Hollywood FX 3.0.10 Readme File

Welcome to the Hollywood FX 3.0.10.  This release includes a number of minor
bug fixes to release 3.08 and 3.0.9.

INSTALLATION
If you downloaded the update (hfxi310.zip or hfxa310.zip), you should 
extract the contents to a temporary directory, then double-click on
"hfxpatch.exe".

Windows NT 4.0 Users
You MUST have Service Pack 3 installed for Hollywood FX to work properly.

Windows NT 3.51 Users
To get the most of Hollywood FX 3.0 we would highly recommend upgrading 
to Windows NT 4.0 (make sure you get the latest Service Packs also).  
If you are using NT 3.51 you cannot change the rendering engine to 
"Rnd_OpenGL" (you must leave it set to "Rnd_Portable").

SPECIAL NOTE FOR MEDIA STUDIO PRO 5 USERS
If you map extra video sources using the "Object" tab in Hollywood FX, and
the extra video is jerky, try the following steps to reverse the field order
that Hollywood FX uses for rendering extra video sources:
- From the Start menu, select Run...
- Type "regedit" for the program name and click Ok.
- On the left side of the Regedit window, double-click "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE",
  then "SOFTWARE", then "Synergy", then "HollywoodFX", then "3.0".
- Select "New->DWORD Value" from the "Edit" menu.
- Type "Reverse_Fields" for the key name, then press Enter.
- Select "Modify" from the "Edit" menu, and change the value to 1.
- Exit regedit and try rendering your project again.

KNOWN ISSUES IN THIS RELEASE
In FAST Video Machine Plus, right-clicking in the timeline to preview
a Hollywood FX transition will sometimes result in an "Error Code 26".  Also
if you have set a large number of trails and a large Motion Blur Count, this
error will also occur.

CONTACTING US

Hollywood FX Incorporated (A subsidiary of Synergy International, Inc.)
300 East 4500 South Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
Phone:	(801) 281-0237
Fax:	(801) 281-0238
www:	http://www.hollywoodfx.com
email:	info@hollywoodfx.com

VERSION HISTORY

Version 3.0.10 - (04/04/98)
* Enhancement:		Now displays message if Club Hollywood FX could not
			be loaded because of serial number problem.
* Fixed:		Problem with field order in 3.0.9 for Speed Razor.
* Fixed:		Problem with loading additional Club Hollywood FX,
			under certain circumstances.

Version 3.0.9 - (2/18/98)
* Enhancement:		Envelope Editor now displays Preview while editing envelopes.
* Enhancement:		Added "About Hollywood FX" button to Settings page.
* Fixed:		Envelope Editor Previous and Next buttons would not
			always work correctly.
* Fixed:		Hollywood FX crashed if "Summary" logging was selected.
* Fixed:		Puzzle and Magnify effects had minor problems.
* Fixed:		Saved Envelopes could not be properly loaded into a different
			option.
* Fixed:		Shadows rendered white if lighting was off.  Shadows now do
			not render unless lighting is turned on.
* Fixed:		Envelope Editor alternate views would not always work correctly.
* Fixed:		Field ordering for extra video sources (mapped from the Objects 
			Page) were incorrect.
* Fixed:		The Multisaver filter for Premiere would miss one field entirely.
* Changed:		Calculation for motion-blur and trails in After Effects is now 
			based on the length of the clip the effect is attached to,
			providing better motion-blur and trail results.
* Changed:		Full install defaults to "Program Files" directory.
* Changed:		All references to Synergy International Inc. changed to 
			Hollywood FX Incorporated.
* Changed:		Added "Field_Reverse" registry entry for workaround of external
			video source field order in Media Studio 5.

Version 3.08 - (10/10/97)
* Fixed:		Morph Envelope Editor would crash under DEC Alpha.  This
			fix also makes the Morph Envelope Editor easier to use on
			Intel systems as well.
* Fixed:		Wavspin1 and LCylinder effects crashed on DEC Alpha systems.
			This was due to extremely small non-zero numbers in flight
			paths.
* Fixed:		The Diamond effect had a number of minor problems.  It has
			been redesigned.

* Fixed:		Windows 95 installation now installs the OpenGL libraries
			into the Windows System directory, and removes any
			older copies in other directories.

* Fixed:		Path Editor has not been displaying Perspective, Side, and 
			Top views correctly since 3.05.

Version 3.07 - (09/19/97)
* Fixed:		TGA/BMP/AVI sequences mapped from the object page
			were running at double speed (1 frame for each field) when
			field rendering.
* Fixed:		Calculation of texture mapping for additional sources was
			incorrect for effects that had more than one source on a 
			single 3D object (Matinee, Matinee2).  
* Fixed:		The Pyramid effect had a problem where the pyramid sides
			would overlap each other towards the end of the effect.
* Changed:		Rebuilt for DEC Alpha.

Version 3.06 - (09/15/97)
* Fixed:		A small amount of memory was being held each frame
			when using TGA or BMP sequences.
* Fixed:		A large amount of memory was being held each frame
			when using BMP sequences.

Version 3.05 - (09/12/97)

* Enhancement:	Full multithreading support, provides near 2X 
			rendering speed with multiprocessor systems.
* Enhancement:	Added Ulead Media Studio Pro 5.0 plugin driver.
* Enhancement:	Added Adobe After Effects 3.1 plugin driver.
* Enhancement:	Added support for Targa (TGA) images and sequences.
* Enhancement:	Rewrote texture image handling to be more memory/speed efficient.
* Enhancement:	Now logs resolution and rendering engine at the start of an effect.
* Enhancement:	Now logs total effect time after each frame rather than a final 
			end of effect log.
* Enhancement:	Milliseconds are now logged when rendering logging is turned on.
* Enhancement:	Numerous minor rendering engine optimizations.
* Enhancement:	New multithreaded preview rendering, provides faster UI response.
* Enhancement:	Preview now displayed as it is being rendered.
* Enhancement:	HFX will now reload its FX list if the file Orgs\Default.org is
			removed (this is easier than moving a .hfx file out and back into
			the effects directory).
* Enhancement:	Numerous minor changes to improve rendering speed.
* Enhancement:	Now Source 1 and Source 2 objects can be mapped from
			the Object page.  This is useful for titling and other special
			functions.
* Enhancement:	Includes Sentinel 5.33 (hardware key/dongle) drivers.
* Enhancement:	New FX format resulted in over 4 MB savings in original 100 effects.
* Changed:		Removed field rendering controls from Hollywood FX Options dialog.
			Field Rendering can be controlled in Easy FX from the Settings dialog.
* Changed:		Made ballsplt the default FX for all products.
* Fixed:		Now all plugins reload the rendering engine immediately if it is
			changed in Settings page.
* Fixed:		All plugins were not properly reallocating rendering context for
			antialiasing and other options.
* Fixed:		Gizmo effect was having problems with video sources.
* Fixed:		48 Hours was having problems with video sources.
* Fixed:		Donut1 and Donut2 now work correctly.
* Fixed:		If a non-sequence bitmap was selected, it would not be mapped.
* Fixed:		Cancel not handled properly in Photoshop plugin.
* Fixed:		Envelopes are now properly changed between Source 1 and Source 2
			when a transition is changed between FlyOff and FlyOn.
* Fixed:		The Path Editor now correctly switches the Effect to FlyOff whenever
			the Path Editor is displayed, and correctly changes it to its original
			setting on exit.
* Fixed:		Modified the envelope editor to make it easier to drag existing keys.

Version 3.0 - Final Release (6/13/97)

* Change:		Removed the Preview Current Speed slider from the Settings page.
* Fixed:		Easy FX was not setting the scaling method properly, resulting in
			poor image quality in video that was not in an effect.
* Fixed:		Matinee1 and Matinee2 completely redesigned to fix problems.
* Fixed:		Easy FX Save requesters were not showing files properly.
* Fixed:		Problems with file names on bitmap sequences.
* Fixed:		Additional video sources in MultiWindow effects did not show
			up properly in the Quick Preview.
* Fixed:		Problems with Path Editor when Fly-On selected.
* Fixed:		Cancel in Photoshop was not working properly.

Version 3.0 - Pre-Release 2 (6/3/97)

* Enhancement:	DEC Alpha installer is now same as Intel.
* Change:		Installer now provides new serial number during installation, and
			understands both old and new serial numbers.
* Change:		VM Plus plugin is now the same file as the Premiere plugin again.
* Fixed:		Miscellaneous memory leaks and overruns.
* Fixed:		Problem with Adobe Premiere multi-saver when field rendered.

Version 3.0 - Pre-Release (5/9/97)

* Enhancement:	Now checks for Club Hollywood FX at Selection display.
* Enhancement:	New antialiasing method used.  Provides excellent results.
* Enhancement:	Includes new sample AVI files.
* Enhancement:	New installer for Intel version.
* Change:		Adobe Premiere now double-scans all fields for higher quality.
* Change:		Envelope editor now has larger drag handles.
* Change:		DEC Alpha installer only searches for Speed Razor plugin.
* Change:		No longer displays "What's this" menu with right-mouse-button
			click in Path Editor.
* Change:		Reorganized Options page.
* Fixed:		Tic marks not displaying properly in Envelope Editor.
* Fixed:		Drag problem in Envelope Editor.
* Fixed:		"Light Direction" envelope still showed "E*" after envelope
			removed.
* Fixed:		Values were not reset properly after envelop removed.
* Fixed:		Problem with "Object Follows Path" envelope settings.
* Fixed:		Problem with Morph Envelope.
* Fixed:		Display problem for Path Editor in Windows 95/NT3.51.
* Fixed:		Preview not properly rendered after Path Load.
* Fixed:		When no multi-source video is present, objects should not render.
* Fixed:		Re-rendered all effect icons.
* Fixed:		Airplan1 and Airplan2 effects not morphing properly.


Version 3.0 - Beta 3 (03/27/97)

* Enhancement:	MultiSaver filters written for Adobe Premiere and in-sync Speed
			Razor to allow use of clips as additional sources in multi-window
			effects.
* Enhancement:	Object page includes options to map AVIs and BMP sequences
			directly.  This allows all users to use multi window effects within
			their non-linear editor.
* Enhancement:	Object Morph Envelope completed.  Restructure of all .HFX files.
* Enhancement:	Engine architecture redesigned for better performance.
* Enhancement:	All engines now use OpenGL 1.1 texture objects for better performance
			and better quality.
* Enhancement:	New antialiasing method.
* Change:		Rnd_OpenGL and Rnd_Accelerated reintroduced.
* Change:		Photoshop filter reintroduced.
* Fixed:		Slight bug when dragging envelope point above or below envelope
			frame.
* Fixed:		Camera range problem causing white streaks when using shine.
* Fixed:		ULead Media Studio Pro plugin had a color problem.

Version 3.0 - Beta 2 (02/14/97)

* Enhancement:	Path Editor completed.
* Enhancement:	Envelope editor mouse controls completed.
* Enhancement:	Installer now searches for plugins before file copying.
* Enhancement:	Installer now asks if it should install Sentinel drivers.
* Enhancement:	Reboot only required if Sentinel drivers installed (or shared files in use).
* Change:		Resized dialogs to prevent clipping in Japanese version of OS.
* Change:		Disabled "Enter" key on Envelope Editor.
* Fixed:		Envelopes were not working with all effects.

Version 3.0 - Beta 1 (01/22/97)

* Enhancement:	Envelope editor for most controls added.
* Enhancement:	Shadow transparency control added.
* Enhancement:	All effects use spline based paths.
* Enhancement:	Render options structure now dynamic to allow for future changes.
* Enhancement:	Shared files now use version number in name to allow multiple
			versions of Hollywood FX.
* Enhancement:	Installer now installs plugin in Speed Razor Mach III 3.0 and 3.5.
* Enhancement:	Rebuild of DEC Alpha version now possible.

* Change:		In Premiere plugin, if Frame rendering is selected in Premiere/Fast,
			the Hollywood FX frame/field settings are used instead.  This 
			allows a workaround of the blurring field in FAST VMPlus.
* Change:		Removed "Change Period" (made obsolete by envelopes).
* Change:		New plugin driver for FAST Video Machine Plus that provides
			workaround for brightness shift in video passed to effects plugins.

* Fixed:		Wed_ding had bad timing on morph to medallion.
* Fixed:		Show1 had back polygons which showed through video.
* Fixed:		Brkglass had sudden shift of polygons on final frame.	

* Bug Fix:		Slight drop in brightness for Rnd_Portable has been fixed.
* Bug Fix:		Plugin for Speed Razor was ignoring Alpha (transparency) channels.
* Bug Fix:		Plugin for MCXpress would not show Take 32 if present.


Version 2.06 (09/30/96)
* Enhancement:	Installer now installs FAST VM Plus plugin.
* Enhancement:	Rnd_Portable (previously RND_002) is now the default
			rendering engine.  The Mesa rendering language it is
			based on has been improved to generate high quality
			3D images.  Its rendering speed is dramatically faster
			than the other engines.
* Enhancement:	The names of the rendering engines have been changed.
			They are called Rnd_OpenGL (was RND_001), 
			Rnd_Portable (was RND_002), and Rnd_Accelerated
			(was RND_003).  
* Enhancement:	Controls for object rotation and distance were added for
			Photoshop filtering.  The Center checkbox has been removed,
			now HFX defaults centering of objects whenever it is used
			as a filter.
* Enhancement:	Changed the way Adobe Premiere's Transition Settings
			dialog renders its previews in HFX so that the settings
			dialog comes up much, much faster.
* Fixed:		All transitions and effects have been checked for 
			problems with pixel shifts, lighting shifts, and shadows
			remaining visible at the end of the transition.
* Fixed:		A small display bug would blank out the ruler in Easy FX
			if the mouse was clicked in the ruler area.
* Fixed:		Problems caused by 'C' runtime libraries have been resolved.
* Updates:		Includes latest Sentinel hardware key drivers (5.15).
			Includes updated Opengl libraries for Windows 95 (8/9/96).

Version 2.05-2.05c (07/03/96)
* Important:		The 16-bit plugins will no longer be supported with this version.
			This includes the original Razor Pro and Adobe Premiere 4.0.
			Hollywood FX now works only with 32-bit programs:
			Speed Razor, Adobe Premiere 4.2, Adobe Photoshop, 
			Avid MCXpress, Ulead Media Studio Pro 2.5.

* Change:		Internal changes to cleanup some inconsitencies and use a
			different runtime library set for reliability.
* Change:		Reattached "Shine" to the "Change Period" slider, so now
			shine will ramp-up/down at the beginning and end of the
			transition.

* Bug fixed:  		One more memory leak found in the Speed Razor plugin driver.
* Bug fixed:		Field rendering of even fields were shifted.  This problem was
			caused by a bug with texture mapping coordinates.  All plugin
			drivers were recompiled to resolve this bug. 
* Bug fixed:		Adobe Premiere now works with the RND_002 engine.
* Bug fixed:		RND_002 works on Alpha systems.
* Bug fixed:		Adobe Premiere now performs field rendering properly.
* Bug fixed:		Changed default internal luminosity so images will not have
			a brightness shift (note, setting Shine can still cause some
			brightness shifts however).

Version 2.04 (06/17/96)
* Bug fixed:  		Hollywood FX was not releasing certain memory buffers between
			frames.  When rendering a large number of frames,  Hollywood FX
			would allocate all available memory after time.
* Bug fixed:		Hollywood FX would crash (in Windows 95) when the mouse
			was moved above or below the timeline while dragging or 
			sizing an object.

* Enhancement:	Added Save default options button to Settings page.  This lets
			users save their most-used options and objects settings, and have
			those as the defaults when a new FX is added.
* Enhancement:	Added logging.  On the Settings page,  Summary or Detailed
			logging can be selected.  Start, End, and Elapsed times are 
			logged to HFX\WORK\RENDER.LOG.

Version 2.03 (06/05/96)
* Bug fixed:  		Easy FX was not freeing AVI files properly.  This caused the
			Perception "Did not free play objects" error.
* Bug fixed:		Easy FX would not allow "Fail Small Images" to be set for
			the Perception AVI codec.  This is now fixed.  However, the
			Output Width and Height must be set correctly for this option
			to work.
* Bug fixed:		Easy FX would crash when right-mouse-button pressed within
			the Easy FX timeline.
* Bug fixed:		On Alpha systems,  adding more than ten different effects 
			caused a crash.

* Enhancement:	Added full field rendering support within Hollywood FX.  
			Hollywood FX can now perform field rendering in all programs
			including Easy FX.  The field rendering options are described
			in the Addendum above.

Version 2.02 (05/23/96)
* Bug fixed:		On Alpha based systems with processor speeds > 266MHZ the
			Sentinel Hardware Key driver could cause random crashes.  This
			update includes version 5.14 of the Sentinel driver, fixing the bug,
			and possibly other random problems that have been seen.
* Bug fixed:		Selection Dialog crashed with certain Transition Period settings.
* Bug fixed:		Easy FX would not allow Compression setting changes if the
			current settings were invalid.
* Bug fixed:		Easy FX Copy/Paste could sometimes cause crashes or memory
			leaks.
* Bug fixed:		Easy FX cursor shape was flickering as mouse moved.

* Enhancement:	Easy FX now allows sizing of AVI video clips in the timeline.
			You can only resize from the right (adjusting the "OUT" point).
			Easy FX will include full trimming capabilities in version 2.10.

* Enhancement:	Easy FX now displays AVI representation icons more quickly
			and more accurately.

* Enhancement:	An hourglass is now displayed when items are being inserted
			into the timeline.

* Enhancement:	A beta version of a new rendering engine, RND_003 is now
			included.  This rendering engine uses OpenGL, but renders
			directly to a window on the display.  This allows for use
			with hardware accelarators.  Initial tests by Intergraph indicate
			a 4 to 5 times speedup on their low-end accelerator.  After
			rendering,  the rendering window will remain visible for a 
			few moments before closing.  You should not use this engine
			for Preview.  We also do not recommend use of this engine
			if you have less than 32 MB RAM.

* Enhancement:	Premiere 4.2 driver now uses Preview rendering engine 
			automatically if rendering resolution is less than 160 x 120. This
			was done to accomodate RND_003.

Version 2.01 (05/04/96)
* Bug fixed:  		Speed Razor plugin driver had problems with Field Rendering.
* Bug fixed:  		Easy FX was not working with hardware AVI codecs.
* Bug fixed:		Selection Dialog crashed with certain Transition Period settings.
* Effect fixed:		TheWave effect had source 1 video dropout.

* Enhancement: 	Now includes plugin driver for Ulead Media Studio Pro 2.5.
