Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Theatre Design Pro v3.2 Beta

This is topic Theatre Design Pro v3.2 Beta - Beta Testers Wanted in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-09-2003, 06:32 PM:

We're getting close to releasing version 3.2 of Theatre Design Pro.

Thank you to everyone who submitted suggestions. I'd love to have you run this beta around the block and give me your comments.

There are a number of improvements and fixes in 3.2, the most notable are the new collaborative features. Now you can easily email the project file, or the project details in text form, or the project details in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

You can find the latest beta, from February 9, at:

www.schneideroptics.com/tdpv32beta020903.exe

If you choose to use the "Email PDF" feature, you'll need a PDF writer. If you have Adobe Acrobat PDF writer, you need do nothing further. Note that the writer is print driver that comes with the full version of Adobe Acrobat. The program you need is NOT the free Adobe Acrobat reader.

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat PDF Writer, there's a shareware program that'll work fine.

You can find it at:

www.pdf994.com

The unregistered version of PDF995 will make PDFs just fine, but you'll need to put up with some advertising and the PDF files will be watermarked. If you register the program for $9.95, the advertising and watermarks will go away.

I'll be grateful if you would notify me of any bugs or issues that you find.

Thanks,
Dwight

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-10-2003, 08:43 AM:

My first new request on the program is to allow the 16mm format to use the short lenses on Scope. That is, if a 28mm prime lens will fit the ES adapter, then 16mm should have that at its access.

I love the fact that you have added the 70.6mm lens sizes for 16mm!

Steve

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-10-2003, 08:51 AM:

Dwight,

I just tried to open a 3.1 file (several times) with 3.2Beta...

The program has locked up every time. I do have some "custom" formats like "Silent" if that will help debug it.

Also, the splash screen talks about "3.1 help" even though it is 3.2

Steve

Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-10-2003, 10:02 AM:

Steve:

Can you email me the project file that locked up in 3.2 beta? This is one that we definitely have to track down.

Thanks,
Dwight

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-11-2003, 04:09 AM:

Hi Dwight,
the "White Papers" section on your website is still blank. I emailed you about this a few months ago. I am really curious what you have hidden there.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-11-2003, 07:40 AM:

Will do Dwight...also for the debug information...Running under Win98SE

Steve

Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-11-2003, 01:55 PM:

Steve:

Got the files. I get the same results you do, a lockup and funny formats, on my Windows 2000 desktop. I've not tried it on my Windows XP Pro laptop yet, I'll get to that tonight. So it's a repeatable bug and I've sent it off to our programmer for squashing.

Thanks so much.
Dwight

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-11-2003, 04:08 PM:

Tis what us Beta testers are for!

Steve

Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-11-2003, 07:46 PM:

Michael:

We fixed the white paper page, and then, as you noticed, it was broken again. At the moment we don't have an explanation. We fixed it and it was working this afternoon . . .

Dwight

Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-11-2003, 07:48 PM:

If you'd like to see the new features of Theatre Design Pro v3.2 . . . have a look at:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/software/TDP3.2_2-10-03.pdf

Dwight

Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-11-2003, 09:59 PM:

We've fixed the problems that Steve reported.

The new beta is at:
www.schneideroptics.com/TDP32BETA02112003.exe

Time is growing short, we burn CDs soon.

Dwight

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-12-2003, 08:16 AM:

Just checked the latest Beta. Still had a lock up problem after one closes down the tree(s) on the auditoriums then open them back up...upon selecting one of the formats...lock up.

Steve

PS, you might want to tell your programmer to update the version number ("About...") with each revision, no matter how small so that one can know just what version they have.

Posted by Dwight Lindsey (Member # 1037) on 02-13-2003, 10:30 PM:

Steve:

OK, your bug is fixed. It was an obscure one, which we're glad to find, but likely wouldn't have bit anyone but you . . .

New version is at:
www.schneideroptics.com/TDP32Beta02132003.exe

Dwight

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-14-2003, 09:25 AM:

Hey, when you need obscure...I'm your man!

Steve

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-14-2003, 10:56 AM:

Ok...ran the latest beta (6) and all seems to work well on the lock up department.

However, since I have a "user format" on my 3.1 files they turned into a 635 format (I'm guessing Cinerama) rather than retain what I had which is "35mm Silent (Standard)" For your reference, the Silent dimensions are .680 x .910 (give or take a couple of thousandths). It would be nice to have that as premade format.

Steve

Posted by Larry Shaw (Member # 388) on 02-15-2003, 05:24 PM:

Dwight,

In the Kinoton projector list: FP 30EC is listed twice, so 1 should be removed. FP 56 should be added (same data as FP 5). FP 30EQ should be added (same data as FP 30EC). FP 38EQ should be added (same data as FP 38EC). FP 30ES should be added (same data as FP 30EC). FP 38ES should be added (same data as FP 38EC). PK 60PC should be added (same data as FP 30EC).

It seems that the 6/35 and (2)8/35 formats (thanks for adding them!) have been made nominal for most, if not all, 35mm projectors. As I feel certian I'll never see a Simplex Standard run Cinerama or Vistavision, these should be limited to the few machines that will.

Steve,

We typically use .660 x .925 for silent. Although there's not a clear standard, .910 seems pretty narrow. BTW, W of S35 is .945, and we have shown certian prints as big as .700 x .960. Just my observation.

Posted by Jeffry L. Johnson (Member # 453) on 02-15-2003, 07:30 PM:

In 1992, Jess Daily of UCLA sent me his image area standards for the Melnitz Theater. His 35mm silent aperture is 0.906 x 0.680 inches.

"The Focal Encyclopedia of Film & Television Techniques," ©1969, SBN 8038-2268-5, lists 35mm Full Aperture: Projector as 0.906 x 0.679 inches.

"American Cinematographer Manual : third edition" lists the full screen ground glass markings for 1.33 as 0.931 x 0.700 inches.

"American Cinematographer Manual : eighth edition" lists the 35mm full aperture finder marking width as 0.945 inches. There is no mention of a height marking for a 1.33:1 aspect ratio image.