Digital Workshop

PLEASE!

I once tried Mediator as an experiment. I didn't find their transitions smoother than Opus. (But then, maybe you were kidding with this post.)

Maybe quoting relevant version numbers would have been helpful here - as is, this topic is wandering dangerously close to starting a religious war akin to 'Mac vs PC'.

Different software products have different strengths/weaknesses, and different versions of each product may turn those strength/weakness comparisons on their head. The term "multimedia" covers such a broad range of totally different end uses, that I believe it's impossible to categorically state: "X is better than Y." The best we can say is: "for us X is better than Y in this specific use and in these specific circumstances". I don't believe there is a magic bullet piece of software that is everything to everyone, and I would therefore expect any sensible production facility to keep a few different software programs to hand so they can choose the best one for the task in hand - maybe even Opus AND Mediator among others!

For 'point-and-squirt' multimedia production we switched from Opus 2.xx to Mediator 7 Pro simply because (at the time we switched) M7Pro was more reliable, gave smoother image transitions and much better large frame video handling for the specific projects we were working on at the time of the switch.

I hope there were enough caveats in there to avoid inflaming Opus-defender passions? I haven't tried Mediator 8 Pro, nor have I tried Opus 04.xx - so my comments mean nothing in the current marketplace for either of these products. We do have upgrade offers for both, but I've given up upgrading just for the sake of it.

Rob Kirkwood
www.visibleform.co.uk

Sorry, Rob -- I did not intend to inflame anything. In the past, I've resented posts on this board which trashed DW products and promoted competing products as being in poor taste, and I don't think Craig's post was meant to trash Opus.

My reaction was based on a few brief tests of Mediator Pro (trial version; I think it was a trial of v7 - downloaded around 13 months ago, if that helps determine version number). I tested the output executable on a Win2kPro PC.

I'm surprised that you found Mediator transitions to be smoother; I tried several quick builds just to road-test the software, and found it less easy to use, with clunkier motion on the transitions I tested than with many of the less "exotic" Opus 2.81 transitions. I should add that I avoid full-page transitions in Opus 2.81 because in many instances they're not smooth enough for my clients' needs (trade shows & CDs for sales/promotion). For the same reason I've often avoided using animation in Opus 2.81.

I understand that Opus Pro XE 4 demonstrates stunning improvements on the quality of page transitions and animation. I expect to test it out on a project in the immediate future.

I find the opus transitions a bit more pixelated than the mediator ones...

but Opus is a better prog generally..

With the newer Opus "page curl" transition, DW has obviously been working on better quality transitions. And, I am hoping we see more at that level of quality.

Some of the most insane transitions I have ever tried were in the form of a Director Xtra (who's name escapes me). You could have a page fold itself into a paper airplane - and fly offscreen! Or, roll itself into a ball - and bounce away. Several hundred dollars for that little add-on.

All that being said, I ultimately find that a nice smooth fade in / out is what I use most. All the flashy stuff is great to have, but it's over use can take away from the publication subject, in my opinion.

Bill

There are a few like that available in a powerpoint plugin called powerplugs transitions. It basically takes a screen grab of the end state of the page and one of the beginning of the next and makes a small movie file for the transition.. there are loads of them and all quite impressive.

I've used them in Opus by taking a screen grab of my Opus page and taking that into Powerpoint as a slide background image... then use a Powerplugs transition on the page.. it saves a video file that you can then use as a transition effect in Opus!!!

The new Powerplugs V has a turning page of book transition.. but it's not quite what you're looking for I don't think.

There a 5 volumes of transitions now - at $59.00 US each - but you can get bundles..

It might be worth a look.

It would be great if some of their products could integrate with Opus !!!!

http://www.crystalgraphics.com/presentations/transitions.main.special.asp