DXI(OPCS), DXO(OPCS) Optical Printer Control System DXI(OPCS), DXO(OPCS) NAME dxi/dxo - set up an automated dissolve in/out USAGE dxi [-x] frames # set up a 'dissolve in' dxo [-x] frames # set up a 'dissolve out' The -x option overrides the error message that warns you about doing a dissolve when the shutter isn't fully open/closed. This allows you to do dissolves from any fader position. EXAMPLES dxi 12 # Set up a 12 frame 'dissolve in' dxi -x 12 # 12x dissolve, regardless of current fader position DESCRIPTION Sets up a dissolve. Once set, whenever the camera is told to expose frames (with CAM(OPCS), REP(OPCS), etc), the fader will automatically move to the proper position before exposing each frame. Dissolves can operate on either still or moving images, depending on the command used for exposing film; 1) Setup and shoot a 12x "dissolve in" on a held projector image: dxi 12 cam 12 | | | Shoot 12x dissolve in on frozen projector frame. | Set up 12x dx in 2) Setup and shoot 12x "dissolve in" as a straight print: rat 1 1 dxi 12 rep 12 | | | | | Shoot 12x dissolve in on moving projector image | | | Set up 12x dissolve in | Set up a straight print for the 'rep' command 3) Setup and shoot a 24x 'lap dissolve' between two moving projector images. (Assumes 'rat 1 1' in effect for straight print): dxo 24 rep 24 seek >5500 -24 dxi 24 rep 24 | | | | | | | | | Shoot 24x dissolve in | | | | as straight print | | | | | | | Setup 24x dissolve in | | | | | Backwind camera -24x, projector seeks x5500 | | | Shoot 24x dissolve out (straight print) | Set up 24x dissolve out Commands can be 'all on one line' as shown above, or separate: dxo 24 # Setup 24x dx out rep 24 # Shoot 24x dx out as straight print seek >5500 -24 # Backwind cam -24x, pro goes to frame #5500 dxi 24 # Setup 24x dx in rep 24 # Shoot 24x dx in as straight print Note: seek >5500 -24 is effectively the same as cam -24 pro >5500 though the latter may be slower to execute. 4) Shoot (12) 4 frame dissolves between every 8th projector image: do 12 dxo 4 cam 4 seek -4 pro 8 dxi 4 cam 4 ------------------------------------- These commands repeat 12 times from left to right. ..which 'weaves' still frames from a slow-motion moving projector image. NOTES Dissolves remain in effect until all frames of the dissolve have shot. Any of the following commands will cancel an in-progress dissolve: opn, cls, shu, dxi 0, dxo 0. A status message near the fader's counter shows the remaining frames left for an in-progress dissolve. If the -x flag is NOT supplied, the fader: o Must be fully OPEN before executing DXO o Must be fully CLOSED before executing DXI ..otherwise an error is shown. The only exception is if the -x flag is supplied, preventing these warnings, shooting the new dissolve based on the fader's *current* position. Below are common errors: dxi 12 cam 11 dxo 12 cam 12 ^bombs here: only 11x into a 12x DXI. opn dxi 12 cam 12 ^bombs here: fader is already open It's hard to see such errors in large '.run' scripts, so test with 'motors off' to find such problems quickly. DISSOLVE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATION NOTES When setting up a new system, shoot extensive cross-dissolve tests to make sure the INTERP(OPCSDEFS) values for your fader are correct. If interp values aren't accurate or there's mechanical slop in the shutter (see SLOP(OPCSDEFS)), you will see bumps in exposure. Test with different length lap-dissolves, and project on a large screen. Fine tuning SLOP and INTERP are essential for accurate dissolves. SEE ALSO OPCS Commands CAM(OPCS) - shoot camera (fades/dissolves too) OPN(OPCS), CLS(OPCS) - open/close fader shutter SHU(OPCS) - move fader to an absolute position in degrees DXI(OPCS), DXO(OPCS) - set up dissolve in/out FDI(OPCS), FDO(OPCS) - set up fade in/out OPCSDEFS Commands FLOG(OPCSDEFS) - set Fader LOGarithmic curve for custom fades FRANGE(OPCSDEFS) - set fade/dx's degrees range (for Hicon film stocks) INTERP(OPCSDEFS) - set interpolation positions (fader, focus, etc) SLOP(OPCSDEFS) - correct for slop in a motor (fader, focus, etc) General MATH(DOCS) - math expressions (for use in frame specifications) SYNTAX(DOCS) - online calculator and OPCS math expression syntax ORIGIN Gregory Ercolano, Los Feliz California 11/29/89