Special Instructions for ASCII-Art Flow
(Last Updated: January 25, 2002)
While this flow really shows off the power of Fusion expressions and advanced techniques, it doesn't really work like
a normal flow would. As a result we have put together this short list of instructions and comments for proper use of
this flow.
Requirements: Digital Fusion 3.1+, DFX+ 3.1+ & Module 1
Required Plugins: Krokodove's version 3.oo (uses free tools)
Original Flow: Download here
Sample Source Image: Download here
Sample Completed Image: View here
When opening this flow for the first time we definitely recommend using the following step-by-step description
of how to get it running. Please note that this flow will take quite a while to render a final single image.
- Use only a 1024 by 768 image in 'LOADER 1.' Bright on a black BG works best with well defined detail. Try the sample
source image available above for the first time. (A color version of this flow is also available and coming soon.)
- Make sure current time is set at frame 1.
- View the 'BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST 1' tool in the small view. Set the zoom to 'Fit.' You should see a thin band of black.
- View the 'GLOW 1' tool in the large view. Zoom out to the point where the whole frame is visible with a bit of
space around the edges.
- Click on the 'CHAR SELECTOR' tool so that it is active in the flow. (yellow)
- Hit 'Start Render' and select High Quality and Full Size from the Render Settings window and then start the render.
- With the 'CHAR SELECTOR' tool active you will see the cursor moving across the Large View line by line. You will not actually see
it start drawing characters until about frame 160 as the frames before that are analyzing the selected character source
set and creating the banded thin bar you should see in the Small View by frame 160. After this point you should see
the cursor moving across the large view and adding text characters as needed based on the source image.
- Basically that is it. Now sit back and allow the flow to render for nearly 8000 frames and create your ASCII art image.
- This flow requires several of the Krokodove plugins available from KomKomDoorn. But, only those tools that are
provided free from the KomKomDoorn website. You will need to download these plugins for this flow to work, but also because they're
just plain great plugins. Make sure to get the most recent version of these tools.
- As mentioned before this flow does not entirely render like a normal flow. You will notice that there is no 'SAVER' tool
in the flow. You do NOT want one. As a result of the trails tools and expressions this flow needs to process 8000 frames
but will only result in one final image in the Large View. If you wish to save the image in the Large View once a render completes
simply use the 'Save Image' option from the Large View right-click context menu.
- This flow can NOT be network rendered. Sorry.
- You must always start from frame #1 and you must always choose to Render. Interactive playback will not work with this
flow. Although it may not appear to be doing anything during the first 160 frames, they must be rendered. This is where
the selected characters are analyzed for general brightness so later in the flow the proper character can be selected
to represent a tiny portion of the source image.
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