What are the major features of the software?
- Small, powerful command set.
By having few commands, it's easy
for camera operators to learn. New operators can start
shooting complex operations quickly.
- Hard things are made easy.
OPCS really makes it easy to shoot multiple
cross dissolves, custom fades, shoot step prints,
subtitle burn-ins.
- Unattended Use. It's easy to set up a few commands
to automate complex printer operations, keeping the printer
shooting while the operator is preparing the next roll.
- Accountability and repeatability.
All commands can be logged for later error checking,
offline editing, and repeat execution.
- Easy to customize.
OPCS makes it easy for customers to create their own
one-word commands that become 'part of the software'.
Complex operations can be made into scripts, and turned into
single operator commands.
- Improved hardware accuracy. Sloppy hardware can be
made amazingly accurate by means of anti backlash
'slop correction'.
- Offline use. Complex exposure sheets can be translated
into OPCS commands offline using a text editor. The scripts
can even be setup to prompt the operator for filter changes or
f-stop settings, so the operator can do complicated shots
reliably and efficiently.
What kind of PC do I need?
You only need a simple PC that can run DOS:
- Monochrome or color screen
- 3 1/2 floppy drive
- 33MHz or faster cpu
- 10MB hard disk or larger that can boot DOS 3.3 or higher
- Windows is optional; OPCS doesn't use it
For Micro-step systems, you will need to purchase an RTMC16
or RTMC48 motion control card from
Kuper Controls, and
your computer will need an available slot for it.
For Half-step systems, you should have two or more available
parallel ports, as these will be used to control the motor drives.
The half-step systems do *NOT* need a Kuper card.
How many axes can I run?
12 axes is the max, for both half-step and micro-step systems.
Do I need to use home sensors?
It is recommended, but you don't have to.
OPCS has a very powerful, flexible way to make your own custom
home-sensing operations for each axis, both rotational and linear.
See recommended
engineering for more information.
Does OPCS support end-of-track trip switches?
Yes. Trip switches can be placed at the ends of all the
linear rails to stop motors from running beyond them.
See recommended
engineering for more information.
Can I use OPCS to run a scanner?
Yes. The OPCS software allows all commands to be redirected
from the serial port, so that an external computer can send
commands to the OPCS software to run off frames.
Some customers use Mac scanning software, and connect the
Mac to the OPCS system's IBM-PC to control the OPCS software
via the IBM PC's serial port. For more information, see the
OPCS documentation for the
respond command.
Can I use OPCS to run a track camera or downshooter?
Yes you can, but we don't recommend it. You're better off using
Kuper to control track cameras.
Are there any limits on fades and dissolves?
There are no limits; they can be any number of frames.
The only limit is the resolution of your motor hardware which,
if geared as recommended, should give you at least 4000 microsteps
of accuracy.
Does OPCS do streaking?
No. OPCS will never support streaking.
However, you can use the motion control software available from
Kuper Controls
to do streaking. The OPCS and Kuper software can coexist on
the same machine, and used interchangeably to run a printer.
What are some simple commands for shooting?
| cam 10 | Shoot 10 frames on the camera |
| cam -10 | Shoot 10 frames in reverse |
| rep 50 | Shoot 50 frame straight print |
| seek >100 | Slew camera out to frame 100, camera capped |
| seek >120 >100 | Slew projector and camera together with camera capped;
projector to frame 120, camera to frame 100 |
| pro 10 | Wind off 10x on the projector |
| opn | Open the fader |
| cls | Close the fader (cap) |
| shu 50 | Open the shutter to 50 degrees |
| fdi 12 | Setup a 12 frame fade in |
How about some advanced commands for shooting?
| rat 2 1 rep 50 | 50 frame 2:1 step print |
| fdi 12 cam 12 | Shoot 12x fade in on still projector image |
| rat 1 1 fdi 12 rep 12 | Shoot 12x fade in on moving projector image (straight print) |
| feed trackit.pos rep 120 |
Shoot a 120 frame motion control file |
| dxo 12 rep 12 pro >330 seek -12 dxi 12 rep 12 | 12x cross-dissolve between moving projector images |
| do 200 dxo 8 rep 8 pro 8 seek -8 dxi 8 rep 12 |
Shoot 200 8 frame cross-dissolves between every 8th frozen projector image |
How do I wind the camera AND projector together?
If you are not exposing film, you can use the SEEK command
to run the two motors together at their highest speed:
To expose film, such as for a straight one-to-one print,
then setup a 1:1 ratio using RAT, and then repeat
that ratio 10 times with REP:
..the camera and projector run together at the current camera
exposure speed.
How do you setup and shoot a fade?
Once you setup a fade, any command that involves the camera
will advance the fader automatically until the fade is complete.
| fdi 12 cam 12 |
Fade in to frozen projector image |
| rat 1 1 fdi 12 rep 12 |
Fade in, straight print |
How do stepper motors work, anyway?
A little out of the scope of this document, but ok.
Here's a description of how stepper
motors work, replete with animated diagrams showing how the magnets
are energized to make a stepper motor turn.
How do I get a Windows 95 machine to boot directly into DOS?
OPCS users will want the machine to boot directly into DOS mode.
Here's how to do it:
- Un-hide the \MSDOS.SYS file, and edit it:
| C:\> attrib -S -H -R \msdos.sys |
| C:\> edit \msdos.sys |
- Find line that reads:
..and change it to read:
- Reboot! Machine now boots in DOS mode always.
(You can type 'win' to get into windows)
