John McGowan's AVI Overview: Video and Image File Format Conversion
How to convert AVI to MPEG?
AVI to MPEG Conversion at a Glance
Company/Author(s) Product Price URL
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Corel PhotoPaint $500? http://www.corel.com/
Ulead MPEG Converter $249 http://www.ulead.com/
Xing Technologies XingMPEG Encoder $89 http://www.xingtech.com/
XingMPEG Encoder 2 (May 6, 1997 release)
CeQuadrat PixelShrink $199 http://www.cequadrat.com/
Vitec MPEG Maker $125 http://vitechts.com/
MainConcept MainActor shareware http://www.mainconcept.de/
avi2mpg1 Unknown freeware http://www.mnsi.net/~jschlic1/
Stefan Eckhart and others CONVMPG3 freeware kit http://www.powerweb.de/mpeg/msdos.html
Ligos Technology LSX-MPEG Encoder $179.95 http://www.ligos.com/
-------------------
Further information, reviews, and live links follow:
The following posting from the comp.graphics.animation USENET
newsgroup provides a good answer to this question. I have retained
the header to insure proper credit to the author.
Note: LW refers to the Lightwave 3D animation software package.
From comp.graphics.animation Wed Oct 30 18:16:34 1996
Path:
samba.rahul.net!rahul.net!a2i!news.PBI.net!news.mathworks.com!howland.erols.net!surfnet.nl!tudelft.nl!ne
ws
From: Valery
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: Re: AVI to Mpeg converter
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 15:15:14 +0100
Organization: Technical University, Delft
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Message-ID: <3274BFF2.2EDD@twi.tudelft.nl>
References: <01bbc33f$05021880$d73d93cf@cube176a>
Reply-To: V.V.Kritchallo@twi.tudelft.nl
NNTP-Posting-Host: duti504b.twi.tudelft.nl
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X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; I)
Mariusz Jesmanowicz wrote:
>
> Hi, I use LW to do animation, and basically I am not happy with any of the
> compression engines aviable for avi. Those codes suck. So what I want to do
> is make an UNCOMPRESSED AVI and then translate it to MPEG. anyone know of
> any good converters to MPEG or hoe about plug-in for LW to be able to do
> MPEG files from the start.
>
> Thank You
Hi,
you're right, every single AVI compression codec is lame.
5 years of the AVI format existance and zero progress so far.
If you're talking about freeware or budget-priced MPEG codecs,
it's a tough task, to find the damn thing. I'm busy in this area
quite for a while already, and here are my findings:
1. XING's MPEG encoder is a classical name on the scene. Had
compatibility problems before, not anymore, I believe. Can cost
you $150 or more, not sure. Scan for 'XING' on the Net, you'll
definitely find some tracks (www.xing.com doesn't show up).
2. Stefan Eckart's CMPEG (DOS) encoder is FREE and GOOD, and stays
so for a couple of years already. Can have troubles converting
some particular streams, but generally not worse than many
commercial programs. (You need to make a TGA sequence first out
of your AVI, though). Again, scan for CMPEG, or use my bookmarks
found on the site Im introducing below.
3. To my surprise, Corel Photopaint 6 has got very decent built-in
MPEG compression option. Open an AVI, Save As an MPEG, and see what
happens (get some coffie, as it'll take a while ;) I checked it out
on a stream where CMPEG gave up and the Corel's conversion did make
a wonder. (If you like to see the result, download my 'Liquid Beatles'
morph clip, 1 Mb: http://www.proteon.nl/synth_art/movies/cross.mpg).
4. Ulead's MPEG converter (www.ulead.com) seems to be the major
player (priced below $250) on the Windows arena. I've heard good
references about their MPEG's quality, but I feel that their
biggest advantage is good integration with Windows and AVI format.
If I'm not mistaken, a very slow codec.
5. Don't mess with DARIM Vision's codec (Korea). I've tried their
demo, it produces low-quality crap. Though fast and cheap (you bet :-).
See my MPEG clips, fractals, morphs, and in general lots of
advanced graphics at
http://www.proteon.nl/synth_art/
Hope this helps,
Valery
http://www.proteon.nl/synth_art/movies.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the above, there is MPEG Maker from
VITEC-HTS (formerly Vitec Multimedia). Vitec is:
Vitec
4366 Independence Court, Suite C
Sarasota, FL 34234
Voice: (941) 351-9344
FAX: (941) 351-9423
http://vitechts.com
CeQuadrat makes a software-only AVI to MPEG converter called
PixelShrink. CeQuadrat is:
CeQuadrat
1804 Embarcadero Road, Suite 101
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Voice: (415) 843-3780
FAX: (415) 843-3799
http://www.cequadrat.com/
And the freeware kit CONVMPG3, a collection of MS-DOS
utilities that can be used to convert AVI to MPEG-1 or
MPEG-1 to AVI. CONVMPG3 includes Stefan
Eckhardt's CMPEG MPEG-1 encoder mentioned above
but also includes utilities to generate the sequence
of Targa files required by CMPEG. The URL for CONVMPG3 is:
http://www.powerweb.de/mpeg/msdos.html
avi2mpg1 is a freeware command line application for Windows 95/NT
that can convert AVI to MPEG-1, supports audio, video, and
interleaved audio/video.
http://www.mnsi.net/~jschlic1/
MainConcept's MainActor product now (March 1997) includes
add-on modules to output MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. With these add-on
modules, MainActor can convert AVI to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2.
Marcus Moenig at MainConcept provided an evaluation copy of the
MPEG-1/2 modules. In tests, these modules could convert AVI files
to MPEG-1 that could be played using the ActiveMovie software
MPEG player shipping with Microsoft's Windows 95 OSR2.
MainConcept is:
MainConcept
http://www.mainconcept.de
The URL for Ulead is:
Ulead MPEG Converter
http://www.ulead.com/
On May 6, 1997, Xing announce a new product, the Xing MPEG Encoder 2
which accelerates MPEG encoding using Intel MMX instructions on PC's.
The original Xing MPEG Encoder did not use MMX instructions.
The Xing MPEG Encoder 2 can convert AVI and WAV files to MPEG-1.
The URL for Xing is:
Xing Technology Corporation
http://www.xingtech.com/
Ligos Technology markets an LSX-MPEG Encoder to convert
AVI to MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
Ligos Technology
1475 Folsom St. Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94103
+1-415-437-6137
+1-415-437-6139 FAX
info@ligos.com
http://www.ligos.com/
For further information on the MPEG digital audio and video
format see Tristan Savatier's comprehensive MPEG site:
http://www.mpeg.org/
and The MPEG Home Page:
http://drogo.cselt.it/mpeg/
Return to Top
How to convert AVI to QuickTime files?
Microsoft Windows
Intel's SmartVID, a DOS and Windows application, can convert
.AVI to .MOV files. SmartVID is codec independent. This means
that SmartVid preserves the video compression scheme from the
source .AVI file.
http://www.intel.com/pc-supp/multimed/indeo/smartvid.htm
TRMOOV.EXE
Windows 3.1 Program
Converts AVI to QuickTime for Windows movie.
The QTW movie will play on a Macintosh with QuickTime 1.5 or later.
Note: My experiments converting some .MOV files to .AVI seem to
playback ok, unlike the .AVI to .MOV conversion.
Source: Found on CD-ROM with the "How to Digitize Video" book
(see below).
On Net: ftp://ftp.rahul.net/pub/jfm/avi/trmoov.exe
Please Note: TRMOOV and SmartVid preserve the compressor used in the
source file. For example, if the AVI file was compressed with
Cinepak, the MOV file will be compressed with Cinepak. Since Cinepak
is supported by both Video for Windows and QuickTime this is not
a problem. However, if the compressor exists only in Video for Windows
or only QuickTime, then there will be a problem.
Mainconcept's Main Actor can load many video and animation formats.
It can also save many video and animation formats. The Windows version
of Main Actor can load AVI and save the file as QuickTime.
http://www.mainconcept.de
Adobe Premiere 5.0 for Windows 95/NT can import and export both
AVI and QuickTime.
Adobe
PowerMacintosh
On the PowerMacintosh, Microsoft distributes the Video for
Windows 1.1 Apple Macintosh Utilities. These include an
AVI to QuickTime conversion utility.
The Video for Windows 1.1 Apple Macintosh Utilities include:
* Read Me file.
* QuickTime-to-AVI conversion program.
- this utility is called "VfW Converter"
* Utility for moving AVI files to the Macintosh.
- this utility is called "AVI to QT Utility"
* Windows Compressors system extension, which contains
compressor/decompressors (CODECs) for Microsoft RLE,
Microsoft Video 1, and Microsoft Full Frame formats.
- this component is called "Windows Compressors"
To retrieve the Video for Windows 1.1 Apple Macintosh Utilities:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/developr/drg/Multimedia/Jumpstart/VfW11-Mac/
On the PowerMacintosh, the program AVI->QuickTime can convert AVI to
QuickTime. At least, it can convert the video successfully for
subsequent playback with Apple's MoviePlayer. I have seen problems
with the audio. This application is available at various Web and ftp
sites in the file avi-to-qt-converter.hqx This may be the same
AVI to QuickTime converter included with the Video for Windows 1.1
Apple Macintosh Utilities; I have not confirmed this.
One site with AVI->QuickTime is:
ftp://mirrors.aol.com/pub/info-mac/gst/mov/avi-to-qt-converter.hqx
Return to Top
How to convert AVI to animated GIF?
GIF Construction Set
Gif Construction Set from Alchemy Mindworks reportedly can convert
an AVI file to an animated GIF file.
Alchemy Mindworks, Inc.
Web http://www.mindworks.com/alchemy/alchemy.html
E-Mail: alchemy@mail.north.net
FTP: ftp://ftp.mindworkshop.com/pub/alchemy
Microsoft GIF Animator
Microsoft's GIF Animator for Windows 95
product can reportedly convert AVI to animated
GIFs (GIF89a format). Information on GIF Animator
including a dowloadable version is available at
the Microsoft Web site (11/7/96) on the Microsoft
Image Composer page.
Web http://www.microsoft.com/imagecomposer
MainActor
MainActor, a shareware software product for Windows 95, Windows NT, and
OS/2 reportedly can convert AVI to animated GIF.
http://www.mainconcept.de/
Ulead
Ulead reports that is has added AVI to GIF to
Ulead's PhotoImpact GIF Animator 1.2 Beta (11/16/96)
http://www.ulead.com/products/framens.htm
Ulead Toll Free Number: 1-800-858-5323
Adobe Premiere
There is (Feb. 1998) a free plug-in for Adobe Premiere 4.x
to convert AVI to Animated GIF. See the Adobe Web site
to download this and many other plug-ins for Adobe products:
http://www.adobe.com/
GIF Movie Gear (Gamani Productions)
GIF Movie Gear from Gamani Productions can reportedly convert
AVI to Animated GIF and vice versa.
http://www.moviegear.com/
Return to Top
How can I convert an AVI file to a sequence of bitmap images?
VidEdit
Microsoft's VidEdit video editor can convert AVI files to a sequence
of Microsoft DIB files, such as test.avi --> test00.dib, test01,dib, etc.
Further information on VidEdit is available in the section of the
AVI Overview on editing AVI.
AVIRIP
There is a freeware DOS program called AVIRIP that can convert
non-compressed AVI files to a sequence of TGA (Targa), RAW, or
DIB files. AVIRIP is available with the convmpg3 freeware toolkit
for converting AVI to MPEG and MPEG to AVI. Further information
on convmpg3 is available in the section of the AVI Overview
on converting AVI to MPEG.
Phade Software's MPEG Site has CONVMPG3
http://www.mpeg1.de/msdos.html
Jih-Shin Ho's Display
Display by Jih-Shin Ho
Available at
ftp://info.nic.surfnet.nl/mirror-archive/software/simtel-msdos/graphics/disp189a.zip
or other Simtel mirror sites.
This is a 32-bit MS-DOS program that can read and write many image
and movie file formats.
DeBabelizer Pro
Equilibrium's DeBabelizer Pro for Windows 95 and NT 4.0 reads and
writes about 90 common and not-so-common image formats. DeBabelizer Pro
also reads and writes AVI files. DeBabelizer Pro can read an AVI
file and export it as a sequence of still images in the many image formats
that it supports.
On August 3, 1998, David Gartner of Equilibrium wrote:
Equilibrium adds AVI with sound support to DeBabelizer Pro 4.5
**AVI Video with Sound**
DeBabelizer Pro 4.5's new full AVI support enables users to batch process
legacy Video for Windows files for use on most any Macintosh and Windows
systems for the Web, CD-ROM or kiosk. Video for Windows (AVI) was built
into Windows 95 and NT and runs only on Windows machines. Now, with a few
keystrokes, DeBabelizer Pro 4.5 users can automatically optimize, convert,
and compress tens, hundreds or thousands of videos to QuickTime 3.0,
animated GIFs or a variety of other cross-platform video and animation
formats.
DeBabelizer Pro has many other features beside file format conversions.
Equilibrium has a demonstration version of DeBabelizer Pro on its Web site.
This is definitely demonstration version. The demo version plasters the
word Equilibrium all over any images that it processes.
DeBabelizer Pro ($595 Suggested Retail Price)
Equilibrium
475 Gate Five Road, Suite 225
Sausalito, CA 94965
1-800-524-8651 or (415) 332-4343
http://www.equilibrium.com/
Return to Top
Smacker (.SMK Files)
Smacker is a special 8-bit color video format from
RAD Game Tools used for video and computer games.
Smacker files usually use the file extension .SMK
RAD Game Tools provides free Smacker Utilities at
their Web site:
http://www.radgametools.com/
The utilities can convert an AVI file to a Smacker video file (.SMK file).
The Smacker utilities calculate a good 8 bit palette
for the input video.
Return to Top
RealNetworks Networks RealMedia Streaming Format (.RM Files)
RealNetworks has a streaming media format known as RealMedia
with the file extension .rm using RealAudio audio compression and
RealVideo video compression (RealVideo, also known as ClearVideo, is
Iterated Systems fractal video compression). RealNetworks
provides a product known as RealSystem Producer Plus to author RealMedia
files. RealSystem Producer Plus can import AVI files!
http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/index.html
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How to convert a sequence of bitmap images to an AVI?
Note: A number of Windows applications can convert a sequence of still
images in one still image file format, such as TIFF, to a sequence of
still images in another format, such as Windows 3.x BMP. These are
discussed in the How to Convert a Sequence of Still
Images in One Format to a Sequence in Another Format section of
the AVI Overview.
Use these still image conversion programs to convert a sequence of
bitmap images into a format supported by the various programs below
such as VidEdit which can convert sequences of still images in
a particular format to an AVI file.
VidEdit
Microsoft's VidEdit software (16 bit Windows) can read in
sequences of Microsoft .DIB files and convert them to an
AVI file. More information on VidEdit is available in the
section of the AVI Overview on editing AVI files.
Video for DOS
A shareware program called Video for DOS (VFD) can convert sequences
of Targa files (.TGA) into AVI. (11/8/96) Video for DOS can be
downloaded from
http://www.dc.ee/Files/Graf
Thanks to John Avis for information on Video for DOS.
AVI Constructor
Michael Caracena's AVI Constructor is a shareware program that
Michael Caracena (Oct. 3, 1997) writes...
The newest version of AVI Constructor can:
- Make AVI files from bitmap (*.BMP), JPEG (*.JPG),
and TARGA (*.TGA) files.
- Insert audio from a .wav file into the AVI.
- Extract images from any AVI.
etc.
AVI Constructor can be ordered and a demonstration version downloaded
from:
http://www.henge.com/~caracena
MainConcept's MainActor
MainConcept's MainActor can import sequences of BMP images and export
them as an AVI video file. MainActor can import and export many other
video and still image formats as well.
http://www.mainconcept.de/
DeBabelizer Pro for Windows 95 and NT 4.0
Equilibrium's DeBabelizer Pro can read and write about 90 common
and not so common image file formats. DeBabelizer Pro can also
read and write AVI files. DeBabelizer Pro can read in sequences of
image files in many formats and convert to an AVI file.
Equilibrium has a demonstration version of DeBabelizer Pro on their
Web site. This is a demonstration version. It adds the words Equilibrium
to any images or movies that it processes.
DeBabelizer Pro ($595 Suggested Retail Price)
Equilibrium
475 Gate Five Road, Suite 225
Sausalito, CA 94965
1(800) 525-8651 or (415) 332-4343
http://www.equilibrium.com/
Smacker Utilities
RAD Game Tools distributes free Smacker utilities
at their Web site:
http://www.radgametools.com/
The Graphics Processor can convert a sequence of bitmap images
in several common bitmap image formats into an AVI file.
NOTE: this AVI file uses an 8 bit color palette selected by
the Smacker utilities for best picture quality.
RAD Game Tools licenses a proprietary 8 bit video format
called Smacker for use in video games. Their focus is on
compression achieved through proper selection of an 8 bit
color palette, rather than 24 bit color. Smacker is popular
in the gaming industry.
RAD Game Tools
850 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Voice: (801) 322-4300
FAX: (801) 359-6169
mkavi (PPM to AVI)
mkavi is a Unix utility with source code to convert sequences of
Unix PPM (Portable Pixmap) files into AVI. As of 11/7/97, the
documentation describes mkavi as alpha code.
ftp://www.va.pubnix.com/staff/stripes/code/
(March 6, 2002) At least two people have reported problems
with using mkavi. One person reported that mkavi failed
to add an index chunk at the end of the AVI file. The file
plays fine with older versions of Windows Media Player and
older video applications, but recent versions of Windows
Media Player refuse to play the file at all. The other
person was unable to use mkavi as it created garbled AVI
files. Caveat User!
Return to Top
How to convert QuickTime MOV files to AVI?
Power Macintosh:
The Video for Windows 1.1 Apple Macintosh Utilities from Microsoft is a
collection of utilities and system extensions for the Macintosh that add
support for Video for Windows file formats. One of the utilities is VfW
Converter which converts QuickTime MooV files to AVI files playable
on the PC.
The Video for Windows 1.1 Apple Macintosh Utilities are available at:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/developr/drg/Multimedia/Jumpstart/VfW11-Mac/
VfW Converter is more powerful than Intel's smartvid PC application.
It can convert video formats. For example, VfW Converter can
convert a raw uncompressed 24 bit QuickTime Movie to a raw
uncompressed 24 bit AVI Movie (or do various compressions).
Uncompressed QuickTime and uncompressed AVI files use different
video formats. VfW Converter also converts audio from QuickTime
audio to AVI audio.
The Video for Windows 1.1 Apple Macintosh Utlities file is
variously named:
vfw11.sit
video-for-windows-11p.hqx
Apple's QuickTime Web site contains links to sources for
Video for Windows (Macintosh) as well as other useful
video utilities.
Apple's QuickTime Web Site
Video for Windows (Macintosh) has the virtue of being free, unlike:
Adobe Premiere (Macintosh)
---reportedly can save QuickTime movies as AVI files.
On PC/Microsoft Windows:
TRMOOV.EXE (see below)
can translate MOV to AVI, but I found problems playing back
the AVI files on my 486 PC. It does not change the
interleaving of the audio and video streams in the conversion from
.MOV to .AVI. TRMOOV preserves the half-second
interleave of QuickTime movies which is not appropriate for AVI. AVI
wants each video frame interleaved with the audio for that frame.
With the half-second interleave of QuickTime the audio will playback for
a half-second while the video is frozen, followed by a half-second of
video with no audio, repeated for the duration of the AVI playback.
The interleave can be fixed using VidEdit. VidEdit contains algorithms
to properly interleave the audio and video. Load the offending AVI
file into VidEdit, Select File | Save As ... and give the file a new
name. This triggers the interleave algorithm. VidEdit will reorganize
the audio and video to interleave frames instead of half-seconds.
Intel's SmartVid (see below) can convert .MOV to .AVI It appears to
convert the audio video interleave from one format to another, something
TRMOOV seems to have problems with.
Adobe's Adobe Premiere 5.0 for Windows 95/NT can import and export
Windows AVI and Apple QuickTime video files.
Adobe
Return to Top
Converting Autodesk Animation Files (FLI or FLC) to AVI
VidEdit:
Use Microsoft's VidEdit editor. This editor can read FLI or FLC files.
Then save the files as AVI files.
Launch VidEdit. Select File | Open ...
This brings up the Open Video File dialog box. Under List Files of Type,
select Autodesk Animation from the pulldown list.
Then, choose File | Save As ...
VidEdit will save the file as an AVI file.
Further information on VidEdit is available in the section on editing
AVI files, including where to get VidEdit.
MainActor
MainConcept's MainActor for Windows 95 and OS/2 Version 1.00
can load Autodesk Animator FLI and FLC files and save in AVI
format. For further information on MainActor, a shareware
program that converts many video and animation formats, see:
http://www.mainconcept.de/
or e-mail
info@mainconcept.de
Return to Top
Converting MPEG to AVI
CONVMPG3/VIDEDIT (FREE)
Use the CONVMPG3.ZIP package of MPEG and AVI utilities. CONVMPG3
is available for download at the Phade Software MPEG site:
http://www.mpeg1.de/msdos.html
(1) Run DMPEG to convert MPEG-1 to a sequence of RAW still images.
(2) Use RAWRIP to convert the sequence of RAW still images to a
sequence of DIB's.
(3) Use VidEdit to convert the sequence of DIB's to an AVI file.
(or another video editor). VidEdit is not bundled with
CONVMPG3, but is available elsewhere.
Go to VidEdit Section The VidEdit section
of the AVI Overview includes links to sites to download
VidEdit.
Ulead's MPEG Converter can convert MPEG-1 to AVI.
Ulead is:
Ulead
970 West 190th Street, Suite 20
Torrance, CA 90502
Voice: (800) 858-5323
FAX: (310) 523-9399
http://www.ulead.com/
Return to Top
Converting Animated GIF (GIF89a) to AVI
MainConcept's MainActor for Windows can load animated GIF
files (GIF89a) and then save these files as AVI files.
MainActor is available in a shareware version or as a fully
functional paid-for version.
On the Web:
http://www.mainconcept.de/
By E-Mail:
info@mainconcept.de
GIF Movie Gear (Gamani Productions)
GIF Movie Gear from Gamani Productions can reportedly convert
Animated GIF (GIF89a) to AVI and vice versa.
On the web:
http://www.moviegear.com/
Return to Top
How to Convert a Sequence of Still Images in One Format to a Sequence in Another Format
At this time, there are hundreds of different graphic file formats
for still images, such as Windows BMP, Windows DIB, Targa, GIF, JPEG,
Unix Portable Pixmap (PPM), and many others. In creating an AVI (or
MPEG or MOV for that matter), some authoring programs may create a
video as a sequence of still images in some graphic file format
which is not supported by the graphic file sequence to AVI
conversion utilities listed elsewhere in this Overview.
Fortunately, there are freeware, shareware, and commercial programs
which provide batch conversion of sequences of still images from one
file format to sequences in another file format. For example, you
might generate a sequence of Unix PPM format files with one
utilitity and need to convert to a sequence of Windows BMP files.
PC/Windows
PixWizard is a shareware Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 image viewer
with image processing and conversion capabilities from PixVision
(formerly Pixel Vision) Software. PixWizard reads and writes the
following still image file formats:
o BMP (Windows 3.x, OS/2 1.1, and OS/2 2.0)
o Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
o Interchange Format File (IFF)
- including HAM and SHAM modes
o JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF)
o Kodak Photo CD (PCD)
o Macintosh PICT (including PICT/JPEG)
o MacPaint
o PCX
o Portable Pixmap (PPM/PGM/PBM)
o Targa
o Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)
PixWizard has a batch conversion of a list of files to a specified
format feature. Select Batch Conversion... from the File menu in
PixWizard 1.07. A 30-day trial version of PixWizard is available at
the PixVision Web site.
WinJPEG is a shareware Windows 3.x utility from PixVision (formerly
Pixel Vision). WinJPEG reads and writes most of the same file formats
as PixWizard. It has a batch conversion feature.
PixVision Software Home Page (PixWizard and WinJPEG):
http://www.pixvision.com/
Paint Shop Pro is a shareware and commercial Windows utility from
Jasc Software. Paint Shop Pro reads and writes most graphic file
formats. It has a batch conversion feature.
The shareware version of Paint Shop Pro has a thirty (30) day
evaluation period.
Jasc Software Paint Shop Pro Page:
http://www.jasc.com/psp.html
Power Macintosh
GraphicConverter is a shareware Power Macintosh utility with
very extensive support for graphic file formats and some video
formats. It can read and write roughly a hundred different
file formats including some pretty obscure formats. It has a
batch conversion feature.
GraphicConverter Web Site:
http://www.lemkesoft.de/
Unix
ImageMagickTM
is a robust collection of tools and libraries to read, write, and manipulate
an image in many image formats (over 68
major formats) including popular formats like TIFF, JPEG, PNG, PDF, Photo
CD, and GIF. With ImageMagick you can create images dynamically, making
it suitable for Web applications. You can also resize, rotate, sharpen,
color reduce, or add special effects to an image and save your completed
work in the same or differing image format. Image processing operations
are available from the command line, as well as through C, C++, and PERL-based
programming interfaces. ImageMagick reportedly supports batch conversion
of bitmaps.
ImageMagick compiles and runs on any version of Unix and Linux.
The Portable Bitmap Utilities can easily be used for batch conversion
through a script.
PBMPLUS: Extended Portable Bitmap Toolkit
by Jef Poskanzer
A collection of utilities for converting to and from Jef Poskanzer's
Portable Bitmap (PBM), Portable Greymap (PGM), and Portable Pixmap (PPM)
file format. FREE and widely available on Unix systems.
For example, to convert a GIF file to a TIFF file.
1. giftoppm myfile.gif
2. pnmtotiff myfile.ppm
giftoppm is a utility program to convert GIF to PPM
pnmtotiff is a utility program to convert PBM/PGM/PPM to TIFF
The PBM utilities can be invoked from Unix scripts
(Bourne Shell, Korn Shell, C Shell, Perl, etc.) for batch
conversion of a sequence of bitmap images.
PBMPLUS is available at a number of ftp sites such as:
ftp://ftp.x.org/R5contrib/
There are many files in this directory. PBMPLUS is:
pbmplus10dec91.tar
pbmplus10dec91.tar.Z
John Bradley's xv (shareware)
xv is a Unix X-Windows shareware utility for
viewing, manipulating, and converting bitmap images
on Unix X-Windows systems. xv supports many common
bitmap image file formats.
The xv Version 3.10a Manual states:
"Since xv has absolutely no command-line or batch
conversion abilities..."
xv is available from a number of sites such as:
ftp://ftp.cis.upenn.edu/pub/xv
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How to Convert Real Media, Real Video, and Real Audio to AVI
There are some programs that can convert Real Media files
such as .RM, .RAM, and .RA to AVI (Audio Video Interleave) files.
These include:
o Real Networks Real Producer ($199.95 list price, not confirmed)
o TINRA Real Media to AVI Converter (free)
Real Producer
RealNetworks Real Producer reportedly can convert RealMedia
files to AVI. RealProducer has a list price of $199.95 (Feb. 24, 2002)
I have not confirmed that Real Producer can convert to AVI as
reported. Real Producer is primarily marketed as a tool for
converting other digital audio and video formats to Real Media.
http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/
TINRA
TINRA is a free Real Media to AVI Converter for Microsoft Windows.
http://guiguy.wminds.com/downloads/tinragui/down.html
Using Tinra GUI to Convert Real Media (RA, RM, RAM) to AVI
1. To convert Real Media video to AVI, you can use "Real Producer" or free
"Tinra GUI" versuib 1.2.
2. Download a free software, "Tinra GUI", and RealPlayer 8.0 on your
computer. To use Tinra GUI, three applications (tinragui.exe, tinra.exe, and
realplayer) need to be located in the same folder on the same local drive
unless you redefine the path of tinra.exe or the others.
3. After installing all those applications, choose tinragui.exe. When the
tinra GUI v1.2 dialogue box shows up, browse a .RM file you want to convert
to AVI. Then, it will automatically input an AVI file with the same file
name in the same directory.
4. When you press the "Convert" button, TinraGUI will show you the
conversion process as in the below picture.
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© 2000 by John F. McGowan, Ph.D.
Disclaimer
jmcgowan11@earthlink.net