s Guide To specify motion suppression options: 1. From the Channel Menu, choose Motion Suppress. 2. Do one of the following: • Check Interpolate Scan Lines to specify interpolation between every other scan line. • Check Duplicate Scan Lines to specify duplication of every other scan line. 3. Check eith[...]

26 FXDeko User’s Guide Composing Text S ELECTING T EXT To select a block of text: Drag across, then down or up the text. Use arrow keys ( ↑ → ↓ ← ) to move the cursor to the beginning or end of the text block, then hold Shift and press arrow keys as necessary. To select multiple blocks of text: Hold Ctrl as you drag across, then down or u[...]

Selec ting Text, Selecting Typefaces 27 FXDeko User’s Guide To select all text characters in a graphic: Choose Select All (Crl+A) from the Edit menu. To select all text characters in the current style: Choose Select Style from the Edit menu. To de-select text: Click anywhere in the text field . Press any arrow key ( ↑ → ↓ ← ). S ELECTING [...]

28 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide To select a typeface from a graphic: 1. Move the text cursor immediately to the right of a character in the desired typeface. 2. From the Text menu, choose Pick Font. Note If you check “Cursor movement sets font and look” in the Options/Preferences/Cursor dialog box, the current style will always show the[...]

Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing 29 FXDeko User’s Guide B OLD AND I TALIC To change normal text to bold: 1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change the current style . 2. Do one of the following: • Press the bold button on the text bar (Ctrl+B). • Activate the Style window , select Font at the top of the Style wi[...]

30 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide R OTATING T EXT To rotate text using the keyboard: 1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Rotate & Skew (Ctrl+R). 2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar). 3. Select the text to rotate. 4. Hold down Alt and press either the down arrow ( ↓ )[...]

Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing 31 FXDeko User’s Guide To skew text using the mouse: 1. Click the rotate/skew button in the Tools window. 2. Select the text to skew. 3. Move the pointer over the top-right-corner handle of the selected text, so that the pointer becomes the skewing tool. 4. Drag the handle to skew selected text. To spec[...]

32 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide 2. From the Text menu, choose Capitalize. To change selected text to upper case: 1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change all text in the current text field. 2. From the Text menu, choose Upper Case. To change selected text to lower case: 1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothin[...]

Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing 33 FXDeko User’s Guide S CALING T EXT To scale text using the keyboard: 1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Scale & Width (Ctrl+W). 2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar). 3. Select the text for scaling. 4. Hold down Alt and press [...]

34 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide C HARACTER S PACING (K ERNING ) To kern text using the keyboard: 1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Kerning & Leading (Ctrl+K). 2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar). 3. Select the characters to kern . 4. Hold down Alt and press either[...]

Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing 35 FXDeko User’s Guide 4. Hold Alt down and press either the right arrow ( → ) to widen characters, or the left arrow ( ← ) to decrease character width. To change character width using the mouse: 1. Click the scale button in the Tools window. 2. Select the characters to change. 3. Move the pointer t[...]

36 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide To change leading using the mouse: 1. Click the kerning/leading button in the Tools window. 2. Select the text for leading. 3. Move the pointer to a handle above or below selected text, so that the pointer becomes a leading tool. 4. Drag the handle downward to increase the space between rows, or upward to red[...]

Cutting, Pasting, Finding and Moving Text 37 FXDeko User’s Guide C UTTING AND P ASTING T EXT To cut or copy text: 1. Select the text to be cut or copied. 2. Do one of the following: • To cut selected text, from the Edit menu, choose Cut (Ctrl+X), or click the cut button on the text bar. • To copy selected text, from the Edit menu, choose Copy[...]

38 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide F INDING AND R EPLACING T EXT To find text within a graphic: 1. From the Edit menu, choose Find (Ctrl+F). 2. In the dialog box, type the text in the Find What text box. 3. If desired, check Match Case or Match Whole Word Only. 4. Choose Find Next (Ctrl+G) to find and select the next occurrence of the text. 5.[...]

Cutting, Pasting, Finding and Moving Text 39 FXDeko User’s Guide • Alt + → moves all characters from the cursor to the end of the row (or tab field) to the right. • Alt + ← ← moves all characters from the cursor to the end of the row (or tab field) to the left. To move text using the mouse: 1. Select the text to move. 2. Click the move [...]

40 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide J USTIFYING T EXT To justify text using the mouse: 1. Select the text, or select nothing to justify the entire field of text. 2. Do one of the following: • On the text bar, click the appropriate justification button to alter horizontal justification, vertical justification, or both, then choose the desired [...]

Justifying Text and Using Tab Stops 41 FXDeko User’s Guide Spread justification makes all lines of selected text flush with both the left and right sides of the text field box. To do this, space is inserted between words and between letters, as controlled by the Spread % in the Style/Layers window. To justify text using the keyboard: 1. Select th[...]

42 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide T AB S TOPS To set a tab stop: 1. Position the cursor where you will insert the tab stop. 2. From the Text menu, choose Tab Set. 3. Choose an alignment (Right, Left, Center or Decimal) from the drop- down menu. 4. The current tab settings for a text field are displayed at the bottom of the text field box, usi[...]

Justifying Text and Using Tab Stops 43 FXDeko User’s Guide To cut or copy a tab stop: 1. Select the tab stop you wish to cut or copy. 2. Do one of the following: • To remove the selected tab stop from its current position, choose Cut (Ctrl+X) from the Edit menu, or click the cut button in the Tools window. • To copy and leave the selected tab[...]

44 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide S PELL C HECKING T EXT To spell check text in the current graphic: 1. Do one of the following: • From the Text menu, choose Spell Check. • Click the Spell Check button on the text bar. 2. Use dialog box options to ignore or change reported errors until the spell check is complete, or click Cancel to end t[...]

Spell Checking Text and Using Undo 45 FXDeko User’s Guide U SING U NDO To undo the previous action(s): From the Edit menu, choose Undo (Ctrl+Z) for each action you wish to undo. The Edit menu tells you what will be undone. To redo undone actions: From the Edit menu, choose Redo (Ctrl+Y) for each action you wish to redo. The Edit menu tells you wh[...]

46 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide B ASELINE E DITING To activate the Baseline Edit window: Do one of the following: • From the Layer menu, choose Edit Baseline to activate the Baseline Edit window. • If the Baseline Edit window is open but not active, check Baseline Edit in the Window menu. To draw a curved baseline: 1. Select the layer w[...]

Baseline Editing 47 FXDeko User’s Guide To use a rectangle or ellipse as a baseline: 1. Select the layer whose baseline you wish to modify. 2. Activate the Baseline Edit window. 3. Click the rectangle or ellipse button in the Tools window, then drag the cursor in the Baseline Edit window to define the rectangle or ellipse. 4. Release the mouse bu[...]

48 Composing Text FXDeko User’s Guide To change the type of a point on the baseline: 1. In the Baseline menu, check Edit Curve. 2. Click the point to select it. 3. In the Baseline menu, do one of the following: • Check Move To, for a point that begins a new section of the baseline. • Check Line To, for a point connected to the previous point [...]

49 FXDeko User’s Guide Creating Styles SPECIFYING A FONT A BOUT F ONTS A font is a single typeface in a particular size and orientation. In FXDeko, the current font and the current look make up the current style. The preceding Composing Text chapter described how to select and manipulate a font interactively. This section describes how to use the[...]

50 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide Browse Opens the Typeface Browser window , showing the current font and a sample of each available typeface. Type the first one or two letters of the typeface name to jump to that typeface. Double-click a typeface sample to select it. Size The height of the current font, in screen units . Width Percent of no[...]

Specifying a Font 51 FXDeko User’s Guide Orientation Determines field orientation, i.e. left-to-right, top-to-bottom, etc. Note Right-to-left is available only for Arabic or Hebrew, and top- to-bottom and top-to-bottom-rotated are available only for Chinese, Japanese or Korean. Pre-rendered style Indicates that this style was previously rendered [...]

52 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide Note When you copy a font, it is saved in the Windows NT clipboard . C REATING A C USTOM T YPEFACE To open a Custom Typeface window : Do one of the following: • From the Window menu, choose Select Layout, then Typeface Edit. • From the View menu, choose Custom Typeface. • From the File menu, choose Ope[...]

Specifying a Font 53 FXDeko User’s Guide Photoshop (.psd), Windows metafile (.wmf), TIFF (.tif), Targa (.tga), JPEG (.jpg), Graphics Factory stills (.gf), videoDesigner stills(.tv), Kseries/Presto ppic (.20k), and Pinnacle (.g) files created in FlashFile, Lightning or Genie. To change pin location and set width of a character: 1. In the Custom Ty[...]

54 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide SPECIFYING A LOOK A BOUT L OOKS This section describes how to control the current style’s look. The look controls everything about the way a text character looks, including colors, edges, shadows, etc. A look consists of a list of details. Each detail is a face, edge, frame, shadow, or underline, and has i[...]

Specifying a Look 55 FXDeko User’s Guide Add Adds a new detail to the current look. A pop-up menu lets you choose which kind of detail to add. The new detail is added after the selected detail. Delete Deletes the selected detail. F ACE To add or remove a face : 1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, a face is added to or removed fr[...]

56 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide F ACE A TTRIBUTES Hide Check this box to hide the face. A hidden face can still affect other details, based on its Priority and the “From previous detail” settings of other details. Shader Opens the Face Shader window. Use the Face Shader to apply a color, ramp or texture to the face. Blur Controls the a[...]

Specifying a Look 57 FXDeko User’s Guide To change the color of an edge: 1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, FXDeko applies changes to the current style. 2. Do one of the following: • Click the shader button next to the edge button on the text bar (only for the first edge of a look). • Open the Style window (F6), select Look[...]

58 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide • border creates an edge that extends both outward and inward from the outer edge of the edged detail. • filled creates an edge that extends outward from the outer edge of the edged detail; the inside is filled with the edge color. Outer Inner Border Filled Size Controls the size of the edge, from 0 (no [...]

Specifying a Look 59 FXDeko User’s Guide S HADOW To add or remove a shadow: 1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, a shadow is added to or removed from the current style. 2. Click the shadow button on the text bar to toggle the shadow on or off. This button controls only the first shadow of a look. To add additional shadows: 1. Act[...]

60 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide S HADOW A TTRIBUTES Hide Hides the shadow. A hidden shadow can still affect other details, based on its Priority and “To next detail” settings. Shader Opens the Shadow shader window. Use the Shadow Shader to apply a color, ramp or texture to the shadow. Blur Controls the amount of blur, from 0 (no blur) [...]

Specifying a Look 61 FXDeko User’s Guide • underline produces a shadow of the first underline above the shadow in the Details list. To next detail Determines what this shadow will send to the detail immediately below it in the Details list: • previous sends whatever was sent to the shadow from the detail above it. • this sends the shadow on[...]

62 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide To change other attributes of an underline: 1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, FXDeko applies changes to the current style. 2. Activate the Style window. 3. Choose Look at the top of the Style window. 4. In the Details list, choose the underline. FXDeko displays Underline Attributes in the[...]

Specifying a Look 63 FXDeko User’s Guide To next detail Determines what this underline will send to the detail immediately below it in the Details list: • previous sends whatever was sent to the underline from the detail above it. • this sends the underline only. • merged sends the combination of the underline and whatever was sent to the u[...]

64 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide To change other attributes of a frame: 1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, FXDeko applies changes to the current style. 2. Activate the Style window. 3. Choose Look at the top of the Style window. 4. In the Details list, choose the frame. FXDeko displays Frame Attributes in the lower half o[...]

Specifying a Look 65 FXDeko User’s Guide To next detail Determines what this frame will send to the detail immediately below it in the Details list: • previous sends whatever was sent to the frame from the detail above it. • this sends the frame only. • merged sends the combination of the frame and whatever was sent to the frame from the de[...]

66 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide To copy and paste a look: 1. Select text whose look you wish to copy. 2. From the Edit menu, choose Copy (Ctrl+C), then Look. 3. Select the text or position the cursor where you will apply the look. 4. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste button on the text bar. Note When you copy a [...]

Specifying a Shader 67 FXDeko User’s Guide SPECIFYING A SHADER A BOUT S HADERS To apply color to text or graphics, FXDeko uses a shader . Each detail in a look (face, edge, frame, shadow or underline) has its own shader. The shader determines how color is applied to the detail. FXDeko shaders come in five flavors: • A color shader produces a de[...]

68 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide A CTIVATING A S HADER To activate a shader for the current look’s first face, edge, shadow, underline or frame: Click the appropriate detail shader button on the text bar. face edge shadow underline frame Note If you click the shader button for a detail that is not in the Details list, FXDeko automatically[...]

Specifying a Shader 69 FXDeko User’s Guide A PPLYING A R AMP To apply a ramp to a detail: 1. Activate the detail’s shader. 2. At the top of the Shader window, choose Ramp. The Sample box near the top of the window displays the detail’s current ramp. 3. For each of the four colors in the ramp, click the color button, use the color picker to pi[...]

70 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide Highlight Options Highlight Size Specifies the size of the highlight relative to the height of the ramp, up to 100 percent. Highlight Angle Specifies the angle (-360 to 360) of the highlight. An angle of zero produces a horizontal highlight. Highlight H Offset Specifies the horizontal position of the highlig[...]

Specifying a Shader 71 FXDeko User’s Guide replaces the texture filename with the texture filename in the counter.[...]

72 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide Texture Options File Name The name of the texture file. If you check the File Name check box (the default), FXDeko saves only the name of the texture file when saving the graphic. Any changes you make to the texture file will be reflected in the graphic as well. If you un-check File Name, FXDeko copies the b[...]

Specifying a Shader 73 FXDeko User’s Guide H Alignment Specifies how the original texture is aligned with the selected detail(s), depending on the Group setting: • left aligns the left edge of the texture with the left edge of the group. • center aligns the center of the texture with the center of the group. • right aligns the right edge of[...]

74 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide A PPLYING A C EL A NIMATION To apply a cel animation to a detail: 1. Open the detail’s shader. 2. At the top of the Shader window, choose CAP. 3. Specify CAP options as desired. Notes A typical way to use the CAP shader is to create a rectangle and choose CAP for the rectangle’s face shader. Make the rec[...]

Specifying a Shader 75 FXDeko User’s Guide To play a cel animation: 1. Open the graphic that includes the CAP shader in the Preview window. 2. Activate the Motion window. Select Clear Motion from the Motion menu, if necessary, to restore default settings to the Motion window. 3. Click the second default motion descriptor to select it from the scr[...]

76 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide T HE C OLOR P ICKER Use FXDeko’s color picker to pick colors for the color shader and ramp shader. RGB Selects the RGB color space. Click a color on the palette, or enter numerical values up to 100 percent for each of red, green and blue. HSV Selects the HSV color space. Click a color on the palette, or en[...]

Specifying a Shader 77 FXDeko User’s Guide components. In other words, if Value is the Selected Component, this square shows Hue along the vertical axis and Saturation along the horizontal axis. If Opacity is the Selected Component, FXDeko displays a gray scale in this square. Current Color Shows the current color, the color whose numerical value[...]

78 Creating Styles FXDeko User’s Guide 2. In the Shader window, click the preset button. To assign the current shader to a preset shader button: Do one of the following: • Right-click the preset shader button. • Activate the Shader window (F7), then choose Preset Shader Set from the Shader menu and select a preset shader from the drop-down me[...]

79 FXDeko User’s Guide W ORKING WITH STYLES T HE C URRENT S TYLE W INDOW The Current Style window shows the current style. This window shows sample text in the current font and look, in the actual size it would appear if typed in the default Program window. If you are creating a style with a very large font, you can enlarge the window to accommod[...]

80 Working with Styles FXDeko User’s Guide S AVING A S TYLE To save an unnamed style or to rename a style: 1. Activate the Style window (F6). 2. Choose Save Style As (F12) from the File menu. 3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file. 4. Type a file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or pre[...]

Saving and Copying/Pasting Styles 81 FXDeko User’s Guide To pick up a style from a graphic and assign it to a preset style button: 1. Activate a graphic window. 2. Move the text cursor immediately to the left of a character in the desired style. 3. Select the character or choose Pick Style from the Text menu. The style of that character is now th[...]

82 Working with Styles FXDeko User’s Guide To retrieve a style from a style (.sty) file: 1. Activate the Style window (F6). 2. Choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9) from the File menu. 3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the style file. 4. Type the file name in the File Name text box or choose it from the File Name list bo[...]

Saving and Copying/Pasting Styles 83 FXDeko User’s Guide S AVING A P RE - RENDERED S TYLE To save the current style as a pre-rendered style: 1. Activate the Style window (F6). 2. From the File menu choose Render and Save Style, then navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file. 3. Type a file name in the File Name text box, t[...]

84 FXDeko User’s Guide Graphics and Layers V IDEO S TANDARD You can create FXDeko graphics in standard 4 x 3 aspect ratio or in the wider 16 x 9 aspect ratio used for some feature films, music videos and commercials. The default video standard is standard NTSC. To change the current video standard: 1. From the Options menu, select Hardware Settin[...]

Adding Layers to a Graphic 85 FXDeko User’s Guide Layers are rendered in order from front to back, starting with the first layer. Using the Layer menu or the Layer Browser, layers may be selected, reordered, hidden, moved, rotated, scaled, etc. The background: Behind the final layer is the background , a full-screen rectangle that is either off o[...]

86 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide • In the Layer menu, check Show Background. To turn the background off: Do one of the following: • Click the background button on the text bar. • From the Edit menu, choose Clear Background (Ctrl+F8). • In the Layer menu, un-check Show Background. To apply a color, ramp or texture to the backgrou[...]

Adding Layers to a Graphic 87 FXDeko User’s Guide To replace the background key with luminance from a graphic file: 1. Activate a graphic window. 2. From the File menu, choose Replace Background Key. 3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the graphic file. 4. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the [...]

88 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide To specify text field properties: 1. Select the text field. 2. Do one of the following: • From the Layer menu, choose Properties. • Open the Style window (F6) and choose Layer at the top of the window. 3. Specify text field properties as desired. T EXT F IELD P ROPERTIES Name The user-specified name [...]

Adding Layers to a Graphic 89 FXDeko User’s Guide Horizontal Justifies text between the left and right edges of the text field. Vertical Justifies text between the top and bottom of the text field. Spread % When Horizontal justification is set to “spread,” specifies how much additional space to add between the letters within a word, compared [...]

90 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide To add a rectangle to a graphic, using the mouse: 1. Click the rectangle button in the Tools window. In the graphic, the cursor becomes a rectangle cursor. 2. Drag the cursor to define the rectangle. Note Holding Ctrl as you drag the cursor maintains a square rectangle. FXDeko always adds a new layer as [...]

Adding Layers to a Graphic 91 FXDeko User’s Guide L AYER P ROPERTIES Name The user-specified name of the layer. Box Defines the box surrounding the ellipse or rectangle. All values refer to the original box, before any transformation — scaling, rotation or skewing. Left, Top The left and top edges of the ellipse or rectangle, in screen units. W[...]

92 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide Word wrap Automatically wraps words to the next row, as necessary, to keep text within the text field box. Keyhole Cuts through all elements behind a layer to show keyed video on the layer. You can perform motions on the keyhole layer. This differs from a keyhole shader in that it is applied to the whole[...]

Justifying a Layer 93 FXDeko User’s Guide S ELECTING A L AYER Layer markers let you know at a glance what layers are selected. • If no layers are selected, the current text layer is indicated by a solid white box, while a dotted white box indicates other text layers. • A solid white box indicates a selected text layer. • A solid contrasting[...]

94 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide To deselect all selected layers: Press the Escape key. C REATING R EAL -T IME C LOCKS Deko’s Clocks feature makes it easy to create real-time clocks. Deko maintains a list of user-defined clocks in the file, clocks.clk . To define a new clock or edit an existing clock: 1. Do one of the following: • O[...]

Justifying a Layer 95 FXDeko User’s Guide To have FXDeko prompt you to save modified files before clearing them: 1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences. 2. Choose Prompts at the top of the Preferences dialog box. 3. In the Prompts dialog box, check Prompt to save before clearing or opening window. C LEARING OR D ELETING A L AYER To delete o[...]

96 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide To paste a layer: 1. If you are moving the layer to a different file, open the destination file. 2. Select a layer. 3. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste button on the text bar. FXDeko pastes the layer directly in front of the selected layer. A PPENDING A G RAPHIC TO S ECOND G [...]

Justifying a Layer 97 FXDeko User’s Guide Send to Back (Alt+-) Makes the layer the backmost layer, just in front of the background. Bring to Front (Alt++) Makes the layer the frontmost layer. P ASTING L AYERS TO THE B ACKGROUND To paste all layers in the active graphic to the background: From the Layer menu, choose Layers to Background. Note FXDe[...]

98 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide 3. Position the pointer near the border of the layer, so that the pointer becomes the moving tool. 4. Drag to move the layer in any direction. To specify numerical values for layer position: 1. Select the layer. 2. Activate the Style window. 3. Choose Layer at the top of the Style window. 4. In the Style[...]

Changing a Layer’s Appearance or Size 99 FXDeko User’s Guide R OTATING A L AYER To rotate a layer using the keyboard: 1. From the Options menu, choose Transform/Rotate & Skew (Ctrl+R). 2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar). 3. Select the layer. 4. Hold down Alt and press eithe[...]

100 Graphics and Layers FXDeko User’s Guide To scale a layer using the mouse: 1. Click the scale button in the Tools window. 2. Select the layer. 3. Position the pointer over a handle on any side or corner of the layer, so that the pointer becomes a scaling tool. 4. Drag to scale the layer. To specify a numerical value for layer scaling: 1. Selec[...]

Changing a Layer’s Appearance or Size 101 FXDeko User’s Guide To specify a numerical value for skewing: 1. Select the layer. 2. Activate the Style window. 3. Choose Layer at the top of the Style window. 4. Double-click the Skew text box, then type or scroll to a value.[...]

102 FXDeko User’s Guide Effects, Motions, and Sequences A BOUT FXD EKO E FFECTS You can play back graphic files individually or in series, using a variety of effects. Transitional Effects A Transitional Effect replaces the on-air (Program) graphic with another (Preview) graphic. altpush/left/right Pushes the Preview graphic’s rows on screen alt[...]

Creating a Sequence 103 FXDeko User’s Guide Text Effects Text effects operate primarily on text fields: roll Text scrolls continuously up the Program graphic, bottom to top. crawl Text moves continuously across the Program graphic, right to left. reveal Text is typed onto the Program graphic, one character, word or row at a time. Motion Effects Y[...]

104 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide 3. If you wish to save the effect as a .efx file, click Save and enter a file name, then click OK. 4. Click the play button in the Effect Playback window. To imbed an effect into a graphic: 5. Open a graphic in the Preview window. 6. In the View menu, click Style. 7. In the Style window, cli[...]

Creating a Sequence 105 FXDeko User’s Guide delay Pauses “Time” fields before playing. stop Stops the sequence, returning control to the user. To resume playback, choose Play Sequence (Alt+Enter). tcode Starts event playback based on input and output times, using a timecode reader. If Deko does not detect a connected timecode reader, it will [...]

106 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide To append a sequence to the active sequence: 1. Activate the Sequence window in which you will insert the second sequence. 2. From the File menu, choose Append to Sequence. 3. In the Append Sequence dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the sequence (.seq) file you wis[...]

Creating a Sequence 107 FXDeko User’s Guide To select multiple events: Do one of the following: • Drag the mouse across the event numbers. • Use arrow keys ( ↑↓ ) to position the cursor on the first or last event you wish to select, then hold Shift and press an arrow key ( ↑↓ ) to highlight the events. To select all events from the cu[...]

108 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide I NSERTING AND D ELETING E VENTS To insert a blank event above the current event : Choose Insert Event (Alt+Insert) from the Sequence menu. To delete the current event: Choose Delete Event (Alt+Delete) from the Sequence menu. To delete a group of events: 1. Select the group of events to be d[...]

Creating a Sequence 109 FXDeko User’s Guide • Full and Half Vertical Resolution Rates —FXDeko suggests adjustments based on acceptability of full and half vertical resolution rates. Allows some aliasing. • Only Full Vertical Resolution Rates —FXDeko suggests adjustments based on acceptability of full vertical resolution rates only. Allows[...]

110 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide To run a continuous crawl: 1. In the View menu, click Automation. 2. In the Automation window, specify the following: • Automation enabled • Type: III • Default Doc: Preview 3. In the View menu, click Effect playback. 4. In the Effect Playback window, select Crawl as the effect, click [...]

Creating a Sequence 111 FXDeko User’s Guide C OMMAND E VENT One additional, powerful, sequence feature, command event , is available with the Automation option. Command event runs the macro specified in the File Name column during sequence playback.[...]

112 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide C REATING M OTIONS Using the FXDeko Motion Editor, you can create special effects, called motions, which are not based on specific graphics. A Motion window contains a motion script, which is a series of one or more motions. The motion script is saved in a motion (.mot) file. Once you have c[...]

Creating Motions 113 FXDeko User’s Guide Graphic Moves all layers and the background. All Layers Moves all layers. Background Moves the background. Layer Moves each layer specified in this motion. Row Moves each row in the layer(s) specified in this motion. Word Moves each word in the layer(s) specified in this line of the motion script. Characte[...]

114 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide Page Scroll (DVE Effects Group 2) The object “rolls up” off or unrolls on. Cylinder (DVE Effects Group 2) The object rolls into a cylindrical shape and rolls off or unrolls from a cylinder and rolls on. Magic Carpet (DVE Effects Group 2) The object undulates from a specified fixed point [...]

Creating Motions 115 FXDeko User’s Guide Vertical This specifies the vertical path of the motion from the object’s starting position to its ending (home) position. If you do not specify Y Position, the object(s) will not move vertically. Ease Refine the rate at which horizontal or vertical motion occurs, to keep it constant throughout, or cause[...]

116 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide ease out Starts growing at full speed and decelerates. ease out fast Starts at growing full speed and decelerates, faster than ease out . ease in and out Accelerates growth, then decelerates growth. ease out and in Decelerates growth, then accelerates growth. Rotation Specifies rotation of t[...]

Creating Motions 117 FXDeko User’s Guide ease in fast Starts to increase or decrease opacity slowly and accelerates up to full speed, faster than ease in . ease out Starts to increase or decrease opacity at full speed and decelerates. ease out fast Starts to increase or decrease opacity at full speed and decelerates, faster than ease out . ease i[...]

118 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide To add a motion to the current motion script: Do one of the following: • Right-click anywhere in the descriptor box, then click Insert Motion Descriptor. • Click the Add Descriptor button on the Motion toolbar. To delete the selected motion descriptor: Do one of the following: • Right-[...]

Creating Motions 119 FXDeko User’s Guide P LAYING A M OTION The Motion Editor provides tools for specifying playback rate and playing the motions in the current .mot file. To specify the playback rate of motions in the current .mot file: 1. Enter a numerical value in the Playback rate box on the Motion Editor toolbar. 2. Click the arrow to the ri[...]

120 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide To play the selected motion: Do one of the following • Click the Play button on the Motion Editor toolbar. • Use the shortcut key Shift+Alt+p . To pause and resume a motion during playback: 1. Click the Pause button on the Motion Editor toolbar. 2. Click the Pause button again to resume [...]

Creating Motions 121 FXDeko User’s Guide To play the motion using the scrub bar: Click and hold the scrub bar arrow and drag the scrub bar across the timeline in either direction on the x axis. Note You can edit a motion with the scrub bar enabled, but you cannot edit a motion during playback. To change the path for the selected motion parameter:[...]

122 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide To specify motion parameters: Motion parameters are listed next to the timeline graph. Click the parameter to highlight it, then use the timeline tools as necessary to edit the parameter. Position X Position This specifies the horizontal path of the motion from the object’s starting positi[...]

Creating Motions 123 FXDeko User’s Guide Blur Face The timeline expresses x blurring and y blurring of the face of a character throughout the motion, in arbitrary units from 0.0 to 1.0. This parameter only applies to motions on characters. Deko overrides standard opacity and scaling to enhance blurring, unless you specify opacity and scaling sepa[...]

124 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide U SING A M OTION IN A S EQUENCE To use a motion in a sequence event: 1. In the Sequence window, move the cursor to the event. 2. Choose Motion in the Effect column, then select the motion (.mot) file from the drop-down list of saved motion files. P LAYING A S EQUENCE To specify the starting [...]

Playing a Sequence 125 FXDeko User’s Guide To specify a pause in a sequence: Do one of the following: • In the Control column, select pause. During playback, FXDeko reads the next file into the Preview window, then pauses the sequence and displays the message “Sequence paused. Press Alt+Enter to continue.” • In the Control column, select [...]

126 Effects, Motions, and Sequences FXDeko User’s Guide S TOPPING S EQUENCE P LAYBACK To stop sequence playback: Do one of the following: • Press Esc. • Click the stop button in the Sequence window. Choose Stop Sequence Playback (Ctrl+Pause) from the Sequence menu.[...]

127 FXDeko User’s Guide User Preferences FXD EKO L AYOUTS FXDeko offers eight standard layouts for creating, editing and playing back graphics and macros: Graphic Compose To compose text and graphics. Style Edit To create and edit styles. Effect Playback To play a single effect. Sequence Playback To control the playback of a series of graphic fil[...]

128 User Preferences FXDeko User’s Guide To save the current layout as a custom layout: 1. Choose Save Layout As from the Window menu. 2. In the dialog box, type a name for the layout, then click OK or press Enter. To save a layout as the starting layout: 1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences. 2. In the dialog box, select the tab for Commo[...]

Specifying User Preferences 129 FXDeko User’s Guide U SER P REFERENCES To specify preferences: 1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences. 2. In the dialog box, select the tab for the type of preferences you wish to specify: Common, Prompts, Paths, Cursor, Marker or Advanced. Note Hardware settings are described in the FXDeko Installation Guide[...]

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Setting Preferences 131 FXDeko User’s Guide C OMMON P REFERENCES Starting Layout The desktop layout that appears each time you start FXDeko. Color used where graphic is transparent The color FXDeko uses to fill all transparent areas of a graphic (areas filled with live video when the FXDeko keyer is turned on).The default color is dark gray. To s[...]

132 User Preferences FXDeko User’s Guide Prompt if a graphic is being converted from a different video standard or file format Displays a prompt any time you try to open a graphic file recorded in a different resolution. This can happen if the graphic was recorded under a different video standard (PAL, NTSC, PAL 16x9, or NTSC 16x9) or imported fr[...]

Setting Preferences 133 FXDeko User’s Guide • By screen units The cursor moves in screen units. Increments are independent of the current video standard, and equal either 1/500 (fine) or 1/50 (coarse) of screen height. The status bar displays current x and y coordinates, with the origin at the center of the screen. To select “coarse” or “[...]

134 User Preferences FXDeko User’s Guide M ARKER P REFERENCES Show Specifies whether to display (checked) or hide (unchecked) the following markers: Safe title area (% from edge of screen) Specifies the top, bottom, right and left of the safe title area . Values represent a percentage of the distance from the specified edge of the screen to the o[...]

Setting Preferences 135 FXDeko User’s Guide Shrink to fit box scales text down, if necessary, to fit within the text field Word wrap enabled Enables word wrap automatically for all new text fields. Font size based on FXDeko allows you to specify whether to base font size on row height or cap height. Show actual font size in Presets box The button[...]

136 FXDeko User’s Guide Managing Files O PENING F ILES To open an existing file: 1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9). 2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the file. 3. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter. 4. T[...]

Opening, Closing, Saving, Sharing, and Deleting Files 137 FXDeko User’s Guide To open one of the four most recently opened files: Choose a file from the list near the bottom of the File menu. C LOSING F ILES To close the file in the active window: 1. Save the file, if desired. 2. Do one of the following: • Double-click the control icon in the u[...]

138 Managing Files FXDeko User’s Guide To save an untitled file or to save a file under a new name: 1. From the File menu choose Save As (F12). This command varies depending on what type of window is active. For example, if a Preset Style window is active, the command is Save Preset Styles As. 2. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and direc[...]

Opening, Closing, Saving, Sharing, and Deleting Files 139 FXDeko User’s Guide D ELETING F ILES Warning This procedure permanently erases files from your computer’s disk drive. To delete a file or group of files: 1. From the File menu, choose Delete File (Ctrl+Delete). 2. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the fi[...]

140 Managing Files FXDeko User’s Guide C ONNECTING TO AN E XISTING R EMOTE D ATABASE To access databases on another system in your network, you must first connect to that system. After you follow this one-time connection process, the other system will always appear in the Thunder Browser Tree. If your Deko is not networked, check with your networ[...]

Opening, Closing, Saving, Sharing, and Deleting Files 141 FXDeko User’s Guide To create and open a database: 1. Open Thunder Browse. 2. In the File menu, click Advanced, then Create New Database. 3. Select Lightning as the Database Type. Note Thunder and Lightning databases are different. Thunder (and Thunder Browse) can access both Thunder and L[...]

142 Managing Files FXDeko User’s Guide sort button. To browse for images: Hold Alt and use the Tab key to find Thunder, then release alt to open Thunder Browse. Thunder Browse has a variety of View menu options, to display exactly the information you want. Refer to the Thunder documentation and online help for more details. To open a still image [...]

Opening, Closing, Saving, Sharing, and Deleting Files 143 FXDeko User’s Guide S TORING I MAGES To save a Deko graphic in a Lightning database: 1. Open the graphic in an active Program or Preview window. 2. From the Deko File menu, choose Save To Lightning. 3. In the Save To Lightning dialog box, you can edit any of the file details, which default[...]

144 FXDeko User’s Guide Working with Macros INTRODUCTION TO MACROS C OMMANDS AND M ACROS A command is an instruction to FXDeko to perform a specific function. The FXDeko user interface (menus, shortcut keys, etc.) implicitly executes commands. Every time you strike a key or select a menu item, you invoke a command that directs FXDeko to perform a[...]

Recording and Playing Macros 145 FXDeko User’s Guide W ORKING IN THE M ACRO W INDOW Whether writing a new macro or editing an existing macro, you will be working in the Macro window : To activate the Macro window: Do either of the following: • From the Window menu, choose Layouts, then Macro Edit. • From the View menu, choose Macro (F2). To o[...]

146 Working With Macros FXDeko User’s Guide 4. Choose the file from the File Name list or type it in the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter USING THE MACRO RECORDER R ECORDING A M ACRO To record a macro : 1. To turn the macro recorder on, do one of the following: • Click the record button at the far right end of the text bar. • [...]

Recording and Playing Macros 147 FXDeko User’s Guide P LAYING A M ACRO To play the active macro: Do one of the following: • Click the play button near the right end of the text bar. • Choose Play Macro (Alt+F2) from the Macro menu. On the text bar, the play button lights up green to indicate that a macro is playing. Notes The name of the macr[...]

148 Working With Macros FXDeko User’s Guide To resume a paused macro: Do one of the following: • Click the pause button near the right end of the text bar. • Choose Pause Macro (Pause) from the Macro menu. On the text bar, the pause button light goes off and the play button lights up green. S TOPPING M ACRO P LAYBACK To cancel macro playback:[...]

Recording and Playing Macros 149 FXDeko User’s Guide E DITING A M ACRO To open and edit a macro (.mcr) file: 1. Do one of the following, if necessary, to activate the Macro window: • From the Window menu, choose Select Layout, then Macro Edit. • From the View menu, choose Macro (F2). 2. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9). 3. In th[...]

150 Working With Macros FXDeko User’s Guide To save a modified macro: 1. Activate the Macro window. 2. From the File menu, choose Save Macro (Ctrl+S or Alt+F12) to replace the previous version of the .mcr file. A PPENDING TO A M ACRO To append a macro to the active macro: 1. In the active Macro window, position the cursor where you will insert th[...]

Macro Programming Language 151 FXDeko User’s Guide MACRO PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE The FXDeko Macro Programming Language combines many of the features of C and BASIC. It supports many standard programming constructs such as real and integer arithmetic, variables, arrays, objects, loops, conditional statements and subroutines. Since each topic in this [...]

152 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide Here are several possible variations of the justify command: justify default (unchanged) justification justify left bottom horizontal left; vertical bottom justify vertical=top top vertical justification; horizontal unchanged justify v=top top vertical justification; horizontal unchanged Most parameters[...]

Macro Programming Language 153 FXDeko User’s Guide An example of a real parameter is the input parameter of the sqrt (square root) command: sqrt input= Integer An integer parameter specifies a whole number value, either positive or negative, e.g., 3, 12967, -14, 0, etc. If you specify a real value for an integer parameter, FXDeko ignores the frac[...]

154 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide An object parameter specifies an object, a collection of values that is treated as a single item. Typical objects in FXDeko include colors, shaders, ellipses, rectangles, boxes, fonts and looks. The letter command, which adds a letter to a text field, includes two object parameters, font and look : lett[...]

Macro Programming Language 155 FXDeko User’s Guide V ARIABLES In FXDeko, a variable name can include any upper or lower case alphanumeric character as well as the special character, underline (_). The first character is always a dollar sign ($), and the character immediately after the dollar sign cannot be a number. To make macros easier to read [...]

156 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide Other system variables may be assigned values. For example, the system variable @wordwrap can be set to 0 to disable word wrap, or 1 to enable it[...]

Macro Programming Language 157 FXDeko User’s Guide O PERATORS In the previous topic, you saw that variable assignment is indicated by the equal sign (=) , which is just one of many symbols, known as operators , that represent operations performed on data. The FXDeko Macro Programming Language uses a subset of the operators available in C, as well[...]

158 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide Additional string operations are performed by commands. Please refer to the FXDeko Commands section of this manual. The index and element operators allow direct access to values that are elements of arrays or elements of objects: Operator Expression Data Accessed [ ] $a[$b ] item $b of array $a : $a:$b [...]

Macro Programming Language 159 FXDeko User’s Guide The assignment operator assigns a value to a variable, and may simultaneously perform other operations: Operator Expression Operation = $a = $b assigns the value of $b to $a += $a += 1 adds 1 to $a, assigns total to $a -= $a -= 5 subtr acts 5 from $a, assigns total to $a *= $a *= 2 multiplies $a [...]

160 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide C OMMENTS A comment is text within a macro that does not affect the function of the macro. Comments make macros easier to analyze and edit, especially if the macro was written some time ago or written by another programmer. Many programmers consider a program incomplete without comments. You may find th[...]

Macro Programming Language 161 FXDeko User’s Guide type " Hello " else if $a==5 type " Good-bye " else type " Wish you were here " end end …or more elegantly by using the elseif command: if $a==1 type " Hello " elseif $a==5 type " Good-bye " else type " Wish you were here " end Notice [...]

162 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide You also can break out of a loop with the continue command , which restarts a loop at the top without executing commands after continue . This macro uses such a loop to test for and skip odd numbers and, as a result, types only the even numbers from 1 through 10: $a=0 loop 10 $a = $a+=1 if $a&1 cont[...]

Macro Programming Language 163 FXDeko User’s Guide The following macro creates, then runs the macros “boy” and “girl” as subroutines. command boy type "It’s a boy!" end command girl type "It’s a girl" end if $name == "Amy" girl elseif $name == "Meg" girl elseif $name == "Mickey" boy en[...]

164 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide O BJECTS An object is a data structure created by a command. Typical objects in FXDeko include colors, shaders, ellipses, rectangles, fonts and looks. The elements of an object correspond exactly with the parameters of the command that created it. Consider the rgb command, which creates a color: rgb red[...]

Macro Programming Language 165 FXDeko User’s Guide $b = integer $a+.5 $b equals 13[...]

166 Working with Macros FXDeko User’s Guide To convert a number value to a string: Do one of the following: • Use the command: num2str $a = 123.45 $b = num2str $a $b equals "123.45" • Concatenate a null string to the number $a = 123.45 $b = $a%%"" $b equals "123.45" To convert a string to its numeric equivalent: [...]

167 FXDeko User’s Guide FXDeko Options A BOUT FXD EKO O PTIONS FXDeko options currently available for purchase include: Aston Import Automation Chyron Import ClipDeko DVE Effects Group 2 FastAction Keyboard SportsWare Timeline To see what FXDeko options are enabled on your system: From the Options menu, choose Enabled Options. A check mark next t[...]

168 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide ASTON IMPORT The Aston Import option gives you the ability to read Aston files and work with them in the Deko environment. To open the Aston Import window: 1. Insert the Aston disk into the appropriate drive and close the drive door. 2. Activate a graphic window. 3. From the View menu, choose Aston Import. T[...]

Automation 169 FXDeko User’s Guide AUTOMATION The Automation option includes III protocol, both serial and network; TimeCode Control; and Database Connection. See below for details. The III protocol allows you to control FXDeko externally, in two ways: By any external computer, using a serial input port. You can use macro commands to input and ou[...]

170 FXDeko O ptions FXDeko User’s Guide To start Automation immediately every time you start FXDeko: 1. In the Automation window, check Automation Enabled. 2. In the Options Menu, select Save Settings on Exit. A UTOMATION G RAPHICS To use a Deko graphic with automation, you must define the graphic’s layers to accept text data from the automatio[...]

Automation 171 FXDeko User’s Guide T IMECODE C ONTROL Timecode control allows you to control sequences via SMPTE timecode. If your Deko is not connected to a timecode reader, you can still trigger sequence events using your system clock. To specify timecodes to begin and end an effect: 1. Open the sequence file. 2. In the Control column of the Se[...]

172 FXDeko O ptions FXDeko User’s Guide To specify timecode settings: 1. From the Timecode menu, choose Timecode Settings. 2. Change Com Port and Drop Frame Mode settings as desired. 3. Click OK or press Enter. D ATABASE C ONNECTION The Automation option includes a dynamic feature that enables FXDeko to read and display information from a databas[...]

Automation 173 FXDeko User’s Guide To specify a DSN: 1. Click Start at the bottom of your desktop, choose Settings, then double-click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the ODBC icon to open the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box. 3. Click one of the following: • User DSN to create a data source which is visible only to you and can only be u[...]

174 FXDeko O ptions FXDeko User’s Guide D ATABASE WINDOW OPTIONS : • Database Name A database name defined in the ODBC Data Source Administrator. • Connect Connects FXDeko to the specified database. • Table In Database A table within the database. • Record Number The number used to identify the data record. • Field Value A value of the [...]

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176 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide CHYRON IMPORT The Chyron Import option gives you the ability to read Chyron Infinit family files and work with them in the FXDeko environment. The members of the Infinite family include Maxine, Max, Winfinit, and Infinit. These files come in two flavors: message Message directories contain message and RGBA f[...]

Chyron Import 177 FXDeko User’s Guide To save the current font mapping file for future FXDeko sessions: 1. In the Chyron Import window, click Details. 2. Click Save. 3. Enter a name for the mapping file, then click Save. 4. Click OK or press Enter. FXDeko saves the font mapping file as a text (.txt) file. To open a font mapping file: 1. In the Ch[...]

178 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide CLIPDEKO The ClipDeko option enables Deko to record or import and play digital video clips, with or without key. You can edit, loop, trim, and browse these clips. You can play animated backgrounds without a separate disk recorder. And you can associate any clip to any Deko graphic. ClipDeko hardware supports[...]

ClipDeko 179 FXDeko User’s Guide R ECORDING AND I MPORTING C LIPS The first time you record a clip, it is important to verify the compression protocol before recording. To verify the compression protocol: 1. Open the Clip Editor and click the Settings button. 2. In the dialog box, click the Capture tab. 3. Verify that the compression protocol is [...]

180 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide To assign a key clip to a fill clip: 1. In the Clip Browser, double-click the fill clip thumbnail to load it as the current clip. 2. In the Clip Browser, click the key clip thumbnail to select it. 3. In the Clip Editor, click the Assign Key button. Deko displays a key icon in the corner of the fill clip’s [...]

ClipDeko 181 FXDeko User’s Guide To set a start point and end point for playback: 1. Open the browser and select the clip. 2. Open the Clip Editor, and use the slider, thumbwheel, or frame-by- frame buttons to find the frame where you would like playback to begin. 3. Click the In button. 4. Repeat step 2 to set the display on the desired Out poin[...]

182 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide To synchronize clip playback with effect playback: 1. Open the Clip. 2. In the Clip Editor, click Synchronize with Effect. Note When you associate the clip with a graphic, ClipDeko will begin clip playback simultaneously with any effect played on that graphic. To stop clip playback: Do one of the following: [...]

ClipDeko 183 FXDeko User’s Guide You can use the Undo Link tool at the top of the browser to break a link between a clip and a graphic. Note When you associate a clip with a graphic, ClipDeko will play the clip whenever you open the graphic in the Program window, swap the graphic to the Program window, or play an effect on the graphic. To rename [...]

184 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide FASTACTION KEYBOARD The FastAction Keyboard (FAK) enables you to perform common tasks in FXDeko with a single keystroke. It is designed for use in real-time on-air environments, where speed is critical. Based on a standard PC 101 keyboard, the FAK provides additional keys for one keystroke accessibility to m[...]

FastAction Keyboard 185 FXDeko User’s Guide Note The Enhanced Keypad feature is available even without the FastAction Keyboard option. Deko displays the keypad on your VGA monitor. To quickly call up graphics with numerical filenames, type the filename on the keypad and press Read. The display shows the filename as it is being typed, and advances[...]

186 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide Kern Selects the kerning tool. Layer In conjunction with arrow keys moves, scales, rotates, skews or kerns layers, depending on which tool is selected. Learn Turns macro learn mode on. Look Activates Style/Look Window. Lower Third Justifies text in current field as a lower third. Macro Edit Activates the Mac[...]

FastAction Keyboard 187 FXDeko User’s Guide Save File Saves the file open in the active window. Scale Selects the Scaling tool. Scroll Lock Provided for standard PC keyboard. Seq Edit Activates the Sequence Playback layout. Shader Activates the current Shader Window. Stop Stops a sequence playback. Style 1 - Style 8 Selects preset styles from the[...]

188 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide ROCKET The Rocket option integrates your Deko with Rocket , an application for creation and animation of 3D graphical elements. With the option, you can launch Rocket from Deko, and use it to create, animate, and display 3D elements in documents created in Deko. Rocket accesses Deko graphics using FXDeko as [...]

SportsWare 189 FXDeko User’s Guide C REATING P OPS To create a text pop: 1. Open a word processing program. 2. Type the text. 3. Navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file and save the file as a text (.txt) file. To create a style pop: 1. Activate a Program or Preview window. 2. Choose a preset style or create a new style f[...]

190 FXDeko Options FXDeko User’s Guide U SING P OPS To pop text onto a graphic using a text pop or style pop: 1. Open the graphic file and position the cursor or select the layer where you will pop in the text. 2. From the File menu, choose Open (F9). 3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory containing the text pop (.txt) or styl[...]

Timeline 191 FXDeko User’s Guide TIMELINE The timeline enables precision editing and playback of motions. If your FXDeko has the Timeline option enabled, the Motion Editor provides a timeline graph, which displays the selected motion parameter as y and the time--or duration--for the motion as x. The figure below shows what your Motion window look[...]

192 FXDeko User’s Guide Menu Commands B ASELINE Accept Baseline Applies the baseline to the selected layer of the current graphic and closes the Baseline Edit window. Apply Baseline Applies the baseline to the selected layer of the current graphic. Bezier Changes the selected point to a Bezier point. The section from the previous point to this po[...]

Menu Commands 193 FXDeko User’s Guide Move to Changes the selected point to a “move to” point. A move to point begins a new section of the baseline. Next Point Selects the next baseline point after the currently selected point. Prev Point Selects the baseline point previous to the currently selected point. Reverse Baseline Switches the beginn[...]

194 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Preview to Program ( Ctrl+F3 ) Transfers a copy of the graphic in the Preview window to the Program window. Program / Preview Specifies channel usage for a single Program window. Program to Preview Transfers a copy of the graphic in the Program window to the Preview window. Read Next (F10) Transfers the graph[...]

Menu Commands 195 FXDeko User’s Guide Copy (Ctrl+C) è è Look Copies the selected or current look to the clipboard. Copy (Ctrl+C) è è Selected Copies selected text to the clipboard. Copy (Ctrl+C) è è Style Copies the selected or current style to the clipboard. Copy (Ctrl+C) è è Tabs Copies the selected tabs to the clipboard. Copy Color (Ct[...]

196 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Find Next (Ctrl+G) Searches the active graphic or macro for the next occurrence of a user-specified character string. To redefine the current search string, choose Find from the Edit menu. Paste (Ctrl+V) Inserts a copy of clipboard contents at the insertion point. Paste Detail (Ctrl+V) Inserts a cut or copied[...]

Menu Commands 197 FXDeko User’s Guide Append to Macro Appends a macro file to the active macro. Append to Motion Appends a motion file to the active motion. Append to Sequence Appends a sequence file to the active sequence. Browse Backgrounds Opens the current graphics directory to browse for graphics to use as backgrounds into the active Browser[...]

198 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Print Setup Controls current printer settings. Render and Save Style Renders and saves the current style as a pre-rendered style (.sty) file. Replace Background (Alt+F10) Replaces the active graphic’s background with a user-specified texture file. Replace Background Key (Alt+F10) Replaces the active graphic[...]

Menu Commands 199 FXDeko User’s Guide Add Text Field Adds a text field to the current graphic, as the frontmost layer. Background to Layer Turns the background of the active graphic into a layer. Bring Forward One Layer Swaps the selected layer with the layer in front of it. Bring to Front Brings the selected layer to the frontmost position. Clea[...]

200 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Convert Sequence to Macro Converts the current sequence into its equivalent macro. Playback of the resulting macro recreates the sequence. Pause Macro (Pause) Pauses or resumes playback of the currently playing macro. Play Macro (Alt+F2) Plays the current macro. Record Macro (Ctrl+F2) Toggles the macro record[...]

Menu Commands 201 FXDeko User’s Guide Transform è è Coarse (Ctrl+spacebar toggles Coarse and Fine) Selects coarse increment. Causes Alt+arrow keys to transform the selected text or layer in large increments. Transform è è Fine (Ctrl+spacebar toggles Coarse and Fine) Selects fine increment. Causes Alt+arrow keys to transform the selected text [...]

202 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Reset to Defaults Resets the active Preset Style window to its default styles. S EQUENCE Auto Advance From Browser Causes the current event to be advanced to the next event, after a graphic file has been entered into a sequence from the browser. Browse for Files (Ctrl+L) Opens the Graphic Browser window, also[...]

Menu Commands 203 FXDeko User’s Guide Play Sequence From Nearest Timecode ( Sequence Menu) Finds the event closest to the current timecode and sequentially performs the events in the active Sequence window, beginning with that event. Preload Sequence into Memory Preloads sequence effects into memory in advance to speed up sequence playback. Smoot[...]

204 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Preset Shader Set Assigns the current shader to a preset shader button. Reset to Defaults Resets the active Shader window to its default values. Set Ramp Bottom Left Color Deposits the current color into the bottom left corner of the current ramp shader. Set Ramp Bottom Right Color Deposits the current color [...]

Menu Commands 205 FXDeko User’s Guide Pick è è Pick Style Applies the style of the character to the left of the text cursor to the current style. Preset Style Select (Shift+F1 through Shift+F8) Selects the current style from a list of presets. A check mark indicates the current style. Preset Style Set Assigns the current style to one of eight u[...]

206 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Preset Style Set Assigns the current style to one of eight user-specified preset styles. A check mark indicates the current style. Spell Check Opens the Spelling dialog box to initiate spell checking of the current graphic. Tab Clear Clears the tab stop at the cursor location in the current text field. Tab Cl[...]

Menu Commands 207 FXDeko User’s Guide V IEW Aston Import Displays or hides the Aston Import window, for converting Aston files to Deko files. Automation Displays or hides the Automation window, for viewing or specifying FXDeko automation options. A check mark indicates that the Automation window is displayed on the desktop. Browser (Ctrl+L = disp[...]

208 Menu Commands FXDeko User’s Guide Preset Styles (Alt+F7 = display, Alt+F4 = close) Displays or hides the Preset Style window. A check mark indicates that a Preset Style window is displayed on the desktop. Preview (Alt+F5 = display, Alt+F4 = close) Displays or hides the Preview graphic window. A check mark indicates that the Preview window is [...]

Menu Commands 209 FXDeko User’s Guide Cascade Arranges open windows so that multiple windows of the same type overlap and each title bar is visible. Cascade is available only when Auto Cascade is checked in the Window menu. Delete Layout Deletes the selected custom layout. Freeze Windows Locks windows in their current position. A check next to Fr[...]

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211 FXDeko User’s Guide Shortcut Keys W INDOW S ELECTION Background Shader Ctrl+F7 Browser Ctrl+L Command Bar F4 Graphic F5 Macro F2 Preset Styles Alt+F7 Preview Alt+F5 Program Alt+F6 Sequence F11 Shader F7 Style F6 Next Window Ctrl+Tab Close Window Ctrl+F4 B ACKGROUND AND L AYERS Clear Layers F8 Clear Background Ctrl+F8 Clear Layers and Backgrou[...]

212 Shortcut Keys FXDeko User’s Guide C UT AND P ASTE Cut Ctrl+X Copy Ctrl+C Paste Ctrl+V F ILES Open (Read) F9 or Ctrl+O Save As (Record) F12 Save (Alt Record) Alt+F12 or Ctrl+S Read Next F10 New Ctrl+N Delete File Ctrl+Delete Create Directory Ct rl+F12 Print Ctrl+P F IND AND R EPLACE Find Ctrl+F Find Next Ctrl+G Replace Ctrl+H F ORMATTING T EXT[...]

Shortcut Keys 213 FXDeko User’s Guide M ISCELLANEOUS Help F1 Undo Ctrl+Z Exit FXDeko Alt+F4 M OTION Play Motion Shift+Alt+p P RESET S TYLES Preset Style 1 Shift+F1 Preset Style 2 Shift+F2 Preset Style 3 Shift+F3 Preset Style 4 Shift+F4 Preset Style 5 Shift+F5 Preset Style 6 Shift+F6 Preset Style 7 Shi ft+F7 Preset Style 8 Shift+F8 S ELECTING T EX[...]

214 Shortcut Keys FXDeko User’s Guide F1 - F12 Keys F1 F2 F3 Help Macro Swap Shift+ Style 1 Style 2 Style 3 Alt+ Macro Play Ctrl+ Help On Macro Record Transfer F4 F5 F6 Cmd Graphic Style Shift+ Style 4 Style 5 Style 6 Alt+ Exit Deko Preview Program Ctrl+ Close Window Pick Style F7 F8 F9 Shader Clear Read (Open) Shift+ Style 7 Style 8 Alt+ Preset [...]

215 FXDeko User’s Guide Glossary active window The active window is the window with a highlighted (usually blue) title bar. A window must be active for you to perform tasks in it. To open and activate a window, choose the window type from the View menu. To activate a window that is already open, select it from the list at the bottom of the Window[...]

216 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide background The background is the backmost part of a graphic. It is a full-screen rectangle located behind the last layer, furthest from the viewer. The background can be turned on and off. When off, it is transparent — live video “shows through” the background when you use a keyer. When the background is on,[...]

Glossary 217 FXDeko User’s Guide character set A character set is a set of 256 characters in a TrueType or Postscript font. A font may contain more than 256 characters, but Windows NT can access only 256 at a time. By choosing a character set, you are choosing which 256 characters you wish to use. Not all character sets are supported by every fon[...]

218 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide command bar The command bar allows direct entry of FXDeko commands and macros. Press F4 to call up the command bar, type the name of a command or macro, then press Enter or click Play. Use the Prompt button on the command bar to open the Command Prompt dialog box where you can specify command parameters. A Default[...]

Glossary 219 FXDeko User’s Guide current directory The current directory is the directory in which files are saved and from which files are opened. FXDeko maintains five different current directories based on file types: custom typefaces (.fac) graphics (.dko), sequences (.seq), automation (.aut) styles (.sty), preset styles (.pst), shaders (.shd[...]

220 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide detail A detail is one element of a look. It controls how a font is rendered. There are five kinds of details: face, edge, shadow, underline and frame. double-click To double-click, move the selection cursor over the desired item on the screen and tap the left mouse button twice in rapid succession without moving [...]

Glossary 221 FXDeko User’s Guide full justification Full horizontal justification makes selected text, except any row with a newline character (hard return), flush with the left and right sides of the text field box. Full vertical justification makes the top and bottom lines of text flush with the top and bottom of the field box. global variable [...]

222 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide Graphic Browser window The Graphic Browser window, also referred to as the “browser”, shows thumbnails of all the graphics in the current directory. Depending on how it is invoked, this window shows graphics that will be read into Preview or Program, put into a sequence, or used as texture shaders. You can siz[...]

Glossary 223 FXDeko User’s Guide insertion point In a text field, the insertion point is indicated by the text cursor. As you type, FXDeko inserts each character into text at the insertion point, and shifts the insertion point to the right. To move the text cursor, use arrow keys ( ↑ → ↓ ← ) or click on a new position. integer parameter A[...]

224 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide layer A layer is one element of a FXDeko graphic. A layer is either a text layer, a rectangle layer or an ellipse layer. A graphic can have any number of layers. Layers are rendered from front to back. layer browser The layer browser shows a thumbnail image of each layer in the current graphic, and displays the la[...]

Glossary 225 FXDeko User’s Guide loop A loop is a section of a macro that is repeated a specified number of times during playback. macro A macro is a series of FXDeko commands that can be saved in a macro file and played back on demand. You can use the macro recorder to record a macro, or you can edit a macro as a text file. macro recorder The ma[...]

226 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide navigate To navigate around a dialog box, use Tab and Shift+Tab to move between fields, or click on the desired field. The up and down arrow keys ( ↑↓ ) scroll through the items in a list. Double-click a directory to select it. Double-click a file name to open the file. object An object is a discrete data stru[...]

Glossary 227 FXDeko User’s Guide pin location A character’s pin location determines how it will be placed relative to the baseline of the current row. The Y value indicates the baseline of the character, and the X value indicates the left edge of the character. pre-rendered style A style that has been completely rendered and saved on disk. You [...]

228 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide real parameter A real parameter specifies any numeric value, whole or fractional, e.g. 3, 9, 7, -0.9, etc. Very large or small real values can be expressed in exponent form. accepts a real number value. For example, 2.5e-10. An example of a real parameter is the input parameter of the sqrt (square root) command: s[...]

Glossary 229 FXDeko User’s Guide screen space Screen location is indicated on the status bar, expressed as either world space or screen space. World space, or resolution-independent space, is measured in arbitrary units, selected by the user. Screen space is a literal representation of the video frame buffer. Screen space varies with the video st[...]

230 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide spread justification Spread justification makes all lines of text flush with both the left and right sides of the text field box. To do this, space is inserted between words and between letters, as controlled by the Spread % in the Style/Layers window. status bar The status bar is the line of information, at the b[...]

Glossary 231 FXDeko User’s Guide subroutine A subroutine is a macro that is used as a command within another macro. switch parameter A switch parameter specifies a parameter that is either true or false. A true parameter is either preceded by a hyphen (-) or followed by =1, while a false parameter is either preceded by -no or followed by =0. syst[...]

232 Glossary FXDeko User’s Guide title bar The title bar is the bar at the top of any Windows NT application window, including FXDeko’s. This bar is highlighted whenever an application is active. tool tips Tool tips are those little yellow pop-up windows that appear if you hold the selection cursor over a toolbar button for a brief moment. They[...]

233 FXDeko User’s Guide Index A Arithmetic operators, 150 Array accessing elements of, 151 subscripting elements of, 149 Aspect ratio changing, 80 opening graphic recorded under different, 80 Assignment operators, 152 Aston Import, 160 At-sign variables, 149 Automation defining layers for, 162 protocols, 161 window, 161–62 Automation option, 15[...]

234 Index FXDeko User’s Guide parameters, 145–48 syntax, 145–46 Command bar, 138 Command command, 155 Comments, 153 Comparison operators, 150 Concatenation, 150 Conditional loop commands, 155 Conditional statements, 153–54 Continue command, 154 Copying detail, 62 events, 103 font, 48, 76 layer, 91 look, 63 tab stops, 62 text, 33–34 Crawl,[...]

Index 235 FXDeko User’s Guide sharing, 132 Font as part of style, 46, 138 browser, 47 changing attributes of current, 46 copying, 48, 76 creating custom typeface, 48–50 displaying Style/Font window, 46 installing TrueType and Postscript, 48 size, 29–30, 47 specifying, 46–50 width, 47 For command, 155 Frame adding or removing, 60 blurring, 6[...]

236 Index FXDeko User’s Guide scaling, 95–96 selecting, 89 skewing, 96–97 specifying properties of, 83–85, 86–88 Layout desktop, 122–23 initial, 125 keyboard, 25 preconfigured, 122–23 Leading, 32–33, 47 Lightning, 133–37 Local variables, 149 Look as part of style, 51 copying, 63 details. See also Face, Edge, Shadow, Underline, Fra[...]

Index 237 FXDeko User’s Guide prompts, 125–26 resetting, 124 specifying, 123–28 Preset menus commands, 193–94 Preset shaders applying to detail, 74 assigning current shader to, 74 saving, 74 using, 73 Preset style. See Style Preview, 15 Program, 15 Prompts, 90, 125–26, 131 Push, 98 R Ramp. See also Shader applying to detail, 66 background[...]

238 Index FXDeko User’s Guide text, 27–28, 47 Slide, 98 Small caps, 28, 47 Software settings resetting, 124 Spacing characters, 29–31, 47 Starting FXDeko, 125 Windows NT, 10–11 String operators, 150 Style assigning to preset button, 76 current. See Current style picking up from graphic, 77 pre-rendered, 48 retrieving, 77–78 saving as pre-[...]

Index 239 FXDeko User’s Guide V Variables, 148–49, 148–49 assignment, 149, 150 data type, 149 global, 149 local, 149 subscripted, 149 system, 149 user-defined, 149 Video standard changing, 80 View menu commands, 199–200 W While command, 155 Window clearing, 125 closing, 125 opening, 125 position on desktop, 122–23 Windows NT changing keyb[...]