Conference tnpubs::i-exchange

    You may know about Note 23.458 of the VAXUUM::IDC Notes
    conference, indicating the availability of IDC-MULTIMEDIA-RECOMMENDATIONS.PS
    now located at VAXUUM::SYS$PUBLIC:
    
    If converting .BMP graphics to .GIF file format is what you need,
    I can recommend AimTech RezSolution (part of IconAuthor) product.
    
    Tara
    TAY2 DTN 227-3781

    Hi Pilar,
    
    There is a very nice, succinct document describing the recommended 
    toolset for graphics that is used by the production center (Dave
    Popp's group).  I'll ask if they would be willingto post it here
    for you.
    
    To answer your explicit second question (how to get from BMP to GIF)
    there are about 5,000 tools to do it, almost all on the PC. If you're
    hard up for cash (what project isn't) you can use LVIEW pro, which is
    a shareware solution.
    
    However, the real issue is getting into the appropriate format for
    DEC DOCUMENT. Although UTOX might not run on AXP, it still runs on VAX
    OpenVMS to my knowledge, and the resulting files are
    platform-independent. (In other words, you can create the necessary
    graphics files on VAX and then copy them to AXP for DOCUMENT
    processing.) On the other hand, there are probably several better 
    approaches. The CDA converter library once had filters for both BMP and
    GIF. PBMPLUS (freeware) is available in source code and can do
    conversions from GIF to other formats. The possibilities are endless.
    The question is: what is the graphic needed for: print, Bookreader, or
    both.
    
    --Andrew

From:	VAXUUM::GSDRAW::BARRETT      "LESLIE BARRETT "DTN:381-1776"" 29-AUG-1995 15:07:20.02
To:	@ALL-DESIGNERS.DIS,ZEKE::POPP
CC:	VAXUUM::GENT
Subj:	Recommended SES Graphic Tools and Vision

							      August 29, 1995

SES Graphic Designers' Vision:

		"Design highly creative and cost effective visual information 
		 using leading-edge technology."


Recommended Graphic Tools:
		
		The following graphic tools are recommended for present design
 		of visual information and in the immediate future (12-18 months)
		based on our vision. The recommended tools are specific to 
		the type of visual product to be developed. The goal of our
		recommendation is to ensure that effective and appropriate 
		industry standards graphic tools are being used in SES. This 
		will support the development of quality cost-effective visual 
		products, and consistency and reuse of source files whether 
		produced in house or outsourced. In addition, this information 
		may provide SES C/C Centers with useful information in determin-
		ing software purchases and training requirements for their 
		Designers.

		Graphics Tools		 	Imaging Tools
		--------------		 	-------------
		***Adobe Illustrator		***Adobe Photoshop
		 **Macromedia FreeHand	 	 **CorelDraw	
						 **Aldus Photostyler
		 +VAX DOCUMENT Rag		 **Fractal Design Painter 3

		Multimedia Graphic Tools	3D Tools
		-----------------		--------
		***Autodesk 3-D Studio		***Autodesk AutoCad
		***Adobe Premier		***Autodesk AutoCad Designer
		***Autodesk Animator Pro	
		 **Macromedia MacroModel 	  +Auto-trol Tech Illustrator
		 **Macromedia Director
		
		Page Layout Tools		Presentation Tools
		-----------------		------------------
		***Adobe FrameMaker/		***Microsoft Powerpoint
		         PageMaker		 **Astound
		 **Quark Xpress			 **Asymetrix Compel

		Graphic Translation Tools
		-------------------------
		***TechPool Software Transvertor Pro
		***Inset Systems HiJaak Pro
		 **Graphics Workshop (shareware for bitmap conversions)
		 **L View Pro (shareware for WWWeb graphics)
		 **Autodesk IGES Translator (for 3D only)


	Legend:
		*** Primary Tools.    Tools that should be available to every 
				      Designer developing this type of visual
                		      product.
				     
		** Secondary Tools.   Tools that need to be available for 
				      client specific projects.  
 
		+ Tools to be phased out.  Tools we feel are on the decline
					   and need no further investment in 
					   training or software

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the info.  Yes, the real issue is getting to DOCUMENT.  The current
plan is for print only.  Definitely not Bookreader, and almost certainly not
Microsoft help either.  I'm sure there are many ways to do it, so my question
really is, which is best? 

"Best" means good image quality, reasonable print speed, reasonable file size,
and 5+-2 steps in the process.


Pilar.