360 Systems 1200HD-EX - Manual (Page 72)

MAXX-1200 Owner’s Manual Page 71
An automation system could, for example, issue a VDCP Cue command to Channel 2 for a clip
called “logo”. Channel 3 would automatically be loaded with clip “logo_”. A Still or Play
command sent to Channel 2 would cause both Channels 2 and 3 to display the fill and key clips,
respectively.
Note that the VDCP checkbox option to “show first frame” for a Cue command is ignored for
channels in ganged mode. The automation system must issue a Still command to Channel 2 to
achieve this effect.
Ingesting a TARGA file via FTP automatically creates a key clip and a fill clip, each a single frame
in length. For example, if file “xyz.tga” is transferred to a server via FTP, then a pair of single-
frame clips is created: “xyz” and “xyz_” containing the fill and key material.
Combined Video and Graphics Capability
MAXX-1200 includes graphics import capability, enabling it to function as both a graphics still-
store, and an animation playout server. Three simultaneous outputs give it the power to combine
video, graphics and animation playback. Channels can be ganged in various combinations to
provide key-and-fill playout, with a third channel playing background.
The server supports FTP import from most graphics systems, including Photoshop®, After Effects®,
Final Cut Pro®, Xpress Pro™, Liquid Edition and Vegas Video.
Importing TARGA Graphics Files
The server can recognize and ingest single-frame TARGA files via FTP. TARGA files have a .tga
extension, and may contain an alpha (or key) channel. During transfer, the server will split the
TARGA file into a Fill frame, and a Key frame. If no alpha layer exists, a white field is created.
These will be converted to high-resolution files, one frame in length.
For example, if an original file is named Logo.tga, the files created will be named Logo.mxf (the
fill file) and Logo_.mxf (the key file). Note the trailing underscore “_” added to the file name of
the key. This allows the TARGA file to be used for key and fill applications when two channels
are ganged together.
The resolution of a TARGA image should be 1920 x 1080 for use in 1080i format, or 1280 x 720
for use in 720p format. If the original TARGA image is not of this resolution, the server will
attempt to re-scale it, possibly introducing some dimensional distortion. The bit depth of the files
must be 24 or 32 bit. The server does not support Targa sequences, only single frame graphics.
Animation Import (Uncompressed .mov files)
From the server’s standpoint, an “animation” clip must have a minimum length of one second.
Clips used for sequential (back-to-back) seamless playback must be a minimum of four seconds
long. A separate Alpha channel may or may not be present. Any graphics workstation capable of
exporting files supported by the server can make transfers to it via FTP. To support alpha channel
operation, the naming conventions of the Key/Fill Mode apply: the file name for the key video is
the same as the filename for the fill video, with the addition of an underscore character ( _ ). The
alpha file is created with a white field if no alpha channel exists; these files can be deleted if you
are not using them for key-and-fill applications.
Animation sequences to be sent to the MAXX-1200 should be saved in QuickTime format with
no compression (Codec=NONE). The image size should be 1920x1080 or 1280x720. An alpha
channel may be present. See Supported File Types MOV page 78.