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VST VIDEO
SEQUENCING TRACING
One of the most spectacular new features
in LD2000 is live video, using the Lasershow Video (VST2002) program.
Imagine simply aiming a camera at a subject and seeing the result live, in
laser. Or doing real-time rotoscoping of any moving subject and saving those
frames immediately. |
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Depending on your show needs, you can create
a show up to 20 times faster, using VST2002 techniques.
Outlining
and Raster
There are two ways to use VST2002: vector outlining and raster video. Both
techniques work with standard laser projectors (e.g., ILDA 30K or faster
scanners, with PCAOM color).
For both outlining and video, you can project live from a camera or VCR
video input, or you can save a sequence as a set of frames. These frames can
later be used in an LD show. |
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| Original
Video Frame |
Outline
Laser Frame |
Raster
laser Frame |
How to use VST2002
VST2002 hardware requirements are modest. For video digitizing, you need a
hardware video digitizing card, such as the Hauppage WinTV series . The video
format -- NTSC, PAL, SECAM -- is only of importance to the video card before
digitizing (so get the right format for your area!). VST2002 begins with the
digitized video, so it works on all video formats. And of course, any video
source -- camera, VCR, TV tuner -- will work.
A fast Pentium PC computer is also recommended (above 300MHz) since the PC does
the bitmap-to-laser conversion for each frame. The faster the computer, the
faster the frame rate.
Using VST2002 is simple. Just start the program and select whether you want
outline or raster.
For Outlining, the
source video should be high-contrast, such as a light-colored object against a
dark background. Inside VST2002, the scene is made only black-and-white. You can
adjust the incoming video parameters to be sure the contrast is optimum. You can
also adjust the laser scanning parameters such as size and scan speed.
VST2002 then outlines the objects at up to 30 times per second. There is no
perceptible lag -- only 1/10 second between TV capture and laser output. And
with frame rates up to 30 per second, any moving subject moves very smoothly.
You can instantly output the laser image, or you can capture the laser frames as
standard Lasershow Designer 2000 .LDS frame files.
For Raster, the source
video should be well-lit. Because the raster resolution is about 60 pixels by 60
lines, it is best to zoom in on your subject. (There are actually two rasters
available; unidirectional and bidirectional. The latter provides higher density
but requires a fine-tuning adjustment on the laser output.)
The frame display rate is about 15 per second -- still fast enough to show good
motion. In some ways, a moving subject works even better than the same subject
unmoving. This is because the eye blends each moving frame together to see a
higher apparent resolution. (This is how MPEG video works -- still frames can
look pixelated, but this is not noticed during playback.)
As with outlining, you can instantly output the laser image, or you can capture
the laser frames as standard Lasershow Designer 2000 .LDS frame files.
VST2000 is bundled
with the LD2000 Software Suite and included with a video capture card in
all International Laser Productions turn-key Systems.
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