What It's Really Like Using An Amiga. ImageFX 4.5!

The video provides a humorous and candid look at the challenges and joys of using an Amiga computer, specifically focusing on the process of installing and using ImageFX 4.5 software. The host humorously laments the Amiga 4000's booting issues before successfully installing ImageFX 4.5, despite some initial confusion with the software's settings and preview quality. The summary highlights the host's exploration of the software's features, including its image processing capabilities and various effects like lens flare and fire, which he tests out on different images. Despite some frustrations with the program's color display and dithering options, the host remains enthusiastic about the Amiga's OCS, ECS, and AGA chipsets, appreciating their classic look. The video ends with the host successfully installing and experimenting with ImageFX 4.5, encouraging viewers to share their knowledge and experiences with the software.

Takeaways

• 🚫 The Amiga 4000 often has boot issues, with the Amiga 1200 being more stable.
• 🎥 The video demonstrates the process of installing and using ImageFX 4.5 on an Amiga system.
• 💿 The user encountered difficulties installing ImageFX from a CD-ROM but succeeded by copying the image to the system.
• 📂 The software was installed into a specific directory, not on a network share, to avoid issues.
• 🖥 The Amiga OS 3.2.1 was mentioned for its networking capabilities, which facilitated the software transfer.
• 🎨 ImageFX is described as more than an image processor; it has features that border on a paint box program.
• 🤔 The user expressed confusion over the software's preview quality and color depth settings, which did not meet expectations.
• 🖌 The program offers advanced features like dithering options and various paint tools, which differentiate it from simpler programs like Art Department Professional.
• 🔥 The user experimented with effects such as lens flare and fire, which added creative flair to the images.
• 👍 The Amiga 4000 with a 68060 processor was praised for its performance during the software demonstration.
• 🙌 The video concluded with a positive note on successfully installing and tinkering with ImageFX 4.5, despite initial challenges.

Q & A

What is the main issue the user experiences when trying to boot their Amiga?

The user experiences that 70% of the time, their Amiga does not boot up upon pressing the power button.

Which Amiga model is mentioned as being particularly stable and always booting up?

The Amiga 1200 is mentioned as being the most stable and always booting up.

What software is the user trying to install and why is it giving them trouble?

The user is trying to install ImageFX 4.5, which has been causing them grief due to difficulties in getting it installed.

What is the significance of the Amiga OS 3.2.1 in the context of the video?

The Amiga OS 3.2.1 is significant because it allows the user to leverage the networking capabilities of the Amiga to transfer the ImageFX installation from a CD-ROM to their system.

What is the user's primary image processing tool and why do they prefer it?

The user's primary image processing tool is Art Department Professional (Ad Pro), which they prefer for its ease of use and simple interface.

What is the user's observation about the ImageFX software after installation?

After installation, the user observes that ImageFX is more complex than Ad Pro, offering more features and effects, and is more of a hybrid between an image processor and a paint box.

What is the user's issue with the ImageFX preview?

The user is confused about why the ImageFX preview appears to be of low quality, looking like it's using 16 colors or less, instead of the expected 256 colors.

What feature of the Amiga 4000 system is the user utilizing for the ImageFX software?

The user is utilizing the 68060 processor with a 50 megahertz 060 CPU for running the ImageFX software.

What is the user's preferred dithering method in ImageFX?

The user's preferred dithering method is Floyd Steinberg dithering, which they find to be effective in enhancing the image quality.

What additional tools or effects does the user explore in ImageFX?

The user explores additional tools such as the fire tool to create a fire effect and the lens flare effect to enhance the look of a fluorescent tube in an image.

What is the user's final verdict on the ImageFX software after tinkering with it?

The user concludes that they successfully installed ImageFX 4.5 and were able to play with some of its features, but they remain somewhat confused about certain aspects of the software, particularly the preview quality and render settings.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Amiga Booting Challenges and Software Installation

The paragraph discusses the common issue of Amiga computers not booting reliably, with a humorous tone. The speaker acknowledges the Amiga 1200's consistent booting performance and contrasts it with the Amiga 4000's booting issues. The speaker then transitions into a software installation process, specifically for 'Image Effects' on an Amiga system. The process involves transferring the software from a CD-ROM to the system and installing it, which the speaker attempts to do on camera for the first time. The speaker also mentions other software on the system, such as Directory Opus, Eagle player, and Deluxe Paint.

05:03

🖥️ Exploring Image Effects and System Hardware

The speaker details the features of the Image Effects software, comparing it with Art Department Pro, which is the speaker's primary image processing tool. The speaker discusses the capabilities of Image Effects, which go beyond simple image processing to include features akin to a paint box. The speaker also talks about the system's hardware, mentioning a DC TV, Picasso graphics card, and the removal of a Retina card due to performance issues. The focus then shifts to the process of installing and using Image Effects, including troubleshooting the display mode and color issues, and successfully getting the software to run.

10:04

🎨 Diving Deeper into Image Effects and Preview Quality

The speaker continues to explore Image Effects, focusing on the program's preferences and settings. They discuss the quality of the preview and the rendering process, noting the discrepancy between the preview's low quality and the final rendered image. The speaker experiments with different settings, such as dithering options and color modes, to achieve a better visual output. They express curiosity about the lack of a high-quality preview setting and the program's reliance on specific hardware for optimal performance.

15:05

📚 Mounting Shares and Further Experimentation with Image Effects

The speaker returns to Image Effects after addressing a system share mounting issue. They readjust the program's preferences, focusing on the preview and render settings, and successfully save their changes without crashing the software. The speaker then opens a different image and experiments with the Floyd dithering option, adjusting the settings to maximize color depth and reduce banding artifacts in the render. They also explore the toolbox, which contains various effects, and attempt to apply a lens flare effect, noting the learning process as they become familiar with the software's functionality.

20:07

🔥 Playing with Fire and Final Thoughts on Image Effects

The speaker concludes their exploration of Image Effects by playing with the fire tool, which allows them to create a fire effect at the bottom of the screen. They experience a discrepancy between the preview and the final render, which does not display the fire as expected. The video's purpose was to demonstrate the installation and basic use of Image Effects, and the speaker acknowledges the learning process and the community's help in understanding the software's capabilities. The speaker expresses their appreciation for the classic look of older chipsets despite the limitations they encountered with the preview quality.

Keywords

💡Amiga

Amiga refers to a series of personal computers that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s, known for their advanced graphics and sound capabilities for the time. In the video, the user is discussing their experiences with different Amiga models, particularly the Amiga 4000 and Amiga 1200, and their boot-up process.

💡ImageFX 4.5

ImageFX 4.5 is a software application designed for the Amiga computer system, used for image processing and manipulation. The video focuses on the installation and initial use of this software, highlighting its features and the challenges encountered during setup.

💡Boot-up

The term 'boot-up' refers to the process of starting up a computer system. In the context of the video, the user discusses the inconsistent boot-up success rate of the Amiga 4000, contrasting it with the Amiga 1200, which is described as always booting successfully.

💡Directory Opus

Directory Opus is a file manager for the Amiga operating system that provides a highly customizable interface for managing files and folders. It is mentioned in the video as part of the software suite installed on the user's Amiga system.

💡Deluxe Paint

Deluxe Paint is a bitmap graphics editor that was particularly popular on the Amiga platform. It is mentioned in the video as one of the programs the user has installed on their system, indicating its use for graphic design tasks.

💡Networking

Networking, in the context of the video, refers to the ability of Amiga computers to connect and share resources, such as files and applications, over a network. The user utilizes this feature to transfer the ImageFX 4.5 software to their Amiga system.

💡Software Installation

Software installation is the process of making a computer program or software ready for use on a computer. The video script describes the user's efforts to install ImageFX 4.5, including the steps and decisions involved in the process.

💡Dithering

Dithering is a technique used in digital image processing to create the illusion of color depth in images with a limited color palette. The user discusses Floyd Steinberg dithering in the context of ImageFX 4.5, noting its effectiveness in enhancing image quality on the Amiga.

💡AGA chipset

The AGA chipset refers to the Advanced Graphics Architecture used in some Amiga models, which provided enhanced graphic capabilities. The video mentions the user's appreciation for the look of the old chipsets, contrasting it with the more modern feel of RTG (Resolution Enhancement Technology) cards.

💡Lens Flare

Lens flare is a visual effect in photography and image editing where scattered light is captured in an image, often as a result of a bright light source. In the video, the user experiments with adding a lens flare effect to an image using ImageFX 4.5.

💡Preview and Render

In the context of image editing software, 'preview' refers to a low-resolution display of the effects before they are applied, while 'render' is the process of applying the effects to create the final image. The user discusses the differences between the preview and render outcomes in ImageFX 4.5, noting some confusion about the quality and color depth.

Highlights

Amiga 1200 is known for its stability and reliability, always booting up without issues.

Amiga 4000 often requires multiple attempts to boot successfully.

The process of installing software on an Amiga can be challenging and time-consuming.

Networking capabilities of Amiga OS 3.2.1 are utilized to transfer software.

ImageFX 4.5 installation involves copying CD-ROM content to the system.

The user expresses frustration with the lack of an 'install everything' option in ImageFX 4.5.

The Amiga 4000's hardware, including a 68060 processor, is highlighted for its performance.

The user discusses the simplicity and ease of use of Art Department Professional compared to ImageFX.

ImageFX offers advanced features and tools not found in Art Department Professional.

The user successfully installs ImageFX 4.5 and explores its interface and functionalities.

Issues with the display quality and color depth are encountered when using ImageFX on an Amiga 4000.

The user discovers that Floyd Steinberg dithering produces high-quality results in ImageFX.

The video demonstrates the use of ImageFX's animation and paint tools, which are more advanced than those in Art Department Professional.

The user expresses confusion over ImageFX's preview quality and rendering options.

The user successfully mounts a network share and saves preferences in ImageFX.

The exploration of ImageFX's effects, such as lens flare and fire, shows the program's creative potential.

The video concludes with the user still learning and experimenting with ImageFX, appreciating the community's help in understanding the software.