MacroSystem ElasticDreams User Manual
User manual
ElasticDreams
for Casablanca Avio, Prestige and Kron
Safety notices
To avoid making mistakes during operation, we recommend that you carefully follow the
instructions provided in this manual.
We would also like to point out that ElasticDreams has been designed with the hobby enthusiast in
mind.
We have taken a great deal of care while programming and checking this software.
Nevertheless, since it is not possible to guarantee totally error-free software applications in all
environments and at any time, we unfortunately cannot rule out the possibility that some errors may
have crept in. If, contrary to all expectations, this is indeed the case, we shall remedy any errors in
the program and supply the affected customers with the new software free of charge. We cannot,
however, accept any liability for loss of data/time or any consequential damages that may occur as
a result, particularly since we have no inuence over correct software installation and operation by
the customer. MacroSystem Digital Video AG and its dealers therefore cannot be held liable for any
defects or unintentional damage in connection with the installation or use of ElasticDreams.
MacroSystem Digital Video AG and its dealers do not guarantee error-free use of the software or
complete awlessness of the program.
Any implied guarantee is null and void, including guarantee of suitability of the software or
operating instructions for a particular purpose.
Neither MacroSystem Digital Video AG nor its dealers are responsible for any damages resulting
either directly or indirectly through the use of the software or the operating instructions, e.g. for
prot loss, costs, hardware or software problems or other issues.
Contents
Page
1. General remarks ................................................................................................ 5
2. Installation ......................................................................................................... 5
3. What is ElasticDreams? .................................................................................... 5
4. Effects................................................................................................................. 5
4.1 ElasticDreams Warp.............................................................................. 5
4.2 ElasticDreams Draw.............................................................................. 6
4.3 ElasticDreams FX .................................................................................. 6
4.4 ElasticDreams Morph ........................................................................... 6
4.5 ElasticDreams Op.................................................................................. 6
5. Control elements ............................................................................................... 7
5.1 Editor window ....................................................................................... 7
5.2 Overview window................................................................................. 8
5.3 Mode window ....................................................................................... 8
5.4 Special window..................................................................................... 9
5.5 Project window ..................................................................................... 9
6. Practice examples ............................................................................................. 9
6.1 Alienation of a scene with the warp effect.......................................... 9
6.2 Connect two scenes with the morphing effect ................................... 12
6.3 Transition effects with ElasticDreams FX ........................................... 13
6.4 Puppet player effect with ElasticDreams Draw .................................. 14
6.5 Transition effects with ElasticDreams Op ........................................... 16
6.6 Deleting reference points ..................................................................... 17
6.7 Animation of a title with the help of the Scene function ................... 17
5
1. General remarks
Thank you for buying ElasticDreams!
We appreciate your trust and hope that this
product will meet your expectations.
ElasticDreams enables you to obtain more from
your Casablanca than ever before.
Please use the addresses and telephone
numbers listed in the Casablanca manual if you
have any questions or comments.
Please have the serial number of your device or
your customer number ready when contacting
for help or comments.
2. Installation
name.
Click on “OK” to close the window and then
remove the SmartMedia card.
ElasticDreams is now installed as demo version.
Notes on other products:
ElasticDreams supports the Power-Key Option.
Separate instructions for keyboard control are
not available - press the “F2” key to see the
possible key abbreviations.
ElasticDreams can also be used under VGA.
3. What is ElasticDreams?
ElasticDreams is a collection consisting of ve
effects - four transition effects and one Image
Processing Effect.
All effects modify an image by using manual
and/or algorithmic distortions (warp and
morphing effects).
To install ElasticDreams you need the system
software, version 1.9 or higher, or the SMARTEDIT software, version 2.1 or higher.
The system version is displayed in the
information eld of the menu “System settings”
(below left).
Leave your Casablanca on and select the
button “Install product” in “System settings”
so that the appropriate window appears. Then
insert the installation SmartMedia card into the
Casablanca drive so that the gold contacts are
below and the folded corner is pointing forward
to the left (in the direction of the Casablanca).
Push the card into the slot until only about
half a centimeter remains outside and you feel
resistance.
The software “ElasticDreams” is now displayed
in the window. Select the entry from the list
and click on “activate”. An entry dialog is
displayed for entering the key code you have
obtained from your dealer. After that, a message
is displayed indicating that the installation
process is nished. You can then remove the
SmartMedia card.
If you want to install the program as a demo,
click “Cancel” in the entry dialog after you have
selected the program and clicked “activate”. The
word “Demo” now appears after the program
The program features simple but powerful tools
to enable you to manually or automatically
modify an image or transform it into another.
ElasticDreams always creates uid movement.
Enlarge body parts, close an eye, lengthen
nose and hair. Change somebody into another
person, or transform an object elegantly into
another!
The result is an astounding gradual, uid
transformation that can make the high point of a
perfect video.
Let animals or objects speak using your own lip
movements as the template.
Or simply use the available possibilities to create
effective transitions between scenes.
4. Effects
4.1 ElasticDreams Warp
(Image Processing effect)
(Imaging and effects on one scene)
Here you can alter a scene as much as you want.
Let body parts grow fantastically, close an eye,
lengthen nose and hair!
6
7
You can dene any number of intermediate
steps, ElasticDreams always creates uid
movement.
Distortions are displayed in real time,
corrections can be made at any time.
4.2 ElasticDreams Draw
(Transition effect)
(Imaging and effects on the left scene, the scene
on the right can be overlaid as half-transparent
reference)
For example, let animals or objects speak!
Record yourself (or another person) while you
speak a text. Your lip movements can serve as
template. For example, you can let your dog
speak.
Use ElasticDreams tools to open and close your
dog’s mouth in time to your lip movements. The
result: the animal speaks with your voice!
ElasticDreams to directly overlay prominent
points (eyes, ears, etc.).
The result is a gradual and uid transformation
that is stunning and can make the high point of
a perfect video.
4.5 ElasticDreams Op
(Transition effect)
The special can be used here in a simple
manner. In contrast to the other ElasticDreams
effects, this one can be used in the storyboard
as often as desired. The individual effect options
are explained in the following:
4.3 ElasticDreams FX
(Transition effect)
(Imaging and effects simultaneously on both
scenes, the scenes can be overlaid as halftransparencies)
In this mode you can create your own effects.
The varied possibilities (manual drawing,
prepared effects, gradual fade) can be combined
to attain new and exceptional effects.
By setting special effects you specify how the
effect is applied from the rst scene to the
second. For example, if you select “Whirl” in the
“Special” menu with an appropriate intensity,
then the rst scene is faded into the second as a
kind of whirl.
4.4 ElasticDreams Morph
(Transition effect)
(Imaging and effects in the left scene, the scene
on the right is calculated automatically. The
scenes can be overlaid as half-transparencies)
(1) Effect
You can select any combination of effects from
a list.
(2) Power
Here you specify how strong the selected
effect is applied to the video. Negative values
are applied in contrast to the positive range
(clockwise). For every effect the most recently
set value is stored. However, this control is valid
only for the currently selected effect. Combining
several effects within a reference point is
possible.
(3) Fade Time
The effect is applied over the entire duration
selected in the storyboard. A gradual fade can
be inserted into the middle to hide the actual
scene change in the middle of the time span.
(4) Archives
Some predened effect combinations can be
found here. You can also store here your own
creations for reuse at a later time.
Transform one person into another or uidly
morph one object into another!
You can overlay two scenes with variable
transparency and use the powerful tools of
7
Important note on projects:
All ElasticDreams effects (except for
“ElasticDreams Op”) can be used up to 10
times simultaneously in the storyboard for all
Casablanca projects.
Any number of effects may be inserted at rst,
but as soon as an effect is initiated and nished
through “Start Program”, one of the 10 places
is occupied until the effect is removed from the
storyboard.
For protracted usage it is recommended to
create a scene after nishing an effect (not
possible for CASABLANCA AVIO without ProPackage) and to replace the ElasticDreams effect
with the created scene.
5. Control elements
5.1 Editor window
(1) Image
The current image is displayed in which you can
“draw”. The selected “Mode” and the tool in the
currently selected size are used.
To draw you move the cursor into the image,
hold the left trackball key down and roll the
trackball.
Any changes made can be undone by using
the right instead of the left trackball. Move the
cursor to the desired position, press and hold
the right key and roll the trackball.
Alternatively, you can set mode “Undo” and
undo the changes with the left key.
(2) Lens symbols
Three lens symbols can be found in the upper
left corner of the edit window.
With the left symbol you see the image as it
normally is on the television screen (reduced to
the area of the edit window).
Selecting the middle symbol causes the image
to zoom so that only a portion of the image is
visible.
The symbol at the right magnies one level
more. For both magnication levels you can
select the desired image portion by clicking in
the overview window.
(3) Undo
The undo button (curved arrow) in the upper
right of the edit window can be used to undo all
changes that have been made since the most
recent selection of this reference point.
A reference point is a specied point in the
video material at which a modication has been
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