B. Frame Grabber Cards

Image directly supports four frame grabber cards for acquiring images from video sources, such as TV cameras and VCR's: the Data Translation QuickCapture, the Scion LG-3, Scion AG-5, and the Scion VG-5. All allow brightness, contrast and pseudocolor to be adjusted during "live" capture. All allow continuous histogram display and "live" paste, which can be useful for image alignment.

The fastest screen refresh rate is achieved using the PCI versions of the Scion cards. A 16 inch, or larger, monitor is required to see the entire 640x480 frame without panning. Image supports the 768 x 512 resolution available with 50Hz (PAL/CCIR) versions of all four cards. It also supports external triggering.

All of the Scion cards support software control of analog gain and offset and on-chip integration. The LG-3 features a frame buffer that can be expanded to 64MB using standard Mac SIMMS. The AG-5 supports video rate averaging and integration. The VG-5 is a short NuBus card that will fit in the Quadra 610 and PowerMac 6100. The PCI versions of the Scion cards, which are faster than the NuBus versions, can capture 30 full size frames per second to system RAM using the Make Movie command.

Using VDIGs (QuickTime Video Digitizer extensions), Image also supports QuickTime compatible video digitizers such as those built into "AV" Macs and the PowerMac7500/8500. Some third party digitizers, such as the Data Translation 3155 PCI card, the Connectix QuickCam and the ComputerEyes/RT SCSI, are also known to work with Image. The directly supported frame grabber cards, however, currently provide the following advantages:

  1. 30 frames per second capture (Scion PCI cards only)
  2. Ability to adjust gain and offset in "Live" capture mode
  3. External trigger support
  4. On-chip integration
  5. Use of pseudo-color LUTs during "Live" capture
  6. Highlighting of saturated pixels during "Live" capture
  7. Capture with virtual memory or Ram Doubler enabled

Data Translation

DT2255 QuickCapture: $1295 (Requires EP205 Cable: $125)
DT3155-PM for PCI Bus: $995 (Requires EP277 Cable: $165)

Data Translation, Inc.
100 Locke Drive
Marlboro, MA 01752
Phone: 508-481-3700
Fax: 508-481-8620
http://www.datx.com

Scion

LG-3: $895
AG-5: $2495
VG-5: $1395

The LG-3, AG-5 and VG-5 are available in PCI versions. Optional cables are required for color capture and for on-chip integration.

Scion Corporation
82 Worman's Mill Court, Suite H
Frederick, Maryland 21701
Phone: 301-695-7870
Fax: 301-695-0035
info@scioncorp.com
http://www.scioncorp.com

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