Fonts
Some of my fonts don't show up in the Vertigo HotText Font
menu. Why? Possibilities:
Some of your fonts may not be compatible with Vertigo HotText. Vertigo HotText works only with Type 1 and TrueType fonts. The Windows version only works with TrueType fonts. You are not using Adobe Type Manager 4.0 Deluxe. You can purchase ATM 4.0 Deluxe from Adobe's website www.adobe.com Adobe Type Manager 4.0 Deluxe allows Vertigo HotText to read Type 1 fonts without permanently
converting them to the QuickDraw GX format. You are using ATM 4.0 Deluxe and still cannot see all your fonts. Then the fonts you cannot see do not meet the Type 1 or TrueType font specifications.
What happens when I convert my Type 1 fonts to the QuickDraw GX format using Adobe Type 1 Enabler?
Adobe Type 1 Enabler backs up all your selected fonts in an Archived Type 1 Fonts folder within the Fonts folder, then converts them to the QuickDraw GX format. A converted GX font keeps the same name as the original font and remains in the Fonts folder. So basically, you have two versions of your font.
Should I convert all of my Type 1 fonts?
Not necessarily. Because Adobe Type 1 Enabler makes a copy of each font it converts, converting all your fonts can take up a lot of hard drive space, especially if you have tons of fonts on your system. Converting all your fonts may lead to confusion, since the original Type 1 fonts and the converted fonts have the same name. Also, Type 1 fonts converted to QuickDraw GX may cause warning messages in documents originally created with Type 1 fonts of the same name. Often these messages are merely warnings, and you should be able to proceed without any problems, but for this reason, we suggest you only convert the fonts you need to use with Vertigo HotText, and keep the archived versions of the
original Type 1 fonts. Adobe Type 1 Enabler gives you the option of selecting which fonts you want to convert. Please read the Adobe Type 1 Enabler documentation for more information.
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Quickdraw 3D and Quicktime
Where do I find Quickdraw 3D?
You will need Quickdraw 3D to use HotTEXT. Quickdraw is the renderer that creates 3D images in real time as you work within the HotTEXT preview window setting up your scene.
Quickdraw 3D is available with the CUSTOM install of Quicktime 4.0. Make sure that you select Quickdraw 3D off of the list of options presented during the custom install as it is NOT automatically installed with the min or max options of Quicktime 4.0.
Go to apple's quicktime site to download a windows or mac version.
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Rendering Images
I can't render large images at 300dpi. Why?
This is a limitation of system memory, as rendering at high resolutions requires a lot of RAM. You can reduce the amount of RAM required by working with the smallest Photoshop selection possible when using Vertigo HotText. Use the Photoshop Marquee tool to make your selection before opening Vertigo
HotText. Vertigo HotText and third-party renderers like LightWorks®? Use system RAM, rather than RAM allocated to Photoshop. Assigning more RAM to Photoshop won't help if you encounter low memory-related messages. Instead free up more system RAM (i.e. close other applications that may be open or turn on virtual memory). The general formula for memory calculation is: Photoshop has a 10 MB buffer with the image in it. When you choose HotTEXT, Photoshop needs to allocate two more buffers, one for input, one for output, each equalling 10 MB, so Photoshop needs 20 MB free (after loading the initial 10 MB image). Then, to load QD3D (it's only about 2-3 MB, but let's say 5) in the system heap, and then we
allocate a further 10 MB compositing buffer in either the system heap or the Photoshop heap. So there are four 10 MB buffers, plus the 10-15 MB that Photoshop needs outside the image buffers.
For an image which takes up "n" megs, you'd probably need to give Photoshop (4 x n + 10) megs, and ensure that at least 5 more megs are free outside of Photoshop for QD3D. LightWorks uses extra RAM over and above what is specified here.
NOTE - All calculations are based on a single layer image, for multi-layer images switch the "4" in "(4 x n + 10)" with "layers + 3".
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Working with Adobe Photoshop
Sometimes Photoshop crashes without warning when I'm using Vertigo HotText. What can I do?
You probably didn't have enough system RAM. Sometimes it's difficult for Photoshop to manage RAM, especially when using a third-party renderer such as LightWorks. Unfortunately, third-party renderers don't call back to Vertigo HotText when they run out of memory, hence the sudden crashes. Here are a few things you can do that may help:
Keep the About This Macintosh dialog box open so you can monitor your RAM usage at all times. To open the dialog box, go into Finder, then Choose About This Macintosh... from the Apple menu. If you're rendering a complicated model, make sure you have plenty of system RAM available, especially if you're using LightWorks renderer. All renderers use system RAM, not Photoshop RAM. Turn virtual memory on, or use RAM Doubler.
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Working with Lights
I'm having trouble finding and selecting my lights. Any suggestions?
Your lights will be easier to pick out against a black background. Turn off the background image by clicking the Palette menu, then let go on the option "Hide Image". You may have lost a light inside your text. Turn off your text display by clicking the Palette menu, then let go on the option "Hide Text".
Try choosing different camera views from the Camera view pop-up menu. You can save your current view, then go back to it at any time during your work session. To get an overall look at your
scene, choose Top view, then use the Truck tool to move out, then pick your light from there. It is helpful to turn on the Camera Controls in the Palette menu. It is faster to enter a value such as -300 than pulling back with the truck tool to see the light icons.
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Working with Paths
I'm having trouble editing my converted 3D path. What should I do?
You may experience difficulty editing a converted path while viewing the scene from a custom view. To work around this, save your current view, then use the Camera view to select a pre-set view such as Front or Top. You should be able to edit your path easily from within a pre-set view. You can return to your custom view when you have finished editing the path.
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Speed
To speed things up, try turning off the background image and the grid. When working with textures, take one letter i.e. the letter T. Apply your textures to this letter until you find the one you want, then go
back to the text field and enter all your letters. This is a good trick when you are Previewing your image with every change of texture. More letters slow you down, one letter renders fast, especially if there are less polygons to that letter. Turn on the Text and Camera controls under the Palette menu. Working directly with the control can often speed up your work, especially once you be become oriented with 3D space.
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Lights
You often do not need more than two lights in the scene. Preview with one light, and then add more lights to slowly build your scene. Too many lights will make your text appear flat and may give you
dirty shadows. One light gives you the best shadows. Do not forget that you can control the color of your light. Two lights with different colors (i.e. red and blue) placed at the opposite ends of your text can create a feeling of theatrical lighting. Experiment with the Ambience for more effects. For example, if
you take the Ambience Intensity down to about 50-60%, and the Ambience Color to a mid-grey (50-75%), your text will render with more depth and drama.
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Camera
Position the camera angle how you desire on your model and Set View.... Then add your light(s). Go to a different view i.e. the top view and zoom out so that you can see your light icons. Set that view as well so that you can easily return if you need to adjust the lights. Do not forget that you have Camera Controls (accessed from the Palette menu). You will find these very useful!
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Textures
You can create your own textures to wrap on your text. Save them as picts. A good resolution to try would be 256 x 256 pixels, and for better quality 512 x 512 pixels. Save them as rgb, although indexed color works too (with the exception of slight loss of quality).
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Rendering
Some photorealistic third-party renderers such as LightWorks may require a lot of memory, which means you may encounter Out of Memory messages when attempting a render. Try turning virtual memory on and allocating more system RAM (i.e. close other applications that may be open or turn on virtual memory).
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